Infinite Cosmos

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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-Interaction:@Remram Askel @CitrusArms Stratya-

"Ah, forgive me, dear captain. I did not mean to provoke or offend. And you, Askel. I merely meant that I have not seen much outside of my home country, and assumed that those of us not originally from Caesonia to be here for that same reason, to open our eyes to the world outside of the grounds we grew up on." Munir said, having eaten most of what Askel had plated for him and is now taking a small sip of the wine he grabbed to wash everything down.

"Mead. That is....a honey beverage, is it not? Fermented honey and water..? I've had that, but not often so if the occasion arises, please share some with me, captain Durmand." Munir said, offering a genuine smile and a small nod before turning to poke around the offerings on the Varian table.

"Askel. Is there anything else on this table that is worth a try? What else can you educate me on? The lean-gon berry and venison was a treat. I am interested in what else you have to offer. What is this...sour-krout" Munir said, eyes brimming with excitement that hasn't been there for some time. Munir also took a small moment to look up, gaze softening, towards Nora.

Who was she. He feels drawn to her. He wants to excuse himself from present company and return to her side, to occupy all of her time, to learn about her. Her home, her family, her history, her likes, dislikes, and her desires with life itself.

In his own gazing and thinking of Nora, Munir had missed the fleeting exchange between Askel and Ranya...

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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-Interaction:@Remram Askel @CitrusArms Stratya-

Munir nodded as Askel and Stratya both clarified that a palate cleanser was a simple offering to remove the taste of the previous dish from one's tongue. Water, wine, some sort of fruit perhaps. Munir grabbed a glass of wine from nearby, to act as his palate cleanser, even though he has not taken any food since his arrival at the ball. Wine was always welcome to Munir...

"Ah an adventurer among us. That's very interesting of you. I suppose I never thought of doing that. I found that marauding through my country's various sights and sounds were enough for me to open my eyes. But I like your idea better. But, if we're being honest, isn't that what we're all doing here? Those of us not from Caesonia that is. Traveling to a new land, seeing what we can find?" Munir quipped, taking a small sip of wine at the end.

When Askel offered a newly assembled plate with meat, fruit jelly, and some sort of fried flat thing, Munir took the plate graciously. "Venison... That's deer, is it not? It is not often we're given deer, outside of hunting season. I will say, deer meat can be a little game-y if prepared poorly. Though I'm sure the royal cooks took their utmost care as to not waste nature's bounty. And what is this Lean Gon berry. I don't think I've had that back home... Munir took a fork, dabbing it into the purple jelly and brought it to his nose, then his lips. The blend of sweetness and the pleasant backing of a certain tartness was most welcoming. Perhaps even more welcoming than the astringency of the wine. "Mmm! Interesting. This is quite nice. Please, join me in eating!" Munir extended an 'invitation', as it if was his to give, before trying other the other offerings on his plate with less caution.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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-Interaction:@Remram Askel @CitrusArms Stratya-

Munir took a look at what was offered to him by Stratya. Gravlax. Isn't a sort of cured fish?... Interest, but too adventurous for him this early in the morning. "Ah. Captain Durmand. I'm glad you're enjoying that particular offering. However, I don't know how I will fare with something so...exotic. So I must gratefully turn down your offering. Please do not take offense." He said, offering a small nod and a sheepish smile to Stratya.

The other member of their conversation spoke to him in Gazalian. Munir offered a small smirk while replying in Gazalian "I see you speak our language. Well met, sir. As we're both princes, please drop the honorifics and just call me Munir. Also. I am going to switch back to the common tongue, as to not exclude our mutual friend the captain Durmand here." and as he said he would, Munir switched to the common tongue and continued "The pleasure is all mine, Askel. Just as Captain Durmand has introduced me to gravlax, I am interested in learning about this palette cleanser you have mentioned. Please, enlighten me. Also. How is it that you know my native tongue? You speak it rather well."

Munir knew people. He has always been good at 'people'. He studied Askel's expression, noting the subtle drawing of a deeper breathe than usual as his sister was announced...

☼✧ℰ𝒸𝒽ℴ𝓈 ℴ𝒻 ℋ𝒶𝓉𝓇ℯ𝒹✧☼

Interested as a member of the Mandela family.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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-Interaction: @HylianRose Nora @Remram Askel @CitrusArms Stratya-

"And you have my word. I shall reserve a dance for you."

Nora's words brought a smile to his face, hidden precariously behind his opaque veil. In truth, other than trying to conceal his emotions, he does not know why he wore this veil. As customary, and perhaps from muscle memory, he reached out and took Nora's hand. Bringing her hand up to his face, he placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand right above her knuckles. This action made it so his veil lifted and thus if Nora was looking, she would have noticed the distinct lack of a scar that ended at his neck.

"Lady Pawongsga. I will ask that you stop by the table filled with food from my home. The shrimp and couscous smelled heavenly. You should really give it a try. Until our dance, I bid you farewell." He offered a small bow before turning and departing her side.

There was a faint voice in his mind telling him to not leave. A faint voice telling him to stay and ask her more questions. What does she like? What does she do for fun? What is her family like? What does she aspire to do in life? A flurry of questions.

Alas, he had walked away. As he was deciding which of his family members he will go greet first, especially now that his sister Ranya and uncle have both arrived, he caught sight of something.

A dash of red in the air. Looking at his sister. As a fellow man, he knows that look. A look that stood out from the normal adoration and reverence that he knows his sister is used to receiving. This is different. This is a different sort of longing. This man was standing with Captain Durmand, by the Varian table. Perfect. He can approach, ask questions and sample some Varian fare. Nothing out of the ordinary.

"Captain Durmand. It is very good to see you again. And you good sir. I do not think we have met. I am Munir Al Kadir. My sister and uncle have just arrived it seems... What is good to eat here at the Varian table? You two seem to have started sampling the offerings. Please educate me as I am unfamiliar." Munir said, offering the both of them a small bow on his arrival.

The red haired one's attention being drawn to Ranya has not gone unnoticed by Munir. That will be discussed later on...

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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-Interaction: @HylianRose Nora-

"Beauty is rarely the full measure of man. And if it were well... Then... Not much of a man."

Nora's last line brought a chuckle out from Munir. It was very true, but also very cutting. Munir has always measured himself based on his physical attributes. After all, no one has ever really given him any sort of credit for anything other than his outer appearance. Hearing Nora's own soft chuckle, he figured it would be ok to keep the small joke going...

"Well. The veil does allow me a sense of security. It's an armor of sorts... As he was replying, his cousin Farim was announced, after some more of his siblings made their entrances as well. He had hoped to keep his appearance as brief as possible, and perhaps only interact with the lady in front of him. But, that no longer seems possible. Nor would it be proper, he supposed, to take up the lady's evening.

Munir decided to keep it brief for now. Not as a ploy to maintain a mystified air about him. But simply because it is what would be considered proper. But he was thinking of a way to create another 'meeting' with Nora. "Lady Pawongsga" Munir said, Gazalian accent fully slipping. "I'm sure you'd like to meet and talk with others, rather than just a scarred man. Allow me a moment to greet some of the other guests, amongst which includes my family members, and I shall return with refreshment for you. As a way for me to thank you for giving me a part of your evening, and if I may be so bold, request that you save a dance for me." Munir said, offering a small nod of his own, waiting for Nora's response.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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-Interaction: @HylianRose Nora-

"Why... would you hide a face like that..."

Nora introduced herself as the daughter to a count. Pawonstya was certainly an affront to the proper pronunciation of her name. As Munir heard her name, he drew in a deeper breath. Nora Pawonska. That name sent a chill down Munir's spine. But in the best way possible. It inspired an image of a lake, a gentle breeze, the shade of trees on a hot summer day. Just as Munir was getting lost in thought, Nora asked him a question. The actual answer would be "Because I think it looked nice with my outfit? I am a little shy? I just recently had my heart torn out and I don't really want me be here? I'm only here so my sister doesn't tear my skin from my body?" But Munir decided that that answer would have been too heavy for such an occasion. Besides, he does not want to keep opening old wounds. Not that he is seeing Nora as a 'rebound' to help him move past his recent heartbreak. Judging by Nora's physical reactions, the constant looking down at the ground and how stiff her introduction was, Munir was at a loss as to how to respond to her question.

Does he try to lighten the mood and bring some levity to the atmosphere between them? Does he just give her the actual answer and let her handle it however she will handle it? The Munir of old would have brushed past all these thoughts and just fired off whatever answer came to his mind, not considering the atmosphere...

"Ah...the veil?...well... Munir said, dropping his volume down slightly but not breaching the space currently between them. "I am a little embarrassed about it. You see. When I was younger, I was injured in a military training exercise. I have a massive scar running from my right cheek bone, down past my lips, into the side of my neck. Then. As if it was cursed, it did not heal properly. I had to had my lips and jaw wired shut for months and the wound was subsequently infected during the healing process... I am actually hideous... I hope that won't be an issue?" Munir said, his Gazalian accent slipping in and out during his explanation of why he was wearing a veil.

In the end, he chose to make a joke about it, in an attempt to lighten the mood. Would it work? probably not. But Munir determined that it was better than telling her he was recovering from a recent heartbreak...

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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-Interaction: @HylianRose Nora-

Munir stood back up, squaring his shoulders, when Nora took his hand. He decided to move past his blunder immediately, not to not dwell on it.

"The pleasure is mine... Moonear?"

A smile appeared on Munir's face, beneath his veil. He has never heard his name pronounced like that. "My lady. That is a wonderful accent. A most interesting one, I must say. Moonear is just how I would like my name to be pronounced. I'm sure they announced your arrival and said your name. But. If I may be so daring. Please introduce yourself, so I may learn your name and commit it to memory."

Munir released her hand and stepped back, allowing the appropriate amount of space. "And if I may, again, be so bold, the dress you have chosen tonight. It is simply radiant. I cannot help but notice you." Munir said softly. In his mind, he had hoped to be her first dance of the evening. But he did not ask. As there was no dancing amongst the attendees yet.

The Munir of old would have certainly simply taken her hand and walked into the dance floor, without regards to her desires. But, after the events that had transpired, Munir has learned to keep distance. To keep his armor on.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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-Grand Ball Room-
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-Interaction: @HylianRose Nora-

There are a few more attendees to the ball now. Both had bits of red on their body. The man, red of fair and fair of skin. The woman, fair of skin adorned in a deep crimson dress. Munir, still nursing the half finished champagne, looked around the room, not sure who he should approach.

"Shahzade, you should go talk to them. Whichever one. This is a social event after all." Hakim gently urged his charge to step out from the proverbial shadows and make himself known. He had already chosen to not be announced on arrival, which was a complete one-eighty from how Munir usually approached social gatherings. Now to simply remain on the sidelines would defeat the purpose of coming to the event in the first place.

"Fine. I will, I suppose. I don't want to waste the effort you and my sister put in in getting me out here..." Munir said sheepishly. Contemplating for a few more moments, he recalled how the two guests were announced. One was a Varian Prince, the other was a noble lady from a house he does not have much knowledge on. He turned to Hakim "Go find out who that prince is. I'll speak to the lady from House Pawonstya. Or what was it again?...' "My prince, I am certainly not going to be able to pronounce that name. You can bet on that. Better you find out directly from her than me butchering it as you just did... Whatever it is, Pawonstya is certainly a bastardization of her name." Hakim replied with a small chuckle. Munir rolled his eyes and offer his own chuckle. Finishing the drink in his hand, Munir found a random table and placed the glass down. He took a final moment to smooth out his attire and gave Hakim a final look. The taller man offered a small bow before walking off quietly to mingle with the other servants in the ballroom.

Munir actually straightened his posture more than he normally would, making him look stiff. He strode up to the lady in red, gave her a slightly awkward bow and said "Hello, my lady. I am Munir Al Kadir. Pleasure to have made you"...

Thoughts began firing off in his brain. "My good man. What was that bow? That was stiffer than steel...AND WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY TO HER? PLEASURE TO HAVE MADE YOU? ARE YOU KIDDING? MUNIR IBN RAIF. GET YOURSELF TOGETHER. BY SUNA'S GRACE MAN."

Meanwhile, Munir held his lowered stance with his hand out, and the awkward smile still has not left his face behind his veil...

Somewhere else, as if through telekinesis, Hakim snapped his head towards where Munir was standing and physically recoiled slightly at Munir's awful display. He, however, decided to not come to his Prince's rescue.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

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-Grand Ball Room-

After the...inspiring conversation with his sister Ranya, Munir was forcibly cleaned up and physically restored to his former, more radiant self. His outfit betrayed the turmoil that raged within. His retainer, Hakim, accompanied him in a similar outfit appropriate for the evening as well.

Seeing as he was one of, if not the, first to arrive, Munir took his time to look at the banquet set out for the attendees. He offered King Edin a small bow as common courtesy but did not linger to converse with the man. He returned his attention to the banquet, feasting on the food through his eyes only. He was not planning on staying for longer than he has to, to greet his family that had just arrived and perhaps offer his sister Ranya a dance, but no longer than that. An unnamed servant walked past him in the still relatively empty ballroom and offered champagne. Munir reached for a flute, drank it in one gulp to calm his nerves. Then, after placing the empty glass back on the servant's tray, he grabbed another flute to have the feeling of holding something in his hands as a distraction to how out of place he is feeling.

"Shahzade." Hakim said softly "You should eat something. They have some tastes of home, that I'm sure you miss... "Mmm.. Maybe later. Hakim, how does my outfit look? Is my veil in place?" "Yes, my prince. Things are looking fine. Your outfit is splendid. You look like a prince of Alidasht, that has adapted to local sensibilities. "You did well. I think I'll just be over here.. Out of the way. If they don't spot me first, tell me when my family start arriving, please." "Certainly, Shahzade."

Hakim wanted to shake the man. This was still not the Munir of old. The charming, socially adept, never-shying-away-from-attention, prince of Alidasht. But. This was good enough for now. Hakim was happy that Munir decided even to attend the event and leave his hovel.

Even if it was with some coercion from Shahzadi Ranya...