Location: Grand Ballroom
Attire: Attire: Starry Night Attire
Interactions: @princess Marina
Mentions: Lottie @CitrusArms James Clearwell

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“I am also good at this,” she added quickly, though one of her steps came a touch too close to his shoe. “In a more unpredictable, artistic sense.”

"Let's just say your steps are avant-garde," he countered with a light smirk though there was levity in his tone.

Nolan led her along the ballroom, swaying in time with the music step-by-step as shimmering lights followed them though his gaze never broke. To tear his eyes away from her was a task most difficult; there was nothing in this room that could distract him.

And then she looked up at him, cheeks still red with warmth and her eyes filled with meaning as if she wanted to say something, but lost the words before they could even come to mind. It was the first time he really got to see her so up close and he found new details that he never really noticed.

The gentle curve of her jaw, the way her loose strands of hair bounced with each step, and her gods above her eyes. When the light turned away from her eyes they were blue, like looking at the period of twilight right before sunrise, but when the grand chandeliers filled caught her eyes it was looking at the sky settling into dawn and painting everything a hue of violet.

It was like he was holding something impossibly valuable, something that should not have been in his arms nor even allowed to hold his gaze and yet she was in his arms looking at him with those eyes that studied his own.

She left him breathless and hollow.

"...Do you like balls?”

And then she just left him breathless and off kilter.

For a split second he lost his rhythm before he found it just like she smoothed over that little gem.

"I, uh, to be honest I have never been particularly fond of them. I've always lurked in the background... It was just better that way." He laughed but it was small and dry, humorless. "I'm sure most people would find my company to be a punishment of some sort."

A fond smile, however, did cross his face. "But I do have a couple of companions." He admitted.

"There's Lieutenant Clearwell, James, Captain Durmand's protegee. Intelligent man and just as brave as any knight. I would stake my life on him. Well, I have staked my life on him." Nolan then followed up with equal warmth. "And then there is Lady Vikena. She's like another sister to me. She was one of the few that helped me adjust to this life when I was first brought into this world. I owe a lot to her."