[center] [img]https://i.ibb.co/FLXj7JrK/drake-and-ariella.png[/img] [/center] 
[center] [H2][color=slateblue]Ariella[/color] [color=D35F56]&[/color] [color=greenyellow]Drake[/color][/h2][/center][center] [H2][color=slateblue]Part 1[/color][/h2][/center]
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[color=slateblue]”Drake!”[/color] Ari exclaimed excitedly, grabbing his arm with enthusiasm.[color=slateblue]”So great to see you brother of mine”[/color] she smiled widely. As they began walking she started interrupting people as they passed by [color=slateblue]”This is my brother!”[/color] she would say in an attempted whispered tone but instead she continued to shout, met by glares and confused looks. 


The world may have been spinning slightly, but Drake did his best to hold her together. Even as her steps felt disconnected, he grounded her just enough to make it seem natural. Ariella wasn’t being forced anywhere—if anything she was the driving force behind their direction outside of a few gentle words from Drake in the form of [color=greenyellow]”Oop.”[/color], [color=greenyellow]”This way now.”[/color], and [color=greenyellow]”Careful, Ari.”[/color].


The lounge near the bar was private enough. It held just enough privacy that they could talk freely. However if someone was curious or nosey enough they could certainly still slip by and seem inconspicuous.


Drake’s arms gave her more support as she was delicately placed onto the arm chair. Once seated, he took his own seat next to her and felt himself sink a little. Not out of anything negative but simply…because he had not taken a seat all night. His legs suddenly ached with the stress of being on his feet and so he couldn’t help but sigh while he looked at his sister.


[color=slateblue]”Ahh…”[/color] she let out a satisfied sigh as she fell back into the chair, her feet dangling just below her as she wiggled her sore toes. 
 

[color=greenyellow]”So. What was his name?”[/color]


Blinking, Ari looked around for a moment, dramatically shifting in the chair to nearly peek around it before looking back at her brother. 


[color=slateblue]”Who’s name?”[/color]She asked slightly confused. 


[color=greenyellow]”Oh come now. I saw the way your eyes were. Like you were on the cusp of the world’s greatest daydream until your stuffy older brother came to be all safe and practical near you.”[/color] He chuckled and took a sip of his drink.


[color=greenyellow]”What is the name of the man who made you cast such a lovestruck gaze?”[/color]


Just as Ari was about to respond, an attendant swung by offering a silver platter with a single drink on it. [color=blue]”Another?”[/color] he said looking at Ari with bright eyes and a warm smile. 


[color=slateblue]”Wow! Thank you!”[/color]she responded grateful taking the drink allowing the attendant to leave rather swiftly. 


When the attendant came to Drake he held his hand up in silent rejection, flashing his half finished bourbon. [color=greenyellow]”I’m fine, thank you.”[/color]

Taking a long sip Ari looked over at her brother with a guilty expression she couldn’t hide even if she tried. [color=slateblue]”Hardly lovestruck…”[/color] Ari finally managed [color=slateblue]”I had my very first dance this evening and it was…fun. If you must know”[/color] 


There was a hint of playful annoyance in her voice as she looked away, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cheeks pinken. 

[color=slateblue]"And... and [i]he[/i] asked me."[/color] She pointed a finger at him as if that somehow proved her case. [color=slateblue]"It wasn't a pity dance, either."[/color]

[color=greenyellow]”I would hope so!”[/color] Drake playfully interjected.

She took another quick sip of her cocktail before adding, perhaps a little too quickly, [color=slateblue]"Besides, I've had... I don't know how many of these things. You're probably just noticing that."[/color]

The excuse sounded weak even to her ears, and the faint pink creeping across her cheeks did absolutely nothing to support it.

He took another sip. Drake’s eyes scanned her subtle and not so subtle tells. [color=greenyellow]”Well the rosey cheeks [i]could[/i] be explained with alcohol. But you speak quite fondly of the dance.”[/color]


Drake crossed one leg over the other, leaning an elbow onto the arm rest and placing his cheek against a curled first to relax himself. [color=greenyellow]”Tell me more about it.”[/color] He said with a cheeky grin.

Crossing her ankles she looked up to the corner of the ceiling [color=slateblue]" Well… I didn't trip on myself. Though he was a very good dancer… and he didn’t complain that I had no shoes on… OH!..” [/color] she looked at her brother [color=slateblue]" He didn’t even [b]once[/b] step on my toes.“[/color] she paused thinking back on the moment as a smile still painted her lips. She couldn’t get rid of the feeling even with however many drinks she consumed. 

Drake moved his head so he could cover his mouth in a dramatic show of shock. [color=greenyellow]”He didn’t even [i]care[/i] you wore no shoes? AND he didn’t step on your toes once?”[/color] Drake gasped sarcastically. [color=greenyellow]”He’s the one.”[/color]

[color=slateblue]" Oh he also said maybe to another dance…that he didn’t want to take up too much of my time.”[/color] She looked at her brother [color=slateblue]" Should I be worried? Do you think he hated the dance? Oh no… [b]what[/b] if [i]I[/i] were the terrible dancer…”[/color] she slumped back into her chair at the sudden realization before finishing her drink.
 
He thought about his next answer. The man’s context was limited but she seemed worried nonetheless so he spoke up. [color=greenyellow]”Maybe he was worried about his own dancing skills? That or, to speak from personal experience, a man sometimes excuse himself before emotions run too high and you do something a little overzealous for a ballroom.”[/color] Drake coughed and cast a sideways glance, not trying to meet his sister’s eye while thinking about the daring proclamations he had made with Lady Thea only moments go.

 [color=slateblue]"Have [i]you[/i] done something overzealous after a dance?[/color] she leaned forward her elbows resting on her knees as she stared intensely at him at an attempt to turn it on him. She grinned at him, the idea that her well dressed, well spoken and well manned brother would do anything of that nature was quite the scandalous thought. 
Perhaps he had revealed a little too much there. His eyes still fought to find anything other than her to look at lest he further give himself away. [color=greenyellow]”Technically no.”[/color] But that answer was only because he hadn’t done it [i]yet[/i]. [color=greenyellow]”I just know emotions can run hot during a heartfelt dance. I had one earlier, so that is why I speak on it with such…confidence.”[/color] 

 [color=slateblue]"With Thea?[/color] 

Drake nodded. [color=greenyellow]”Yes there very same.”[/color] His eyes softened as he took one more sip. [color=greenyellow]”She’s a delight.”[/color]

Leaning back, Ari let out a thoughtful sigh.  [color=slateblue]" Well, then I don't believe it was anything overzealous, you and Thea have been rather intertwined for some time now. He and I … well we just met.[/color] Looking off the side lost in thought her eyes darted back to her brother.  [color=slateblue]"Why don't you have a guard?”[/color] she asked rather openly  [color=slateblue]"You were more hurt then I was, but I am now having to be watched 24/7”[/color] Not that she was complaining about his company. 

It seemed Drake managed to successfully dodge the important question of what he meant by “Technically”. But then her next question left him baffled. [color=greenyellow]”Where…did that come from?”[/color] Drake leaned back, eyes fully on her now. [color=greenyellow]”I can only imagine what goes on in Father’s mind. Perhaps he deems me having a guard would look poor in the public eye. But a lady having her escort? No one bats an eye to that. Plus, who knows? Maybe Nikolai is secretly watching me!”[/color] He took the last drink from his bourbon, and suddenly he felt a click in his mind.

[color=greenyellow]”No, but really. Why is that suddenly important?”[/color]

Ari shrugged looking at the bottom of her empty glass [color=slateblue]"I suppose it’s not. It hasn’t been terrible. If I'm honest. [/color] almost absently mindedly, Ari suddenly blurted out [color=slateblue]"Do you think he’ll ask me to another dance?”[/color] she tipped her glass shaking it as if something would manifest from it before placing it on the table beside her chair. [color=slateblue]"He might be busy with the other ladies of the court…[/color] 
Drake’s gaze tightened. [color=greenyellow]”Another?”[/color] He mused over the words a moment, not judging too harshly right off the bat, but certainly finding it amusing that of all people it was…the very person she complained about. [color=greenyellow]”Your dance partner was..Nikolai?”[/color]

Ari broke out into nervous laughter as she began to look around [color=slateblue]"Where is that attendant with my other drink…[/color] 

Drake’s gaze narrowed. [color=greenyellow]”It was, wasn’t it?”[/color] The tone suggested something judgmental, perhaps a touch apprehensive. His fingers moved up the side of his face as he began to take in the news.

[color=slateblue]"Before you say anything, he was a gentleman and I really enjoyed myself.”[/color] she said, feeling the need to plead her case.

He said nothing, merely staring at her with the skeptical look of a brother who just heard about his sister’s crush.

[color=slateblue]" He may appear to be a rake but he’s actually…”[/color] her voice dropped as she felt the smile return, unable to hide it [color=slateblue]" he is a good man, I think. Besides it was only one dance, he didn’t even seem that interested in the second. I don't know, he kind of ran off… I was going to find him but then I bumped into you. For the best anyways.” [/color] 

[color=greenyellow]”If you ask me, he does not seem the type to offer second dances. Lest it be a different kind of dance, not on the dance floor.”[/color] He tilted his head in a brief gesture of goodwill. It couldn’t hurt to give Ariella a little hope and confidence. [color=greenyellow]”Perhaps the best just to sober you up a little. Rake or not it is best to be…fully put together when you’re with someone you intend to court. Serious or not.”[/color] Drake paused, noticing her still looking…rather pleased with herself. Like something more than a single dance should.

[color=slateblue]"Whoa..whoa whoa… intend to court!?”[/color] Ari nearly leapt out of the chair [color=slateblue]"It was one dance.[/color] she reminded him. 
[color=greenyellow]”How are you feeling by the way? You seem a little far along the alcohol train for it being so soon into the night.”[/color] Drake eyed his empty glass of bourbon that barely lasted 10 minutes. [color=greenyellow]”Not that I’m judging you. But how many drinks [i]have[/i] you had?”[/color]

[color=slateblue]" How many drinks I've had is none of your concern and neither is how many dances I have either.”[/color] she said rather directly. [color=slateblue]"Besides, at least my dance wasn’t [i]technically[/i] overzealous…[/color] she eyed her brother [color=slateblue]"What does that even mean? Does mother even know you're interested in Lady Thea?[/color] she stated as an attempt to turn the table onto her brother. 

[color=greenyellow]”She is…aware of it, yes.”[/color] Another flip to this back and forth in their little feud. [color=greenyellow]”If you don’t want to tell me, that is fine. But just know if you can’t count that number on one hand, then it might be hard to get that second dance. The floor will become your partner before long.”[/color] Drake snickered. 

Gasping, Ari shot a look at her brother glaring at him. 

[color=greenyellow]”And the dance itself wasn’t overzealous, Ari. But we shared some private words to each other and made a promise and [b]that[/b] is all little miss secrets is going to get out of me.”[/color] Drake gave a huff before crossing his arms. 

[color=slateblue]" .. and I am happy for you Drake. Lady Thea is a lovely woman.”[/color] 

Drake caught himself nodding before he even truly understood that he was daydreaming about her all over again. He quickly righted himself, coughing once as if that would fix it.


[color=slateblue]"But don’t write off Nik. He asked permission. He listened. He didn't make me do anything I didn't want to."[/color] Her voice softened unexpectedly. [color=slateblue]"He was... really sweet, actually."[/color] she paused looking at her brother in a calmer tone. [color=slateblue]" Give him a chance… Get to know him before you decide what kind of man he is. [/color]
She offered a small, wistful smile.

[color=slateblue]"You're probably right though. Maybe it was only ever meant to be one dance..."[/color] she admitted softly. [color=slateblue]"But... is it so wrong of me to hope it isn't? It was nice to feel chosen, even for that brief moment."[/color]

Looking away she sat back in her seat, empty glass dangling from her fingers. The attendant took notice and swiftly came over offering her another full glass and removing the empty. 

The stern and firm look he gave became soft. [color=greenyellow]”Now now…”[/color] Drake’s face lifted from the fingers it rested on. [color=greenyellow]”It is not that I doubt the legitimacy of the dance or of his interest in you. It just makes me wonder the moral implications of a paid guard wanting to pursue his charge.”[/color] His hand rolled around at the wrist.

[color=greenyellow]”Not that I plan to tell. If Father or Mother found out…”[/color] He quickly stopped himself. [color=greenyellow]”Just…get a good read on the man. It is very lovely he chose you. And as a brother I am happy you are enjoying his company. But also as a brother just…be careful.”[/color] 

Nodding Ari took a sip of her drink. She was never one to care what either of her parents wanted,  her father at least was much more understanding than her mother. Though their mother was around here somewhere probably gossiping about the latest news. She likely didn’t even notice the dance. At least she hoped. 

Drake smiled at Ariella. [color=greenyellow]”Wanna hear something less lecture-y?”[/color]

Drake leaned in, shifting the tone and topic suddenly. [color=greenyellow]”Nolan’s managed to find himself in the company…of a princess~.”[/color] He spoke with extra theatrics. [color=greenyellow]”It would seem all three of us are in good company this evening.”[/color]
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