[h1][center][color=ab274f]Wulfric[/color] & [color=9354FF]Ryn[/color] Part 1[/center][/h1][color=lightgray][hr][hr]
It was no tricky task to espy his magicae. Though faint, like the many in the room, his did not reach to commingle with magical energies nor flux in the same manner others did. Rather, it clung to him—a thin sheet of fluorite green, frigid and still as winter ice; a frosty bulwark that shielded the man from the world as it shielded the world from him.

[color=9354FF][i]Ice-olation.[/i][/color] Ryn chuckled to himself at the perfectly terrible pun.

Soft-footed, Ryn drifted toward him, this man enshrouded in black, concealing himself from the revelers. But not from Ryn. Not whilst these bespelled lenses retained the power to peer beyond. As the dark-clad man made idle chatter Ryn stole up behind and leaned close to whisper [i]his[/i] name—[i]their name[/i]—[color=9354FF]“Adelard.”[/color]

The ice cracked; a hairline fissure. Something shifted below the frozen surface. Then Ryn saw Prince Wulfric’s sudden pivot just in time.

A glass of vermouth in hand, Wulfric was perusing the hors d’oeuvres available when he became aware of a certain sensation. A subconscious alert to [i]something[/i] that he recognized only by the most minute of physiological reactions; the slight tensing of his muscles followed by an immediate relaxation, a subtle change in his heartbeat, the itching of his fingers urging him to reach for a weapon.

Was someone truly foolish enough to try and ambush him at a public event? 

He angled his glass just so, attempting to catch a glimpse of the suspect in question. Unfortunately, the reflective surface did not provide anything of use. And then, they were [i]there[/i]. A disturbance in the air indicated someone’s presence. It was now or never.

It wasn’t a cognizant decision, but a reflexive reaction – Wulfric turned around swiftly, his free hand reaching out aggressively, his mantle swishing in a rustle of feathers. As he acted on his desire to [i]show them their mistake[/i], what could only be described as killing intent surged, if merely for a second.

[color=ab274f][i]Oops.[/i][/color] 

He recognized his overreaction, reigned in the unwarranted bloodthirst, and shifted from attacking to intercepting. Which was when he finally registered a detail that had nearly escaped his notice. A familiar voice [i]had[/i] called out to him, in the same beat he’d gone on the move. Thus, he stopped almost awkwardly mid-motion, the arm which had been ready to grab left to hang there, in between the space separating him and the count.

He sighed as he looked down at the other man. [color=ab274f]“You again?”[/color] he questioned. Slowly, he lowered his hand.
[color=ab274f]“What [i]exactly[/i]–”[/color] he started. However, before he could even formulate the question, Hendrix upped the ante by proceeding to be even stranger.

Just as the limb intent on doing harm was raised, Ryn traced its path with his own digits. When the prince lowered his hand, Ryn was there to take it gently in his grasp. With an easy grace, he twirled underneath their joined hands before sweeping into a florid bow calculated to attract every eye nearby; bent deeply at the waist with one leg extended forward while he touched his forehead to the back of the prince’s knuckles and his free arm carved arabesques in the air.

[color=9354FF]“Oh, Adel!”[/color] Ryn sang, [color=9354FF]“I thought you’d never ask! Yes, let us dance.”[/color] He pitched his voice to reach the avid ears surrounding them. Ryn could only hope his little show would suffice to plant seeds of doubt regarding the violence the onlookers thought they were about to witness.

Even for a fleeting span, the prince allowed the depth of his lethal capacity to show, enough to nail the shoes of the most perceptive watchers to the floor, frozen by understanding.

With the air of someone utterly indifferent as to how his slip up may or may not have been perceived by those in the vicinity, Wulfric took his time watching the count’s impromptu performance. He closely tracked the man as he whirled and danced around, then flourished a bow. As he pondered on the oddity in front of him, he guessed at the likely intent behind the count’s eye-catching display. Bafflement gave way to amusement.

[color=ab274f]“Ha!”[/color] he barked a disbelieving laugh.

He had to admit, the sheer gall to try to sneak up on him was impressive. Moreover, Hendrix took being nearly attacked in stride, and even followed it up with a showy improvisation. The perfection of the count’s timing alone was deserving of applause.

[color=ab274f]“I knew you were an entertainer,”[/color] he mused. 

In his opinion, the enactment was unnecessary; even if anyone noticed anything, at most, they would experience a brief unsettlement before going back about their business. After all, [i]nothing[/i] had happened, and they would feel safe putting it out of their minds. People were rather prone to ignoring uncomfortable matters, and would often craft their own excuses to explain away any discrepancies.

However, he did appreciate the show for what it was.

[color=ab274f]“Very well.”[/color] He reversed their hand-hold, placing his underneath, in the leading position. [color=ab274f]“I suppose I can indulge you…Since it’s your win this time,”[/color] he conceded in a whisper. He drained his drink, and on their path to the dance floor, deposited the empty glass upon the tray of a passing servant.

He stood opposite Hendrix then, retaining an open facing position and the one-hand hold. [color=ab274f]“Shall we?”[/color] At the affirmation, he led them in time with the music, starting with something simple, then weaving in more and more intricate steps as they danced.

[color=ab274f]“Has anyone ever told you that you have the makings of an assassin?”[/color] he asked right away, ironically humorous.

Ryn had not expected the prince to take his lighthearted invitation seriously. In truth, he was ready to let it pass into politeness as soon as the onlookers’ attention scattered elsewhere. Yet, here they stood, vis-à-vis upon the dance floor.

The opening forms were simple enough—bend the knee here, slide the feet to and fro there, bow on cue. Lather, rinse, and repeat. The intricate steps ahead, however, required a proper lead. He rather doubted the habitually commanding prince would allow another to steer him, but then the man had already proven full of surprises. Perhaps he might do so again.

[color=9354FF]“Quite the opposite. As you can see, I’m not hard to catch.”[/color] Ryn cast a rueful glance at the prince. [color=9354FF]“My apologies for frightening you. I wished only to say hello.”[/color]

[color=ab274f]“Apologizing when [i]you[/i] were the one endangered?”[/color] he pointed out. [color=ab274f]“You are already two for two in [i]startling[/i] me. Even after I warned you earlier today. Tsk tsk,”[/color] he chastised lightly.

[color=ab274f]“By no means can your talents be underplayed,”[/color] his tone was low, forbidding, and strangely melodic. [color=ab274f]“Not with all these techniques in your arsenal.”[/color] He chuckled darkly. 

[color=ab274f]“A stealthy approach,”[/color] light steps took him towards Hendrix before he re-established their distance. [color=ab274f]“Remaining obscured,”[/color] he raised an arm, black fabric and raven feathers swirling in front of him in an artistic sweep as he mimicked being hidden. [color=ab274f]“Breaking line of sight.”[/color] He led them into a mutual twirl, so for a moment, they were back to back. [color=ab274f]“Erasing your presence,”[/color] he continued when they were facing each other again. [color=ab274f]“Or simply blending in.”[/color] He raised his free hand, tracing the air in front of the count’s mask and costume. He followed the action with a natural bow, yet another part of their dance.

[color=ab274f]“Getting close to your target.”[/color] This time, when they drew together, Wulfric changed their position. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, he slotted his arm against the other man’s back, and laid his palm on the count’s shoulder blade. With his left hand, he grasped Hendrix’s right. Nimbly, he led them into turns and rotations. 

[color=ab274f]“Familiarizing yourself with them.”[/color] Rising and falling, they revolved against the other as they traversed the area in graceful spins. [color=ab274f][i]“Observing.”[/i][/color] An insidious whisper fell against the count’s ear. [color=ab274f]“Allowing them to become accustomed to your presence.”[/color] They pressed closer, until practically no space remained between them. Swift, tightly executed twists ensued. [color=ab274f]“Biding your time.”[/color] His fingers pushed against Hendrix’s back, then let go. They lingered scant millimeters away, still very much so in the other man’s personal space. [color=ab274f]“Until…”[/color] The hand moved a few inches higher. Cool metal claws alighted upon Hendrix’s neck; a mere whisper of a touch. [color=ab274f][i]“You strike,”[/i][/color] he hissed. Only, his fingers withdrew, nary a scratch left behind.

Wulfric took several steps away, until they were back to the handhold. While he intended to resume leading the dance from a more respectful distance, the count soon drew him in for a re-enactment.

[color=9354FF]“Three,”[/color] Ryn corrected. [color=9354FF]“The first was at the palace entrance, when I presented you the bouquet of herbs and flowers.”[/color] His head tilted in curiosity, [color=9354FF]“Did you make use of them, or did they wither away in a bin?”[/color] It made sense for someone as cautious as Prince Wulfric to throw out any unexpected gifts for safety’s sake.

Wulfric uttered a noise of complaint at the correction. [color=ab274f]“If you are counting [i]that one[/i],”[/color] he grumbled. However, the following question produced a smirk. [color=ab274f]“Oh, I used them, alright.”[/color] There was an odd note of self-satisfaction as he gave the unexpected reply.

They flowed into another sequence of the dance, their bodies moving together effortlessly like two gears in a clock. However, people are not machines and even gears shift in time. Try as they might to resist, change comes to all things in the end. Sometimes, it arrives as a tempest, leaving everyone dazed in its wake; other times, it is a silent, creeping ivy, unnoticed until everything is different. Their seemingly predictable dance, too, was altering, bit by bit with each step and turn.

[color=9354FF]“Three times, you have marked me a threat,”[/color] he continued. [color=9354FF]“Of all those who’ve passed behind you tonight, all those shadows at your back, what made you greet [i]me[/i] in that way?”[/color] A faint smile appeared. [color=9354FF]“I am flattered you hold me in such high regard. How much time did you spend imagining how I might try to undo you?”[/color]

Unbidden, a grin spread across his features, hidden as it was beneath his mask. [color=ab274f]“None at all,”[/color] he answered, a laugh in his voice. [color=ab274f]“Why, did [i]you[/i] imagine the ways?”[/color] he countered slyly. He sighed audibly as he considered the question. [color=ab274f]“I should like to know…Why you indeed.”[/color]

[color=9354FF]“None at all? So you made that list on the spot?”[/color] That query was answered with a simple, if amused, [color=ab274f]“Yes.”[/color] To which he responded in a low, [color=9354FF]“... Really?”[/color]

Though the prince still led and the count still followed in their stately pavane, as the dance progressed, Wulfric found himself being on the receiving end of his own performance.

[color=9354FF]“The stealthy approach.”[/color] Ryn glided forward, then smoothly back. [color=9354FF]“Remaining obscured,”[/color] he raised an arm, but the effect lacked somewhat without the dramatic black cloak and feathers. [color=9354FF]“Breaking line of sight,”[/color] they spun together, [color=9354FF]“erasing my presence,”[/color] and when they faced each other again they were far closer than propriety deemed wise. [color=9354FF]“Or simply blending in.”[/color] He traced the edge of the raven’s beak and then swept into a bow.

[color=9354FF]“Getting close to my target.”[/color] As if sensing Ryn’s intention, Prince Wulfric moved to intercept, reasserting the lead in their choreography. A soft chuckle escaped Ryn as they spiraled into a series of dizzying turns.

[color=9354FF]“Familiarizing myself with them.”[/color] He leaned in close to whisper a less harsh, [color=9354FF]“observing,”[/color] as one might speak to a frightened creature startled into fight. [color=9354FF]“Allowing them to become accustomed to my presence. Biding my time.”[/color] His fingers reached up, past the mask, and into the hood to rest on the prince’s neck where the ghost of an old injury lingered. Tension gathered in the muscles at his touch. [color=9354FF]“Until…”[/color]

The music ceased; the moment hung suspended as some dance pairs parted and new pairs formed around them. Ryn felt the rapid pulse under his fingertips but he made no other move, the fingers merely stayed there. [color=9354FF]“So tense, like an instrument string wound too tight,”[/color] Ryn said lightly before his tone shifted to one of concern. [color=9354FF]“Breathe, Adelard. Relax. You need to be able to unwind when you can or risk snapping at the worst possible moment.”[/color]

[color=ab274f][i]“Presumptuous,”[/i][/color] Wulfric growled. Of course he was tense. How could he not be, when it took so much effort to hold back? To stay still while Hendrix made his own point, prolonging the moment of tension— 

—until it finally broke. He exhaled harshly. It was far from fear that gripped him; nay, he felt the coming of a familiar thrill. The [i]excitement[/i] as someone matched and challenged him. So, yes, he did have to calm down. It was neither the time nor the place.

The hand on Prince Wulfric’s neck slid down and around his back. By the time the prince realized what the count was doing, Ryn had already lifted their clasped hands, settling them into the starting pose as the music swelled again. His hold remained light, easily broken should Prince Wulfric wish to escape. [color=9354FF]“Choose your battles, Adel. Save your strength for the fight that truly matters to you.”[/color] His gaze dropped momentarily in introspection. [color=9354FF]“If I do end up hurting you… it won’t be tonight.”[/color] Lifting his eyes to catch the prince’s gray blues, the slightest of smiles hovered about Ryn’s mouth. [color=9354FF]“But if it makes you feel any safer… for me to get close enough to strike you, I must also be near enough for you to strike me.”[/color]

Wulfric permitted Hendrix to keep the lead as he took the sensible advice, and simply breathed to regain his equilibrium.

The things he might do to this man if given half the chance…

A deep inhale. And exhale.

Best to leave it be.

The next piece was far slower, and the soothing music was enough to lull one into a sense of security, false or otherwise. 

[color=ab274f]“I fight all the battles…”[/color] there was a hint of melancholy, even loss, and perhaps, an inkling of doubt. Yet, it was gone with the next words, replaced by surety. [color=ab274f]“Tonight or tomorrow, I am ready whenever.”[/color] Firmly, he met the count’s inky black gaze. [color=ab274f]“I will be waiting until so are you.”[/color][/color]

[hider=TL;DR]Wulfric was startled by Ryn and was ready to attack him, but Ryn played it down, and this led them to dance.[/hider]