#excalibris

You're beautiful and you know it, you own it, and yet you never let vanity cloud your sharp judgment. So cool and confident! I wish I could be like that...!

"So, we're to be partnered up for this round, then?" She smirks, "What say we both Ally? We've both got five pieces, and aren't in any great danger of losing—it's the smartest and most beneficial choice."

Judging from her vote last round, the girl seemed agreeable enough. Though something about her aura felt... off.

Grima was almost impressed by the woman approaching her. She carried herself with grace and dignity. The way she flashed her wrist brought Grima's attention to it. Her gaze sharpened as she read the bright letters before smiling warmly at her.

"That would be the smartest choice, you're right. We could both ally and gain even more candy together. I'm willing to vote ally if you are as well." Grima answered, allowing herself to be swayed in the other woman's favor. It was safer to rack up candy now rather than flounder any sense of trust others may have in her. The way the bracelets showed voting was an unexpected and dangerous factor as well. What a fun game they were playing. Even if she was betrayed, she would have candy to spare. No loss in her book.

(Though it never hurt to keep a watchful eye on Zofia's darling princess.)

But today had been one of those rare days she ventured out in the guise of a mission, playing the mercenary role to any who approached her with curiosity. Ambitions aside, Sonya had never been one to lurk in the shadows for long—to stay cooped up and deny the world her beauty.

And so, when Sonya spots a rather pretty young woman passing by, she can't help but stop to appreciate the effort clearly put into the girl's appearance. So many here were content to be plain and drab, and yet...

"You, girl."

Swaying hips come to a still as she stops, index finger coolly pointed at the young woman. "That skin? Flawless. And your hair—I could see it shimmering from leagues away." She smirks, "You clearly know how to move about in style, and every lady deserves to have such beauty appreciated, I say."

She hummed to herself, twirled on her heels, enjoying the flutter and flow of skirt ruffles and bouncing hair. Practised steps led her every movement, heralded the arrival of her loveliness and grace, from her darling head to her adorable slippers—

“Hmm~?”

And here, at last, the fruit of her efforts gave reason to come to perfectly measured pause.

(Was everyone else here simply blind, or perhaps uncultured? What was taking them all so long to realize She had arrived and awaited their praise?)

A demure smile surfaces as she turns to look on her admirer, and,

Oh.

Hand settles on her hip and she shifts, just so. Gleaming eyes take a moment to appraise Sonya, out of respect for a fellow beauty. It’s rare - so very rare! - that Goldmary finds herself at a near loss for words concerning someone else’s appearance.

This woman is… well,

“My goodness,” she blushes beneath the wave of compliments. “Coming from someone nearly as perfect as myself, that is quite the high praise…!”

… Which means, simply put, she must redouble her efforts to stand head and shoulders above the crowd. Even if that means shamelessly stealing from the competition.

“You simply must share with me how you do your eyes… There is such a… je-ne-sais-quoi to them…” 

Half-lidded eyes flutter with quiet contemplation.