[ 21 QUESTIONS ] The effort to learn about others goes a long way! Just don’t overdo it.
there were a lot of gallant gentleman, and many spirited ladies all throughout the party grounds. each had their own charm, and many of them seemed confident in every piece of themselves. once such man stuck out to morgan, upon which the tactician began to note small details about him. his orange hair was slicked back, his shoulder back, and a polite smile for those who looked for him.
before the lad knew it, he was making his way to where the student stood in a rare moment of isolation from peers. "excuse me, there. you're the black eagles student ferdinand. i mean- i know because i've seen you in a few of my classes is all... anyway-" morgan paused for a minute, gathering himself and preparing a few questions in his mind.
"do you have any insecurities? how do you get to stand so confidently? is there some kinda ritual for that? i mean, i'm not really asking for myself, but you seem quite put together so and i thought i'd like to know how-" boy, he sure had been talking for quite a while. were these too many questions, was he breaking some kind of conversational taboo? it sorta felt like it when he looked at ferdinand's expression. right, just one more! "oh, hey, since it's valentine's day, what kind of traits are you seeking in a suitor?"
"Morgan." there was no need for an introduction, he already knew who this young man was. in fact, he had always exuded a sort of aptitude for studying the likes of which impressed Ferdinand deeply. it was rare to ever see him without a book in hand, spinning ink into intellect like his mind and heart were one. now, however, there was a different tint to the light that he emitted—particularly now that Morgan stood alongside edelgard as a match and partner for the night. "very pleased to speak to you at last! you and I both seem to have floated the same circles, but our boats have passed in the horizon."
his eyebrow piqued, noting that Morgan's penchant for the truth still rang clearly, as he began to probe Ferdinand with question after question.
"may I ask, are you interested in me and mine?" perched on his lips was a haughty grin, and sparks of pride for more reasons than one. "should we take a walk about the gardens?"
Ferdinand Von Aegir had no intention of chicanery. but after guiding Morgan under the stars, he began to wonder if, for better or for worse, this match would have been better than the one Morgan was set up with.
"to the first. no. I don't." not necessarily a lie. frankly, he tired of laying low in a grave, with broken bones and broken pride. he was not the kind of man to wallow in limbo.
"to the second, because I know my greatness will exceed me." Ferdinand raked his bangs, locks flipping triumphantly.
"to the third, you must say as you mean, and do as you say. a ritual I dedicate myself to is announcing my name and my intentions with enough transparency to use it as a looking glass. I am Ferdinand Von Aegir. and I certainly know my worth."
and to the last, he laughed. a full-bodied, effervescent laugh. "I need to be candid with you, before this proposition that I am about to make. edelgard is my eternal rival. but I do not find it untruthful to inquire."
"if I said you and yours, would you take me on a date instead of edelgard?"