armoredspirit .
elair never quite forgets his height, he hasn’t been able to since thirteen when he stopped being a child who was thought to be older than he was and simply became another umber of impressive height, but he’s reminded of it whenever he sees someone have to crane their neck to meet his gaze. he returns her smile with equal warmth, remembering his time in nightsong, trading stories for his stay. ‘ we can hope, ’ he says with a chuckle. it was likely the revelers would be fine, but it wasn’t an unheard of occurrence. usually, no one would be badly hurt, and whoever had fallen would simply get up and join back in. he nodded at her explanation, understanding. ‘ i was never told the dances would be any different. i left the north for the first time and made quite a fool of myself. ’ eliar dancing alone was enough of a sight to make others stop and watch, and now it’s something he usually leaves to others. he pauses a moment, reflecting on her inquiry and watching the dancers move ‘ — i think it’s a bit of both. they’re good enough to still remember the steps while drunk, and being drunk makes them better at the steps. ’ he laughs lightly again, shaking his head slightly as he watches them continue. ‘ at least they’re enjoying themselves. ’
at his admission, laughter spills unbidden from her lips. her belated attempt to hide her mirth behind a cup of wine fails her, too, but it is only the semblance of propriety that prompts the gesture. she suspects rather that he means to elicit laughter, but it remains impolite of her to find humor in his apparent embarrassment. it's easy to imagine eliar umber sticking out in southern festivities, but much harder to envision him following the measured, elegant moves required of southern dance. “ a shame we never hosted any musicians during your stay, then. it would have been welcome entertainment. ” the jest lingers in her voice, carefully masking any bitterness at the rather joyless state of nightsong. it does her no good to be moody about it, not when she's blissfully far from home and there is joy and amusement to be found wherever she may care to look. his explanation --- and perhaps the wine --- has her laughing again, regarding the dancers with fascination. “ i’m inclined to agree with you, ” she says with an approving nod as the northern lordling spins his partner ‘round with surprising grace ; but her brow twitches upward at his last comment. “ are you not enjoying yourself, then, ser ? ”













