#contempenitent

Camilla eyes the on going arm wrestling match, arms crossed and grimacing. She feels another person step up beside her, deep violet towering over her. One of the knights, Mauvier she believes.

"I'm trying to decide if I should put a stop to this." She clicks her tongue as she continues to watch the match. "On the one hand, at least they're staying occupied and not bothering anyone. On the other... I can see both of them getting carried away..."

Mauvier wants to ignore whoever is clearly weaseling their way toward the Goddess Tower. Just for one night. But despite his lack of armor, and no emblem of Seiros on his person, he follows their proverbial scent.

He does not know what lay inside the Goddess Tower, nor what makes it so sacred. Only that students have a tendency to sneak into it during events like this, especially as couples. This time, though, the would-be intruder seems to be alone.

"Excuse me," he calls into the open air, weaving authority into the more casual tone he's adopted for the evening. "I'm afraid that area is off limits tonight. Please return to the ballroom."

When he was hired for the role he’s taken for the night, the biggest surprise for Hugh was the amount of importance surrounding the Goddess Tower. It had been some time since he’s been here, but he swears that the security wasn’t this tight. Actually, was there any security at all? The whole thing feels fishy, so it leads him into seeing what he can get away with.

“Hm, no, I’m…” oh, one look at the person currently keeping watch, and he knows he can’t weave a convincing enough lie. Instead, he decides to comply. (The whole, ‘I really need to get some fresh air’ bit was probably not going to work on him.)

“Aren’t you curious why you’re standing put here?” Hugh asks instead, staring up towards the tower. 

“Couples have been sneaking off up there for years, haven’t they? Don’t you wonder what changed?”

Wait, could he bribe this person? Hugh tries to study Mauvier’s face once more. He’s short on cash, but he was handed that bouquet at the door. Perhaps…

"Lady Veyle." He tries to wrangle to concern out of his tone, but he worries it may never fully wash out, even on a night like this. "Are the festivities to your liking? Do you need any help with your bouquet?"

Hmm. Maybe that came out wrong. "There's nothing wrong with your arrangement, of course," Mauvier amends. "Though there seems to be a...certain language to the way the bouquet is assembled.

Mauvier pulls a pink rose from his own arrangement, holding it out for her. A single thorn remains at the bottom of the stem; he itches to pry it off, but refrains. "I am told this one, for example, communicates gratitude. I am glad that you are here tonight, Lady Veyle. And that you are my friend."

"mauvier!!" veyle smiles in delight at the mere sight of him, bounding to his side without an ounce of hesitation. she blinks at his question. "my bouquet— oh no, i'm sure not a lot of people would—" want to give me their flowers, but mauvier changes his tone and interrupts her.

he hands her a pink rose and gives her a meaning for the flower that has budded so beautifully— as if it had responded to his explanation.

"... hehe, thank you." pink flits at her cheek and she giggles, handling the rose with the caution and care it deserves. "you can have one of my orchids. i don't know what it means, though..."

She is unmistakeable, if not by her clothes, than by the way the sunlight frames her like the flowers of her kingdom. Mauvier has never forgotten the Firenese Princess' kindness, the ear she bent for him as he spoke of his childhood. That she had searched so fervently for the hill of his most precious childhood memories...

But of course, she had taught him, even inadvertently, that the memories were precious because they were just that. His.

Mauvier bows to her, as he had her brother, helpless but to smile and bask in her presence. "I pray you've been well. I hope the monastery is kind to you, and if you need anything, know that I am never far."

"Mauvier!"

The appearance of the knight had come as a surprise, though not a great one—she had known of other Elyos royals who'd come to Garreg Mach before her, one of which being the Fell Princess herself. Despite his Firenese heritage, he was never far from Lady Veyle, the true liege of his heart. "What a joy it is to see you."

Hands delicately folded at her midsection, golden tresses bounce lightly with her nod. "I have been quite well, thank you. And at the risk of sounding presumptuous, you seem rather lighter yourself."

Not the abundant sort of joy Céline herself felt wary of, but... "Less burdened. Happier, I might dare say."

"Sir Linhardt, pardon," he murmurs, hoping not to look too intimidating. "You seem uneasy, so I've made you a gift." He pulls a little palm-sized pillow from his sidepouch (truly, it was a leftover from a previous attempt at a pincushion) which has the visage of an eagle earnestly but hastily embroidred onto it with red thread. "There's lavender sewn inside. I hope it can calm any nerves you may be feeling. May we travel safely."

“sir…?” linhardt murmurs.

they stand to appreciate the large knight's offering, and their vision turns dark for a moment with the effort.  they'd been feeling fine, but it seems like his concern was more warranted than they'd considered.

he accepts the tiny pillow, feeling it crinkle gently under his finger.  as he manipulates it, it releases a soothing scent.  how interesting.

linhardt's mind churns ahead of reality.  they forget to say thank-you, because they have something else in mind.

"Divine One."

Amidst the clamor of others getting to know each other, over the dull sound of the lapping waves, Mauvier's voice feels like a foreign croak. He remembers Alear's words, her kindness, her assertion that he was good. But had she only said such things to keep his blade sharpened for her?

No, certainly not. She is a strong leader - a loyal friend, even. He must not let his judgment be clouded.

"I didn't expect to see you here. I pray you've been well?"

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