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.
*Rodessa stepped away from the person. With the masks and high class clothing, it was hard for anyone to know who was truly who. All she could tell about the dark haired stranger was that he was male. And that he didn’t seem particularly discouraged by Rodessa’s aloof response. Instead, he stepped over beside her, casually leaning against the balcony, setting down the glass on the banister - a silent offer for her to drink, or not. That done, he gazed out at the grounds, seemingly comfortable with the silence.
Out of the corner of his eye, Huxian could just see her move. A faint ‘tisk’ reached his ears as her hand flicked out elegantly, expectant. Tilting his head, the ‘stranger’ (at least to her) took note of the silent question and handed the amber drink to the cold beauty, before looking back out to the grounds once more, giving her a little time to enjoy the drink, or at least feel as though he wasn’t about to act like the men from before. Finally, Huxian spoke, voice light*
‘Stranger’: Fine evening, isn’t it?
‘Beauty’: Quit the small talk. What do you want.
*Her voice was icy, or perhaps thorny as the points of the flower she was named after, ladened with cold suspicion. Not too surprising, considering how she had been hounded before. Pushing down the flare of irritation at the memory of the slobbering hounds, he merely shook his head*
‘Stranger’: *Gently* Don’t worry. I am not here to court you, my lady, so please fear not the return of lust ladened children. No, I’m merely a messenger.
‘Beauty’: *Eyes Narrowing* If you have a message for my father, then go. If the message is for myself, make haste. The sooner this harrowing night is over, the better. *Sigh* At least-
‘Stranger’: - The view is breathtaking?
‘Beauty’: Mm…
*Her fingers tightened slightly slightly on the glass, staring down into the amber liquid. Finally, she sighed, closing her eyes*
‘Beauty’: ...Your message?
*Huxian reached into his jacket pocket, fingers brushing against the sealed envelope there, preparing to hand the letter over, but paused, letting his hand drop for now. He couldn’t say why but the time didn’t feel right to hand his letter to her just yet. Instead, he leaned against the balcony once more and instead changed the subject*
‘Stranger’: ...Do you not have a paramour, my lady? A woman of your beauty and grace should at least have an escort, no?
*Rodessa scoffed quietly, rolling her eyes*
‘Beauty’: That...that, like the day, will soon end. *Sigh* And like a fool, I patiently waited for heartbreak.
‘Stranger’: ...How long has it been since you last saw him? ...Is it that hard?
‘Beauty’: …
‘Stranger’: *Weak chuckle* ...You know, my lady, I don’t know who you are. We are masked, after all, and whatever happens tonight ceases to be the moment the sun rises, including everything spoken, if you wish it.
‘Beauty’: ...It’s been too long and...we’re out of time. The sands of the hourglass continue to fall and I...I’m running out of the will to hold on.
‘Stranger’: I….I see. You….you’ve fallen out of love...with him?
*Rodessa looked down, silent for a moment, before finally, slowly shaking her head*
‘Beauty’: ...Never. But...it might be time to give up. I would rather….rather it end sooner than drag out. *Mutter* I need to pick up the pieces somehow.
*His own chest aching, Huxian pulled away from the banister, glad for the mask. At least it could hide the strain at his eyes. All he had to do was keep his lips from betraying him, from twisting into something beyond polite.*
‘Stranger’: I...have a letter for you from my master...but I don’t believe it would be right to give it to you right now. *Closing his eyes* No….it would be...meaningless.
‘Beauty’: Ah...so you work for him…
‘Stranger’: Mm
‘Beauty’: Looking away* Hm…
*With a quiet click, Huxian set down the glass, before turning back towards the girl, bowing, one hand behind his back, the other held out to Rodessa. Her eyes flickered in his direction a moment, before sliding back out to the distance. The view truly was spectacular. She could see everything...and yet it seemed she saw nothing at all. Her mask hid most of her features, but her moon silver eyes sang a silent aria. Raising from his slight bow, Huxian caught her chin with deft fingers and parted her lips.*
‘Stranger’: *Seductive whisper* My lady, would you do me the honour of becoming your escort for this night? I would do both the pride of my master and myself as a man a disservice to leave a lady as yourself alone tonight.
‘Beauty’: ...And if I were to refuse.
‘Stranger’: I’m afraid it would do us both disservice to accept such an answer.
*Rodessa’s eyes sparked as she swatted the hand away, though Huxian wasn’t insulted. It was the most light he had seen in her gaze all night. Rather than letting his hand be swatted away, he simply took the hand instead and brought it to his lips, pressing them against the knuckles tenderly*
‘Beauty’: *Coyly* Hm...Forceful men are those I tire of the most.
*Huxian’s lips quirked slightly, scoffing slightly at what he knew to be a blatant lie*
‘Stranger’: My lady, I know exactly what kind of men that draw your eye. Still, it is not a no. Come, my lady, while the night is young.
*While Rodessa certainly didn’t seem overly interested in rejoining the party, she didn’t refuse, either. As such, armed with their classes, they slipped back out from their temporary safe haven to mingle once again. Thankfully they weren’t immediately accosted by the men from before - partly helped by Huxian leading them down a different route from when they had first absconded, instead making their way firstly to the food tables. Considering how disinterested she had been in the party itself and how she had been barricaded by suitors before, Huxian thought she might at least find some interest there, where she could eat (and avoid any annoying conversation if anyone particularly smarmy attempted to start a conversation, while at the same time would allow them to hear what others had to say. Sometimes it helped know who was best to avoid.
The food worked to a point, but it seemed more as though Rodessa was using it as a shield to keep her out of any conversation at all, as if it were a barricade from any of the conversations going on around them. Her expression was dull, almost annoyingly so, that when she got a little cream at the corner of her mouth, he swiped it off with a thumb, jolting her slightly at the boldness, offering a smirk when she shot him a look. Even annoyance was better than nothing.
Of course, even food couldn’t keep people away forever. While Huxian was with one ear listening to how some of the men from before that had been fighting had been escorted out - one annoyance at least cut in half - a couple of people in obviously upper class made clothing decided to strike up conversation. Well, if general snobbery and brown nosing could be considered true conversation. They didn’t seem to get the hint that neither of them were particularly interested, not even minding the fact Rodessa, obviously not paying more than half a mind spoke only in hums, or that Huxian’s responses were obviously non-answers.
In the end, a slightly stuck out foot to trip a passing waiter into splashing the edges of the woman’s cocktail dress finally convinced the to leave after scolding the poor embarrassed waiter. Huxian made sure to mentally note who it was to give them a tip later for the ‘help’.
Once they were gone, Huxian snorted*
‘Stranger’: It certainly wouldn’t have hurt for them to show a little grace. Though I suppose that one can only be so graceful when their heads are pressing somewhere so low.
‘Beauty’: *Small Smirk* We both saw what happened, don't be a ass. The poposity that permits this hall is bad enough, don't you agree? It's almost as bad as that cheap perfume she was wearing. *Flippant* I could have sworn one of the chamber girls wear the exact same-
‘Stranger’: Now that would be an insult to the chamber girls, my lady. They, at least, don’t have necklines which looked as they they were attempting to not only dive for the South Pole but hoped to become a naturalised citizen.
‘Beauty’: *Restrained laughter* Be nice - wait.
*She raised a brow*
‘Beauty’: So, you were looking? As alluring as they are, dear sir, you should show some restraint. Wouldn't want your lust to show. It's what separates us from them.
*She gestured to the few of the men that caused her during the evening.*
‘Beauty’: *Slight tease* But that does get me wondering...does anyone here tickle your fancy? What's your body count?
‘Stranger’: My lady, the fact that I do not look assures me that they likely have more class than the...ahem ‘lady’ that was speaking at us. I’m quite sure that she was doing her level best to get some form of reaction, if only for a gossip mill. One cannot help but be drawn to looking in disbelief a train wreck, no matter how horrible, wouldn’t you say?
*He glances around the party for a moment, before shaking his head*
‘Stranger’: Those here are merely stars to the sun of my current company, my lady. Not to mention that you do have a sea of personality to the thimble depth of the rest of the room. I see no reason to shoot elsewhere, to pardon the phrasing.
‘Beauty’: My, my I don’t know whether to call you cynical or romantic, truly.
‘Stranger’: Can one not be a cynical romantic?
‘Beauty’: Pft.
*Rodessa scanned the crowds, grimacing at the outfits worn my a possession of young women parading passed in an effort to gain the young man’s attention. The overindulgent frills, lace and sequins were far too much on the eyes, to the point it caused near physical pain. If the overpowering scent of thickly coated perfumes weren’t enough to make her faint then the shere ugliness of the garments would finish the job.*
‘Beauty’: My eyes burn...She looks like a frilly cake topper! God, did they swim in odor perfume before deciding to gas us with this overpowering scent? Ugh! *Rolls eyes* And where are these girls getting that cheap perfume from? Gods!
‘Stranger’: Hopefully not from gods, unless it was as a cruel trick. Or a new torture method. T’would seem that they think increased potency of cheap perfume is the same as a small amount of expensive. Though if they were hoping to kill off all our abilities to smell, then I believe they have committed quite the mass murder of noses tonight.
‘Beauty’: *Scoff* Before I pass out, would you like to go to the gardens? The smell of actual flowers might fix my nose.
‘Stranger’: Better than suffocating in the gas chamber. Lead on, my lady.
*Rodessa lead the young man out of the room to the wide open stairway that lead down into the gardens themselves. They were well maintained with various shrubs neatly trimmed, the bushes winding into various patterns that were better seen from above, with marble-like stone statues of the classically beautiful, artistically poised between the vibrant flowers. At the centre of which was an intricate water feature, lit up by strategically placed lights. With the sky now a blanket of stars, it seemed to stand out that much more.
The two moved towards the feature before Rodessa lowered herself on one of the nearby carved stone benches surrounded by flowers while Huxian took a seat by the fountain, pretending to look at the sights a moment, if only to give Rodessa a moment to breathe something other than dizzying levels of perfume, though out of the corner of his eye, he could see her expression has become serious while she thought he wasn’t watching.
Considering their earlier topic of conversation, Huxian already had a good idea of exactly what was on her mind, even if the thought caused his chest to clench uncomfortably.
The sound of a clock chiming caused Huxian to look up towards the building once more where a large clocktower overhead struck three am. As his eyes lowered, he caught sight of someone standing at one of the high balconies. Even in formal wear, Huxian knew who it was - Rodessa’s father. He also knew the man himself long enough for Huxian to know without words that his time with Rodessa for the night was over.
Slipping from his resting place, he turned back to the girl and knelt before her, a hand resting on his thigh*
Stranger: My lady, we’re out of time for tonight.
Beauty: Seems so. So, the me-
Stanger: I will not be delivering the letter to you this night, I’m afraid
Beauty: Why? Are you not a messenger?
‘Stranger’: *Smirk* You’ll be attending all three nights of the ball, correct?
‘Beauty’: Yes, but-
‘Stranger’: Until then, my lady.
[END]
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