Huxian: Ah….yes? Enter?
*Either not noticing his bemused distraction or outright ignoring it, the servant - one of Parame’s attendants, now he could see the flowing Paradian uniform - entered the room with a low bow*
Parame’s Attendant: Master Huxian. It’s time to get ready.
*A spike of nerves shot through him, but the lord squashed them back with practiced ease. Rising to his feet, he offered the servant a tight smile*
Huxian: Very well then. Let’s begin. There is someone I certainly don’t wish to be late in meeting.
*At his word, the two more of the goddess’ attendants entered the room in order to aid him in preparing for the ball. As they worked, preparing everything they needed for him, Huxian absently approached the mirror from before, bidding its image to change from his reflection to hers*
Huxian: Mirror, I ask of you, please, show her to me.
*For a moment, nothing happened. Then, it was as if a rock had dropped into the surface of a sun lit pond. The reflection rippled, glimmered, then finally, Huxian found that his reflection was gone. Instead, he seemed to be peering into a familiar room from the perspective of another mirror - Rodessa’s room. Breath catching a little in his throat, his gaze fell onto the girl herself, sitting in front of a vanity, brushing her hair, yet she seemed different, an ethereal yet distant figure wearing a close fitting garment that hugged her shapely figure, her makeup, coupled with an aloof, almost apathetic expression...she appeared more like a cold seductress who would without a care drift passed infatuated men like smoke, leaving broken hearts in their wake. Had he not known exactly who she was, he might have even mistaken her for one of Venus’ children.
Without thinking, he found himself reaching to the mirror’s surface, pressing against cold glass as if he might be able to reach her. Yet, distant as her expression, he could not reach through it to her.
He almost jumped when someone spoke, tearing his eyes from the image to find one of the servants had approached him. Thankfully, the servant didn’t draw attention to his distraction, instead bowing slightly once his attention was secured*
Servant: Master, please have a drink while we prepare.
*Had he been in the way? Swallowing slightly while he regained his composure, he moved to sit back into the dresser chair*
Huxian: My thanks.
*Once the servant had poured him a glass of wine, Huxian settled to allow them to work. Sipping his drink, he watched through the vanity as they meticulously groomed and styled his hair. Only once they were thoroughly satisfied did they allow him to stand, helping him into the fine garments that Venus had gifted to him before. Cloth smoothed and hair in place, he absently checked over the outfit. Everything had been meticulously done - servants worthy of a goddess, after all, but even as he trailed his eyes over it there was...something missing. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on…
Glancing at the large mirror, he wondered if it was from something he had seen with Rodessa, but unfortunately, the image within the mirror had faded, only seeing himself looking back - and a feminine hand within the reflection just before he felt it touching his hair. He stilled, unwilling to have his hair accidentally pulled as the hand loosed it from the style, remaking it instead into a simple french braid. Not only that, but his hair, once silver-gold, had darkened once again, his skin paling to match.
Utterly still, Huxian watched as the woman finished her task, watched as she elaborately entwined vibrant flowers within the onyx locks*
Huxian: Lady Ve- Ah….no...S-sister?
*Heedless of his stumble over the adress, Venus continued her work*
Venus: Hm? What is it?
Huxian: May I...might I ask your favour this night? ...I feel that I….might just need it.
Venus: Always
*Stepping around now that his hair was done, she delicately painted his lips before making a gesture in the air, summoning something to her hand, which she passed to him. Looking it over, he found it was a simple black masquerade mask, which, as he lifted it to his eyes, seemed to compliment the more intricate designs of his jacket lapels. With it in place, he once more looked into the mirror, eyebrows raising a little at just how the changes to his hair and the mask in place on his face, eyes like amber firelight peering out, along with the fitted suit and gloves...he almost didn’t recognise himself. It made him seem more like a mysterious foreign aristocrat or even, should he wish it and enigmatic yet regal villain.
Just noting that, he felt his stance change slightly to match, completing the look. Much better.
Nodding to his mirrored self, he turned his attention back to the completed letter sealed within an envelope by wax adorned with his seal. It was dry now, thankfully, and he carefully tucked it away into the inner pocket of his jacket.
Trying to ignore the nerves fluttering in his stomach, Huxian gave himself one last look over. He took a breath, released it, then nodded. He was as physically as prepared for this as he could be. Now just for a last psyche up, glancing over to the patiently waiting goddess*
Huxian: Any words of wisdom, my lady?
Venus: Indeed I do. Three, in fact.
Huxian: Three?
Venus: Don’t. Screw. Up.
Huxian: *Weak chuckle* ...Thaaaanks…?
*Shaking off the underwhelming advice, Huxian moved to the desk, picking up the jem that had been given to him, turning it in his palm for a moment, feeling the odd warmth within the smooth surface. With one last breath, Huxian he gripped the stone tightly a moment, before letting it rest in his palm as he softly spoke the activation phrase*
Huxian: ‘Return me to my beloved’
*The moment he finished speaking, something flashed from the corner of his eye. Looking around, rather than the large full body mirror stood an intricately patterned door. If he were to circle it, he wouldn’t have seen the door going anywhere, but should he look through its entrance, it would lead out to the location the party would be taking place. Squaring his shoulders, Huxian stepped through without hesitation.
Once he was fully through the door, the pathway vanished, leaving him at the entrance of the ballroom with an invitation he didn’t recall having before clasped delicately within a gloved hand. Moments later, the voice of the Elder Goddess spoke within his head*
Parame [Telepathically]: No one should say anything about it, however, in case you are stopped, that invite should aid you.
Huxian [Inner Response]: Thank you. Oh! Mother?
Parame [Telepathically]: What is it, my sweet boy?
Huxian [Inner Response]: It’s Roza...Please, would you help me find her? I’ll do the rest.
Parame [Telepathically]: Of course. Please wait a moment
*There was an odd sound of snapping fingers that echoed within his mind before a strange weight pressed on his shoulder. Glancing around, he could see it, a small, golden dragon, not much larger than a cat crouched there, eyes narrowed almost intently before leaping away. Trying to to appear like he was staring at nothing, just in case the dragon was an apparition only he could see, since no one else seemed shocked, he watched as it bounced from wall to wall, scouring the length of the ballroom. Thankfully while the gathering of people was large enough to fill the hall, it wasn’t large enough for him to miss sight of his new companion. Keeping half his attention on where the dragon was going, he made his way through the crowds. It felt nice, not to be mobbed for once. As himself (selves?) rare was it that someone wasn’t trying to attract his attention, but with the mask and his adjustments in his appearance, he was able to move without being stopped, his natural grace helping him to slip through the crowds without crashing into anyone.
Finally, the dragon stopped, crouching on one of the beams on the ceiling, it’s long tail hanging downwards like a pointer as it watched what appeared like a large crowd of men, all of whom appeared to be attempting to catch the attention of someone within the centre. An absolute beauty, his ears could pick up from some of the whispers, though considering the dragon had stopped specifically over this group, he already had a very good idea as to who the beauty was.
As the men shifted, he could finally see through to her. Even with the mask she wore, he knew her well enough that he might have known her even without the dragon’s help. But for all her beauty that shimmered through, it was as if there was an icy wall about her. She seemed distant, utterly disinterested even with all the attention she had garnered. Merely getting through the tightly pressed men would be an obstacle, in and of itself, never mind catching her attention when all others had failed, would be an even bigger challenge, especially if he didn’t want to come across as yet another unwanted admirer.
He needed a plan
As one who was used to hunting, one who’s very life once depended on it before he had grown into his powers, the first thing that he knew to do was to scope his situation. What did he have that was to his advantage. How were the people moving, shifting. It would be useless to fight against an unwavering tide, but finding where it ebbed would allow him to simply allow the crowd itself to push him forwards and to the centre.
Lightly plucking a drink from one of the trays held by a nearby stewards, Huxian gilded through the nearby crowds, seemingly uncaring of the commotion for now as he circled the crowd, watching carefully from the corner of his eyes. There were some in the admirers who were beginning to get a little bit too pushy, clambering close, but even as he passed by, he could see the stomping on rival feet, or the harsh poke of elbows. He almost broke his facade by snorting at the childish antics. There was a big reason that Rodessa, when he caught sight of her, was ignoring them the most. Such actions made them look petty and juvenile, certainly not worth her time. The harder they fought for her attention, the more repelled she’d become. She was contrary that way, or perhaps, and more likely, she just knew that people like that would only be unpleasant to deal with. Similarly, it would be near impossible to slip through without appearing exactly the same.
His lips briefly curled into a sneer. He wouldn’t be caught dead looking like a scruffy mongrel by wasting his time and effort to try, knowing that it would only cause Rodessa to treat him with the same uncaring ice.
He continued on.
Finally, he was quite sure he knew how the people were moving, and even a little about Rodessa’s own mood. Though she kept up the aura of unapproachable, Huxian could see what they could not. The tenseness of her shoulders, how she seemed like a coiled predator waiting to spring. She was getting more and more irritated at the attention of petty unknowns. No particular wonder, as the crowds themselves were getting that bit more argumentative. How bad manners, to fight amongst themselves like rabid dogs over a bone when the lady in question had to deal with ear bleeding idiocy. He was willing to bet that she (or one of her other selves) was likely running sarcastic commentary, no matter how much she resembled a stone statue.
That was a thought, actually. Rather than trying to get through the crowds and making him yet another drop in a sea of nuisance, perhaps it might be best to instead allow the pearl to be extracted from the annoying clam.
Subtly, as he made it seem as though he was merely observing the euntres on a nearby platter held by one of the stewards, he curled a finger, before flicking, using his power just to ‘encourage’ the men to be just that bit more focused on their argument. From the corner of his eyes he could see them, arguing more heatedly, enough so that the crowds were breaking a little as a physical fight began. The men that had a little more sense were soon either trying to stop the fight (if only to appear heroic and gain the interest of the would-be paramour, maybe? Or perhaps being gentlemanly enough to try to prevent a fight in front of their shared interest), or were quickly trying to get out of range.
Distracted as they were, the young woman took advantage, slipping away like a shadow. Huxian’s lips sicked up at the corner, amused that for all the men’s fighting, none of them seemed to realise the subject of their affections had ditched all of them.
Still, as much as he wanted to laugh, he had better things to do than degrade himself.
Swiping up two new glass flutes from a tray as one of the stewards rushed by in an attempted to break up the scuffle, Huxian slipped through the crowds in the direction he knew she would go.
Just as he thought, as he rested against one of the pillars lining the edges of the room, Rodessa had slipped out onto the balcony. However, he didn’t approach her straight away. After all, doing so would make him seem like one of her many admirers had taken to stalking her instead, and it would only drive her further to isolation. Instead, he let her cool off, to breathe, though he observed her, even if he seemed to anyone else as though he were merely watching the many other guests.
In the dull orange of twilight, Rodessa looked like the subject of a painting as she looked out at the grounds, beautiful, yet untouchable. In a way, that is what she was if anyone tried to get close then without her wanting to go to them. Should they close in, all they would do was tear the canvass and lose sight of the woman forever.
But sometimes...sometimes one didn’t need to hunt someone down to catch their attention.
He knew she knew he was there now. Something about him, perhaps the way he, too, seemed isolated as it seemed he watched the flow of the people, but he could see her glance out of the corner of her eye. Trying not to smile and give himself away, he lifted one of the glasses up, turning it in his hand so as to catch the dying light through its surface, and somehow, catching the woman herself within the glass, who had turned slightly now, enough that he knew she was looking.
Pausing in turning the glass, he lowered it a little, allowing himself to meet the young woman’s eyes. He tilted his head a moment, almost as if he had not been expecting or trying to get the attention, before allowing a slight smile to cross his face. Not the wide grins of the people who had been so busy pawing for her attention, but a small, polite one, an offer, rather than a demand, as he tilted the glass in her direction.
Rodessa never did respond well to aggressive attempts at attention from strangers who only wanted her for trivial reasons, or would force their way into her solitude. But sometimes, small, subtle reactions meant just that bit more.
[END]
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