sranks | we are the cursed we came from fire and ice

[The ball is certainly going to be a wonderful time. Lorenz and Camilla arrive together, but it isn't long before they split off from one another. He trusts that she'll be just fine on her own - though it's not like she'll truly be alone. With how gorgeous she looks, he's certain she'll be asked to dance repeatedly, and have quite a few people to chat with throughout the night. He'll keep an eye out for her, of course, but he does want her to enjoy herself.

A night where she doesn't have to worry about being his retainer is exactly what she deserves after all she's been through, after all.

Which leaves him on his own, of course. Not that he particularly minds, the other members of the Golden Deer house are all dressed nicely and he's quick to pull quite a few of them to dance, and then there's Ferdinand who is all too eager to join him. Really, it's such a wonderful evening and being able to forget about the rest of the world for one night is exactly what he - and everyone else, he's certain - needs.

But there is one person he hasn't danced with yet, which is almost a bit suspicious. He would have expected Claude to ambush him at some point. Though admittedly, Claude has been remarkably more tolerable since Camilla was dragged away to Castle Krakenburg. The less spoken of that day the better, but he has at least thanked Claude and the others for all their hard work in trying to get Camilla back.

Naturally Lorenz is able to pick Claude out from the crowd. He looks (stunning? gorgeous?) handsome tonight, and Lorenz lets all the usual wariness and confusion he feels around Claude vanish as he approaches their house leader.]

I'm a bit surprised you haven't asked me to dance yet.

[It's said primly, with one brow quirked as he draws to a stop before Claude.]

I hope you didn't get any ideas about lacing the punch with anything.

[...Well, of course it's gonna be Like This, some things never change. Still, that doesn't quite explain the smile Lorenz is trying desperately to suppress.]

[Claude can't help but feel both so very at home and so very out of place at a ball as fancy as this. Everyone's all dressed up to the nines and it seems like the walls between nobility and commoner have crumbled to the very ground. As if the only thing that's left to define them all is who they are as people, no matter who they may be...

If Claude's being entirely honest with himself, it's pleasing him a lot to see even a taste of how such a world would be. It's certainly not as loud and boisterous as a feast, but he has no complaints about going out on the dance floor and enjoying his time dancing with his fellow deer and Professor Byleth; taking them around the dance floor and having fun with them.

Of course, there is one deer he's been saving for last; it's a tactical play, on Claude's part. He wants Lorenz to come to him, for once. Not because of any sort of scheme, or anything, as much as Claude at least wants to try to convince himself of that; he just wants his dance with the Gloucester heir to be a little special. that's all it is.

So when Lorenz comes up while he's near the punch, Claude knows he's pulled him in hook, line and sinker. Claude feigns an utterly aghast expression at the accusation, placing a hand over his heart like he's been stabbed.]

Me, mess with the punch on this glorious occasion? That hurts, Lorenz. I'm here to enjoy this ball just like everyone else!

[Of course, Claude's as debonair as ever, arms going up to rest at the back of his head while he grins. He's picked out a nice deep, goldenrod suit out to wear for tonight, because he certainly wasn't going to just be the odd one out here. Nobody would have let him, really, but seeing Lorenz all decked out like this...

Well, he's pretty handsome himself. Claude isn't about to say it like that, but...]

Maybe I was just waiting for you to come along and ask me yourself. You are a pretty busy guy... [Claude winks easily, though.] If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were looking forward to this.

[Claude totally sees that little smile threatening to form on Lorenz's face!!]

Edited 2019-10-21 05:55 (UTC)

[Lorenz lets out a huff at the first part, but it's the second that actually gets the smile out of him.]

I do enjoy dancing, but that does depend on my partner. Well, Claude, do you think you can live up to my exceptionally high standards?

[He tries to wrestle that smile back under control, into something that's more of a smirk at the very least, but it's really not a very successful attempt... It feels like everything is going perfectly tonight, and not even Claude can manage to mess that much up.

(And maybe, just maybe, he's a bit eager to dance with Claude.)]

[Oh, that smile isn't bad at all. Claude could honestly get used to that, if he's being completely honest...not that it shows on his face, but then again, when has Claude ever shown what he's actually feeling.]

I don't know, Lorenz! If the winner of the White Heron Cup couldn't meet your high standards, I'd say that whole competition was a wash. Am I right?

[Claude grins easily, though, and he wastes no time in taking one of Lorenz's hands.]

So, I'd say I've got a pretty good shot. Why don't you take a little chance on me?

[Claude's expression is about as easy as ever, but he's fighting back the urge to smile genuinely himself. He's never seen Lorenz this happy before; maybe he was back before Camilla got captured, but since then, such things have seemed pretty rare.

Maybe Claude's been looking forward to this as well. Not that he'd admit it, of course.]

Mm, perhaps. But then again, somehow you won, so I'm more inclined to believe that the judges had no idea what they were doing.

[There's no real bite in it despite the prim tone he delivers it in. He's quick to take Claude's hand, though.]

I'll be generous and allow you to lead first. Go on, show me what the White Heron Cup and our professor have taught you.

[Never mind that his smile is still too easy or that the words don't really hold the challenge he wants them to have. He's looking forward to this. He's excited about it.]

Ouch. Harsh words, Lorenz. We'll just have to see how harsh they are once I sweep you off your feet, won't we?

[That sounds like a challenge to Claude. Even if Lorenz's tone doesn't have that same amount of challenge in it, Claude's taking it as one because he's certainly not going to let that slide.

(And maybe he just wants to see Lorenz's smile stay as they dance. But he won't admit that.)

Either way, Claude will absolutely drag Lorenz out to the dance floor and get into position once they're there--just in time for the next song. He gets his hand on Lorenz's hip easily and starts leading him through the steps. Claude's nothing if not enthusiastic, but he is doing very well--it looks like the lessons have paid off, at least.]

Well? How am I doing on that 'meeting your high standards' thing?

[It's light in tone, but he does want to know if Lorenz is having fun.]

Edited (WRONG POSITION DUMBASS) 2019-10-21 17:51 (UTC)

[Lorenz doesn't let himself laugh when Claude pulls him onto the dance floor with the response to his challenge, but the temptation is there. They flow together so easily, with Lorenz following Claude's steps without issue. Claude's certainly doing a good job, it's hard to look away, in all honesty. Maybe that's because of their proximity, maybe it's because Claude's doing such an excellent job, or perhaps it's just that Claude is nearly hypnotizing when he's at his best. It can be so difficult to look away from him.

Not that he really wants to right now, anyway.]

I suppose I can't say you're doing terribly...

[His smile is probably enough of an indication that he's really pleased with Claude's performance.]

Though I do believe I can outclass you.

[Claude doesn't want to look away from Lorenz, either. That smile on his face is perhaps surprisingly motivational, and the way they flow together is certainly making Claude pretty damn happy too.]

That's pretty glowing praise coming from you. You do look like you're having fun though...it's not a bad look on you.

[Claude's eyes practically glimmer with some sort of scheme in mind, listening to the song and attempting to wait for the moment to dip him and bring this over the top--but then Lorenz piques his interest with that next statement.]

You really think so? Well, come on then. [Claude's competitive fire re-ignites as he looks up at the taller boy in front of him. The song is nearing it's end--a shame, but he'll wait until the next one.] Show me what you've got.

[That does get a laugh out of him - it's a combination of the words, their proximity, the dance, and that devilish look in Claude's eyes.]

Of course. I'll put you to shame, and perhaps put whatever scheme you have out of your mind!

[With the start of the next song, he repositions their hands, settling one on Claude's waist and leading him through the dance this time. Lorenz is practiced, certainly, though whether he's better than the winner of the White Heron Cup is a bit of a stretch. Still, it's clear he's enjoying himself.]

[Claude at least has the decency to feign confusion, but being found out so easily--Lorenz really does know him too well, doesn't he? Or maybe he was being too obvious about his schemes for once--

Either way, Claude lets Lorenz lead for the next song, and he's gotta admit, maybe he wasn't lying about having great dancing skills. He's certainly distracting, at any rate...]

You're not so bad at this. [...okay he's not gonna be that mean.] Not that I had any doubts. You're pretty much in your element here.

[...]

Guess that's what happens when you're actually having fun, right?

[He doubts it's because of him, but at the same time, Lorenz is in a much better mood than he has been in the past few weeks.]

Of course I am.

[This is the sort of thing he's been trained for, though tonight isn't about making connections or finding a suitable wife. Tonight is about forgetting the rest of the world, for allowing everyone to have fun for once.

It's the question that gets a short laugh from him.]

I suppose that much must be obvious... Yes, I am having fun. Tonight has been... really nice.

[He certainly can't deny that Claude is a huge part of that. He was having fun before, sure, but there's something really charming about taking to the dance floor with someone who can keep up.]

[And there it goes, right to his head...Claude can't really help but grin, though, the expression a little more honest than usual.]

It sure looks like it. I don't think I've ever seen you this free before.

[Claude's head tips up a bit, gesturing at Lorenz's expression; at his laughter, at the amount of merriment that he's feeling right now.]

It's not a bad look on you. [...] Guess even you can let down that air of nobility every once in a while, huh?

[This is the least noble Claude has ever seen Lorenz, and really, he can't say he minds in the slightest.]

Edited 2019-10-22 01:47 (UTC)

[Lorenz hums, a placeholder as he struggles to find words for the sentiment he wants to express. Or maybe he's trying to talk himself out of saying it. It isn't the sort of thing he would readily admit, after all. Certainly not to Claude of all people.

But Claude has been nothing but helpful since Camilla was taken. He went out of his way to rally the rest of the Golden Deer behind him to pursue them, even knowing that they were walking into a trap. He continued to search for information on House Krakenburg, to lay the foundations for a plan that really had no hope of success, just because he wanted to help. No, it wasn't just for Lorenz. But the fact that he'd go so far out of his way for Camilla, who has never been particularly close to him, means more than Lorenz can ever express.

So even though it doesn't take all that long for him to find the words, the fact that he trusts Claude with them speaks volumes.]

Perhaps I can permit myself one night to put aside the duties of nobility.

[It isn't nobility he has a problem with, it's his father, it's the other nobles, it's everything that has allowed a horrid man like Duke Krakenburg to rise to power and remain in power despite everything. It's everything that has made that much untouchable. It's everything that let him drag Camilla away and keep her there, and hurt her and break her until she became exactly what they wanted, for whatever nightmarish reason.

But for now... For now he can enjoy himself, and push all of that aside, and come tomorrow morning, he'll get back to work and do what he can for Camilla and the people in House Gloucester's lands. He certainly can't rely on his father to do the right thing anymore.]

You seem to be enjoying yourself more than usual.

[And even though he's opened himself up and displayed his trust so freely, he desperately tries to pin the conversation back on Claude, to focus on that rather than everything that has been building beneath the surface since learning about what happened to Raphael's parents.]

[Lorenz certainly isn't wrong in the assumption, at the very least. Seeing his fellow deer out and about, having the time of their lives...there's something about it that makes Claude pleased. It isn't just that the walls between them all have broken down, but seeing everyone so happy--seeing Lorenz and Camilla so happy, after everything that Duke Krakenburg did to them both...

Claude was never one for looking out for anyone but himself, for the longest time. Ever since leading the deer, he's grown to know these people so much more. He's gotten to a level where he could almost say he trusts them, and he's definitely to a point where he considers them his. The deer are an eclectic bunch, but they've always worked to build each other up instead of breaking one another down as time went on, and they almost feel like family, in a sense. Like they're a family that has found one another, who are living proof that the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.

And Lorenz...Lorenz is probably the biggest surprise of all. He's no fox trying to take advantage of everyone; he genuinely cares, for the others, for his retainer, and for the Alliance as a whole. His opinion on Lorenz had started to shift beforehand, as time went on, but when Camilla got captured and he spent all of the time he had scheming with the Gloucester heir, looking for some way, any way to get revenge on the old bastard who had stolen their friends--

He can't deny that his opinion has shifted entirely in the opposite direction. Where annoyance once laid, there was friendliness in it's place. Where bitterness, however slight, may have laid? There laid something fond, almost. Because Claude wasn't doing this for himself; this was for the deer. Their family.

And nobody gets left behind.]

Man, nothing escapes your sight, Lorenz. [Claude snickers, honestly.] I'm definitely enjoying myself. This ball's still way too stuffy for me, but I can't even deny that. You've seen it yourself, right? How everyone's dancing without a care in the world, like nothing actually matters but wild time they're having. Like they've all put aside their status for the night...

[He sees it while they dance; people dancing all around, several of the deer dancing with one another, people from different houses dancing together--all of it.]

It's got nothing on a good old fashion feast, but it's pretty great.

[That's mostly a deflection to hide how open he just was. But then again, Claude's been pretty open too, hasn't he?]

Especially when I'm sharing a dance with my good buddy Lorenz. That may have just made my night.

[Claude lets it go, without a word or knowing look and Lorenz couldn't be more thankful. He does trust Claude with it, of course, but knowing that teasing could follow only serves to embarrass him.

Not that Claude makes the shift in subject any easier, and Lorenz huffs and rolls his eyes at the first comment. He doesn't counter and Claude opens himself up a bit in the process.

Somehow, it hadn't really occurred to him before, but Claude really does trust them, doesn't he? He still has his secrets and he still has motives none of them can quite hope to discern, but right now, he's being remarkably honest. It's charming. It's reassuring.

...It's doing something to Lorenz's feelings that he'd really rather not think about, so he focuses on finding a reply instead.]

Well, it is only fair that you have at least one dance with someone who can at the very least match your skill. If not surpass you entirely.

[Once again, there's no bite in the words. He can't help but smile, after all.]

In fact, why don't you show those skills of yours off once more, so that we can determine the winner? You've seen plenty of my own talent by now.

[Is this a thinly-veiled excuse to keep dancing with Claude? Of course it is. Is he ever going to acknowledge that? Hell no.]

Oh wow, Lorenz admitting I'm his equal? Pinch me, I must be dreaming!

[There's no bite in Claude's words either, and while Claude's definitely better at hiding his true feelings than most, even his walls have come down. Seeing Lorenz this happy and being able to cause that happiness is making his chest do all sorts of weird things, and...

Claude's content to ignore them. He rationalizes them and stuffs them away, hoping to keep them at bay. He has something else to focus on, something that causes his eyes to glimmer with that scheming little glint again--]

Well, I better bring out my A-game then! Just you watch; I'll have you beat for sure, this time.

[Claude will gladly take the excuse to dance more with Lorenz. Really, he doesn't want the dancing to end, so making this a competition? It's perfect, as far as Claude's concerned. He'll get his hands back into position to lead them through the next song more than easily.]

Edited 2019-10-22 03:09 (UTC)

[Another huff and another eyeroll, but Lorenz positions his hands properly to allow Claude to lead without any complaints.

Claude is smart, he must know exactly why Lorenz is doing this. Turning it into a competition means they have an easy way to keep going for as long as they want. All it will take is a word here or there to decide he isn't satisfied and pull Claude back in. And Claude is clearly willing to allow it, since he hasn't given up and allowed Lorenz the win. It's... nice, he thinks. It's nice that they can read each other this well and play a game that probably isn't nearly as slick as he's making it out to be.

He doesn't need to consider why he wants to keep dancing with Claude, or why his eyes refuse to leave his partner for even a moment.]

I sincerely hope you weren't just humoring me initially. Do not insult me so this time!

[...On second thought, it's probably very obvious what they're doing given their smiles, but he can find that mortifying later. This is one night to tune all thoughts like that out and embrace happiness where he can find it. Even if that is in the unlikely location of in Claude von Riegan's arms.]

[Oh, they are so not slick. Literally everyone who notices them probably knows they've got a Feeling going on between them, but is that going to stop them?? Hell no. Claude wouldn't want Lorenz anywhere but in his arms right now and as long as they keep this game up, that's exactly where he'll be.]

Humoring you? Oh, no-no-no-no no. See, the trick to any competition is knowing your opponent well, right? I was just seeing what skills you had to offer.

[The song starts to pick up, and the moment is getting just right. This is it, this is perfect.]

I gotta say, I wasn't expecting you to make me get out the big guns this early on.

[Oh no, there's that mischievous glimmer--]

But now? I know I don't gotta hold back.

[There we go--the song gets to a perfect point where Claude can dip Lorenz, and he's going to take that opportunity. Sure, he's never actually tried to dip someone taller than him before, and even when Professor Byleth was teaching him, he's never dipped an actual person. But it's fine, right? It's not gonna end stupidly or anything, right???]

[Lorenz is almost smirking at the first part, because this is entirely in line with the game they're playing, the one that's partially for anyone watching and partially for themselves. No matter how open they're being, neither one of them is going to want to break first and put a name to the tension that's been building between them. Neither of them are going to break it either. There's something fun about that, too.

The smirk doesn't last long.]

And just what do you mean by—

[It's a bit too late to finish asking that question, as Claude moves to dip him and Lorenz realizes three very unfortunate things at once:

The first is that Claude was never taught how to dip an actual person. Oh, sure, the professor taught him the movements and timing and all of that is certainly sound. Were Claude handling an invisible dance partner or even a training dummy, this would work just fine.

The second is that Lorenz has never learned how to be dipped. Oh, he certainly knows how to dip his partner and make it look exactly as elegant as one would expect, but given his height he was never taught how to handle being dipped. It likely wouldn't come up. An experienced partner wouldn't attempt such a risky move, so it was never something he or his tutors considered necessary, as Lorenz had shot up in height very early on.

And the third is that quite frankly, Lorenz has no idea how to deal with this development. Claude is not only making a bold and risky move, but he's also threatening to push that tension between them to its very limit - if he's successful, they'll be pressed almost uncomfortably close together, and Lorenz has no idea how he's supposed to handle that and look Claude in the face and not say something tremendously stupid. It's a thought that's both lovely and mortifying, and if that were to actually happen, he's fairly sure he'd have to flee the ball and bury his face in a pillow and scream until his voice gave out. There simply isn't a way to avoid the feelings that come with being so close to someone you like so, so much.

But the much more real possibility is the one that's happening right now - where Claude doesn't really know how to dip a person and Lorenz doesn't know how to be dipped, and suddenly he's slipping and oh no, there is indeed a fate worse than having a tender emotional moment with Claude von Riegan and it is falling on his ass in the middle of the dance floor and pulling Claude down with him.]

Claude—!

[Too late, he's going down, we're yelling timber.]

[...You know.

The risk Claude took was calculated, but man is he bad at math.

There are several factors here that wind up making this stupid. There's the fact that Claude's trying to dip a man taller than he is. There's the fact that Claude is trying to dip a man when he has no earthly clue how to dip a literal human person. There's the fact that he's trying to dip Lorenz, and Claude really didn't think before he decided to do any of this. Claude's used to bold and risky maneuvers! That boy lives and dies by them! But this?!

Well, rest in pieces their collective dignities. We knew them well.]

Lorenz, Lorenz--!

[It doesn't take long before the both of them are on the floor, and Claude is confronted with the very real fact that falling into Lorenz is perhaps surprisingly comfortable. He perhaps thankfully doesn't fall onto the rose itself, but here he is, fallen against Lorenz and with the realization that those stupid feelings in his chest are absolutely going crazy right now. Which is about the last damn thing he needs?

So of course, Claude's at least gonna try to lift himself off of Lorenz a bit, looking down at his face and...]

...Okay, so that wasn't exactly my brightest idea. You uh, doing okay there, buddy?

[...Honestly, he's trying not to let amusement creep onto his face, because the more he looks at this situation the harder he's trying not to chuckle? Because of course this would happen???]

[And down they go, because there's simply no way Claude is going to be able to save this.

The landing isn't particularly painful, and he has a moment to be grateful he didn't hit his head. Then he's reminded that they did this in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by an alarming number of their peers, and worst of all Claude is right here in his face.

Honestly, hitting his head would have been a mercy.

Lorenz has gone a shade of scarlet to match the rose that is (thankfully) still pinned to his suit and for a brief moment, embarrassment and horror mingle seamlessly within him, driving him to seriously consider a tactical retreat and doing that aforementioned screaming into his pillow anyway.

And then Claude opens his mouth and completely ruins (saves?) the moment and Lorenz is suddenly laughing.

It's not a short laugh, or even something pretending to be dignified. It's genuine amusement - hilarity, perhaps - and it gets his shoulders to shake and his head to fall back and Goddess, Claude is such an idiot.]

I'd go so far as to call it your stupidest idea! What made you think you could pull that off?

[And even though they're still sprawled on the ground (and Claude is so close, so much closer than he normally would be) there is nowhere in the world he'd rather be.

As their fellow students begin to move away or resume dancing, Lorenz only has eyes for Claude.]

[Lorenz's laughter winds up breaking the floodgates holding back Claude's own laughter, and he winds up guffawing with his friend as the hilarity of the situation hits and there's nothing holding him back anymore. Everything about this situation is hilarious--the fact that they managed to screw up in such a public way, in front of all of these people, and here these two noblemen are on the floor, giggling like schoolchildren.

Honestly, Claude doesn't want to be anywhere else in the world. Lorenz is so close and the temptation to close that gap is right there in front of him, but more than anything, Claude only has eyes for Lorenz in this moment, even as his own face starts to redden and it's certainly the first time anyone's seen Claude flush.]

Hey now, you don't get ahead of the game without taking a few risks! I thought I'd up the stakes a bit in our little competition, and well, you can see how that turned out!

[Claude doesn't even know how he's managing to say all of that without laughing inbetween words, but he does manage to get it out and he's practically wheezing from laughter.]

You are insufferable, Claude!

[But it sounds delighted instead of... well, anything else. Anything would probably be better than how gleeful he sounds when saying it, though it's admittedly followed by more laughter, so perhaps he can pretend that he's just finding the whole thing really funny. Maybe he can pretend that there isn't anything more to this. Maybe he can pretend that they're really just two friends who have tumbled to the floor in a moment of pure stupidity. Maybe he can ignore the tension that's still there, thicker than before, and maybe he can ignore the temptation to break it.]

I can take some solace in knowing that your pride has taken more your fall than I have, however.

[They're teasing words as the laughter dies down, though the amusement hasn't lessened any. Claude's still so close and he's positively blushing now, and that is completely and utterly unfair—]

I suppose the fall was worth it, if it managed to get you to flush. [He places a hand over his heart.] It is a sight I will take with me to my grave.

[It's supposed to remain teasing. It's supposed to be part of the ridiculous games they play, things that are fun and definitely not flirting.

But the words are entirely too sincere, and for once, Lorenz can't really say he minds it any.]

The feeling's mutual, Lorenz!

[That much is said easily with no bite behind it, and even after the second bit, Claude is more than ready and willing to fire back--

But then Lorenz brings up the fact that he's flushed and suddenly, it feels like his whole throat has closed up. Him, flushing? Like some sort of child?]

Oh, you've gotta be kidding me...

[Ohhhhhh shit, why has his life suddenly taken this turn??? No, no, he can't let his charisma slip, he's gotta keep it up somehow, and that answer comes from looking at Lorenz's face--]

Yeah? Well, you're looking pretty rosy red yourself. I may just have to take that sight with me to the grave and beyond, just for that!

[...That's perhaps surprisingly genuine too, because he doesn't want to forget this sight. As much as Claude tries to hide it behind an amused expression of his own, he's pretty sure his heart's gonna thump out of his chest.

Claude von Riegan may have sincerely miscalculated.]

You won't turn the tables on me that easily. I'd say that making you flush is quite the accomplishment, wouldn't you?

[He hasn't missed the way Claude needed a moment, however brief it was. And he does want to keep teasing, to see just how far he can push Claude. He wants to see how far that blush spreads, to see just how red he can make Claude, and that...

That isn't the sort of thing he should be doing here in public, where so many people can see them. It's improper, though more importantly, it looks like Claude is genuinely a bit flustered with this. He's recovering well enough, certainly, but it would be exceptionally rude to continue this and risk upsetting him or genuinely embarrassing him.]

...Though I suppose it is a bit warm in here... Shall we step out for a moment?

[He moves to stand, brushing himself off and adjusting his suit as he does. Of course Lorenz doesn't want to move from their proximity on the floor, but this is for the best. It'll give them both a chance to recover and that's probably what they need most right now. If they want to do anything about this tension, then it shouldn't be in front of so many sets of eyes.

After a moment of thought, he holds out a hand for Claude. Not that Claude needs his help to stand, but it would be rude to do otherwise.

(And maybe he just wants the contact.)]

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