linkingup | Argenti's Palace

[ It's easy to rely on Celeste - a realization that should be startling, but that McGillis now accepts with a worn-out resignation. He's never met a man alike to himself before, and now that he's confronted with one it's an intriguing journey that is wearing down his defenses. It's nice to be known, for once.

He hasn't had fun dancing with any noble ladies, but he does have a bit of fun with this. He enjoys showing off, even when his shoulder screams at him to stop already.

The violins are great encouragement - they're catching Argenti's attention here, and that is what matters. They're being given a melody to follow, to compete with whatever shadows are dancing in his heart alongside them.

... dipping Celeste at the end of the dance is probably a horrible idea given the state of his arm, but McGillis has never known his own limits. ]

[Help the youtube music algorithm is watching us--

Such is the paradox of the horrifying experience of being known. Usually he, too, avoids meeting others like himself, willfully keeping his mask up and pointedly ignoring when others' slip, but in a place like this, when carefully constructed masks are forced to crack and crumble away instead?

Well, it's nice to have someone who understands to rely on, and if McGillis can have even a sliver of fun in something that would have been a painful memory, then all the better.

The spotlight and the violins, while encouraging, showing them that they've certainly gotten Argenti's attention, do both make him laugh at how ridiculous the situation is and make the steps easier to follow...

Even to the point where he can compensate for the dip, too, supporting his own weight despite the pose so the only limits that have to be pushed are that of a range of movement. No need to overdo it, yet, when they're relying on each other.

The fact it's a mirror of when he'd more comically "swooned" into Izou's arms after their fight is not lost on him, either, though.]

[ Thank you for saving his arm, Celeste...

When they manage to land the pose despite the handicap, McGillis actually grins down at Celeste for a fleeting moment. ]

You were not exaggerating - you truly are a formidable partner.

[ But best to not hold this pose for longer than necessary, before something does tear. It's time to disentangle. ]

Let's see if our hosts give us the time of day now.

[ Approaching the dancing shadows: TAKE TWO. ]

[He'd be a poor excuse of an acrobat if he couldn't manage a partial back bend...

Grin - and compliment - are met with a smile and a wink.]

Nothing by half-measures.

[WORKAHOLICS.]

Perhaps they'll allow us to cut in.

[Also going to gently hold on to McGillis's arm while they approach the shadows just to keep up the theatrics for good measure.]

[ The dancing shadows are watching.

In fact, all of them are. They seem to actually be clapping, some whooping and hollering.

It appears their dancing impressed them (20). ]

Truly you are dancers blessed by the splendor and wonderous light of Idrila themselves!

[ One of them, speaks, clearly with a woman's voice: ]

Yes, you must have been blessed by our dear Wondergazer!

Why, thank you kindly.

[ It's deeply satisfying to have nailed this. Take that, high society of Argenti's heart!!

Now, what the fuck is a Wondergazer...?? ]

Being blessed like that is an honor we had only dared dream of.

[Since he'd been following in the dance, he'll lean even further into the dramatics and curtsy again towards the shadow with the woman's voice. If it doesn't help their case, hopefully Argenti can appreciate it after the fact, at least.

...But, yeah, what the fuck is a Wondergazer?]

That is such high praise, my lady~

Oh naturally, I cannot allow either of you two clearly devoted individuals just go away without praise! Those who are so dedicated must stick together.

You know how it is, after all. Others often revile us with such jealousy and mockery because of how deep our faith is. But it simply means that we can spend our time having a ball while they drown in a pit of sorrow and despair!

[ She says and the others laugh, you know in the way nobles do in high society. But they seem a little less composed than that, given some of them were hooting and hollering in cheer earlier. Kind of very expressive, in fact.

One of them, a shorter male asks: ]

So, what brings you two here? We shall not keep you waiting if you have an audience.

Edited 2024-09-15 20:01 (UTC)

[ The vibes are rancid here. It's a good thing they're just passing through to get Argenti, because dealing with this for the full duration of an actual party would be utterly exhausting. ]

Ah, you have rightly surmised that we're dying to meet someone. We've come to see one of the Knights of Beauty, Idrilia's most devout Argenti. Have you seen him yet?

[The vibes are so rancid, and any pleasant smile lingering from before immediately turns fake as hell. At least he doesn't have to consciously put it on, just keep it there, and his grip on McGillis's forearm tightens.]

If you'd tell us, we'll be on our way. We would, after all, hate to distract you from your merriment for even a moment longer than we must.

[ As if they sense their displeasure, they seem to become more amused, more jolly, smiles sharper, like fangs. But, they are still "pleasant" for normal conversation, even as one raises a fan as if to fan themselves. ]

Devout ones, we have indeed seen him! It is hard not to.

Yes, how can we miss someone who has been blessed by Idrila themselves?

[ One of them leans closer as if to whisper something like a secret: ]

He heard THEIR voice. Can you believe that?!

[ Then, the smaller male points towards the stairs, short and straight to the point: ]

He's beyond there, and will likely await you all. Gather together once you have finished business with whatever you need attending to. We shall not keep you for long.

Edited 2024-09-15 20:26 (UTC)

Then we thank you for your help and kind words. We do not wish to keep him waiting.

[ Come on Celeste, let's get out of here before we get eaten alive in a very unfortunate manner. ]

[He will absolutely allow himself to be taken away from the shadows. He'll show them eaten alive, grumble grumble, etc. (No he won't, he probably can't eat shadows--)]

Let's gather everyone else...

Yes, let's...

[ And once they're a bit further away from the ballroom shadows: ]

Argenti also comes from more humble beginnings than this. I wonder if he felt the same as we did just now.

I'm... not sure if I want to hope so.

[He can show a little honesty, here. They know the feeling is awful, and are clearly fond enough of Argenti to not wish it on him, but on the other hand, if he fully embraced the attitudes on display once he was accepted into the fold...

It was barely worth considering.]

[ McGillis has loved a horrible privileged man before, but he still doesn't like the idea of Argenti looking down at people this way. Luckily, it also feels like the far less likely option. ]

He's dedicated to his Idrila, but all of this... I can't picture him seeing it as true worship.

[There's no accounting for taste, McGillis.]

Mm. Perhaps this aspect is part of what tarnished him, once he had his eyes opened to it.

[If the gate riddle was referring to Argenti, anyway.]

That's the most favorable expectation, but we've learned a lot about not judging others based on assumptions lately.

[ HE HIMSELF HAS BEEN AN OBJECT LESSON..... ]

We've also learned a lot about not assuming the worst of people.

[LISTEN HE'S ALSO BAD AT THIS ONE....... BUT.... OURGENTI.....]

Have we now?

[ Eyebrow raised, though McGillis' tone is more banter-like than anything.

Look, Izou might have a lot of irksome wrong assumptions about his life story, but he very much did do the thing he tried to kill him over. And nobody changed his mind on that conclusion either. ]

I believe so.

[Hey, you're both still alive and well enough to be thrown into a palace, so someone out there thinks that has to count for something. Whether they've realized it themselves yet is another matter entirely. Still, the banter is returned, and McGillis does get a bit of a conspiratorial look.]

Even if someone's come close to failing a class for once in his life.

[You're getting a C- in assumptions school.]

[ He wasn't the one making false assumptions to begin with, thank you very much! ]

Careful now, you'll wound my fragile pride.

[ He doesn't look very wounded, with the way his teeth are showing in his smile. The dance session has done a lot to dispell any lingering awkwardness regarding Celeste. ]

[Wasn't he? Because Half-truths and hiding context on the assumption that something bad would happen, to make that bad thing happen faster sure does seem like it.]

What pride?

[He doesn't look wounded, so he does get some teasing. This is what happens when you let your guard down around him, McGillis.]

[ This is what happens, indeed - it's not all that unfortunate. Actually, he's enjoying it. ]

What a low blow from my own dance partner. I see now why vampires are known as devious creatures.

[ Celeste has a point though, unintentionally. McGillis sometimes just acts prideful because it makes people blindsided by how low he's actually willing to stoop. ]

Oh, terribly devious.

[Sure, he'll lean in to the accusation. It's not the most inaccurate, anyway, even if he does know his fair share of head-empty vampires.]

Why, if you're not careful, I'll get you to agree to another dance at the masquerade later this week.

[It was one thing to do something like this - mildly unpleasant, reinforcing the sort of masks they keep up, playing in to the expectations of the shadow-nobles of the palace - for the sake of the mission at hand. It was another thing entirely to not only attend a masquerade ball, but to do it again.

But he did catch that McGillis seemed to be having some fun with him, if only a bit. And that counted for something.]

Unless you're too proud, that is.

[And there's the trap - claim he is a proud creature and deny him, or agree and admit that it wasn't such a low blow after all.]

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