[center][h1][b][color=DAF6C7]Ríoghnach "Riona"[/color][/b][/h1][color=DAF6C7]Time:[/color] Night
[color=DAF6C7]Location:[/color] Damien Estate Ballroom
[color=DAF6C7]Interaction(s):[/color] Shehzadi Nahir [@Rodiak][/center]
[color=904342]“What is a life worth living if not for the risks and surprises? Worry not, my dear, I'll be sure to keep you close and steady.”[/color] Possibly, more than Shehzadi Nahir bargained for.

To call whatever Riona was doing a “dance” would be, at best, charitable. She shuffled. Stumbled. Fought for purchase in stilts too slender to provide it. Each step was a balancing act, a gamble, as she did her best to not punch a hole in Shehzadi Nahir’s feet. Despite her efforts, the results were mixed. Every time her foot landed squarely on the Shehzadi’s toes, Riona winced. Thankfully, her full weight wasn’t behind the blunders to cause injury, but it didn’t make her any less mortified.

True to her word, Shehzadi Nahir kept her close and steady. With gentle hands, she corrected each fumble and kept Riona upright. She was, without a doubt, the only saving grace.

Around them, Riona sensed the eyes and barely concealed snickers of other guests as the pair tottered past. Heat rose to Riona’s cheeks under their amusement. She glared down at her feet, gleaming gold in the light, determined not to provide the vultures with further entertainment. That proved to be her undoing, as she should’ve known.

Too focused on her own feet, what little pattern the two built up to this point fell apart. A misplaced step threw Shehzadi Nahir off. Riona reacted, wrapping one hand around the woman while the other seized her arm to pull her up before she could fall.

For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked, faces near enough that Riona could breathe in her perfume and admire Shehzadi Nahir’s long lashes framing her golden brown eyes.

Once the Shehzadi regained her footing, Riona released her and a heavy sigh. [color=DAF6C7]“Please accept my apologies, my lady. I’m usually better at dancing than this.”[/color] Dancing had been one of her favorite pastimes since childhood. Something that felt as natural as breathing. It just never involved being strapped into torture devices.

[color=DAF6C7]“How does anyone manage in these heels?”[/color] she asked as they resumed their not-a-dance. The heels were beautiful, a testament to Via’s remarkable sense of style, but practicality was sacrificed at the altar of fashion. Riona glanced around at the other women who wore similar shoes, marveling at their poise. Why weren’t they limping or swan-diving onto the first chair in sight? Years of practice must’ve hardened their skin. Either that or she should never play cards with them because they were masters of stoicism. Both seemed equally likely to Riona.

[hr][hr][center][h1][b][color=9354FF]Fritz "Ryn" Hendrix[/color][/b][/h1][color=9354FF]Time:[/color] Evening
[color=9354FF]Location:[/color] Damien Estate’s Ballroom
[color=9354FF]Interaction(s):[/color] Lady Charlotte Vikena [@princess]; Mr. V (Kazumin Nagasa) [@samreaper]; Lord Leo Smithwood [@Helo]; Lord Cassius Damien (Cassius Vael) [@PapaOso][/center]
Ryn stared at Lady Vikena's hand resting lightly on his own for some time before slowly turning his hand over to clasp hers, giving it a gentle, acknowledging squeeze.

[color=B7AAE0]“Please continue to tell me why you're disheartened,”[/color] she said.

A rueful smile tugged at his lips as he met her eyes. [color=9354FF]“By you, Charlotte.”[/color] With his free hand, Ryn reached to lay his palm over the back of Lady Vikena’s, sandwiching her hand between both of his own.

[color=9354FF]“I thought, now that we’re a team…”[/color]  Ryn’s gaze flitted toward Mr. V, recalling the day when he and Ms. Persephone had stumbled unexpectedly into the Vikena estate, and how they had all agreed to harbor the wanted fugitives. What brings people closer than partaking in a bit of misdeeds together? [color=9354FF]“Partners in crime, as it were,”[/color]  he winked at Mr. V and then focused on Lady Vikena again. [color=9354FF]“I thought you’d give us a more truthful answer than platitudes you’d offer strangers.”[/color]

Just as Ryn’s lips parted to speak further, a lion caught his eye, bearing down upon their little group. [color=9354FF]“Goo—”[/color] He got no further before Lord Smithwood thrust a bracelet upon the table before them.

[color=B8FC03]“There is a thief wandering the ballroom,”[/color] he announced brusquely, [color=B8FC03]“they have stolen my watch and left that in my pocket. We must solve this crime immediately.”[/color]

Ryn looked from the jewelry to Lord Smithwood and back, then turned to Lady Vikena once more, giving her hand one final, gentle pat. [color=9354FF]“I’d like to continue our conversation later, Charlotte. Is that okay with you?”[/color]

Redirecting his attention to Lord Smithwood, Ryn was about to ask a question when another nobleman approached the slowly growing congregation. [color=LightSteelBlue]“Excuse my interruption…”[/color] Lord Damien.

[color=9354FF][i]So this must be who Peter spoke of.[/i][/color] Ryn studied the handsome man and noticed how intently the wolf’s gaze lingered on the butterfly. He smiled to himself, sensing the lord’s true motives for inserting himself here.

[color=9354FF]“And you’ll have to excuse me for drawing you away from the one who so captivates your interest.”[/color] Ryn rose from his seat. [color=9354FF]“Lord Cassius Damien, I presume? It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Fritz.”[/color] He bowed in greeting, paused, and extended a hand, seeing if Count Damien’s son was the kind of person to shake hands with “just Fritz.”

[color=9354FF]“If the others don’t mind, I think it would be heartening to have your assistance, Lord Damien. More the merrier, I say.”[/color] He flashed Lord Damien an amicable smile.

[color=9354FF]“Now then,”[/color] Ryn faced Lord Smithwood, [color=9354FF]“Detective, please describe what your watch looks like for me. When did you last see it?”[/color]

[hr][hr][center][h1][b]Peter[/b][/h1][b]Time:[/b] Night
[b]Location:[/b] Damien Estate Ballroom
[b]Interaction(s):[/b] [s]Persephone[/s] Olivia [@Potter]; Blue [@CitrusArms][/center]
[color=LightPink]“What’s going on?”[/color] Olivia asked.

Contrary to Olivia’s obvious worry, Peter’s face lit up with a wide, reckless grin. Impish excitement glimmered in his eyes. “A real shindig.” Then his voice dropped lower, a hint of sharpness beneath his playful tone. “I’d take this chance to do what you came here to do, while the shifty weasel has people distracted.”

Said weasel guided Olivia smoothly into a spin so that when she stopped, she faced a particular direction. Lo and behold, across the ballroom, stood the lady in blue, her eyes sharp and focused on them. Once Olivia spun back to him, Peter continued. “Saw Blue Lady? She’s been checking us out for a while now. Think she has the hots for me… ” He smirked, “That and I wager she’s a guard.”

He heaved a deep, melodramatic sigh. “I’m too damn sexy for my own good. It’s just impossible to ignore me forever.”

Chuckling, he mused, “Too bad too. Was hoping we’d get to spend more time together.” Peter’s laughter tapered off as he found himself staring at Olivia, longer than he had intended.

“So, what do you wanna do?” Peter glanced at Cowlick and Lady Lottie’s direction. “You found your pals. No reason not to go to them.” He looked back at Olivia. “Especially when I’m about to go on a heist.”

[hr]
Peter strolled down the buffet table, his eyes scanning the spread with mixed interest. He plopped any appetizers he could eat with his hands into his mouth and washed them down with a gulp from his sparkling drink. He grabbed a mini quiche before leaving the table behind.

Leaning back against the cool wall, he bit into the quiche. The buttery crust gave way to a creamy, smoky filling that hit all the right notes. As the sharp cheddar and rich bacon blended in his mouth, he let his eyes close and moaned.

The weasel glanced over at his blue neighbor. “Gotta say, the music’s a bore fest, but the food might just make up for it.” His gaze traveled up and down Blue’s body. On the surface, it came across as ogling. But really, he was sizing her up—muscle distribution, stance, the subtle tell of a favored limb, potential hidden weapon. When their eyes met, he smirked.

“You know,” Peter said, “I couldn’t help but notice you giving me the eye for a while. Like what you see?”

[hider=TL;DR]Riona awkwardly danced with Nahir and accidentally tripped her.

Meanwhile, Ryn told Charlotte that she was the reason why he was disheartened, but before he could elaborate, Leo came in with a case: The Mystery of the Swapped Heirlooms. Ryn asked Charlotte if they could talk later. He also introduced himself to Cassius.

Peter suggested that Persephone go do what she came to do while everyone was preoccupied by the “theft.” Later, he approached Stratya and struck up a conversation with her.

[@Rodiak][@princess][@samreaper][@Helo][@PapaOso][@Potter][@CitrusArms][/hider]