Fantasy the partiality of power

[Sear]

scroll

control freak

val.

mood

presenting oneself as royalty

outfit

extravagant

location

tempe

interactions

everyone

tags

none

If there was a place that screamed money, it would be the towering spire that greeted Valen de Monte as he left his ride, eyes flicking upward to take in the sight. An action he regretted as soon his eyes met the reflective glare of the glass and were forced to squint. In the middle of the city, it could be considered the attraction that tugged everyone’s attention to itself. A sight that could be seen in the scurrying of people around him. Once in a while someone would pause, items in hand forgotten as they stared at the building with a mix of awe and bitter envy. Most hoped to find their way inside the spire, either to reap the benefits of its significance or to burn it down to the ground. Everyone had their own opinion on the rulings of the city. It was far too easy to read those same opinions on a person’s face when they were blatantly slapped in the face with the power of the rulers.

Val shifted his weight to rely on his cane, taking a moment to collect his bearings as he dropped his gaze and instead met the gaze steadily of a guard at the entrance of the building. There was a flash of recognition on the guard’s face and Val straightened and headed straight for the entrance, flicking out an invitation with one gloved hand from the pocket of his overcoat. He wasn’t here to marvel at the sights, nor relax in the shade of the park surrounding the spire - he had an event to attend if the invitation in his hand was anything to go by. It had come in the mail earlier in the week, shoved through his mail slot and unceremoniously dumped onto his apartment floor. As he presented it to the guard, there was a flash of the gold lettering that the guard read and then compared to the identity of the man standing in front of him. Val could sense the man scrutinizing him, but his focus was on the others who were heading through the doors. Most faces he could recognize, well known investors, business folk and alumni such as him. A thought forced its way into his mind, alas without his consent, the reminder of the impending deadline that had been taking up most of his energy.

"Right this way, Sir de Monte"

Val’s attention was redirected to the guard, who was handing the invitation back to him and directing him through the doors. He didn’t care to respond, just a curt nod of his head as agreement and then he was headed in.

The underground levels of the building were a stark contrast to the dreariness that most expected. The air was crisp, punctuated by the fragrances from the plants that had claimed parts of the ceiling and the walls. A breeze sometimes kicked up, earning the question as to from where, as they were levels below the ground but the answer lay in magic and money. Or fans. Val didn’t particularly care. The room spread out in front of him, illuminated by chandeliers that cast their light down on the group of people quietly conversing. They had grouped together, glasses in hand as they exchanged pleasantries with smiles on their faces. Val was about to join their midst, and that he did, navigating the crowd with a glass poised in his hand too. He was slowly drifting toward the royals, greeting those he knew with the slightest change in the uptick of his lips and warmth in his voice. None seemed to be offended by his lack in showing emotion, instead they seemed to expect it, his aloofness well known in this circle.

“Ah, Miss Soto. I see your business has been treating you well.”

Val greeted a woman clad in fur with a tilt of his head to show his respects. She responded, but he only subconsciously registered her words, his eyes being drawn to the royals on the other side of the room. He apologized to the woman, but she was already distracted by someone else’s greeting and he finally made his way over to them.

♡coded by uxie♡

scroll

comic reflief

Jack.

mood

shady methods bring rewards

outfit

walked out of a thrift shop

location

tempe

interactions

everyone and their pocket

tags

none

Ah, man. Jack was certain that this old man sitting on the corner of the street on the bench was not enjoying his presence. Well, whatever, that was the usual experience. He scooted closer to him, leaning against the backpack that had been placed between the two of them. The man leaned back, eyes wide as he tried extremely hard to put more distance between the two of them. Personal space, who?

“I can assure you, that this bird was a fine specimen of a -”

Jack’s chattering was abruptly cut off by the man throwing his hands up at him and loudly protesting. He was certainly a bit older than him, maybe by at least thirty years, and had been trying to read before Jack had joined him to wait for the public transportation.

“Young man, I beg you, please shut the hell up.”

Usual response from people interacting with him. Jack grinned at the protest, and then pulled away,

“Right, certainly of course.”

As he apologized to him profusely, to their disdain, he was already standing up and leaving. His job was done. There was a new weight in his pocket, a watch that the old man was now missing from their backpack, something he was certain they would only discover when he was halfway back home.

White hair fell into eyes, and he flicked it away absentmindedly, his hands falling to the pins on his clothes as he tugged at them, jerky movements that tested their latches. A watch was a pathetic gain from this day, so he needed something else. Turning a corner he was met with the spire of Tempe and the activity surrounding it. Cars were pausing in front of the building, valets directing the flow as folk were directed in the building.

Marvelous. This was exactly what he was talking about.

It had been too easy to make his way inside this event. A hand into one’s pocket, a smile flashed at someone else and a sob story to the guard until they frowned and ushered him in and he was finally in. The only issue was that his appearance was well, a sore spot, in the middle of this crowd. When most were dressed in extravagant clothes that he was certain had been custom ordered, he was clad in a lavender sweater and black cargo pants that he had bought on sale. It had been a good sale at least, and the pockets were handy to house whatever items he borrowed forever from folk he crashed into or brushed against.

Which he proceeded to do.

His shoulder slammed into a passerby, fingers slipping inside the pocket for a moment and then into his own pockets. He stumbled away, hands thrown up with his eyes widened for the effect as he set his mouth off pulling whatever first came to mind. The drinks that most guests held were on the forefront of his mind so he rolled with it.

“Oh, gosh. I am so sorry. Are you alright? You see I was just hurrying to get to the bar on the other side. You saw the bar right? Well it’s great, and the drinks are on the house here. I didn’t want them to accidentally run out of coffee, you know. Like, imagine if they did. Then what would I do? I’m telling you, it would be absolutely terrible. Right - that reminds me, I should definitely go and get myself some uh, ah yes, coffee.”

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[elytra]

scroll

pretty face

ambrose.

mood

fighting boredom

outfit

extravagant

location

tempe

interactions

Jack

tags

none

One would think, looking at Ambrose Asmiir, that they were the sort who liked parties.

It wouldn't be an assumption that would come out of left field. They were partial to pretty things, rings and trinkets that gleamed under the generous lighting of the towers many spaces, and they were no strangers to extravagant clothing that was made with fine fabrics and intricate detail. From the way their socialized and flirted, it wasn't odd to think that they liked the attention they got. Said attention certainly increased tenfold when parties were ongoing.

That said, they didn't actually enjoy the gatherings as much as one might think. Their distaste could be found in the difference between choosing to socialize and being forced to; typically, they were able to come and go as they pleased, avoiding any nobles they found intolerable easily. Parties, however, forced them to stay put, keeping a smile on their face as they were told about business ventures that were no doubt conversation fodder meant to lead them into agreeing to helping with something. It didn't help that Lyle wasn't all that partial to parties either, the younger man becoming far more anxious than usual when forced to participate in such events.

Most often, Ambrose hovered near Lyle, idling behind him and watching those interacted with him carefully to discern whether or not it would end in tears (mostly on Lyle's end). In fact, that was what they'd found themselves doing for a good portion of the night, watching various people try to get a conversation going with the royal mage and failing horribly. A few attempted conversation with them instead, changing tactics seeing as they were right nearby, but didn't manage to get any further. Ambrose was polite about it, of course, but it was no real secret that they were brushing off each person's attempts, even if they were smiling while doing it.

At a certain point, the talking got a bit tedious. Business ventures and general gossip did little to keep their attention. They had ended up downing their entire glass of wine in one go, listening to Lyle's nervous laughter at a nobles joke that failed to land, then tapped his shoulder gently, telling him they were going to get more to drink. Lyle looked as if they'd just told him they were about to go jump off a bridge, but had done nothing more than nod with a tight-lipped smile.

To be fair, they did truly just intend to get a drink at first. It was one thing to be at a party, but it was another to be there and not be a bit tipsy to make it easier. However, when heading to the nearest waiter, their sight had been drawn to a man in street clothing, bumping into a few people here and there and talking plenty after it while making a get away. At first, they just assumed someone had snuck in and was doing a bad job of blending with the crowd. Then, though, they saw his hand slip into the pockets of one of the nobles, a near unnoticeable action that they would've missed at any other vantage point.

So, the night had gotten a little more interesting.

They ended up trailing him for a bit, watching as he picked the pockets of several people in near quick succession. It was impressive and, further, likely the sort of thing they should report, yet they didn't. It wasn't as if they were actually friendly with many of the people who were losing objects left and right. Besides, financially? These were the sort of people who could take the hit. The only time that their eyes drifted from their new entertainment was when they noticed a guard making his way towards the thief, likely not due to the thefts but for the fact he clearly stood out amongst the extravagant outfits many others were wearing. Those at balls were nothing if not fickle and obsessed with appearances, so it wasn't surprising that it seemed they were keen to remove the peasant that had managed to make his way in.

They considered leaving and heading back to Lyle for a moment, just letting the chips fall where they may. Then they decided the magician wouldn't miss them if they were gone for a few moments longer. They brushed by a waiter, grabbing two glasses of wine with a quick thank-you, barely managing to intercept the thief before the guard got to him.

He held out a glass to the man, putting on a dazzling smile, winking subtly.

"You know, you shouldn't move so fast if someone's fetching you a drink."

It was spoken loudly enough that the guard, who'd now stopped near them, would be able to hear.

Ambrose was many things, but they liked to think themselves a phenomenal actor when it came to it. They looked up towards the guard, who now seemed to be re-thinking his approach, the conclusion that the enchanter the royals favored seemed to know the man he was just about to throw out dawning on him. It would probably be fine to let him show himself away, but Ambrose hardly wanted the first bit of entertainment they had to go away so easily.

"Is something the matter?"

It wasn't exactly a challenge, but it bordered on it. They knew well enough not to push their luck.

"Well, sir- ma'am-" Ambrose watched the guard fumble over which title to use, eyebrow raised and giving him a look that begged him to simply get to the point "I was informed that someone may have...snuck in to the ball tonight."

"That certainly is an issue."

They agreed, swirling their wine idly, smile still plastered on their face.

"I suppose you should go figure that out instead of bothering my plus-one and I, correct?"

There was a bit of stammering, but ultimately the guard uttered a quick apology and turned heel, leaving them with the theif. Their gaze settled back on their companion, the smile on their face becoming a touch more genuine.

"If you're going to steal at a royal's ball, I'd suggest finding clothes that fit the setting. The sweater is cute, but I'm sure you could pull off a suit as well."

♡coded by uxie♡

scroll

the wild card

lyle.

mood

having an anxiety attack

outfit

extravagant, unfortunately

location

tempe

interactions

N/A

tags

none

Ambrose had, for all intents and purposes, abandoned him to the ebb and flow of the party before him.

Lyle knew that the other had mentioned going to get a drink, but by the way they'd downed their wine moments before did little to quell his worry that they weren't coming back anytime soon. It would be fair if they didn't; he'd always felt bad that they practically had to babysit him every time there was a social event, checking in to be sure he wasn't about to vaporize something on accident because someone said something that set him off. That said, just because he understood they should be able to go do other things didn't mean he liked it.

Actually, it was nerve wracking. Nobles and others left and right had been attempting to talk to him about things that, while he understood them, held little value to him. The market for magic objects meant very little to him, being someone with magic himself. Yet, he was constantly being asked his opinion on it- an opinion he really didn't have. He tried to bullshit something to sate them, but there was little he could say without fully giving away that he had nothing of value to add.

For the first part of the night, Ambrose had helped. They'd always been better at that sort of thing than him. He knew for a fact that, despite being a part of the magic object trade, they didn't have any strong opinions one way or another on the business. Yet, they stood there and chatted away as if they did, somehow managing to say exactly what was needed and throw enough smiles at the people that had approached them that they left none the wiser. Now that Ambrose was gone, however? Lyle was well and truly floundering.

He'd sought out shelter, so-to-speak, over by the royals. They didn't pay him much mind, of course- they had much better things to do -but they didn't actively shoo him away. That was the luxury his standing had. He could mingle in their presence and work with them, while other people would be beneath them to so much as be in the vicinity of. Standing by them, he suddenly became less interesting, and anyone who approached was brought into conversation with them rather than him. He was able to stare down into his drink in peace.

There was hope it would stay that way for the remainder of the night. Lyle's luck had never been fantastic, but in this case, he figured that he maybe would be able to scrape by. He did end up giving a few passerbys a tight-lipped smile and nod, trying to not come off as too awkward as he did.

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[Sear]

scroll

control freak

val.

mood

presenting oneself as royalty

outfit

extravagant

location

tempe

interactions

lyle

tags

none

Val himself could only entertain conversation of magic objects to a certain degree. He’d stayed by the royals, answering probing questions on his own magic and redirecting the conversation back to the topic at hand - no matter how much of a bore it was. They appreciated his interest in their dealings however, and he urged them on with well-timed questions. As soon as he felt their enthusiasm dwindling or their attention fading, he’d tilt his head and test methods of keeping their interest focused. Impressions were his weapon. He’d honed it over the years, keeping it sharp and deadly in navigating the social scheme. Alas, his patience was running thin, and he began to search for an individual of greater entertainment.

‘Sir Cravette,”

Val turned to the man who had been excluded from the conversation. He’d kept an eye on the magician, but his attention was otherwise occupied most of the time. Only out of the corner of his eye he had seen how their interest seemed to be in their drink, not otherwise around. Swirling his wine, Val casually inquired,

“Is your magic treating you well?”

His voice was smooth, a perfect example of polite curiosity. The question was one of common occurrence between those blessed, or otherwise cursed, with the touch of magic.

“I have heard much of the Cravette family and the grace with which they control their magic. I must admit I have great respect for them.”

The royals nearby cast looks over to them, but Val paid them no mind, his attention focused on Lyle. The conversation of the royals had come to a halt originally, but it quietly restarted seeing that Val had decided to pursue a conversation with the magician. Clearly, the royals had decided to throw the young Cravette magician to Val’s claws. Interesting. It was only proof that standing went only so far. He took a sip of his wine, the corners of his lips curling upwards. His interest had been drawn to Lyle, as the man for a royal magician, was doing little to mingle and interact. The ball had been organized less for entertainment after all, and more for socializing. Everyone flocked to tease out business connections, and widen their own circles. Only those of great arrogance or great power saw it below them.

“I apologize if my question was out of place,”

a lengthy pause, the apology carrying little genuinity in it even if he followed it with the smallest of pleasant smiles.

♡coded by uxie♡

scroll

comic reflief

Jack.

mood

shady methods bring rewards

outfit

walked out of a thrift shop

location

tempe

interactions

ambrose

tags

n/a

“Be careful!”

There was another protest as Jack bumped into another person, profusely apologizing as he bit back a smile. That one had been a bit less smooth, as he had actually accidentally tripped on someone’s long dress. The next couple he didn’t even talk to, nor bump into them, as they were so engrossed in their conversations that he just circled them and slipped objects into his own pockets.

This night was bringing great riches to him. He was more than certain that the jewels on this person’s bracelet could afford his month’s rent, or the next five. He hummed a small note, and turned to find his next victim when he was approached by somebody. Were they offering themselves up? However with the offer of a drink from the stunningly dressed figure, his smile faded. A confrontation like this wasn’t in the plans.

There was a flicker of surprise and worry and then Jack’s face morphed into a bright smile, as he accepted the drink. He had quickly come to a conclusion, even if he wasn’t certain what this interaction meant for him.

“Ah, thank you! My excitement got the best of me.”

What was the worst that could happen if he played along?

The approach of a guard made Jack shift closer to the person, chewing his lip as he maintained the same light smile and forced back the words that were threatening to fall from his lips. Every cell in his body told him to just bullshit an excuse, slip away, get lost in the crowd, and make his way outside. It would be easy enough with his experience, but their companion was doing a fine job of ensuring that they weren’t kicked out. To Jack’s surprise. The guard seemed to be convinced and left, and Jack turned to face who had rescued him. More like, he looked up at them. Habitually his eyes flicked over the person in front of them, lingering for a moment too long on their jewelry and on their clothing until he snapped to attention at the sweater comment.

“Thanks! This sweater I borrowed from a thrift store not too far from here. They had only this color and I saw it - and was like, oh my goodness. Only twenty too. What a steal. Literally.”

Jack flashed a mischievous smile, the hand not holding the wine dropping to one of his pockets to tug at the button. They had already realized he was stealing, there was no point hiding that fact.

"If I knew there was a ball, I would have planned ahead. It’s a bit harder to borrow a suit on the fly, you know. I’ve tried before, but it only resulted in being chased by a broom. I say by, because I can assure you, that was a broom with its own sentience.”

He shifted his weight again, the wine swirling from the movement but not splashing out.

“Oh! The name’s Jack.”

The same hand that nearly twisted his button off slipped into his pocket, proceeded to dig through - jingling through the loot - and pulled out the invitation he had swiped from someone to get in here. He glanced down at it quickly and then put it back away.

“Or a certain Amelio, if you want to go by this invitation. Hopefully Amelio found their way in without it.”

He knew his mouth was running away from him, but it was easier to just - talk. The false name came easily, naturally, and he rolled with it like usual. Just keep the conversation going, away from him and away from anything that can expose him. Ignoring the fact that he was caught red-handed by them. He glanced at their pockets again, shoving one of his hands into his pocket to keep himself from robbing them.

“Ah, am I pulling you away from the party?”

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[elytra]

scroll

pretty face

ambrose.

mood

fighting boredom

outfit

extravagant

location

tempe

interactions

Jack

tags

none

Ambrose listened carefully, swirling their wine as they took in the man in front of them, who seemed comfortable running his mouth about absolutely everything and nothing at the same time, which was an interesting conundrum. He ran his mouth quickly like he was trying to get ahead of something; Ambrose made no move to interrupt. Amusingly, they realized they had gained just about net zero information from the encounter. The only thing they gained that they hadn't known already was the man's name, if even that was true.

Amelio wouldn't miss the invitation. Or, maybe he would, but the invitation wouldn't miss him, of that Ambrose was certain. They knew the man vaguely and knew enough that the could confidently say that the party would've remained boring if the invitation had remained in his hands. Guards were ruthless- no invitation, no entrance -so they had doubts the victim had actually been able to make it to the party. Any arguing on the matter would've just resulted in him getting led away and told to come back when he had proof to show.

"I doubt he has, but that may be to the benefit of the ball."

They said, eyes flickering away briefly to take note of the guards, before their gaze returned to Jack. They took a sip of their wine before continuing.

"Ambrose, at your service. I would offer you the typical bow, but alas, I believe that would give away our current ruse, wouldn't it?"

Their eyes looked a bit brighter at mention of what they'd done, the small smile they had hidden behind their glass.

They didn't bother hiding their name. It was very likely that Jack would know who they were, seeing as they were just about the only one to do what they did- and for the crown, no less. While they had no interest in bragging or showing off, they also saw obscuring their identity as more trouble than it was worth. Thus, they laid their identity out plainly.

Mention of taking them away from the party caused their gaze to drift again, this time towards Lyle, but like the time before it quickly reverted back to Jack.

"I wasn't doing much. I've always found these events to be too stuffy for my tastes. There are only so many conversations about business one can have before it becomes a drag."

Of course, there was Lyle to consider, but the man could handle himself for a while longer, Ambrose was sure.

"This is more entertaining for the moment."

♡coded by uxie♡

scroll

the wild card

lyle.

mood

having an anxiety attack

outfit

extravagant, unfortunately

location

tempe

interactions

N/A

tags

none

Oh, God, he was missing Ambrose.

Lyle's plan to stay hidden had been going well. Swimmingly, even if he were to go as far as to say so. No one approached him for conversation for a while, allowing him to look down at his drink and wait for the night to draw to a close so he could officially run away. Of course, his luck had been too good, and had run out more quickly than he would've liked.

He knew the man in front of him. Sort of, at least; a more accurate thing to say was that he knew of him. Lyle kept an eye on the magic community, not totally incompetent in the business he was supposed to specialize in. He knew the names of people who were getting big in the 'industry', of those with innate magic who were more publicly known than others. This man- Valen de Monte -was one of the names he knew.

If anything, that made him more anxious.

He willed Ambrose to come back. Tried to send mind beams their way, as if that were an ability he had at his disposal. Of course, it didn't work, and he was still stuck in the situation he found himself in moments prior: he was being spoken to. Not only that, but spoken to about magic. Unsurprisingly, the royals were of no help, letting him be spoken to even if they knew he would rather be struck down with a brick.

He tried to not look too nervous, adjusting himself so he looked towards Valen, his eyes settling right above the man's right shoulder. He wasn't a fan of eye contact, had never been, and usually that little trick worked to make it so people didn't question why he wasn't looking directly at them. He hoped Valen wouldn't notice how slightly off his gaze was.

"Ah, no, you're-- It's fine, really."

He assured, though something felt off about the apology he was given. His skin already felt like it was prickling. He truly felt as if he were in hell.

"It's...treating me well. Certainly. But no need to call me Sir, please, I- I mean, Lyle is just fine."

He hated being called sir, but hoped the commentary would come off as him trying to be friendly.

There was a pause as he visibly considered what to say next, before deciding to say

"I...hope your magic is treating you well, as well."

That seemed like the right thing to say, but he couldn't be certain. He already had to lie through his teeth about his own magic, and hearing about his family didn't help. Hopefully the interaction would fizzle out and he'd be left to his devices.

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[Sear]

scroll

control freak

val.

mood

presenting oneself as royalty

outfit

extravagant

location

tempe

interactions

lyle

tags

none

The stifling atmosphere of the ball eased with the stumbling responses of the other, bringing forth amusement. Had he stumbled across a treasure that could be manipulated to his advantage? There was an absence of fluidity in the other's responses, a lack of the ease that others spoke with at the ball, especially the royals. Lyle corrected his use of ‘sir’ and Valen raised an eyebrow in question but eased into the preferred name effortlessly. Although, it was unusual, and too intimate for his liking, as the use of first names with no titles signified a relationship that went beyond small talk at a ball. Even so, it would do him no good to make an enemy out of the magician this early in the evening.

“Very well, Lyle. It is a fine name,”

Valen casually commented. The name struggled to flow off his tongue, and it sprung forward unease bordering on uncomfortable, but he pushed back the sensation and regained control over his emotions.

“Apologies, please excuse my manners. Valen de Monte at your service.”

Valen offered a small courtesy bow, the cane in his hand moving to the side to allow him to complete the action.

“Val is fine.”

A lie if he had ever heard one, but when had words of truth ever passed his lips? Acid tainted them the second they were formed in his mouth, dropping from his lips with less than honest intentions.

I hope your magic is treating you well, as well.

Magic. His fingers itched with the urge to toy with his earring, the metal biting into the skin on his ear and sending tendrils deep into the energy teeming within him. Controlling him. If he looked close enough he feared he could see the strands tied to his skin, turning him into a puppet dancing at the control of the ruler. It was fear of magic that ruled the royals and nobles, concealed behind the intentions of maintaining a façade of equality in society. Magic; a weapon not fully understood.

Perhaps it was the realization, once more, about the tightening control on his personal autonomy that made him decide, sharp edges revealing themselves in his eyes. He spoke, guided by a whim; curiosity a dangerous companion to his ambition.

“I would be honored to see your magic in action,”

Valen tilted his head, softening his tone to maintain the pretense of idle chatter. Beneath which lay a sharp blade, biting and poised to strike with his intentions.

“This university has a fine hall for friendly bouts. Would you be so kind as to humor me in a magic dual?”

“I reckon,”

Val moved closer, shortening the distance between the two of them smoothly. The volume of his voice dropped considerably to discourage eavesdropping from the mingling folk around them.

“This could be considered a challenge,”

a slight pause to allow his words to sink in,

“Lyle.”

♡coded by uxie♡

scroll

comic reflief

Jack.

mood

shady methods bring rewards

outfit

walked out of a thrift shop

location

tempe

interactions

ambrose

tags

n/a

Ambrose. The name was familiar and Jack shifted in place and then stilled, staring up at them with wide eyes as the name settled in. Damn, it was just his luck, wasn’t it! There was only one Ambrose that he knew that could be at this ball, and so extravagantly dressed at that. There was excitement bubbling beneath the surface, and his smile turned feral, sharp and intrigued. His eyes flickered down to their clothing again, the thought at the forefront of his mind that if anyone would have expensive items, it would be Ambrose. The rational part of him rebelled against pick-pocketing his savior. That would be rude, wouldn’t it? The not-so-rational part, or how he liked to call it, the one in control of his actions was egging him on.

What if instead of robbing them, he attempted to talk to them? A conversation. A casual conversation. Take the opportunity to get to know them. Stupid idea.

“Ah,”

Jack paused, his smile wavering as he fought himself. The question was on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it as he shut the idea down. It was seriously a bad idea. These were the sort of words he needed to control, to keep them from being voiced. Instead, he needed to keep talking and play off the lapse in conversation, or else they would look too close and see too much.

“This is a first,”

Jack admitted, twisting and turning one of his buttons absentmindedly. He glanced toward the guards just in case, and then back to Ambrose after determining that he was still safe.

“Typically by now I would be running from the guards,”

Jack’s smile was back and steady,

“Although who knows! The night is still young and I still might need to do that! It would make for a memorable night.”

This is more entertaining for the moment.

If he lost their interest, would he be at risk of being caught by the guards? Would they throw him to the guards to entertain themselves? While he joked about being chased by the guards, it didn't mean he was ready to do so. Jack took a sip of his drink, restless energy thrumming through him, and then another sip to combat his budding anxiety. Small actions were betraying him, escaping him in miniscule movements that he was struggling to control. A small bounce in place, a strayed glance over his shoulder at the guards again, and then back at Ambrose as he contemplated his options. It was worth continuing to try to converse, even if he was beginning to overstay his welcome, and the risk of Ambrose losing their interest grew higher. All he could do, was attempt to keep it.

“I think,”

Jack hummed, teasing notes slipping into his tone unwittingly,

“I can definitely entertain you for however long this evening. You know, help ease the stuffy atmosphere of this event. I'm good at that.”

Now the question was of how he could entertain them, but if there was anything he was confident in, it was his ability to bullshit and think on his feet.

“Not a huge fan of business talk either, it doesn’t make much sense to me. Say,”

Jack moved even closer to them, dimples appearing and adorning his face as he spoke in a hushed tone. Like a secret was being passed between the two of them. The thought made him quietly chuckle, as he was being far too playful, but their interest in him had only fed his energy,

“Anyone you need robbed?”

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[elytra]

scroll

pretty face

ambrose.

mood

fighting boredom

outfit

extravagant

location

tempe

interactions

Jack

tags

none

Anyone you need robbed?

Bold question. Clearly an attempt to keep Ambrose's attention so that they didn't call back the guards. Now, it wouldn't be a good an idea for them to do that in the first place, really; theoretically they could get away with it, but it would be pushing the limits of the patience the royal family had for them. Helping someone sneak into one of their lavish parties when he was successfully stealing? That wasn't a good look.

They had no real love for the royal family. If they did, they wouldn't be doing what they were doing. In fact, if it weren't for Lyle? It was unlikely they would still be residing on the premises. Yet the royals still were a large part of their life, whether they liked it or not. The fame, power, and money they'd acquired simply wouldn't exist in a world where they hadn't been picked up and brought to the palace. With that in mind, it was important to be careful how much they toed the line and how many people they caused issues for.

That said...

"I wouldn't say I need."

They clarified, a smile on their face as they reciprocated the hushed, conspiratorial manner in which Jack was speaking.

"But there are a few people that would benefit from lighter pockets, certainly."

Their eyes scanned the room, leaning back a bit to assess the area. Most of the party goers were egotistical brats with little charm to them. People that, while Ambrose tolerated them, weren't pleasant to be around. Having their things stolen...well, it wasn't much of a tragedy, in their opinion. The fact they'd be hearing about the missing items later was a pleasant thought as well.

"Hm..."

They looked back to their new companion, one eyebrow raised

"How talented are you, Jack? I believe we're trying to not get you caught at the moment."

♡coded by uxie♡

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the wild card

lyle.

mood

having an anxiety attack

outfit

extravagant, unfortunately

location

tempe

interactions

N/A

tags

none

Oh no.

No no no no no. Nope. Lyle didn't do duals. He didn't do casting magic, not in public. Most people understood not to ask for that sort of thing, even if they didn't realize that he was 'magically challenged'. It wasn't polite. It wasn't well mannered. It was the one time that societal expectations were useful to him. Sure, some would ask for a trick or something, just to see what he could do- as if he were a monkey at a circus -but he could simply say no. That it wasn't the time nor place.

His grip on his drink tightened. A challenge. His anxiety began to well up, and his eyes wandered a moment, trying to locate Ambrose. It was quick to see they were in conversation with someone, not even looking his way. Great. He was going to throw up. He hoped he didn't look as nervous ass he felt, though knew he wouldn't have such luck.

His eyes went back to Val, his gaze settled firmly above the man's shoulder as a method of not looking him straight on.

"...I'm afraid I don't do challenges, Mr. de Monte."

It was honest, straightforward. A polite denial. It was a request after all, and he should be able to deny it.

"It's impolite, I think?"

He didn't mean for that to come out as questioning as it did.

"You, uh--"

He cleared his throat, trying to remain collected.

"There may be others who are better suited for your request, perhaps in a more private setting at a later date. Wouldn't want to interrupt the party."

♡coded by uxie♡