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[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/aJK9ifX.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/ZU37SiB.png[/img]
[color=19D4AD]Interaction:[/color] [@Potter] Elena [@HylianRose] Nora [@Chrys] Amira [@remram] Magnus
[img]https://i.imgur.com/sPIxd99.png[/img][/center]

Elena stepped between them, and Emil’s smile did not falter.

If anything, the gesture made his smile grow larger. He merely watched her with that same patient interest, eyes lifting over her face, then lowering politely. She was taller than the trembling one, steadier too. 

[i]There was more fire in her.[/i]

Emil had sensed it the moment she arrived, but now, with her body placed so deliberately between himself and the other two girls, it showed itself more clearly. She was protective. She was [i]angry. [/i]

Emil found that ever so charming.

The order she gave the girls was not framed like one. [color=#fff4b1]”Ladies, why don’t you go find us a table and bring food?”[/color] Yet Emil heard command in it easily enough, and he suspected Nora did too. His gaze shifted just enough to catch the way the frightened girl obeyed despite the misery in her face. [i]Poor thing.[/i] 

She wanted to be brave so badly that it was almost painful to witness. [i]Almost.[/i] Her hand trembled, her voice trembled, even the anger in her seemed uncertain where to go. It was a lovely little contradiction, and Emil found himself disappointed that Elena was sending her away so soon.

Then Elena moved closer, and Emil’s attention returned to her fully.

Emil took note of everything.

[color=#fff4b1]”As for you, I’ve heard enough about you to know that a sewer rat would be more fit for your title.”[/color]

For a moment, Emil simply looked at her.

Then his smile widened, not much, but enough to show she had pleased him.

[color=19D4AD]“Lady Elena,”[/color] he murmured with warmth. [color=19D4AD]“You must be careful with such accusations. One might think you came over here hoping to wound me.”[/color]

He did not sound wounded. He sounded [i]entertained.[/i] 

Emil wondered how often she had done this. How often she had made herself the spine. It was a tedious position for most people, but Elena wore it well enough to make it attractive.

Amira’s reply came softer, uncertain, and troubled.

[color=00aeef]"I - I... I believe my.. friend will tell me more later."[/color]

Emil’s eyes slid past Elena’s shoulder toward the girl. Sweet thing. He let his expression soften with such convincing disappointment. [color=19D4AD]“How sensible.”[/color]

Then a hand settled heavily on his shoulder.

Emil did not immediately look at it. He allowed the owner of that hand to enjoy whatever little triumph he thought he had purchased by touching him. Men like Magnus Pawonska were familiar enough. 

Emil felt the strength in the grip and the warning behind it.

At last, Emil lifted his gaze toward him. Magnus stood over him with all the cold displeasure of a protective brother. His eyes were direct. There was nothing theatrical about his threat, which made it better than most. 

[color=#35A8F0]"Do we have a problem?"[/color]

Emil’s smile became politely curious.

[color=19D4AD]“I certainly hope not.”[/color] His tone remained smooth, and he made no attempt to pull away from the hand on his shoulder. [color=19D4AD]“It would be a terrible shame to disturb His Majesty’s evening over a conversation.”[/color]

His eyes lingered on Magnus a moment longer before drifting toward Nora. He let the movement be obvious enough for Magnus to see it. [color=19D4AD]“You should be cautious, Lord Pawonska... [i]I can see your heart in your eyes[/i].”[/color]

He let the words sit between them a moment before he added in a whisper,[color=19D4AD]“And hearts are such inconvenient things when one has sisters.”[/color]

Then came the servant.

The interruption was absurd enough that Emil nearly admired it. A bouquet was placed into Amira’s hands, and she stared at the flowers as if they had been handed to her by mistake, which, judging by the color flooding her face and the immediate panic in her voice, they almost certainly had been.

[color=00aeef]"I - I do not know a Magnus! This - this must be a mistake."[/color]

Emil’s eyes moved from the bouquet to Magnus, then to Nora. [color=19D4AD]“How curious,”[/color] he said softly, his amusement barely hidden. However, when he said his next statement, his eyes were on Magnus, not on Nora. [color=19D4AD]“For a moment, I thought we had discovered a romance.”[/color] 

Nora began guiding Amira away with urgency, tugging at her wrist.
His attention followed Nora and Amira for only a moment before his eyes returned to Elena. He took a step toward her and leaned a little closer. [color=19D4AD]“There. They are leaving.”[/color]

His eyes remained fixed on Elena’s face.

[color=19D4AD]“That was what you wanted, was it not?”[/color] he asked in a kind tone.

He allowed his gaze to rest on her with open interest now. [color=19D4AD]“You wanted my attention away from them.”[/color]

His voice softened further. [color=19D4AD]“You want me all to yourself...”[/color] Emil whispered, the words quiet enough to belong only to her. [color=19D4AD]“Don’t you, Elena?”[/color]

He let the implication linger just long enough to be uncomfortable before he straightened.[color=19D4AD]“So let us make a deal.”[/color]

His hand lifted between them, and he offered it toward her, [color=19D4AD]“Dance with me.”[/color] Then he mouthed, [color=19D4AD]“Refuse me, and I may grow curious again.”[/color]

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