flower of dahna

What to do, though? For now, she settled on helping clean up the wrecked shoreline. For as intense as the ball was, the sands were just as messy. It appeared that Count Menja needed more hands to clean all this up. Lene started at the furthest reach of the shore, picking up trash, wine glasses, and discarded food, and retrieving lost items. 

The dancer had to wonder if they were getting paid for this. Lene continued to scout the beach as she spotted brilliant purple hair. Oh, she's seen that guy around before. Sheg....Shed....Sheb....she forgot his name.

The suffocating pressure of the knights and the nobles and the stone walls of the academy, it all melted away. Each step landing as snowflakes on the ground, perfectly in rhythm with the music that she held within, dearer than anything. When each movement could flow seamlessly into the next, only then could she truly feel at home.

It is the creak of a door and a scuff on stone that sends the moment crashing down, and she freezes. A professor now would not be good. It had taken her an hour just to move the chairs and tables out of the way, and she wasn't wearing her uniform. She had thought this classroom unused and secluded, but evidently not secluded enough.

But when she turns to the door, her heart skips a beat. The face looking back at her...

It's not quite her own, but eerily similar. The curve of her face, hair the same shade of green. Even the color of the ribbons she wore resembled her own.

Could it be...?

It takes a moment before Silvia realizes she's staring, and another before she realizes that the stranger has asked her a question.

Yet there is the other subject to broach. Why did they look so similar? Lene hardly wants to bother this woman when they can merely be strangers brought together by coincidence. But if not? If not? How could she miss this chance? Lene plays with the idea of asking the woman, but she knows in truth she has little to go off. Yes, she has no memories of her mother. 

All she knows is that she was a dancer. The poignancy of the dance strikes a chord in Lene's heart, though, so when the woman stops, she might actually just go for it.

“Come along, then. We have work to do.”

The pair wander off into the woods. It's a quiet walk, mostly because Innes isn't that talkative. He's not a great teacher if all he's doing is walking without showing. He grabs the bow from his back.

“Archery requires a lot of skill, and a lot of strength,” he says. “It takes any buffoon to grab a lance and start hitting people with it. It's simple and effective. However, a bow requires finesse that most other weapons do not have.”

She follows him into the woods with no words. There's no need for flattery here. He will display his skill without provocation, she thinks. After a decent amount of time, they stop, and Prince Innes pulls out his bow. 

So she'll need to build up her strength. Lene jots the mental note down. She had only been practicing with spears right now, but she's not about to say that after this guy's comment. The dancer merely smiles to herself. 

"So I guess you're pretty strong, huh," she muses. But he likes to keep it all covered up.

With a beaming smile, the petite priestess twirled and took Lene’s hand, “Let’s go together!” and she dragged her to a nearby shore, a bit hidden from prying eyes, but perfect for the gift she wanted to create; as she reached the sandy terrain, she stopped and turned towards Lene, a very serious expression was drawn on her visage.

“I wanted to make something we will both remember” she started, a little enthusiasm leaked from her lips as she proceeded, “But since we cannot hold the charms for ourselves..” she gently pulled Lene's hand open as she lightly placed the starfish charm into her palm, “I’d love to share them the same, but as a assign of agreement in doing a bracelet made of real seashells!” and she waited, placing her hope into that gesture.

Suddenly, Sakura's normally cheery face turns serious. Lene wants to pause and ask if she is okay, but Sakura talks first. 

"Oh,"

Lene's chest is nearly going to burst from all the emotions. More than anything, she feels thankful towards Sakura - a gratitude she's not even sure how to express. That someone wants to remember her and their time together? It means more than she can bear. 

So Lene does the only thing she can think of. She wraps her arms around the priestess in a tight hug. "Thank you," Lene manages. "Thank you. For wanting to remember me. For wanting to remember us both at the ball. I know it seems so silly, but.....it really just means a lot to me. Thank you. I'd love to."

The queue moves forward, and Laylea has to quickly get back to her feet.“I got starfish too.” She hands one to Lene, and smiles. “Guess the academy thinks we’re stars, too.” 

Well, if they both had them, then… “Something like this then?” She stretches out her arms and legs, making the shape of a star, before bursting into laughter. 

"Oh, that looks good, too!" Lene chatted. Watching Laylea pose was fun as well. Maybe if she could copy this and that.... The line moves forward, and so they need new ideas. 

Lene bursts into laughter at the other dancer's joke. It's a soft gesture. "I guess we are," she adds. "Better prove how we are stars, I guess," she says more quietly. Then again, Lene had her own insecurities, and she couldn't just project them onto the other girl. She knew better than that. 

But just like that, before Lene has time to stew on her thoughts, Laylea is moving into a silly shape. Lene sputters and thinks she might die from laughter. "Perfect," she jokes. 

If she was honest with herself, meeting someone in a colorful cave filled with creatures and flora that no one had seen before is a good start. She couldn't think of a more interesting way to meet a person.

And the entire night didn't have to be Lene showing off her dancing skills. Lene was perfectly happy slowing it down and just chatting. 

"Oh, you're here with a date! How fun!" The dancer was curious to see what Sitri's date might look like, but she kept those questions to herself for now.

Lene smiles authentically at her. It's easy for once. And Sitri is glowing with enthusiasm. "I'm so glad to see you, too," she tells her. "I wasn't sure you'd be here." Lene's heart was gladdened with the news that Sitri was enjoying herself.

She giggled at the mention of the amount of time she spent on that dress; she was so stunning and despite everything she would definitely look good with anything –that was what the petite priestess thought as she twirled together with the green-haired girl, happiness leaking from her lips in the form of a timid smile.

She didn't have to worry about if someone found her pretty or desirable enough, if someone wanted to take her to dance. Being around Sakura was just enough. Inwardly, Lene wondered what they could do together. She was happy to take her friend for a dance or walk around the shoreline - pretty much anything.

“Would you prefer a full-body or close-up?” She asks. “I’ve never had a picture made of me before, so I’m not really sure what to do.” She’d only ever seen paintings of old nobles looking very serious. She didn’t want a stuffy portrait like that, she wanted something she could look back at and smile. 

“Maybe something like…” She takes Lene’s hand and holds it out in front of them, placing the other on her side, as if they’re about to strut across the dancefloor together. “Hmm… let’s keep thinking.” That was cute, but try not to obscure too many accessories, she thinks. 

"Oh!" Lene exclaims, being dragged out of her thoughts. "Y'know, I could really go for either. But now that we're already all dressed up.....Why not go for a full body?" That's right, they had gone the extra mile to make themselves so beautiful for tonight. What was the point if they didn't capture it? Lene certainly wanted to remember looking like a princess. 

"We can pose like dancers," she adds, "or just do whatever we like. I don't think there's one thing we have to do."

But it seemed that Laylea had already taken the initiative. Well, that strutting pose certainly was fun. "How about this?" Lene asks, putting one arm over and under her face, boxing it in.

"Why, thank you," she answers. She's already received her fair share of compliments, but you know, one more can't hurt. Especially when she's waiting for a larger reaction. Though it does never come.

Strange. She had picked him for a man who gave in to his desires. At least when the time came for it. And not that she really wanted a piece of him, but why was he not giving her more attention? Lene knew just how good she looked. 

"Well, I can't refuse a dance, can I?" she said, offering her hand. She was good enough to learn formal dance on top of the dance that she already knew. Lene had better put it to good use. Even if it was only for socializing and well.....whatever Innes was doing.

"Let us go, then," Lene says, whisking him away to the ballroom floor. Maybe her skills there will impress him more. 

That she's found her is enough to give Lene decades worth of warmth. Her heart yearns for more, yet she gives pause. They barely know each other. It should feel strange. But Lene finds herself bursting with energy for once. As long as she has her mom, she'll be okay. That's really the only thing she's ever wanted. To be by her side again. To find her place in life. Everything else is on pause.

If Mom is feeling a bit down, she rubs the thought away. Maybe she's tired or needs a drink. 

"Are you thirsty?" Lene asks eagerly, ready to please. "I can get you a drink if you'd like!" Please, please smile more. 

Lene would do anything and more to keep Silvia by her side. She only hoped her dress pleased her mother.

Between dances, Laylea weaves through the crowd to get drinks for herself and her date. You’d think heels would be a bad idea on sand, but she makes it look effortless. Returning to her date, she spies Lene running around, searching for someone. Probably Ares, Laylea thinks. If she runs into him she’ll let him know. 

As she turns away, she hears her name called. She was looking for me?

“Hello Lene.” She smiles. Getting a compliment from Lene means a lot, a dancer like her would be able to appreciate the thought that went into coordinating an outfit for an occasion like this, especially when she had someone to match accessories with. “Thank you so much! I thought it’d look good on a moonlit beach.” 

“You look gorgeous as always, and I love what you’ve done with your hair.” Pink suited Lene so well, and Laylea always enjoyed seeing orange accessories. Lene was cute and elegant, a winning combination. 

“A picture? I’d love to have one taken with you!” Laylea beams. “I’ll just be a moment, I need to give L’Arachel her drink.” She was always going to split off from her and mingle, it was no problem. 

Lene does blush a bit when Laylea compliments her own look. No matter how many times people had glossed compliments at her over the night, it made a difference when someone she knew made a genuine appeal. She had put so much thought into her attire. Lene was glad someone appreciated it.

"Yes!" The dancer practically prances upwards. She can't believe Laylea agreed so easily, especially since she appears to be occupied. Lene nods while the other disappears for a moment to deliver a beverage. Oh, what should she do? How should she pose? She spends a moment brainstorming new moves. 

"About that....." The queue was really long. Hopefully, it would move quickly. They walk towards the photo-artifex booth, and to Lene's delight, the line seems to have moved up a bit. "Oh good, it's moved."

Hands threaded together and Lene moved with Sakura across the dancefloor. It was nice to take the lead for once. 

"Oh, thank you!!!" Lene answered. "I had spent so much time picking it out, I forgot about enjoying wearing it," the dancer laughed softly.

Not to mention the amount of time she spent getting ready. That must have taken forever. By the time she arrived at the ball, she must have been a frazzled mess. That's why it was so nice to see friends.

Lene had stepped out to take a break from the ballroom. Even a dancer needed a break from dancing sometimes! Sitting in the cabana, she drank her chilled beverage slowly. The crashing waves certainly were soothing. Lene glanced up at the twinkling stars. Tonight was beautiful in so many ways.

It was only then that she noticed someone else was in the cabana, ready to leave. Lene turned to see a fluttering yellow gown in the eve. Wow. So pretty.

"Your dress is so pretty!" Lene commented. She had opted for formality first, but this was really fun too. "I love the yellows," she added.

"I'm Lene, by the way. Maybe we can dance together once we get back out there. I'm happy to take the lead."

She'd been so preoccupied with making a good impression, Lene had forgotten about making friends.

Even Emma takes breaks every once in a while.

Well, break was a little bit of an overstatement. Emma went to break areas from time-to-time—and with plenty of good reasons, to be fair. When she attended festivities, she wanted to see each and every inch of them, because to her that seemed the only way to enjoy them to their fullest. On top of that, break rooms tended to be where the snacks and drinks not being carried around on fancy platters by fancy servers tended to be, which was a plus. The cherry on top? For some reason, her brand of magnetism tended to attract individuals who lingered on the fringes of main events, so she was often bound to reunite with a friend or two.

This time, though, she is approached by someone new.

"Oh, wow!" Emma gasps, a hand belatedly flying up to cover her mouth more than a moment too late. She looks the other girl up and down in complete awe. The girl can hardly believe she's the one receiving a compliment here. Not a filter in sight or sound when it comes to compliments, Emma speaks her thoughts as they come to her. "Are you a princess? Your hair is so pretty, and your dress is so frilly!"

Her genuine enthusiasm makes it all but clear that it's not meant as baseless flattery.

So when the girl she compliments turns to her and reacts so positively, the dancer has to blush and almost cover her face. She's used to being confident and in control but this is a whole nother kind of attention that she does not know. A whole princess? Unbelievable. 

"Oh, you know," Lene plays. "I wanted to go with a floral theme. But no, I'm not a princess." It's mind boggling how someone could think that. Her? Lene? The dancer has to double check herself. Did the girl really think she looked that good? 

But it's not too late to strike a pose. "Of course, I'd love to dance with you," she continues. "I'm pretty good at it, if I don't say so myself. "Whaddya say?"