Delilah was hard to miss in the crowd, with her mane of red hair. Afterward, she waited to see if he would come to her. First he was congratulated by those of his own Suit, of course.
It took time, but slowly the adrenaline and focus of the fencing strip faded from his mind. He began noticing more faces in the crowd, some expected and others more surprising, but one face made him curious.
"Delilah," he greeted her as he came even with her. "I'm honored at your attendance. I hope I put forward a good showing."
A Five already. She'd by now heard of his first few Challenges, and was watching him closely, but he'd made a good first impression and this Challenge had been friendly - much better than the recent Spade Challenge.
And so when he approached she smiled. "Congratulations, Dafydd."
Dafydd straightened, mask tucked nearly under his arm, and offered a precise half-bow, the formality tempered by his bright smile.
"Thank you, Milady. I'm honored that you've come," he replied. It wasn't necessary that the King or Queen personally attend challenges, and that his own had brought attendance from both was an honor.
Argine had previously made a point of attending all of them... and would likely do so again, not that she was out of isolation.
"And I am glad to have watched you fight honorably." There may have been just the tiniest emphasis on that last word, and her smile may have dimmed a notch or two, but it was still there. She disapproved of what he'd done before, but was glad to see him turn over a new leaf.
The emphasis didn't pass him by and his answering nod was a bit more somber. He knew full well that his first two challenges had been far closer to bloody duels at dawn than formal challenges.
"That was my aim today," he answered. "I felt no desire to make an enemy in this."
Of course Eileen was there. It would look so bad for an Ace to miss watching a challenge within her own Suit.
Besides that, however, was the fact that Dafydd was a rather nice person and not uninteresting to know the fate of. It was a calm relief to see that he'd been properly prepared for the challenge. She didn't credit herself the first person he wanted to see upon ascending, but she did loiter until a free moment appeared and slipped forward quickly.
Laughing, Dafydd turned and looked down and brightened. "Eileen!" Formality was tossed to the winds as soon as he'd stepped off the strip, and he quickly dropped to one knee to give her a quick hug.
"Thank you, Milady Ace," he answered with a playful grin as he sat back. "I'm glad you came. It's good to see you."
It caught her a little off-guard--most people didn't care to express their affection for her so visibly in the view of the Court--but her arms did pull tight around him for a second, and her lips were definitely curled into a smile when he pulled back.
"Of course I came. I wouldn't have dreamed of missing it." The faintest hesitation before she adds, with an excited little whisper, "Does it... feel different?"
"A little," he whispered back, grinning. "But mostly? I'm just tired."
He straightened again, tucking his mask back under his arm. "If you feel like a lesson, let me know. I'd be happy to. D'you know, I was already competing when I was your age."
Comments 42
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"Delilah," he greeted her as he came even with her. "I'm honored at your attendance. I hope I put forward a good showing."
Reply
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And so when he approached she smiled. "Congratulations, Dafydd."
Reply
"Thank you, Milady. I'm honored that you've come," he replied. It wasn't necessary that the King or Queen personally attend challenges, and that his own had brought attendance from both was an honor.
Reply
"And I am glad to have watched you fight honorably." There may have been just the tiniest emphasis on that last word, and her smile may have dimmed a notch or two, but it was still there. She disapproved of what he'd done before, but was glad to see him turn over a new leaf.
Reply
"That was my aim today," he answered. "I felt no desire to make an enemy in this."
Reply
Besides that, however, was the fact that Dafydd was a rather nice person and not uninteresting to know the fate of. It was a calm relief to see that he'd been properly prepared for the challenge. She didn't credit herself the first person he wanted to see upon ascending, but she did loiter until a free moment appeared and slipped forward quickly.
"You were brilliant, Dafydd."
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"Thank you, Milady Ace," he answered with a playful grin as he sat back. "I'm glad you came. It's good to see you."
Reply
"Of course I came. I wouldn't have dreamed of missing it." The faintest hesitation before she adds, with an excited little whisper, "Does it... feel different?"
Reply
He straightened again, tucking his mask back under his arm. "If you feel like a lesson, let me know. I'd be happy to. D'you know, I was already competing when I was your age."
Reply
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