[color=goldenrod][i][h2][center]Gerard Segremors[/center][/h2][/i][/color]
[center][@VitaVitaAR][@Crimson Paladin][@Heartfillia][@Sync][@Krayzikk][@ghastlyInc][/center]

[color=goldenrod][i]It seems I've been ignored.

Why?

That little joke wasn't [b]that[/b] weird, was it?[/i][/color]

Somewhat befuddled, the young man looked on as Fleuri began to stalk forward. Admittedly, Gerard [i]did[/i] carry himself much more seriously when they usually spoke— but for the entirety of the bash, his senior Reonite had been nothing if not poised and affable. If any of them were at home in such a setting it was he— without inexperience to shackle his mind nor fear to dull his tongue, Segremors had been counting upon his guidance for further conduct. And here a simple greeting had gotten him blown off wholly.

Which, given his erstwhile support, made [i]no sense[/i].

[color=goldenrod][i]Look closer,[/i][/color] he told himself, [color=goldenrod][i]he's made of sterner stuff than balking at jest, same as you.[/i][/color]

Fleuri Jodeau, despite noble birth and respectable background, was indeed at the core much like Gerard Segremors— A man of the sword. A man of warfare. Though their reasons for taking up arms were, as he imagined it, wildly different, on that level they had been informed much the same. It was one of the reasons he had looked up to the man— and why he, perhaps presumptuously, believed he could read the man better than he could others.

Fleuri's posture had changed as he marched off. Where before he was placidly mingling, he now moved in a straight, direct line— bearing forward as if to lean into his stride. His eyes, every so often, leapt away from his destination to flit amongst the crowd that he was cutting through. His expression had firmed. Concerns of image and etiquette had fallen to the wayside now, that much was clear. His movement was filled with determination.

Purpose.

Urgency.

[color=goldenrod][i]Something's up.[/i][/color]

And if it had that composed man dropping the act to report to The First and Youngest with such immediacy, then Gerard considered [i]himself[/i] spooked too. While the disappearing tower cake was a curiosity... he doubted that was the cause for alarm. He exhaled through his nose, mouth forming a hard line as his gaze fruitlessly danced through the throng. A fat noble there, an offered platter of hors d'oeuvres here...

[color=goldenrod][i]Nothing's jumping out at me.[/i][/color]

Gerard, after that moment's contemplation and search, began to follow. One thing was abundantly clear— this was no time for hesitation. He needed to get an ear on the situation. As he flowed through the mass of people, he could feel the tension beginning to settle into his mind as well as his frame. His shoulders tightened beneath the pauldrons he wore, and his gaze began to narrow.

[color=goldenrod]"Excuse me."[/color]

Even his voice gained a firmer edge, approaching clipped. He hadn't noticed any ruffled feathers yet, but luckily those that had gathered in front of him didn't need much convincing to let him pass. Perhaps it was the armor that made the difference, he found himself musing. Or the blade upon his back? Tough to say. So long as he got through, though, he could be content with not knowing, at least for now. There were far more important things to establish.

He was forced to stop, however, and speak. As he exited the crowd, Segremors had basically stepped out right in front of the two most important people in attendance.

[color=goldenrod]"Ah— Captain. Princess."[/color]

...Somewhere in the back of his mind, Gerard dully noted that for all his professed concerns, he had twice now ended up disregarding decorum. Perhaps propriety wasn't in his future. This time he hadn't even thought before he'd plainly greeted the two most important people in attendance.

No matter. He still knew better than to barge right through [i]them[/i], but he'd take a reprimand so long as he could ensure nothing went awry.

[i]If[/i] something would. Just as luck would have it, they had through pure circumstance perfectly intercepted his path to Sir Fleuri, who was currently filling in Jerel and Tyaethe. Seemed like his curiosity would need to wait, at least for the moment. Glancing over the retinue of knights that had followed, he spoke again.

[color=goldenrod]"Everyone well?"[/color]