Janu focused on the dance, learning the steps. At first she was clumsy and close to stepping on his feet but being a natural athelete from her abilities as part feline she would find grace quickly. It was not quite the same grace of the fae but more like a cat's grace, raw and just a little wild. Even when the movements were perfect they were more her own somehow... As he spoke, however, she took an extra moment pretending to be focused on her feet. How to answer that... She had been given the one thing that would make her happiest only to have to pretend it wasn't there. It was both the most exhilarating and the most terrifying night in her life... and she thought only her father could scare her much.


She glanced towards Heiro as she heard someone fall into him and blinked. She was surprised and suppressed a sigh. Was he so distracted? He seemed so off kilter... What would happen to him? What if he got hurt because of her? the worry clutched at her heart and tore at it mercilessly but she looked back towards her dance partner with a smile. It was slightly different then before... It seemed more confident and perfectly genuine but there seemed slightly less warmth then her normally radiantly warm smiles. She started to answer him when someone bumped into them.

She stumbled a little but was soon righted by the man. She blushed slightly, surprised by the help more then anything. She quickly dismissed it, however, as she focused on making sure everyone was alright... they seemed to be so she nodded yes to Niveudus question.

"I'm fine"

***

Estella had closed her eyes slightly, enjoying the wind when she heard him speak. Drawn away from the festivities? She was at fault for that this time. She turned to look at him a moment, debating if he wanted to go back despite his request. She did enjoy his company and how easily he was making her feel better but if he could enjoy himself back in there that would be nice... He had helped her, maybe even saved her life considering how reckless she felt, so she wanted him to enjoy the night.

What she saw instead of irritation or sorrow she saw a blush. It stunned her and for a moment she wondered what he blushed at. She glanced back towards the other balcony but didn't see anything blush worthy really. Had the prince and his centaur done something while her back was turned? This thought made her look forward again at the stars even though she realized she didn't see them anymore. Had they left to do something...intimate? Had that been what he'd seen? It made more sense then blushing at her anyway... She felt a pang of jealousy and loneliness at the thought but it was much weaker then it had been. Honestly... part of her was happy he would be happy. She pushed away the thoughts, however, and turned her attention back to her companion.

"I..I don't mean to keep you. If you would like we can go back inside so you can enjoy everything. I'm alright now" She said with more confidence and conviction then she felt, giving him a warm, graceful sort of smile. She wasn't quite as sure as she seemed but she would try. If he had free time to enjoy something he didn't often get to, she wouldn't stop him. She was much better then she had been thanks to him at any rate.

***

Azrealla smiled as the other woman said she wanted to stay but tilted her head ot the side. She couldn't help a final tease of 'I rather like when you fall into my arms' but she would nod in understanding. She finished the last couple steps of the dance before she would lead the other woman back to the table they had been seated at. It was empty she noted, the cat woman had gone somewhere. She shrugged and leaned one hand against the table, still holding the other woman's hand until she sat down.

"Would you like me to grab us something to drink or eat while I'm up, mi'lady?" She asked with a slightly formal tone. She had slipped back into a slightly more cultured mode out of habit. Despite this being a public affair ultimately who ever was with her was HER guest as far as how she looked at it. With that single minded focus of hers it meant that she would do her best to take perfect care of them and make them to feel like a prince/princess.

Jo sat gratefully, also noticing that Janu had gone somewhere else. "It would be nice," she said, starting to fidget with the loop of cloth on one sleeve. "But, something light, if you would?" A moment with Ella away would also help her calm herself, even if it was a short moment. Her mind kept coming back to the question of her own sexuality, and how much she'd never truly cared for the company of males. Did she actually like females? They were nicer on the eye, less angular, and her own preference for smooth curves came out quite a bit in her work. Was she really, maybe...?

After sitting there for a few minutes watching everyone, Luciel decided she would attempt at being normal. She stood up and walked over to the food table where many seemed to stand if they felt like conversing. The demon looked at the food for a second before picking something up and looking over to the other people standing around. Seeing that only a few of them had food and the rest didn't, she put what she was holding back on the table. Pressing her lips together, she turned to the person closest to her. "H...hello," she said, a little uneasy and unable to hide her awkwardness about the situation she was in.
Luciel has been to a couple different gatherings in her life but her father had always been there with her and she never left his side. To Luciel, her father was her safety net, taking care of all the business and introductions. She knew that one day she would have to do it herself, but she didn't think it would be so soon and without warning.

Azrealla gave the other woman an elegant bow with her arm across her waist, still playing the masculine role. It was one thing that always seemed to confuse people... that she switched from masculine and feminine in her mannerisms the way most people changed clothes. She grinned, the bow being her way of saying yes before she wondered towards the table. She ultimately chose two light fruit juices, always loving fruit. As a being so tied to water she did not often get to have any, a glass of which she grabbed as well. Her ever so slightly damp hair was starting to feel like it was drying a little... It wasn't visibly so but her skin was starting to get that itch feeling...

There were many who said that should her kind's hair dry out it would kill them... and sometimes she thought they might be right. One time she had been trapped by a group of men working with an inhuman exorcist of some sort who had decided her kind were evil. She had fought them off but been injured. By the time she had managed to return to her river to heal herself her hair had been dry. Her skin had started to crack like dried clay and she was in so much pain she could barely crawl. She felt like her whole body was on fire and every step made her want to pray for death. She shook off the memory by the time she arrived at the table.

"Here you are dear lady..." She murmured silkily as she handed her one of the fruit juices. The other she placed in front of her while a thin band of her hair seemed to lift like it was a living snake. It dipped into the water and began to absorb, causing Ella to close her eyes and release a small sound of pleasure. The glass was empty in a matter of moments and the strand slid out, seeming damp and like normal hair again. She glanced towards the other woman, realizing she probably should have warned her... She was not back with ehr sisters at home...

((It doesn't really say they can manipulate their hair like its alive XD but i figure that'd be useful living in water and the myth makes a big deal about their hair and it staying wet and their comb and etc so I figured it'd make sense too))

Finding himself speechless for once, the fae looked this way and that before locking eyes with Cyris. Taking a deep breath he reached out to tangle his hand in the centaur's hair. Saying something seemed impossible now when he was so nervous. Pressing his face against the man's neck, he sighed deeply. He didn't want to embarrass himself but Ignatius was certain he already had. It was hard to quash this feeling down when the fae wasn't even sure why it had surfaced.

Rose returned the man's smile with one of her own. "No need to worry, I'm perfectly fine. My name is Rosellen, or Rose for short." Looking expectantly from the man to his dance partner, she felt a blush blooming upon her cheeks. She blushed far too easily in her opinion. In fact, she'd probably blushed more then anyone else in the room in just this night!

Brushing blonde hair aside to tuck it behind her ear, she smiled at the cat woman when she said she was alright. It was a relief knowing she hadn't caused anyone injury. It would have made the whole incident far worse, and made Rose feel guilty. As it was the young woman turned her eyes to the one person she did know for some reassurance before gazing again at the two strangers.

For a few moments Uriel appeared confused. They'd been having such a nice conversation. Frowning, the white haired man shook his head and shot a questioning look Estella's way. "And leave such pleasant company? No. I've no need to yet." He was enjoying himself, realized the young man. She'd managed to turn his mind away from Heiro in a way he'd not expected.

Moving his eyes away from Estella, Uriel wore a deep frown of concentration. Was there nothing he could do to repay her for the kindness? He felt like he owed her something. Glancing over his shoulder at the ballroom furtively, Uriel tried to think of something that might make her smile. "Are you sure you would not like to dance?" It was the only thing he could think of, and sounded quite lame to his ears.

((Sorry for it being short Ria))

Jo smiled thanks and took a sip, her mind a little calmer than before. Her blush had also receded, though it still colored her cheeks, barely visible below the mask. her eye caught the movement of the hair, and she stared as it absorbed the glass of water, facinated that it was moth moving on it's own, and 'drinking'. It brought the realization that she was a different race. "Um, may I ask what you are? I believe neither of us has disclosed that information yet." She was starting to burn with curiosity, her prior embarrassment put on the back burner, so to speak. "I'm a were-gryphon."

Azrealla nearly sighed with relief, surprised to find herself so happy the other woman hadn't thought it too strange. That question though... apparently she had not met Rusalka before, her ever damp hair and glowing, pupil-less green eyes would have given it away otherwise. She felt a thrill of uncertainty, not many liked to know they'd technically been dancing with a murdered corpse all night. She pushed away the thought though it rather confused her, she wasn't use to caring. Perhaps she was just afraid of scaring her?

"Fascinating my dear lady...and me? Well, I am a Rusalka now. Sometimes when a woman or infant is murdered, instead of moving on they become a Rusalka. I have never recalled in all the centuries i have lived how I became one, I don't even remember dying really so I can't say why i did." She explained quietly, gazing into her drink a moment. It was true... at least the entire month around her death was a blank to her. She didn't know why...nor was she really even that sure about her date of death. Her body had been identified on a river bank by her jewelry, too ravaged by time and scavengers such as fish to really be sure of time or even how she died.

***

Estella smiled warmly as he said he didn't want to leave, appearing rather relieved. In truth she was, though she really wasn't sure why. Spending time with him beneath the moonlight was just so...peaceful somehow. It seemed so apart from everything else that had happened earlier in the night, as if she were even different somehow. The dull ache in her heart was fading and Audri was even being silent for once! As if he were waiting for something... What she didn't know.

"I'm not sure I'm ready to go in there yet...everything seems so peaceful out here and clearer too. Perhaps, If you would like to dance we could dance here?"She suggested warmly a moment. She decided she did like the idea with dancing with him after all... even if she wanted it to be a different place, a different memory then dancing with Ignatius had been. She shifted slightly away from the balcony rail and waited for his answer, her eyes a little brighter then before.

Somehow Ignatius did not seem so close...but far away, as if this balcony was an island itself that none of the rest of the world could touch. Safe, peaceful... even happy. Part of her was afraid if she left it, that would all end. That everything would shatter into heartbreak somehow.

A rusalka? She hadn't heard the term before, and the explanation made her pale a touch. She's been dancing with a dead woman? A centuries old dead woman? Though, it did explain the eyes. "That's...," she tried finding words, but her brain seemed to still be caught on the whole dead thing. "So, you're technically dead? How does that work?" Jo had to know more before deciding if she the idea was repulsive or not. But she'd acted just fine, save for the excessive teasing, just like a 'normal' person. She had once been a normal, living person. Did her race really have anything to do with... her mind wouldn't come up with the right terms, but did this really change things? But what was there to change?

Azrealla tilted her head to the side. Her home river was warm right now she her body felt warm as well, despite having no pulse. During the winter she was cold as a vampire. She wasn't surprised that the other woman hadn't realized she was dead. Still... with her uncertain, almost frightened, reaction Ella was considering the possibility that she might run away now. She had been told there would be vampires and other undead here so she hadn't really thought about the fact there may be people who were creeped out by it... but it was occurring to her now and for once made her a little sad.

"The same way as being alive but with a few minor physical changes. I do not eat, I do not need to breath save to speak, and my heart doesn't beat. I also must keep my hair moist or I dry up with it. I would be cold as any corpse but my current warmth is from the sun heating my home river at the moment so I can make myself warm. Here.." She explained softly before she reached out and took the woman's hand. She placed Jo's fingers against her throat where the pulse is easiest felt in your living human. There was nothing but silence and stillness there. No thrumming beneath it...just a strange chill. She simply gazed at the other woman and let her react.

A wash of relief swamped Uriel at her words. Smiling warmly in return, he bowed slightly and reached out awkwardly to take her hand in his. Gently placing a hand at her waist the changeling seemed uncertain as he tilted his head to the side to hear the music within the ballroom. It was a rather quick paced dance, one Ignatius could pull of nicely but made Uriel stumble at every attempt. Beginning to move into the quick steps, he tried to guide Estella as best as he could.

"It is calm here, isn't it? The night air does tend to help when you're trying to think clearly." Something he had sorely needed earlier. That plus Estella's company had managed to cheer him up. The thought brought a smile to his face as he looked down at the redhead dancing with him. With such a wonderful night above, it was difficult to stay in a bad mood for too long.

Estella almost blushed as he truly smiled at her... it was just so much warmer and genuine then it had been earlier in the night. It actually was a rather charming smile now, the kind of smile one would remember. She pushed away the thought, a little afraid. She would not let herself be swept of her feet by a charming smile again so soon. She showed no sign of this, however, and simply focused on the dance. It proved to be necessary as he wasn't quite as graceful a dancer as her teacher.

She couldn't help but chuckle a little when they both stumbled at the same time now and then. For a little while she had difficulty figuring out what steps she was suppose to do but with in a few moments had mastered it fairly well. Being part Fae and part elf did have it's benefits past being a full of either, that included quick adaptation apparently. At least many attributed her ability to adapt to it, and being she hadn't met another fae/elf so could not argue. She nodded as he spoke of the night air.

"something we both needed it seems..." She mused aloud as she leaned her head back a little to look up. Her adoptive mother had named her after the stars, so they would watch over her Karlina had said. Estella hadn't thought about that in years... but now it seemed true. Beneath their watchful gaze she had somehow made it through what seemed like it would be the worst night of her life when beneath the castle roof inside the ballroom she had felt only trapped. She smiled faintly at the thought and turned her gaze back to her dance partner as she let him lead her through the quick dance. She had to admit to herself... for all it's lack of grace it was fun to dance with him like this.

Her eyes widened at Ella's explanation. The woman really was dead, the stillness beneath her warm fingers convincing her of that. But, any undead she'd heard of had needed some form of sustenance. "You... you don't need anything but to keep your hair wet?" she asked shakily, not willing to let herself completely freak out. If that truly was the only requirement, it would make her feel better. Though she started to wonder what kind of a place in society her kind would have.

Azrealla sighed at the question, it was more complicated then for most undead. She leaned back in her chair, playing with Jo's hand between her fingers a moment. Many of her kind killed, trapped eternally in their moment of death. They felt only rage, a rage that could only be quenched by seeing people who looked like their murderers death. Some of her kind were barely even human, while others were just as lucid as she was. Yet even they felt that rage...she had too once, until she began to kill the murderers of other Rusalka.

"to live yes...to feel peace from the rage of our ignored deaths no. To feel peace we must see people who have committed a crime against women or children suffer.... I do not quite have that unquenchable rage anymore, perhaps it is simply because i don't remember my death or my duties...I don't know. Still many would say my duties make me worse. I am both guardian and revenge seeker for my clan so those duties are fairly clear cut but dark...The duty of a Gaurdian is keep their clan from attacking innocents accidentally to put fear in the hearts of evil while not giving the local humans reason to attack. The duty of a Revenge Seeker is to track down the murderers of Rusalka to kill them and set the Rusalka they created free. A rusalka exists only because justice has failed to be done, so to find peace we must see it done for another if not for our selves." She explained quietly before she released Jo's hand and lay back. The eye for an eye purpose of the Rusalka's existence did not please many people, even disgusted some. It did not help that sometimes a blinded or crazed Rusalka would attack people who simply resembled their murderer even though the person was not guilty of any crime. This is why one of the saner Rusalka acted as guardian...


((Just my interpretation of the very justice oriented part of the Rusalka myth XD. Might be different of mosts I dunno xd)

Heiro smiled at the shy woman as she gave him a simple answer, perhaps this was the distraction he was looking for. "That is good to hear, I would have felt awful if something had happened to you or that beautiful dress." He said, his tone honest but a touch flirtatious. He couldn't help but feel a tad mischievous around a bashful person, despite his usual calm, almost stoic demeanor. A younger part of his mind found it was just too fun to make the blood rise to their face and color their skin.

After taking a quick look around, he gave her another charming smile, the thin lines of his fangs barely visible from between his slightly parted lips. "Perhaps you would allow me to escort you to somewhere a tad less crowded... I would hate for you to fall again." he said, gesturing to a seating area off to the corner with a nod of his head. The plush chairs and fainting couch were surrounded by the rich green foliage of the potted plants that dotted the corners and niches of the room, making the unused area quite inviting.


Nivedus gave a smile and a nod to Janu as she told him she was alright. He started to ponder on the glance she had given across the room before their dance had been interrupted, his keen eyes having caught the slight change in her mood. He spared a second to also look in that direction, his gaze quickly finding the dragon-masked Dhampir through the swirl of dancers. He was talking to someone, a young woman it seemed. This certainly piqued his interest, but he logged it away in his mind as Rosellen then also answered his question.

He put a warm smile back on his face and gave her a nod, and before he answered he gave a slight bow of his head towards her dance partner, a Merrow by the looks of it. How odd for a male to attend, he would have thought the females of the species would be more interested in a ball such as this. Shrugging the thought off, he returned his vivid eyes to Rose and gave her a slight bow.

"Sir Nivedus Anifacis, and my lovely partner is the Lady Janu Sagare. It is a pleasure, Lady Rosellen." He said, introducing Janu in a polite- if not archaic- chivalrous manner.


Sadiya was a bit surprised at the woman's blunt way of speaking, but did her best to not seem like it bothered her. Abanya did say she was a dragon, after all, and Sadiya hardly wanted to inadvertently insult a creature with such renown. Giving another smile, she brushed a tangle of her hair back from her face. "Oh? Well then, your majesty, I would be delighted to talk with you, but first... hm... I would think something like this wine would suit your tastes." she said, carefully picking up a glass that held a pale gold wine. It smelled of rich fruit and honey, sure to be sweet and refreshing.

The fire Fae had just handed the glass over to Abanya when another voice spoke up from behind her. Turning to greet the new woman, she was startled by the appearance of her mask, the horns twisting about while the red color clearly represented the imp-like demons children were so often warned about. Taking a breath, she tried to right herself and not appear insulting to this woman either. "Good evening." she said giving a smile while she dipped into a slight curtsy.

Janu nodded as Niv spoke, re-iterating his 'pleasure to meet you' with one of her own but staying otherwise quiet. Being the shy creature she naturally was she never knew quite what to say in situations like these. So she decided to let the clearly more confident Nivideus do the talking for her. She would simply stand there and smile politely unless she was spoken too. She had seen Nivideus follow her gaze to Heiro so she did not dare look at him again and instead looked at Rose and tried to focus on the situation at hand. What to do now?

Quickly adjusting his hold to support her as she leaned back, Uriel agreed silently with her words. "I'm glad we've both been able to help each other." The masquerade was turning out to be interesting indeed. It seemed like even the judges were beginning to make friends, or more in some cases. Heiro had Janu, and he had managed to make a friend of sorts. Thinking abut it, Uriel glanced to the side to try and find the other judges and perhaps see if any other couples were forming.

"I should apologize if I seem ..." His grey eyes widened as he felt cloth beneath his feet, or were those feet? "Please accept my apologies that wasn't what I intended!" Distraction had first caused his mistep, and now it was embarrassment. Stopping the dance quickly, Uriel backed away with the expectation that Estella wouldn't want to dance with him anymore.

Blushing even more then usual, Rosellen tried to fight the reaction down. A small laugh escaped her lips unbidden as her eyes followed Nivedus' actions. "Oh please, it's a pleasure meeting the both of you as well. How are you two enjoying the ball?" Glancing to the merrow, the young woman tried to think of a way to include him in the conversation as well. Perhaps this Janu might like him? Rose really did want to help her friend find a woman who could love him. The trouble was actually introducing them.

Lunalla nodded slightly. "Alright," she said. She looked over at the area he had gestured to, her golden eyes seeming to light up at the sight of the plants. She looked back at Heiro, smiling up at him. Her cheeks were still a faint flushed color, but it was slowly fading.
[[sorry for it being so short D;]]

Luciel watched as the smaller creature curtsied before she remember that her father taught her to do that particular gesture when introducing herself. She did the same, only watching the girl as she did so. Her golden-orange eyes seeming to ask if she did the curtsy ok. "I'm Luciel, Heiress to Hell. Um... please forgive my awkwardness.... this is my first time on my own," she stated continuing to look the female over. She loved how the girl's skin seemed to dance like fire and how well her outfit matched her.


((and having a brain fart...))

Estella responded with a me too as he said he was glad they had managed to help each other, her voice so quiet he might not hear. What made her say it so quietly was she realized it was true. For the second time, she was happy she had came and no longer wanted to forget everything. Yes, this would be a difficult night but helping her new ...friend was worth it. She pushed away the hesitation she had on what to call him, not wanting to deal with it yet. It didn't matter... He seemed distracted now that he was feeling better anyway, so she doubted they'd be out here much longer.

Before she could give this depressing thought to much time, however, he had stepped on her dress. She thought she had hemmed it enough that wouldn't happen, being she'd been afraid she'd step on it herself, but she was wrong. Even as she sat and debated if she should try to do something to shorten it again she heard a very worried Uriel. He looked so embarrassed, so worried, almost afraid. She blinked for a moment before she laughed softly and shook her head.

"It's just a dress Urie, Don't worry about it." She responded with a reassuring smile as bright as the move above them. She was once again tempted to give him a hug, it was kinda cute how worried he had gotten though it made her a little concerned. Had someone been cruel to him to make him expect some extreme reaction. She suppressed a frown at the thought and simply held up her arms slightly in a ready position for a dance.

"Come on. I'm sure we'll get it this time! The optimistic fae child suggested, hoping to reassure him. He was her friend now, even if he'd forget her after tonight she was sure. This meant making him feel better was the number one priority and nothing else mattered. She would worry about the dress later. At least it wasn't as bad as what she'd threatened to do to it herself... cut a slit in the skirt or cut off half the skirt or something! Anything to make her legs free enough to move as she was use to.

Watching Estella's movements he waited for some kind of snide remark, the kind of thing the fae he'd grown up with might make. The unseelie weren't always the most understanding of fae, especially with a changeling who had a hard time doing the things they found so simple. A tremulous smile crossed his lips upon hearing her words, to widen and become bright at the way she shortened his name. No one had ever been so familiar with him before. It brought a certain sense of joy to the young man's heart that he hardly believed possible after some of the night's earlier events.

"To try again seems like a good idea," agreed Uriel as he moved forward to place his hands exactly where they were supposed to go. Concentration filled his body as he went trough the movements. Perhaps not with grace, but with a precision that many would have envied on the battlefield. He'd been trained to fight, to think quickly on his feet, but thrown into a situation such as this one he always made mistakes. Even if the Queen had done her best to drill into her changeling the things that she wanted in one of her people.

Jo listened carefully, the explanation was longer than she'd expected. "So, your kind as a whole only want justice?" she asked, trying to put her understanding into one sentence. "And how do your duties make you worse?" I only made sense that some would want to be freed, and that the species as a whole would need some sort of guardian. It did make the chances of Ella visiting Eerie slimmer.

Wait, when did I consider her visiting? The thought surprised her, and she tried to hide it by taking a sip. Was she really falling for this woman, even with the shock of what she was?

---

Abanya took the glass, giving it a delicate sniff. It smelled good, sweet and fruity, so she was about to take a sip when a new woman spoke. She watched Sadiya greet her, and the new woman's self-introduction. She seemed awkward, not too far from how Abanya herself had felt her first time among humans in this form. Heiress to Hell? She didn't know where that was, but vaugely remembered seeing people talk about how others would go there eventually. Hadn't they said something about burning there, too?

"Good evening, Luciel," she said, giving her own slightly awkward bow. She still wasn't used to the customs of humans, they changed so rapidly! And apparently the fae followed those changes. She straightened rather quickly, finally allowing herself to take a small sip of the wine. It tasted much like it smelled, with a honey aftertaste that she loved. "Thank you, Sadiya, for picking this," she said, then turned to Luciel again. "I am Abanya, Queen of the Armenian wyverns." She hoped that was the proper way to introduce herself.

Estella had realized she'd unconsciously used a more personal nickname at first, it was just something she did without thinking when it 'felt' right. She only realized it as he smiled so brightly at it, something she was glad for. Not only to see him happy but simply because he hadn't become made at her. Some people in high society would, just as they did her informal way of speaking and openness. Still, she didn't have too much time to think about it as the boy became closer to her and agreed.

Absently she realized this was someone she could imagine fitting in her world as she watched him move with the more precise movements of a trained warrior. He seemed more like someone who could explore temples with her and fight at her side...someone who could understand it perhaps. That it wasn't about the fighting ... She shook off the thought. Where had THAT come from? Sure it was obvious he knew how to fight, probably better then her, but still. Despite her being good at gymnastics and evasion tactics her attacks were mainly magic based.

She pushed her thoughts away and focused on the motions, listening to the music and the slight swish of her skirts. She glanced at her partner, the moon made his hair so bright it looked a part of the moon almost. Had his good looks simply dazzled her a moment? Yes... that must be it. She told herself this with some determination and continued to dance with him contently a moment, he didn't seem distracted anymore. The realization struck her and she was glad for it.

"You're doing very well" She said with a warm smile, feeling momentarily simply.....happy and at ease. There was no more struggle, no more memory, just the moon and her partner and the cool night air. She closed her eyes briefly as she simply enjoyed the feeling of the breeze around them and kept time with Ureil's rhythm. It seemed like just for this instance at least.. they could just ... be.

***

"Because" Azrealla said with a slight bit of surprise and curiosity in her tone, "I choose to kill not one but many, with no remorse. I would not take back a single death i have caused, no matter how 'reformed' people believe my victims could have come." She spoke with a flat sort of certainty that did not seem to suit her lady, or sometimes lord, like behavior. She watched Jo for a moment, clearly surprised that the other woman was just accepting her with no resistance. Both her flirtatious behavior as well as her more bizarre qualities.

"That bothers some. I am more interested in were gryphons though, I have never heard of them. Would you tell me more?" She asked quietly to change the subject. It was not judgement she feared now but her own confusion. Could anyone really be so kind... so forgiving as to think nothing of what she was or what she did? She existed merely to kill, whether for justice or not few could forgive her that.

"Aam sae sorry. It's mah faut, ah dunnae know th' dances an' Ah lost control ay mah partner's hain. Forgife me sairrr an' mem." he bowed to them both, a blush furiously creeping into his face and tentacles. "Ah am Lord Stuart O'Cairne. Lord Nivedus and Lady Janu, was it?" He wasn't sure how to proceed as Rosellen was already trying to converse with them, he was getting tired of the ball, it was all too much for him. The customs and ways of the land-folk were starting to wear thin on him and he just wanted to retreat back home.

~~~

A saccharine sweet smile swept across her face, "I thought you'd never ask my dear. Let's find somewhere cozy for us to sit 'Tete a Tete' and continue our private affairs. " Jacky managed a decent french accent for the phrase as she started to lead them both off the dance floor. There were several secluded seating arrangements around the dance floor, and she made her way to a small two seater tucked away. Waiting until they were both settled in and she was comfortable she began to tell more about her family. It was private enough that she felt she could say more than she would otherwise.

"I think most people would describe my family's business as 'less than good', and I'm sure there are plenty who would want to see the whole operation done away with. We deal in services and goods that most cannot or will not get involved with. Procuring, transporting and selling things that are hard to get a hold of, or dangerous to own. And dealing with people. We are very good at dealing with people who need to be dealt with." Jacky was still skirting the direct description of what her family did, she was a mafia princess after all. She was actually kind of surprised that she hadn't seen any of her father;s men here at the dance watching her, although she was almost certain that there was a crow or two continuously watching from the castle's windows.

Dancing under the moonlight was a rare treat. Fae used to do so often enough, before the world changed and passed them by. Now it was reserved for special occasions in the few places they had been able to preserve from the humans, from his people really. Thinking of them as such was very strange, and made a shiver run down Uriel's spine. Showing the unpleasant thought aside, he smiled warmly at his dance partner instead.

She had such strangely colored eyes, the color of amethysts shining in the moonlight. "You remind me of the fae, and yet I know of none with eyes like yours..." Uriel wasn't one to flirt, he preferred facts. Perhaps his practical mindedness was one of the reasons why he was such a good judge. In any case, his words were more of a statement of fact then a compliment, though it might have sounded as such.

Eyes returning to Stuart, Rose shook her head. "And I told you earlier that I don't know any of the dances. Don't blame yourself for that." If it was anyone's fault it was hers for tripping over her own feet. IT had been so embarrassing! Though now she had a prospective dance partner for Stuart as well as herself. "Maybe ... maybe if we both danced with more experienced partners for a while, we could try again and see how that might help?" Looking questioningly at Stuart and everyone else, Rose tried not to seem too nervous. She felt kind of bad for wanting to dance with someone else, but at the same time it was a chance for Stuart to do the same thing and perhaps find someone who would fall in love with him.

Estella's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the comment, she hadn't expected him to say anything like that. She glanced away for a moment to suppress a blush, uncertain why it startled her so. His tone did not sound flirty, no it seemed to straight forward. He had likely not meant that the way the words suggested she decided. What made it most startling, however, was that part of her was disappointed about this.

"Well... I'm only half fae so that may be why I don't quite fit. My mother was an elf. I haven't met another halfling with that mix so I dont know if my eyes are 'normal' or not. I wasn't raised by either but instead a human woman named Karlina so i really don't know much about even full elves or fae even. I always assumed my violet eyes came from one of them but never knew which." She explained quietly. She didn't quite look at him for a moment longer, not wanting to say who her father had been now that she knew. It would ruin to lovely of a moment...

She pushed away the thought and focused instead on Uriel. She couldn't sense anything particularly magical in his appearance and he was definitely not fae. Just why was he here? Sure she'd heard stories of changlings but she'd always assumed them myth, uncertain that they'd have any use for human children. Still, his existence here suggested that apparently they had use for them indeed. If he was human as she was sure he was that would mean he was mortal...something that with her racial mix she could never be. She'd lose him and his friendship too someday, just as she had Karlina, for that reason. She pushed away the thought, wishing to forget it and once again make this moment an island onto itself.