Aquila chuckled softly. "Don't worry about it." He replied. "Uhm…" He thought for a long moment, taking another sip of his drink to give himself a moment. "What do you want to know?" He asked, raising his eyebrows. He knew it would be better to stick as close to the truth as possible, without giving anything away. He wondered where Vesper was; he hadn't seen the other male in years.
Ever shrugged. “I don’t know…Um, what kind of stuff do you like to do? Do you have any siblings? That sort of thing.” He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit of his.
(o crap I am so far behind um gimme a sec)
While the party seemed much more relaxed compared to formal balls she was forced to attend, but that never changed anyone's views of how she was supposed to be like: a prim and proper child, only worth as much as her parents were. Karina cast a few quick glances towards the other kids her age. Something inside told her to be polite and socialize, but another part of her worried about having to stand tall and stiff as a princess was expected. It helped that she recognised two of the four in the group, but she had never had much time to talk with them. The girl pushed a strand of hair out of her face idly, unable to resolve her internal conflict. A sudden chill ran down her spine as her mother's metal hand was placed on her shoulder. Linh Cinder was dressed in more comfortable attire, still opposed to fancy royal gowns. She gave her daughter a gentle nudge to encourage her towards the small group. Nodding lightly, Karina stepped towards the others carefully.
Thea looked around the party but was to nervous to actually do anything and wanted to run to her mom and dad being as nervous as she was, crowds were never her thing. As her eyes scanned the room she noticed a small group of kids, hopefully her age, forming and she walked to it calling out to them "Can I join you?"
Cosmina shrugged, taking in the two newcomers. “Sure, whatever,” she replied in her seemingly carefree manner. “Feel free. The name’s Cosmina, by the way.” She wasn’t sure how she felt about all the attention. On one hand, she did sometimes enjoy making new friends, but she also liked being alone. At least she didn’t feel the need to act all proper and formal like Ever appeared to be doing. Blech.
Karina nodded. "I've seen you and your brother around Luna before. Good to finally meet you," she said, offering a small smile. Her brother was named Ever, she believed. Turning to the girl beside Cosmina, Karina already had a small feeling who she was. The red hair made it quite obvious. The daughter of Scarlet Benoit and Ze'ev Kesley.
Ever shrugged. “I don’t know…Um, what kind of stuff do you like to do? Do you have any siblings? That sort of thing.” He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit of his.
Aquila blinked. "Oh, right. Uhm…no siblings. I enjoy…" he thought for a moment. Planning the downfall of Linh Cinder, or Selene, obviously wouldn't be the right thing to say…so what could he say he enjoyed. "Games. I like to play games." he said after a moment, a pleased sort of smile settling on his face.
"Yeah same although I never really said hi so…hi i guess" a nervous laugh fell from Cade as she tried to be calm and cool like her dad but still respectful like her mom
Aquila blinked. "Oh, right. Uhm…no siblings. I enjoy…" he thought for a moment. Planning the downfall of Linh Cinder, or Selene, obviously wouldn't be the right thing to say…so what could he say he enjoyed. "Games. I like to play games." he said after a moment, a pleased sort of smile settling on his face.
“Me too! Any specific kind?” Ever replied, relaxing slightly. “There’s a couple of games that Cosmina and I play all the time. Cosmina’s my sister, by the way.”
"Just about any game." Aquila replied with a shrug. "Although I enjoy strategy games the most, I think." he nodded a little. "Ah, I see. Cosmina is.." he looked around, and spotted her. "That one?" he asked, pointing.
Ever nodded. “That’s the one. She’s actually amassed quite the little group over there for someone who tends to avoid parties like this.” He chuckled. “Want to join them?”
Aquila chuckled quietly, and took another sip of his drink. "I suppose." he replied with a slight shrug. "I don't see that there's anything else to do."
Ever gave him a quick, knowing smile before turning and walking towards the group of kids close to his age. He hoped that Aquila was indeed following him as he approached the group. Cosmina glanced over at him with a secret smile for a moment, possibly thinking that he might bail her out of any interaction. “Hello, ladies,” he said, somewhat formally, which he cursed himself for inwardly. That sounded stupid, what am I, fifty? he thought. He cleared his throat. “Um, anyway, I’m Ever Hayle-Clay, Cosmina’s brother.”
Cosmina rolled her eyes. So he wasn’t going to get her out of the party. Oh well, she kind of liked these other girls. They seemed nice. Her gaze strayed the other boy who Ever had been talking to. I’ve never seen him before…Who is he? she wondered.
Aquila sketched a quick bow to the ladies, flashing a quick smile as he stood straight again. "I'm Aquila. It's nice to meet everyone." he said, still smiling pleasantly. His eyes fell on Karina, and the smile became forced as he kept himself from sneering. Selene's daughter. His enemy. He had to restrain himself from spitting at her, and took a hasty sip of his drink.
Thea winced as more people came
Ever noticed Thea’s expression and shot her a comforting smile. She seemed a bit out of place, unused to large crowds. Ever had to remind himself that he was raised by an ambassador, meaning he was constantly meeting new people.
Ever gave him a quick, knowing smile before turning and walking towards the group of kids close to his age. He hoped that Aquila was indeed following him as he approached the group. Cosmina glanced over at him with a secret smile for a moment, possibly thinking that he might bail her out of any interaction. “Hello, ladies,” he said, somewhat formally, which he cursed himself for inwardly. That sounded stupid, what am I, fifty? he thought. He cleared his throat. “Um, anyway, I’m Ever Hayle-Clay, Cosmina’s brother.”
Cosmina rolled her eyes. So he wasn’t going to get her out of the party. Oh well, she kind of liked these other girls. They seemed nice. Her gaze strayed the other boy who Ever had been talking to. I’ve never seen him before…Who is he? she wondered.
Karina blinked a few times, secretly unnerved by the formalities. "Karina, though you probably already knew that," she said, sudden awkwardness filling her insides. It was then that she looked towards the other male beside Ever. He didn't look familiar in the slightest, and his grin looked strained. And to top it off, he was staring at her. Was it that he was nervous because of who she was? Stars, she hoped not.
Thea had tried to smile back but failed and sat criss cross on the ground
Ever’s gaze softened with concern and he went over and sat by her. He has always been the more compassionate twin. “Is everything alright?” he asked Thea quietly.
"Just never have been one for crowds or parties for that matter my parents made me come" Thea had a messenger bag slung across her shoulder she called her survival pack that she rummaged around in it until she found her sketch book and pencil
Ever smiled softly. “My parents made me come too, and being the idiot I am, I tried to be a ‘good son’ and socialize. Sitting over here was definitely a better option, I think.” I really hope I’m not acting awkward again, he thought.
Thea smiled genuinely at Ever "Yeah well being a pilot comes in handy sometimes"
“You’re a pilot?” Ever asked, a tiny bit impressed. “Like, you can fly ships and everything?” He had quite the way of stating the obvious.
Aquila caught Karina's look, and mustered up a smile, nodding to her. Selene's daughter. Stupid. When is Vesper going to be here? The other boy had contacted him to let him know that he would be coming; it was half the reason he was here. He hadn't seen Sybil's son in years. He didn't know what the other was like anymore, but he knew he could count on the boy to help him.