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]

If only your charm was as discreet. [She keeps her tone light, because she's not really trying to start some sort of awkward argument.]

[valdrin]

Such a polite way to phrase it.

[socialgraces]

I'm nothing if not diplomatic. [But she quickly drops the smirk for a more serious demeanor.] I do wish things were different, between us.

[valdrin]

[ his eyes rivet to hers, as if measuring her sincerity, before he responds. ] Theoretically, what would that entail my doing to make it different?

[socialgraces]

[ She is sincere, mostly. She's just... cautious. Not that she means something romantic, but any involvement with him makes her feel completely vulnerable and uneasy. She'd definitely like that to go away, so maybe they can, like, work through it, or something :/ ] I'm not even sure what different would entail, I'd just like to drop this apathetic pretense.

But I'm just as wary as you are.

[cabot]

[ Love Is Gone - Dommin

a tiny little smile curves up his lips, though he looks a little sad almost. ] Pretense is so much simpler, I imagine. Or at least, I thought it would be.

[socialgraces]

[She watches his face closely, her brow creasing as her own grief sets in. She's not sure if she feels regret or guilt. Looking down for a moment, she takes her time responding.] That is how we were raised.

[cabot]

All the more reason, perhaps, to go against our instincts. So to speak.

[socialgraces]

[She hesitates, because it's a lot more tempting than she'd ever admit to him.] You make it sound so easy.

[cabot]

I think both of us have always excelled at making the difficult look easy.

[socialgraces]

[She looks down with a little smile.] I think that can also be attributed to our predilection for pretense. [She sighs.] And nothing's changed. Regardless of recent events, we're not different people.

[valdrin]

Well, I should hope not. You're the one whose company I enjoyed.

[socialgraces]

I liked you too. For the most part. [She smirks as she looks back up at him.]

[valdrin]

Yes, well... One does need to have some room for improvement.

[socialgraces]

I don't think you want to go there.

[valdrin]

[ sheepishly ] A lot of room, in some regards.

[socialgraces]

Well, we can't all be perfect. [Its a joke. And a trap. You know how girls are.]

[cabot]

[ he'll bite, ok. ] I hadn't noticed.

[socialgraces]

♬ Liar - Neverending White Lights

[She smirks, almost rolling her eyes. She can't deny that it feels kind of nice to be openly complimented, though, even if it's from him. Maybe more so because it's from him? She doesn't really know what's going on with her emotions anymore, so she takes a moment to clear her head and bring reality back into focus.] You know it's going to take more than a few clever lines to win my trust back.

[valdrin]

Who said anything about 'winning' it? I thought trust had to be earned and all that.

[socialgraces]

'And all that'? You certainly sound like a true believer in the virtue of trust. And speaking of integrity, aren't you attempting to earn someone else's trust at present?

[valdrin]

Someone else's? { WHY WHATEVER DO YOU MEAN ]

[socialgraces]

I'm more perceptive than you are sly. Or at least I've learned to be.

[valdrin]

[ The rogue look of amused chagrin in his eye is a clear indication that he knows what she's getting at. he seems to take a moment to rally his defense. ]

She likes me. [ his tone implies that that should explain everything. and maybe it does, for someone who knows him so well. he sounds almost pleasantly puzzled by the situation. ]

[socialgraces]

Or at least she thinks she does? Is that it?

Or is it a little too close for comfort, and now you're deflecting?