8 Jul 2023, 22:38
So, uhhhhmmm -- what now?
April 21, 2023 - Aftermath of the Spring Court Ball
He heard EmmaLee ask him what next. That was the $64,000 question now, wasn't it? He was still struggling with just having remembered that he had kissed her before leaving her at the Banquet to go get the brooms, so he had no earthly idea what was, or should, come next. Then, thankfully, the strains of the music from the Ball could be heard drifting their way to them.
He smiled, knowing exactly what would be next. "EmmaLee, what shall come next is what should have come first, or at least much earlier in the evening than it has," and he bowed before her one final time, exclaiming that he would be most honored to have this dance. As he had asked and she had agreed earlier, he assumed that she was still of the same mind and would consent to dance with him. Without waiting for an answer from her, he gently reached for her hand and stepped towards her while simultaneously bringing her closer.
Now, to look at them, some may fancy they looked a bit the odd pairing. Stephen was tall for his age, 5'4", and EmmaLee was not that. She was on the shorter and delicate side of the spectrum and there was quite a height differential between the two, but Stephen did not notice, really, nor did he care. He just liked being with her. The girl had been promised a dance and he had been promised a dance as well, so dance they would.
It was a little awkward at first, as he worried he might smother her if he held her too close, so he opted to keep her turning and swaying and spinning. This was better anyway because it allowed him to be able to look at her. She really did look beautiful and her laughter was more musical than anything coming to them from the Ball.
When the music finally fell silent, he walked her over to a bench near the broom storage unit. He draped it with his cape first so that her gown would not get dirty or snag on the splintered wood. He took a seat beside her after she had seated herself and gathered her gown about her. "You know EmmaLee, I heard what you said before we took off at the Banquet, when we thought there might be people in need of help. I can't have you thinking something that isn't true. For the record, it was my buddy Jamie that saved you last year - Jamie got you out of that tent and saved you from the Durmstrang bludger and spiders, and he did so quite heroically I must add. I had nothing to do with any of that. And it was Bubba who carried you to the hospital tent. I followed right after Bubba, carrying Jamie," and he smiled at the memory of his friend that night. Cheetos, as he had come to call Jamie, had truly surprised him that evening, but in the best of ways.
Turning slightly, to face her, he spoke softly and sincerely. "While I like being thought of in that role, it simply did not play out that way at all. You can be forgiven for not remembering how it all went down. I was certain you both were suffering concussions at the time. Glad I was wrong."
Even before he got to the end of the sentence, a new sort of unease started to rise again over an old refrain. Now what?
------- ----------- -------
OOC: Standing permission to godmod Miss LeDames was granted by her author.Mentions: @EmmaLee LeDames
The magic is real.
12 Jul 2023, 22:56
So, uhhhhmmm -- what now?
Date: April 21, 2023 | Time: Evening | Language: French – English | WC: 750
Interacting with: @AngelFyre McCubbin as Stephen Schwartz | Mentioning: Jamie Zeigler, Bubba McGarry
EmmaLee speaks with a light French accent.
Interacting with: @AngelFyre McCubbin as Stephen Schwartz | Mentioning: Jamie Zeigler, Bubba McGarry
EmmaLee speaks with a light French accent.
"But, of course." EmmaLee said, dipping into a quick curtsy and giggling as Stephen once again twirled her into a dance, a complete and uninterrupted one this time. The music flowed down towards them gently from the not-quite-ruined Royal Ball as they danced in almost complete moon and starlight. EmmaLee laughed a little at how absurd it felt to be here dancing hundreds of yards away from the actual ball but still able to hear the music, after so much anxiety, the thrill of the tournament, and the chaos of the decorations turning on the guests.
As EmmaLee kept catching reflections of the stars in Stephen's blue eyes, almost like a continuance of the sky itself, she couldn't help but think that whoever Stephen had escorted previously was definitely missing out. Stephen was a wonderful friend and such an admirable person. Who wouldn't want to spend an evening with him and make it an enjoyable one, as he tried so hard to do? He was so concerned with keeping his word and making sure that she had a good time despite all of the hiccups that had led to these final moments of the night. It wasn't hard to have a good time with him, so why did it sound like he had such a bad time at the previous balls?
Once the music faded and they were left with only the quiet stars and the barest murmur of those still present in the distance, Stephen led her over to a nearby bench to rest, further proving his gallantry by laying his cape across it so that her dress wouldn't get dirty. Miraculously, tying it up in the way she had had apparently saved it as well from any damage that exiting the Royal Ball may have done. It was not in pristine condition, but it could be washed and worn again with no need to repair it. EmmaLee sorted out her skirts as she sat down and giggled slightly as Stephen refused to take any credit at all for that dreadful night at camp. She placed a delicate, reassuring hand on his arm as she spoke.
"Oh yes, dear Jamie was definitely the 'ero of that particular hour," She said with a fond smile. She would always be thankful for him coming to her rescue when she had been so caught off guard and freaked out by her injury, "and I guess I was a bit muddled on who finally carried me to the 'ospital tent, but you give yourself too little credit, Sir Stephen. Yes, it was Jamie who actually rescued me from the tent, despite being injured himself, but I know that it was you who mobilized us, including Bubba's carrying of me, to the 'ospital tent. It was also you who stayed until we both were 'ealed." EmmaLee explained in a scolding, but light-hearted tone, booping Stephen's nose each time she said 'you'.
"You were not without your own 'eroics that night and I will not allow you to deny yourself credit for them." She finished, sticking her tongue out a little at him before turning to look up at the sky, completely oblivious to any turmoil Stephen might be having, and totally ignoring any she could have had about the friendly peck in the heat of the moment. Yeah, that's what that was. Or the particularly romantic atmosphere created by being alone, away from the ball under the moon and stars.
It was not possible in her mind for anyone to have more feelings for her than that of a friend or pseudo-sister. Sometimes we do out of character things when there is danger and come to think of it, maybe that was in Stephen's character. She did not quite know him well enough to know how he generally interacted with female friends. The only reason she had stopped greeting friends the way other French people do is because it tended to weird out Americans to be kissed in any manner, so she'd fallen out of the habit, just as her accent had faded over the two years she had been gone from her home country.
"You said in your letter that you want to be an astronaut, yes?" She asked abruptly after a moment of silence, instead of venturing anywhere that either of them might find uncomfortably close. After another moment of thought she turned to look at him again with a curious, interested smile. "Where did that dream spark?"
Fearless | Calming Presence | E.L. | Prodigal Transfiguration
ST: 9 | EV: 9 | STR: 3 | WI: 8 | ARC: 9 | ACC: 11
Caretaker: A. P. Finch | iNPC: Yasha V.
ST: 9 | EV: 9 | STR: 3 | WI: 8 | ARC: 9 | ACC: 11
Caretaker: A. P. Finch | iNPC: Yasha V.