|
Post by Noa on Feb 21, 2021 1:00:18 GMT -6
Ten was moving before he quite meant to, and it was only when he heard Zelkova's light, pleasant voice making soft excuses for them in his wake that he realized he was pushing his way through the crowd. At once he felt the encumberance of attempting to make his way with any haste, worsened by the fact that he had to keep to the edges of the floor, for he could not have cut through the dancers; even Zelkova's grace and easy manners would not have bought him out of the censure that such a disturbance would have wrought.
At some point, Zelkova had overtaken him, and began picking their path through the throng. He made better headway, but even then, they arrived almost too late.
"Phylo, Wyllan! It has been a while, hasn't it?" said Zelkova, calling two of the Draconics by name. Twin Lashaks turned to see him, and one's nose wrinkled in displeasure.
|
|
|
Post by Linyü on Feb 24, 2021 14:47:20 GMT -6
Panic seized Giselle then, though had she been calmer, she might have chided herself for the folly of this being the thing that threw her at last into its throes; realistically the two strangers she had spotted by chance were no more likely to come to her aid than any two strangers in the room. She might have locked eyes with any of them and had just as much hope, or just as little.
But then a voice cut through the murmur of music and conversation, and that same pair materialized from the crowd to her left. The Draconics who had first accosted her froze, and then two turned to face the newcomers. Giselle could see that they were none too pleased to find themselves interrupted.
However, manners or some other consideration held their tongues in check. "Ah, Zelkova," said one of the Lashaks. "I didn't know you were here tonight."
|
|
|
Post by Noa on Feb 24, 2021 17:47:56 GMT -6
The pale Eideon wore an expression reminiscent of a startled deer, the kind of creature who was on the cusp of deciding whether or not to flee, and held there only by the momentary necessity of having been taken by surprise. Zelkova was all smiles, his body language easy, and if Ten had not known him so well, he might have believed it.
The three males paid Ten no attention, of course, but this hardly surprised him. It was known, more or less, that Ten was a creature of no particular consequence, and anyway his dark coloring and quiet demeanor did not invite anything more.
Zelkova was even now making some glib comment, and the other Draconics allowed themselves grudgingly to be engaged - knowing, most likely, that they had been caught, and whatever they meant to attempt would not come to fruition after all. Ten took a step toward the Eideon, not close enough to crowd. "Are you alright?" he asked softly.
|
|
|
Post by Linyü on Feb 24, 2021 17:53:04 GMT -6
The Makiyan, identified as Zelkova, continued to exchange pleasantries with the other three, the manners on his side impeccable as they were pleasant, and on the other side begrudging almost to the point of rudeness. But only almost; it was evident that this was a creature of some consequence, and even Giselle, with her limited experience in such company, could tell that the unhappy Lashaks in particular were taking some pains not to give offense.
But the Makiyan's dark companion did not join them, and stopped instead to speak to Giselle. And at first she could do no more than blink at him, but a moment later her thoughts caught up with her and she recovered enough to say, "Oh, yes, I'm fine. Thank you." She probably was fine, though she did not particularly feel it at the moment; too much had happened, and too quickly, and she had rather lost her bearings.
|
|
|
Post by Noa on Feb 24, 2021 17:59:11 GMT -6
For a moment, when the Eideon looked at him with those same wide eyes, Ten had thought perhaps that she would flee from him. He had never had a temper, but there had been a certain gloominess of manner that had plagued him all his life, and in the moment it may have been too much for a sensitive young debutante. But she recovered herself enough to answer him, and upon hearing her words, he was relieved - as much that she had not fled after all, as to hear her proclaim herself well.
Normally this was where Zelkova would interject, making some joke that alleviated all awkwardness as easily as a spell, but Zelkova was otherwise engaged. Ten glanced at him nevertheless, out of habit and vain hope, but in the end it fell to him to fill the silence. "My apologies," he said. "I am Ten, and that is Zelkova, of Riverhold."
|
|
|
Post by Linyü on Feb 24, 2021 22:27:01 GMT -6
Riverhold. Giselle knew the name. Her family couldn't have done better if they had plotted her debut themselves. It hadn't been her own intention to throw herself in the way of the most affluent families she could find, but luck, or something, had endeavored to throw her in their way anyhow. "Oh, I... I beg your pardon," said Giselle, unable to hide her flustered reaction. She was still confused from everything that had preceded, and hardly knew how to compose herself. "I'm Giselle, of Emeraldine." She had to bite her tongue to keep from adding that he would not have heard of them, that it was a small family of little consequence. The name, she felt, had always been too fine for what they were, but her father had a vain streak, and some aspirations to grandeur that she never could quite manage to shake. And her mother, indifferent to any matters beyond her own studies, had simply gone along with it.
|
|
|
Post by Noa on Feb 24, 2021 22:32:59 GMT -6
The introduction seemed to have re-agitated the Eideon's spirits, rather than settling them, and Ten wondered if perhaps he should have let Zelkova's affiliation remain anonymous after all. It would have been of no consequence to Zelkova, Ten was sure; having always had the most standing, Zelkova cared the least for it.
But if she meant to be cowed by the weight of the Riverhold name, then her efforts were misdirected. Ten gave a slight shake of his head. "I think you are mistaken," he said. "Zelkova is the Riverhold scion - and Zelkova only. You need not take such pains with me." He tried to sound kind, tried to remember how it sounded when Zelkova did it, though he rather feared he could not manage it. His voice, like his face and his somber coloring, had no tendency for kindness. But the gravity of it might at least be less than it otherwise was.
|
|
|
Post by Linyü on Feb 24, 2021 22:41:50 GMT -6
Ten didn't react to the name of her own clan, and Giselle didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed. She followed his gaze as it settled on the Makiyan, still engrossed in conversation, though now his crowd had broadened beyond the first three Draconics who had attempted to accost Giselle.
Now that she was seeing them through the lens of an observer, she wondered if she had perhaps misjudged their intentions. The disgruntled air had dissipated from them, engaged as they were in some topic that suited them better, which now lent animation and liveliness to their features. Perhaps they really had only meant to greet her.
Even so, she was glad for the intervention, if only because it prevented her from embarrassing herself.
Still, she could not be a stunned wallflower forever, she knew. Ten made for a rather sober audience, but at least he would not laugh at her, she thought. In the brightest voice she could muster, she said, "Well, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance all the same, Ten."
|
|
|
Post by Noa on Feb 24, 2021 23:08:35 GMT -6
It was Ten's turn to be taken aback. He had not expected himself to be addressed so vigorously, even if it seemed at least a little forced on her end. But even forced brightness was becoming on Giselle. Her features were better suited to a merry countenance than a nervous one.
For a moment he was at a loss. He had not the gift of easy speech that his friend did, and in fact the liveliness of Zelkova's conversation had precluded the need for his developing much of his own.
It could not have been more than good manners and gratitude for their intervention, though the latter was also misdirected at him, Ten felt. Nevertheless, he had been raised adjacent to a gentleman, if not one himself, and now he inclined his head. "The pleasure is mine," he said. And then, because his mouth had decided to betray him at a most inopportune time, he asked her, "Would you like to dance?"
|
|
|
Post by Linyü on Feb 24, 2021 23:14:47 GMT -6
There was something almost laughable about how stricken Ten seemed by his own proposal, after he had spoken it into existence. Giselle studied his face, the serious red eyes, and wondered for the first time whether he was as uneasy here as she had been. He was taller than she was, tall in general, though not so large as many Lashaks. At first she had thought him... not quite intimidating, but perhaps unhappy, the sort who looked upon everything only to find dissatisfaction in it.
Now, she suspected that he may simply be shy.
Giselle did not consider herself a very brave creature, but in this case there was no longer anything to frighten her. A voice in the back of her mind urged her on for other reasons: if he was a friend to a scion of Riverhold, then his company would certainly put her in the way of that scion. But when she acquiesced, it was for her own reasons, less calculated and more a whim of the moment.
|
|
|
Post by Noa on Feb 24, 2021 23:21:56 GMT -6
Zelkova was barely cognizant of the topic of conversation. Phylo had begun on the hunting prospects of some nearby cliffs, which had been taken eagerly up by the rest, and needed only a little input in the way of agreeable nothings from Zelkova to proceed merrily on. It was only when Wyllan stopped, peering at something behind Zelkova, first with an air of incredulity and then with derision, that Zelkova found himself paying attention again.
"I didn't know he danced," said Wyllan.
Zelkova turned. There, on the floor among the assembled dancers, was Ten, partnering with the slender Eideon from earlier. For her part, she looked to be in much better spirits. As for Ten, he was acquitting himself admirably for someone who did not dance at all if he could help it, even if he did so with the air of a creature honor bound to some great and terrible duty.
|
|