the ballroom was as familiar as the bedroom, each weave between pairs, each spin and dip, was akin to gliding between silk sheets. with fluidity and grace, however, such familiarity was not unlike a home but a hunting ground; only this time, predators abound. their one reprieve was their temporary shroud, they were snakes in the grass.
only, the grass was also made of snakes... perhaps it was for the best he hadn't blundered aloud.
as they come to pause before the extravagant floor mirror, astarion finds nought but a single pair of eyes reflected back at him in an empty room. the living among the undead. it was amusing, if not something of a sore spot. where he feels a warm hand intertwined with his own, instead appears to be clinging to air, a void carved out before dorian where his own body should be. their host clearly thinks themselves a comedian.
astarion simpers as he's whisked away quickly, as if to delay any impending snark on his part.
the violin tapers off as the song comes to a close, and the sound of diluted conversation fills the space in its stead. β don't go getting ahead of yourself, darling, the night's still young, β dorian's talent and fine taste went without saying, of course, astarion hadn't doubted his ballroom etiquette for a second. stillβ
β that routine had far less pirouetting than expected. you weren't holding back on me now, were you? β