houseofcards_rp | It's Swing Time~

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It's Swing Time~

It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out Elisha's motivation for organizing - or, honestly, delegating the organization of - a semi-formal dance party. Lucinda had suggested a ball, with stars in her eyes. She probably had already picked out ballgowns and themes in her head when Elisha had nixed the thing and - in a moment of desperation, with the memory of the swing-themed Fox wedding still in his head - suggest a Spring Swing, instead.

Everyone had run with it, and Elisha was pleased to say it had come out well. He was even more pleased to say that he didn't have to wear a suit, even if he stepped out into the lantern-lit gardens in everything but the tie. He paused near the raised dais provided for dancing and gave the small band the signal to start up the music before he attempted to fade back in the crowd. Not that that ever worked.

"Let the games begin," he murmured to no one in particular as he picked up a glass of champagne off a tray.

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The sight of Eileen in a dress that wasn't black surprised Pierre; the flower in her hair was even more shocking, but he managed to school his expression into calm neutrality. Fortunately, he'd had years of practice at precisely that, so it wasn't overly difficult for him.

When slower music began, he bowed as was appropriate for a Ten to his Ace, then offered his hand to her. "May I have this dance, my Lady Eileen?" He'd be slow with her, gentle. Would possibly even smile for her. Maybe.

First, she had to accept the dance, of course.

It had to be done. In fact, it ought to have been done with a brighter colour. How in the world was Leigh meant to pick her out of the world without something distinctive about her?

And, well, looking soft had gotten a few appropriately-aged young men approaching her, if not actually getting the nerve to ask her to dance. That seemed to be reserved for gentlemen over the age of 20.

It didn't matter. Eileen possibly even preferred it, from the look of her little grin as she took Pierre's arm easily. "It would be my pleasure, Pierre."

"No, miss. I assure you that the pleasure is mine," he chuckled coolly as they assumed their places on the floor. The music began, and so did their movements. He held her close, but not questionably so; his arm was tight around her waist, but not painfully so.

"You look flawless this evening, if I may say so, my Lady."

At least slow was a good break from the energetic sort of jumping that had been going on most of the evening. That, more than anything, had the girl smiling her own easily bright smile.

"That's more than kind, really." Her vote was still with 'looking like a blue cupcake,' but everyone else seemed to find the aesthetic. "I'd have settled for looking moderately put together at this hour. Have you been enjoying yourself?"

"As much as can be expected, considering how little I generally care for parties and dances," he chuckled. He didn't have much to say on the matter, but that was fine. Eileen didn't expect him to have a wealth of words at his disposal. It was freeing, to say the least.

"I trust you're enjoying yourself, as well?"

There's a genuine spark to her smile as she bobs her head enthusiastically. True, she's more predisposed to enjoy this sort of thing anyway, but that doesn't mean an unguarded smile isn't a fairly precious commodity.

"I am. Very-- very much. I wish all these sorts of things were so bright and cheerful. It's a completely relief from the usual stuffy event."

Dipping her low, Pierre offered a slight quirk of his own lips as he looked down at her, amusement on his face. "Perhaps you should say as much to the organizers of such events. I suspect they would be more interested in your opinions than in mine, for example, hmm?"

And even if not, it couldn't hurt for her to feel like she had a hand in the planning, right?

"That's not true."

Well, maybe it was. But only in as much as the organizers were Elani and Elisha, her old friend and her adoptive father. Her point was that of an Ace speaking to a Ten.

"The point is to make something everyone can enjoy."

"I may be wrong, but it seems to me that everyone is enjoying this." With a few noteworthy exceptions, but he wasn't going to point that out to her. She didn't need to have such dreams crushed before they'd begun, after all.

He twirled her out and then back to him before lifting her high with a firm grip on her waist; he wouldn't let her fall. When he set her back to rights, the slow dancing began once more.

It was enough that most people looked entirely cheerful. It was enough that people were smiling generally, that Pierre was swinging her up through the air to get her laughing.

"It does seem to be a success."

When the music ended, he bowed deeply to her, finishing with an elegant flourish that probably seemed strange coming from him. Her laughter brought a small smile to his face, after all, genuine though it was.

"Then I think the goal has been reached."

Even just the twitch of a smile feels like a victory. She's more than happy to take it.

And to do her best to curtsy despite still not being entirely certain how to negotiate that in a skirt this length.

"Thank you for a lovely dance, Pierre. I don't suppose I can persuade you to try some of the cake as well before you go?"

If she stumbled, he would catch her, of course. As a Ten, it was his duty. Of course, his own purposes were served as well, but that was irrelevant at the moment.

"I wasn't aware that there was cake to try, actually. If you'll sit with me for a little while and have some with me, I don't see why I can't give it a try."

"You're not particularly good at parties, are you."

Absolutely not a question. Just as he's absolutely not getting a choice about having her fingers catch at his to tug. Clearly it's her official Ace duty to educate the Ten on what a snack table is.

"I've never attended one of my own volition before," he responded dryly, letting himself be dragged off.

Snack tables, he could manage. Feeding alcohol to a minor, he could handle like a pro. Education in the finer points of party etiquette, however, even his domineering mother couldn't manage to drill into him.

This, at least, was a fairly good snack table. Lots had been dragged back by returning Clubs, and Gideon was absolutely no slouch in the kitchen when it came to whipping things up.

"Who dragged you to this one, then? Am I keeping you from someone special?"

He arched an eyebrow yet again as he took cake for himself and Eileen, grabbed two forks and two napkins, then gestured with a nod for her to find somewhere for them to sit.

"I came on my own. I don't particularly have anyone, my little Ace." Not necessarily true, but good enough for his purposes. Briony didn't count, and Rachel absolutely didn't.

And onward to a table, chairs tugged out so he doesn't have to bother while his hands are full.

"So you came on your own but not of your own volition? Or are you breaking your own rules?"

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about," he said dryly as he sat his ass down and placed the plates on the table before them. "I chose to be here and I'm here by myself. Unless, of course, you're implying that I have no right to be here without a date."

"Certainly not. It's more a desire to understand your particular motivation for coming to this one."

In an idle sort of way. Clearly cake was equally or more important.

"By your own report, you've never come to a party of your own volition before, which either means you've only ever been dragged or you've actively decided against them your entire life. But you're here, which seems to imply either someone brought you here against your personal inclination, whether or not physically, or you've changed your mind entirely about wanting to come to a party, which surely must be a seismic mental realignment."

"Maybe I was bored." Being holed up in the castle all night did, after all, get to be entirely uninteresting after a while, and Briony was otherwise occupied tonight. He hadn't bothered to find out what was keeping her busy; it didn't seem important.

"Anyway, the majority of the ones I get dragged to are my mother's formal gatherings, not that I expect that to matter much to you, Lady." Wherein he's reminded that he's an embarrassment, but still has to attend, for one reason or another.

He never claimed to understand women.

They are inexplicable creatures. But there's nothing to be done about that.

"I don't see why it shouldn't matter." She taps her fork lightly on the edge of the plate, not quite taking a bite. "If only for entirely selfish purposes."

Like complaining about mothers.

"I'll follow the conversation, if you'll lead it." And, to encourage her to chew on her own cake, he took a bite of his. It wasn't great, if only because he wasn't particularly a fan of sweets, but it was by no means terrible, so it was worth it.

"Who knows? I might even have something worth adding to it."

That did remind her to take a piece of cake onto her fork, but lifting it to her lips was distracted by the need to huff a bit of a sigh, lean her chin into her palm with her elbow on the table.

"I suppose it's different for you, though. Girls and their mothers aren't the same as boys with their mothers."

"Feelings of rejection are similar across the board, Miss Eileen," he corrected. "But what most people don't know is how much their mothers do care for them." He knew exactly how much his mother cared for him; unfortunately, that happened to be 'not at all.'

Oh well.

"What is it that Lady Argine has done lately to frustrate you, little lady?"

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