Dream ► 04
[Spoilers to Chapter 6: Where Am I. Unfiltered.]
The final strains of the song linger in the air, and the watching crowd breaks into polite applause as the dancers bow to each other and step apart. Chandeliers above keep the grand hall well lit, allowing the servants, bearing their trays of food and drink, to interweave their way between the nobles with ease. It is a celebration of the highest quality; it is not often that the four great dukedoms gather in one place, and no expense has been spared.
From the fringes, Gilbert watches. He is dressed in the same finery as the nobles around him, unruly hair tied back with blue ribbon and hands clasped loosely behind him. Narrow eyes and a tight expression set him apart from the rest, however, and every inch of his posture betrays his desire to be anywhere but here.
He starts as a low voice murmurs near his ear. "You don't seem to be enjoying yourself, brother."
"Tch." Gil closes his eyes. "I came as he requested. Isn't that enough?"
"Do not mistake me," Vincent replies lightly. "I am not here on father's behalf - I am only concerned with my brother's happiness."
The interlinked fingers clench tighter. "I'll be happy when this is over."
"And be miserable in the meantime?" When Gil is silent, Vincent tsks, but allows the quiet to settle. For a time, at least - a few minutes later, he gives a light exclamation. "Ah, but what perfect timing. It looks like a young lady is in need of a partner."
Gil stiffens. "I'm not interested in-"
"And it would be such a shame to leave her all alone at her first ball."
Before he can protest again, Gil suddenly finds himself stumbling forward, aided by a firm push to the back. His eyes fly open, arms spreading as he tries to regain his balance; a body bumps against him in a rustle of dress cloth and a startled gasp. Somehow they manage not to fall, but the damage is done.
"My sincerest apologies." Brother or not, he will have Vincent's head. "I hope I did not-" He pulls back, looks down, and freezes.
Ada Bezarius blinks wide eyes back at him. "Oh! Gil!"
A strangled noise escapes him, and his mouth twitches in something that would almost be a smile if it weren't so horrified. "M-Miss..." One of his hands is still resting on her shoulder, and he snatches it back as though burned.
She gives a quick, nervous laugh. "You've gotten very tall."
A single note from a violin makes them both jump, and sheer panic floods through him as he realises the next song is about to begin. It would be unbelievably rude to abandon her on the dance floor once the dance has started, but for someone like him to- with Oz's sister- oh gods above, what if Oscar is around-
"Gil." Ada's voice is kind, if ever so faintly wistful. "I understand if you don't want to..."
For a second longer he hesitates, but then he looks down again at the girl, at green eyes that are still familiar. His features soften, panic fading into an expression few would recognise. Gil takes a step back, tucks one hand behind him, and bows as he offers the other hand to the girl, gentle smile spreading. "Would you do me the honour, milady?"
She blinks at him, and shyness vanishes as she smiles in return and takes his hand. They step further onto the dance floor, and as the music begins in earnest, for a moment, it is almost as though that unspoken third presence is smiling too.
[Unfortunately, the celebration recently attended was not quite as mild as the one in the dream, and he groans as he tries to burrow deeper into the pillow and away from the morning light.]
The final strains of the song linger in the air, and the watching crowd breaks into polite applause as the dancers bow to each other and step apart. Chandeliers above keep the grand hall well lit, allowing the servants, bearing their trays of food and drink, to interweave their way between the nobles with ease. It is a celebration of the highest quality; it is not often that the four great dukedoms gather in one place, and no expense has been spared.
From the fringes, Gilbert watches. He is dressed in the same finery as the nobles around him, unruly hair tied back with blue ribbon and hands clasped loosely behind him. Narrow eyes and a tight expression set him apart from the rest, however, and every inch of his posture betrays his desire to be anywhere but here.
He starts as a low voice murmurs near his ear. "You don't seem to be enjoying yourself, brother."
"Tch." Gil closes his eyes. "I came as he requested. Isn't that enough?"
"Do not mistake me," Vincent replies lightly. "I am not here on father's behalf - I am only concerned with my brother's happiness."
The interlinked fingers clench tighter. "I'll be happy when this is over."
"And be miserable in the meantime?" When Gil is silent, Vincent tsks, but allows the quiet to settle. For a time, at least - a few minutes later, he gives a light exclamation. "Ah, but what perfect timing. It looks like a young lady is in need of a partner."
Gil stiffens. "I'm not interested in-"
"And it would be such a shame to leave her all alone at her first ball."
Before he can protest again, Gil suddenly finds himself stumbling forward, aided by a firm push to the back. His eyes fly open, arms spreading as he tries to regain his balance; a body bumps against him in a rustle of dress cloth and a startled gasp. Somehow they manage not to fall, but the damage is done.
"My sincerest apologies." Brother or not, he will have Vincent's head. "I hope I did not-" He pulls back, looks down, and freezes.
Ada Bezarius blinks wide eyes back at him. "Oh! Gil!"
A strangled noise escapes him, and his mouth twitches in something that would almost be a smile if it weren't so horrified. "M-Miss..." One of his hands is still resting on her shoulder, and he snatches it back as though burned.
She gives a quick, nervous laugh. "You've gotten very tall."
A single note from a violin makes them both jump, and sheer panic floods through him as he realises the next song is about to begin. It would be unbelievably rude to abandon her on the dance floor once the dance has started, but for someone like him to- with Oz's sister- oh gods above, what if Oscar is around-
"Gil." Ada's voice is kind, if ever so faintly wistful. "I understand if you don't want to..."
For a second longer he hesitates, but then he looks down again at the girl, at green eyes that are still familiar. His features soften, panic fading into an expression few would recognise. Gil takes a step back, tucks one hand behind him, and bows as he offers the other hand to the girl, gentle smile spreading. "Would you do me the honour, milady?"
She blinks at him, and shyness vanishes as she smiles in return and takes his hand. They step further onto the dance floor, and as the music begins in earnest, for a moment, it is almost as though that unspoken third presence is smiling too.
[Unfortunately, the celebration recently attended was not quite as mild as the one in the dream, and he groans as he tries to burrow deeper into the pillow and away from the morning light.]