Ellyn's Birthday Revel
@thenexusofsouls posted:
Nuada chuckled at the implication that Ellyn would use his willingness to extend himself for his friends as a way of getting him out more often. "Now you know my secret. I trust you will not take advantage of it, except in cases when it is necessary," he said with a hint of playfulness. Just the fact that she had him feeling even slightly cheerful, given that he was about to enter a large party and that he hadn't been feeling like himself of late, was a testament to what a good friend she was.
Inside, the party was alive with energy. Nuada felt like he was both overwhelmed by it and feeding off it simultaneously. There was a time when such revelry would energize him, and perhaps it stirred him still, but years in exile had made him all the more sensitive to the intensity of situations like that. Fortunately, Bea gave him something narrowed and more innocent to focus on for a time. "Is that so?" he asked when the child said he was almost as tall as her father. "Your father must be very tall indeed, then," he said, hoping that her father treated her far better than his own had treated him. Having the scars on his face inspected by a young one with bits of cookie still clinging here and there to her fingers was not where Nuada thought he would find himself this evening, but… he did not mind it. It was far easier to tolerate missteps in social etiquette from a child, for they did not know any better. Or if they did, they were full of far too much energy and curiosity to restrain themselves and remember to be proper. Maybe he was remembering how socially unacceptable he'd been as a youth, and now was forgiving of others because of that. He unfortunately didn't realize the small missteps he was making himself along the way. His etiquette was outdated, unpracticed, left to wither in favor of him living by his own rules for so long in exile. Though he cut a very proper, regal, and attractive profile, Nuada was rougher around the edges than first appearances might seem. In very polite company such as this, no doubt some would notice those moment of unpolished behavior, those rough edges, where the warrior and the disenchanted prince in exile would shine through the noble facade he put forth. "I imagine I must have wept, yes. Thankfully, if they were painful to receive, I have no memory of it," Nuada said, smiling at how soft her little fingers were. He wondered if there had ever been a time when his own fingers had been as soft and new. When Ellyn returned with the cupcake for Bea, Nuada rose back up on his feet. "You are very welcome," he said in response to Bea's thanks. Her enthusiasm for the cupcake was precious and it caused a smile to linger long on his lips. He was quiet as Ellyn tried to get the young one to go to bed, his smile growing into a grin as she said she was going to try to squeeze two dances out of Nuada. "It may very well happen," he said.
Ellyn couldn't help a reflexive bit of a pout to draw her lips together when he told her that she couldn't take advantage of leveraging their friendship to get him out and about more. Though the slight frown was quickly wiped away as she giggled at him and gave a delicate shrug. "Y'know I can't make any promises, but I will try to wield such a power with care, Nuada. After all, you are a very dear friend and I'd rather have you in my life in small bursts than not at all." Her voice was soft but just a bit more serious than she intended, and she was glad they entered the castle before she managed to muddle through another faux pas by accident.
The Fae Queen was glad that her niece could provide a bit of a distraction for the rogue prince. She knew all too well how overwhelming revels could be and Bea was all too glad to soak up the mysterious male's attention. Still, she hung back a little to watch the pair interact and found her chest curiously tight with some unnamed emotion. He was wonderful with Bea and she assumed he could manage well enough with more children at a later date. A tiny, gravelly voice whispered in her mind that he'd make a good father, too and she shoved that into its own little corner as she came back to give Bea her cupcake reward.
Bea was more than content to leave her aunt after being bribed, though she still wondered a few things about the prince. "Tall is good, it means y'can help Aunt Elly get things up high--she needs helpers." Ellyn playfully rolled her eyes at this and leaned down to kiss the crown of her niece's head before steering her towards the archway a bit more. "You'd best head upstairs now while your father is distracted, Bea. Sweet dreams, sweetheart." Bea was caught mid-yawn by this and mumbled her goodnight to both her aunt and Nuada before shuffling off and munching happily on her cupcake.
Ellyn turned to Nuada and beamed at him, ready to tease him a little once more, when she noticed a few crumbs on his chest. Brushing them off gently, she pauses and meets his gaze for a long moment before taking his hand. "One slow song and one fast one is all I request, Nuada...If you feel inclined to give me more, I won't complain at all! And thank you for indulging Bea, she's always full of questions and opinions."






















