Fate - First Reply A Gorilla In A Suit

[Elspeth Sirl]

It was impossible to say just exactly what she'd expected out of the young man where dancing was concerned. Elspeth may not have been trained in the art of combat or swordsmanship, but her lifestyle had afforded her exposure to a great many things - one of which had been that of competitive fencing. Not in the practice of it, but in the spectacle. She knew well enough that the sport and skill of it held strong similarities to dance.

But Edric did not strike her as the fencing type.

Regardless, she was both impressed and pleased at his quick progress. After only a short while she'd stop reciting the steps aloud and found he was able to keep in-tune with the dance pattern. Elsi found the smile on her face was not so forced, as it came to her naturally despite his otherwise stoic countenance.

A sudden outburst of squealing laughter from the Governess shook her from their little world as she looked over to see the Lady had a new audience with her. More people were gathering in the courtyard, drinks in hand and hors d'oeuvres traipsing by on silver platters. They were gathering in anticipation of the first contest.

"Oh, goodness, it's nearly time," she noted, bringing their practice to an end and stepping back from Edric, "but I think we stand a fighting chance for the waltz. Lord and Lady Beaumont will be the ones to keep an eye on," Elsi tipped her head toward a couple not far from the Governess, the pair of them in a matching ensemble of greens, "they play dirty but no one's ever caught them. The Lady dropped marbles on the floor last time to trip up their competition."

 

[Edric]

The lesson lasted for seconds, minutes, Edric couldn't really tell.

In the sea of violence that was his life, it felt strange to feel a moment of calm. A desperate few seconds where he didn't have to put up a front, where he didn't have to impress other Initiates or Proctors, where he could simply let himself be.

Yet before such a thing could ever take hold, laughter rang out. Heads turned in tandem, and as Elspeth pulled herself free Edric once against straightened his back fully. A nod tipping his head as his partner explained their main enemy. "So..."

He glanced briefly towards the gathering gaggle of nobility.

"We trip them first?" Edric's words were slow, as though someone were blowing on a flame. Sparking a fire...or in his case a need of victory.

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

Elspeth eyed the Initiate as if he'd just suggested he poison the punch, "No," she replied over a scoff, "we will not cheat our way through the games..." her gaze lingered off to where their competitors were congregating, "it's unbecoming."

And she was not about to sully her good name by behaving exactly as everyone expected a Sirl to behave. Though she could not at all picture her father partaking in such nonsense. As a matter of fact, her father hadn't attended courtly events since the Revolution, so far as he knew. The Sirl Patriarch had gone oddly quiet on the stormfront of politics.

Leaving an open seat for her to claim in his stead.

"Sirls don't cheat," she proclaimed to Edric with a great deal of self assurance, batting away the doubt surrounding the many stories and rumors she'd heard along the way of her mighty Sirl ancestors, "Come, we must help the Governess find her seat before the games begin."

 

[Edric]

"Ah." Edric responded, lips thinning for a brief moment before he added in a cold whisper. "But, it's not cheating if it's not against the rules."

The words were little more than a quiet grumble.

He had hoped to stoke the flames of competition in Elspeth, but it seemed she was more concerned with appearances. Perhaps he could do her a small favor and make sure things...went the way they should. None of these noble fool deserved to win.

Quietly Edric followed along with Elspeth to the Governess.

They found her speaking to another large group of people, telling tales of some event long ago. She turned her head as the two approached, a wide smiling touching her face.

"Oh there you are! I thought you'd lost me! Did you sign up for the games?"​

Edric nodded his head. "We did, your Grace."

A small laugh echoed from the woman's lips.

"We'll save that for my sister and brother-in-law young man. I am delighted you have decided to perform, I'll be sure you bet on your victory. A daughter of House Sirl and a Dreadlord Initiate? You're sure to win."​

An almost wicked smile touched the Governess' face.

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

The Grand Ballroom

Elspeth's smile had vacated her face as they wandered in along with their competition and endured several long, drawn-out minutes of introductions of the competing nobles. There was a stumble over Edric's name ...

Lady Elspeth Sirl (hushed whispers, quiet gossip) and ...Lor - no, Ser... ...no ...Edric!

Elsi gently cleared her throat, ironing her spine ever taller and straighter as if to prove his lack of title meant nothing. It truly did mean nothing to her - she'd seen things. She knew what the young man was capable of. Besides, it wouldn't stop the other Courtesans from fawning over his handsome, rugged, exotic self. Their giggles and wanting smiles were hardly concealed. She gathered his arm in her hands a bit more snugly. Assuring him, but mostly herself.

Once the names had been announced, the rules were laid out:

• All couples must keep to the Marble Hall Waltz.
• When the music stops playing the dancers must freeze in place. Any movement seen is grounds for disqualification.
• As the music quickened, so too should the dancers to keep in time.
• Any misstep or dalliance from the dance was grounds for disqualification.
• Couples must maintain distance from one another at all times.
• All loose items and affects were to be deposited on a table before the dance began.
• Judges will be stationed around the dance floor to observe for missteps.
• The challenge will continue until one couple remained.

It was only an hour past noon and last year she'd watched this challenge stretch into nearly a second hour. Elsi internally withered at the thought of her poor feet in these accursed heels but turned to Edric as the announcer called for the couples to move to the dance floor.

She smirked faintly, wrinkling her nose in a moment of amusement, "If someone told me back in Wissburg that we'd be here today, I'd feel compelled to examine their head for brain trauma."

 

[Edric]

Edric placed a third knife upon the table, his expression somewhat grim. He'd had a small argument with the announcers about keeping at least one of the blades on him, not that he really needed it, but he was here to protect the Governess. It was only after the assurance of one of the nearby Knights that he had relented.

Though he still didn't like it.

Elspeth's faint smile turned on him, the amusement on her features clear as she brought up Wissburg. He bristled for a moment as he remembered the days within those walls. The mask that he had worn there, the trust he had betrayed.

The bond he'd formed with Ralene.

"I would have done the same If they told me I'd attend another dance." He said with a slight frown, the memory of the Dreadlord Ball still hanging within his head. Briefly he looked up, checking to see where the chandeliers.

After marking all three in his mind, he stepped forward and offered Elspeth his hand. "Let's go win this."

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

She'd watched him disarm at the table, and by the point at which he'd withdrawn a third dagger Elspeth found herself wanting to inform Edric that he was at a galla event. Not a warfront. She'd lifted a hand to speak up while Ed had his frank exchange of ideas with the Guard, but caught herself and pressed that hand balled into a fist at her lips.

No. No. Just leave it go, Elsi. This was a Dreadlord Initiate - he wouldn't get it.

His stern expression as he offered his hand with what felt like a promise of victory only solidified that notion.

"So serious," Elsi picked at him, mocking his stoic grimace with her own as she took his hand and stepped out onto the dance floor alongside him in the procession of competitors, movements gracefully fluid as any noble lady should be, "You might consider yourself lucky you know," she said as she took up her position at his front just as they had a short while ago during practice in the courtyard, "you could have ended up with Peach Perritot as your escort," Elsi bobbed her dark brows and flicked her head in the direction of a short, roundish, over-primped blond who giggled too much and too loud, and reeked of an overabundance of perfume.

Hold while they awaited the start of the orchestra's tune.

"She hides cupcakes in her purse," Elsi whispered conspiratorially at him.

 

[Edric]

As the two of them stepped out onto the dance floor Edric raised his brows. Elspeth's competitiveness reared it's head once more as she spoke of the noble house of Perritot. His eyebrows raised as she spoke of the duplicity inherit within Lady Peach. "What's a cupcake?"

He asked with a slight frown, cut off by the music which began to assail the great hall.

Before Elspeth could offer an answer the band began to fall into their music. Strings soared through the air, woodwinds rang in the room. Music soared above any other sound as the dance began without any announcement or call.

Couples within the great square began to move, Edric and Elspeth among them.

Without word or direction the Initiate followed every step that his companion had instructed.

They moved perfectly within the swing of the song. Every foot placed correctly. His hands drawing over Elspeth's body in perfect direction of the dance she had instructed. The waltz drawing the two of them together as they moved through the dance.

In his head Edric counted every movement. Retracing every practice, trying to keep to the steps as best as he could.

He focused, his attention drawn to naught but the woman within his grasp. He did not see the Lord and Lady besides them. He did not witness as they pulled a flask from beneath their cloak, did not see as they unscrewed the top, and let loose a bottle of oil upon the dance floor.

A lubricant that even the most sure-footed would fall upon.

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

The dance came quite naturally to Elspeth, who neither required watching her own feet or counting steps - such was the upbringing of a young noble lady. And despite being otherwise concerned at the fact that Edric did not know what a cupcake was, she was not so distracted to miss the errant movement of the couple dancing about the circuit to their right. It so happened her own movement put her looking exactly in their direction the moment the woman skillfully withdrew a small flask, passing it to her partner to open and dribble the contents out behind them.

"Edric," she hissed, brows lofting and eyes going wide, "theresomethingonthe-"

The music stopped abruptly and Elspeth found herself locked into the ram-rod grasp of her dancing partner as if he were made of granite.

"The floor," she whispered hurriedly as they were mere feet away from the shiny puddle in their path, "they poured something on the floor."

Elsi quickly buttoned up as one of the judges meandered by, scrutinizing their posture to ensure they weren't moving. Just as quickly the music started up again, a beat faster than before.

"Lift me over it," she braced, her heels just a few steps away.

 

[Edric]

As soon as the music came to a stop Edric formed into an almost statuesque stillness. He didn't move, didn't blink, didn't do anything at all. He stood utterly frozen even as Elspeth whispered to him about the treachery of their fellow competitors.

The only reaction she would be able to see was a slight flicker of his eyes.

He glanced over towards the floor for just a brief moment. As the inspector walked between them and another couple Edric spotted it. A slight, almost unnoticeable puddle directly in Elspeth's path. It was oil, or grease, not large enough to really be a problem save for those who would directly step in it.

Which was of course easy enough to predict when one knew the dance as well as their foes. As the inspector passed them by and the music once again started up Edric gave a curt nod.

They started off with the swing of the music. One step, then another, and the third would have seen Elspeth's foot directly in the oil. Edric knew it, and before her foot could ever fall his hands suddenly flickered. One fell to her hip, and the other gently grasped her shoulder. With a shocking amount of grace and precision Edric lifted, and then spun Elspetht in the air. The motion was so swift, so seamless, that the slight change in the dance might never have been noticed had not a dozen set of eyes been firmly on them.

At first it would seem the twirl would have been a marr on their performance. But those in the crowd soon let out an 'oooo' followed by swift appreciative applause as Elspeth came back into Edric's arms and the two fell seamlessly back into the sweeping dance.

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

Tweet tweet!

The twirl, was, in fact a mar on their performance. Oo and ahh as the crowd might, the twirl was not part of the traditional Marble Hall Waltz and thusly -

"You two are out," said a Judge stationed just outside the dancefloor, "move to the side please, quickly."

"Shit," Elspeth swore under her breath, having been taken off-guard by the sudden improvised twirl when she'd simply asked to be lifted overtop of the puddle. But the moment the t hit her teeth, there was a commotion just to their right as Lord and Lady Beaumont went down in a flurry of seafoam ruffles. The Lady screeched as her heels went slipping through the liquid on the floor and try as the Lord might, he couldn't stop the trainwreck from happening. The couple dancing behind them attempted to go around, but the man's foot caught on the flailing leg of Lord Beaumont and down they went as well.

The music came to an abrupt stop and all other dancers froze in place.

Elspeth watched this all happen with wide, blinking eyes, "Oh dear..." and pressed a gloved hand to her lips to hide the sudden amusement appearing there. At least they hadn't caused such a scene. "We should," Elspeth gently cleared her throat, "we should move out of the way before we're caught in that mess..."

 

[Edric]

"What the f-" Before Edric could declare his outrage at the ruling of the judge a cacophony of chaos erupted just besides them. A woman slipped, dragging her partner down and taking another couple with them before anyone had a chance to react.

The chaos of it all was enough to disrupt the simmer of Edric's rage, and before he knew it he found himself standing in a corner of the room. His face was twisted in a what could only be called a growl, features dark as his eyes flickered over towards the Governess whom seemed to be utterly entranced in conversation.

A slight bit of laughter broke out among the gaggle of nobles, and then the Governess looked over towards the two of them.

Edric turned away, hiding the scowl on his face. "What the fuck was that?"

He demanded, trying his best to temper his voice.

"Everyone cheered!" The Initiate declared in utter confusion.

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

Elspeth was cross.

Ever so much more than when Professor Muhlen had suggested she'd cheated on a practical exam.

Cheaters ... cheaters got beneath the skin of the young Sirl with the same efficiency as an insect disappeared beneath a rug. Bristling at Edric's side, Elsi continued to watch the dance as it picked back up, the circle now conveniently smaller and bypassing the treacherous spot on the floor.

She crossed her arms at her front and glowered, settling somewhat at Edric's own confused fuming. With a curt sigh through her nose, Elspeth looked aside at him with a patient frown, "It deviated from the traditional dance, that's why we were disqualified."

The Noble gently shook her head, "I was hoping you could sort of ... lift me over it just enough that they wouldn't notice, but the twirl wasn't going to be overlooked."

Then it dawned on her how truly silly it was to be so cross in the first place. "But you did remarkably well for only having just learned the dance within the hour. Truly, Edric, you could pass for a Noble yet. And don't worry, we're not out of the running - we could lose another competition and still win overall."

 

[Edric]

”That’s ridiculous.” Edric stated flatly, his voice a mixture of anger and incredulity. ”They all liked it!”

The Dreadlord complained bitterly.

His mind could simply not wrap itself around doing something one way simply for the sake of doing it. There was no sense in that! One didn’t win a battle by sticking to rigid guidelines, thats how you lost.

They had adapted! Overcome circumstances that had most certainly not been a part of the competition and delighted EVERYONE!

While Elspeth fumed, Edric was practically seething. He felt as though he were an eagle sitting in the midst of a gaggle of ducks. None of this made any sense at all, and in a burst of dissatisfaction his tongue loosened. ”I’ll never understand nobles.”

”They should have sent Kristen.” Edric grumbled, crossing his arms and watching the dancing couples with the scorn of a woman wronged.

Then, after a few seconds, he added. "We are winning this fucking thing."

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

That was a whole lot of attitude about something very simple. The measure of the young man beside her against such a silly slight told her a great deal more about him that she might've been able to guess without having such solid evidence. Elsi liked to win as well, but mostly she liked to win at things that mattered.

This? This was just a bunch of mashed bananas.

"I don't fully understand most of them myself," she replied, unsmiling, "sometimes it feels like they live in a fantasy beyond the real world."

Most Nobles would never see the real world beyond their cushioned, lavish lifestyles. Elspeth had seen a great deal more than some of the most senior Nobles in attendance and she hoped that her own experiences with the world outside these gilded halls would break the change so desperately needed in the region. In Vel Anir.

A heavy sigh, a glance up at the grimace on Edric's face, she knew already this was going to be a long day but now she was certain it would be a long day that required more wine. She gladly plucked a glass from the tray of a passing waiter, took a hearty drink from it, and swallowed her mettle.

"Right, I should start teaching you the next challenge. Who's Kristen?"

 

[Edric]

”Kristen Pirian.” Edric answered simply, as though the name were like any other.

Someone else might have been shocked that Elspeth did not recognize the name. But Edric knew that while most others had been able to witness the changes post-revolution, Elspeth had not. She’d been trapped behind the walls of Wissburg, cordoned by the Priests and working as a simple tavern girl.

She’d likely never heard the news that the young Pirian had joined the Academy. ”She was allowed to join the academy after the Revolution. Her family had hidden her magic.”

If that bothered Edric at all, he didn’t show it.

”What’s the next challenge?” He asked, a slight tine of eagerness hidden in his tone.

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

"Pirian?" Elsi blinked at him, eyes wide, "Shut the front door."

That was a bit loud. People were looking at them and she immediately felt their eyes. Gently clearing her throat, Elspeth leaned a bit closer and lowered her voice.

"She's at the Academy? I don't believe it. She was at my finishing school, a year below I think..." and all that time she'd had magic. Incredible!

"I did not know the Academy would accept a student so ... old." Of course, like most people, she knew very little about the Academy in general, but she thought she read that it only accepted children under four years of age. How strange ... and how much the Revolution had changed things. Every day she was discovering one more facet of Vel Anir that seemed touched, evolved, or shifted by it.

Oh, but he wanted to know about the next challenge.

"It's ... the baking challenge I believe. What sort of experience have you in a kitchen?"

 

[Edric]

Edric nodded in confirmation of her question, glancing past Elspeth for a moment to make sure that the Governess was still staying out.

It seemed the Queen's sister was still happily settled in her place, one hand filled with a glass of champagne while the other pointed towards one of the courtiers. Edric watched her for a few moments as he continued to explain about Kristen. "They usually don't."

Not as far as he knew anyway.

Kristen's presence had never really been explained to any of them. One day she had simply appeared and they'd been told to treat her as they would any other Initiate. Edric had never thought about it much, just placing the Noble in the same category as another useless peer at the bottom of the class.

Of course things since then had been…complicated, but there wasn't any need to elaborate on that now. Unless the daughter of house Sirl kept digging.

Slowly he turned his attention back towards Elspeth.

"None." He admitted dutifully, his focus and rage entirely honed on winning the competition that now lay before them. "I don't think I've ever been in one."

The Proctors had never though Kitchen duty was much of a punishment for him. They'd preferred other methods.