If there's one thing that every school-like scenario needs, it's the devilishly handsome historical re-enactors with too much flair and enthusiasm for their hobby. These aren't the sort of men you shove into a locker, though.
"Must you?"
These are the sort of men who will challenge you to a duel fistfight and then string you up by your
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Still, she can appreciate an intricate costume even if she's not a fashion expert like Kanaya. And so she approaches, smiling widely as she does so.
"Looking sharp, guys. Try not to make too much of a mess when you stomp on all those hearts."
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"Bonsoir," Athos replies quietly, sporting a faint smile. "You look well."
You can always tell a popular kid by their...hmmm, well. It's something in the air. Indescribable. A certain...je ne sais quoi, if you will.
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"Indeed so, Your Highness," Buckingham adds to the greeting with a swift and deep bow.
"Rest assured, they do make far better ornaments when undamaged."
Undamaged and ripped right out of the chest. Metaphorically speaking, of course~
The duke smiles broadly.
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There's something reassuring about being surrounded by nobility - sure, there are plenty of popular kids but not all of them grasp the additional pressures of being of such high rank.
And this other gentleman was incredibly polite.
"Yes, I suppose that's true. Far easier to clean up, too, though I'm sure there are others here who could be persuaded to do that for us if it came to it."
Metaphorical, yes, but the troll blood can't help but feed the more violent element to their conversation.
"And how are you both? No-one's been giving you any trouble, I trust?"
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There is a benefit to the event in that it certainly makes Athos a lot more talkative than normal. He examines his cuticles with the mild air of someone who would very much like to get a bit of ultra-violence fighting out of his system.
"I am..." Athos shoots Buckingham a sidelong glance and the tiniest twitch of another smile. "...well."
He turns his attentions back to Her Highness.
"I fear we shall become restless and indolent without amusement, and the whoresons that grace these halls all seem to have fled."
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"I find that all too often the thought of their very existence troubles me, but beyond that..."
He pauses for effect, standing even straighter than he did before, if such magnificent display of poise should even be possible.
"...they are hardly fit to lay a finger's tip on us."
The duke gives his moustache a twirl with a supreme air of disinterest.
"Out of sight, out of mind, as they say. And our sights have been clear all morn."
His expression becomes more animate again as he directs another smile towards Feferi.
"What of your day, Your Highness? I trust you have been well and undisturbed?"
There's a subtle 'Or else...!' lingering between the lines.
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Except, of course, she wouldn't have to deal with them at all if she played things right, if this conversation was anything to go on. There were benefits to being able to charm or sway others to do her dirty work for her.
At the Duke's question, she smiled. "The peasants have been keeping a wide berth, if that's what you mean. Although I've mostly been at the pool today anyway so they've had no cause or excuse to disturb me."
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So maybe he's the quiet-until-provoked type.
He cracks his knuckles and glances down one end of the hallway.
"I had no idea we even had a pool," he muses. "Funny, that."
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Wide grin in place Buckingham casts a conspiratorial glance from Athos to Feferi and back.
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At the Duke's musings, Feferi couldn't help but grin. "I have no idea, but I can guarantee they can't stay under as long as I can...well, with perhaps one exception."
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Surprise, surprise. Then again, Athos doesn't really acquaint himself with loads of people as a general rule. He's sort of anti-social, much of the time, unless it suits him otherwise.
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Using 'good-natured' in a sentence that also features Buckingham is a challenge in itself, although at least for this event the possibility seems to exist when it pertains to a little humour directed at his fellow fencing jocks.
Ah, but he must elaborate for the benefit of her Highness:
"You see, my dear friend fancies himself a rather skilled diver as well."
And - Lo and behold! - he adds:
"Certainly not without reason."
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"I'm afraid that I'm not part-fish," he replies quietly. "But it's nice to know that there's a place to practice swimming. The weather outside is a bit too cold to attempt a jump in the ocean."
A slight smirk at his friend, "And you should not take Buckingham's words at face value - as much as I appreciate the compliment, he embellishes."
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Much as smashing a loser's face into one brings him joy, it just doesn't quite compare to the feeling of seeing a winner's face smiling back at him.
He returns Athos' smirk and is back in the game.
"And where will you be heading now, Your Highness?"
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At Buckingham's question, she gives a smile and a shrug. "Wherever I feel like heading. Always fun to see where you end up when you wander where your whims take you. And it's not like anyone's going to get in my way."
Not if they have any sense.
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