classiqals

Antonia bent down, rubbing at the spot on her foot which had been crushed by Reuben's continuous missteps. She had thought these lessons unnecessary at first, but now she could understand why they hadn't wanted the foreign royals going in unprepared. Her frustration at her partner's lack of experience had been quickly improved by her joy at getting to dance again. To really dance, with speed and movement and feeling. "Forgive me if I do not dance with you tomorrow," Antonia teased, slipping into a seat next to Reuben.

"That's just what you're missing - how fun this style of dance becomes once you master it. Learning to perfect the moves so that you no longer have to think about it. Once you can do that, you and your partner can completely let go. There's nothing like it, two people who know the rules so well they can break all of them and stay in perfect lockstep." She was smiling at the image, her body wanting to move at the mere thought. "It has been a long time since I have danced like that."

" Oh, sister, but you must save me at least one whirl around the ballroom. What message would it send the masses, to see a family unit disjointed by the dancing shoe? " A familiar tone of light, affectionate teasing had slipped further into his voice, and Ruby would never shy away from the chance to poke fun at his brother's bride. A Queen, she may be - but expecting the youngest Prince to act as such, would be a fight better left alone unless necessary.

A pang of rare homesickness brought a lift to Ruby's heart beat, listening to her talk, the air rushing from her lungs like she belonged there. He supposed... she did. This was her world, and he'd never seen her so... happy. At peace. At home. Not that he really cared to pay much attention, not too deeply, anyway.

A small laugh escaped him. " You do have a way of making it sound quite fun. I just don't usually stick with anything that requires this much work for the pay out. " If it didn't come easily, the Prince wasn't interested. But the praise settled nicely, his chest puffing outwards, revitalized. " So - you're saying I'm a natural, are you? Let's go again, show me how fun it really can be. "

feathers had been ruffled with the choice of direction for the play - accusations of propaganda && narrative stealing were now ripe on the wagging lips of those who had attended, gossip a wildfire through the spanish palace. su-jin found he didn't care, not really, as long as the talk stayed exactly that. talk. but worries always seemed to grow their weight when they sat upon the shoulders of an emperor. su-jin knew where to find kaito, the young ruler who stared with such a brooding gaze out into the yonder open. eyes like his mothers. " there is a lesson to be learned here, i believe. no matter what you do, someone will find fault. " he shrugged lightly, coming to rest pale hands to the cool banister beside the other. " nothing in the play was out of line, but not everyone can appreciate the raw nature of truth. weaker minds will find discomfort in the face of it. "

"Red or black?" He asks his brother with a curious hum, chin tilted at the matadors priming for a bullfight. Every one with a color, to make betting easier - and more fun. Of course, as King, Elias doesn't partake in betting. What would it do to his image as Germany's benevolent King? Ruby, on the other hand... "Or did you bet they'll both get run over by a bull?" Which may be the safer bet, but when it comes to his younger brother, Elias knows better than to expect anything but the unexpected.

Of course Ruby had all ten fingers deeply rooted in the betting pool - playing sides && turning tricks, pocketing the profits, and devising a series of invisible fees that turned to a heavy clatter of coin in his satchel pinned under his clothes, to his side. A pretty penny earned already, and not a single one of the matadors had a chance to win yet. " I bet on them both, of course. " Ruby grinned, eyebrows raising as he watched the preparations with his brother. He wished, just nearly, to jump the fence && join in on the fun. " Either way, I will see a profit, but based on the pool size, red seems to be the fan favorite today. Seems a bit of an advantage, doesn't it? Red to anger the bull, to make him misbehave. " A hand came to smooth gently against the ret patterned vest Ruby himself wore, as if finding the comedic humor in such a thing.

Tongue to cheek; Teeth to lip; The sultan's brave attempts to stifle his inner amusement are lost to foul language and very clear frustration as it etches itself in the lines of the younger monarch's face. He too believed this to be nonsensical despite the enjoyment he often found in pursuit of culture. Halil laughs, a hearty, warm laugh that is both concessive, truthful, and playful all in the same breath. "I am pained, truly, physically and mentally, to say that you, Prince Reuben of Germany, are hereby banned from ever partaking in musical events held within the Turkish palace until you rid yourself of your horse-like gallop and replace it with talent." A grin. "Many will soon join you on such a list, myself included. I do not believe that you, nor I were made for such finesse, I'm afraid."

a boisterous, carefree laugh ripped free from the reckless lungs of the young prince, blue eyes brightening at the chance to tease && sympathize with another in such a station above him. perhaps other royals would be more keen to know one's place, to keep a tight lip when in the presence of someone who wore a true crown... but manners rarely showed face when it came to the brood of hatzfeld brothers. ruby, perhaps, the worst of them all when it came to elevating his banter to match heaven's greatest heights. " and in one fell swoop, you have crushed every one of my greatest hopes and dreams. " the prince lamented with a dramatized sigh, the smile never wavering even as his eyes took on a faraway look of glazed disappointment.

toes curled to soothe the ache pinched between the stiff leather of his shoes, and ruby wished to kick them from his feet and truly be free to gallop like a wild horse across the shine of the waxy floor. he barely restrained himself.

" do you think they shall throw us from the heart of the party, should we fail to improve our talents by the end of the lesson? i'd wager plenty would pay to see a sight such as that, us dragged out from the elbows, kicking && screaming as our heels click out of time to the music. "

mischief was a familiar sparkle in the glint of pale eyes, and isaac smirked as her weight found home settled beside him. existing in their own corners of power carved from the marble of royalty, every secret was protected by their own blood. and isaac knew each had their unique role to play. even so- it did nothing to dampen the spirit of an older brother, finally reunited with the sister he so loved to antagonize with love. " missed you? " the strageist breathed out, eyebrows raising as if considering the notion for the first time. " why- were we apart for long? felt like a vacation. " he teased, though there was deceit in his words, the sentiment behind the jest speaking volumes to their absence && it's toll it had taken. his knee bumped to hers in a quiet, subtle pass for connection.

Except for Su-Jin. A black box that, no matter how she twists and turns, is just as befuddling as her first glance at him. "I do it all." She says with a boast, nodding at the cigarette between his fingers. "Care to share?" Midori's eyes drop from the cigarette, to his fingers. An enigma. A mystery. She cannot say for certain, but the instinctive wariness always gives her pause. As if he is watching her, every bit as she is watching him.

Their steps always seemed to meet when they might be better off not - glances found in darkened halls with shadows of doubt, always toeing the line between where they should be versus where they were. Two vessels that haunted Japan's halls, and orbited around the young Emperor. Su-Jin had been all but raised on the island, a fixture of the palace like a pillar itself, and always watching.

Yet, never had he shaken the explorative gaze of the woman. Lips twitched in a smile as he extended out the olive branch. " All yours. " he nodded slowly, pulling a second from the folds of his fabrics to light for himself. " It's been a little difficult to enjoy the performance, when so many seem keen to take offense. Do you think- this would reflect poorly on the nation's motivations? " The question was posed lightly, easily, like it was a mere informal topic to discuss. What would it matter to him, anyhow - Su-Jin was there on behalf of Korea, the watchful eye in the corner, the listening ear to remember has yet to state any side, at least with his own two lips.

where: the palace entrance

It was quickly coming up on 10pm. Arshiya had signed herself out of the palace, needing fresh air and a ride, a chance to think. She had not intended to stay out so late, but the threat that she had to return had made it hard to.

As she was finally waved through by a guard, she noticed another making their way in. "Are you also rushing to get back before lock-in?' she asked, voice bitter, "I thought we had left the curfews behind in previous nations. Why is it our hosts keep insisting on having us locked up like criminals, or misbehaving children?"

" Our similarities continue to grow stronger. " Lips turned upwards in a sort of sinister smirk - Haspira, too, had little regard for the new, imposing rule. How better to keep them all like sitting ducks, gathered together && frightened in the night, awaiting the next tragedy, the next scandal. " History teaches no one anything, it would seem. This time, I choose not to abide by their impositions. Why are you rushing - what is the worst they can do, imprison us? " As if it they wouldn't if they desired, anyway, fault or not.

"i appreciate you taking the time to meet with me." haiyan smiled at the commander, gently pushing a teacup toward him. while the betrothal between tian feng and meilin should sprout celebration, dread churned in haiyan's gut. it wasn't fully because of tian feng, but what it meant to draw the emperor's attention in this way. of how meilin could be in more danger than either haiyan or daiyu ever expected.

still, haiyan's smile remained courteous, bright. "i do hope we get along. i aim for it, really. not just for the sake of my daughter, but for when you're welcomed into the fold of our family."

keenly aware how essential it was for china to remain in the best possible standing with hong kong, tian feng had of course responded promptly to the invitation. now that a betrothal with the viceregal had been arranged, and the details of the marriage alliance in negotiations, it was time for the commander to dress his best and adorn a smile.

he'd never actually met a father of a person he was courting - if you could call the political match courting, at all. was he to be a soldier, a patriot, or merely, a man with intent to marry into the family? the latter, probably, felt most appropriate, even if tian feng hadn't the slightest idea of what such role entailed. " of course, it is my honor. the tea is delicious. " he smiled in like fashion, sipping gently, and keeping his back straight like the man of military he was. " china is - i am... very much looking forward to this opportunity. from all i have come to experience, your family is quite lovely. "

lips had barely parted before the commander was shut down - but he didn't protest the audacity of the prince. instead, tian feng gave an amused chuckle. " you find yourself lucky to have run into me, then. another fifteen minutes, and it would be captain chen, and he knows no end to the lecturing. " a subtle glance around, but from his faith in intuition, the only threat this royal posed was to himself. " got any more where that came from? " he nodded to the wine glass.

she  falls  back  into  the  rhythm  with  ease  ;  contrasting  chaos  with  calm  ,  for  others'  benefit  .  in  spite  of  a  continuously  pounding  heart  ,  and  fear  gnawing  at  her  stomach  .  nails  rapping  against  the  table  ,  isra  replays  the  bedlam  in  the  grand  jury  hall  ,  hoping  to  achieve  any  sort  of  understanding  of  the  tangled  mess  left  in  its  wake  .  but  the  memory  ebbs  into  the  background  when  she  hears  approaching  footsteps  .  reflexively  ,  she  sits  up  ,  offering  a  warm  smile  to  @classiqals  @flcralhaze  @umitvar  @verenduss  @monarhrh    @whispcrings  , "  how  can  i  help  ?  don't  be  shy  now  .  "  almost  a  joke  ,  or  ,  rather  ,  an  attempt  at  bringing  levity  .

in light of recent turmoil, safiye pulled a genuine smile in response. " i have heard rumors you carry the best secret blend of herbal tea for calming the jitteriest of nerves. " her eyebrows rose, as she gave emphasis to the hearsay. her other hand comes up, to reveal a small bundle of spices && herbs that the priestess had brought herself. " i do not come empty-handed. trade? "