[Illythian Ballroom] Knightly Society (Open)

[Archon]

Xalet "It hasn't caused me a problem yet," Rachel said teasingly as she moved closer to Xalet, pressing the soft curves of her body lightly against him, "I'm no fool Xalet, but what's life without a bit of excitement? Why go through all the work and struggle of becoming a Knight if we can't enjoy ourselves from time to time?" Staying close to Xalet Rachel continued to dance with him, her blue eyes practically sparkling with mischief, and finally as the next song started she spoke again, "I won't push you into something you're afraid of though, Xalet. If you want to be a stick in the mud I won't stop you. It's a shame, but it's your choice."

[Lucas Arias]

So far, so good. Somehow Lucas had managed to avoid stepping on the girl’s toes, and he was enjoying himself. The young man was completely in his element, and he was smiling all the time – until he noticed that the still nameless young lady was never once looking into his eyes. The smile made way to a confused look. Why was she not looking at him? Was he that ugly? Was there something interesting behind him? He quickly looked over his shoulder, but he couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. There were just the usual knights and squires dancing with their respective partners. He turned back to face her and continued to lead her across the dance floor in slow circles. After a while he realized that she had not said a single word to him. He would have thought that she would at least ask him for his name or compliment him on his skill as a dancer (even though he wasn’t that good). He furrowed his brow and brought his face a little closer to hers so that she would be able to hear him over the sound of the music and the other people. Normally he wouldn’t necessarily have minded a quiet dancing partner (some girls could be quite annoying when they opened their mouth), but in this case it was a little irritating, and thus he observed, „You are quiet. I hope you are enjoying yourself. What’s your name?“ He paused for a moment, and then he added, „I’m Lucas by the way.“

[Xalet]

After doing battle with several different Knights and Squires, all with various ranges of skill and tenacity in their fighting style, Xalet couldn't help but wonder why the girl in front of him was so unsettling. There was an unease he felt about her. Her stunning hair, physique, and breathtaking eyes served only to propagate this air of strangeness he felt. It was something the akalak could not understand, and thus it was something he did not enjoy.

Her words toyed with him, though he did not feel slighted. Instead he felt improperly prepared for dealing with such accusations. Was he a stick in the mud? Certainly he had a great deal of very particular rules he followed. They were necessary. For her. For Priskil. "Not afraid. Just uncertain." he said finally, his silvery eyes looking into Rachel's. He admired the way she appeared never to look away. The intensity was a respectable trait that he found attractive in a woman. However, he wrestled with his darker half in order to keep from being attracted to her in that way.

It was then that he realized he had been tightening his grip upon her, pulling her closer to him, the squeezing of his muscular arms becoming a bit uncomfortable. Recognizing what he was finally doing, he relaxed his arms until they came off of Rachel completely. His breathing and pulse had both quickened. Ideas and desires started to become jumbled in his head, it was harder to pick apart his thoughts. "Thank you for the dance. I need...to get something to drink." he attempted to excuse himself as best he could while moving over toward the refreshments.

[Archon]

Xalet "The best way to remove uncertainty is with experience," Rachel replied with a small smirk which only grew wider as Xalet pulled her closer, "See, doesn't it feel nice?" she cooed softly as she wrapped her hands around the back of Xalet's neck in response, pulling herself up a little as she whispered, "There's other nice things I could show you too..." Xalet's overly tight squeeze drew a faint gasp from Rachel, but there was only a hint of pain to the noise and her gaze seemed to only grow more focused, even possibly desirable. She tilted her head slightly at Xalet's excuse to go get a drink, but smoothly moved after him as he started to walk away, "I'll join you," her voice held a tinge of desire to it as she nimbly reached out a hand to grasp onto one of Xalet's wrists, and he caught a brief glimpse of her tongue sliding along between her lips, as if she was contemplating a delicious food. Lucas The young woman Lucas was dancing with blinked a couple times as she turned her focus onto him, and then started slightly at his unexpected proximity. For a moment she looked fit to begin yelling at him, but, with some obvious effort, she swallowed that reaction and gave him a painfully fake smile, "Oh yes, you're very good Lucas," her words also seemed false, but at least less so than her smile, "You may call me Mendara Trema," a faint touch of a smirk was upon her lips, as if she expected her name to mean something to him. As Lucas had gained her attention Mendara kept her gaze on him, slowly looking him over, and then she gave a sharp, rather derisive, exhale of breath through her nose, "You're a Squire, right? Are you from Syliras, or from somewhere else?" the way she said the phrase "somewhere else" gave the impression she had little respect for cities beyond Syliras.

[Lucas Arias]

It seemed as if the young lady didn’t like being in such close proximity to him. In fact it almost seemed to him as if she seriously considered yelling at him. Lucas couldn’t even begin to imagine why this could be the case. He furrowed his brow some more. Why had she even asked him to dance with her when she obviously wasn’t happy with him? Unlike in the Rearing Stallion or that shop where he had met the strange half Symenestra he was behaving and making a real effort to be a gentleman! He even looked alright for a change! Her smile was entirely fake (even Lucas who enjoyed faking things every now and then was impressed by how fake it was), and he wasn’t sure if he could believe her words either. In fact her statement that he was very good made the squire look at his feet and make sure that they were moving as they should. „Hello, Mendara“, he said as she finally revealed her name to him. „I am a squire“, he confirmed. „I’m almost a knight in fact, and I’m indeed from Syliras. You are very observant. Are you from here as well?“

[Andresciel]

The Mage Knight stepped into the room, taking in the people gathered before finding his way, quietly to a nearby corner. He wore the normal uniform of Light Plate Armor, his blue eyes hidden beneath the hood of his cloak as he took in the smells of the perfumes. As a lady passed him by, her perfume even caused the Reimancer to sneeze. He excused himself to the other side of the ballroom, but his eyes never left the patrons.


Andresciel spotted few members of the Knighthood that he knew, even Matt wasn't here. "Thats a bummer. I could use that wise old man's advice at a time like this." Andre muttered to himself, looking forward to the challenges ahead with his new friends.

[Xalet]

Xalet didn't pull away when his hand was grasped, but couldn't help but think how persistent the woman was. Xalet, as reserved and apathetic as he often appeared in his responses still had doubts of keeping his polite facade in check. He was after all two-faced, although quite skilled in keeping that other face buried deep beneath a staunch code of ethical behavior. There were times when that 'other side' had it's time in the sun, but Xalet was determined not to allow that today, not at the ball.

At the table Xalet reached for one of the pre-poured glasses of punch, or at least that was what he assumed it to be. Inside was some vibrantly colored liquid, probably made from the juice of some fruit. He extended his arm to hand it over to Rachel before he would procure one of his own. Besides being the gentlemanly thing to do, it would give her something else to hold onto that wasn't him. What a woman she was. She had many qualities that the akalak found interesting, while at the same time creating so much internal stress on his part.

He just wasn't accustomed to this type of behavior. Beyond not having any exceptional experience with women, that which he did have involved girls either much more shy or much less...interested in him. Perhaps it wasn't just him though, maybe it was all males? "What are your interests Rachel? Outside of your pursuit toward Knighthood."

[Archon]

Xalet Seemingly reluctant to let Xalet go, Rachel maintained her grasp upon his wrist as she took the offered drink with her other hand, "Why thank you Xalet, such a nice gentleman," her tone was ever so slightly teasing or playful, and she still held the same grin as before as she lightly sipped from the drink. Xalet's question brought a lighthearted laugh from Rachel, and she smirked as she replied, "You mean other than handsome Akalak Squires who I'd love to sweep me off my feat?" she teased lightly, "I enjoy fashion and jewelry, and the rest will have to remain a secret for now. It's no fun just giving up all the juicy information without some work," she finally released Xalet's wrist at this point, but it was only so she could move around in front of him and lightly press her hand against his chest once more, "How about you Xalet? What do you like to do for fun?" Lucas Lucas' question was met with a faintly derisive huff from Mendara's nose, but her fake smile remained in place, "Oh, I am. Haven't you heard of the noble Trema family before? Our ancestor, Joffrey Trema, was a member of the First WIng of Syliran Knights and my Father is a high ranking Knight as well," her voice faltered a bit as she spoke, almost seeming to waver between pride and anger. As the song they had been dancing to ended Mendara's grip tightened slightly on Lucas, as if she didn't want him to go, but that wasn't what she said, "You're not bad at dancing, but you could use some lessons. I can teach you," though most would put it as a question this was a statement, as if the young woman expected to just be able to start teaching Lucas right away. Andresciel At first most paid little attention to Andresciel. Someone dressed so darkly during the Summer Solstice was a bit of an eyesore, and most seemed content to just pretend he wasn't there. For a time he was left alone in his little section of the ballroom, the music and murmurs of the other people his only company, but then a woman slipped away from the crowd and began making her way in his direction. She was a good deal shorter than Andresciel, and wore a yellow and white dress that was clearly well crafted and modestly covered all but her hands and head. Simple jewelry sparkled at her neck and ears, and her light brown hair was pulled up and laced around a golden headdress that gave her a bit of a glimmering halo, almost like you would expect from Syna herself. As she approached Andresciel she smiled warmly, and the warmth carried up to her golden brown eyes. "Good evening Ser," her voice was smooth and polite, one well practiced in speaking, and she curtsied before Andresciel, "I hope I am not intruding, but I couldn't help but notice you over here by yourself. Are you waiting for someone?"

[Andresciel]

Andresicel's thoughts were interrupted by the smooth feminine voice, his eyes seeming to blink as he looked down at her. He shook his head to clear away the last shreds of his thoughts as he began to speak in a soft manner, like that of one who was unaccustomed to speaking a lot, who truly didn't do it often. "No, Madam. I am simply here alone. Not often do I fit in amongst the rest." He smiled, offering his hand to her. "I am Andresciel of the Mage Knights. May I ask your name, my lady?" He would seek.

He kept an eye on this glowing woman, his sapphire eyes untrusting but slowly he relaxed, realizing that no one would try to do him harm in the Illythian Ballroom. He settled down into a more comfortable standing position, arms at his side, weight on his left foot which was about an inch behind his right.

[Xalet]

"Fashion and jewelry." Xalet said with a bit of a nod, although it was difficult to understand if he was appraising those interests with approval or simply repeating them for his own memories benefit. "Exercise, the perfection of the body. Not just for the benefits of the Knights, but interest in physical pursuits is normal in all those with akalak blood. I enjoy the quiet focus while doing it. I enjoy the sun, both as it sets and when it rises. Before my eyes it's brilliance is..." he paused, unsure exactly how to describe it to a human. His eyes did not always see things as humans did. Indeed, an entire spectrum of light was available before his sight, and something as radiant and warm as the sun deserved particular recognition.

HIs mind began to drift, though he shook his head lightly to reengage his attention. "Gardening is also of interest to me, although I am...not good at it. I also enjoy speaking to people, although I am also not good at it." as she brought her hand to his chest, upon the well made fabric of his brocade doublet, Xalet brought his own hand up and lightly touched Rachel's forehead with a finger, "Understanding how people think up here is of great interest to me. Are we very different, Rachel?" he asked genuinely, wanting to hear her opinion. Rooming with males of different ages all his life, both as a Paige and as a Squire he knew how some human males often felt. He could only imagine that were one of them in his place Rachel and that man would have probably already left the ballroom together.