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 Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2024 7:16 am
Alinta straightened the sleeve of her crimson dress, the Oban style with the long silk sleeves and golden embroidered sash around her waist restricting her movements more than what she was accustomed with in her training leathers. At least her hair was tied up with jewel encrusted pins instead of being fully loose and in the way, the golden strands in elegant curls only sometimes tickling against her neck and upper shoulders. Still, it didn’t stop the soft sigh which left her lips as she curled her fingers around the stem of her wine glass. She had only been here an hour with a few more yet to go, the hybrid having taken a break from introducing everyone to her nephew so that she could grab a drink for her parched throat while Calix also skirted away towards the outer courtyards for a break of his own. It would be a lot easier to be back on the training grounds than dealing with this crowd, that was for certain. But she had promised Faisal to watch over Calix and so she had remained by his side as soon as they entered the noble manor, one of the larger events hosted by a local noble being his very first for this new season. Alinta had attended a few parties like this before as her adopted mother’s representative, but this was the first time she was acting as an escort for Calix who was slowly being introduced into society. It could have been worse if she had to deal with both of the twins, Alinta shuddering at the thought of having to bounce between fending off potential suitors for one and trouble for the other. She would probably have to do that soon enough though when Qaisan tagged along to the next event, the very thought making her take another drink of the sparkling amber liquid. Alinta wasn’t certain if she was ever going to be fully prepared for that, but at least she knew some home discipline with military training techniques that would have either troublemaker running laps around the inner courtyards or doing training lunges back home. Though she would much rather be back at their manor doing such things than dealing with this smaller ballroom space where there were far too many bodies moving about, the dancing continuing along with the music from the pavilion where a group of musicians kept playing a mixture of melodies so that the group of nobles looking for potential suitors and connections could continue swaying about.
“Should I look for him?” She mused quietly, glancing about before looking back to her unfinished glass and deciding to linger by the edge of the ballroom instead. Alinta trusted Calix to return at some point, even if it did take him a bit longer than expected. If the clock chimed the next hour without notice then perhaps she would be worried, but the guards outside of the event and the daggers she had given him beforehand gave her little cause to be concerned unless her nephew decided to sneak away on his own. She had seen him go into the inner courtyard, the gardens there probably attracting his attention, and kept her body positioned in that direction just in case there was some commotion. For now though it was quiet there with most of the noise and movement being in the ballroom itself. It gave Alinta plenty of time to enjoy her drink, the hybrid also pondering some of the food lined up on the nearby tables.
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2024 12:16 pm
Xipili glanced over the collected souls with an uninterested eye before giving his wine glass a passive swirl and taking a sip. While it wasn't uncommon for him to accompany his father to events like this he normally had his step-mother to speak with once introductions were over and most of the reigning elite retreated to their established clicks. His father was well connected among the nobility, giving his already extroverted nature all the more reason to flourish, and as much as he'd rather not leave his son behind there were some that preferred the younger man not to be around for business chatter. They looked at him, with his obviously non-Oban features, as a stain and loathe as he was to give in Xipili didn't want to ruin the empire his father was building.
So, he did as all good sons did, and kept his mouth shut. He smiled when spoken to, meandered around the party, and generally made himself available should anything interesting catch his eye. The light, violet fabrics of his wardrobe gave both a masculine air, but also a decidedly feminine one, especially since he chose to wear heels for the occasion. Not many had; with good reason, given the sand, but he found that the little 'click' they gave off established a sort of dominance. An air, really, that Xipili found intoxicating.
Now that dancing had started in earnest it was hard to say just where his father had disappeared too, and while Xipili actually enjoyed most events the earlier conversations had left him feeling...off. So, instead of picking a partner and drowning his concerns in dance, he moved toward the edge of the ballroom. And that was where he found a peculiar sight. While it wasn't entirely uncommon to find hybrids at these sorts of events, not in the younger generation at least, it was just odd enough that when one appeared he tended to take notice. Especially when they also happened to be, much like himself, some sort of Sauti mix.
"Not in the mood for dancing?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2024 8:54 am
Oh, for the sake of On’os… Alinta had a pastry raised to her lips, a fresh bite mark on the flaky layers marking where she had recently begun chewing a piece, and now was caught in the worst type of situation possible where someone had finally approached her while she was not able to quickly respond. A light flush decorated her cheeks as she quickly swallowed, the hybrid’s head bobbing slightly before she turned her attention to the man who had spoken. She had heard the clicking of heels and had assumed it was another Oban noblewoman who was going to simply pass by, Alinta being of no concern to them when her nephew wasn’t present for introductions. But it was a man? Her brow raised, Alinta glancing down towards the ground to check that she wasn’t mishearing things before she looked back up to the other hybrid and finally pondered the question.
“I was otherwise occupied until this point so I didn’t receive a good opportunity to fill my dance card.” Alinta mused with a ghost of a smile gracing her lips to cover up the usual frustration of such affairs. Before anyone knew of her family connections she was usually regarded with either disdain or disinterest from most nobles, her mixed heritage far too obvious for their taste. At least today she was busy with introducing Calix at the beginning of this affair, that being the main excuse for her to avoid dancing this time. “Are you not in the mood for dancing, yourself? Or do you also know the trials of finding a decent partner at an event like this?” An indirect shot to most of the other nobles, but Alinta didn’t mind especially when speaking with someone else who probably understood the position of a hybrid in this society.
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Posted: Tue May 07, 2024 10:52 am
Xipili just offered a bemused smile and held it while she finished her bite. Bits of her character became relevant in that moment; that she wasn't concerned with nit picking a meal, like so many others at the event, and perhaps she wouldn't judge him too harshly if he picked up a sweet himself. Just to be safe he kept his eye on other temptations; namely the nobles swirling around the dancefloor like lilies in a pond and the connections their names could bring.
"Mmm. I can tell." Xipili raised a perfectly stylized stiletto nail to the skin just above his lip and tapped. "You have a little something - just there." When the tone of the music shifted, he looked back to the dancers and winced. This was his least favorite sort of song. It was some sort of traditional, folk song from Oba's earlier days that had recently become popular again and the open disdain on his face was hard to hide. "On'os save us," He murmured before turning back to the lady at his side.
"Ah, that obvious, is it?" When he grinned this time there was a sardonic tilt to it. As if, below the layers of acceptance, the dismissals still chaffed. "I actually rather enjoy dancing, but being unique comes with it's challenges. " After a moment of simply looking at her, Xipili's grin turned to a smile and he offered a hand, "Would you do me the honor? Or would you prefer to spend the rest of this lovely night hugging the wall?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2024 11:07 am
"Ah." A light flush decorated Alinta's cheeks as she realized the motion was intended for her and the hybrid carefully reached up to flick the piece of pastry away. It wasn't as elegant as it could have been, but she blamed dealing with soldiers for the past few weeks for such things. Before she might have considered daintily wiping away the spot with a napkin, but not now. It was too much of a hassle to look about for one, not when she already had someone's attention on her and she didn't want to appear frantic when scrambling around for a cloth. And it wasn't as if she were here to look for a suitor like the other ladies who were trying their hardest to catch men's attentions through fluttering lashes and little waves of their fans as they tried to peek over the frilly edges. If anything Alinta was glad to avoid all of that, she just had to attend as a guardian for the boys when they needed to appear at this events not try to seek out someone for herself.
"I suppose you're not into that song." Alinta joked lightly, a soft chuckle escaping her at the reaction to the shift in music. "Are you certain?" Alinta blinked in surprise at the offered hand, the woman tilting her head before glancing back towards the archways facing the gardens for a moment as if considering something. Calix would be fine for a few moments without her hovering nearby, right? Alinta nodded before turning her attention back to the other hybrid with a small smile gracing her lips. It wasn't the company that she questioned, but rather her amusement at his reaction to the song that still lingered. "That is...you seemed against the music at first, but I wouldn't mind stretching my legs for a bit. I'm not much of one to just stay still, so why not?" She reached out to take his hand, Alinta hoping that the slight callouses along her fingers didn't bother her companion with his fashionable attire and perfect nails. "Do you prefer being led or do you want to lead?" Alinta asked, preparing to go to the dance floor without any fear since she was confident either way and didn't care if others saw her as less dainty than others who fully relied upon their partner to guide their steps.
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Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2024 7:46 am
"I'm against the song, not the music." Xipili grinned. "The performers are actually quite talented and I find it wasteful not to celebrate their accomplishments. It isn't their fault their employer lacks in taste." One look at the quartet atop the stage and anyone could see the passion in their movements. This wasn't just another noble's party for them; it was a chance to do what they loved most and Xipili could whole heartedly back that.
"I'm accustomed to leading, but if the lady would like to show me what she can do then by all means," Once he was out on the dance floor, Xipili turned his hand in hers and took the more 'submissive' position in the dance and moved her free arm to the small of his back. "do so."
It wasn't as if he wasn't accustomed to dancing both roles, anyway. Being the elder brother to two sisters entering society he'd both danced with them and danced with their instructor to show them the right way to go about the steps. And honestly, Xipili's eyes shown in a sort of mirthful glee when he looked down to his partner. Just what sort of lady had callouses, anyway? Did she get them by working or was she a fighter? Was she a good dancer or would she ruin his favorite shoes?
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Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2025 5:36 pm
A laugh escaped Alinta's lips before she could help it. She hadn't been expecting such an open insult towards the noble in charge of the event! The hybrid could only press her lips together, giving Xipili a little shake of her head as if to chastise him even though the slight curve of her lips greatly diminished the attempt. "At least it won't be the same song for the rest of the evening, On'os willing." She managed as she followed him out into the dance floor, the silk of her dress rippling like a crimson stream with the movement.
"Is that so?" Alinta couldn't seem to keep the small smile of amusement from lingering on her lips with each moment spent with Xipili. He definitely was far more entertaining than any of those awkward stiffs that she had dealt with earlier this evening. "Certainly. I've had to play instructor before so it won't be my first rendezvous." She expressed with confidence, not even bothered by the raised eyebrows of others as she started the first steps into the dance. At first her movements were a bit stronger than anticipated, Alinta taking a moment to try to reign in her movements so that she could adjust to the flow of the music and be more graceful. Not the best time to be a brute, Ali. She chastised herself quietly, her movements slowly as she held out an arm to allow Xipli to twist and guided him along with the rest of the dancers who were moving clockwise across the marble floor. "My apologies, I've been dealing with a spear more than dancing as of late but I promise to be gentle."
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 1:45 pm
As Xipili settled himself into his 'role' of the dance, his eyes caught that of his father's across the dance floor. While the man was flushed with mirth and excursion from the evening there was a c**k to his eyebrow that Xipili didn't miss. The pair just as quickly turned away from one another, however, once the music started.
There never would have been a way for the two of them to blend. Even if their respective partners had been pure Oban blood their own status would have made them targets of curiosity, but it wasn't as if Xipili minded it. He was used to being under the social eye and rather than wilt he'd learned to thrive. The question was, had she?
His footwork was practiced, fluid even, and when she pulled a little too strongly into some of the moves he found himself picking up the tempo to keep from tipping. For a moment Xipili's eyes widened, a flush on his cheeks out of a burst of panic, but just as quickly a laugh escaped. "My lady, you have nothing to apologize for." As he spun the tails of his coat blended with the fabric of her dress before he twisted himself out of the hold to continue their dance. It brought him closer to her for a heart beat, but long enough for him to whisper, "I don't need you to be gentle; I need you to keep up. Think you can handle it?"
Xipili was outright smirking when he leaned back and pulled them into the next steps.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 12:52 pm
Now it was Alinta's turn to flush. The momentary relief that she had felt when her strong start hadn't chased away her unexpected dance partner was lost within seconds with those whispered words. What did he mean by that? Alinta realized she didn't have time to hesitate and so instead she embraced the challenge. "Of course." She managed, her body suddenly moving as she was pulled into the dance but under his lead now. Perhaps Alinta could have tugged back against him, but instead she pushed herself to follow. Was this what he meant? Honestly, it was kind of fun. She didn't often enjoy surprises but a small twist like this was fairly acceptable and it kept the monotony of typical ballroom dancing at bay.
Her jeweled shoes clicked lightly against the floor as she kept up, Alinta twisting to the melody to be brought closer to her partner again. "Are you wanting to perform so well that others are jealous that they missed out on such a wonderful dance partner?" She teased lightly, not expressing who the wonderful dance partner was. Could be both of them, or just one...all depending on how her playful words were to be taken by the other hybrid.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 3:53 pm
The music swelled around them and for the time being Xipili was lost to it's sway. With every crash his body moved faster, turning in time with hers and lighting up his blood. His calculated, practiced movements were starting to loosen as bits of his true self slipped through. Just pieces, but enough for him to actually enjoy the party instead of simply surviving it.
"I want them to regret it for the rest of their lives." He answered ruefully. "It's exhausting playing second second string when you were born for so much more. Let them sit with it for once"
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Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 7:01 am
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