#azurelunae

The music that comes to fill the room at the start of a new song is already unfamiliar enough, but the dance that goes along with it is just all the more so. Should it still be as much as it is after all the time she’s had with the good ol’ ‘watch and learn’ throughout prior balls? No, probably not. But what kinda weirdo wants to learn at a PARTY, anyhow? Really, you can’t blame her for not paying too much attention to the specifics. Her brains on vacation.

“Do you know this one?” Elise turns to her partner with a questioning tilt of her head. Something she probably should’ve done before they stepped foot on the dance floor, but it’s just a teeeeny tiny bit late for that at this point. Oh well. She doesn’t look Nohrian, so there’s a decent enough chance she has the knowledge to cover the gaps for them both, right? “It’s okay if you don’t though — I don’t either, hehe! We can improvise! It might look a little silly, but it’ll still be fun, right?”

…Hey, now that she’s looking, she doesn’t just look not Nohrian… She kinda looks like Ephraim, too. Huh. Probably a coincidence. There is a shocking amount of people with blue hair at this school after all, it was only a matter of time before they started doubling up on similar shades. Oooh, maybe she can introduce them later! Anyone with the same hair color has got to get along great. They can start a Same Hair club!

"Ah... you were watching with General Seth, I take it?" It seems his embarrassment will not fade so easily, but he is able to keep a smile on his face through this conversation. At least she seems pleased, instead of completely baffled like Seth was.

"When you tell Ephraim about my glorious battles today, as I'm sure you will, you can leave out the part where I was in a wedding dress." And the part where they lost their final round, for that matter.

"It was fun to wear." He admits. "But as you say, difficult to move in. I see why you like your usual armour, it gave a lot more freedom." And in the heat of battle, Forde hadn't given any thought to how unladylike his movements might be. He understood Eirika better now, he thought.

"Oh, you're a fellow Golden Deer!" Eirika clasps her hands together in delight. "I'm Eirika, Queen of Renais, but merely a student here at the academy. I do hope to become friends."

It has been her goal to become acquainted with her fellow students, especially those of her house. She offers Marianne the plate of miniature cupcakes that's shared between them.

"My brother and I were tutored privately at a young age. We would sometimes sneak out with our friend." She smiles fondly at the memory. "I loved being able to see the town and all the people that lived there. Is there anywhere nearby that you like to visit?"

Her enthusiasm surprised Marianne — she doesn't recall anyone ever being so excited about meeting her. It left her a bit unsure how to act. Be happy ? Smile ? Return her enthusiasm ?

A moment passed before realizing the one opposite her is a Queen, causing her to quickly bow her head in respect. " Um, I'm not sure if a queen should talk to someone like me.. " It was a mumble mainly to herself, her nerves growing. Yet despite that, she returned her greeting: " Oh, um, I'm Marianne. It's nice to meet you. Can I, um, just call you Eirika ? " The least she'd wanted to do was offend a Queen, but since she insisted on being just a student..

A surprised blink of her eyes followed as a plate of miniature cupcakes was offered to her. " Oh, um, thank you. " The tiniest smile of gratitude was given as she reached over and took hold of chocolate covered cupcake, sugar sprinkled on top.

Listening to Eirika's words, she cannot help but imagine a young queen sneaking out. How brave and daring of her..

Taking a bite out of the small cupcake before setting it upon the plate before her, she'd finished chewing before replying: " Um.. I really like the stables. " A foolish response, perhaps. Maybe she meant somewhere outside of the Monastery Grounds. But even then, she was always confined to her room. " Or, well, anywhere with animals, really. " She corrected herself. " Also, the church. It.. gives me hope to go and pray there daily. " Marianne glanced downwards as she spoke. " I'm not really adventurous.. I prefer being in familiar places over discovering new things. " More like she didn't dare to.

"Oh this song!" Deirdre looks past Eirika a moment, caught up in her nostalgia. She remembers, now, the first time she had ever heard it. It was a song all of her friends had been all too familiar with but one she had never heard before. Growing up in Verdane and away from other people did not create an environment where Grannvalian court dances were necessary!

"Professor." Eirika offers her a glass of water. "Are you enjoying yourself? I have not had this much fun in some time. Though it would be better without the appearance of certain others." She is sure the Grado general knows who she alludes to. His name is best lest unsaid around polite company.

"I have been practicing as well. Before the tournament, in fact, I used a bouquet that swapped between different elemental magics. It was quite fascinating, though I am glad our bouquets do not do that." She laughs.

“I am.”

An honest answer, though Selena likely would’ve responded the same regardless of its veracity. (She was not to burden others with her problems; certainly not her students, and certainly not the nobility of foreign nations.) The answer is practiced, smooth in delivery, the sort to soothe instead of worrying, but in this instance—honest as well. (A glad thing it is, then.)

Certainly, she had not always been greeted with the kindest reception (Prince Innes had brushed her off; Princess L’Arachel said upfront that it was not pleasant to see her), but there had also been warmth. Katarina said hello. She got to speak with Miss Lapis. Prince Innes had wished her a pleasant ball, and Princess L’Arachel had given her another chance.

So, her night has been well, Selena thinks. (Better than it could’ve been.)

For instance: somewhere in these halls, Valter no doubt lurked—as he has in past years, and as he is persistent in daylight as well—and yet, Selena has yet to see him. (Unfortunately, it seems Eirika is not quite as lucky as she has been.) It comes as a somber recognition as Selena accepts the glass, the waters within a thing uninfluenced by the Moonstone. “I am glad you’ve been able to enjoy yourself regardless.” (She feels a narrowness stir—distaste mixed in with everything she could not name.) “If he appears again,” she continues, voice grave with the weight, “do not hesitate to let me know.”

I will deal with him myself.

“I’m glad to hear you’ve been practicing,” the professor then goes on, tone lighter—tinged with the frills of pride. “It likely is for the best that our blooms do not have those effects, but I would’ve loved to see it all the same.”

Eirika is as gracious as always. There is a part of him that grimaces, a slight, internal, selfish thing that chafes at the reminder of such raw emotion. Really, he could have lived the rest of his life without remembering that he has them.

But that would be unfair to her, and Wolf has already shamed himself in his treatment of others plenty tonight. Still, he accepts the rose first, diverting his attention to finding one to give to her in turn. (After all, the last time he'd danced had gone so poorly.) For a moment he considers blues, for despite the reds she often wears, that is how he thinks of her: calm and too serene with a fool coughing up flowers.

It would stick out sorely against her current attire, however, and after a another beat of thought he hands her something brighter: a yellow rose in exchange for her own.

...But that is a familiar song. Opening his eyes (when had they closed?), he finally holds out a hand.

"Alright. I know this song," he reassures her, as if she would somehow know to be worried, "So I won't embarrass myself here." And if he did? Well... "You can step on my foot if I do."

"Come join me for a dance, Eirika!" L'Arachel excitedly beckons her good friend to the dance floor.

"This is quite the perfect song and dance for someone as grandiose as I, would you not say? Let us take the breath and attention of everyone who may be in the vicinity!" She lets out a hearty laugh as she begins to stomp her feet to the music.

“I’ve been practicing my dancing the-“

“-past year, don’t you think I’ve gotten-“

“-better at this? Alsothatdresslookslovelyonyou.”

Forde doesn’t know how a dance, not even from Renais’s major cities, made its way over to Fodlan. But the concept of standing in two lines and walking towards each other wasn’t too difficult to pick up, even if he and Eirika were demonstrating the footwork was slightly more complicated than it would appear.