༻ ❁ ༺ open starter for ( 0 / 3 ) time & location: day 5 ; the masquerade ; the great hall
╰┈‣ the great hall paused, like a still from a painting by one of the old masters. it would make for a beautiful scene ⎻ glistening candlelights dyed the sea of decadent jewels and fine silk in gold amber ⎻ a magnificent sight no matter where you looked. yet, what captured eyes most was not the shine nor the vivid. no, the focal point of this piece would follow everyone's attention, centred upon the dais, to the pale white dragon and his lost queen. and like all masterpieces, there was more than meets the eye. for below the pulchritude lay something far more rotten. all eyes remained on king maelor as he returned to his seat ; the hall sucked of its breath until the music finally resumed and merriment followed. but even hidden behind masks and mirth, ahri could still see it in the stiff postures and sharp glances, hear it in the forced laughter and strained whispers ⎻ there was fear in the air. but it wasn't new. she felt the tension, palpable, from the moment she arrived in king's landing, and the king's decree felt like a long time coming even before then. “ oh, ” a sudden presence behind her snapped her from her musings, and she turned to meet the figure before they could collide. “ i shouldn't have stood in the middle of the path. my apologies, ” her voice soft and disarming, “ here, let me get you a new drink. ” she smiled from behind her mask, grabbing a new flute from a passing serving boy and replacing it with the old.