[The victories have been plentiful lately, though not without their sacrifices. There is still some time before they can make their next move, as it falls with the season. Moving on Faerghus is best done in the warmer months after a long, cold winter. Their people will be weak from rationing after a poor fall harvest.
So for now Adrestia needs to boost moral first and foremost. A modest (for imperial standards) feast with plenty of wine. The Emperor seems to prefer the sweeter wines during the night while also gravitating towards fruits, vegetables, seafood and poultry. She'll avoid the gamier meats...
Throughout the night she'll visit everyone on her Strike Force to chat. When Ferdinand isn't consuming Hubert's attention like a sponge feeding on his negativity, the mage is following Edelgard around like a shadow. Though she pays no mind. He may chide her, but Hubert would not dare try to insist he knows better for her.
By the time she reaches Yuri it's well into the heart of the festivities. The evening sky has already gone dark; illuminated only by a waxing gibbous moon and the stars in the heavens.]
Enjoying yourself?
[The Emperor herself has been indulging; if her rosy cheeks are anything to go by.]
[Call the feast what you will, a distraction, a reward, a morale boost, either way, Yuri is definitely in favor of it. He's also never really done well in large groups, preferring one on one conversations, so he's posted up close to an ornate double door that opened to a balcony. He's had a drink in hand all night, slowly nursing a glass of wine, as he watches over his fellow Abyssians. Constance and Balthus both are commanding the attention of large crowds and Hapi seems content to simply enjoy the food and music in a quiet corner like Yuri.
Without really having a 'target' to get close to over the course of the evening, he sees no reason to throw himself at anyone. He and Dorothea had had a nice chat earlier and Bernadetta had very briefly appeared before quickly disappearing from the party again.]
Lady Edelgard. [Careful to hold his wine upright, he gives her something of a formal bow before relaxing back against the wall as he takes another sip of his wine.] Sure, I guess. What about you? Lost your tail for the moment? [As if Hubert didn't know exactly where she was.]
[With it being so far into the night at this point, and her preferred wine a sweet concoction that hides how insidious it can be, she looks over her shoulder to find this so-called 'tail'. Not to mention the Emperor is a complete lightweight. Though after a moment she tries to play it off as looking for Hubert.]
—Oh, well Ferdinand is keeping him quite occupied at the moment.
Actually a breath of some fresh air might do well by me. I will join you on the balcony.
[She steps out with a half goblet of wine still in hand. The Emperor prefers this specific balcony too. It overlooks the imperial gardens, and the floral smell of the seasonally late bloomers wafts up to them when the breeze is just right. Edelgard is glad that Adrestia does not get so cold in the later months.
When she was young she couldn't stand the cold of Faerghus winters, and even now she'd prefer to avoid any frosty chill.]
[Yuri slips through the doors after her, stepping out onto the balcony to lean against the ornate railing as he takes another drink from his own goblet. The breeze, though faint, still loosens some of her hair from her horned crown.]
You still haven't answered my question. [His tone has turned teasing at this point, assuming she hasn't told him if she's enjoying the party because secretly she's not.]
Have you danced yet? [Although quiet, the music being played inside is still audible.]
[Look, he had asked two questions and she at least answered one of them. However he deduces the truth: she's not enjoying the party. Mostly because she views it as another part of her 'job'. She needs to make sure her people are enjoying themselves so they'll be refreshed come the time they'll need to march out again. After all... none of them have the burning fire in them like she does to finish this and take down the church. None of them need to see revenge for family members taken from this world in the name of experiments for the power of crests.
She will die before her fire burns out, so there is no need for her to enjoy this night like the others should.]
I see. Sounds like a disservice to the musicians, don't you think?
[He tosses back the last couple of mouthfuls of wine in his goblet before setting it down on the railing of the balcony.
Yuri holds out his hand in invitation, though he doesn't plan to move all that much. A tipsy slow dance sounds wonderful to him right now though, sharing a bit of drunken warmth in the cool night air.]
[After having watched him put back his last few sips she looks at her own goblet. The gilded metal cup still a little under half full as it sits in her hand. She swirls the liquid gently before...
Knocking it back. It takes a few gulps, but the Emperor does not feel much at all like holding her drink while dancing. After emptying the wine she sets aside her goblet and takes his hand.]
I suppose, since you were my last to check on for the night. However do not cry if I correct your footwork.
[Ah, when was the last time she danced? During the Academy, perhaps. And with a partner she doesn't even remember the name of. Though perhaps that isn't saying much, because she doesn't remember the name of her dance partner before that either. The small boy with hair that shined like the sun, and eyes the color of the sky.
Is she doomed to forget Yuri, too? Or perhaps he'll be the first dance partner whose name she keeps.]
[He's not about to make her remember where her feet are supposed to be, taking her hand to pull her in close. His other hand moves to rest on her lower back though they're barely moving, tiny steps that really don't line up with the faint music.
Yuri isn't sure whether the wine has his head swimming or whether the gentle swaying movements were responsible. It's slow and pleasant though he wonders if Edelgard is simply placating him out of politeness.]
[The way they sway is a bit dizzying. At first she seems inclined to protest such closeness, but the longer they rock back and forth that inclination wanes. Instead the Emperor seems more likely to rest her head on his shoulder every time they shift their weight.
It might be a little funny to watch... her head tilting before snapping back up like a child avoiding nodding off for a nap.]
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no subject
Date: 2020-09-21 12:35 am (UTC)So for now Adrestia needs to boost moral first and foremost. A modest (for imperial standards) feast with plenty of wine. The Emperor seems to prefer the sweeter wines during the night while also gravitating towards fruits, vegetables, seafood and poultry. She'll avoid the gamier meats...
Throughout the night she'll visit everyone on her Strike Force to chat. When Ferdinand isn't consuming Hubert's attention like a sponge feeding on his negativity, the mage is following Edelgard around like a shadow. Though she pays no mind. He may chide her, but Hubert would not dare try to insist he knows better for her.
By the time she reaches Yuri it's well into the heart of the festivities. The evening sky has already gone dark; illuminated only by a waxing gibbous moon and the stars in the heavens.]
Enjoying yourself?
[The Emperor herself has been indulging; if her rosy cheeks are anything to go by.]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-21 04:25 am (UTC)Without really having a 'target' to get close to over the course of the evening, he sees no reason to throw himself at anyone. He and Dorothea had had a nice chat earlier and Bernadetta had very briefly appeared before quickly disappearing from the party again.]
Lady Edelgard. [Careful to hold his wine upright, he gives her something of a formal bow before relaxing back against the wall as he takes another sip of his wine.] Sure, I guess. What about you? Lost your tail for the moment? [As if Hubert didn't know exactly where she was.]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-23 02:18 am (UTC)—Oh, well Ferdinand is keeping him quite occupied at the moment.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-24 02:24 am (UTC)His gaze follows her's, though he ends up half distracted and not looking at Hubert at all, pale eyes back on her when she turns to answer him.]
Mm. [He nods.] You didn't answer my question... are you enjoying yourself? Want to step out onto the balcony? It's a beautiful evening.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-25 12:32 am (UTC)[She steps out with a half goblet of wine still in hand. The Emperor prefers this specific balcony too. It overlooks the imperial gardens, and the floral smell of the seasonally late bloomers wafts up to them when the breeze is just right. Edelgard is glad that Adrestia does not get so cold in the later months.
When she was young she couldn't stand the cold of Faerghus winters, and even now she'd prefer to avoid any frosty chill.]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-27 05:42 am (UTC)You still haven't answered my question. [His tone has turned teasing at this point, assuming she hasn't told him if she's enjoying the party because secretly she's not.]
Have you danced yet? [Although quiet, the music being played inside is still audible.]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-27 02:39 pm (UTC)[Look, he had asked two questions and she at least answered one of them. However he deduces the truth: she's not enjoying the party. Mostly because she views it as another part of her 'job'. She needs to make sure her people are enjoying themselves so they'll be refreshed come the time they'll need to march out again. After all... none of them have the burning fire in them like she does to finish this and take down the church. None of them need to see revenge for family members taken from this world in the name of experiments for the power of crests.
She will die before her fire burns out, so there is no need for her to enjoy this night like the others should.]
Mostly I have been checking on others.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-29 09:41 pm (UTC)[He tosses back the last couple of mouthfuls of wine in his goblet before setting it down on the railing of the balcony.
Yuri holds out his hand in invitation, though he doesn't plan to move all that much. A tipsy slow dance sounds wonderful to him right now though, sharing a bit of drunken warmth in the cool night air.]
Will you indulge me a little, Emperor?
no subject
Date: 2020-10-04 03:53 am (UTC)Knocking it back. It takes a few gulps, but the Emperor does not feel much at all like holding her drink while dancing. After emptying the wine she sets aside her goblet and takes his hand.]
I suppose, since you were my last to check on for the night. However do not cry if I correct your footwork.
[Ah, when was the last time she danced? During the Academy, perhaps. And with a partner she doesn't even remember the name of. Though perhaps that isn't saying much, because she doesn't remember the name of her dance partner before that either. The small boy with hair that shined like the sun, and eyes the color of the sky.
Is she doomed to forget Yuri, too? Or perhaps he'll be the first dance partner whose name she keeps.]
no subject
Date: 2020-10-05 03:59 am (UTC)[He's not about to make her remember where her feet are supposed to be, taking her hand to pull her in close. His other hand moves to rest on her lower back though they're barely moving, tiny steps that really don't line up with the faint music.
Yuri isn't sure whether the wine has his head swimming or whether the gentle swaying movements were responsible. It's slow and pleasant though he wonders if Edelgard is simply placating him out of politeness.]
no subject
Date: 2020-10-14 01:50 am (UTC)It might be a little funny to watch... her head tilting before snapping back up like a child avoiding nodding off for a nap.]