#$ asks

[mmoneystones]

"I don't believe I ever caught your name." He was apologetic in the slight bow he offered to her before coming to rest in the sand not far from where she was seated. "I must apologize if I came off as...cold in our game. In the end...it resulted in this. Though even now is an opportunity." A smile and a slight lift of the shaved ice. "Perhaps it's the 'Queen' or 'Ringmaster' telling us to use our time to know one another and correct our mistakes." Stilted always were these introductions. He'd done them a hundred times over yet he offered the best smile he could to her. "My name is Matthias, I'm a professor for the Blue Lions who's just made my way here. Though some may refer to me as Margrave is they hail from Faerghus as I hail over the northern region. It's good to meet you...even if the introductions are late."

Citrinne turns up to see the familiar face of the teammate that greatly contributed to their recent bout through Wonderland. After nodding at his bow, she scooched slightly away so that he could have some more space to lie in the sand.

“Nor have I, on the name part, that is,” Citrinne returns his smile with a less wide one, but it holds warmth all the same. “I am Citrinne. A noble warrior of Brodia, my home from Elyos. You may remember it as one of those books that were burnt during our final stand.”

So this Matthias…was a noble of this very land? An interesting ally, especially when they’ve been allied for the previous month. The Brodian actually feels guilty for not getting acquainted during the rest of all of this Happyland chaos. “Would you answer better to Magrave Matthias, then? It’s admittedly a bit of a mouthful - Citrinne is enough for me, by the way. I am merely a Knight of Seiros here.”

Now that introductions were out of the way, she leans a fair bit closer toward Matthias in case some of the others were sneaking earfuls. “May I be honest? You never sounded that cold, at least to me. I more remember the times we agreed on some form of answer rather than debate, or more so less arguing after the first batch of questions.”

“If it weren’t for your authority, I doubt that we would have left that strange dungeon before the sun set,” Citrinne waves a hand toward the fading orange on the waves. “While I hold no interest in knowing that Queen, it is good to know she gave me the chance to meet a fair amount of allies.”

[mmoneystones]

"A moment of your time!" Emcee catches up to you before you can disperse to your room or rejoin with your teammates, or wherever else it is you're heading off to.

"This way, this way." The strange host ushers you into a small shack, curtained off from the outside. They offer you a chair and a bright lamp hangs overhead.

"Now then," they start, positioning themselves across from you. "The rich just keep getting richer! You kept collecting gold and investing in sweets to give you the leg up in your game this week, just like your team as a whole seems to be doing in the competition! Do you think you'll be able to hold the lead?"

In their hand is a voice amplifying stick, which they hold out to you now.

The juxtaposition of blinding light alongside the thrusting of a strange pole makes Citrinne wince and nearly double back in her chair. The host praises her for her outstanding game performance, but what do they mean? The noble’s performance had been pitiful compared to the opposing team, herself being too weak to even declare what was rightfully hers in the end.

“Sorry, I don’t believe that you have the right-” Citrinne starts to argue, fumbling with her bikini’s pocket to demonstrate her singular spur. But to her utter shock, one gets quadrupled to four spurs in hand when she pulls them out.

What? But that’s- No- How?!

Their game’s victor appears to have been determined from the start. Not even a kind act for Veyle could change their fate.

Citrinne’s eyes flicker back on the interviewer. They don’t look like they’ll let her free until she’s answered the question. That’s right, her team is still counting on her no matter how victories are earned. Actually…will they hear her answer right now, even while hidden in a darkened cabin?

Will they hear me now, too?

“The Rats have been in the lead since the very beginning. All of us have been working hard to keep that the same,” she responds with eyes on the host, hands playing with the miniature stars of gold.

“No matter what happens next, I will see to our team holding that lead. As I have for weeks before.”

Words do not match actions, as Citrinne leaves the four spurs behind on her chair as she stands to leave the hut. Although competition and winning are ideas that have been melded in her blood, both suddenly don’t sound as appealing when done alone.

[mmoneystones]

There! There she was again... Nanna could have sworn to have seen a ghost earlier this evening, but having gone around the ballroom a couple times over, she knew this girl wasn't just a play on smoke and mirrors. There had been a thought tickling the back of her ears, remembering what Diamant had mentioned the year prior. He had mistaken her for someone quite close to him, who hadn't made her way to the academy quite yet. Someone who was much like a second sun to him...

She could not bear to play a member of the audience any longer, breaking free of the crowds to approach her directly. Nanna could understand why anyone would initially confuse them, but... There was something about the woman that was like capturing lightning in a bottle. Nanna chuckled to herself, before opening rather casually: "You're so elegant! The way you hold yourself strikes me from even across the room..." She tapped her lips lightly in thought.

"I'm honored to even be compared, Miss Citrinne. Your company has long awaited your arrival, and have made your name quite known around here."

Holding out a hand, Nanna laughed openly. "It's so nice to meet you at last. You are so very loved...!"

A blotch of light pink sticks out from the middle of the ballroom, heading straight for the lone noblewoman. Citrinne is finally able to get a much cleaner look at this supposed doppelganger of hers. When facing her directly, she can already imagine great confusion thanks to their blonde locks and choice of feather hairpin on their left side,  even if this girl's feather is brave enough to droop off her head.

However, despite surface similarities Citrinne can tell the two of them are not entirely alike. This blonde has learned to openly smile, or at least calm her facial features outside of encounters. Citrinne herself still fails to transition to a bright smile whenever needed, though a joyous ballroom commonly helps her somewhat. Actually...does Citrinne look intimidating to her mirror that is approaching?

Even with her soft, princess-like demeanor, Nanna's first words come out strong to the surprise of Citrinne. Her entire speech, in fact, is filled with that strength.

"You...know of me?" she idly asks, although Nanna's previous statement makes it clear that Citrinne's arrival has not been a silent one.

Oh, why are the Brodian's thoughts so tense now? Nanna's light laugh, along with those words...

You are so very loved...!

...Citrinne does not speak further until accepting the other blonde woman's hand. Speech returns to her mouth upon physical contact.

"I am afraid I know much less of you, Lady...Nanna, is that correct? But those close to you have said nothing but the nicest things of you. I am honored to share resemblance with such a strong woman."

Citrinne palm remains within Nanna's for longer than might have been expected. Ideas stir within the ruby-eyed blonde's mind...a simple gift would be a shameful memento for this first meeting.

"Might you be open for one dance, Lady Nanna? The night is still young, and...I would love to get to know you better."

[mmoneystones]

"Whoa, do you need some help with that?"

Caspar points openly at the luggage the woman drags along the path toward their housing. Around his arm is a bandana in the same green hue as the one around her forehead. His own baggage jostles against his back from where it hangs off his shoulders, a large and fairly simple rucksack crafted out of sturdy leather.

Her bags look heavier than his, truth be told-- but it's nothing he can't handle...!

"The faster we all get our stuff dropped off, the faster we can all check out the beaches. Sounds like a win for all of us if you ask me!"

A high-pitched voice calls to her while the dormitory for her team is comfortably within view. That being said, her pull on the small set of bags has been anything but comfortable. So when the boy offers to assist Citrinne in such a straightforward manner, she cannot help but smile in relief.

"Oh...no, I couldn't-" she struggles to politely decline only to "accidentally" drop off one of her lighter pieces of luggage: a brown leather case with hairpins and jeweled earrings. She reasons that it is safe enough to trust a stranger - and fair, too. He shouldn't have to suffer from her pack rat nature.

Citrinne sighs at the removal of some of her load, literally lifting a weight off her shoulders. "You should only need to trouble yourself with this temporarily. My room should be...near the end of the east wing. Carry it to the entrance, and I can handle the rest."

The noble couldn't agree more with the youth's desire to scope out the coasts after the unloading is behind them. And now that she has gotten a better look at his person thanks to her lighter load, Citrinne notices the light green cloth wrapped around his arm.

"Of course, we are on the same team, aren't we?" they are in no position to shake hands in greeting, but Citrinne attempts to back up her welcome with a refined, kind tone. "I would see fit to repay you nevertheless, but it is only fitting for teammates to look out for one another. If you ever need anything, allow me, Citrinne of Brodia, to be of assistance."

"What about you? What is the name of the strong soldier that has come to my aid?"

[mmoneystones]

Given how many people are participating in these "games", it's not a surprise that Citrinne ended up on a different team from him. To be honest, Alcryst can't help but find it odd to stand opposite of Citrinne—teaming up with her comes naturally to him.

Even though only a few hours remain until they are officially enemies, Alcryst still finds himself searching for her. "Oh, Citrinne! Could you help me with this bandana? I have no idea how I should wear it... I was thinking it could push my bangs back, but then everyone would see my forehead..."

The time to compete in these games of...whatever ilk to describe them escapes Citrinne as of now - draws near, though the period is long enough to make some last-second contacts. It is Alcryst that comes to Citrinne first, a detail that does make the royal retainer bear some guilt. His safety is still in her hands, even beyond Elyos, yet the noblewoman cannot recall extensively checking on the prince after the night of the ball.

She has never heard him sound so defeated, so against himself. Citrinne couldn't help but wonder if it had been something she had failed on that night. In the past months, she had focused on bettering herself as a knight and soldier in extensive hopes that doing so will prevent Alcryst from speaking like that again.

Thankfully, Alcryst initiates with a more normal tone today. (Perhaps still nervous, but the usual warm tone nonetheless.) "Help with your bandana? Of course, Alcryst," Citrinne beams, the opportunity to provide fashion advice never being one she'd pass on.

"Let's see...oh," Citrinne reaches out to get a better look at the bandana in question, only to notice its golden glimmer. So it would be that him, her, and Lapis will be on separate teams throughout this month. In fact...the yellow team is the same that Yunaka is on. Hm.

He will be fine. She must believe in him. The same way that he has always believed in her, as she's seen before.

"If you're concerned with your hair, then why not wrap it here?" Citrinne completes her reach to grab the bandana Alcryst holds onto, folding her end over the skin slightly behind his wrist. "That way, it is conspicuous enough for your teammates to see, while avoiding any impracticality from tying it on your head."

"Make sure not to make it tight. Otherwise it may bother your arm. Would you like me to tie it for you?"

[mmoneystones]

"to think there's a need for gold when you sit here in plain sight, outshining all the treasures of the world." the words flow like sweet nectar—overtly saccharine, yet sincere. citrinne is just as impressive as the last time dorothea saw her, exuding that very air of elegance that seems to come as naturally as breathing. ( such allure could inspire envy in even the most contented soul. )

"may i join you? an evening like this is best enjoyed in good company," she says with a warm smile, offering a tall glass filled with deep scarlets and glowing tangerines, swirling together like the colors of a burning horizon. "it’s a mixed fruit blend—perfectly acceptable, if i do say so myself."

Her ears cannot help but squirm upon taking in the ballad from a voice she had only heard shortly before prior departure. Citrinne pivots around, and sure enough Dorothea is there to greet her behind an ocean that starts to shimmer in the moonlight.

“Oh…please,” Citrinne feels a blush break her internal brooding. The line sounds nearly word for word like something that a snobby suitor aiming for that gold would go for - but when it comes from Dorothea’s mouth, it feels genuine. A little playful, at most. “I’m one who needs treasures of the world to stand out. Your elegance is only natural, Dorothea.”

Smile peeking out but not fully forming, Citrinne raises a hand to accept the glass. The deep red calls back to Dorothea’s hibiscus more than the noble’s own rubies. She takes a lop sip of acceptance, a taste of the mixed fruits deep in combat within her taste buds. Though somehow, the battle concludes with a sweet, enriching aftertaste.

“Acceptable is only an understatement,” she cheers, the intention of more of the evening together being the one reason to hold back from drinking more. “Of course you may join me. I…was going to retreat to my chambers shortly, but a walk by the sea can do me good. An excellent backdrop for two ladies to…share words?”

The ending was meant to sound as a returning offer to Dorothea, only for the question to come out more shaky. More hesitant.

[mmoneystones]

He recognized Citrinne from the games, but he also thought he had perhaps seen her before as well, even if he couldn't place her. "Thank you again for your help."

After climbing down from the mountainous region (that, fortunately for her, was partially less straining compared to the climb up) and wiping some red dust off her clothes, Citrinne says her goodbyes to the mysterious South Island. Thanks to her teammate's last-second selfish acts that caused Duessel to give chase, she and Gerome end up crossing the sandy shores and bridge back to the central island later.

The noble remained silent for most of the return trip, focusing on moving forward with the tantalizing chance of a well-deserved rest. But it is Gerome who speaks up as they near the island's hub, giving a brief statement of thanks. Even with a different, less flashy mask, she recognizes the hue of his hair just fine. Does he not recognize her just the same?

She takes the opportunity to fix that.

"It was truly nothing, no need to be humble," Citrinne lightly smiles. "I could only do what was right in my position. If only my teammate felt the same...my apologies for his undeserved words, and actions."

Citrinne stares deeper into the masked face. "I will say, though. I never expected the second interaction with the man so stalwart back at the ball to be over a series of chains, right under lava no less! I am afraid to admit I cannot imagine being so calm if our team encountered the same setback as yours."

And she really didn't want to consider her reaction, given the man Valter turned out to be.