[ In the face of Claude's modesty, Dorothea simply hums and sips from her glass. She's not fooled, but there's no point in pressing. They're all here to have fun, after all. ]
The winter ball is the social highlight of the year at Garreg Mach, or so I'd heard. I've been looking forward to it since I arrived. It's not quite what I expected, but I'm having a good time.
[ It isn't always easy to walk that line between being her most genuine self and being someone that the upper-crust students at the Academy could find agreeable, desirable... Tonight she'd intended to be more of the latter, but the former keeps peeking through.
She considers the students on the dance floor, thinking about the Deer and the Eagles, how she's the only commoner in her house, how exhausting that can be. Would it hurt her chances of finding a spouse if she wasn't surrounded by the nobility at all hours? ]
It does seem fun.
[ Her voice is pensive as the seed of an idea takes root in her mind. ]
(He catches her tone and chances a glance at her as she watches the floor. He knows that look. She's thinking about something and given their conversation...
Looking back at the floor,)
It is. (He can say that certainly, with confidence.) Why don't you join us some time?
(Attention on her, a friendly smile,)
Teach won't mind. (And he wouldn't either but that much should be a given considering he's the one inviting her,) And hey, you might even like it. In fact, I know you will.
[ She's a little surprised he would just come out and ask her, but it's really not that surprising, is it? She did just win the White Heron Cup, and having a dancer on the field could make a huge difference in combat.
Even if he only wanted to recruit her for her skills, she was still having fun, wasn't she? A little change of scenery couldn't hurt.
But, she isn't going to jump to accept his invitation immediately. There are other factors to consider; Edelgard wouldn't take it well, she imagines, even if the younger girl would pretend it didn't sting that one of her Eagles was leaving the nest. ]
I'll think about it.
[ She winks at him, then, just the same way he winks at people when he talks to them. It's a noncommittal answer, but it isn't an outright no, and there's a grin tucked into the corners of her lips that makes it seem more favorable than that. ]
Why not? Try us out! Commitment free. You can come and go whenever you want.
(He says, sounding more like a merchant than a nobleman trying to promote his house. )
And if you want, I can even talk to the princess for you.
(He already has a plan; the perfect way to frame it. Call it culture exchange, a way to promote good relations between their classes... he feels like framing it that way would appeal to the ever serious Edelgard. Who would he offer in exchange though, he wonders? Well, he'll think about that later if (if he even has to).
Meanwhile, something has caught his eye across the dance floor. A certain dark haired mercenary finally gets a moment to herself and slips out the exit...
Ah.)
Hey, sorry, but I gotta go. (He gives Dorothea an apologetic smile, something that almost looks... a little sheepish? They'd been having a good conversation and now he's ending it to follow someone else. Even he knows how that looks, especially after he'd just tried to bring Dorothea over to his side,) But I mean it! If you want to try us out some time, we'd gladly welcome you.
(He passes his empty glass off to a servant making the rounds and takes a few steps backwards,)
Oh and-- (A skip and a bow,) Thanks for the dance.
(Before he turns on his heel to follow after Byleth, he raises a finger to his lips. Don't tell anyone where he's going. He can trust her to keep a secret. Right...? )
[ It's an interesting thought--one she hadn't yet entertained before now. She could transfer over, maybe experience a different way of doing things than the arm-length cordiality of the Black Eagles. As much as she likes Edie and a few of her other classmates, she's not especially bound to Adrestia in the way someone like Ferdinand is--the Empire is her homeland, but that means very little to an orphan like her. ]
Edie might take it better coming from me, but if you'd like to talk it over with her, be my guest.
[ It isn't difficult in the next moment to follow his eyes to the Professor, and she nods in understanding. Looks like someone has a little crush, but she won't tease him for it. ]
I'll come for a visit, I promise. But you promise to dance with me again, sometime.
[ She mimics the gesture, pressing her finger to her lips and winking at him. She's a veritable vault of secrets. No one will find out from her. ]
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no subject
The winter ball is the social highlight of the year at Garreg Mach, or so I'd heard. I've been looking forward to it since I arrived. It's not quite what I expected, but I'm having a good time.
[ It isn't always easy to walk that line between being her most genuine self and being someone that the upper-crust students at the Academy could find agreeable, desirable... Tonight she'd intended to be more of the latter, but the former keeps peeking through.
She considers the students on the dance floor, thinking about the Deer and the Eagles, how she's the only commoner in her house, how exhausting that can be. Would it hurt her chances of finding a spouse if she wasn't surrounded by the nobility at all hours? ]
It does seem fun.
[ Her voice is pensive as the seed of an idea takes root in her mind. ]
no subject
Looking back at the floor,)
It is. (He can say that certainly, with confidence.) Why don't you join us some time?
(Attention on her, a friendly smile,)
Teach won't mind. (And he wouldn't either but that much should be a given considering he's the one inviting her,) And hey, you might even like it. In fact, I know you will.
no subject
[ She's a little surprised he would just come out and ask her, but it's really not that surprising, is it? She did just win the White Heron Cup, and having a dancer on the field could make a huge difference in combat.
Even if he only wanted to recruit her for her skills, she was still having fun, wasn't she? A little change of scenery couldn't hurt.
But, she isn't going to jump to accept his invitation immediately. There are other factors to consider; Edelgard wouldn't take it well, she imagines, even if the younger girl would pretend it didn't sting that one of her Eagles was leaving the nest. ]
I'll think about it.
[ She winks at him, then, just the same way he winks at people when he talks to them. It's a noncommittal answer, but it isn't an outright no, and there's a grin tucked into the corners of her lips that makes it seem more favorable than that. ]
no subject
(He says, sounding more like a merchant than a nobleman trying to promote his house. )
And if you want, I can even talk to the princess for you.
(He already has a plan; the perfect way to frame it. Call it culture exchange, a way to promote good relations between their classes... he feels like framing it that way would appeal to the ever serious Edelgard. Who would he offer in exchange though, he wonders? Well, he'll think about that later if (if he even has to).
Meanwhile, something has caught his eye across the dance floor. A certain dark haired mercenary finally gets a moment to herself and slips out the exit...
Ah.)
Hey, sorry, but I gotta go. (He gives Dorothea an apologetic smile, something that almost looks... a little sheepish? They'd been having a good conversation and now he's ending it to follow someone else. Even he knows how that looks, especially after he'd just tried to bring Dorothea over to his side,) But I mean it! If you want to try us out some time, we'd gladly welcome you.
(He passes his empty glass off to a servant making the rounds and takes a few steps backwards,)
Oh and-- (A skip and a bow,) Thanks for the dance.
(Before he turns on his heel to follow after Byleth, he raises a finger to his lips. Don't tell anyone where he's going. He can trust her to keep a secret. Right...? )
no subject
Edie might take it better coming from me, but if you'd like to talk it over with her, be my guest.
[ It isn't difficult in the next moment to follow his eyes to the Professor, and she nods in understanding. Looks like someone has a little crush, but she won't tease him for it. ]
I'll come for a visit, I promise. But you promise to dance with me again, sometime.
[ She mimics the gesture, pressing her finger to her lips and winking at him. She's a veritable vault of secrets. No one will find out from her. ]