Quincentennial Celebration in Tartarus [IC/Closed]

[Gehenna Tartarus]

The Elven Imperium

Marissa looked between Andy and Alyssa as the elf prince spoke and she had to stop herself from rolling her eyes or laughing out loud. She assumed that her cousin was fascinated with Andy, but it appeared that the prince felt the same about Alyssa. The younger princess was more than a little worried that her more naïve relative would become so infatuated with the whole fairytale of marrying an elf that she would actually do so. It was lucky for her that she had a cousin to look out for her.

“Oh, no, Anorpaur is fine,” she said, smiling sweetly so as not to offend him. Unlike her cousin, Marissa was actually having less trouble than Alyssa with the pronunciation and she did not want to get overly familiar, especially if her best friend was fond of the prince. “The dancing should resume shortly, in about five minutes. So if you are not finished, we can always wait for the next one.”

Alyssa nodded her head. “The dancing starts, but the dining hall is still open for people who waited or are not interested in dancing,” she added, with a smile. She had barely eaten much from her plate, which still looked about half full, but she lowered her cutlery to show that she was done and then picked up her glass. “I am looking forward to the fireworks. There is supposed to be a large display, which will be televised for those who could not make it in to Erebus.” She paused for a moment. “Do you have televisions?”

To Marissa it seemed like an odd question, as she assumed that everyone had televisions, but then when she thought about it, the novels always gave the impression that elves were natural beings that were not into the whole technology thing. She looked at Andy, quite interested in the answer.

[Gehenna Tartarus]

Ellenith, Hugo, Kana, Mara, Nicholas & Tia

Each of the three Tartarians at the table fell silent at the question and gave it some thought. It had come out of the blue and although they were eating, it was a leap from the previous topic of conversation, although at least one of them was glad they were off of the sex and marriage topic. Not that she had any issue with either, but in a room full of Tartarian nobles an unmarried young lady did not talk about sex and was very cautious about talking about marriage, just in case a rumour was started.

Hugo was the first to answer. “Well, I would have to say it was octopus, with the suckers,” he said looked at Nicholas, who nodded his agreement. The two young men had gone on their tour together, with their friends Harry Greenham and Richard Melberry. “But I am not sure I can claim to have eaten it, more had at taste.”

“We had a sample of some at a fish place in…now where was it?” Nicholas asked, his brow furrowed in thought. “Was it the Dominion…or…not that it matters where we had it, it was definitely the weirdest thing for me.”

Tia laughed. “I am not even sure what they called half the things that we had on the hunt,” she said, wrinkling her nose at the memory. “It was basically what we caught was for dinner.” And then there was the time that the quarry fought back and ate what they caught. “Some strange Roanian beast, but it actually tasted pretty good.”

[Klowr]

"Well as long as they have fish I'm okay," Dianne said with a grin, hopefully this place doesn't have spicy food or stuff like that. She hated spicy food, detested it. She motioned to the waiter for more wine. She did have a sudden crazy need for ice-cream, as she hoped that there was for the celebration.She suddenly realised her phone was ringing, picking up the phone and talking. She put down the phone with a grim look, her nation had just gone to war. But she had to continue in the celebrations; her role was to be here now. Turning to her wine, she gulped it down with her whole gulp, still hoping to continue her smile.

Turning to Stuart, "I hope your nation has some fine ice-cream," saying with a chuckle.

[New Naggoroth]

Aeselle

"Quite proud, yes indeed," Aeselle said with a smile and a nod to Commander Valcione. She then continued, though with a bit of a bemused smile in response to Joshua's question, "Unfortunately, Scarlet was unable to join us for the trip, as she's busy interviewing for schools to attend in the new year. As Ellenith has already secured herself a seat at the Tor Firossi, she was free to join me. I'm sure she would have loved to have attended, though, as she just loves these types of court functions."

"Which reminds me," Aeselle once again turned to address Valcione, "Scarlet had asked me to inquire about visiting Solont sometime, in an official capacity or otherwise. Would this be something we might be able to arrange?"

---

Ellenith

Elly gave Kana a smile as she squeezed her offered hand, wordlessly thanking her for the support, while she thought to herself that that it was good that at least someone sympathized. Thankfully no arrangements for marriage had been made, yet, and she still prayed that her father would opt not to inflict such a thing on her, even if this did mean that her younger brother would likely end up with an unwilling betrothal instead.

"Something strange that I've eaten?" she asked out loud, as Mara changed the subject to something less serious, though with her apparently typical lack of finesse. "Well, it's not really strange to me, but I doubt anyone here could stomach good Lhunaris lemon sherbet. My brother, who's half naggorothi, can barely eat it without his eyes watering, and my father can't stand it at all. Far too tart for Roanian tastes, it seems, and as far as I'm aware humans are about the same," she then grinned mischeviously, "Although, if you wanted to try some later, there's some on my ship. Though I think we might only have strawberry and jhord..."

[New Edom]

Mara, Ellenith, Nicholas, Hugo, Tia, Kana

"I can understand the octopus startling you if you're not used to eating such fare. you know what, I mostly find that it is the tastelessness that bothers me about it, it's like chewing on your own cheek or something, ya know? But yeah, octopus, squid, cuttlefish--now if you cook them in a wine sauce or something--but then anything is good if you cook it in good sauce or fry it, to be blunt." she said with a laugh. "But Ellenith, what's so weird about eating fruit? I mean we've all had lemons, what's the big deal?"

[Gehenna Tartarus]

Klowr & The Elven Imperium

When Dianne spoke, Stuart looked at her plate that the waiter had put in front of her moments earlier and hoped that when she was ordering she had asked for fish. “Why not try your food,” he said, politely indicated the meal choice that was waiting in the place before her. Before he could say any more, she answered her phone in the middle of their conversation and he frowned a little, as talking on the phone while with company was something that Tartarians found extremely rude, but then he decided that with the amount of alcohol that she had consumed, she probably did not know who she was, let along anything about manners.

“There will certainly be ice cream,” he reassured her, even though he had said there would be earlier in the conversation. He was seriously worried that she had consumed far too much and when the waiter arrived with another bottle, he shook his head and the waiter walked away. “Is your meal alright?” He asked Selessca, as he prepared to tuck into his own.

[Gehenna Tartarus]

Ellenith, Hugo, Kana, Mara, Nicholas & Tia

Hugo looked at Ellenith and smiled, seeing the wicked twinkle in her eyes. “I think I am going to pass on your kind and generous offer,” he said, giving her a smile. “I have the feeling that we would regret it.” He had heard that some places had food that was so sharp and bitter that it was almost painful to eat, food that would make the normal lemon seem like a sweet. He then turned to Mara. “As for the octopus, it was not bad, it was just different. But different can be good sometimes, right?”

He paused for a moment and looked towards the ballroom, where the musicians could be heard warming up. “Are you all ready for some more dancing?” He asked, hoping that he was not rushing anyone. He had eaten enough and was ready to continue with having fun. “Who have I not danced with?” He looked at Ellenith and Tia, wondering if he could persuade the latter before she disappeared after Perrin. “Tia, you look like you have finished dining. Would you care to join me for the next dance?”

Tia, who had been gazing off at Perrin, looked back at Hugo a little startled. “Dance? Um…sure,” she said, catching back up with the conversation. “I would be honoured, unless of course, someone else would like to dance. I am more than willing to wait for a later one. Mara, would you care to dance again?”

Nicholas looked up at his cousin, who was already on his feet, and gave him a shake of the head, before grinning. “I am going to remain here until after we’ve all finished and then I would be honoured to dance with one of you charming ladies.”

Tia continued to look at Mara, almost begging her with her eyes, so that she could chase down Perrin.

[New Naggoroth]

Ellenith

"Well, Lady Mara, it's interesting and, ah, 'weird' for the exact opposite reason of your dislike of the octopus. You see, the naggorothi palate requires more stimulation then a humans to generate a similar response," she explained, quite happy to slip into Elly the Scientist mode, if only for a moment. "What this means is that our foods are much more extreme in their use of flavourings and spices and such," she paused, and grinned as Hugo deduced the mischeif in her offer, "Yes, I would think that you might regret it, unless you're possessed of an extreme sweet tooth. So back to your original question, Lady Mara, while I'm sure everyone here has had lemon-flavoured desserts before, how many here would slice and eat whole, raw lemons on a regular basis? Not too many, I'd imagine. So, weird enough?"

[The Elven Imperium]

To Klowr and Gehenna Tartarus

Selessca was surprised that Dianne didn't want to continue the conversation. The woman seemed more interested in the food and weather the ball was serving ice cream. Selessca was rightfully confused and dismayed. No Elven diplomat or politician would make such a fax pas while talking to a dignitary of another country. Selessca didn’t show her dismay at Dianne performance. Selessca simply noted the experience. Selessca noted from now on when dealing with the woman that she could expect some flightiness from the lady. Selessca wonder if that was a common trait of older humans. Elven when they aged lost little of their physical or their mental capacity. Human on the other hand seem to lose a lot of both when they aged. Selessca wonder if Dianne was at the age when human began to lose some of their mental capacity.

Undaunted by the Klowrian display. Selessca turn to Stuart. The man had asked her about her meal. "Oh yes, it is quite nice. I had enjoyed some of your food with Lord Greenham before I was introduce to you all. So I my appetite might seem small, but I assure you all I rather enjoy the food prepared by your people." Selessca said with a smile. Selessca to prove her point took a spoonful of her food and ate it. Selessca then turned back to Stuart. “So Mr. Marsten. What is you duty for your fair nation?” Selessca was curious of this man. He held no title, but he must be important to attend a official function like this ball. Selessca looked at the man and waited for his reply

[The Elven Imperium]

To Gehenna Tartarus

Andy nodded as he listen to what Marissa said. He was a little surprised that the young princess did not accept his offer to use the friendly name of Andy. He wonder was it because she was more formal then Alyssa or that the Marissa didn't want to show to much closeness because of Alyssa. Andy put those thoughts away. He was here to enjoy a time with Alyssa and Marissa. So he would enjoy his time with them. "Well I have already enjoyed my meal. And to be honesty I rather enjoy dancing. I wouldn't mind start dancing when the Dancing resume. Of course if either of you ladies would prefer to sit and talk some more I would not be adverse to that." Andy said with a smile.

Andy thought about what Alyssa said. "Oh wonderful Alyssa. I have never seen human fireworks before. Could I accompany you to view that display?" Andy was rather look forward to seeing fireworks. He wasn't lying about never seeing fireworks. Elves did celebration with music and dancing not explosions and display of pyrotechnics. Andy pause as he consider her question. "Oh yes we have televisions and Tele-caldrons. The Empire as begun to develop many entertainment enjoyed by human beings. As our contact grows with humanity, I believe we will adopt many of the best of humanity. Oh let me show you and example of our blending of a human idea with our magically know how." Andy pulled his Tele-Crystal out. It look like a ordinary Emerald crystal. Andy moved his hand over the crystal a few times. Glowing words of Elven appeared on the crystal and some images as well. Andy siffed thru them for a moment and then stop at one. Andy said "AH" and then press on the image. The spot where the ladies was now filled with a image of a underwater city and landscape. Everything was moving like, like they where really there. Fishes and sea moved around them like they where underwater. The Sea Elves people also carried on their dally activities as normal. Andy had made sure that only the princesses and himself could only see the image. He turn back to the ladies. "This one of favorite images of one of the Sea Elves cities. It was truly magnificent. " Andy himself paused for a moment to take in the beauty of the imagine. He truly enjoyed his visit to the Sea Elf kingdom many years ago. Andy turned to Alyssa. "This one of the many places I promise to take you when you visit the Empire. As I said I will guaranty you a memorial trip."· Andy gave Alyssa a warm smile.

Andy let the princesses enjoy a full view of the image for a few minutes before he ended the imagine. Andy then waited to see the young ladies reaction to the imagine

((OCC: This a picture simular to what I am trying to show the ladies.))

[Gehenna Tartarus]

Klowr & The Elven Imperium

Stuart took a few bites of his food, savouring the flavours and textures as he chewed. He got the feeling that the princess was a little taken aback by Dianne’s response, but he was sure that she would be back to her usual self once she had eaten some of the food that had been put down in front of her. He felt a trifle guilty for allowing her to drink so much before dinner, but at the same time, he was not her keeper and to refuse her the alcohol would have been considered rude and she had not drunk that much that would have her kicked out of any paying bar.

“I am the Secretary of State,” he said, to Selessca’s question. “I help oversee the general running of the Empire.” He might not have a Lord before his name, but he still held some authority in the nation, as a high ranking member of the government. His family tree would show that he had some noble blood and was distantly related with some of the titled people in the room.

[Gehenna Tartarus]

The Elven Imperium

Marissa had refused to use Andy instead of Anorpaur because she did not want to appear overly familiar and she was trying to set an example for her older and obviously not wiser cousin, who seemed to be swept along by the elf’s charm. She had already agreed to go to elf land and if she was not careful, they could possibly be engaged before the end of the evening. Not that she really thought that would happen, he would have to ask permission from only her parents by the Empress would have to give her blessing too.

“I would love to dance once the music restarts,” Marissa said, as she looked at her cousin. “If you do not mind, that is.”

Alyssa looked first at Andy and then at Marissa. “No, I do not mind. I think the orchestra is getting ready to start up again,” she announced, straining to hear in the other room. “Marissa loves to dance and I can understand her desire to get you on the dance floor.”

Marissa fought the urge to roll her eyes and was grateful when Andy changed the topic, until she realised that he was back to showing them amazing things about his nation. More things to tempt her dozy cousin with. “That’s beautiful,” she stated, as the picture swam around them. It was truly impressive.

“I cannot wait to see it,” Alyssa cooed, her eyes wide and her hand reaching out to touch the images around them. “It is so beautiful and enchanting.”

“So, Prince Anorpaur, shall we dance?”

[New Edom]

Lady Mara? Mara thought. Who's that? But she smiled and said, "Well, Lady Ellenith, I've been known to eat the odd lemon." she flashed a grin as dancing was mentioned and felt that Tia was almost psychically wriggling in her seat; she looked demure but she could read her, and said, "I'd love to dance, yes, by all means...but you'll have to find someone else, I'm dancing with Hugo again, if he'll have me that is," she said, with a curtsey to him and her eyes lowered like a proper young woman's should be.

[Solont]

Hugo, Mara, Ellenith, Tia, et al

“I don't even know what a lemon is,” Kana said with a sweet and innocent smile, unaware that a slice of the tarty fruit was adorning her plate, next to where the salmon had been. She didn't have much of a sweet tooth; the institute where she had grown up had kept her a strictly regimented diet which, while not terrible, was altogether too bland. Her mother, too, was used to a military diet, built more around calories than flavor. Living together, the two of them had only just started to expand their culinary horizons. “That does sound like it would be a bit too sweet for me, Ellenith, but I'm willing to try anything once,” Kana said, smiling, before quickly clarifying with, “Well, as long as it's not, like... fermented toxic waste, or something.”

“As for the weirdest thing I've eaten... I guess it's a toss up. I lived on the streets for a few months, and once ate a rodent that James caught. I mean, we cleaned and cooked it first, but it was still pretty gross,” Kana said, sticking out her tongue. It wasn't the most pleasant experience in the world for her at the time, but it was something she could look back on and laugh. “But when I went on Pilgrimage last year, one of the sky wyrms that live over the Sahma desert died. They're these huge creatures, like segmented worms, but they're covered in rocky plates and have leathery skin. They float using special gas bladders and the biggest ones can grow almost a mile long! They're too long-lived to farm and too rare to hunt, though, so you can only harvest them when they die naturally,” Kana explains, excited to be recounting this story. “They've got enough meat on them to feed a whole village for almost a year! I was really lucky. I passed through that town just a few days after the harvest festival started, so I got to try all the dishes they make from the wyrm meat. They even candy some of it, and it's better than you might expect!”

And with that, Kana sat back, having thoroughly satisfied her desire to talk everyone's ears off. The food she had just eaten was delicious, a veritable cornucopia of exotic new flavors for her virgin pallate. She didn't want to be boring, though, and just say that 'This meal is the weirdest thing I've eaten.'

“I would love to dance,” Kana said, gently scooting back from the table. “It's my favorite thing, after all. It'll have to be a slow dance, though. I think I ate too much...”

[Gehenna Tartarus]

Ellenith, Hugo, Kana, Mara, Nichola & Tia

Both Hugo and Nicholas listened to the talk about sweet and sharp food with interest, even though they had not tried the lemony food stuff that was being spoken of, and when Kana started to speak of wyrm meat, they both looked at her with interest, one because they had never seen a wyrm let along tried eating one and the other thought she had said worm, which had him visualising giant worms flying over the nation, at least until the penny dropped.

“Solont sounds like an interesting place,” Hugo said, having been the one to have heard properly. “I would love to get the chance to go to a wild nation and see some of the interesting wildlife on offer.” As he spoke, he could not help running his gaze over Kana and having thoughts that he was glad she could not read. “But that is for another time. Now we dance.” He was a little annoyed that Tia was trying to avoid him, but his face did not show it as he offered his hand to Mara and smiled charmingly at her. “Shall we?”

Nicholas now had the issue of having three ladies in his company and only him to do the dancing. “Miss Solis, I would be honoured to escort you onto the dance floor.” He was wondering what to do about Ellenith, when his good friend Harry walked past their table. “Greenham, do you have the next dance free?”

Harry looked at his friend and then at the ladies at the table, giving them a polite bow and Tia a warm smile. “The next dance is free,” he said, having looked over at Selessca and seeing her in conversation with Stuart Marsden. “May I entice one of you ladies to a dance?” He asked, finishing with his gaze on Ellenith thanks to some subtle indication from Nicholas.

Tia, meanwhile, was waiting for a good opportunity to interrupt Perrin and invite him for a stroll on the patio.

[The Elven Imperium]

To Gehenna Tartarus

In response to Marissa statement, Andy stood up from the table. He turned to Marissa and offer his hand. Once Marissa accpted Andy's hand. He lead her to the ballroom and on to the dance floor. As the dance begun, Andy beagn to slip into his more formal mode. He was not about to apear bad in front of both the princesses and the other guests. Andy use his Elven supernatural agility and garce to make sure his performance was perfect. Every move was excuited with astoning grace and poise. As he danced he made sure to try to ctach a glimse of Alyssa. He tried to do it in a may that hopefully would not ctach Marissa attention. He did not want to be rude to the young princess. So he made sure that his glimpses where where momentary and nealry unnoticeable. Andy indulce in a couple of glances at Alyssa before giving his full attention to the young princess.

As he danced, and decided to break the ice. "So Marissa, Alyssa said that you never met a Elf nor danced with one. I am what you expect?". Andy continued to dance, as he waited on Marissa reply.

[Gehenna Tartarus]

The Elven Imperium

Marissa allowed herself to be led to the dance floor, allowing a moment to look back at her cousin to make sure she was not upset about being left. At the same time, the princess knew a lot of people at the party and would likely just go catch up with one of her friends, which was exactly what she did when the couple walked away. The fairer princess dropped into a curtsey and then took her position in the dance, her hands lightly touching Andy’s hand and shoulder.

“It is indeed true that I had not met an Elf before meeting you,” she answered, her face tilted up towards his so that she could watch his face as he spoke. Her lips were held in a charming smile and her eyes seemed to twinkle with fun, but there was a more serious note behind her look. It was not that she did not trust the prince, but he seemed to be enchanting her cousin and she was not going to let her dearest friend be left heartbroken or hurt by a brief encounter. “You seem to live up to my expectations. I would not be able to expand on that, because we have just met and I do not like to base too much of my opinion on first impressions. It can be so easy to get the wrong impression of someone, do you not think?”

Although he might think that she was not paying attention to his brief glances towards Alyssa, she managed to catch every one. If she had not been brought up so well or more importantly she was not in the middle of the Empress’ ball, she would have asked him what his intention towards her cousin was, because it could not be love, they had just met and knew nothing about each other, but it could be lust. She had read stories about lustful elves who whisked humans away to live in their mystical palaces.

[New Edom]

Princess Mara

"I'd love to dance," said Mara, smiling at Hugo.

Mara would, in the months to come, regret not urging her family to consider an alliance with the Tartaran Royal Family. Hugo was so handsome, so charming, so strong. She would wonder what had possessed her and would realize that she found the idea of such a man daunting. Would she suffer her mother's fate, be a royal item of display for a handsome charming man who preferred for incomprehensible reasons of his own to dally with any woman but her, taking her to his bed only for reasons of maintaining appearances? Would affection and fondness be her lot? It would not matter so much as realizing that she had chosen a path away from the possible arms around her as at this dance, and that much woe and bloodshed would be the result.

But she had no idea of that this night; she was simply enjoying being whirled around the floor, her feet moving lightly, smiling at him. "I'm having a really great time. Are there going to be any dances like Mazurkas or Baccarolles or anything like that Hugo?"

Perrin

Perrin approached Tia, and bowed. He had had no idea that she had been missing him during the dinner; he had just been enjoying in a way taking a break; all this romancing was sometimes a bit emotionally intense, and duty was a fine way to take his mind off it. Now that it was here again he was like a man who had had a good nap and was ready for action again. "Mademoiselle, s'il vous plaix, Je ve danser avec vous, avec vottre permission." he said in terrible french, solemnly bowing.

[The Elven Imperium]

To Gehenna Tartarus

Andy continued to dance with Marissa. He continued to dance at his best ability. He though a little at her statement. "I agree that one should no base a person on first impresions. But I am general ly what I show here. I valve honesty, and try to show it as much in my life as possible. So that being said. I am prety sure you have some questions you like to ask me. I have questions I'd like to post to you if possible." Andy paused for a monet to let his statement sink in. "Don't think cause we are at a diplomatic setting you have to be diplomatic. Your cousin Alyssa was very kind to me here at this ball. I would like consider her a friend is that is possible. So in that spirit because not only cause your her cousin, but best friend I would like to entend you the same curtiousy. So ask what ever question you like. I am at your service."

Andy danced some more before he dared a question. "So Marissa what do enjoy to do when you not dancing with Elven princes...or watching out for your best friend." Marissa was good she manage to spot the Vyshaan prince trying to sneak glimpses at her cousin. But Andy was raised in a Elven political family, one of the best in the Empire. With thousands of years of practice. Andy might have been young and not the best politician. Still he was trained by the best, with hundreds of years experience. Even if he din't follow his teachers' advice too often. His training didn't stop Marissa from catching him looking Alyssa, but it did allow him to notice her looking at him looking at Alyssa. Andy decide to go bold and ask the question. If she ignored the accusation he let the matter lie. If she took it up he would be honest with her. Andy had no problem with Marissa being protective of Alyssa. He himself had friends who did that for him. But what he want was none of the political evasion that royals did so they would answer a straight question. He suspect that she would want to know his intention with Alyssa. Andy had every intention to answer the question truthful if asked.

Andy looked at Marissa as he dance waiting for her reactions.

[Gehenna Tartarus]

Hugo & Mara

Hugo had offered Mara his hand and led her on to the dance floor, giving her his most charming smile. Despite what he had been told about the princess, he found it oddly refreshing to speak to someone who had not been trained all their lives on how not to say the things that she wanted to say. Some of the younger nobles were getting a little less wrapped up in all the traditions and away from the old guard they knew how to let their hair down, of which Hugo was one.

“I am pleased that you are enjoying yourself,” he said, his eyes looking down slightly into hers. He did find her not only good company, but also very pleasing to the eye. He could not help but envy the crown prince that her family had arranged for her to marry. “We Tartarians get very upset if people leave our parties miserable.”

He led her around the floor a little before answering her question about future dances. “Thing will liven up after the fireworks. They tend to stick to waltzes before and just after dinner, due to them being sedate and well, everyone has just eaten. Then we will stop for fireworks and then there will be some more lively dances and eventually, probably around ten or ten thirty, they will begin with the more modern stuff. Thankfully. I like these classical dances but there is nothing like grinding against a beautiful young woman when her parents are not watching,” he said with a grin.

Perrin & Tia

Tia watched as Hugo led Mara to the dance, hoping that the prince was not offended that she had turned him down, but it had been so long since she had spent any real time with Perrin that she wanted to catch up with him and tell him how much she had missed him and hopefully be able to get him somewhere quiet so that she could at least show him with a kiss or three. She was about to get up to walk over to him, when she saw him walking over to her. Her face broke out into the biggest smile she could manage.

“I would be delighted,” she said, a little confused by the French, but she supposed he was trying to be romantic. She gave him her hand and rose graciously from her chair. “Did you have a good supper with President Touchstone?” She asked, merely to make conversation, as they walked to the dance floor. She looked at him, watching his profile, admiring how he looked in his uniform. If she was honest with herself, she really could not believe that he was actually there and she really was afraid that she was going to wake up and realise the whole evening had been a dream.

[Gehenna Tartarus]

The Elven Imperium

Marissa continued to look at Andy as they danced, watching his face as he spoke. She had no reason to think that the prince would try to lie about anything and she did not even believe that he had any real intention of doing anything to her cousin, but at the same time, he was trying to get Alyssa to Elfland which was enough to make the young princess become protective of her cousin.

“Your Highness, I am not about to dictate who you may call a friend,” Marissa said, her voice light and almost melodic, with almost a little laugh included. “And I can entirely understand why you would consider Alyssa as one, she is one of the nicest people I know, but as you may expect from someone who is her dearest friend, I would not want to see her kindness abused or taken advantage of.” This was all said with her smile in place and her eyes showing no hostility.

When he asked about asking questions, she knew instantly that he wanted to grill her about Alyssa and find out what he could that he felt he was unable to ask her personally. “I appreciate your candour and I will endeavour to answer any questions that you may ask, though I will not answer anything that I feel it would not be right to do so.” There were some things that it would not be right to talk about, even if she was not talking about her cousin and a princess of the Empire. “What would you like to ask?” He was obviously in more need of information that her and she could garner his intentions by what he asked.

[New Naggoroth]

Ellenith

"I would be delighted to dance," Ellenith said with a smile, and she took Harry's hand when he offered it. "A pleasure to make your aquaintance, Mr... Greenhorn, was it?" she asked, her intrest and curiosity written on her face as she walked along beside him to the dance floor. Elly thought it was nice to be back on her feet and dancing once more, as the dinner hadn't been really been to her taste and she had eaten little, for the reasons she had explained to Mara. She didn't blame her hosts for her lack of interest in the dinner; after all, most people didn't enjoy food with the intensity required to properly stimulate her senses, and it hardly made much sense to make expections for just one or two guests. She also mused on the idea of what might be for dessert that might be worth trying.

"So, Mr, Greenhorn," she spoke softly as the two of them began their dance amidst the couples that had returned to the floor, "You are a friend of the prince's?"

[Gehenna Tartarus]

Ellenith & Harry

Harry led Ellenith to the dance floor and could not help chuckling as she called him Mister Greenhorn, but he could understand how she might have misheard what Nicholas had called him, as the dining room was a little louder as people got up ready to dance. “Please, call me Harry or Greenham,” he said, trying to slip in the correct pronouciation of his last name without drawing too much notice to her error. He had already spent the first half of the evening correcting and coaching Princess Selessca, he did not need to start again with another foreign visitor.

Once they began to dance, he nodded his head, glancing briefly in the direction of the two princes, who were both on the dance floor. “Yes, Hugo, Nicholas and I are old friends,” he said with a smile. “We recently took a tour of various nations allied to Tartarus, the Dominion, Northrop-Grumman. We play polo together, go skiing. Very good friends.” He thought he had said enough about himself for the moment and looked Ellenith in the face, noticing that he as dancing with another Elf or a race closely associated to them. “What about you? Did you know anyone here before you arrived?”

[The Elven Imperium]

Princess Marissa and Alyssa

Andy looked Marissa as she made her statement. "Well Marissa you have no fear of that. I valve Alyssa quite highly and would never do anything to hurt her." He was being truthful. Andy did not know weather he loved Alyssa yet, but he did consider her special. Andy definitely consider her a friend and hope to make Marissa one too. Andy was happy that Marissa was protective of her friend. He was happy she had a friend as loyal as Marissa.

Andy consider how to respond to her second statement. "That understandable Marissa. I'm not here to be an inquisitor. And yes I do want to ask you about Alyssa and yourself though." Andy said giving he a warm smile. He pause for a minute. "What would like to ask. What would...I.. Ah. Marissa what are your hobbies? I mean what do you like to do for fun?" Andy felt it was a good ice breaker. He would ask a safe question. Later he intended to ask the harder question once they both got comfortable talking to each other.

[Gehenna Tartarus]

Andy & Marissa

Marissa actually felt that the prince had no intention of taking advantage of Alyssa, at least not intentionally, but so many nations had different rules regarding what was and was not allowed, that it was possible that Andy could do something accidentally to upset or worse, ruin her cousin’s reputation. So she was pleased that Andy had admitted that he would not hurt her, which made the princess smile.

“That is good to know,” she said, as she danced around the floor. This was a response to both him saying that he would not hurt Alyssa and that he was not an inquisitor, though she knew he would ask as much about her cousin as he could, but she was not really surprised when he asked about her own hobbies. “I like to sing, swim and ride my horse, but not necessarily in that order. I like to play tennis, Alyssa and I play when we can, but not as often as I would like. I enjoy reading, not as much as my sister Elizabeth, but I do like to read a good novel now and then.” She laughed inwardly at the fact that both her and Alyssa had read a good deal of stories about elves and humans falling in love, so it was no wonder that her cousin was ready to run off to visit one. “And what about you, Anorpaur, what do you like to do?”