Reality Fault - Starfall: Logs for 22April2001

Costa Yermo Embassy -- Grand Ballroom
A bright and cheerful room, with white stucco walls up to the heavy wooden beams that support the ceiling nearly two stories above. The musicians are seated on a balcony to one side of the room, out of the way of the dancers, while another balcony opposite them is available for quiet talks. A buffet table is set up under the musician's balcony and a bar under the other, while most of the beautifully inlaid parquet floor is available for dancing and conversation. Magelight chandeliers keep the room well lit.
The furnishings are expensive and elaborate, but in a style that minimizes the amount of wood used for each. Coats of arms and tapestries with desert and mountain scenes hang from the walls. The festive atmosphere of the important guests is marred only by the dark presence of the embassy's staff Inquisitor, a black-uniformed coati.

Don Carlos nods to the orchestra leader, who bobs his head and quickly finishes the background music that is playing. "And now, my friends, let the dancing begin!" Then the coyote bows elegantly to Alex. "Milady. I would be honored to share the first dance with you."

Don Carlos is wearing the formal dress of his native land, the dark brown riding breeches and frogged jacket contrasting with the coyote's gray fur. A contrasting dark orange sash encircles his waist, and well-shined black leather horseman's boots come up to his knees. An elaborately ruffled white silk shirt is set off by a black string tie caught at the neck by a silver-and-turquoise clasp sporting his house device, a stallion rampant.

Alex grins at the coyote -- how charming! ...flatterer... she thinks amusedly as she curtseys, "You are too kind, don... I would be honored!" Carroll smiles and looks up from where he's been making idle talk with van der Berg and whomever else seems approachable, quietly enjoying letting the Queen have a chance to talk to them incognito. He notices Carlos talking to his sister, and hopes the man doesn't do anything too foolish.

Carlos offers a hand to the young vixen and leads her out to the center of the ballroom. Other couples follow, and the conductor starts a waltz. Alex brightens, her ears perking up happily -- ooh, a waltz! -always nice! Hm... still, she should probably be more 'properly distant' with Don Carlos than she would with her brothers... leaning against the don while dancing the waltz, while technically correct, might give him the wrong impression. She beams happily, her skirts swaying slightly with her slightly impatient movements as she waits for the dance proper to begin... but she maintains a bit of distance between her and the don, and keeps her small left paw light on his shoulder.

Carroll lets the music become well and truly started before he turns to the 'raccoon' he is with and says, taking her hand, "I would be very pleased if you would dance with me, Rana. Will you do me that honor?"

'Rana' nods. "I would be quite pleased to, Captain. Although it is nice just to watch for once." She follows Carroll out to the floor and lets him lead her in the waltz.

Carroll smiles and replies, "Your company is all the pleasure I could ask for, milady. If you would rather watch some of the dances, you need but say so." After a moment he adds, "Perhaps it would be best if we merely watched the tango, in fact. It is a... challenging dance."

'Rana' smiles at that. "So I have heard. It seems to be more a performance than a dance, that one."

Carroll merely smiles as he says, "It is an arousing dance to watch, much less to dance." His eyes twinkle and he adds cheerfully, "We shall see if my sister dances it with the Don."

Don Carlos respects Alex's distancing, and seems to be accomplished at dancing -- at least this one. He leads well, moving gracefully through the steps of the waltz, his expression that of someone who is doing something he enjoys well enough to forget his problems for the moment. Alex sighs faintly in internal relief... she's pleased she doesn't have to do anything... drastic... well, at least not yet, she amends to herself. She lets the music draw her on, but not too much... best not to get complacent with the don, she suspects. While many of the guests are dancing, a few of the older furrs are merely watching from the sidelines. Rishali and Morgana remain by the side also, discussing something or other, while the fellow in the Inquisitor's uniform merely stands along the sidelines, trying to watch everyone at once.

Alex watches Don Carlos surreptitiously, although with some curiosity... so he likes dancing -- that's a good thing. Also, he looks like he's letting problems go... interesting. Aside from the silly inquisitor, what has he to worry about right now? Curious thought... and what strange clothing he wears! So... smooth... sorta, well... flat! No ruffles or furbelows or anything... must be the way the poor men wear clothes in Costa Yermo, she supposes... nice house symbol, though! Don Carlos smiles at his partner. "You seem... studious, Sir Alexandra. Am I not what you were expecting?"

Alex blinks startledly, her gaze meeting his a tad self-consciously, then flicking away again as her suddenly back-tilted ears get a bit flushed, "Er... sorry. I was just um... wondering." Realizing how that sounds, she hastily adds, "Er, wondering why your, um, -no, if the clothing you were wearing was what men wear where you come from?" Grumpily she thinks, Oh, that was smooth...

The coyote takes a moment to puzzle out what he was asked, then shrugs. "Thees ees the mode of formal attire een my homeland, senorita. Why? Tradeetion, I suppose. Why do you of the League wear the clothing you do?"

"Huh..." Alex's tone is curious as she lightly traces some of the frogging on the jacket's shoulder with one slender finger, "...it seems so... well... so flat to your body!" She puzzles about that for a moment, then asks with doubtful curiosity, "Is it... I don't know... more windy in Costa Yermo or something? Is that why there are so few daggings and ribbons on your clothing?"

Carlos smiles. "Ah, I see. Eet ees, si. We are a desert and mountain realm, for the most part, and we needs must be prepared for fierce winds."

Carroll smiles contentedly and continues dancing, obviously enjoying himself and the company of his partner. He loses himself a little in the dance, letting it distract him from his worry about Don Carlos, and most other worries as well, merely dancing and enjoying the company of his lovely partner. Arianna seems to be enjoying the opportunity to forget the cares of her position also. She dances happily with Carroll, and is much less careful of maintaining distance than Alex is with Don Carlos. Carroll lets the distance between himself and Arianna close as far as she and the dance allow it, and happily admires his partner. He is obviously unconcerned with anything other than dancing and enjoying right now.

Alex nods curiously, greedily looking a little more closely now that she doesn't have to worry about being noticed... she grins cheerfully, lightly tapping the stallion, "Is that your house symbol? And..." she glances at the sash, "-is orange your house colors?" Mentally she crosses her fingers that the answer to the latter question will be no -- or, if it's yes, that Don Carlos never tries to give her anything in his house colors -- scarlet fur looks ghastly with orange! she thinks wryly.

Carlos nods to the first question. "Si, senyorita." He points up to one of the decorations, a shield in dark orange -- almost a burnt umber -- with the device of a rearing stallion in white. "That ees my house's seegil."

Alex looks up curiously, studying the device. Hm... she thinks with a slightly doubtful internal sigh, Well, it's a very... dark orange? Maybe it's not... that bad? ...maybe... She turns her attention to Don Carlos, smiling politely, "It's quite striking, senyor." She hmms... then brightens slightly, "Ooh! Do you like riding?"

Carlos smiles. "Eet ees our national passion, Sir Alexandra, and I am at least een that way a true son of my homeland."

Alex looks suddenly interested, actually meeting Don Carlos' gaze, even though his face is a little closer to hers than she'd usually be comfortable with, "Really? Why is it a national passion? Do you have horses? What kind? What kind of riding do you do? Do you -- er..." she pauses, realizing she's let her interest carry her away again. She glances away again, and finishes a little lamely, "-uh... maybe I'll let you answer a bit before blurting out any more questions..."

The coyote chuckles. "Why? Why not? They are beautiful aneemals, are they not? And we have a land of wide spaces and long deestances between settlements. Weeth few trees, we are not good sailors, but horses can be almost as queeck. As for me? I am not an expert caballero, but I served een the cavalry unteel I was sent here by my sovereign."

Alex smiles a bit uncertainly at the don again... he can't be all bad, if he's a good rider, surely... after all, horses don't put up with titled fools putting on airs at all! She brightens at a sudden thought, then asks cautiously, "Um... so you actually know how to fence as well, then?"

Don Carlos nods. "But of course. Eet ees one of those theengs that all gentlemen of breeding should know. Rideeng, swordsmansheep, danceeng, museec..."

Alex's ears, formerly perked interestedly forward, slowly tilt back. A little diffidently she murmurs, "I... see... and what are women of breeding expected to know?"

Carlos looks serious. "Now that... ees a more deeficult question than I used to theenk. Danceeng and museec, si. But then, the tradeetional virtues are theengs such as sewing, cooking, managing a household. Women are not expected to know the skeells of warfare. I am begeenning to suspect that thees ees fooleeshness. Of course, we have few folks like Baroness Kerensky to teach pompous young males of their folly."

Alex's ears flatten, and her fur starts to rise, despite her best intentions... a moment later she forces her ears back up and smiles determinedly, "Ah... how nice..." She tries surreptitiously to shiver her fur back down into place, and not let her distaste show on her face. Change the subject, change the subject... ah... what to talk abou- oh! She takes a long, slow breath, then says quietly, "May I ask you a, um... somewhat personal question, senyor?"

The coyote nods. "Of course you may."

Alex says, "Um... well, I was wondering... why were you willing to give up your diplomatic immunity, just to allow me to duel you, if I wanted?"

Carlos looks pensive. "Ah, that. I theenk -- I realized that I had eensulted your honor, Sir Alexandra, and I thought perhaps that a duel would wash that eensult away and let us start fresh. That ees what a duel ees supposed to accompleesh, si?"

Alex nods quietly, "Yes, I think so..." She's pensive for a moment, then sighs softly, "I'm sorry... your offer arrived at a... rather bad time, I fear. I'd just gotten burned once that way, and I wasn't about to get smacked again for someone else's benefit." She sighs quietly again and falls silent, her gaze drifting over the crowd, just dancing with careful propriety. Unless the don has questions, she has some thinking to do.

The first waltz ends, the Don and Sir Alex concentrating on the musical finale. As they walk off the dance floor, he nods to her. "I theenk I understand. Eef you weesh, though, the offer steell stands."

Carroll escorts Rana from the dance floor as well, saying, "Thank you for the lovely dance."

Arianna smiles at Carroll, tucking herself in against his shoulder. "Thank you, sir. It was lovely." Carroll merely looks pleased at the raccoon's pleasure, and is happy to allow her to make herself comfortable. He escorts her to an out of the way corner to watch people and the dances, and doesn't think too hard about it.

Alex gives the don a faintly amused look, "I don't think so... I'm not hurt and angry now. Puzzled as to why you want all the hassle of courting someone like me... but I don't think you're directly responsible any more for... the kidnapping." She grins over her shoulder at the don as she leads off the dance floor, "If you ask Carroll and Mackenzie nicely, though... maybe you could come to weapons practice some morning?"

The coyote grins at Alex. "I am not sure why I would weesh the trouble myself... but there ees sometheeng about you, Sir Alex, that I theenk ees worth any amount of trouble." He bows over her hand, sensitive to whether or not she pulls back, but ready to kiss it if she allows it.

Alex hesitates a moment... then smiles and doesn't pull back, "Um... thank you? I... guess?" Odd custom... but... well, she guesses it's kinda graceful-looking. Somehow she'd also guess she's not supposed to do the same back to the don -- although she has to repress a sudden grin at that thought!

Don Carlos doesn't take undue liberties; merely brushes his muzzle against the back of Alex's hand. "I am afraid I must also dance weeth other ladies, Sir Alex, but I hope to dance weeth you again soon?"

Alex grins, "That... might be nice, Don Carlos, thank you." She wonders ruefully at herself... does she really want the bother of having to change the mind of not only the don, but all his people as well, as to what a 'proper' woman is? Well, she thinks with a faintly amused internal sigh, -at least I wouldn't ever have to worry about court -- they'd hate having someone like me there!

The two are interrupted by a loud voice from behind, attached to a platinum mink. "Carlos! There you are, dear boy. Sir Alex, may I borrow him for a bit?" The Don's face goes utterly immobile before breaking into a diplomatic smile as he turns. "Your Grace. What a pleasure." Alex almost bites her tongue in an effort not to giggle! She glances at the coyote, trying to gauge if it'd be rude to claim another dance... or would it matter? She wonders how distractible the duchess is... drat, and she can't foist White Haven off on Carroll -- he's busy with Rana!

'Rana' grins and whispers to Carroll, "Doesn't the Duchess look predatory?"

Carroll smiles a little as he murmurs in reply, "Yes, she does. I wonder if there's anything to it, other than the allure of a man who resists." He chuckles, "If she hasn't let the poor man go in a dance or two, I may have to rescue him." After a pause he adds, "If Alex would like to dance with him again, and if he would still consider that a rescue."

'Rana' chuckles softly. "She's not nearly as flighty as she looks. If I know her -- and I do -- she's trying to fish for trade concessions."

Carroll hmms and replies softly, "'Flighty' is not a word I would have applied to the Duchess, no. Nor is any form of 'unintelligent.' I am quite relieved to regard her as an ally, rather than an enemy."

Alex grins quietly to herself, remembering... the duchess isn't nearly as distractible as one might think. Alex recalls the mink being quite single-minded -- certainly willing to wait a dance or two after extracting a promise from him that she'd have a later dance. Hm... looks like the mink has things she wants to talk to him about... Alex grins again in spite of herself. She'd guess the duchess knows that flustered diplomats are closer to being honest! Politely she smiles and says, "Oh, he's not mine to ask about borrowing, your grace... um..." she glances at the tense coyote with a faint smile, and offers him a graceful out, "-we could wait and have that dance after this one with the duchess, how's that?" She thinks amusedly, Hopefully he can manage one dance with her... then he can flee.

Don Carlos smiles at Alex. "Of course, Sir Alexandra." He turns back to the Duchess with, somehow, an air of someone facing a visit to the dentist. "I would be happy to share this dance with you, your Grace, but I promised the tango to Sir Alexandra."

Alex's ears perk up in sudden excitement, "The tango is after this one?! Ooh! -er, I mean, ah, that'd be very nice, thank you, senyor."

White Haven looks a trifle disappointed at that, but concedes gracefully. "Ah, well. I'll have to find someone else for the tango, I suppose."

Alex blinks interestedly at the mink, "You tango too?"

White Haven gives Alex a sultry wink. "Of course. Sometimes even on the dance floor." Don Carlos swallows nervously at that.

Alex laughs delightedly, then grins, waving a small paw, "Don't let me stop you, your grace... I can wait for the next dance!" She glances around, still trying hard to not burst into giggles, looking for another dance partner.

White Haven tows her prize back out to the dance floor as the musicians start up. A moment later, the black-clad form of the Inquisitor steps up to Alex. "Milady. May I have thees dance?"

Colonel Don Diego Rivera is wearing the formal uniform of the Inquisitors -- black tunic, trousers, and boots. The tunic has two rows of gold buttons, the gold epaulettes of his rank, and the red armband bearing the royal insignia of Costa Yermo: a stylized spear -- vertical bar with a double chevron at the top end. The coati sports his habitual suspicious look and an air of arrogance.

Alex raises a curious eyebrow, tilting her head thoughtfully... then smiles, "Why, what an honor... I'd be delighted!" Were Carroll near enough to see her face, he might hastily intervene, knowing the danger of that slightly wicked quirk to the edge of her lips... but he's not... Alex beams innocently at the coati, offering her small hand as she curtsies... and gleefully wonders if she can stick him really hard in the rump with any magical eavesdropping needle he might try to plant on her!

Carroll asks Rana, "Would you like to dance this time, or watch?" He adds, "I, for one, would be perfectly content to stand here and watch as long as you are nearby, although the dance is always pleasant."

'Rana' is watching the by-play between the Inquisitor and Sir Alex. "You know, I think I'd like to watch this one..."

Carroll says, "Mm?" and takes note himself, thinking, This could be interesting. What he says aloud is simply, "Yes, I see." He watches, letting the lady he is escorting stay as close as she likes, and quite content to do so.

The coati takes Alex's hand and leads her out to the dance floor as the music starts. This dance is livelier than the waltz, a variant of the samba style, but not quite as energetic. Diego smiles as the dance begins -- well, it comes off as more of a smirk. "I see you've met our ambassador. He seems to like you."

Alex dances carefully and politely... she doesn't want to misstep on the dance, and she doesn't want to miss the inquisitor trying to plant anything on her. Instead she beams perkily at the coati, "Oh, really? Oh, how nice!" She pats the coati's shoulder commiseratingly, "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find someone nice too, someday."

Diego stiffens, missing a beat and nearly getting stepped on by the next couple. "Ah. I meant, he was quite concerned by your kidnapping. He spoke with me at some length about it, wondering who was trying to sabotage his mission here with such a clumsy ploy."

Carroll smiles a little at the coati's misstep, and chuckles, "Looks to me like Alex is doing fine."

Alex adds in confidential tones, "Just between you and me, you should try wearing more cheerful colors!" She tchs sadly, "Black... so bad for your fur colors! Makes you fade right into the background, really... you should talk to your tailor, you know." She nods firmly, with the air of someone sharing a deep secret, even as she struggles madly not to giggle, continuing without missing a beat, "Oh, that! Foo, that was indeed boring!" She shakes her head in apparent exasperation, "Really quite tedious... so, you were part of that, eh?" She smiles sweetly.

Diego seems puzzled as to whether or not Alex is really such an airhead as she's acting. "Thees ees a uniform, Sir Alexandra. Security ees supposed to be unobtruseeve, een any event." He shakes his head at the last question. "No, we were not part of the keednapping. As Don Carlos pointed out, eet was clumsy and certain not to accompleesh our aims." He indulges in a rather predatory grin, showing the teeth behind the attempted pleasant facade. "Eef we were eenvolved een such a theeng, eet would be much better managed, I assure you."

Alex looks sorrowful, "Oh, I'm so sorry you're stuck in such a tedious uniform then." She smiles cheerfully, "Well, who knows... maybe someday you'll get promoted to a real uniform, right? Yes, it was rather clumsy... oh, I'm sure it would be better organized, if Don Carlos were running it..." there's the edge of teeth in her grin too as she adds, "-isn't it fortunate that he's well-bred enough not to engage in such obviously low-brow behavior?" She adds equally cheerfully, "So! Why would you worry that my kidnapping would get in the way of Don Carlos' mission, if you had nothing to do with it?"

Diego does get stepped on this time before he can recover his aplomb, and Alex neatly diverts his attempt to maneuver to see who stepped on him. "The Office of the Inquisition is a very important post, Sir Alex." He is even more flustered at the next question. "The keednapping was a clumsy attempt by our enemies to discredeet us. We had notheengs to do weeth eet."

Carroll giggles almost silently. Only Rana is close enough to hear, although his pleased smile is still there. Alex tchs at the coati, "Now really, you need to be more careful with your tail there, colonel... you could have disrupted someone else's dance by letting them step on it like that!" She shakes her finger amusedly at him, "Pay attention now! -and who do you think your enemies are then? Discrediting the prince would be more difficult if more people paid more attention after all." Her grin is (perhaps disturbingly) a bit... knowing, "Of course you had nothing to do with it, colonel... I'm sure the prince wouldn't expect someone of your... stature to stoop to such pettiness."

Diego's response is quick and assured this time, almost as if it were a reflex. "Ees eet not obvious, milady? The rebels from our rightful lands who have led our people astray and who even now shelter under the protection of the mongrels of Hamasura!" After delivering this brief polemic, though, he looks suspiciously at Alex as some, at least, of the double meaning penetrates.

Alex laughs lightly, "Of course they are!" and says no more, just smiling sweetly. Let him wonder what that means! she thinks cheerfully.

Don Diego seems to be out of his depth by now and says nothing more for the rest of the dance, concentrating on keeping Alex from maneuvering him into getting his tail stepped on again. When the music ends, he bows stiffly and thanks her for the dance, a bit insincerely. Alex grins cheerfully as she curtsies to the coati, "Oh, we simply must do this again -- it was such fun!"

Diego winces. "Ah, yes, milady. Perhaps later." He hurries off.

Alex turns back towards Carroll and Rana, covering a giggle! She waves airily, "Hiya! Enjoying yourselves? I sure am!"

Arianna nods to Alex, smiling. "Did you manage to get him stepped on, or did he do that on his own?"

Alex gasps in mock horror, one small paw laid lightly on her chest, "Milady... surely you do not think I'd stoop to such, um... such, er..." she can't repress a giggle, so simply finishes off with, "-who, me?!"

Carroll smiles, "Yes, it's been a very pleasant evening so far. Did Don Carlos behave himself?"

Alex grins, recovering herself, then tilts her head thoughtfully at Carroll, still smiling, "Um... well, oddly... yes."

Arianna grins back at Alex. "Why oddly? He's not such a bad sort, really."

Alex thinks about that seriously for a moment... then replies to 'Rana,' "Well... no, not really... it's what comes along with him that's... troublesome." Her ears tilt back and her nose wrinkles slightly in distaste, "Like... like his prince, and his country's rather um... atavistic attitudes about women... stuff like that, y'know?"

'Rana' nods. "Someone has to bring them up to date. I'm not sure they'll manage it on their own."

Alex's nose is still faintly wrinkled as she replies, "Not sure that's a job I'd want to take on all by myself, really." She sticks her tongue out slightly for a second, then shivers her fur back down into place, "Bleah. Nasty way to think of people."

Carroll murrs, "I'm glad you haven't had to demonstrate your ability to say a firm 'No!' to the don. I wonder how he will behave during the tango?"

Alex grins and whispers to Carroll and Rana, "Oh, and I was so hoping the coati would try planting a pin on me too!"

Don Carlos comes up to the group, looking rather like someone who has escaped a fate worse than death. "Ah, there you are, Sir Alex. Shall we?"

Alex beams at Don Carlos... then can't repress a small giggle! She grins as she murmurs quietly, just to the small group she's with, "You do know, Don Carlos, that she loves it when you get flustered, yes?"

Carroll smiles, adding, "No reason to, either. And since the opportunity thrusts itself upon you, why not enjoy it to its fullest?" Alex's eyes widen in mischievous delight at Carroll's word choice -- then she hastily brings up both small paws to cover her sudden bark of laughter!

Carlos shudders. "There ees just something so... eentense about that woman."

Alex's eyes are still bright with mischief as she says with mock chagrin, "Oh... gosh, what a shame... I didn't realize you didn't like intensity, senyor!"

Carroll chuckles, advising, "They can sense fear you know." Alex laughs aloud at that, unable to contain her mirth!

Don Carlos bows, acknowledging the hit. "Perhaps that ees the wrong word, Sir Alexandra." He raises an eyebrow at her giggles. "Perhaps, how you say, freneteec?" Alex laughs again!

Carroll smiles, "That would be a good word for the Duchess, yes."

Carlos finally grins a bit shamefacedly at himself. "I know, I know. She ees not actually dangerous, but steell. The tango ees about to start, milady. Do you weesh to dance?"

Alex grins cheerfully, putting her small paw in his, "That's probably it, I'm sure... so, about the tango." She steps closer to the don, looking slightly more serious as she murmurs quietly, "Is it as well known in Costa Yermo as it is in Hamasura... that many of the dances, like the tango and the rumba, tell a story -- but that story is not necessarily the truth?"

Carlos nods. "Si, the story ees not the truth, but the dance ees steell fun."

Alex nods a little gravely, "Good. I would prefer to dance without having to worry about um... other considerations." She smiles then, adding, "Thank you, I'd love to dance."

Carroll chuckles, "Unless Lt. Rana has changed her mind, I believe we shall watch this dance."

'Rana' smiles. "I've never done a tango. I think I should wait until the next dance." Carroll nods and looks perfectly happy with that. Instead he remains off the dance floor, as close to Rana as she wishes him to be, and watches the dance, cheerfully admiring the dancers and their actions. Only a few couples are on the floor -- the Hamasuran attaché and his lady, White Haven and her escort, and of course Don Carlos and Alex. Most of the guests are content to watch.

Alex and the don start the dance the way she was taught in Hamasura -- several strides apart. As the music starts -- a slow, powerful beat with lighter tones flourishing and weaving through it -- the young vixen takes a deep breath and relaxes inside, letting the beat rise up through her small feet and thrill poundingly up through her body until it echoes her heartbeat, her slowly swaying hips matching its hypnotic thrum... she half closes her eyes and tilts her head back, abandoning herself to the music. Her arms raise gracefully over her head, fingers rippling as if she had castanets, as if they were butterflies... as if she were the melancholy lover of the dance, long-awaiting her partner. Don Carlos seems to know the dance as well. He starts in a pose, the tight-fitting clothes accentuating his fit and muscular frame, then sweeps closer to Alex as the music builds, pacing in time as he moves in to make the first touch against her hands.

Alex's movements are sensuously slow and fluid, her hips still swaying gently, as she rolls her shoulders to face the don's strong, intent approach. The faintest thought brushes her mind, -hope he was kidding about not liking intensity! and then she pushes it away, letting the music swell up inside her mind to guide her. Her head turns to meet the don, and as her gaze locks with his her fingers float lightly down to touch his as well... her attention narrows, bright-eyed with intensity, entirely focused on the don's face -- the fierce, hot intensity of lovers long parted, of a woman unsure -- does he still love her? and as she swirls lightly into his arms and sways fluidly through the dance, her intensity only strengthens the closer she draws to her partner.

Don Carlos smiles down at his partner, his look simultaneously offering and requiring assurance -- his passion for her is strengthened by their separation, but what of her feelings for him? They hold together in the first embrace of the dance, then move across the dance floor together. The story of the dance continues to unfold as the partners sway and swirl across the floor -- reassured, her gaze remains as heated and locked to his as before, but her dance becomes coquettish... her hips sway and brush fluidly against him, teasing. Fingers trail lightly, beckoningly along his cheek, then float along his arm until his hand closes strongly on hers and she's whirled lightly back into his arms, to sway in unison with him, his arms folded almost possessively about her. The faintest smile touches the corner of her lips, her green eyes gleaming only inches away from his.

The coyote continues to hold Alex possessively, his eyes still locked with hers. Finally, he breaks away from the clinch, whirling Alex out to the end of their mutual grasp as he turns his gaze outward. Alex raises a mental eyebrow, wondering why he broke gaze -- aren't the partners supposed to keep almost mirror-close? -but continues in the steps of the dance without hesitation. Slow and fluidly she moves, steps light and sure as she draws nearer, her gracefully moving arms beckoning her partner closer, her smoldering gaze fiercely intent again -- surely her lover would not cast her aside for another? Surely her heat is enough to warm them both?

Carlos breaks his gaze for just a moment, almost as if he is catching his mental breath before diving back into the story. He swings Alex back into his arms, his eyes devouring hers again as they move in lockstep across the floor. Alex lets her side lean against the don's as they move, enjoying the music thrumming hypnotically through her almost as much as she enjoys the heat and the sensual feel of the don's movement against her... for a moment she feels an almost dreamlike pleasure, her gaze as heatedly promising as the don's is devouring. She imagines she can feel his heartbeat where she's pressed against his chest -- the rhythm pounding through them both, melting them together into one powerful, needy gaze -- and it is almost jarring when she is whirled lightly into the final pirouette, her skirts flaring and the music flourishing one last time. She blinks a bit bemusedly, finally breaking the locked gaze between her and the don -- oh, are they done so soon? Didn't they just start? -then hastily recovers herself and smiles politely as she curtseys to her dance partner.

Carlos holds the final pose, staring into Alex's eyes until she breaks the spell. He blinks then as well, and bows deeply. "A magnificent dance, milady. Gracias." The effort has left both furrs a little overheated, and though the dance is only a story, they both feel as if it were a little more. Alex glances sideways in slight bemusement at the don, still flushed and panting slightly from the dance. That was... really... fun! She would never have expected that! ...then again... what did she expect? She's... not really sure... her small smile in return to the don is a little uncertain as she quietly murmurs, "Er... gracias, senyor?"

Carroll smiles and says to Rana, "Quite the dance, mm?" as he looks to her, quietly admiring.

Horatio has been mostly speechless throughout the tango. He'd caught some of the innuendo about it from before, but he had no idea...! That Alex could jump into such a new and energetic dance with little preparation, too... he momentarily wonders if she enjoyed it, then chides himself. Of course she did. It was energetic, it was lively, it was different... everything that's Alex herself, in fact.

Jessie claps and hugs Horatio a little tighter to her side. "We need to learn that one, I think. It looks like so much fun!"

Jessie Hunter --

Jessie, as she was introduced by a slightly confused Costa Yerman herald when she came in with Horatio -- is dressed tonight in the latest of Maidstone fashion, thanks to Alex, Matthew, and Duchess White Haven. She is wearing a simple gown of rich green satin, caught at the waist with a gold belt. A pair of gold cords form an X between her breasts and down her back, similar to a pair of bandoleer belts. On closer inspection it is two cords, one looping over her left shoulder and attached to the belt at the right, and the other a mirror image. The gown is daringly short, especially by the standards of the hosts tonight, ending just below her knees. Her feet sport light calf-length boots in matching green leather, and a sheathed dagger in the right one is the only concession to her normal attire. Her hair is caught up in a gold tiara, carefully brushed and combed out. Her tail is equally carefully brushed.

Horatio's ears can't perk any further, and his eyes widen so much that the whites of his eyes are broadly visible. "Eep...? The... the tango...?" Do I even have the endurance to do it, let alone the courage?! Jessie grins. She knows her fox is probably a bit too shy for the tango, but every now and then she can't resist teasing him just a bit. She's quite happy to attend these fancy parties to hear the music and meet the people. It's rather a step up for a simple huntress.

Alex comes back, glowing as usual after a wonderful dance. Her small paw rests lightly in the don's... which, oddly, she doesn't feel any great need to remove... "Did you guys see? Was it okay? Did it look all right?"

Carroll hasn't moved, apparently perfectly content to stand close to 'Rana' and watch. He says, "Yes, you both did well. It's a beautiful dance."

Jessie smiles, flowing up to give Alex a quick hug. "It was beautiful. Do you think we can teach Horatio?"

Alex happily hugs Jessie back, then giggles in spite of herself, "Oh, it's easy to learn, Jessie..." her mischievous grin at the electrified Horatio widens, "-but it might cause poor Horry heart failure!"

Carroll comments quietly, "And practicing in private probably won't help with that." He only smirks a little at his discomfited brother.

Horatio catches Jessie's grin, and looks to her with a matching expression. Sometimes it's hard for him to tell when she's teasing him, but he certainly -- for all his horror -- doesn't mind. In fact... well... it's ages and tons better than the Academy Masters... for that matter, better than anything I could possibly think of! "You did wonderfully, Alex. You seemed... well, alive out there..." He blinks at Jessie's question to Alex, then nods in quick, shaky agreement with Alex!

A bit shy of five and a half feet tall, Horatio is the shortest of the St. Genevieve sons, and the youngest. He has some noble fox features to him, though they certainly appear muted and subdued. However, his fur tonight is groomed and brushed, lending it a bit more luster than usual. Proudly he wears the uniform of his family, albeit of slightly finer quality than usual, again. A pair of fine russet breeches are tucked into a pair of high leather boots, polished to a gleam, the softly-textured, combed brown lining showing where the boot tops are folded down at his knees. Close about his chest is an elegant scarlet vest, finely embroidered and buttoned in gold, although not expensively so. Beneath the vest he wears a pale yellow under tunic, also modestly embroidered but still fitting for a noble's son. Over this is a coat, also of russet, subtly trimmed in gold thread and with the collar and cuffs turned down, which fits him well. Upon the right breast is the family crest -- pentacle and sword in gold thread -- only slightly embellished.

Don Carlos grins. "Perhaps you should not, then. We would not weesh to upset Sir Alexandra by geeving her brother a bad heart."

Alex turns back to the don to thank him... then pauses, watching him for a moment, her ears at a thoughtful tilt. Finally she curtsies properly to him and smiles. "Thank you very much, Don Carlos. Um... would you care to stop by for weapons practice sometime, if the captain and the master of marines don't mind?"

Carroll smiles, "I don't think there would be any trouble with that if you wished to, Don Carlos."

The coyote nods. "I theenk I would, Sir Alexandra. I weell make a point of eet." He sighs then as he sees Rishali and Morgana bearing down on him. "For now, I fear duty calls."

Alex beams happily at the coyote... then grins, "Of course, senyor." She can't resist a wicked grin as she adds softly, "At least it is duty... and not the duchess that calls..."

The two older ladies bear Carlos off in a discussion. 'Rana' smiles grimly. "You noticed that? I don't think they want to let Carlos spend too much time near me."

Alex takes a moment to catch her breath... and to quietly scan all her friends and siblings -- any telltale glows from anyone's pockets? She smiles, reassured at seeing nothing unusual glowing on any of her party. Horatio blinks a little as the don is almost bodily hauled away. "Possibly..." He takes a quick, subtle look around for the Inquisitor.

Alex smiles at 'Rana,' "That's rather nice of them, I think." She grins wickedly again, then sighs melodramatically, clasping her hands beneath her chin and gazing soulfully skywards, "Alas! It seems I alone am not enough to keep him distracted... perhaps I should aspire to the duchess' level of, ah, er... distraction, yeah, that's it!" She giggles.

Carroll hmms a bit at Rana's supposition, then says, "Who would I be to complain?" and smiles brightly at her.

'Rana' grins and nudges Carroll in the ribs. "I think they're worrying too much. He only has eyes for your sister." Alex giggles again, although a little self-consciously this time!

Carroll smiles, "Perhaps that's true. I shall take it as a compliment that they don't worry about keeping me shooed safely away."

Alex sighs happily, then adds, "I'm going to get a drink. Anyone else want to come along?"

Jessie shakes her head. "I want to dance this time. C'mon, Horatio!"

Alex grins, waving, "Have fun!"

Horatio blinks and only half-opens his mouth to protest, closing it before he even completes the thought. He grins softly to Jessie, conceding the inevitable. Besides, it's not like it's an unpleasant experience... though Elements help me if it's a tango! "Thanks, Alex..." He smiles to Jessie and bows, offering his hand. "And... I'd be honored, Lady..." Jessie giggles as Horatio calls her 'Lady,' but eagerly moves onto the dance floor with him as the musicians start up another samba.

Carroll smiles and asks Rana, "Would you care for this dance, or have I monopolized your time too long?"

Arianna smiles up at Carroll from behind the raccoon mask. "And who else is going to pay attention to a lowly lieutenant, hm?"

Carroll says, "Only a fool will judge purely by something so shallow as that, my friend." He offers his arm, "Shall we?"

The beat is infectious and happy, not at all like the dark intensity of the tango. The idea of this dance appears to be for the partners to enjoy each other's company. Jessie twirls a bit as they move onto the floor, her skirts lifting well past her knees. 'Rana' smiles at Carroll and moves onto the dance floor with him, though a bit more sedately than the hyperactive mink. "I think I would enjoy another dance, Captain."

Horatio is a little unsure at first, as usual, but the sheer joy, the enthusiasm, of the samba catches him, and pulling him into the elation of the dance is none other than the eyes of the lady he's fallen for. And so it is remarkably easy for the young student of alchemy to more than forget essences and fulminates and whatnot, and for a brief time whirl and laugh and simply move, taking pleasure from that movement with Jessie. The Costa Yerman music, as unusual as it is to his League-born ears, seems to touch a heart of wonder concealed within book covers of musty leather and parchment, and for the first time in... well, perhaps as recently as Alex's birthday in Hamasura, but rarely in his life -- he feels alive and unmitigatedly happy... and more than that, to just move with the joy of life with Jessie.

Jessie is pleased as she coaxes Horatio from his shell. She respects the young fox's brilliance at his chosen craft, but still she enjoys drawing out his more physical side, the one she saw from the beginning but that he always seems to want to suppress. The dance is joyous, and she flirts with him as she moves, pressing against him one instant, then drawing away the next.

Horatio is not unaffected by Jessie -- he'd find it hard to imagine someone who wasn't! -and normally dancing in this way with her would fluster him to incoherence. But this is more than the mere day-to-day of his life; the music, the dance -- it's like a completely different world, where there is no need for words or formulas or athanors. It is a world of motion, of joy, and of sound; not the staid, melodious tones of League orchestras, but a half-tamed, eager beat, something that insists on motion in mirror of life, and life in mirror of motion. He cannot hope to match Jessie's energy; he's a fox, and a studious one at that, not a mink. But he doesn't try to; he simply dances with her, for the nonce letting the music be the bridge between them, which carries them both along.

Alex beams with quiet enthusiasm, sipping her drink and watching her brothers dance... she misses getting to dance with them too, but it makes her very happy to see them so delighted to be dancing with their ladies.

Carroll smiles and leads the faux-coon out to the floor, letting himself be taken away by the tempo of the music, leading his unique and beautiful partner through the dance. He's filled with energy and assurance, if a little less intensity and urgency than his sister or either of the notable minks on the floor. Arianna seems to want to lose herself in the dance as well, the cares of the throne lost in the simple pleasures of a couple who, although perhaps not yet in love, are working toward it.

Last modified: 2001-Apr-23 13:39:47

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