@Arnyn
Green Dragon
He laughed at the suggestion that he should alternate. "I don't need to, actually." He told her. "My brother is the logical planner between the two of us," He explained with a grin. "I'm the spontaneous one who tries to make sure he isn't always too serious and boring
all the time." He might have suggested that he and his brother could alternate and switch the roles from day to day, but he knew that would never work; he would always be the more impulsive and his brother always the more cautious one, planning everything ahead, while he did not.
He smiled, hearing the lady's comment that she had not realized there were warm drinks as well. "Well, it is winter, is it not?" He asked, smiling as she took his offered arm. "It makes perfect sense to me, that there would be some nice, hot drink to warm folks coming in from the chilly outdoors." He didn't think it was very cold in here, but outside it had been a bit cold, as he recalled. His smile changed into a grin when he heard her ask about hot chocolate. "Indeed, I happen to know for a fact that they do have it," He told her happily, and glanced curiously toward her. "Though, they
may request a song in exchange for it." He couldn't help teasing, with a nod toward the musician's stand, where another couple had recently finished singing.
As they arrived at the bar, he hailed an available server with a cheery smile. "Hot chocolate, please." He asked.
"Ah, it was so good you had to come back for more, huh?" The server grinned, thus revealing that Dragon had already had some.
Dragon realized it was the same one who had served he and Meadow, earlier, and grinned back. "Indeed, it was!" He laughed. As the server handed over the first mug, Dragon indicated that Fairy take it, while he waited for the second one.
@Arnyn
Blossom
She laughed in answer to his surprised reaction to her words. "Well, I have never been to a ball, sir," She pointed out. "I had no idea what to expect. But it has far surpassed my expectations, that is certain." She declared, happy to be able to say as much.
She attempted a curtsy in response to his bow, smiling as she accepted the offered arm. "I am always in favor of pleasant surprises," She agreed. "Thank you for the dance, sir. It was very nice." She added as she let him lead the way toward the bar, and noticed the other two already over there. "It looks as if Sir Dragon and Lady Fairy have already beaten us there," She mentioned with a little amusement.
@Pele Alarion
Teal
"Of course I wouldn't!" He laughed, shaking his head a little in amusement as they walked to the tables. "Well, I'm glad you aren't looking to get rid of me." He smiled at her. "I hardly know anyone, either.. and the few people I do know, I'm not sure if I could recognize them here." He admitted. After she had taken a plate, he grabbed the next one and followed her down the table, selecting a few things here and there that looked especially good.
He wasn't too far behind her when she turned to say she was finished, though he still hadn't decided on a dessert. But then, seeing some honey pastries, he selected one of those and grinned. "Right then, let's find a table." There seemed to be many people sitting, some eating, some merely socializing, but he soon located a table that someone else had just abandoned, and set his plate down before going to pull out a chair for Gilded.
@Pele Alarion
She smiled softly. "Yes, that is true." She agreed, though she was thinking she remembered hearing something about her uncle wanting to speak to a healer there, about her cousin who had remained home. Something about making inquiries. But he would likely be doing that while the two girls were shopping.. or, while his daughter shopped and while Orchid sneaked out to explore the Pelennor.
She was pleased to hear that it sounded like enough time, and that he could probably procure a horse. "Really?" She smiled a bit more to hear that. "I would very much enjoy seeing it, if you would not mind acting as a tour guide," She joked slightly.
@Pele Alarion
Lady Cat
She smiled with a tiny incline of her head, as she smoothly slid into one of the empty chairs. "Thank you. It is all so..
wonderful, isn't it?" She asked with an admiring glance around the room. After a brief look at the decorations, her gaze sought out the gentleman she had most recently danced with, curious what he had gotten up to. While she was looking over there, she noticed that both he and the white and gold dressed gentleman were at the bar now, though at different parts of it.
She smiled back at the blue and purple dressed lady at the table with her. "I have seen plenty of beautifully decorated rooms before, but the folks in charge of this seem to have outdone themselves, tonight. Or, perhaps it is the people within, enjoying the evening, which makes it so wonderful." She mentioned thoughtfully. "Whatever the case, I am enjoying it tremendously. I am very glad that I came." She tilted her head with curiosity at the other woman. "And you? Have you enjoyed the evening, so far?"
@Ercassie
Pink Wildflower
“If you knew me even at all, miss, you would know that I am not known to be careful,”
The words brought a mysterious sort of smile out to play on her face, as she glanced partially away from him. Almost as if she were merely shy.. but really, she was finding it difficult not to laugh out loud at that.
If she knew him? ...oh, if only he knew. But that was the whole point. If he
had known who she was.. she didn't know whether he would want to dance with her. Not like this. Sure, he probably would have talked with her, maybe danced with her the same way he did with his sister.. but she was hoping to make him see her for more than just a friend he saw as still a kid.
When he went on to mention his confidence that she would surely tire of him long before he tired of her, she brought her gaze back up to his, lightly biting her lower lip to stop herself from saying what would have been her otherwise instinctive reply; that she would never leave his side or tire of him. Instead, she had to pause for a few seconds to consider a more suitable reply, given her disguise. "Do you think yourself so boring, then?" She wondered, with a hint of teasing in her tone. "That a girl would tire of you so swiftly?" There was a glimmer of laughter hiding in her eyes as she said that.
"I would certainly love to dance with you, sir." She agreed a moment later, though with a little effort not to seem too overeager. After seeing him looking down at her hand in his, she was glad she had chosen to wear gloves, to hide the hands that might have otherwise given away her identity. As often as she spent time with him, playing with his dog together and everything else, she would've easily recognized
his hands, and so it stood to reason to her, that he might also recognize hers. As they moved toward the dance floor, she carefully pushed a lock of long, dark hair behind her ear, so that it would not be in her way. She had to restrain herself from checking whether it was all still secured in place properly, and instead trusted in her more experienced friend's ability to ensure that it would stay in place no matter what.
@Lantaelen
The Fox
He nodded with a smile in answer to lady Swan's comment about calligraphy.
"There is already much to write about, I would think." he mentioned.
"For things have happened in our lifetimes which were longed for, for many lifetimes before us." he pointed out. The end of the great war, the downfall of the dark lord, the return of the king, the rebuilding of the kingdom. But, while those things may not interest the lady personally, he was sure there must be plenty of things she might like to write about from her own life.
"If nothing else, one could write about events in your own life, such as the ball tonight.. right?" He mentioned with a little smile.
He smiled a little more as she mentioned how many other women archers were a source of inspiration. He, too, had a few warrior women he admired, so he understood that entirely.
"It's never too late in life to learn a new skill," He shrugged slightly and smiled as she mentioned regretting not starting sooner.
And then, no sooner had he spoken, in what he
meant as a gentle reminder that they ought not spend the
whole evening dancing with only each other.. the lady seemed to take it that he meant they should stop dancing
right now. He was briefly puzzled when she stopped and looked at him for a moment as if she were offended. Although she said she understood, he thought she seemed.. upset? And, after a regretful-sounding farewell, she curtsied and then abruptly turned and walked away, leaving him looking a bit baffled as he watched her walk away. He was a little caught off guard by how swiftly she'd left him, and failed to even think of anything to say in reply to her parting words. Had he said something wrong? He took a step after her as if to try and call her back, feeling somehow guilty, as if he had offended her in some way, but then stopped. He didn't know what he'd said to upset her, and so, how could he properly apologize if he didn't know that?
Frowning in puzzlement, he let out a little sigh. His mouth was always getting him into trouble one way or another, and now he'd just managed to do it again, it seemed. He let his shoulders droop a little, mainly disappointed with himself for not handling that as well as he probably should have. He had been planning to offer to escort her to wherever she liked, after this last dance concluded. That was proper and polite for a gentleman to do, and he had intended to be as much of a gentleman as he could be, tonight. And he also would have preferred to say something polite in farewell, perhaps even suggested they might dance again later. But now, he wasn't sure if the lady would want to, if she was upset with him.
Feeling a bit confused and unsure what to do, he glanced around before deciding he ought to at least get off of the dance floor. So, he headed elsewhere. The bar should have some water, and he was feeling thirsty. Still, he reminded himself that it was probably best. He did not want to get too caught up with that lady, and he didn't want her to get too caught up with him, either. So why did he feel so.. upset? He frowned slightly and asked for a water to sip on while he considered what to do next.
@Lantaelen
Forest Nymph
She had long since concluded the obligatory dance with her father, though she'd found him very distracted the entire time, as if his focus was elsewhere. As usual. While there was a little bit of chatting between father and daughter during their dance, it was clear that his mind was miles away. And so was hers, really. She had much better things to think about, and so did he, it would seem. She certainly couldn't tell him about the new friend she had made, since that friendship was hinged upon many of the very things her father disapproved of his daughter having interests in.
So, here she was, again loitering by the tables of food, a bit bored since there was little to do, while trying not to give in to the temptation to eat too many desserts. While she was there, she briefly struck up a conversation with another girl a bit older than her, in a pretty, green and peach dress. But the other girl soon went to find a table to sit down and eat. Nymph considered joining her, but then she spotted someone familiar at last, waving to her. She smiled as she waved back to Swan. Perhaps they could go and join the other girl in a minute. "I've been over here mostly," She laughed in answer to Swan, and smiled at the compliment to her dress and mask. "So are yours!"
She grinned as Swan mentioned having so much to tell her. "And so have I," She replied with excitement. "I've made a few friends, too." She informed her, with a motion toward Green and Peach, who was moving around the seating tables in a graceful, almost dance-like fashion in search of an empty one. "If you're hungry, there's some very good food here. My new friend there has gone to find a table, would you like to sit and join her?" She asked. "I've been trying not to eat too many desserts," She added with a sheepish grin.
"Oh! And, I'm not sure where the pink girl went, but.. I've got to tell you about her!" She went on in a hushed tone, as she motioned for Swan to lean down a little, so that the younger girl could whisper to her. "She's really good at archery, and she rides horses, and she's invited me to come where she lives, and see her horse, if I can get away, tomorrow. Do you think you might manage to come, too? How long are you going to be in town?" She wondered, curious whether her friend would have to return home right away or not.