MASQUERADE BALL [intro thread]

[DAENYEH'L TRYSTT CHEVENTALIER]

The ballroom was adorned with the most elaborate decorations. Jewels were hanging from the ceilings, the chandelier was alight with magical flame, and many were gathered for the most curious of events. Masqueraded as a gala of good will- that is, a strengthening of Niendran hearts- in return, everyone knew what it was really for. Word of Felicite d'Amorelle's return had spread amongst the nobles, and not only that, but the prince's sudden departure to retrieve the boy from the border, putting himself in danger. Everyone who was anyone knew that the prince fancied the young viscount.

Felicite stood by awkwardly. No one spoke to him. No, they were too cowardly. They whispered behind his back, they glared at him, but they didn't speak to him. It seem to come worse from the girls, though.

He had been spoken to by his cousin, just briefly, when the blonde had embraced him and welcomed him back. But he couldn't expect his cousin to hate him- Chord didn't seem to hate anyone. People admired him. He was able to move through the crowd with ease. He wasn't an outcast, not like Felicite.

Prince Daenyeh'l was not all too pleased with his supposed 'friends', and he didn't bother to hide it. His brows were pulled together, and his posture was stiff. Some of the nobility was being polite to their faces, and behind their backs --he had to give them that-- but the negativity of the rest overshadowed the others. He made his way through the richly-dressed crowd, one glass of kwondi wine in each hand. Feli didn't handle alcohol well, but in a small quantity it might help the smaller male's nerves, ease his tension.

Felicite was shaking, just a little, feeling like he was going to break down. He was pleased with the ball, felt honored, even, that the prince had wanted to throw it for his recovery, but he didn't do well with crowds. And he felt scared after his recent kidnapping. If someone stepped too close, he'd shirk away. He even jumped as Daenyeh'l approached him with the glass of wine, but he smiled at the other reassuringly that he was okay. "Thank you..."

He worried. Daenyeh'l worried that Felicite wasn't quite recovered enough to do this, worried that the other boy would regret having associated himself with him, and worst of all...worried that someone would take him away again and bring him harm. Daenyeh'l had assigned guards specifically meant for Felicite. They were in the crowd now, looking just like any other noble, trying to blend in as well as possible. "Drink some...it could help..." He laid a strong hand on Feli's shoulder, looking around at the guests.

He took the glass gratefully, sipping from it and finding himself looking up at Daenyeh'l for reassurance. "I'm sorry... I know that this is supposed to be happy..." he murmured. "I'm just a little overwhelmed at the moment..." and then he took a gulp of the bitter liquid, wincing as a little as he swallowed

"We could step out for some air..." He kept his hand on Feli's shoulder, no longer caring what the nobility thought or said. His shoulders felt stiff, tensing from the stares he could feel on the center of his back. Sometimes he wished he could drop all niceties and take a sword to them...

Felicite smiled a little. "Could we?" it would make him happy to leave the stifling room.

"Now entering, Princess Mnemosyne Lethial Chevantalier and her... servant," he didn't bother announcing Ev'athrelle's name, not like he would have known it.

Felicite looked up to see a flurry of white making it's way through the crowd as the young princess hurried through. Her target: Daenyeh'l.

His hand slipped over Felicite's shoulder, down his arm to settle on his elbow, about to lead him outside when his sister's name was announced. With a smile he turned to see the little princess make her way toward him.

Evie wasn't sure how to behave really. Coming to this event as Lethe's servant...Did she have to bow to everyone? Or Lethe? Or no one? Damn, this definitely was not what she'd been trained for. She spotted some of her friends, masquerading as nobility, among the crowd and gave them small barely-noticeable nods of acknowledgement. With sure steps, she followed along behind Mnemosyne, noting that the smaller girl was making her way toward her brother.

And with that, she had launched herself practically into the air. Felicite watched with mild surprise as the girl had managed to, like a cat, leap up and latch around her brother's neck, hugging him tightly and giggling- pretty pleased with herself, obviously. "Brother!"

Strong arms easily caught the small girl and he held her close. Some of the crowd murmured at the display and he found himself wanting to growl like an animal. He needed some time away from these closed-minded people or he would certainly lose his composure one of these days, "Sister, how are you this evening?"

Evie knew that Daenyeh'l and Feli were two people she would willingly bow to, and she did. "I am glad to see you back, Lord d'Amorelle."

"Oh, I'm okay!" When Mnemosyne was around people she cared about, she could more or less ignore the less amiable members of the court.

"Thank you," Felicite gave the woman a kind smile.

Mnemosyne turned to Felicite and smiled. So this was the boy her brother seemed to care so much about. She almost bowed to him, but thought better of it, and just gave him a hug. "It's so good to see you back, Felicite! My brother worried so much about you when you were gone. But you're better now, right?"

"I-I am..." had he just gotten hugged by her?

"Oh yay! That's wonderful! Anyways, Evie and I are going to go see some more people, so we'll see you guys later, okay?" she was definitely peppy for the night- but it was her first ball in so long! Could you really blame her?

Daenyeh'l nodded to his sister and her companion, watching them go before smiling at Felicite and leading him outside for a little while. They couldn't stay in the cold air for too long, the last thing they needed was to get sick.

Evie happily went with the princess. She'd admitted to herself that she was quite smitten with the other girl, and being around her as much as she had been only added fuel to the flame.


NOTE: You can either reply here (if your character/s want to interact with Felicite and Daenyeh'l) or start your own threads!