Open [Seasonal Event] The Winter Ball

[Nai'a]

When Valo’s soft lips pressed against her hand, her heart instantly skipped a beat at the touch. Warmth spread throughout her body at the thoughts of what else those lips were good at doing, but she quickly banished the thoughts, as a slight blush appeared. Valo was always making her blush, it never failed, even when he was not around and she was musing over him, her cheeks heated at their intimate interactions. Valo’s eyes locked with her own as he spoke, making a chuckle slightly.

”I was not having fun at first. I saw you, but you looked rather busy. But then this polite man here came over to rid me of my misery.” Nai’a gestured to the man behind her, ”I would love to dance with you, but I do not want to leave my new friend alone.” Nai’a frowned slightly as she realized she had not asked the man his name, she turned quickly with a slight shock expression on her face. ”Oh my Goddess, I am so sorry! I completely forgot to ask you of your name. Forgive me for my rudeness. I am Nai’a, and this is Valo.” Nai’a giggled slightly, the champagne she had previously was really affecting her head now, making things a little blurred and vague. She rubbed her head slightly then placed her hand firmly on the table for balance. She was beginning to feel a little sick and dizzy, she closed her eyes tightly to try to rid herself of the feeling.

Her voice came out in a soft whisper, as she clutched to the table with her eyes closed, I am not feeling so well all of a sudden… Nai’a thought. She gulped down a large lump in her throat and shook her head slightly to clear it before opening her eyes. She knew that she looked a little awkward to the men at her display, so she quickly rid her face of the pain and confusion and placed a small smile there, ”Seems I may have had too much champagne.” She let go of the table, only to stumble backwards bumping the different colored eyed man.

[Erekez]

Upon hearing Nai'a's kind words, Erekez appreciated her thoughts on him, to turn down an offer from a friend in favour of a stranger whom she had only just met. It had been a long time since he had heard such genuine words. A mask only hides the face, but reveals the truth in a person's heart and mind to those that do not know them. A sudden movement snapped him out of his thoughts of wisdom only to be met with shock on Nai'a's face. What had he missed in the few seconds his mind had wandered again? At hearing her apology and introduction, Erekez felt a slight unease settle in his stomach. He looked over at Valo as she introduced him, considering what he would do himself. I've given my name to my enemies before, but that was only because either I was going to die, or them. Regardless of who it was, a name would not matter afterwards. He continued his trail of thoughts. What was the worst that could happen? She would try to find him? On nothing more than a name? There is always my eyes. Nobody else I have met has had the same trait as that. Even then, what? He never spent long in town, preferring to camp just outside the city with Moonraker, and on the trips that wasn't around town, he spent in the Memorial Library, working. Scanning the room, almost looking for an answer, Erekez came across something he couldn't believe he had missed before. The Mark of Rak'keli, the healer. He had decided that he needed to learn all he could about the Gods and Goddesses after Spring just passed. Rak'keli was one of the ones that stuck in his mind the most. That mark was given to those who almost found it impossible to do harm to others. Even then, if they weren't killed, they were required to heal them. That mark was Erekez's answer. "My name is Erekez." He smiled, "Pleasure to meet the both of you." He inclined his head at both Nai'a and Valo. If he was a friend of Nai'a, then it was unlikely he meant any harm either. Nai'a started to giggle. She rubbed her head before placing her hands on the table. Closing her eyes, she shook her head, she wasn't feeling too well. How much did she have to drink? Lifting her head up again, Nai'a smiled. Erekez knew that one was forced, he'd had plenty of practice. Nai'a admitted to thinking the same thing that Erekez did, only to stumble backwards into him as she let go of the table. Instinctively, Erekez wrapped his arms underneath hers. If she was going to lose her footing now, he would be able to keep her up.

[Aaryn Broadbent]

"What ails me?"

Aaryn turned his head to face the redhead. Warm face, the tiniest bit frail in his appearance.

"Society ails me. This," he said, motioning with his glass of champagne to the room around them, "ails me". He took a sip of his champagne, and raised an eyebrow as the man admonished him for his drinking.

"Would it be more pleasant? To sip a glass of champagne while I watch the world turn around me? Perhaps I seek to forget, to be removed from...this." Aaryn took another sip of his champagne. He felt the familiar tingle in his face as blood rushed to his skin. He rolled his head on his neck and sighed.

"There we go," he said to no one in particular. He watched as the pink haired woman and her wide shouldered compatriot made their way over, taking another sip to steel his nerve. He chuckled as the woman scolded him.

"There are people...amongst me? Perhaps my dear, you meant to say I had forgotten I was amongst people. Mayhaps it is you who should drink less. Though I have to say, if you'll be here long I may have to drink a great deal more. I don't know how else I'd stand it," Aaryn said. He tried to summon up a smile, managed a sullen smirk, and finished his glass of champagne. Gods be damned if he'd let a pink haired tart get in the way of his drinking.

So Valo was the redheaded man's name. Good to know. Not that Aaryn planned on seeing the man again, but if they were to bump into one another on the streets at least he'd be spared the awkward introduction.

Valo proceeded to ask...Na'ia, that was her name, to dance. Aaryn groaned inwardly at the prospect of being left alone with her silent follower. Though, he had stayed silent, which was better than the other two so far. He picked up another glass of champagne, steadied himself against the table as the earth lurched, and brought it to his lips.

"Well then friends," Aaryn said, taking another sip of his champagne. "It's only fair that I introduce myself. Aaryn Broadbent," He said. With his free hand he pulled the mask from his face and dropped it onto the table. "No sense in that cursed thing now that you know my name," he said, following it up with another sip. The champagne was going to his head. His arms and hands had gone numb, and the slightest smile had crept onto his face.

It dropped away as soon as Na'ia's countenance changed. She rubbed her head and leaned on the table to keep herself up. Aaryn took another sip of his champagne. He'd seen it before. He'd been on the other end of it before.

"Perhaps a bit," he said, dryly, as she stumbled into the arms of Erekez. "Why I may not enjoy your company, I do so hate to see the suffering of my fellow drunk. Allow me, perhaps, to find you a glass of water?"

[Nai'a]

Nai’a was doing her best to ignore the man, only catching his name, Aaryn. But she had stumbled backwards from her spell of dizziness, landing in the arms of Erekez. She stayed there for a few moments, rubbing her head. During this time of trying to will the dizzy feeling to leave her, the rude man Aaryn started speaking once again. Her fists tightened at her sides, as anger started to flood through her veins. I wish he would shut his petching rude mouth.. Nai’a thought to herself, taking a few deep breaths. He insulted her, calling her a drunk, yet offered to get a glass of water. It was a backhanded compliment to Nai’a. She stayed silent for a couple of chimes, holding her hand up, in a gesture that she just needed to be left alone.

After those two chimes passed, and the dizziness left her body, she lifted her body that felt suddenly heavy out of Erekez arms, and turned to face Aaryn.

Her voice came out calm yet slightly cold, ”Thank you for the offer, but no thank you. I am not a drunk. Just over worked is all, my body is tired.” Nai’a’s face was emotionless, yet her eyes were a glare, boring into his.

When Nai’a turned to better view Valo and Erekez though, the emotionless glare turned into a bright and warm smile, a light flush to her cheeks from her previous anger and the humiliation. ”Erekez, thank you so much for the support. I am sorry about using you as a wall.” Nai’a chuckled lightly, as she brought her attention to Valo. She could only hope that he did not know anything about pregnancy, that he did not know, that none of them knew that she was pregnant. She knew she looked slightly bigger than when she first met Valo, but she had hoped that it was not that noticeable. Nai’a could see the drastic changes in herself, but she did not know if Valo would see it. She briefly placed a strand of her pink hair behind her ear, casting her eyes down to the floor.

[Erekez]

Petty. He cannot think of suitable response, so he belittles the comment and attacks the speaker. The man in black was not doing himself any favours amongst his company. Erekez watched him out of the corner of his eye, the mask slightly affecting his peripheral vision, but it was still good enough. Black continued to another glass, after finishing the one he held in his hands. Erekez didn't care much for drinking, neither did he mind others doing so. It was just when they had too much and got an attitude towards him that irked him. The man had introduced himself as Aaryn, albeit reluctantly by the sounds of it. It sounded like he had only done so as everyone else had introduced themselves. His attitude had made it a rather feeble attempt at best, Erekez wondered why he had even bothered. Shortly after, Nai'a had fallen against him. He heard Aaryn offer to find a glass of water. He's got an attitude about him that I don't like, but he seems to be decent enough to be able to empathise with others. Nai'a eventually found the strength to stand on her own two feet without assistance, turning towards Aaryn and refusing his offer point-blank. Apparently, a very poor choice of words on your part. He looked back at Nai'a as she addressed him. Erekez smiled at her. "It is no problems, I'm big enough." He laughed lightly as the pink-head did, enjoying her company. He did not know much of this Valo, but Nai'a seemed to think highly of him. There would be no harm in talking to the man, though Erekez still would take a step back before making any final decisions. His gaze drifted back to Aaryn, however. He wasn't enjoying himself, that much was obvious. Was he just here for the free drink? Erekez looked over at the empty glass Aaryn had finished a short while back. If he could got a hold of it, maybe Lykata could tell him something about the man.

[Valo]

For a moment he had forgotten all together about the black haired stranger he previously addressed and his attention was focused solely on Nai'a. Only a brief moment as all the other shapes and sounds melted into the background. His eyes caressed her beautiful face, her silhouette, so beautifully clad in a fine dress. The rosy blush upon her cheeks. It seemed as if she blushed so lovingly every time he saw her and that very mannerism became a second nature to her. Friends were a priceless commodity to the artist and close friends, those very best ones like she was, were nothing but the most magnificent of pleasures. Glad, he was for her presence this evening. Finally as the moment was over and his lips parted with the soft skin on her hand, everything about them spin into action. The scene unravelled.

"Oh my goodness, I am so sorry! I completely forgot to ask you your name. Forgive my rudeness. I am Nai'a and this is Valo." she spoke to the man beside her. And with those very words, the artist eyes him closely and silently, yet somehow retaining the usual pleasant aura that so frequently accompanied his mannerism. Not a note of rudeness. A pleasant smile of utmost calm lingered, chiselled into his alabaster mouth. It worried him however that she may be so trusting towards complete strangers as to so quickly call them friends. It seemed the word was cast so freely these days. Or perhaps it seemed the atrocity of the season had left him cold.

A friendly enough man, it seemed. A pleasant expression, not a note of spite in his mismatched eyes. One blue and one green. A peculiarity it was, quite out of the ordinary and suffice to say that Valo enjoyed such peculiarities. It was apparent in his work above anything and his love for expressionism and surrealism. An overall pleasant impression. Then again impressions weren't always so terribly accurate, for Valo himself was a statement to such. A mop of mid length brown hair crowned the man's feature, parted by a cow lick that kept the locks from obstructing his vision. And locking his own green emeralds with those mismatched liquid spheres of the stranger, Valo nodded in acknowledgement, yet words had no liberty to fall from his lip.

Alas the stranger revealed his own name. Erekez. Perhaps there could be friendship between the two, in time; for despite maturing at the hand of recent events, if only just, there were certain qualities within a person that impressed Valo. Not because he didn't normally expect such qualities from people, but because they were a simple pleasure, a good enough reason for conversation. And one of those qualities was the simplicity in common curtsy. The acknowledgement of good manners. Of course perhaps the artist's decision upon the stranger was swayed for the love of surrealism in those mismatched eyes. A perfect mix of curtsy and oddity, just like Nai'a was with her lusciously pink hair. Just like Valo was in his Inarta blood and upbringing and yet so non-Inarta like attitudes.

The name of the black haired stranger was next. Aaryn Broadbent. And somehow, in an odd way, it amused the artist how he had referred to them all as friends. So freely was this term cast upon people these days. So freely indeed. It made him wonder however, what was the man's purpose at such an even if he was to hate it so thoroughly, even to the very last details such as the mask that now dropped idly onto the desk, revealing smile-less feature of a man scared by time. A man who seemed to have no child within him. And though he was rude and crude and so very bitter, somehow he caught the artist's attention. For art isn't always beauty and neither is humanity. humanity most certainly isn't pleasant beauty. It was perhaps that boldness that was the reason for sparking such an interest within Valo, or perhaps the clashing of view. A great chiaroscuro of ideology. Thus he too was granted an acknowledging nod on the behalf of the Inarta gentleman.

It was only then that a dramatic change took place in Nai'a and she steadied her self in haste by the table. A sickness perhaps. Rak'keli forbid she might have fallen to the pestilence, only now manifesting in her. Or perhaps it was the bubbly alcohol? Prompted by the magnitude of the event, Valo had retained a calm composure, yet nothing but pure concern manifested in his eyer animated eyes. Valo was on the outskirts of the ordeal, merely a humble observer as the scene unfolded before him. An unexpected kindness of Aaryn's behalf and the antagonising glare from Nai'a. Erkez too seemed just as caught up in this feud, in his innocence as Valo was, thus in sympathy, the artist shot him a brief smile in thankfulness of his kindness towards Nai'a. Even if simple, he had hoped that smile would convey his appreciation.

This sudden waning was a brief prerequisite to the waxing of Nai'a face as the returned to her self, a luminous smile returning to her face as she thanked her new acquaintance. Lit by the moon again, beneath her mask. "I must ask you to refrain from alcohol dear Nai'a." he said passively, with subtle undertones of humour in his smooth voice. "I truly hate to intrude on your conversation with mr Erekez, thus if you wish, you may be on your way. I believe I'm blessed with excellent company already." and with those words he looked to Aaryn with a neutral expression. not a smile, yet not a frown. Something deep and profound painting in his eyes of emerald. Something perplexing and untold.

It wasn't the case of him trying to rid him self of Nai'a'a or Erekez's company. In fact part of him wished that an objection to his statement would be spoken, for it was merely empty pleasantly on his behalf. A simple wish not to intrude, with no underlying intention.

Truth be told, Valo had no idea of her pregnancy. He hadn't even really noticed the change that began manifesting within her, for despite being somewhat observant, he was also fundamentally a fool. Not a better way to describe the artist. Such a notion had not even crossed his mind. Bliss in his cluelessness.

[Trente]

*
As Trente lead the Lord of Counsel in the conservative dance (her last) about the ballroom floor he spoke privately with a very sure flare in his eye. He knew what he would say the moment he had entered the hall, and no force would sway him from his goal now.

"Dear Lordess Maria, in just a few moments when this dance comes to a close and the band rests before the next I will be making an announcement. Our city will learn the name of the individual that has plagued our streets this bitter winter, and you m'lady, will be very upset to hear that name. This is a warning, compose yourself and remain unfettered, disown the guilty from your favor and stand with your city in his immediate trial and prosecution. His time is overdue."

Maria's eyes hardened at the words, unfettered she was not, outraged perhaps. "Mister Eclatante, tell me the name now. I will not have a witch hunt propagated in my city, before my own eyes."

Trente gave nothing short of a charismatic smile, laden heavily with pride. "Patience, your majesty. We both know it is too late for you to stop me now. You won't have me hauled off in the middle of the ball, so save your idle threats."

Those more perceptive in the room noticed Maria's personal guard straighten in unease, perhaps signaled by their Lord of Counsel, perhaps simply attuned enough to her manner to recognize her alarm. Regardless they began to draw closer to the dancing duo with a protective gleam in their eyes. They were no Wave Guard, but true sons and daughters of Zeltiva equipped with superior training and perfected gear. They could certainly remove Trente from the room without much fuss if they wished, but not without somebody of influence noticing, not without arising suspicions. Suspicions that proved dangerous after the even of the winter before.

"Call them off." His he said with steely resolve, and with twice as much more Maria stared him in the eye, saying nothing more as her guards drew closer and the music reached it's peak.
*