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 tries to take that as a friendly push to keep moving forward with her life, but its hard to ignore her sudden fear that he just wants her out of the castle (and his face) already. She attempts a casual facade (bluff check 21) and a simple answer.] Sure.

[everyredcent]

I imagine a return to the trials of fieldwork would be a welcome respite from merely having time to dwell on your-- [ he seems to catch himself ] vast quantity of free time.

[socialgraces]

[She gives him a little smile, unperturbed by his slip. She's relieved that someone else said what she was thinking. Or rather feeling.] Perfectly astute, as usual. I'm not... afraid of returning to work. Not in the sense I think everyone would expect, at least.

[everyredcent]

I never expected you would be. [ don't lump him in with those other posers, ok ]

[socialgraces]

[Her smile brightens before quickly fading as she looks away.] I would also rather not repeat my recent mistakes anytime soon. I feel more... cautious, but that's also not why I've hesitated.

[everyredcent]

I imagine you have your own reasons. [ his tone betrays his curiosity but also that he is TOO PROUD TO JUST ASK ]

[socialgraces]

[She'll just pretend like he did ask. She slowly starts to move further away from the building and into the night.] I just don't want to be treated differently. And it really has nothing to do with pride, or fear, it's just... uncomfortable. Even this party- [She cuts off, shaking her head.]

[everyredcent]

[ he follows after her, like a shadow ] That's because Thomas is a bit of a buffoon. [ mocking dragon's claws will make you feel better, right?? ]

[socialgraces]

He only meant well. I think this was his nice way of telling me I'm being ridiculous.

[everyredcent]

He could learn to make his point with less extravagance.

[socialgraces]

Well that doesn't sound like Thomas. [She pauses in thought and step before turning to face him.] Do you think I'm being ridiculous?

[everyredcent]

[ he looks surprised at her sudden question but trains his face anyways ]

That's a strong word for it.

[socialgraces]

But for lack of a better one... [Her voice trails off and she purses her lips together as she thinks of how to explain what she's feeling. Her voice is small when she finally decides to speak.] I just feel so vulnerable. I shared the most personal experience of my life with all these people, and now they feel this sympathetic bond with me that I can't reciprocate.

[everyredcent]

You certainly don't owe them any feelings of tenderness, just because they decided to forge a connection to what happened to you.

[socialgraces]

I don't feel guilty, per se. I'm just used to having substantial persuasion over social situations, and now that's been taken from me. I feel like a fish out of water. And all this attention just ends up feeling like pity.

[everyredcent]

They'll tire of it, soon enough.

[socialgraces]

Believe me, I don't think myself the center of anyone's universe. I know my newfound popularity will fizzle out eventually.

And then [big sigh] everything will just go back to how it was before. [Strangely, she doesn't sound very happy about that either.]

[everyredcent]

[ he doesn't say anything for a moment. maybe he's not used to her being so outwardly morose ]

What would you change, then?

[socialgraces]

[She raises her eyes to his, searching for any sign that this might be some kind of ~moment~ that she should take advantage of. She wants so badly to tell him one thing she knows for sure she would change, but between the surprise of being asked so forwardly and her own cowardice, she can't make the words come out. Instead she remains vague, but not vague enough to end the conversation. Hopefully.] Mostly things about myself, I guess. Insecurities and the like.

[everyredcent]

I imagine most people would answer that question with a list of outside factors that they'd rather change. Dissatisfaction with the world around them, that sort of thing.

[socialgraces]

I've been around long enough to know things aren't going to change just because I want them to. [She lets out a small hmph, shaking her head. Ironically, I take great comfort in the things I hope will never change. I think its the fear that I can't have one without the other that makes me so apprehensive.

[everyredcent]

I don't see a reason things here should change, at least.

[socialgraces]

[Well that takes some of the wind out of her sails, even though she's sure he wasn't directly referring to them. She sounds resigned as she sighs:] They never do.

[But then again, she's sick of just dwelling in this stagnant depression. After all, she needs to do more than just want things to change. Even if she wants it really really badly.] There's nothing you would change? If you could change anything? [And she's searching his face again, not really sure what exactly she's looking for.]

[everyredcent]

[ he meets her eyes for a short, but seems to grow uncomfortable, and looks away, becoming distant again as he declares: ] Well, perhaps I would let less fools into the Knighthood in the first place. Less messes to clean up.

[socialgraces]

[She looks away too, a sad little smile on her face.] I knew you'd say something like. [You know, impersonal and non-committal.] A rather self-less wish, albeit very general.