It's Swing Time~

[cipherspeak]

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.

Note: Open to everyone and their brother; tag around, have fun!

Comments

[theacethatmatters]

"Perhaps it will be easier, later." When she's considered a woman of age, in the Deck, and can look her mother in the eye.

Probably not, parents tended to have this idea that once a child always a child, but it was a goal worth looking toward, anyway.

Especially since Eileen had developed so many connections in the Deck on her own. It left her rather...well-positioned, really. But that isn't the sort of thing he ought to comment on here or now.

[lowtohigh]

"Two more years can't be so bad."

Because in two years, she would be a woman. She would take control of her own life, undo the rank she had been handed and earn it properly; emancipate herself if she had to.

"Or maybe it-- will settle. Suppose we'll have to see."

[theacethatmatters]

"Likely it will pass before you even realize." That's how it tended to happen. Particularly at this stage of life.

"Especially if you have other things to focus on." Like, you know, visiting Spade Castle, maybe. Or riding out on Evander.

[lowtohigh]

Visiting Spade Castle--with or without Evander--wasn't going to be something her mother ever stopped her from accomplishing. There were, clearly, lots of reasons for this. Not just the man standing beside her.

Clearly.

"But she finds such fault with the other things I do focus on."

[theacethatmatters]

"Is that your fault then?"

Is she focusing on the wrong things? Or is it that she's focusing on things Argine thinks are the wrong things because they aren't the things she thinks her daughter should be doing?

[lowtohigh]

"That I don't live a life tailored to pleasing her?"

Clearly the second one. Entirely the second one.

"I'm sure, in many ways, it is my fault. I don't feel overly badly about it."

[theacethatmatters]

"I would think," he says thoughtfully as he leans down a bit so these words are for her ears only, "that fault I'm referring to lies in other people's perception."

Eileen, after all, has done nothing wrong, arguably. Except the whole coming to visit him when he was imprisoned thing. But really there wasn't anything else any reasonable parent should find objectionable.

[lowtohigh]

Of course that has her standing a little straighter. Of course she's got the ghost of a smile on her lips for having one of the few people whose perception does matter on her side.

"What, then? Better to just live one's own life?"

[theacethatmatters]

"Mmm," he says, more or less agreeably. "Certainly perception can matter. But I'd rather feel I didn't spend my life catering to it."

[lowtohigh]

"D'you cater to yourself? Or not even that?" A little light, maybe, a little flippant. But wasn't that better for a party?

[theacethatmatters]

"Who ought I cater to then, hmm? Any suggestions?"

Yes, they can lighten things up now. It is a party

[lowtohigh]

"Game theory requires me to nominate myself, you know, Julien. It can't be helped."

And it shouldn't be pushed what branch of game theory this was. That wasn't a light and party-like direction; at least, not for people who weren't Eileen.

[theacethatmatters]

Julien actually laughs at that.

"I believe you're right. I shall take it under consideration, my dear."

[lowtohigh]

That, right there, is a victory. A laugh at the culmination of proper time alone in a crowd? She's absolutely beaming.

"I do appreciate it." And down dips the curtsy, because what the hell else is she going to do in this ridiculous dress. "Thank you, Julien."

More for agreeing with her, listening to her and validating her, than anything else.