[color=lightgray][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/YGxzxVR.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/wA3P0IB.gif[/img][/center]
[color=D0B4EC]Time:[/color] Evening 
[color=D0B4EC]Location:[/color] Carriage → Ballroom
[color=D0B4EC]Attire:[/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/XgrtOQU.png]Outfit[/url] 
[color=D0B4EC]Interaction:[/color]  [@Potter] [color=#8FBC8B]Olivia[/color] [@Oso] [color=lightsteelblue]Cassius[/color] 
[color=D0B4EC]Mention:[/color] [@samreaper] Kazumin
[/color] 
[hr][color=lightgray]

[color=#D0B4EC]“Oh yes… I’m feeling quite lovely, actually.”[/color]

Charlotte plucked a small piece of bread from the basket and leaned her back against the edge of the table as if she were in her own sitting room. She took a knife and began to neatly butter the bread, then she let her gaze rise slowly to look at Olivia and Cassius through her lashes, the corners of her lips tugging upward. [color=D0B4EC] "If this is about the dress, I only thought it rude not to dress on theme,"[/color] she added with a soft giggle.

She took a tidy bite as she always did in public, eyes wandering thoughtfully across the ballroom. Her blue eyes lingered momentarily on a few figures, noting their rigid shoulders and the heaviness they carried in their gaze, the way their smiles didn't quite reach their eyes. She tilted her head curiously as she licked a trace of butter off her finger. 

[color=D0B4EC] "So, "[/color] Lottie began mildly, brushing crumbs off her hand. [color=#D0B4EC]“how are you two?”[/color] she asked gently. Then, she added a little quieter an observation: [color=#D0B4EC]“There’s a strange demeanor about everyone tonight, don’t you think? As if there’s a storm cloud looming over the room and nobody wishes to point it out.”[/color]

As if the world itself had heard her and decided it could not bear such heaviness for long, Kazumin’s entrance stole the attention of the ballroom. Charlotte straightened without meaning to, her expression brightening. She watched him dance with open awe, a smile forming on her face as awe painted her features and brightened her eyes. It was as if the performance alone had made her eyes look younger. [color=#D0B4EC]“Oh—he’s spectacular,”[/color] she breathed, delighted, her wonder completely unguarded. [color=#D0B4EC]“I heard such wonderful things about him in the theatre, but truly… it’s different seeing it in person.”[/color] She told them excitedly, her eyes drifting to Olivia with warm curiosity for a moment. 

Her smile softened as she took in her friend's reaction. The moment felt somehow nostalgic, as if she already knew this was a memory worth holding on to.  [color=D0B4EC]"You know, Olivia, when I first met him, he told me the most bittersweet story and he performed it like such a professional. "[/color]

She smiled softly. [color=#D0B4EC]“He must have entertained you often as a child.”[/color] Then, with a bright curiosity, she started making several inquiries. [color=#D0B4EC]“Do you dance as well? Sing? Play an instrument?”[/color]

Only then did Charlotte tug a chair out and slide into it between them, legs immediately crossing. [color=#D0B4EC]“I rather adore music,”[/color] she continued happily. [color=#D0B4EC]“Mother was adamant about my piano lessons, and I was adamant about continuing my singing lessons after my father was no longer around to teach me..."[/color] Her smile turned a little wistful, but it did not dim. She leaned her chin in her hand and proclaimed, [color=#D0B4EC]“Life without music would be positively boring.”[/color]

And then, as if it had been inevitable, her attention drifted back to Cassius, expression softening beyond permission or intention. She did not mean to look at him the way she did, but she had done so, nonetheless. 

Her gaze moved slowly, catching on every feature of his face as if her eyes had forgotten how to look away. [color=#D0B4EC]“Are you alright, darling?”[/color] she asked, her voice more tender now. Her eyes searched his face with care—the kind she never seemed able to withhold from him, no matter how much she tried to be sensible about it… and yet it was almost as if it were on full display, more than it ever had been. [color=#D0B4EC]“You…”[/color] Her smile faltered, only slightly, but those blue eyes of hers stayed honest. [color=#D0B4EC]“…seemed a little… off, when I came over.”[/color]


[/color]