forum Hear me out, anyone up for a Selection based rp? (10/14 spots taken)

Started March 01, 2019 by @gracehustle

tune

She smiled slightly, and followed his lead. "I'm not that terrible, am I?" She asked, looking up at him with raised eyebrows. Her dark hair was pulled back, falling down her shoulders and back in loose waves.

He shrugged and his smile grew, “I don’t think so, I’ve danced with some pretty terrible dancers.” Gently he put one hand on her waist and held her other hand lightly, leading the dance and being careful not to get too complex with the moves.

She smiled back. For a moment, she tensed at his touch, then forced herself to relax, still smiling lightly. There was something buried deep in her eyes, a touch of worry, though it wasn't obvious.

“So, Zia, I haven’t had the chance to talk to you much, tell me about yourself,” He said, his dancing graceful and confident. Talin kept his hand exactly where it was, never trying to make her uncomfortable in any way.

Zia shrugged slightly. "Well, I'm from Caste four, and I'm from the north. I enjoy hiking, and photography. Even though that's, well…supposed to he for caste five." She hesitated, then shrugged. "My mother was a five, so maybe that's where i get it from."

The prince nodded, making sure he remembered she liked photography and already knowing somewhere they could go that she would love, “Have any siblings? Friends? What was living up north like?” He knew he was asking way too many questions, but he was curious and wanted to be the best prince he could in this selection.

"Well, I have two older brothers, and a younger twin sister." She replied with a soft laugh. "She wanted to take my place. Said no one would ever know the difference." She smiled slightly. "I…have a few friends. The north is beautiful. Kinds cold, but beautiful."

“What I wouldn’t give to have siblings,” Talin said softly with a smile, “It must be nice, and no one would be able to tell the difference, that’s true. Though as far as I can tell, I think I like that you’re here and not your sister.” He cracked a goofy smile and heard that the song was slowing and coming to the end, “I’ll have to set a date some time so you can tell me all about the north, and I think I have the perfect place we can go.”

Zia smiled. "Mm. She's like six inches taller than me, so….there would be a height difference." She said with a laugh. She nodded. "Alright. I won't ask what this place is, i think I want the surprise."

“I wouldn’t have told you the place even if you had asked.” He smiled mischievously and bowed to her as the song slowed and ended, “You’re not a bad dancer at all by the way, didn’t even step on my feet.”

She curtseyed back. "Alright." She smiled. "Thanks. You aren't so bad yourself." She teased, looking up at him.

Talin chuckled and nodded, "This many years of dance lessons does help. And I'll be sure to arrange a day when I get time." He straightened his tie and cleared his throat, looking for the next girl to dance with, "It was nice sancing with and talking to you Zia."

Zia nodded. "Yeah. Same to you." She replied, smoothing out the folds of her emerald colored dress, the same beautiful color as her eyes.

He smiled one last time at her before walking off, wandering around as he looked for an empty girl to dance with. Everyone seemed busy though and he sighed, walking to the table of desserts and taking a small brownie to eat.

Zaera let out a mental sigh as the girl next to her didn't respond and she saw what looked to be one of her sisters walking over. She began to make her way away from the table and disappeared into the outer crowd. It took her out of the conversation that could've happened, but at the same time she really didn't want to speak with her family.

"Jackson?" "The one and lonely." "What? How?" "Magic." She glanced around at the sudden applause and saw what happened. "Listen, I can't talk now. Maybe later?" "I'll be back for you, my princess." He winked at her with a smile before walking back to his post. Cassie sighed quietly before heading to the dessert table, nibbling on a mini cupcake. "You know, I never thought that a palace would have cupcakes. I thought there's be something fancier."

Zia was quiet, standing off to the side and biting her lip.

Jade had quickly excused herself from the conversation. Her mind was racing. Henry was… one of her closest friends in the army. And there had never been anything else than friendship between them. But right before she left, Henry had started to change. Just slightly, she hadn't noticed it at first. But then… he started behaving differently when she was close, didn't joke around as much and seemed to blush much more. Jade was definetly not a love expert, but she was pretty sure that he had started to like her. Like… like her. She didn't really feel the same towards him. At least, so she thought.

But something he said wouldn't leave her mind. The thing about having no friends that were girls. She had friends. Hadn't she? Jade slowly realised that the only people she had talked to since she came to the palace was Sonia, Talin, and the royal chef. And Marcus, of course, but he obviously didn't consider himself her friend. Although he seemed very much like one. And now, Henry. She really didn't want to seem like a loner, but truth is, she kinda was.

(Just gonna bwop on in here…)
Beatriz sighed and looked on in curiosity as Jade left her conversation. After a moment of contemplation, she walked over to Jade. "Sorry if I'm asking too many questions, but who were they?" She gestured to the two men she had been talking two, who had dispersed slightly.

Jade jumped at the sound of the new voice. She turned around, facing Beatriz. "Oh. Hi. Um… one of them is a guard that I have talked to a bit. The other one is… a friend. From the military." She smiled, thinking about what Henry had said about having no friends.

"Oh, that's nice," Beatriz said with a small smile. "Is it fun to have friends around the castle?"

"Honestly? I don't know." Jade laughed. "I didn't know that Henry was here until like five minutes ago. I honestly have no idea what I feel about that. Some things happened, or should I say did not happen between us back in the military. But yeah," she smiled at the other girl, "I guess it is kind of nice to have a familiar face around here." Then she realised something. "Sorry, I've been talking a bit too much now, haven't I?" Jade gave her an apologetic smile.

Beatriz shook her head. "I don't talk very much, so it's easier to let other people talk," she smiled.

"That's one good point." Jade tilted her head. "Actually, I don't think we've been introduced. I'm Jade." She reached out a hand.

Beatriz shook her hand gently. "I'm Beatriz. I haven't been introduced to most of the girls, because, as previously mentioned, I really don't like to talk very much," she gave a nervous laugh.

"That's a shame, you know. You're really nice." Jade looked down, smiling a bit. "I guess I don't talk to the other contestants that much either." She looked up again. "I kind of find girls hard to talk to. I never know what to say. I have gotten used to only having boys around me in the military and… I don't know. It's just easier." She looked at Beatriz. "Maybe you should try that. I could introduce you to my friend Henry. He's awesome, you'll love him." Jade laughed.

Beatriz's eyes widened slightly. She had to think for a moment, but eventually stated, "that would be lovely, if you don't mind."

Jade laughed slightly again. "Of course. Come on. Let's go find him." She looked around the room and found Henry by one of the walls, talking to the ambassadeur. "Oh no, that really has to be stopped," she muttered and quickly walked up to them, hoping that Beatriz would follow.

Jade tapped Henry on the shoulder. One wrong sentence from him could ruin Talin's deals with the frenchs. She smiled stiffly at him. "Henry, could I borrow you for a minute?"

Henry looked at her, surprised. "Yeah, of course."

Jade turned to the ambassadeur. "I'm really sorry, I'll give him back to you in a minute." She smiled.

The ambassadeur smiled at her. "No problem. We've actually had a lovely conversation."

"You have? I mean, of course you have. Thank you, I just need to talk to him." She pulled Henry away from the conversation. She was a little surprised that the ambassadeur found him so nice. He was nice, but more of the joking type than the serious important-business-deals type.

Beatriz gave Henry a tentative smile before looking back down at the ground. Talking to people was not her forte.

Henry smiled back at her, his typical wide, warm smile, and then turned to Jade. "So. What did you need me for?"

Jade glared at him. "Two things, dude. One: You can't just go talk to the ambassadeur like that! Don't you realise that you could have ruined everything for Talin with just one wrong word? Us contestants had to be trained in a lot of things, socializing among many, to even be allowed to come here! You don't have that training, so I would prefer if you stayed away from important people tonight."

"Sorry," Henry muttered. "You realise that I'm not an idiot, though? I can handle a small conversation, goddammit Jade. But what was the second thing?"

"Oh, right. Henry, I'd like you to meet Beatriz. I think the two of you would have a lot in common." In reality she had no idea if they would have anything at all in common, but it was the easiest way to start a conversation.

"Oh?" Henry looked a bit hurt, but then he turned to Beatriz with his usual smile. "Hi. I'm Henry, nice to meet you."