#goldmaries

Goldmary singsongs as she approaches the other woman with a box wrapped in shimmering gold paper, tied with a simple white ribbon. It was fairly large, enough to comfortably fit in both of her hands, and smelled of sugar and dough.

If the Brodian's mouth was starting to water, she wouldn't blame her—Goldmary's cooking was always too good to resist.

"I've brought some treats, of course." She cradles the box in one arm, hugging Yunaka with the other. "Star-shaped donuts, with a berry jam filling, straight from Elusia." A giggle, "It's a certified Goldmary Special, and sure to be better than anything from even the most popular bakeries."

Yunaka is incredibly proud to say that she’s been getting better at hugs! She’s still jumpy when someone surprises her, but Goldmary gives her plenty of warning in both her approach and what’s to come. She’s able to stay calm enough to laugh excitedly and throw her arms around her friend in welcome instead of flinching away. She presses her cheek up against Goldmary’s before pulling away to inspect the latest masterpiece she brings her.

She gasps in awe at the description. She’s never seen donuts in the shape of anything but circles before. “Wowie, you’re amazing Goldmary! How do you even get them to bake like that without them turning into a huge scary blob?” She really was amazing in the kitchen. 

Yunaka reaches out to take the box from her, but that’s not all she takes. She cradles it carefully with one hand while the other keeps reaching to take Goldmary’s in hers, giggling happily. “You’ll come try them with me, right? I assume you want to hear all my compliments right away as soon as I try one. I don’t doubt they’ll be amazing, but it’s important you know just how amazing, right?”

"Honestly... I think makeup would do you a disservice, Lady Nel."

Goldmary hums softly, slender fingers delicately cupping the Fell Dragon's chin as she examines Nel's complexion. Fair, smooth... flawless, really. She was criminally gorgeous—so much so that any extra makeup might end up marring her natural beauty.

She was impressed. And maybe a tad envious.

"You're already so beautiful. Do you and the Divine Dragon have special skin routines, or are you all just born that way?"

Goldmary clicks her tongue, disappointed that her impeccable services would be rendered useless, until—

"Oh, your eyes. The blood red hue is already so striking, but... mhm. A little eyeshadow and mascara, and they'll pop even more." She smiles, "Now let's see what colors will look best..."

The sensation of fingers holding her chin in place is something that doesn’t feel familiar or comfortable— but Nel knows that this is not a display of supplication to a human. There’s no power dynamic at play in these actions, and as Goldmary’s gentle hands hold her in place, she fights the urge to let her eyes flutter shut and actually lean into the touch. It’s… strange, the way that it feels comforting, even as she busies herself with whatever nonsense these humans refer to as “make-up”.

“Skin routines?” That question doesn’t make much sense to her, and it’s evident in the way that her brows twitch for the briefest of moments. “You will have to explain. That… bears no familiarity to me.” As for the Divine Dragon, perhaps she would have a better idea of what these phrases even meant.

“As for beauty…. Well. I cannot say that I have ever thought of these things before. There was no time, nor a reason to.” She’s not certain why any of her features would be considered ‘beautiful’ by human standards, but she doesn’t feel as if she wants to actually ask that question. Instead, she simply accepts the statement at face value.

“Eyeshadow? Mascara?”

"Quite the fancy thing tonight, aren't you?"

Serra's dress was... exquisite, really. Beautiful and flowing and shimmering—sure to catch several eyes in the room. It briefly makes Goldmary wonder if she should have done something more flashy for her own dress, but...

Her cute face and natural charm was more than enough to draw eyes. If anything, Goldmary was the one enhancing her dress, rather than the other way around.

"I see you have a companion tonight, as well. You two make quite the adorable pair."

Serra can’t help but light up at the compliment — even if her would-be rival, Goldmary, is the one giving it to her. Even so beautiful as Goldmary is, in her dress and with her natural aura of gorgeousness, or whatever, she can’t hold a gold-tinged candle to Serra, tonight. Serra smiles, hand on the piece of her dress at her throat.

●●●●● | ATTRACTION ●●●●○ | AFFECTION ●●●●○ | INTEREST ●●●●○ | LOYALTY ●●●●● | TRUST

Etie had not only won her battle, but as the last woman standing. Goldmary was honestly... impressed. Would she say that? Probably not, but the feeling was there. As tactless as the other girl could be sometimes, her strength and dedication to training was very admirable.

This seemed to be the result of that.

"Congratulations, Etie." Goldmary offers sincerely, offering Etie a tin of cookies. "These are jam thumbprint cookies, a beloved treat in Elusia. The jam is made purely from berries, no additives, and the cookies themselves shouldn't be overloaded with sugar. That should suit your tastes nicely, I think."

She smirks.

"And don't worry. This batch is all for you, so there's no need to get sulky about food thieves, or having to share."

Goldmary's praise comes with her usual brand of pride, the Elusian caring less that the Deer won (though, being associated with the winning house was not at all a terrible thought) and more that Rosado did.

He'd always been a great support on the battlefield. Goldmary doesn't know how she would have gotten out of so many situations without his help.

Sauntering over, she lifts a hand for him to high-five. "I trust you'll give it your all next round, too? I've also got a few treats ready—you should eat up, regain your energy before then."

HORTENSIA'S KNIGHT. HE KINDA LIKES THAT!⠀✩⠀it reminds him of a conversation from a long time ago now, at the school's ethereal ball⠀(⠀speaking of which, that was coming up again soon, right?⠀)⠀with a guy who was in over his head at the fountain, lovelorn and lost between duty and feeling. he'd sure had a lot to say about knighthood, and some of it had made him think of hortensia too and some of things about their friendship and stuff she'd said about it before.

but anyway, now's not the time to be thinking about that. it's the last thing he wants to think about ; they're supposed to be celebrating!

his smile when he returns goldmary's high-five with a sound clap is radiant and real. she always knows how to cheer anyone up——what can he say? she's just pretty amazing like that. and the sound of ' treats she had ready ' is enough to make anyone's day better ; nothing beat goldmary's cooking. "i think i could fight for half a day on just one of your snacks," he breathes excitedly, fists balled in anticipation of getting to pick——maybe a little of an exaggeration, but what's the harm? "i'll take as many as you can spare. what a morale-booster."

"last year, i got out right at the start of round two. knocked out before i could even do anything." not unlike what he'd done to that poor girl earlier. oops. karma, or something? he's not sure that's how it worked. anyway. "so if i come back like that again in fifteen minutes, i give you total permission to scold me. here's hoping though——do you think the blue lions or the black eagles are tougher?"

based on her eagle-eyed analysis time on the sidelines, of course.

that she definitely hadn't spent making snacks.