OPEN ♔ I WISH I COULD SAY IN JUST ONE SWEEP WHAT YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU MEAN TO ME

[socialgraces]

♬ Silent Shout - The Knife

WHO || Anyone and everyone! [OPEN]
WHAT || Francesca's birthday party
WHERE || One of the big parlor rooms on the castle's second floor.
WHEN || [Backdated] July 11, Evening
HOW || Actionspam

 

[Earlier in the week all DRAKENET devices received a message announcing Francesca's birthday party, courtesy of Sir Bancroft, to be held the evening of July 11. No RSVP needed. It's especially good timing now that many mission groups have returned to the castle, at least for the time being.

As the guests make their way in, it's clear the party's been well stocked with food and drink. There's plenty of room for mingling and some music in the background. Gifts are completely optional, but welcome. Come in and get comfortable.]

(OOC: Feel free to make your own threads/threadjack, etc.)

Comments

[socialgraces]

[She doesn't laugh, but her face remains pleasant all the same.] I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised to see you here. I'll just pretend you're here to celebrate my birthday and not scope out the female squires. [She sweeps the room casually with her eyes (probably landing on someone like Faye) before she turns back to him, giving him a small smile. Or rather, a small peace offering.] So, thanks.

[cabot]

[ he follows her gaze towards faye, and then gives a dismissive expression ]

Even by human standards, I'm not certain that one's legal. [ his eyes dart back to her ] And I'm not sure that dress should be either. [ with an easy smile, he raises his glass towards her ] Cheers.

[socialgraces]

[She opens her mouth to something bitchy, I'm sure, but closes it again before saying anything. Instead, she raises her glass towards his, giving him an amused grin.] So, what really brings you to this part of the castle tonight?

[cabot]

Ah yes, you've caught me. Up to all those scoundrel-y tricks, per usual, I'm afraid. [ CLINK ]

[socialgraces]

I'm afraid it's impossible for me not to find your compliments suspicious. I'd love to be proven wrong though.

[cabot]

It may be easier to prove over a dance.

[socialgraces]

Are you sure about that?

[cabot]

Or disprove, of course.

[socialgraces]

Hmm... [She considers for a moment, unsure if she wants him to actually touch her. She glances around the room before shrugging.] Why not? [And she finishes her drink, setting her glass down.]

[cabot]

Oh I'm certain there are plenty of 'why nots' but I'd rather ignore them for the moment. [ he sets his own drink down, unfinished, and then nods towards the dancing floor, offering his arm ]

[socialgraces]

Touché. [She hesitates before taking his arm, although she's careful not to touch him anymore than she has to. She's unsure how this will not be awkward, but she tries to silence her relentless suspicions and instead focus on why she's doing this.

Her lip twitches into a smirk.] When did we become so nostalgic?

[cabot]

[ he hisses in a sharp breath through his teeth, pulling a face ] Ugh, that word. Need we go there? [ he leads her towards the dance floor, even as he jokes around. ]

[socialgraces]

[She rolls her eyes.] Unfortunately, I'm having a hard time not feeling that way lately. But I don't foresee sentimentality being an issue for us. [She turns to face him as they reach their destination.]

[valdrin]

I'll do my utmost to keep sentiment straight out of it.

[socialgraces]

I thought this dance was supposed to be your way of proving me wrong.

[cabot]

I wouldn't want you to get uncomfortable.

[socialgraces]

First you'd have to make me believe you. [Good luck with that.] False sentiments are hardly discomforting. [She'll take a step forward to initiate the actual dance, eyebrow raised in challenge expectation.]

[valdrin]

Where should I start then? [ he winds one arm around her waist, taking her other hand and stepping smoothly into a dance (19) ]

[socialgraces]

[They haven't been this physically close in years but she can't deny the easy familiarity of it. She effortlessly falls into step with him (dance 30).] I must admit I was surprised to see you here. Why don't you start with that.

[valdrin]

I suppose "I was in the neighborhood" isn't quite candid enough. [ he turns her through the crowd with ease, though his eyes drift from hers as he seems to consider what to say ] Perhaps I've simply missed the society of someone who can hold a good conversation.

[socialgraces]

[She can read between the lines, but she won't call him out. Yet.] If I'm your estimate of enthralling conversation, you definitely need to get out more. Although I have seen you do your fair share of mingling lately.

[valdrin]

Or it was merely getting stuffy in our particular corridor of this fair castle.

[socialgraces]

It certainly can get lonely. [Her voice is quieter than she expected it to be. And in order to cover up her sudden show of vulnerability, now would be the time to call him out.] So you're here because you missed me, or because you were bored?

[cabot]

Well... [ there's a moment where he seems to hover on the edge of a witty comment versus a sincere response, but he comes down on the side of the latter ] certain events might drive even a man like me to nostalgia.

[socialgraces]

A man like you? [She gives him the softest smile.] I never found you as indifferent as you let on.