A Midsummer Night's Dance

[maidenthespade]

The week-long Deck event draws to a close, culminating in the Midsummer Night's Dream Ball sponsored by the Spades. Liveried footmen greet party goers, who begin to trickle in after sunset, and usher them into the winding wisteria arbor draped in fairy lights. Music of unseen fountains sings to them as they stroll through the arbor until at last

Comments

[aedificavi]

Friendly and harmless? Is it possible for the Magician to conjure such a face?

Then again, perhaps Burke isn't one to talk. Even wrangled into a suit, he himself can hardly manage to look anything like 'harmless.' That, on the other hand, isn't about his face; it's about the fact he can't be anything but a towering giant.

"You look well."

[stacks_the_deck]

Asarlai is certainly more capable of it than Turis.

Of course, his smile in Burke's direction is patently insincere, "I am at a lovely ball, enjoying this Deck's hospitality? How could I look otherwise?"

The comment that it hadn't been that long since Burke last saw him was also hovering, unsaid, except that they both had taken care to avoid each other's paths.

[aedificavi]

Oh, please. It's been ages since they've really seen each other, hasn't it?

"You could look a reasonable man." His tone, as often, is without depth, blunt and without inflection, but... well. Asmodai has been here quite some time now. Whatever the letters from home have instructed him to do, her influence this close this long is hardly a great benefit to his ability to remain within himself. "And not so contented with what we've found here."

[stacks_the_deck]

"A reasonable man, Turis? Like you?"

His raised eyebrow and tone say quite clearly his opinion of Burke's reasonableness.

[aedificavi]

Agree to disagree, clearly. It's the difference between them, after all. "Not unlike, Magician. One would think your time here would lead you to a better path."

[stacks_the_deck]

He smiled at the other man, teeth flashing, "I might say the same, my friend."

Perhaps some part of him missed calling Burke my friend without any trace of sarcasm.

[aedificavi]

Long ago and far away, it had been something important. Now, it's the sort of thing that brings out the lighting bolt of temper.

"And I would hear you say it, Gustave. You, on the other hand, will not listen."

[stacks_the_deck]

"You've never been particularly eloquent, Burke. How will you make yourself heard?"

And yes, that does indeed sound like a challenge.

[aedificavi]

"You're perfectly aware of the point I'll be making." True, the war-hammer was back at the Embassy, but it wouldn't be difficult to get.

This wouldn't be the first argument that had ended with that argument.

[stacks_the_deck]

"AS you ought to be aware of my opinion on your point and how misguided it is."

To say the very least.

The very, very least.

[aedificavi]

It takes amazing restraint not to knock out the nearest wall. Asarlai ought to be proud. "Perhaps we ought to take a poll."

[stacks_the_deck]

"Perhaps this isn't the time or place, Turis."

[aedificavi]

"Then perhaps you ought name a time and place that would suit you."

[stacks_the_deck]

"Very well."

Asarlai even raised his chin a little, stubbornly. He managed to keep his temper around so many others but Burke...

Well, Burke just managed to set him off in a way that not even Asmodai was capable of. And this had been coming for some time, anyway. "Outside the Embassy, then. After the full moon."

[aedificavi]

"I'll be counting the hours, old friend."

It would have been nice, perhaps, to say it without the sharp bite in the last two words. It's too late, clearly.