Ballroom || with Inessa
As Arya wandered through the bustling ballroom, soaking in the enchanting atmosphere of the masquerade, her attention was suddenly drawn to the stage where Renlin, and his cracking voice that echoed through the grand ballroom, had taken the spotlight. A mixture of surprise and curiosity flickered in Arya’s eyes as she listened to Renlin’s rambling speece. She hadn’t expected him to address the disappearance of Miles and Seraphina in front of the entire ballroom
The mention of the missing students sent a shiver down her spine, casting a shadow over the festive atmosphere of the masquerade ball.
Just as the situation threatened to escalate from a small speech into a big shot show, Jesse’s timely intervention brought a sense of relief, diffusing the tension that had been building in the room.
As the tension from Renlin’s impromptu speech lingered in the air, Arya couldn’t help but feel a sense of irritation at the events unfolding on the first day of the new academic year. With a resigned sigh, she made her way through the crowd, her steps guided by a singular purpose: to find solace in the form of a much needed drink. Preferably whiskey, but champagne does the trick as well.
“Arya! You look breathtaking, did you cut your hair?”
As Arya glanced across the ballroom, her glass rested by her, she caught sight of Inessa making her way towards her, and after such a long time not seeing her, Arya’s attention shifted and her lips curled into a smile that immediately lit up her face. Inessa’s striking green attire caught her eye, the delicate vine detailing adding a touch of elegance to her appearance. Arya couldn’t help but admire her friend’s beauty, though even with the half-mask adorning her face, Arya could recognize her friend’s familiar features anywhere.
Returning Inessa’s warm embrace, Arya couldn’t suppress a smile. "New year, new me. Or something along those lines” she quipped in response to the hair question, a confident smirk playing on her lips as she reciprocated the hug "And you too look absolutely stunning, as always. How have you been?”
As they pulled away from the embrace, arya picked up her glass again, taking a sip of her drink before addressing the earlier commotion. “Quite the dramatic entrance with your brother earlier, wasn’t it?" she remarked casually, her tone carrying a sense of detached curiosity. Despite the history between Arya and Renlin, she knew better than to let any personal feelings cloud her judgment in the presence of her friend, not to mention his sister. After all, awkward speech and all, Renlin wasn’t wrong. “There’s never a dull moment in this place”
@Madilfill Inessa || Renlin mentioned
@novella Jesse mentioned