He couldn't help but compare the centaur with Estella all of a sudden. The poor girl would be destroyed under his mother's harsh judgement. Lifting eyes suddenly gone serious, the fae felt a sigh leave his lips. "You do realize that this is not all play for me, do you not?" The reality hit him like a landslide.

It had started out as play, but now he was taking stock of his emotions and feeling them torn. It surprised him. "You've no need to worry Cyris, I'll surely find something." forcing himself to playfulness, Ignatius shot the centaur a grin while leaning against him again as they danced.

A flash of undisguised emotion ran over the young man's face at Heiro's rebuke. Biting back a retort with difficulty, the white haired man averted his eyes. Forcing himself to calm his emotions, at least for now, Uriel raised an uncaring hand to adjust his white mask as he listened to the woman's words. Let her say what she willed, she'd no idea what danger she'd put her friend in.

Not a word escaped Uriel's lips until he watched the woman walk by warily. Once he was certain she'd left, he turned his attention to the other man. Crossing his arms, Uriel did his best to keep hold of his anger. "You know the rules Heiro. No romantic entanglements." Though there was undisguised bite in the words, there was also a hint of longing with a good deal of self-pity. Anger, he needed to hold it tight to make sure he didn't say anything more foolish then losing the polished manners the fae had instilled within him.

Lifting his eyes to the stars, the changeling tried to calm his emotions that way. The moon did look beautiful. A peaceful haven with a soft glowing light that welcomed any to look upon it. That sight and the soothing breeze somehow helped Uriel regain control of himself.

Heiro gave a nod to Janu. "Yes, I shall do my best to explain the situation, thank you for bearing Uriel's foul mood." he said before he watched her walk off, catching her sliding behind the stone frame of the doors to the balcony. He then looked back to Uriel, who wasted no time in jumping into the reason of his rude interruption.

Heiro let out a light sigh and set down his glass again and leaned on the stone rail. "I am well aware of the rules, Uriel, and I am well aware of the punishments that could await. Should the court find out, I and I alone shall take full responsibility. Neither Janu or my court shall have any place under the queen's hand." He said, set determination that would be impossible to deter in his voice. He did not fear the Fae court and honestly, he could care less about what happened to the Kyiomizu no Chii court. He highly doubted they were going to keep him on the throne long anyway.

He watched the younger man for a moment, then turned his face to the night sky, closing his eyes. "What would you do, Uriel, if you unexpectedly met someone you had loved for years? Would you turn them away or would you do as I have?" He asked, his voice softer now. He didn't really know what he was trying to get at. Pity, perhaps? Maybe the changeling would remember the ball in the past, with the fiery Valkyrie, and understand. Then again, the queen had not been so strict with them back then, things had been easier for all the courts.

Letting a sigh of his own leave his lips, the changeling shook his head. Taking a few steps forward Uriel found himself wishing he'd never caught that glimpse from across the dance floor. "Only if she ... Finds out." Voice wavering, the young man averted his eyes once more. He was a fool, if it was ever discovered the queen would punish them all severely. No doubt she would be harder on her charge then any others. Still, to destroy the small moment of peace he'd seen earlier seemed like too cruel a thing.

Heiro's next words made a strange look cross Uriel's face. He remembered that ball very well, and how things had evolved. Lingering emotions from then still haunted him. In fact, it was one of the reasons why he had acted so angrily. With a deep breath he glanced at the other man, seeing his eyes closed Uriel made a decision. A strange, impulsive one that he knew would probably end in nothing more then rejection, or perhaps humiliation though he doubted the other man was angry enough with him to do such a thing.

Moving forward hesitantly he reached out to place a trembling hand to the dhampir's face. He was afraid with a heart that beat all too fast and loud. Uriel lifted his lips to press them gently against the other man's with too many emotions warring together in his heart to name. Pulling back with a sigh, he let his eyes fall to the ground and his hand go to Heiro's shoulder. "I would watch from afar trying to shield my heart with anger in an attempt to hide my feelings from myself. But that is neither here nor there, I'll say not a word. You've no need to worry as long as you're discreet." It seemed like everything he'd felt simply slid away with the few words, to leave him in a melancholic mood. It was alright, this wasn't the first time such a feeling had settled over him.

Cyris' expression turned serious as Ignatius spoke. Shifting an arm in order to brush arrent strands of his long hair off his shoulder, he spoke softly. "Yeah, I kinda figured that out. Too be honest, I'm not exactly sure if it's just play I'm looking for either. Would it be impossible for me to walk into this ball, fancying only women, then to walk out of this ball with you possibly next to me?"
His inner confusion was completely visible on the surface.
When Ignatius leaned against him again, Cyris moved his arms to wrap around the other male. "I'm sure you will."

Janu inwardly sighed as Uriel spoke. She had guessed as much she just wished she understood why. Why did it matter so much if someone fell in love that an oath would be demanded? It made no sense... Still, Uriel had no proof. It would be easy to dismiss what had happened as an idle conversation so Heiro could do so. She waited for heiro to do so in fact but he did something so very different. She would have paled if her skin wasn't already chalk white and felt a thrill of panic that made her blood instantly cold as ice.

What was he doing?! As he spoke it took all her will power not to rush onto the balcony and call heiro a liar or demand Uriel and the court take her instead as Heiro had done no wrong. She considered herself more at fault then Heiro, she was the one who came out into the balcony so vulnerable and teary. She couldn't let this happen! She had to fight somehow! But how...? if she rushed in now the whole room's attention would be drawn to the event and everyone would know.

Janu's panic faded however as Uriel spoke. She couldn't help but glance behind her out of the corner of her eye so it wasn't too obvious. What she saw stabbed a cold knife of jealousy through her at the kiss as he took what she could not have because of their stupid rules. She hid the reaction inward, however, even as it tore through her. The only thing that showed her emotion was those pale blue eyes of hers. The jealousy, the confusion, the hurt all flashed over her eyes but she could only stand there. Still for a moment all she wanted was to run away... Uriel was a safer prospect then her surely. Even as she went to move, however, she couldn't. She heard Heiro's voice whispering i love you in his native tongue in her ear from deep in her memory when she tried and she simply back against the wall. She felt so helpless she wanted nothing more then to curl up in a corner and cry or scream... yet her face retained it's cold mask even as she listened to Uriel continue to speak. That tone of such sorrow... her anger felt frozen in an instant, replaced only with pity. So he knew what it was like to love the same man and be denied it....

Jo found the water she'd been searching for, picking up the glass and taking a grateful sip. Letting her gold eyes scan the room again, she noticed two men dancing among the others. A slight blush crept up her face before she fought it down, she knew such things weren't uncommon, but no one in her clan expressed such attraction. She turned her attention to the pale-skinned woman who leaned against the wall not too far away. "Would you like company? Perhaps an ear to listen to the troubles men bring?" she asked, her thoughts turning to the one time she'd tried dating. "I'm sure we can find a seat somewhere, there aren't entirely too many people about."

((PLAY WITH ME, STARIA!))

Janu moved subtly to block any view of Uriel and heiro's kiss as she sensed someone approaching her. She blinked as the woman spoke to her and couldn't help but smile slightly ruefully at her remark about men. She worried though.... if this strange had already seen her troubled heart, who else had? she shook off the thought with a soft prayer to the gods above to protect Heiro, knowing she had ot spend time with others if she wanted it to seem heiro was just a friend... that her buried love was still as dead as it should have been.

"I do think I spot a table over there. Could we pass by and get me another drink? I ... well to be honest I had a rather embarrassing entrance and stumbled right past the tables." She said in a slightly bashful tone. She pressed gave the other woman a warm smile then and pushed away from the wall. She would head towards the drinks if the woman agreed and then the table after that. She wasn't use to being approached by so many strangers in one night! Least of all a beautiful woman... She had almost forgotten she could be attracted to other women in recent years. She never really stayed in one place long enough if she wasn't exhausted or injured to think to hard about it.

A shiver ran down the fae's spine all of a sudden. Completely unexpected, but certainly welcome. It had taken him by surprise, both the centaur's words and his actions. Confusion slipped across Ignatius' face for a brief moment to be replaced by a smile. "It would be entirely possible." Reveling a little in the feel of strong arms around him, the fae prince found himself surprisingly content.

Though he knew for certain that Cyris was quite thoroughly confused. "If you wish it, perhaps you could take some time to think and I ..." Hesitating a little, Ignatius felt his heart warring with itself. To grow so attached to two people in such a short time was entirely unlike him and yet it had happened. He was loathe to leave Cyris, but wanted to spend more time with Estella. "I find myself torn in two directions without knowing how such a thing happened," murmured the amber eyed fae.

Cyris smiled gently. "Glad to know you think so too. I just thought I was crazy." he laughed softly. The Centaur enjoyed having someone to hold. It's not a normality in the nature of Centaur females-to be held.
"It seems we both have some thinking to do. I never knew balls could be this.... soul searching."

Cyris watched the fae carefully, then sighed. "Shall we just dance? No more thoughts of if's, whats, and maybes. Let's just enjoy."

Shaking off his thoughts with a grin, Ignatius inwardly forced walls up to keep his thoughts at bay. "Yes, let's dance and savor it." To enjoy their time together even though both of them were plagued with other thoughts. They were so close as they danced, and yet somehow Ignatius knew that grace still flowed trough their movements. "A centaur upon two legs, you have another form I presume?" Lifting his eyes with a grin, Ignatius realized he'd hit upon a distracting enough subject.

Perhaps he would even show Cyris his wings. That would be tantamount to accepting the centaur into the family though, or at least saying how very much his feelings had grown. A thought for later in the night when perhaps his heart wasn't so at war with itself.

With a smile, Cyris began to dance in earnest again, happy to have pushed past the awkwardness. "Of course I do. I chose to attend the ball with two legs, to break my mothers heart, and attempt to confuse as many guests as I possibly could." Cyris' grin could melt ice. "Also I figured dancing would be easier with an unfamiliar partner with two legs, rather than my lower half being that of a horse. Although it does make me substantially taller." The Centaurs manner was that of before their serious conversation; flirty, warm-hearted and debonair.

Jo smiled turning with the feline lady to head for the drinks. "I could use a new drink as it is," she said, looking down at the glas that was somehow almost empty. "I must have needed it more than I realized." As they passed the refreshments she picked up a glass of wine, hoping it wasn't too strong. "I'm Johara, by the way. What would your name be?" Sitting at a table felt good, not nearly so bumpy as the carriages, and the chairs were nice and plush.

Rolling his eyes slightly, the fae pushed back annoying hair quickly before returning his attention to Cyris with a laugh. "I must admit I wouldn't relish having hooves stumbling upon my feet." He was enjoying himself and for once wasn't entirely worried about what his mother might think. The refreshing feeling eased the worry from his expression, though that was helped by the grin Cyris sent his way. "You're entirely too good looking for your own good," stated Ignatius quite seriously, with a wink to lighten the words of course.

Janu gave the other woman a greatful smile as she agreed. She would also grab the plain water before she walked to the table. She reached up and touched her earring casually as she sat, focusing her abilities over shadows. She would use it to listen to Heiro and Uriel to make sure nothing bad happened. She couldn't help but worry and her gaze was still directed there when she heard the woman introduce herself. She blinked and turned her attention towards the other woman once more.

"O..oh. I'm Janu Sagare. It's a pleasure to meet you" She stated softly. She smiled warmly at the other woman, even as she kept her attention split between her and the two men. She knew it was rude but considering she didn't know what would happen she had to know. For all she knew Heiro would accept Uriel's feelings as well... perhaps seeing her like she was earlier would have changed Heiro's mind about her. She had changed in various small ways... what if too much?

GUARDIAN AZREALLA CENRIC

Azrealla swept into the ball, seeming to more glide then walk. She didn't even glance at the crier as it called out her name and title, though she was rather surprised. Those eerie green eyes slid over the gathered crowd in thought and she tilted her head to the side. Many were rather good looking and couples seemed to be already pairing off. She suppressed a sigh, a rather bored expression on her face. She slid to the buffet table and would grab a small glass of juice though she wasn't entirely sure what kind. It was tart but not unpleasantly so.The confident creature then began to look for an uncrowded table and came to it just as another two women were sitting down.

"I do hope if you do not mind if I sit here..." she said in her melodious voice. Then again being what she was luring men with her voice and her dance was part of the game... even if as Revenge Seeker of the clan she used it primarily to lure murderous to a quick and watery death. She gave both women a smile and janu nodded yes so she would curtsy elegantly before taking her seat between them. She glanced over the red headed Jo in open appreciation. She saw no reason to hide that she preferred women over men, though some men were enough to get her attention.

She noticed Janu was still distracted by whoever was out on the balcony, but merely tried to think of some topic for discussion. The addition of the new woman surprised her a tad, but she didn't mind. The look she was giving her, though... It was the sort of look the young males would give attractive females, or vice versa. She wasn't used to attention from another female, and her cheeks tried reddening again. "Go right ahead," she said before taking a sip. Yep, the wine was stronger than she'd thought. "I'd rather like to know where everyone comes from. I don't get away from the eerie a lot."

Janu tried to pay attention, really she did, but considering she'd found out she would cause a person she dearly loved pain simply for loving him it was nto to surprising she drifted into her own thoughts. She didn't even notice how Jo blushed or the question at first. It was only the artfully timed clearing of Ella's throat that caught her attention. She flushed herself a moment and tried to remember what the question was... where she was from.

"No where in particular really... I travel alot" She muttered in response. She always found the question strange for some reason.

***

Azrealla watched the feline a moment in thought but quickly deduced there was little point in paying too much attention to her. She was not really here...Ella shrugged to herself, however, and turned her attention back to the other young woman. She tilted her head to the side and smiled a little at the blush, seeming rather contented and amused by it. Softly, she leaned back in her chair a moment as she debated something internally.

"England myself, Perhaps you would tell me about the Eerie over a dance? I'll lead" she asked gently. She thought the cat woman seemed to need to be alone with her thoughts... and she would rather enjoy a dance with the pretty young Jo. She held out a hand towards the other woman but did not move from her lounging position. She half expected her to refuse, being openly attracted to other women did not always react well, but it was worth a try. She would behave either way and only dance with her and talk...for now. She did not know her well enough to truely be attracted to her quite yet. She knew only she was rather adorable.

Heiro's eyes opened slightly as he heard Uriel move, the changeling's heartbeat rising. He looked down just as the shorter man's hand touched his face, eyes widening as their lips suddenly met and the rapid thumping of Uriel's heart filled his ears. His eyes flickered to gold for a moment as the other man pulled away and a look of uncertainty crossed his face. He had thought it was a simple infatuation many years ago... did Uriel still feel that way? Was it more than a mere crush?

Blinking a few times, he searched Uriel's face as his words sunk in, proving that is was in fact more than what Heiro had written it off as decades ago. "Uriel, I... " He started, his mind searching for something to say, but he found himself at a loss. He honestly had thought it was a passing fancy, something insubstantial.

Unable to find the words to console him, he let his eyes drop to the stone below their feet. "Thank you.... and, I'm sorry." he said softly, knowing the words would not help any, perhaps even make the man feel worse. But what else was there to say? He did find Uriel attractive, but he doubted the changeling was looking for a casual relationship.

In the small silence, that had fallen between them, he noticed the disturbance in the shadows around him. It did not take him long to find the source, and it didn't surprise him. He bit back a light sigh and raised his eyes to the sky again, for all that he wanted to look to Uriel he wasn't sure he could focus on both of them at the same time. Gently tapping into the section of the darkness that Janu had, he attempted to connect with her. "It's alright, Janu, he isn't a threat." his voice came softly through the shadows, "Just another damaged heart."

Though the sigh he gave was internal, it transferred through the shadows before he spoke to her again. "I still owe you an explanation, and a dance. Perhaps in an hour or so, once things have calmed down, ne?" He said, one of his vocal habits slipping through in their private conversation. He looked back to Uriel then, and fought not to reach up and twist the ruby at his neck again as he waited the young man's response.

Janu hesitated as she realized he had sensed her but then again when she thought about it, was it really that much of a surprise... He had been controlling shadows before she could even do so as well as she did now. It probably didn't help that she hadn't really focused on strengthening these tricks recently that had been her only skills when they met long ago. Still, she could speak to him through the shadows while appearing to be simply smiling silently at the table... and she did so now.

"I know..." the two words were so simple...yet they rang with the longing she had to be over there with him instead. It wasn't fair... already she had been denied even what another had taken for all her love. Still, it wasn't that different then what she herself had done was it? That night so long ago when a little bit of alcohol was accidentally mixed in her tea... She pushed away the thought and continued after a moment, her voice coming from the shadows near his ear as if she were actually there.

"You never were able to answer me earlier... Am I as much a danger to you by just being here as I seem? What would be done if they knew?" She tried to hide all emotion as she said this, but there was one weakness of this type of communication. It was ultimately a product of mind, not the physical so it was much harder to hide her emotion. A small bit of fear and sorry both entered it ever so slightly. He loved her.. she believed that now as he pushed Uriel away and continued to desire such risk to have her...but she feared for him. Apparently she feared for him more then he did himself.

Jo blinked at the question, the thought of dancing with, well, anyone, really, hadn't crossed her mind. The were gryphon looked at the table for a heartbeat, then set her glass down. "I... sure," she stammered, then the thought of what her mother would do if she came home with another woman popped into her head. She almost laughed out loud, but managed to stifle it as she took Ella's hand. Her mother, to put it shortly, would have a fit. Jo knew she wanted grandchildren. "I must warn you, I don't know any dances from this region."

Azrealla smiled warmly at the woman, pleased to have been wrong. She gave the other woman's hand a comforting squeeze before she stood and pulled Jo gently to her feet. The woman really was cute...Innocent almost. She did not see that often considering what she did in the clan. The guilty were all she had interacted for centuries. Right now, however, all that mattered was Jo... such was Ella's natural focus. She had a single mindedness that kept her focused on what she was doing to an almost supernatural degree. Ella was not the kind to do anything half way.

"I will just have to teach you then if you do not know what dance the music chooses." She said with a soft chuckle, smooth and confident as always. She would walk at an acceptable, gentile distance until they reached the dance floor. She would then sweep the other girl into her arms with the same confidence many men would and would lead her in a simple two step waltz. If she lacked any knowledge of the steps she would lean forward and walk her through them by whispering the details in her ear. She seemed utterly at home... being what she was this would be of little surprise.

Jo's blush remained firmly in place as Ella led her through the dance. She tried to keep up, but ended up tripping a little bit over her own feet, muttering sorry every time she did. Once she got into the rhythm of the dance though, she stopped stumbling. "I... You wanted me to tell you about the Eerie," she said, glancing down at her feet to make sure they weren't in her way. She looked back up at the woman, noticing that her entire eye was truly green, and it wasn't just a trick of the light. It was strange, and she tried not to stare. "We live high in the mountains, away from most humans. They seem to think we're bloodthirsty monsters. There's this one cliff that most of the clan lives at, and some of the buildings are built right into it, with the stone cut out used in other buildings." It was beautiful, and efficient.

Azrealla simply made soft, comforting mutterings at each sorry with an occasional gentle chuckle. She tended to avoid any near step on her feet but also shift the arm she held across the other woman's waist to support her so she couldn't fall. Dancing with partners less then elegant was a part of what her kind did after all... Jo was actually pretty good all things considered, at least she had rhythm. She smiled to herself at the thought, surprised that the other woman remembered her question considering how much she was blushing! Ella thought she may be a bit too distracted.

"It sounds like it would have a beautiful view... were you born there? She responded gently, hoping to put the woman more at ease if she distracted her with conversation. She knew very well how it felt for your kind to be thought of in such a way... then again for her kind it was not untrue. They moved by death's touch, trapping it yet trapped by it for eternity. It was much like the dances they did in a way... an irony that Ella was inclined to appreciate.

Heiro fought not to give a wry smile at Janu's questions. It wasn't that either of them were humorous, but he felt it was a bit ironic that she thought she was a danger to him, where as he had always been afraid of it being the other way around. "No, you are never a danger to me, Janu. The queen just seems to believe we should be able to turn off our emotions. For all that we can seem like we do, there is no such thing. As for the punishments.... there is little she could do to me that no one has already done. I do not fear her and she knew that when she first appointed this task to me." He said.

Sir Nivedus Anifacis

Nivedus stood at the top of the stair, vivid green eyes sweeping the room from behind his mask as the crier announced his arrival. Far from being late, he had been with the Queen and her court discussing the details of the masquerade and working out the finer details of the agreement between them. Now, as the ball fell into full swing, he stepped into the crowd with ease, a charming smile gracing his lips as he greeted various guests with a nod or a quick "Good evening."

After a stop at the refreshment tables, he wound his way around the room, watching the guests, particularly those who seemed partnered up. He then began scanning the room for a lone woman to charm while he waited for the first couple to be announced to him and the other judges. By the looks of things, he wouldn't have too long to wait.

Janu sighed now that she was alone, but resisted the urge to stand and run back to the balcony. It was not an easy task to do so but she had. She didn't even seem to hear the crier but continued with her conversation. She was not satisfied with his answer and it would likely show in her tone. She did not like how he dismissed what pain he may feel as if it was.... acceptable. to her it was far from it!

"I believe the man who just left you would disagree about the danger.....as would I. I have no desire to bring you pain, no matter what your reason for leaving the Inn before. It's clear from what both of you have said that there will be punishments and severe... What will your people think for that matter if you were to bring me home? Are you sure it would not be best for me to at least leave the masquerade... we could always meet up later..." She said through the shadows near his ear. There was some hesitation in the last, as part of her feared if she did leave it would be forever. It was not her fear he did not mean every word he said... no... it was fear that the fae or his people or her father and the ones who served him would ensure they part once more. Sometimes it felt almost like fate wanted to tease them with the possibility of one another only to snatch it away. First with the Inn and then now here where the rules would not allow it. Would all she ever cause him anything but pain and a price she was not worth?

It wasn't everyday that such hesitation was so obvious in the dhampir. Still that did not help the changeling in any way. A few simple words spoken so hesitantly had managed to make a stab of pain wring trough his heart. Trying to compose himself, Uriel lifted a hand to his mask only to find himself removing it with a frown.

Running a hand trough his prematurely white hair, he sighed. It took the changeling a few minutes to find elusive words to express himself once again. "Don't apologize, not now." Moving forward to peer up at Heiro's face, he forced a false smile upon his face.

"Promise me you will be careful. The queen would punish you severely, but my punishment as one of her court would be far worse." Hesitation slipped trough Uriel. He sounded so selfish, but at the same time he wanted Heiro to know what exactly keeping his secret would entail. "It would mean my death. Be aware of that." Too caught up in his own thoughts and words, the young man failed to notice how distracted the other man seemed. He was trying to hide his worry, the fact that he cared tremendously, beneath a facade of caring only for the rules and his own self interest. Not to mention the gripping fear that made his limbs tremble at the thought of death.