omne quod dulce est cito satiat

[heloise]

Who: EVERYONE!
When: Dec. 15
Where: Ballroom!
What: Borgia-Mills Saturnalia party, basically, that party!

The garlands and wreaths of leaves decorating the ballroom sure look similar. Almost Christmas trees. Pagan origins for an otherwise religious holiday. This occasion has no purpose, however, aside from merriment, freedom and lots and lots of eating!

The cooks Henry gathered are welcome to place their creations on a long table set to one side, while most of the ballroom is left clear for dancing of any form. Most of the sofas have been pushed against the walls as refuge for tired feet. The wine flows freely, with uncountable goblets here and there!

Oh, one more thing, beware the nutcrackers.

[ ooc; make your own threads, there are no rules except for go wild! ]

Comments

[fantasies]

He hesitates for a second, and then takes it warily.

"Okay. Sorry if I step on your feet. You know, in advance."

[inafadingcrown]

She chuckles lightly and leads him out to the dance floor. "I will manage."

[fantasies]

Henry stares hard at other people on the dance floor, and tries to position his hands accordingly.

Which is basically just hanging onto her waist stiffly, because she is a tall lady.

"Like this?"

[inafadingcrown]

"Almost." She adjusts his hands a little and leans down a little, trying to compensate a bit for the massive height difference.

[fantasies]

"Okay."

He shifts, feeling fidgety already. People really dance like this? Adults are weird.

"Now what?"

[inafadingcrown]

"Now we move. Watch my feet; I will go slowly." And she will start to dance along with the music, purposefully making each step distinct and easy to mimic.

[fantasies]

Henry's head hangs down, staring intently at their feet. He tries to copy carefully, but every so often he'll shuffle or stumble.

"Whoops. Sorry."

[inafadingcrown]

And she chuckles, though not unkindly nor at his expense.

"Pray, do not apologize. You are doing well."

[fantasies]

"This stuff is complicated."

He lifts his head to peer up at her, but it only lasts a few seconds before he has to look down again.

"Do you really do this all the time?"

[inafadingcrown]

"It has been longer than I would like. But in my youth, yes, I did a great deal of dancing." There's a nostalgic tone to her voice now. "I was raised the granddaughter of a king; it was expected of me."

[fantasies]

"Ohhh, you're a princess." He nods along as he steps. One, two, three. "That makes a whole lot more sense."

[inafadingcrown]

"Does it?" She manages not to laugh, but just barely. "How so, if I may ask?"

[fantasies]

"Well, you kinda have the whole princess thing going on already. Graceful and nice, with really really long hair." He tries to get eye contact for confirmation, but he can't hold it for very long. "Plus, dancing is always a prince and princess thing. For balls and stuff."

[inafadingcrown]

"And to think that I was under the impression that the title implied nothing save the circumstances of my birth and upbringing."

[fantasies]

"Well, yeah. That kind of goes with the dancing part, right? And the other stuff, I don't know." He shrugs as best he can with his arms the way they are. He's very constrained by his own definitions. "Not all princesses are like that, I guess. But you're a good princess, so."

[inafadingcrown]

"I am glad to hear I have landed so firmly in your good graces."

[fantasies]

"Well, yeah." He squints up at her, like he's confused why she shouldn't be in anyone's good graces. "You're nice."

[inafadingcrown]

"I am kind when I am able to be." She's almost sorry to tell him this, as innocent as he is, but it's something important to keep in mind. "Good and nice are not at all the same thing; you would do well to remember it."

[fantasies]

"I know that." Or, he likes to think he does. In practice, it's hazier. He takes it for granted that he can tell the difference. "Sometimes people lie to make you think they're good."

His mother, for instance.

[inafadingcrown]

"And there are also those who seem unkind but mean only the best." Everything is hazier in practice. Which is precisely her point, really.

[fantasies]

"I guess so." Kids are kids, though, and like the kid he is, he thinks he knows more than enough. "You're not like either of those, though."

[inafadingcrown]

"Not to you, no." To others- well, she's not so kindly to everyone in the castle.

[fantasies]

He's quiet for a few seconds, stepping and thinking. "I guess it's different for everybody, huh?"

[inafadingcrown]

"It is." She's quiet for a few more steps before continuing. "I should like very much to be kind and generous to everyone, but it is not always possible."

[fantasies]

"That's what makes you good, though. That you still want to."