Having a Ball! (The First Grand Ball) [05/07, Evening-through-Night, Everyone, OPEN]

[Tancen Alinar]

Tancen was not one for social functions. It was all pompous and stupid. He didn't doubt anyone here didn't mean what they were all saying. Everyone always said one thing and didn't mean it. They were all kissing up to the king and their liege lords. Yet he picked the woman that looked just about as bored as he did. He figured she would perhaps be the best of company. He took her hand, leading her onto the dance floor. “Oh believe me, you look as perhaps about as bored as I am. I figured you would be the most ...suitable woman here to my current temperament.” He stated plainly.

He took her waist and his other hand too her free hand. His storm was straight- and unbelievably stiff. He had learned to dance from his mother at least. “Do not presume to think your words can inflict damage upon me Lady Morgandy. If you would prefer it I can leave you alone but you will indulge me at least once and then I will go on my merry way. So let us put on a fake smile for all those surrounding us, for all the fools.”

[Etienne Fleurant]

This wasn't going very well, Etienne surmised. Both of them were uncomfortable. Him especially so, for he was having to apologise. Apologise! Still, it was better than the alternative. That and...well, her lips had tasted good. He silently wanted another taste, but suspected it wouldn't go down too well. Maybe when they were back on track or they were married. Ah well.

To his surprise though, she accepted his apology graciously. His eyes danced for a moment in confusion, as if searching for a trap behind the words. His response was almost more a question than a statement. "Thank you...?" He didn't soften - It wasn't going to be as easy as all that. But he did nod in response to the little lizard's name. "Al. I'll remember it. Will he...want me to say sorry to his face too?" From anyone else's mouth, it may have been a joke. From Etienne's it was a genuine question.

Her next words were more stiff and like something he would say. "We are, it seems. Though, I'd imagine, with your position you might have a say against it." Etienne winced. It probably wouldn't do him good to say things like that. Reminding her of all she'd lost would just make him seem more callous...and he didn't want to have to apologise again so soon. "...What I meant to say is, my favourite food is...anything Ahesterean. Though I do like fish." His words had gone straight back to clumsy. For a man who never spoke without a reason, small talk was difficult. "And...how about you?"

[Aiden Faerald]

For anyone else, it would have been simply words...but for Aiden Faerald, they were effectively wings to a falling man. Hearing her say he could say no wrong by her gave him a little courage and an inadvertent smile crept onto his face and lit up his eyes. "I'm really glad. I...I do worry I'll say the wrong thing sometime." He looked down. "Cort is the only one I can speak my mind to...or, was. Rascal a little bit too."

He sought the strength that she seemed to give him through their held hands and though he could still feel everyone's eyes on him...no-one had stopped them or told them anything was wrong yet. Hadn't his father and her uncle almost pushed them on each other, anyway? Aiden swallowed, looking for something else to say. "Um...Melari F...Forthwind, you're the closest friend I have too...and um, maybe more, depending on what the kiss meant...I don't know if a kiss means much to you but...um..." His voice came out nearly a whisper "...It did to me."

[Abrielle Laroche]

His thanks to her came out more like a question than a statement. It caused Abby to look sideways and furrow her brow. "You're welcome." she ended that, wanting to get past it, it would do no good for them to dwell since ... in all honesty he'd get her first kiss anyways. She just had to wish it were under better circumstances.

He looked serious when he asked if he should apologize to Al and she had to take a moment before responding. He couldn't possibly be mocking her. Not to her face. Not after just apologizing. So he had to be serious. "No. I think I can relay the message just fine. He'll accept it, I'm sure of that." What was this boy? Maybe she'd ask Cisse later, she had to get a better bead on him.

Abby thought this man before her to be very odd. He made it known, in conversation, that she had the ability to deny him as her husband? He did wince at the thought, maybe he was just trying to be kind? After pressing her lips together for a moment or two, she answered honestly. "Our marriage is the last choice my mother made before she died. She was a wise woman and I'm sure she had a reason for us to be joined. I would not wish to undo anything that she'd done, you have to do far more to me to get that sort of reaction."

Though, that sentence made her feel like she was tempting fate. Did he not want to marry her? Is that why he said that? So now would her comment provoke him to keep trying to be awful to her? She heard his answer, foods he liked, fish and what not. Then he turned the question to her. "I am not a very picky eater. I like meat, fish, most vegetables. I just can't eat cheese."

Small talk was going to be the death of her ....

[Cadwallader Prothero]

He reminded himself he needed to relax. If he was going to be nervous he was going to step on her feet more and Cadwallader did not want to do that more than he already had. “I have a better match than many would have gotten. Being a sixth born child.” He knew he could trust Rhiannon in his match but he always felt so inadequate- thrust in a new position he wasn't ready for. They both had been that way though.

He was managing thus far not to step on her feet again and for that Cadwallader was grateful. He didn't want to act more foolish. Where had his damned calmness gone? It always seemed to vanish whenever he was around her and replaced with nerves. Her palm upon his cheek suddenly made his heart race increase for a fraction of a second.

“You are too kind to me Lady Morgandy.” He whispered, relieved to hear she at least thought they were, well awkward rather than a total disaster. There was hope for him not to be a failure and he was coming into his own, slowly. More slowly than he wanted. He took her hand that had cupped his cheek and brought it to his lips, giving it a soft kiss.

At least he hadn't managed to step on her feet again. The song had ended and he smiled. “Would you like to dance to the next one or...shall we go get refreshments?”

[Reagan Morgandy]

"You may be quite right. Or maybe not. Terribly presumptive, Lord Alinar, to know a woman's attitudes, but I will give in, this one particular time. You've caught me personally at a rather less-than-indulged moment by the trivialities, so I'll commend you for seeing as such."

As Tancen drew Reagan away and towards the floor for a dance, she noted he had impeccable form. No doubt he was a skilled dancer, but he would certainly lack any fluidity or sensuality one often looked for in a dance partner. That was fine with Reagan -- she believed in neither trait. His face was rather handsome but with the unfortunate habit, clearly, of rarely smiling. But that was yet another thing they shared. Smiling was a form of weakness, or a ploy to be used. The only genuine smiles Reagan ever displayed were saved for her sister, alone.

"I can only hope the rest of your family is enjoying the festivities more than you may be, Lord Alinar?" Reagan queried, gauging this dark northern lord's propensity for small-talk. As they moved, her lush skirts brushed against his black uniform, and Reagan felt pleased. Although his lack of emotion cut grim lines across his face, Tancen was tall and broad-shouldered.

Shortly put, he looked nice on her.

[Etienne Fleurant]

What exactly was one meant to say in response to a small lizard being happy to accept an apology about a drunken teasing he had given it's mistress? Gods, why had he apparently not had the same flawless tutoring that Narcisse had had? She would have taken it in her stride and laughed it off. But what should Etienne do...maybe a gift? Is a gift...acceptable in that circumstance? "I could always buy him some food he likes, to make certain, if you think it would be wise?" Again, his expression was somber and serious. He wasn't going to risk any more mistakes.

Still, it wasn't helping the conversation flow any easier. He was rigid and inflexible in his words and movements, causing his words to come out as if they were by rote or such. But it was fair to say Etienne did not feel comfortable here. "Then I will trust her judgement also. I find the union to be a most grand idea. And I will take what you say about your patience under consideration and ensure that I do not push you that far then, Lady Laroche. I also am difficult to get rid of as you...may have noticed."

What more did one say about food? He managed a whole sentence in response, but as far as Etienne could tell...that was the end of that line of conversation. "Ah...I see. I will make sure the cooks do not make you anything with cheese in, in the future then." There was a long pause, an audible silence. What else could he talk about? How could they figure out if they had anything at all in common? "I...understand you are friends with Narcisse?"

[Eldric Storm]

Eldric had started the festivities a little early. He had already been in the horde and had shared a few tender shoulder moments with strangers, which was always flattering, nobles clumsily knocking into each other as they made their way to the booze. Eldric had entered the merriment with hopes, and had returned from the crowd with two goblets of the best wine he could sample! Sure, he got a few sideways glances taking shots of different wine, but to hell with those naysayers, good wine was important!

Truth be told, he didn't actually get two goblets, he only got a goblet and a half, some pretty boy, a southerner by the looks of him had knocked into him on the way back, graciously spilling half of one of his cups contents. That cup would be his however, the other was for Ossian, the anti-social cousin he was waiting for on this night of merriment. He had compelled his brother-from-another-mother to show up, using his power of Stormlord. Needless to say, he was going to make his brother enjoy the festivities in the capital while he could. Aferall, it wasn't everyday the King threw a realm-wide celebration.

[Ossian Storm]

The lithe form of Ossian Storm made its way fairly easily through the masses attending the ball. Unfortunately, even with his effortless grace, touching shoulders with strangers was still an occurrence -- a most unfortunate one. I'll have to remember to kill Eldric once this nonsense is over. If I survive it. He fought off the urge to grimace as he was doing in his mind, keeping his face placid, a light smirk upon his lips. He could not very well allow these men and women of status to see him as anything other than cool and confident.

Ossian dashed and bent and edged passed all sorts of people with polite nods and perhaps a "pardon me" or two thrown in if the urge caught him. Playing the game was not hard, but it did not make him enjoy it any. Sure, there were plenty of people in attendance that Ossian would enjoy meeting and spending time with, but in such a setting. There were simply too many people; he could handle five, hell, even ten people just fine, but twenty was pushing it and this, this was just ridiculous. Maintain, Ossian; you've done it before -- you'll do it again. Now, where is that awful cousin of mine?

Ossian's blue-to-gray-to-green eyes scanned intently over the people gathered as he tried to weave his way through them all. Luckily for Ossian, Eldric was a fairly tall man, and he was taller still. He spotted the bright expression of his cousin/may-as-well-be-brother from a few yards away. He looked to be having the time of his life already, and he was doing nothing but waiting for Ossian. If only I had the love for this sort of thing that he does. Oh well, I suppose that is why he is Stormlord and I am simply his cousin. Ossian quickly closed the gap between he and Eldric, losing some of his grace to speed, bumping a few more shoulders than he would have liked.

He stopped short of his cousin sighing in slight exasperation at having gotten through the throngs of attendees. He eyes Eldric with a level look and let the beginnings of a genuine smile form on the right corner of his mouth. "Ah, dearest Eldric, you seem to be enjoying yourself already; I cannot tell you how happy I am for you." Ossian's eyes dropped down to look at the goblets in Eldric's hands, quickly bringing them back up to meet his cousin's. "Now, I will not be rude in front of so many, so I will resist the urge to take both of those cups from you and down them in quick succession. Instead, I shall wait for you to offer one to me, and then I will down it with little hesitation." Ossian let the beginning of a smile he had on his face spread into what it wished to be, a smirking grin with mirth he was surprised he had considering.

Allowing his eyes to glance at those around them for a moment he added dryly, "I do hope you chose our wine by its potency rather than its taste."

[Eldric Storm]

There he is. "How nice of you to join us!" Eldric called laughing, as his cousin escaped the throng of human bodies. It was quite comical seeing his cousin taking on the ball room like an assault course. "You seem to have quite a gift for this sort of thing cousin!" He joked. "Not many men would dare brave such a crowd, and succeed with such an outstanding performance." He tipped his head, "I stand in admiration."

He chuckled, "It's not everyday the King calls such a gathering. You too, should be making the best of it!" He handed the full cup to Ossian, "You have any idea how hard it is to get a good cup of wine here? Finally found a good one and some noble bereft me of half of it! Make sure you enjoy that, it's a long way back to the stuff."

"To good wine?" Smacking his goblet against Ossian's in a toast he pushed his mask up onto his forehead, and shared an intimate moment with his well-earned beverage. He smacked his lips at the taste, "Good eh? Maybe not as strong as you'd hope for on such an occasion perhaps. But the taste itself was...intoxicating..." He shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know alright, it's good, free wine. Can't complain."

Pulling his mask back down he got playfully annoyed, "I don't see the point in these damnable things." He knocked the metal of his goblet against it to demonstrate, "Gets in the way of my festivities."

[Ossian Storm]

Eldric's amusement at Ossian's discomfort was not anything new to the twenty-day-younger Ossian. He met his cousin's mocking tone with a level look but his smirk remained. Even if he hated crowds, Ossian found almost impossible to not be at least somewhat jovial around Eldric. "Well, when one is as clumsy as you, I can imagine that seeing me navigate a crowded room is indeed an impressive sight to behold." He shrugged casually as he made his verbal counter, taking the offered cup.

After Eldric's toast, Ossian wasted little time in emptying most of its contents, not at all heeding Eldric's advice to enjoy it. The sweetness of the southern wine a tad upsetting, but it was stout enough, he supposed. In all truth wine was not Ossian's preferred drink; it gave him too heady a drunk. He much preferred liquor, a much more alert high was derived from grains, at least Ossian believed it so. I imagine this will get the job done regardless.

He smiled something more than his usual smirk as his cousin lifted his mask in order to enjoy his wine in an almost romantic fashion. His smile quickly faded a moment later as realization dawned on him. His mask was still pushed up on his head. He had pushed it up and off of his face to better search for Eldric and he had forgotten that it was still perched atop his even then mess of wavy hair. He would have much rather left it where it was, but a unmasked person drew much more attention than a masked one at this terrible function. Countless masked eyes regarding him was a much worse consequence than the slight claustrophobia he felt when he had his mask upon his face. Sighed resignedly, he lowered it back into place. It was the visage of an owl, burnt orange and dark green. Ossian had a strange affinity for owls, and he figured that he might as well not give himself away so easily with a stag mask or with the proper colors of his House: gold and green.

As his cousin went on about the wine and his particular adoration of it, Ossian shook his head, chuckling. "There is no such thing as 'free' anything, Eldric. For all your ability as a leader, you certainly are so easily accepting of everything as it appears." Ossian cut off there and nodded his head slowly toward his cousin. "My apologies, I seem to be waxing philosophical at a social function that does not seem receptive of such talk. Regardless, I do believe that this means that I require more drink. Do lead the way; I'd much rather you lead the van through this horde than I. Not to mention you dragged me here in the first place."

Ossian's tone was light, playful in a way he often was when he felt comfortable. So long as he ignored the multitudes of people present and focused solely on a few people, he would be able to maintain the charm that he'd rather be known for than anti-social awkwardness. Of course, with the assistance of Storm-given booze, Ossian should be at his best within a short amount of time, for he would be wasting none getting to that point.

[Eldric Storm]

"Don't get all philosophical on me, you know what I mean. Not the time or the place for you to be educating me on my methods, you never know who could be listening."

His cousin seemed to be sharing his discomfort with the masks, "You know, you can always leave the mask up. Trust that a sharp-eyed young lady is looking for a handsome young lord. Could be a good night for the two of you, well once we get you a couple more drinks. But first, I'm gonna show you how this clumsy cousin of yours gets to the drinks," he downed the rest of his own swiftly. If he was going back into the belly of the beast he sure wouldn't risk spilling anymore of the stuff. "Onwards!"

He stepped forward, empty goblet low in hand, he brushed an arm around his cousin and guided him towards the crowd. Both of them could do with a couple of girls, for Eldric it had been quite a bit since he got intimate, perhaps not the best palce for it though. As his cousin had hoped, Eldric took the lead, with Ossian following in his wake.

He maintained a vertical base, patting nobles out of the way with many "excuse me's", "pardons" and what not. There was a couple of instances where agility and overall balance had to come into play. The dancers for example, they didn't give a shit where they went, quite unpredicatable, but they managed. Every now and then Eldric looked over his shoulder to make sure his cousin hadn't been took away in a tide.

They made their way through in a short while, the wine tables were even more crowded it seemed. He turned to Ossian, "Not so bad for 'clumsy' if I do say so myself."

"You wanting to sample some for yourself? Or are you happy with my choice? Either way," he shook the goblet he had retained, "I need me a drink."

[Marcheline Forthwind]

Marcheline loved events such as this. Perhaps it was the Fontenot in her. Her mother was a princess after all and her father was on the council. That meant she was supposed to be a girl that had good manners. She did. She liked being in the center of attention. The Hollows was a place that seemed like a backwater compared to court. All the action happened here. Plus there was almost nothing to do in the Hollows. She hated growing up there but it was where her sister was. She honestly couldn't imagine her life without her twin.

“It is a pleasure to meet you Lord Liam.” No he certainly wasn't a knight, was he? She giggled at his compliment. “Thank you! My sister Warrine said my dress was too ostentacious. Going as a peacock! But really it was just pretty and I liked the colors.” She offered him her hand so that they could go out onto the dancefloor. “Are you a good dancer? You must be. Are you a knight? What do you do anyways as a part of House Forthwind? Didn't the royal family come from there?” She knew that much at least. She knew a lot about the Fontenots. She was half Fontenot anyways. “Ooh I love this song.” She smiled to the tempo that came on next- a rather fast paced song. “I promise I won't step on your feet!”

[Ossian Storm]

"Don't get all philosophical on me, you know what I mean. Not the time or the place for you to be educating me on my methods, you never know who could be listening."

Ossian grimaced at his cousin's rebuke, and for once, he was glad of the mask. It was not a harsh rebuke but it led Ossian to think of a great many things he had been making a point to not think of. Fitzwulf was dead -- everything was changed. Everything was worse. But as Eldric had said, this was neither the time nor the place for discussing a great many things, that especially.

"I would rather not be so avant garde on this occasion. Knowing some of those in attendance, it well may be a scandal for a barbarous Arbrechtian to refuse to wear his mask at a masquerade." Ossian looked around him, eyeing those present. It was no easy feat to judge attractiveness with masks on the faces of those present, but he found himself picking out hair colors and styles that he fancied, figures that he found appetizing. Some company tonight would not at all be an unpleasant thing. I have much it would keep my mind off of.

As Ossian's inner monolog was going on, he was suddenly jerked away from his thoughts by Eldric's sudden foray into the crowd of masked bodies. His focus shifted from his thoughts to following Eldric, surprised at how well the Stormlord was handling himself. Ossian decided it was only because Elrdic felt he now had a point to prove regarding his clumsiness. Ossian grinned slightly at the thought. With his brother from another mother skillfully weaving his way toward the drink, Ossian made sure that he managed to skirt by those Eldric had navigated past successfully with a grace equal to or greater than his cousin. I can't very well be outdone by him here. A contest of wills is no easy thing to be victorious in against Eldric, but we shall see who wins on this eve.

It was a silly contest to be sure, but the two of them had grown up as, essentially, twins, a mere twenty days separating them. Often the two of them would compete in the most trivial of things. Not truly out of the pride supposedly at stake, but for sport and the essentially meaningless bragging rights awarded to the victor. Ossian smirked behind his mask each time Eldric looked back to see if he had been swallowed by the crowd.

As they made it to the wine tables, Ossian bowed mockingly at his cousin as he boasted about his performance in leading the way to the wine. "I suppose that it was not so bad for a clumsy one like you, indeed, dear cousin." He lifted his mask, a sly grin upon his lips as he eyed the win on the tables. He decided relatively easily that he did not care what manner of wine they had, so long as they could vacate the rather crowded tables. "What you picked before will more than do, Eldric. Also, while you're at it, get me two cups -- it's one of those nights."

Ossian chuckled lightly and dropped his mask down, waiting for their turn at the wine tables.

[Melari Forthwind]

Aiden's delivery wasn't the confident, assured nature of the practiced lover, but Melari didn't mind. His words were sincere, and that was enough to make her blush a dozen times over. "Of course it meant something to me," Mel stammered. "How could it not? You were honest about it, a-and it was my first one, and, I don't know -- you're just so kind." She turned rosier and looked at her feet. "It...may be more for me as well."

[Liam Forthwind]

It was quite apropos that Marcheline had dressed as a peacock. She certainly preened like one, even in the midst of this crowd of human peacocks. Of course, female peacocks were rather drab compared to their mates… Liam wondered if she knew. She seemed fond of talking, so he let her prattle on, a bemused expression on his face. He had never mastered the art of inconsequential chatter.

“I’m the heir,” he said, picking one question of the multitude to answer. “And a student of the sciences.” He smiled, thinking he had happened on something that was relevant to the situation. “You know, your costume is actually that of a male peacock. The females of species are quite plain, the males being the ones with the magnificent plumage to attract mates. It’s really quite fascinating.” Or, at least, he found it to be so.

Music was something of a Forthwind gift, so it was not difficult for him to recognize the song. Liam could still remember his mother’s enjoyment of singing and playing and dancing. He recognized the song. “I never thought you would,” he told her with a smile. “I’m afraid I’m rather rusty at this dance, so forgive me if I do.”

[Marcheline Forthwind]

Marcheline really did preen. She was preening for everyone here. She was pretty and vibrant. Her mother was a princess and her father was on the council of the King. Why shouldn't she be one of the prettiest girls in the room? She gave Liam a smile and began to lead him in the steps. Yet he seemed to be smiling at her, Liam Forthwind. Maybe he wasn't a bad dance partner at all!

“You are the heir of your house? Oh! That is very important then.” So he was going to be a lord. But then he started to say her costume was of a male peacock. A male? “You mean I'm dressed like a boy?!” She stammered in surprise, her eyes wide. “Oh. Well if it is the male peacock that looks pretty I'd rather look like him then. I would hate to look dull at a ball.” She turned away from him and then ended up back into his arms once more. He was taller than her. That she liked.

“It is quite alright you are doing wonderfully! Well I am leading. I've always had a talent for dancing. It is one of my favorite things to do!” She giggled happily. “So what does it mean to be a student of the sciences? What do you study? Everything?”

[Tancen Alinar]

Tancen could judge character easily. He had learned it from his mother. Aurelie Alinar was perhaps the most shrewd woman in all of the five provinces. He would give her that. He was still her son even if he now had to let her know he was the lord of Ernsaw. Not her. “No wonder you do keep the men away Lady Reagan with a tongue like that. But I know much more about women than you would think.” He was matter-of-fact in his response. Clever one, this one was. He almost would have smiled at her- almost.

He noticed that she at least did look formidable with him. Tancen didn't like weak women. His cousin Aessa he considered weak. He never cared for the dainty little flowers of the capital or really any noblewomen.Of course he liked opinionated women, women that could hold their own. It was a rare to find a woman that had a strong bite to her and Lady Reagan seemed to have just that. Tancen was intrigued. “I did not wish to come tonight. I will have but one dance and be on my way. My cousin is a stupid girl who insisted that I come because his grace would be insulted if I didn't. I do not enjoy parties. If I wanted to be productive with my time I would be studying books or spending time with my people to learn how to improve my lands. In other words I would be far away from the all the men in this room. Liars and fools half of them are. The other are just cowards who think they know how the world runs.” His cynical attitude carried onto most aspects of his life.

“I would say you are enjoying this party as much as I am.”

[Liam Forthwind]

It occurred to him (belatedly) that comparing a beautiful girl to a male peacock, while accurate, was probably not the most tactful thing he could have said in this situation. Or so he judged by her rather horrified reaction. Liam guessed she probably didn’t possess the same appreciation for factual trivia that he did. At least she rallied well enough. He wasn’t very good with emotional women, his sisters excepted, of course. And even though he wasn’t sure that his attempts at comfort were successful or simply so pathetic that they leavened the mood regardless. “That does seem to be the point,” Liam said. Certainly no one in the hall could be accused of dressing dull. He idly wondered about the total carats present in the castle tonight.

She led the dance, but he didn’t mind. She was certainly better than he! Liam had no real opinion on dancing; it was simply what one did on social occasions, but he derived no especial pleasure or otherwise from it. He smiled genuinely at her interest in his studies. “Everything I can,” he told her. “I invented a telescope – it lets you see things far away as if they were closer – two years ago. And recently I tried to see if spider webs could be harvested to create a stronger glue, but that came to naught, unfortunately.” The regret at his failure was evident in his voice. “But I’m sure I’ll start a new project soon. My sketchbook has kept me occupied in the interim. Did you know that the species of oak here is completely different from the ones I know in Caelain? The leaves especially.”

[Marcheline Forthwind]

Marcheline was ecstatic to be in the presence of a cute boy. After all, the men of all the provinces were here. Her father was sure to be entertaining some ideas of a betrothal. Marchie just hoped it was to someone handsome and a knight. She would marry a knight. She was sure of it. Having a handsome husband would mean she could be one half of the prettiest couple in all of Forsilvra and that was the highlight of her life. Really she didn't want to think about marriage. “What are you supposed to be exactly?” She asked Liam, leading him in the steps that he seemed to just follow along. Marchie didn't mind. She was a good enough dancer for the both of them.

Yet as she listened to him and he talked of trees and spiders her heart nearly stopped. Spiders were so gross! Not to mention they did scare her. “I'm scared of spiders. They can make glue? I never knew. Perhaps you should invent a glue for fabrics, but then that would ruin dresses.” She would hate to have one of her dresses ruined. “You sketch? Can you draw people?” She asked intrigued. “I've never noticed trees. Leaves get my clothes dirty.” She wrinkled her nose at the thought. This boy sure did have a lot of....strange interests.

[Liam Forthwind]

Liam glanced down at his apparel at her query. What was it again? Some constellation, although his sisters had shot down his idea of representing the stars with buttons and dressing normally otherwise. No, they had made him wear the allegorical representation of the constellation, and the illogic of it all rather compromised his memory. “A constellation, or so I’m told.” He explained: “My sisters took care of the costuming, I’m afraid. I think I’m supposed to be The Stag. I thought it would have looked better as midnight blue with jewels denoting the stars’ positions, but my sisters will insist.” Leave the matters of attire and other trivia to others – his mind was consumed by higher thoughts.

The mention of spiders seemed to upset her, which he thought odd, but not everyone appreciated their talents as he did. She seemed pleased by the idea of his sketching, so, in the interests of being polite (which he was told he should work at), he pursued that rather than expand on the intriguing habits of spiders. “I suppose I could, but people rarely sit still long enough for a complete study. I’ve a whole sketchbook in Caelain full of forearm and hand drawings from a few years back.” He’d had to abandon his study of musculature at the surface level, alas. “You should take an interest in trees,” Liam told her. “They differ from place to place, even similar species. It’s quite fascinating.”

[Marcheline Forthwind]

He went as stars? Oh that was so beautiful! “That is lovely! You are clever to think of such a thing.” Marcheline began to do another spin, but this one had to end and she walked around him in a circle before taking his hands again. “Your sisters have excellent taste in fashion. I'd only suggest a little lighter blue next time to bring out your eyes more.” She smiled. “A stag? They can be majestic. My family does like going hunting. I don't. Riding horses ruins my outfits and they are smelly.” She wrinkled her nose at the thought of horses.

Marchie much preferred to stay indoors. “How can trees be interesting? They are just plants which are also dirty. But I've never really noticed trees. They are lovely for shade especially on picnics.” Marchie bemused. “Do you like picnics? I imagine you must have pretty scenery to go on them in Caelain. Do you miss your home? I've never been to Caelain.” She never really thought of travel in Forsilvra either. “I much prefer the capital to the Hollows. It is so much more fun here. Home is so dull. My sister likes it there more. You have sisters too don't you?”

[Cordelia Morgandy]

"I believe we can afford a short break." Cordelia smiled in reply, curling her hand around her betrothed's as she guided them both from the floor. One dance was fair enough as far as appearances were concerned, and at least this saved him from the concern about stepping on her feet. On that note, it also saved her feet from any further unnecessary surprises...

She noted that her sister had taken to the floor, and observed that fact with the slightest of smiles. Did one of the northern lords think to share the Morgandy shark, perhaps? If so, best of luck to him, although there was a certain something about the thought of Reagan getting involved.

"How are your family enjoying things? I noticed your niece is quite taken with our King Adrien." Cordelia smiled, recalling the doe-eyes, the look of raw admiration between Keyna and the King.

[Reagan Morgandy]

"She was right to urge you then, Lord Alinar. A northern bannerlord not in attendance would be quickly noticed," Reagan said, as they moved delicately through the steps. They were clearly both fluent in the ways of this particular dance, but their movements lacked the champagne-edged passion that was evident in the partners that twisted and twirled around them. His matter-of-fact assessment of his own time gave Reagan a slight smile, appreciating his odd but rather zealous behavior. She could understand such an obsessive drive -- but she thought it looked more natural on herself than this straight-as-an-arrow Alinar.

"Oh, I am enjoying the party just fine, Lord Alinar," Reagan said brightly, with a practiced air of pleasure. She didn't care if he could see through it -- it was, after all, all about appearances. Clearly Lord Alinar hated the game as much as Reagan; but she didn't have a problem playing it, nonetheless. "I admire your... spirit, but I would keep my voice a bit lower when you speak ill of your fellow lords and sycophants, Lord Alinar. Not many of them are as forgiving as I," Reagan said softly, drawing near to her dance partner, her words whispered, a conspirator.

[Tancen Alinar]

“I would much rather be in a room with men brandishing a thousand daggers and blindfolded. Is that not all what the men do here?” That was all people seemed to do here. Backstabbing and scheming. He had no love for court. Still his hand held hers and his other stayed stiff at her waist. He could dance at least.

“The rest of my colleagues think me a barbarian. Perhaps I should prove them correct in that assessment.” But a barbarian didn't dance. “And what of you Lady of Morgandy? Do you love your peers? I am far more inclined to think you'd rather watch paint peel off an old wall. Unless you are a delicate little flower like the rest of the maidens. My cousin is one but at least she is not a wilting flower. I'd like to think most women have spirit.”

[Cadwallader Prothero]

“You do not want to continue?” He queried, although he was more than grateful for the break. Cadwallader was not so good on his feet but at least he hadn't managed to step on hers. He doubted Cordelia ever fell. She seemed to rather glide than walk in his opinion. Maybe even float. He however let her lead them off the dance floor.

“My family is enjoying everything. She is isn't she?” He shook his head. “But she is so young. I am not sure if she just fancies being called a Queen. I assume that is what most of the girls like here.” But he couldn't read women really. “But she is young and I am sure she does like him. His grace does certainly have a certain charm about him. I wish I had it myself but then that would come with all that responsibility. He is so young and has the weight of the kingdom on his shoulders.”

[Reagan Morgandy]

A thousand armed men, and a blindfold. Reagan gave herself a moment to entertain the thought. Interesting, indeed. She couldn't help but smile. Now what an enjoyable challenge that would be...

"If you are a barbarian, Lord Alinar, then you certainly followed your dancing lessons well. I'm not sure why a savage would need them, but I am nonetheless impressed," Reagan noted as they moved about the floor. She didn't have to hear the conversations passed between their fellow dancing companions to know that the one they shared was a bit darker than the subject matter already being engaged.

But Reagan cocked her head slightly to the side and gave Lord Alinar's question a moment's consideration, choosing the appropriate response. Watching paint peel as an alternative? Quite honestly, why not? Even that was less predictable than the behaviors of their peers. Instead, Reagan gave her dance partner a bemused smile. "Do I strike you as a woman often described as delicate, Lord Alinar? I think that alone should sufficiently answer your question."

[Cordelia Morgandy]

"He does not always appear to show it, does he?" Cordelia observed with a lightness of tone. "He has the weight of a kingdom upon his shoulders, and yet he laughs and dances, appears just as carefree as any other young noble his age." She glanced over towards where the King was dancing, the similarities between his mannerisms and Drystan's passing ever so fleetingly through her mind.

"He is a handsome young man, and confident. Keyna, nor any of the other girls, can be blamed for being taken with him. The prospect of becoming Queen is only the icing on the cake." Not that she had really intended to compare Adrien to some sugary dessert, but such was simply how things were.

"Keyna is a sweet girl. I doubt she would find much trouble in catching the King's heart." Not that Cadwallader's niece was the only young noble on display. There were others as well- a bevy of young beauties on display.

"In the meantime, you can work on your charm." Cordelia continued onwards with a fractionally impish smile. "I would be delighted to see more of what you have. Perhaps I will even let you dance with me again, later tonight."