champion

'It does have a strange charm to it. When you are here, you want to be anywhere else, but once you leave, you find yourself wanting to come back.”

"That is a...very accurate description of Ever After."

"It tends to do that, yeah."

"Are you American, then? You certainly have the accent."

Chris looked up and down at what Kyle was wearing. It was obviously not something he was used to, but at the very least, it made him look very important, and very much like he knew what he was doing. 

"Jeez. I mean, I knew that she liked my guard skills, but I didn't think that she enjoyed my company this much. Not that I'm complaining-it's an honor to be a part of the wedding party, it's just difficult for me to wrap my head around."

"There aren’t many dancing opportunities here." Elsa almost slipped, catching the next step just in time. Somewhere out there, she could sense the fates laughing at her. "Though there are plenty of fighting events."

"There really aren't. Perhaps if we were doing a foxtrot or something along those lines." Kyle laughed. "There definitely are-I've been a part of too many of them."

"Then I’ll leave you to it. Have you gotten your measurements taken yet?"

"The prince invited me to join him this afternoon for it."

"Ouch. Very new." Kyle adjusted the jacket on his shoulders uncomfortably. "I've never been to wedding, nevermind standing during the wedding, nevermind it being the royal wedding." He laughed nervously. "I'm really not sure why I was asked, to be quite honest."

"Do you know Miss Chambers? I can introduce you, if you’d like."

"I've met her while doing my rounds, I believe."

"I- no, it’s fine," Elsa managed to say, trying not to wince. It wasn’t his fault, and she knew that she couldn’t be much better. Her hands were clammy and pale, and she was sure that the rest of her was also. "I haven’t either. I wouldn’t be doing this at all if her Highness hadn’t threatened- er, asked."

Kyle snorted at the slip of the tongue. "Very, erm...accurate word choice, Miss Chambers," he said, a grin on his face. "Oh, Jesus," he muttered as he nearly stepped on her foot again. "Where was that foot even supposed to go? I don't know. I'm not used to this. I need a sword in my hands to be able to control my feet."

"I’m not sure yet. I was waiting to figure out the entire party before pairing people up."

"That sounds all right to me. When should I go see Ms. Deville?"

So it's decided.

"All right. I can do that."

"What’s the matter?"

"No, no, it's not that...I just wasn't expecting to be so involved. Ouch." One of  Ella's assistants stuck him with a pin, and he looked down at his trouser leg to see their apologetic face. "I mean, I was supposed to be on duty during the ceremony."

"That too."

"Oh yeah? You want to challenge that weakness?"

"I thought that’s what I was just trying to get across. It’s been too quiet and not nearly snarky enough lately."

"New recruits not as quick-witted?"

"Good. So I’ll see you at the next rehearsal. We’re doing a classic waltz."

"Um..may I ask who I'll be paired up with?"