in  spite  of  relaxed  stance  ,  he  observes  the  dancers  with  divided  attention  .  "  we  have  a  similar  dance  at  court  .  "  head  tilted  to  the  side  ,  sylvain  leans  just  a  bit  closer  to  @monarhrh  @succiducus  @thenxghtwemxt  @thcrnedthrones  @whispcrings  next  to  him  ,  so  as  to  be  heard  over  lively  crowd  ,  music  ,  and  cheers  .  "  i  would  join  in  ,  but  i  fear  i  would  confuse  one  for  the  other  and  embarrass  myself  entirely  .  "  a  partial  truth  ,  as  court  dances  are  his  least  favorite  aspect  of  nobility  .  in  truth  ,  though  ,  the  names  tied  to  french  nobility  among  the  accused  are  at  the  forefront  of  his  mind  ;  what  that  might  mean  for  him  as  their  peer  .

"Are you debating whether you are predator or prey?" The innocuous question comes with velveteen ease. Hands resting comfortably behind him, as Elliott steps through the tiled walkway into the leafy-covered menagerie. As safe a place as any to approach the most maddening of Marchioness'... Though one must never underestimate the power of Leonor's temper, when he chooses to light it up. "It is a question worth asking in a place like this. Leopards. Elephants. Deer..." Elliott lists out, eyeing the open space of wandering creatures. "But I shall answer the question for you, Leo." A nickname reserved for closest friends, employed with a familiarity their kinship has been void of.

"You are a predator. A black widow." And because Elliott cannot help himself, he offers a crude smirk. Blue eyes darting from the width of her dark brown eyes, to the lushness of her lips. "A fatale female of the finest order." He drips on, equal parts insult and backhanded compliment. "And a gorgeous one at that. The life of a widow suits you."

❛ Oh, God I don't want to hear any of this! ❜ She grimaced in disgust at what the other said. Every day there is something new... And unpredictable.

she  falls  back  into  the  rhythm  with  ease  ;  contrasting  chaos  with  calm  ,  for  others'  benefit  .  in  spite  of  a  continuously  pounding  heart  ,  and  fear  gnawing  at  her  stomach  .  nails  rapping  against  the  table  ,  isra  replays  the  bedlam  in  the  grand  jury  hall  ,  hoping  to  achieve  any  sort  of  understanding  of  the  tangled  mess  left  in  its  wake  .  but  the  memory  ebbs  into  the  background  when  she  hears  approaching  footsteps  .  reflexively  ,  she  sits  up  ,  offering  a  warm  smile  to  @classiqals  @flcralhaze  @umitvar  @verenduss  @monarhrh    @whispcrings  , "  how  can  i  help  ?  don't  be  shy  now  .  "  almost  a  joke  ,  or  ,  rather  ,  an  attempt  at  bringing  levity  .

These moments are few and far between. The rare moment of respite when Antonio can lean back and take it in; the gurgles of his sons, the energy of his wife, the glory of his home. Beneath the shade of the tree, Antonio is quiet. Observant. For once, void of that gnawing fear of what comes next. "Do not break the spell yet, 'Nacio." Antonio bemoans, when he catches the royal advisor walking through the grass-field in his direction. "Whatever it is, can wait until the puppet show."

aurora had done her royal duties, dancing until her dance card was full of names she cared little to remember — and now she sat on a bench, a glass of wine in her hand as her crystalline eyes scanned over the crowd. she let her gaze linger on her king for a moment far too long, before the french beauty smirked as she noticed a familiar face making their escape towards her.

" none to your liking, cio? " she asked, teasing her longtime friend with the nickname she gave him when they were teenagers. aurora knew well where his heart lied, and did she know very well what it was like to have your heart plagued by someone you could not yet have. " why don't you go ask her for a dance? " aurora nudged softly, not naming names or looking in said individual's direction. " it is not improper to ask for a dance at a gala, nor would one think it suspicious. " not that aurora had literally ever cared to think that for her own actions on the dance floor.

with  the  party  in  full  swing  ,  isra  can  finally  begins to release  the  breath  she's  been  holding  since  planning  began  .  there  is  something  freeing  to  the  nature  of  the  gala  ,  how  transparent  its  motives  are  (  even  if  there  is  always  something  to  be  kept  to  herself  )  .  rather  ,  any  disquiet  comes  from  being  noticeable  .  with  her  practical  workwear  replaced  with  soft  materials  ,  and  jewelry  adorning  her  person  ,  every  movement  eliciting  the  chime  of  metal  .  something  she  could  have  only  dreamed  of  as  a  child  ,  and  not  unheard  of  the  person  everyone  is  lead  to  believe  she  is  now  ,  yet  entirely  foreign  to  her  . a  deep  breath  ,  as  she  steels  herself  ,  searching  the  sea  of  faces  for  a  familiar  one  .  a  temporary  balm  .  she  weaves  through  the  crowd  ,  waiting  a  beat  before  settling  at  his  side  ,  hands  clasped  behind  her  back  ,  "  is  it  all  you  hoped  for  ,  @monarhrh  ?  "  she  inquires  ,  hazel  eyes  tilted  toward  the  stars  ,  as  if  she  might  see  the  meteor  shower  ahead  of  schedule  .

a  street  buzzing  with  activity  is  not  the  sort  of  place  that  suzume  frequents  .  too  much  noise  ,  too  many  people  —  both  tolerable  ,  but  her  preferences  skew  toward  something  far  less  congested  .  still  ,  she  presumed  there  is  some  merit  to  participating  in  the  festa  (  even  if  it  is  ,  perhaps  ,  only  for the  opportunity  to  absorb  the  warmth  of  the  sun  between  rainstorms  )  .   ambling  through  the  marketplace  ,  she  scans  the  wares  of  a  nearby  table  for  something  to  jump out at her , to give her pause and ponder , if only for a moment .  instead  ,  she  notes  @classiqals  @monarhrh  @xforgedsecrets  lingering  in  her  periphery  ,  long  enough  for the  need  to  address  them to feel necessary  , "  do  let  me  know  if  i  am  in  your  way  .  "  tone devoid of affect  ,  neither  hostile  nor  friendly  .  "  i  am  not  looking  for  anything  in  particular  .  "