Hello, hello! Here’s some preliminary info for Diamant.
He’s the newly crowned king of Brodia, come to Garreg Mach to further expand his horizons after being inspired by his journey with Alear and the other royals. Through this, he hopes to gain a more diverse and worldly perspective that will help him better serve his people upon his return. (And to watch over certain relatives and friends who may find their way here...)
He’s a Blue Lions Instructor, specializing in Sword and Axe combat courses! May also dabble a bit in history and Authority classes when needed. He might look intimidating at first glance, but he’s a pretty gentle guy! He won’t bite (unless you give him reason to...), so feel free to say hi! I look forward to writing him with you.
Thread Tracker / (Temp) Ball Tracker
(Mun guidelines below the cut!)
Guidelines
Tagging & Posts
The only thing I would need tagged involves mentions of heavy drug use, but other than that, I’m good with whatever! And if you’d like ME to tag anything? Please let me know.
My post formatting is minimal at best. I use both small and regular text, depending on what my partner’s preference is. I’ll always be happy to match, for accessibility purposes.
Shipping
As of now, he is in a romantic dynamic with Byun's Ivy.
While I am not open to sexual NSFW on dash, if there is enough ooc comfort and communication, I am open to discussing and possibly writing it elsewhere. Possibly, lol.
For shipping, I am open to testing things with sufficient chemistry and ooc communication! I don't like to force ships, nor is romance a priority for me or this character.
While I do have a favored ship for Diamant in my fandom enjoyment outside of the group (Ivy), I will NEVER force that onto anyone writing the character IN this group, and will always default to platonic interactions, unless the other party approaches for a ship.
Diamant is interested in both men and women, and since he is 26, I would prefer any ship partners to be above the age of 18, and NOT of the student affiliation.
For any ask memes that involve shipping, I will always consider them AUs, unless stated otherwise.
Asks
Perfectly okay with unprompted asks! I only ask for your patience if it takes me a bit to respond to them. Life, and all.
[Fell Xenologue Alcryst coming in to shame Diamantkind] Alcryst is frightened by this new world he finds himself in, where even his brother is all but a stranger to him. Up is down, left is right, and Diamant has somehow found his spine.
The younger prince of Brodia sits at the edge of the riverbank, sullen as he watches Diamant cast his fishing line. He's spit out enough cruel words and insults to make his Diamant cry, but this one just won't react the way he's supposed to. The difference is stark, and Alcryst is uneasy.
A curious duck floats closer to the fishing line. Impulsively, Alcryst picks up a rock and throws it at the bird. It squawks when it's hit, splashing furiously around the line and scaring away nearby fish before it awkwardly flies away. With a self-satisfied smile, Alcryst turns to the imposter, daring this man to challenge him.
It was... odd.
Though he looked the exact same as his younger brother, this man wearing the name of Alcryst couldn't have been any more different. It wasn't simply a matter of a bad day, or shift in mood—he was cruel and vindictive in a way Diamant wasn't at all used to seeing from his polite, mild mannered, and extremely humble brother.
Diamant had wanted to fish, though Alcryst surprisingly had little interest in it, instead opting to sit around, glare, and apparently do everything he could to disrupt Diamant's progress.
He closes his eyes, takes a breath. This time, it doesn't work.
"What is wrong with you?"
The young king rounds on 'Alcryst', asking testily—even his enduring patience had limits. "If you're going through something, you can tell me. Or Lapis! Anyone you want, but these... these little tantrums of yours aren't helping anything."
You know the deal, guys! New month, new prompts. Don't think I'll be asking for too much to start (will likely add more ideas if they hit me later on), but for now...
Diamant (Blue Lion Prof, NEEDS Unaff.)
Any Skill +1 - He's already doing this with Yunaka, but I would NOT mind doubling up for this one because I really dig the AU potential. Fell Xenologue being at the top of my mind, honestly, though I'm open to other ideas!
Céline (Blue Lion Student, NEEDS Unaff.)
Axe +1 (Needs Unaffiliated) - I'm taking this much more for the plot than the point, but I can see Céline adopting a preparatory, cautious mindset towards the eventual trip, even though she seems carefree and innocent from her appearance. I think it could be a fun opportunity to dig into the edge of her character, and even better if your character gets something out of this too! (Taken: Alcryst)
Secret Shop - I want to go with the approach of someone else coming to Céline for help getting into the shop. Either intentionally, or randomly, like they see a cute girl and drag her into their scheme. And, well. Fake dating? Dubious... but she can manage it, because she's curious as well. (The merchandise could be useful, or it could be a perfect opportunity to bust a potential black market. Whatever works~)
Eyvel (Unaffiliated Mercenary)
Bow +1 - Who wants to go on a hunt? Eyvel is excellent with a bow (gee, I wonder why) and from her time living in Thracia, she's definitely grown accustomed to dealing with difficult terrain and a scarcity of resources. They'll make do with what they've got. (Taken: Leif)
Any Skill +1 - AU potential! Could be Brigid in her pirate days, or a Brigid that never got lost at sea and grew up to be Ling's proper heir to the house of Yngvi, or Deadlord Draco stuff, who knows! I'd be down to hear some thoughts. (Taken: Lachesis)
As always, if you're interested in this DM/IM me, or ping me in the Discord's plotting channel! DM/IMs are preferred, though.
All of my asks on Diamant and Celine have been answered, and apart from a few interactions that may or may not need to be capped off, this is pretty much it for the both of them!
I truly mean it when I say this has been one of the most fun Ethereal Balls I've had, and it's thanks to the wonderful mods (WOO CECIL YOU DID GREAT WITH THIS EVENT WOO) and the lovely muns and muses I interacted with! Lots of great stuff here, and I hope to continue these dynamics going forward. Missions soon... :D
[ SWEET BUN TRIO ]
"Hey. Diamant, right?" The ninja appears behind the other man with a plate of pastries in hand and holds them out in offering. He hadn't recognized whoever handed them to him and while he wasn't a fan of sweets, there wasn't much he could do once the plate had been passed off to him. His lip curls under his his mask for a short moment, not at the sight of the other, more so at the thought of eating one. It almost made him nauseous.
"I was wondering if you wanted these? Whoever handed them to me didn't know I won't eat them and it doesn't feel right to put them back where they had been retrieved from." His voice is a little gruff as it normally is though there is no malice or any sign of irritation or frustration despite how blunt he was being. He pulls out one of his lilies to add to the offer as well. "If you're not, then at least take the flower."
"Hm—!?"
Diamant turns, and someone is standing behind him, too close for him not to have noticed, and certainly enough to push against his comfort. He knows this place was crowded, but even he should have been able to sense such an approach...
"I am Diamant, yes." He glances down at the plate of sweet buns being offered, and can already feel his taste buds reeling in disgust. He'd already shared one with Sakura at her insistence, but was not at all keen on eating any more of those sugar-filled balls than he had to.
Perhaps he could hand it off to a friend. Maybe Yunaka, or the Divine One. Ivy? Perhaps it might be to Lapis's tastes, certainly not Alcryst's... or Sara, maybe? No. Wait.
Definitely Rafal.
"I'm no fan of sweets, but I can take it off your hands. I'm sure a few friends of mine will appreciate the treat." He also takes out a hyacinth, "My hyacinth for your lily, as well. That should be a fair trade, I think."
As expected, Diamant has a measured stance on the matter. He bestows the reminder the intentions of people may not be honorable, but Sara thinks to herself Tina's aren't exactly either. Infatuation that makes one blind to the qualities that make up the object of their affections wouldn't be a good basis for any kind of relationship. Love changes. It originates from nothing and asks for everything in return. For Leif, love means wanting to Nanna to feel like his while Tina seems content receiving insignificant handouts as gifts.
"I appreciate the advice," she agrees with a curt nod, thumbing circles in his cape while ruminating on his words. "Thank you."
Her attention returns to Diamant himself. Sara carefully examines his face, his eyes in particular, as though trying to read more deeply into them.
"You have experience." He has to in order to sound so sure, so wary. "I never knew my parents. I do not know how it is they looked at one another or how one goes about choosing a person to spend their life beside. Have you felt similarly before?"
There it was. It wouldn't be Sara if she didn't ask probing, albeit thought-provoking, questions. It would be simple to write off as the curiosities of someone young, and perhaps it was on some level. But he feels he's come to know Sara a bit.
He knew some of her past, and saw the solemnity she carried as they traveled those tunnels underneath Aed all that time ago. It hadn't been sadness, but an unsettling acknowledgment of the world's darkness, the state of her upbringing, and every part of it that was lacking.
In moments like these, when she so directly questions him about things, it seems she's playing catch up.
"To give all of yourself for someone, priding their safety—their happiness—over your own... to have your heart beat so deeply for another that their pain tears you in two; to lose your breath at the sight of them, to be lifted by the simple act of their smile..." He sighs, "It is a whirlwind of anxiety, yet a profound sense of calmness. For good or bad, it's home."
Then, he smiles. "I've seen these things in my own parents. In my family. I've definitely felt it myself." He reaches for his bouquet, taking out a hyacinth before handing it to her. "Love is many things, and the way it's defined can differ by the person. I'm sure that one day, you'll find the right definition for yourself."
A scowl did wonders to darken the white-on-white combination of pale skin and paler hair. Rafal's face scrunched with visible displeasure, though it appeared only hairs shy of his usual fare. Of course, this was not the first time he had been questioned by Brodian royalty. His last conversation had only just provided Alcryst - who had also expressed curiosity over his intentions. Relevantly, Rafal's response to the elder Brodia was much the same as with the younger.
"It is nothing you need concern yourself with."
The same response, the same tone, the same argument: it was no matter for which any other need get involved. After all, Rafal's business was Rafal's own; and there remained little reason for it to unfurl for prying eyes to behold. What mattered was that it would serve no malicious purpose. What mattered even more was that Diamant had agreed to his request. He stated he did not mind.
The dragon held out his hand with the unintentional affectation of a child wanting for candy. "As I have said, it is for an unselfish purpose." And because there was no-one present but them, the secrecy of a sequestered room allowed him to feel confident enough to reveal one closely guarded tidbit more: "When one should desire to express their sentiments to another, it is flowers they ought to give, is it not?"
But Diamant wondered if Rafal would have parted with the reason anyway, considering their time together in that burning building. His deepest fears put on display, for the other to see... a moment of vulnerability traded for another, perhaps.
Yet it was clear the Fell Dragon wished to hold close to his secrets, and in that, the Brodian couldn't blame him—it was very much his instinct to do the same.
Rafal holds his hand out almost childishly—a humorous contrast with echoing baritone of his voice—and Diamant has no qualms with relenting from his questioning, satisfied enough with the small bit the dragon does provide.
Expressing his sentiments to someone. He had a suspicion as to who...
"You do," Diamant places his hyacinth into the Fell Dragon's waiting palm, "I hope the recipient of your gift enjoys what you've prepared. You seem to be putting a lot of effort into it... whoever they are, it's clear that you care."
There was nothing quite like a warmup before a vigorous workout. Dancing, he thought - he knew, rather, from his own time on the dancefloor, the portrait perfect son of Chalphy - was rather underestimated at its tax on the body, and Sigurd could not help but smile as he spun around Diamant, stomping once and clapping brightly for emphasis.
"Would you prefer that I slow down for you?" A gentle prod, for he knew the man would like nothing so little - a warrior's spirit, that could not help but bring the battle with him ere he went. "Or is your heart prepared for the crescendo as it comes?"
They were kindred, in that way, Sigurd thought - had always thought, he'd liked Diamant upon first laying eyes on him, and every interaction had merely cemented the ideal that they were near as twin souls as two could be without a shared history behind them.
He thought, perhaps, that Eldigan and Quan would feel the same, if they were here.
What a sight they four would make, storming the dancefloor.
The music died down, but his desire for movement did not, and Sigurd tilted at the waist in nearly a bow to extend a rose to the other man. "For your bouquet. Perhaps a drink, before the music begins again, what say you?"
"In your dreams, perhaps." Diamant laughs as he claps along with the music, stepping around and with Sigurd in near-perfect sync, "I've got plenty more energy to spare—the question is: do you?"
And the answer, he's sure, is yes. He'd known Sigurd as an all-powerful Emblem Ring, but the man himself was no less impressive. If Diamant had the stamina to run across three mountain ranges, then surely Sigurd could do five. Maybe even more.
Still, there was an excitement in being able to banter with him like an equal. ...Or something approaching that, at least.
Their dance comes to an end, and as Sigurd offers his rose, Diamant holds out his hyacinth in turn. He grins. "A drink sounds great. Perhaps you can tell me more about the dances of your homeland over a glass or two."
Joachim is no intimidating figure; he never has been. Perhaps that's not useful in situations like these, where the authority that Diamant radiates is the best brand of protection. If one is strong, nobody thinks of messing with them. Bare one's fangs and claws, and submit to the natural order of the world to find your peace.
But Joachim has dulled his claws long ago.
What he does now is stand tall, as tall as he can go, to at least face the gold-suited man in as honest and sincere a manner as he can. Yes, this is the only way Joachim has, but it is his.
“I won't change my mind.”
The last light of hope within the gold-suited man if snuffed out; his shoulders slump dejectedly and he absconds. Once he has blended with the crowd of guests, Joachim lets out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding in, facing Diamant at last.
“Th-thanks. My words likely wouldn't have landed without you,” he recognizes, a rueful smile on his face. “It's not much, but if you're interested in the trading for flowers...”
A yellow hyacinth leaves Joachim's bouquet, held out to Diamant.
"Enough persistence, and I'm sure he would have gotten the hint eventually... I'd hope so, anyway." Gaze trailing off to where the gold suited man was last seen, Diamant sighs, his arms crossing. "These talent scouts are so thickheaded it's almost baffling."
He turns back to the young man. "You did well in standing your ground there, though. Honestly, I'd rather not have to intimidate people into listening."
A hyacinth is held out then, differently colored from Diamant's, and the Brodian finds himself recalling Ivy's words from earlier in the night. Yellow. No, gold—for jealousy... resentment...
"...you’d best be wary if you ever receive a hyacinth of the golden variety."
He chuckles, almost sheepishly, as his spine is struck with a slight chill. Surely this was just coincidence...
"And I am happy to return the favor." He offers his own blue hyacinth, pushing his earlier thoughts to the back of his mind. "You have a good night, Joachim. There are more scouts lingering about, so watch yourself out there."
A wave of relief washes over him, manifesting as a tentative smile and a hand held over his chest with a good to see you too. It would have been rather embarrassing if he were that forgettable. Not that Lyon wouldn't have understood—the last time they spoke was so long ago; nothing more than a tiny footnote in the absurdity of a past Ethereal Ball.
"I'd sincerely hope it isn't the latter," Lyon shakes his head. "Or I might just regret accepting chocolate from an acquaintance of mine..."
A lack of supplies sounds more palatable than someone's hungry stomach sabotaging them. Surely, no one would do that when they could always grab a box full of chocolates instead? Or Lyon might be underestimating the lengths some are willing to go to satisfy their sweet tooth.
A rustle of leaves can be heard as he fiddles with his bouquet first before picking out a purple tulip. "In any case, would you accept this from me, Professor? Since exchanging flowers is the point of this event..."
Some would argue it's the theater troupe and the talent scouts, but Lyon isn't inclined to get noticed by them.
"There are a few mischievous souls around here," Or worse. Zephia (she wouldn't be bothered) and Marni (he would not put it past her) immediately come to mind, "So anything's possible. But honestly, it likely is just a lack of supplies, and the business tried to save face by making it seem nothing was out of the ordinary."
At Lyon's offering of a flower, Diamant smiles, picking out a hyacinth of his own. "Of course, you can have mine in turn... and try not to be a stranger, hm?" He laughs good-naturedly, "It's amazing it's been such a long time and we haven't run into each other at all! I know the monastery is large, but still..."
He claps Lyon's shoulder. "If you're ever up for a chat, I'm here."
Though she knew well that the other may be unaware of the wonders of flight, perhaps none had flown with him before, it still bore mention their many differences. It was a disservice to both horse riding and flying!
“Yes, both can, indeed, be very soothing. However, I would say they hold quite the different experience—belief lies in experience. Should you wish, I would be delighted to show the difference by flying together. I would be remiss to keep you in ignorance!”
Yes, that would do. Nothing was quite like experiencing the skies firsthand—why, she recalled the absolute delight she felt upon her first time. There was, of course, some fear but nothing could deter her from feeling the wind rush past her, seeing all that was below as if it were her own personal daydream.
“I see, then, Your Highness, I do believe you are of a noble sort. A commander with the courage to brave the same dangers as his soldiers is one to admire, in my mind.”
"Oh, my apologies. I certainly don't doubt that they are different." He chuckles, "But that's kind of you to offer. I'll consider it, and keep it in mind if the desire strikes me one day."
Faintly, he notices the song starting to wind down, heralding the end of this dance, and the coming start of a new one. She compliments him in the meanwhile, and though it's praise he's heard countless times before, he's no less appreciative of her sentiment.
Standing tall and fighting threats wasn't something he did for admiration. He did it because it was what needed to be done, to protect those who couldn't do the same.
"Thank you," he says sincerely, gently stepping out of her hold as the music slows, "it takes just as much courage to fight for your homeland as a soldier, if not more. Commanders are prioritized and protected. You are the ones risking your lives, with no guarantee for safety or return—yet you make the choice to fight anyway. To me, that's admirable."
He takes a hyacinth from his bouquet, and offers it to her. "For the dance, and enjoyable company. My name is Diamant, by the way. It was an honor to make your acquaintance."
KING? HER HAND HESITATES TO TAKE THE FLOWER. 𐂂 but she does, smiling and a little flustered, easily playing off the moment like she was caught off guard by the reveal. and she was. but only a little, remembering the quality of that cloak ; her eyes land on it for a fleeting second, then return to him. "you're pretty down to earth for a king. i've never met one who'd offer to help look for a name on a whim." didn't they have a lot of things to do, like talking to other important people or planning policies? unless this one had a lot of free time.
anyway, she shouldn't keep him much longer in that case. but she couldn't not answer his question either.
"the carriage driver who brought me here said the same thing. i don't know where everyone else is coming from, but i haven't seen anyone i know yet." and that was definitely a good thing. it helped her breathe easier. caught between not knowing anyone and being alone, and being outed, well, the choice was pretty obvious if she wanted to live. "as for how far notia is. . . i had to sail for, a week and a half? it was pretty tough. i've never been on a ship before, to be honest."
. . . and this is where she should politely take her leave. but there's one question. just one question she wants to know. "and how's brodia? is everything going well there?"
Diamant hums, "That long, hm... that does sound tough, especially if you aren't used to it. When you travel by ship again, consider water and crackers—if you get seasick, they tend to help settle the stomach." At least, that's what he's heard. It certainly seemed to help Rafal during their last voyage.
"And if you plan on going on any of the monastery's expeditions? Ship travel will be inevitable at some point."
On that point, he would have asked if she was faculty or student, were it not for her question. A string of words that seemed innocuous, and probably were on her part, but still so incredibly weighted.
The years of war and mutual bloodshed, the glorification of conquering and taking by force—centuries of values so deeply ingrained into Brodia's being, that some days, it felt like he would never be able to change it all for the better.
But he would, even if it took his entire life. Simple as that. "Well... they're going. The country has recently come out of a war, so there is much in the way of restoration to be done. But Brodia's hardships have made the people strong and resilient, so the process has been moving along."
A pause, and then, "...I know it seems odd to have the king elsewhere during such a time, but I trust my people, and Brodia has reached a stable enough place to allow me the chance to learn more of the world, so that I can come back a stronger and more informed leader."
Breathless, Laslow adjusts the star headpiece valiantly trying to keep his hair in place. It's more decoration than function, at this point, but he loves it all the same.
Already pink cheeks darken a shade further. "Ah, yes, I have been blessed by Lady Fate herself." He returns Diamant's grin and resists the urge to scan the dance floor for Nel. They'd lost track of each other at some point--dragged away by friends and the allure of the ball itself. They'll find their way back to one another eventually.
"Do you know her?" Come to think of it, they hadn't much discussed their friends. Too caught up in figuring this new....thing between them. "Heh, most definitely. She's incredible, truly. A little intimidating, truth be told, but I think she's one of the kindest people I've ever met."
A little sigh. He really should steal her away for another dance or two. But curiosity wins out; playful, he nudges Diamant's shoulder with his own. "And what of you, Diamant? Are you here with a date?"
He nods. "We're friends, yes. She is also from Elyos."
Diamant hardly needed to go into the intimate details—tales of alternate universes and worlds didn't tend to land cleanly with many people, he finds. "Lady Nel certainly strikes an intimidating figure, but as it seems you've come to learn, she is also deeply compassionate and fiercely protective of those she loves. You've got a loyal partner in her."
The Brodian's smile, however, falls a bit at Laslow's question—he hadn't expected it. In hindsight, he probably should have, considering the current topic. "A date... not quite."
It wasn't a lie. He and Ivy technically hadn't come together. "It would be nice though, wouldn't it?"
[ GOSSIP ] - Sara has witnessed love transform others for the worse. Her grandfather claimed to love her a long time ago, but it had been little more than words which never matched his actions. He never stayed and it couldn't stop him from breaking promise after promise. When her peers grow infatuated with another person and common sense seems to flee, she watches them lose themselves in an illusion.
"Do you have a moment?" Her hand catches the rich fabric of his cape, tugging it awkwardly the way a child might.
Parties could be a daunting occasion, even under the best of circumstances and there are questions that she'd prefer not occupy her mind the whole night. Diamant has always been prudent, so he probably has a better answer than anything she would be able to come up with on her own too.
"Do boys like girls the same way they like them?"
Contemplation has her brows tilted at a sharp angle and her mouth still parted as if there is more to say. She doesn't know how to explain short of giving names though. Her head cants toward a young man with dark hair, oblivious that her wording may cause a critical misunderstanding, "My friend has a crush on him. You must keep this a secret."
"Hm?"
Diamant was no stranger to having his cape tugged throughout the night, though the person he turns to and the question she asks is much more surprising—he never took Sara to be the sort to have ponderings of love on her mind, though he supposed she was young. In some sense, it was natural to grow curious at some point.
His gaze drifts towards the sharply dressed young man, and he wonders: was it really Sara's friend, or Sara herself who was interested? The latter possibility struck a chord of concern within him.
Do boys like girls in the same way? Hm.
"Well, in many cases, yes. Boys can be stricken by infatuation and adoration the same as girls, though some of them..." Diamant trails off, lips pursing together at the thoughts and memories running through his mind. The amorous tales soldiers would share over a campfire, the tasteless jokes thrown about in the army barracks...
Alright. He definitely needed to keep a watch on this.
"Just. Tell your friend to be careful. Even in liking someone, a person's intentions aren't always... honorable."
[ SLIP-UP ] - Her grip tightens around the glass that she had been holding as an anchor in the sea of gilded sweet nothings as her gaze narrows in on a brushstroke of burgundy. The build is strong and moves with a quiet confidence that causes Petra’s heart to fly into her throat.
The drink is discarded. Where it goes, she does not remember as she walks forward in thoughtless determination. The figure grows further away, and her pace quickens. The hem of her dress catches under her feet and she lurches forward, catching herself as feet fly like winged victory over the ballroom floor. Brigid’s daughter forgets her decorum, forgets to mind the leering eyes of Imperial lords and ladies, forgets her mask. She is a child running on the beach towards the ship that has docked.
Her hand extends. Would he still be able to pick her up as had when she was smaller? Would he remember after all this time?
The gentleman turns and her hand recoils. “You…” Her voice is labored, and the heaving of her chest fills the space between the two as eyes frantically search the gentleman. This is wrong. He is wrong. His eyes do not spark with sunbursts and his hair is not tousled from western gales and sea brine. He is…
He is noble.
In the same way the Ethereal Ball is noble.
In the same way that being at Garreg Mach is noble.
Petra’s eyes prickle, despite herself. She quietly chastises herself for knowing better. The man she is looking for is dead. Though the contours of his face had grown fuzzier with each passing year, the tendrils of pyre flames reaching towards the heavens in supplication were emblazoned into the eyes of a child. And through the eyes of a warrior, she trains her gaze through the stranger and on the middle distance, steady in the storm that has never stopped raging.
“... Apologies, my lord. I am mistaking you for another.”
It happens again.
Though this time his attention isn't drawn by an unfamiliar voice, or a mistaken name; rather the glimpse of a girl over his shoulder, her hand extended as if to grasp him—only to retract when her eyes connect with his, then dart about his figure in examination of something unknown. Foreign.
One would think it hurtful to see the disappointment that flashes over another's face in reaction to them, yet Diamant feels a faint relief. No recognition of who he was. No preconceptions, or expectations weighed upon his shoulders.
Though that doesn't stop the concern he feels.
She seemed the same as any other person in this ballroom; hair perfectly coiffed, dressed in layers of gorgeous fabric accented with artistic, decorative blooms. But for the way she fit into all the glamour, there was a profound... solemnity to her.
It nagged at him.
"It's no issue at all, really." And much like with the other girl who mistakenly assumed him to be someone else, he asks: "Is this person you're looking for around here somewhere? I can keep an eye out, help you find him."
[ SEQUESTER ] - Some rooms remain unused, and while by the padlocks on their doors you suspect they are meant to remain that way, some poor sap seems to have forgotten to make sure they were locked properly. They make for an excellent space away from the chaos of the rest of the ball—though you may not be the first one there.
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That unmistakable flare of crimson hair and tall form; the man who slipped into a vacant room was none other than King Diamant of Brodia. As for the dragon in turn who should follow him into said room like a serpent seeking prey? Or a dragon with a mission? He announced himself with several proud strides.
"Diamant, so you were here. Proper timing. I would like your flower." Forward, as always. But, forward was he for a reason, and it was nothing of which he sought readily to declare. After a moment of pause, the same forward Rafal seemed to hesitate.
Then, continued as if nothing were amiss: ". . .Would you care to part with it? I've need for it. Flowers such as yours will be put to unselfish use, that I assure."
Diamant would have started at the sudden voice that boomed through the dim room, were it not for the (intentionally) loud steps that preceded it. The Brodian turns over his shoulder to the Fell Dragon that followed him inside, faintly wishing that he hadn't. Not for any reason such as dislike, but for the simple desire to be alone for a moment, away from the excitement of the festivities.
Simply a need to recenter himself before heading out again.
That Rafal asks for—rather, demands—a flower isn't particularly surprising, with the collection game going on. But that he would seemingly approach Diamant in a secluded place for it, along with that curious remark of his...
"...I wouldn't mind. But what sort of use would it be put to, then? The point is just to collect them for a bouquet, correct?"