[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]; Lordling Smithwood [@Helo][/center]
Riona’s aching feet had just about reached their limit of discomfort when Via’s voice chimed in the back of her head. [color=8D3B72]“... enjoy the festivities…”[/color] Since she’s here, she should, shouldn’t she? 

As if she read her mind, Shehzadi Nahir suddenly asked after letting out an uncharacteristically hearty laugh, [color=904342]“Shall we dance do this without the heels, then? Proper dancing, this time, no tripping or stepping.”[/color] A second later, the Alidasht’s royal heels were set aside and her feet were bare, ready for what would come next. Riona gaped at the Shehzadi, surprised by the unexpected bold move before a slow grin fought its way onto her face.

Kicking off the pinching shoes brought instant relief. She glanced over at Shehzadi Nahir, who was watching her with renewed enthusiasm. Without a word, Riona grasped her hand, and together they launched into a dance that resembled nothing like the one that came before it. Gone were the awkward shuffling and steps dictated by shoes. With her bare feet on the cool marble floor, Riona felt more connected to the music, more in tune with Nahir’s movements. They twirled and glided across the polished floor, their bodies moving in perfect harmony. Their newfound comfort allowed them to switch leads effortlessly, each guiding the other with confidence and grace. They lost themselves in the music and the joy of the dance. And they danced until their heart’s content.

By the time the final chords faded, Riona beamed with satisfaction. An air of triumph followed her while she cruised off the dance floor with Nahir in one hand and her discarded shoes in the other. They made their way to the edge of the ballroom, finding a quiet corner where they could slip their shoes back on. Little did they know they had chosen the wrong time to be there.

From the crowd of partiers, a wasted guest staggered in their direction, flanked by less intoxicated friends struggling to guide his unsteady footsteps. The man was enormous, and it took more than a few people to keep him upright and escort him out of the ballroom.

But then gravity decided to yank him down, sending him crashing to the ground before the women. Moved by a mix of concern and reflex, Riona reached out to help him up, but he was much heavier than she imagined. And, coupled with his drunken momentum, when he leaned in on her, his massive bulk ended up pinning her against the wall. The force of the impact knocked the breath right out of her lungs, and she swore something cracked.

His companions rushed to her aid, pulling him off of her before he did any real damage. Once freed, Riona fixed herself, adjusting her skirt and not once noticing the warped pocket watch or how it vanished underneath the orange layers of her dress.

Shaking off the incident, Nahir and Riona continued to chat as they walked through the crowd toward a table. On their way there, a familiar pair of lion slippers caught her attention. Her steps halted before their owner, Sh*tlord.

A smirk hinted at mischief on her lips. [color=DAF6C7]“What lovely shoes,”[/color] she remarked in a subtly disguised voice. She then looked him over, pretending to have difficulty remembering which of the thousands of pompous nobles he was, before she announced, loud enough for bystanders and the Alidasht’s Royal Highness to catch, [color=DAF6C7]“Lord Leo Smithwood!”[/color] She curtsied. [color=DAF6C7]“I’ve heard so much about you.”[/color] 

[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] Lord Cassius Damien (Cassius Vael) [@PapaOso]; Lady Charlotte Vikena [@princess]; Lord Leo Smithwood [@Helo]; Mr. V (Kazumin Nagasa) [@samreaper][/center]
While the conversation continued, Ryn found his eyes drawn inexorably downwards, fixating on the hand that Lord Damien had shaken.

[i][color=gray]—Coated scarlet red.[/color]

When Lord Damien gripped his hand, Ryn sensed the warmth and stickiness of fresh blood. It seeped through the gloves and into his skin, the thick rivulets sluggishly winding down his wrist. He recognized the hand as belonging to someone who had claimed so many lives that it left a stain that not even time could wash away. There was a kinship in that.[/i]

Letting his hand fall, Ryn lifted his gaze in time to witness the son of Count Damien showering Lady Vikena with honeyed words. The way the man’s eyes caressed her and his dulcet tones made Ryn wonder if he was besotted with her and whether now was the appropriate time to express it.

Curious about her reception of such attention, Ryn stole a quick glance at Lady Vikena. When he shifted his focus back, Lord Damien’s eyes were on the three men, watching them closely. As if he wanted to ask what they made of his attempts to woo Lady Vikena. Was he assessing if they were competition, or was there another motive behind his gaze?

If Lord Damien wanted to gain insights subtly, it would be impolite of Ryn not to reciprocate. And if his intuition proved correct, the new lord was the type that appreciated a little banter. Though for Lord Smithwood’s sake, it would be brief, as they still must find his father’s watch.

He waited a few beats before gasping. [color=9354FF]“Lord Damien, I feel left out. Will you not tell us how beautiful and strong we are too?”[/color] He motioned toward Lord Smithwood. [color=9354FF]“Surely you’ve noticed how this distinguished gentleman would be the heart of any pride?”[/color] A breath more and he would have mentioned Mr. V as well, but prudence held him back. [color=9354FF][i]Try not to draw too much attention to him,[/i][/color] Ryn reminded himself.

Observing Lord Damien’s reaction, Ryn smiled. Then returned to the case at hand. [color=9354FF]“About the watch, perhaps we should split—”[/color]

His words stilled as two women approached the group. One of them was Shehzadi Nahir, and the other wore a cat mask. [color=DAF6C7]“What lovely shoes,”[/color] the cat said to the lion.

However, Ryn’s gaze strayed past them to a worrisome sight. Behind the two, in the distance, stood Count Damien and Ms. Persephone, unaccompanied by Peter. [color=9354FF]“V. Charlotte.”[/color] Ryn’s voice dropped to a hush as he directed their attention to the potential storm brewing on the horizon. Tension clung to Ryn until Ms. Persephone extricated herself from the count’s vicinity, but the sense of unease lingered on.

[hider=TL;DR] Fed up with the high heels, Riona removed them to properly dance with Nahir. After they left the dance floor, Riona got squished by a drunk while trying to help him up. She noticed familiar lion slippers.

Ryn studied Cassius and bantered a bit. Right as he was about to suggest that they split up to find Leo’s watch, Riona and Nahir approached the group. At the same time Ryn noticed Calbert accosting Olivia.

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