A Winged Masquerade [one x one]

[Rivkah]

Kane

Kane could not help but notice her scar as they ended the dance. He had seen it before, hoping it was a trick of the light. Winged didn't have scars. Or at least, they weren't supposed to. But they were such a new species, he still had no idea if such things were true. Either way, he would not judge. Maybe it was simply that Winged were too whiny to go out and get anything worth scarring yourself for. He shook himself mentally, knowing he should not be focusing on such things at this time. He had more important things to think about than a scar.
,
He ignored the dragon as it took its place back on her arm, focusing on her pretty face instead. Smiling, his eyes shining beneath his mask, he nodded eagerly at her suggestion of once a week. "That would be lovely," he said, not at all disappointed that it wasn't more often. Hearing the excuse, he accepted it as valid immediately. Some Winged parents were very strict about this sort of thing; he was glad his parents were too busy hosting the balls and pampering his younger brother on the other side of the mansion to care. He didn't feel much of a connection to his family, to be perfectly honest. They were never really close to him, and vice versa.

He gazed down at her, a crooked, goofy little grin on his face. Kane wasn't exactly the most uptight nor the most graceful of the Winged. He was pretty much the opposite of everything a Winged was supposed to be. He'd always been more of an outcast; the thoughtful loner with wings that weren't delicate nor beautiful in any way, and were based upon a scavenging bird. This was why he was so surprised that McKenzie didn't view him as a waste of her time. On the contrary, she also seemed nothing like a real Winged. This gave him hope that not all Winged were like the ones staying within his family's mansion.

[rose;]

roѕαlιe
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Rose could hardly contain her smile, and she smiled brilliantly; she didn't want to seem too eager. "Thank you," she said, reaching up and patting Ignis. She gaze at him for a moment- how crookedly he smiled, how he didn't seem perfectly perfect, how he was putting up with her... It was all too good to be true. But once a week... She could do this. She could come and dance, she could eat some good food, and drink some fancy wine if she wanted to. She didn't have to have to be frightened she'd get in so much trouble, didn't have to worry she'd get hit. Her biggest worry was stepping on his toes.

"One more dance before I leave?" She asked with a smile as she extended her hand, leaving it palm up for him to take if he so agreed. This song was lighter, quicker, but she didn't think that it would be too hard for him to teach her, since she ha caught the hang of it pretty easily last time, but then again, perhaps this dance was much more complicated. She didn't have any way of knowing, but she could hope she'd be able to dance once more before she had to go. She was worried that if she stayed too long that the change would come and she wouldn't be able to get away quick enough- she'd be found out. It was always so random, so unpredictable that she didn't want to stretch her limits and end up being unable to come back, unable to do anything really. She would be harassed and probably labeled an oddity, experimented on even. That thought sent shudders through her.

Ignis huffed, not at all interested in the idea if dancing. His claws tightened on her shouldered before he leapt from them, wings extended as he glide to the ground, landing rather clumsily. He scampered underneath the leaves of a low hanging bush, and by the sounds of it, used the leaves and branches to pull himself up onto the wall, where he appeared moments later. Or rather, his head appeared moments later, blinking slowly at the pair as he waited for the chance to climb back up into the girls shoulder. He growled lowly, unhappy that her attention wasn't on him any longer.

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[Rivkah]

Kane

"You are most welcome," was his automatic reply, as this was how he had been taught. To treat others with the utmost respect. His mother had also insisted to be aloof if this wasn't received and delivered back to you, but he never did, nor did he let it get to him. He smiled graciously at her, before momentarily lapsing into her own thoughts. It was hard not to, listening to the quiet evening and the beautiful music drifting into it whenever the orchestra in there became loud enough to be heard from out here, where it was much more blissfully tranquil. The thought made him smile as he counted his blessings. He would much rather be with her than out here alone. What a shame.

As she held out her hand for Kane to receive, he smiled broadly, dipping his head and taking it, fingers looping into hers. "It would be my pleasure," he said honestly, meaning every word. He began to guide her, though his movements were swift. "Step step, apart," he'd said, arm extending as they drew away from each other before coming back so he was right up against her, only one hand in hers this time, "Step, step, together." This repeated, before he said softly, "and apart." He took his hands away from hers, before showing her the footwork that came after; for dancers had to do this elaborate series of steps for each other, face to face, before they would be allowed to come back together again. When they did, he smiled at her, proud that she could catch on so quickly, though he knew some of it must be confusing for her. Yet she did the best she could, pretty far along for a first time.

He ignored how the dragon watched him, almost wanting to stick out his tongue immaturely and taunt, "She's paying attention to me!" but that was unmannerly and uncivil, not to mention downright childish. Yet he felt proud to have actually captured a woman's attention, even if there was nothing more than acquaintance behind it, because most his age wouldn't even give him the time of day enough for a chat, much less a dance. The dragon, like a couple he had witnessed before, obviously did not feel pleased around him, and Kane felt that secretly, that feeling was mutual. The dragon made him uneasy.

[rose;]

roѕαlιe
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Rose had known this song was going to be harder than the last, but it hadn't stopped her from asking. It should have. She couldn't even look up from her feet as they danced, and it looked as if she were taking it more as work than fun. She remembered this dance (or at least something similar) from her brief times spending her afternoons at the studio with the girls, and it did mean she was slightly better than she would have been then if she had never learned a thing. She only remembered it vaguely though- she knew she was supposed to do when they were apart, but couldn't remember it for the life of her. The first time she was spun away she gasped, not quite having expected it.

As the song went on, Rose had memorized the order of the steps, although her feet still hesitated and caused her to get caught up on the steps, and it sometimes too several beats for her to get caught up once more. She felt clumsy and out of place, but as she caught sight of her dress whirling around her ankles as she was spun back in a reflective surface she couldn't help but brilliantly grin. It made her features light up, made her even more pretty. But, the moment of looking up and away proved to be the end of that dance.

Not used to such quick steps, her foot caught on the back of her ankle as she moved back towards Kane, and with a loud gasp, her eyes growing wide, she pitched forward. She had liked dancing close to him- it was almost comforting and just nice, but she didn't want to be this close. She had her hands out to catch herself, and one landed upon his chest, bringing her up awfully close to him. Her cheeks grew red and hot quite quickly, and her breath caught in her throat. "I'm so very sorry," she said quickly, shaking her head and drawing back quickly. She bit her lip, sure that he might yell at her now. Her hands were wringing front of her nervously, everything have happening to quickly for her to make sense of it all, other than he smelled quite nice. "I didn't mean to trip, I'm so sorry," she said again quickly, shaking her head.
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[Rivkah]

Kane

They both knew she would need practice. Yet Kane was impressed, despite how clumsy she was, she had grace. With training, she would be the most envied dancer. He studied her, watching her falter yet pick herself right back up and keep going. He was proud that she did not get worked up over her mistakes. As the song started to close, he informed her cheerfully, "With a few lessons, you will be marvelous! You are doing well for a novice." He was prepared with patience.  What he wasn't prepared for was her misstep and tripping.

He caught her, going red as she did, seeing her hand flat against his chest. As she pulled back and began to stress over her apology, he caught her hand, kissed it, and silenced her with a wave of dismissal. "It was nothing, my friend. Accidents happen. I am afraid it is late, however, and this was our last dance. I do not want to exhaust you..." He bit his lip doubtfully. "I hope you do not find me rude. Do you live in the mansion? I can escort you to your room."

Kane personally was also getting tired. He smiled wearily at McKenzie, watching her dragon as it moved to take its place on her shoulder. "I will see you next week?" he prompted hopefully, excited by the very idea of it. He could see that the entire mansion was dark except the hallway lamps and the ballroom. It seemed every Winged had attended this ball. Now, however, he longed for the comfort of a bed. He stifled a yawn, not wanting her to assume she was boring him or anything of the sort. He smiled gently, before glancing at the ballroom. The ball would be over in an hour or two, it had to be close to midnight.

[rose;]

roѕαlιe
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Rose blushed even more red than before when he kissed her hand. It sent butterflies through her stomach, even though she told herself to knock any of that off immediately. It was pointless really, getting so worked up over things like this. He could be easily be tricking her, playing with her feelings, only to hurt her later. It wouldn't be impossible, it wouldn't be unlikely- the boys always seemed so heartless and cruel... But for some reason, he didn't seem the same. He seemed different, so utterly different... It was enticing and refreshing, and all around charming. He was charming. Rose couldn't have thought of someone she would have rather met at these dances.

"I... Alright," she managed to say, her eyes still downcast. She didn't mean to be so clumsy, but she wasn't used to having to keep herself in the perfect posture all the time, and dance at the same time. She was unused to even dancing, so she couldn't be expected to just do it perfectly and not trip the first time. At least he didn't seem to mind it, although she knew he must. No one simply did not care when someone fell into them. But, he was slightly different, so who knew? Maybe he really didn't mind too much. "Of course I do not find you rude, much the opposite," she assured him quickly, eyes widening as she wondered why he would think like such. He had not been rude to her in the slightest in all the time they'd spent together. Why would she think that for even a moment? "You've been nothing but kind," she said softly, and her words held a double meaning. He'd allowed a homeless human into his home (albeit, she had to work for him) and he had also shown that he was jut a little different than everyone else.

"I do not live here, I'm sorry," she said, finally looking up and making eye contact with him. "But next week it will be." She managed to smile softly, before she bravely took a step forward and tipped herself up onto her tip toes, just barely brushing her lips against his cheek. It could hardly be called a kiss, and she was gone again so quickly that it hardly could have been said she had done it. Rose quickly turned on heel, and her dress flared around her ankles as she quickly walked away, disappearing around the corner quickly. Her face flushed, growing hot, and Ignis growled in her ear, although she ignored him. She fled back to the ballroom quickly, weaving in and out f everyone before heading down the hallways. She made sure no one had seen her, and headed to her bedroom, slipping in unnoticed. She sighed blissfully, grinning at herself in the mirror. What a lovely night it had been.

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[Rivkah]

Kane

The boy smiled at her, but he was quickly caught off-guard at the light and brief kiss, so airily brushed against his cheek that it was almost nonexistent. He touched the side of his face, feeling it grow hot as she swiftly disappeared, as if part of a fairytale. "Yes, next week," he whispered, his heart beating wildly. A new sense of hope and excitement filled him in an almost childish way, and his good mood nearly lifted him up the stairs to his room. There he removed his mask, getting undressed from his formal wear and into more comfortable clothing that was suitable for sleeping in. Nothing could bring his mood down at this point.

He sat at the window, looking out at the stars as the ballroom music drifted up to his ears. "That was a wonderful night," he said quietly to himself, fingering the mask in his hands. He then laid it on his bedside table, looking forward to a week from now. Finally he felt sleep drag at his eyelids. He went to a water basin and splashed his face, before laying down for sleep. The music was the last thing he was conscious for before he slipped into a deep doze, content with how tonight went.

The next week went by quickly, and he found himself thinking about McKenzie every step of the way. Every ball he would think of their dance lessons, and now every time he went to his favorite place in the garden his thoughts would be on her. He counted off the days, surprised that time could make a week feel like a year. On the day of the night he was supposed to meet her again for lessons, he found himself very antsy for that night. He spent most of his time in the garden or reading to pass the time, or trying to think up new and exciting dances for him to teach her. And that trace of the kiss. It had been a kiss but it hadn't. If that even made sense to most people, but it made sense to Kane.

[rose;]

so... Where to skip to?

[Rivkah]

I guess it would be good just to jump to the next night they meet c:

[rose;]

I thought you had said you had wanted them to meet a few times when she was human, which is why I asked. But I can do that ^^