#frigidsurge

It's so strange to say that word without a hint of apprehension.

A kind of joy she didn't know was afforded to her

He is yet to betray her.

He is yet to hurt her.

And the trust she places in him is innocent in a way she didn't know she still had in her.

" The roses suit you! But still, would you like to trade one away ?"

She might actually be recalling another dozel in his place, but the thoughts lack any bitterness. 

Oh, hey, that kid made it! Had she ever told Lex her name? Tailtiu's alleged kid. That didn't seem as unlikely now that he knew he had his own. She didn't seem the type to attend a fancy party like this one, but maybe he'd misjudged her. Or maybe he hadn't. There seemed to be plenty of people here who didn't particularly want to be.

Ayra, for instance.

"Oh, hey, kiddo," Lex greeted her with a friendly smile. A rose was plucked from his bouquet and offered towards her, the simplest answer to her question.

"I think red'd suit you a lot better than it'd suit me. Take one, why don'tcha? Hey, maybe we should grab some snacks together."

She doesn't act very brightly when she sees him running up a short distance before needing to stop and catch her breath due to nausea.

"Im so glad to see you. Are you alright? Does anything hurt? "

She can't see anything severe, only the usual grime and wear of a battlefield.

Still, she takes the liberty of grasping her classmates hands.

To reassure herself that he's here and in one piece.

" I am so sorry for failing you. I cannot imagine coming here would be easy."

When her hands wrap around his, Caspar’s just grateful that he can feel the squeeze around his fingers. The last time he’d touched her, the way she’d slipped through his grasp had been awful. He doesn’t have any prettier words for the feeling than that. “Tine, I have no idea what you’re talking about. You’re a mage. It should be my job to protect you out there, so that you could’ve safely done your job.”

He squeezes her hands now, almost a little too tightly.

She doesn't know of any legitimate reasons to fear their host, but it would be harder to let her anxiety go if the security was composed purely of strangers.

Still, it's a damn shame so many people that work tirelessly throughout the year are now forced to watch the festivities with a heavy duty upon their shoulders.

As such, when Tine's about to go back from stealing from the buffet, she gets distracted easily by the blue-haired knight standing guard.

"Dame Fiora ! Are you alright? Have you eaten? Do you have breaks to enjoy yourself?"

If she doesn't, there isn't much Tine can do about it, with her unwieldy dress and relative inexperience, she'd make for a poor replacement.

There still has to be something to make this event a bit nicer for someone who's been so kind to her.

She unties the handkerchief to reveal the pastries she has hidden inside.

"Would you like a few? I might have taken too many in the excitement of seeing such variety."

It's a lie; she intends to eat as much as she can within reason; seeing food thrown out after the events hosted in Freege always frustrated her to no end.

"Have you tried this one? It's actually savory with turkese meat and a slightly sour fruit filling -oh."

Something catches her eye.

"I wasn't expecting you to participate in the bracelet game, would you like to trade?"

The half-away reverie Fiora is in is interrupted by a young, concerned voice. Fiora stiffens as she turns, clearly on alert at first heartbeat, ready to intercede danger, but the only danger she spies is that of a tummy ache from eating too many pastries. The smile that comes on her face is faraway, one that doesn’t fully reach her eyes, but one that seems real enough, all the same, genuine and kind. A free hand cradles the crown of Tine’s head, an affectionate pat.

“I’m alright. Thank you, Tine. Don’t worry about me — I wish only to see you enjoy the party, instead,” she tells her, affectionately. Though her gaze appears slightly unfocused and wandering, her voice is present enough.