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The Dragon Knight (Ren Olvry & AlabasterDragoness)

'Ladylike', she said. Whatever that was really supposed to mean, Drace wasn't fully certain, but he had his thoughts... and none particularly seemed to apply to her. Regardless of that, though, he could hardly help a bit of a proud grin as Joanna seemed to suggest he looked better with the fur... before his ears flicked a little in embarrassment realizing what she'd just cut herself off from saying. Though he seemed to recover quickly enough at her next suggestion.

"'Out of line' needn't exist here," he offered first, offering her a little smile. "I did say I wished us to be free when it's just the two of us, did I not? Let us say what we wish; if one of us ends up not liking what was said, then we can work things out from there," he added. "As to what I was expecting, though... someone strict. Someone who'd not soon trust someone like me to be near, to hold me to perfect conduct. Someone... exhausting," he replied on that point, exhaling a somewhat heavy sigh. How was it so easy, then? To simply... speak, and allow her to remain near?

Much less, to allow her to touch him as freely as she did.

Were he to be honest, the touch was a rather welcome distraction from where his thoughts had been drifting, a light, almost pleased hum escaping him as Joanna's fingers drifted through the fur on his arm. "Ah... those, hm? Let us say that many of our festivities are... well, brutal might be appropriate. Challenges of strength, meals and drinks spread wide... a fair bit of noise, for better or worse. A fair bit of injuries just as well... some, certainly, caused by me," he chuckled. "But those are once every few months or so, to help determine rankings and other such things... so whether you might call them 'festivities', exactly, well, who knows. And yours? Quite a bit different, I could only imagine?" he asked with a curious little tilt of his head, before a little smirk came across his features again. "In fact, since you'd mentioned it before, I trust there will be one soon? I do hope I won't be expected to 'dance', or anything of that sort, will I?"
 
Joanna did notice the grin on his face from what she was insinuating, which only made her cheeks redden more. From how he responded to her apology, she breathed a sigh of relief. At least he was able to move past that. She smiled back as crossed her arms. "You did. I think we should speak freely, though I know some will be less than pleased." Not that it mattered to her. "Besides, we can't know each other well if we don't otherwise."

He seemed to enjoy the way she touched his arm, though she did it more to soothe him rather than an overly friendly gesture. She laughed as he told her about how they celebrated. "My, that certainly sounds more exciting than our celebrations. All we really do eat and drink, maybe dance. Some sneak use it as an excuse to sneak away with someone else for a time." The tilt of his head... was adorable in its own odd way. Though she wouldn't outright tell him. "We do sometimes set off fireworks and have parades. I believe they will doing that tomorrow night." No doubt the kingdom was eager to get things going and spend the day being gluttonous and free.

"Though, I might not be able to slip into the nearest town to see the fireworks. Nobles will be expecting me to hold a ball. And I'm sure a few suitors will try to change my mind and convince me to marry them." She chuckled to herself. "They're certainly welcome to try, but I'm not sure how long I can keep telling them no before I just send them away." It was tiring to repeat herself to so many men who thought they were worthy enough for her hand. "But they might not approach if you're standing near me."
 
Let some be less pleased, then; he wasn’t here for people to like him, so it made no difference to him. And to Joanna’s next reply, then... ‘fireworks’? ‘Parades’? They were words Drace had perhaps heard a scattering of times, but he didn’t really know what they were. He really would have to see... at least once.

“Oh? You’d use me as a shield against those foolish men chasing something they don’t even really know? Because I’ll not object to that; if they wish to impress you, they should stop showing off and accept when they’re not wanted, if it’s anything like what I’ve seen back home,” he replied with a little chuckle. Indeed, it would take a fair bit of guts to come near such a large dragon as himself... and he quite doubted any of them would have such a thing.

“I will, however, insist on sneaking out sometime. These ‘fireworks’ and ‘parades’ of yours are not something I’ve seen before... and I’d have no intention of leaving you here to see them myself. Not especially when you no doubt catch the eye of every man in there, queen or no,” he suggested... a slight bit of embarrassment showing. A bit of a... passive way to call her attractive, certainly, but he’d not take it back.
 
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She laughed softly. "Yes. Using you as a shield against them is more suitable thanspilling their blood all over the marble floor." Indeed, having Drace would be enough to drive potential suitors away. But even then a few might try to lure her away to speak to her.

At his suggestion to sneak away to see a parade and fireworks, she smiled. "I wouldn't object to that." Spotting his expression of embarrassment, she shook her head and offered him another small smile. "I'm surprised that you're the most decent male I've spoken to and..." Letting out a tiny sigh, she brought her head up. "Well, not that anything could come about."

She was able to keep her composure as she knew they were to speak freely with one another.
 
Oh, now Joanna had a vicious side, did she? On that thought, the smirk on Drace's face only served to widen a bit further. If she was like that -- or well, if she could possibly get away with such a thing, which he fairly doubted -- she likely wouldn't even need him. But appearances had to be kept, he could only assume... and his appearance, serving as her personal knight, would no doubt make enough of an impact without such measures.

"Mm?" he curiously hummed at her next point. He had a good idea he knew what she meant... but given her understandable distaste for those that would carelessly come on too strong, perhaps it wasn't the best time to be too direct about it, if he could avoid it. "Well... who knows. As some say, nothing is impossible," he offered, at least for now. "You are... in truth, a lovely woman, as I see it. Easy to speak to, easy to relax around... and not someone I feel I have to worry too much about letting my guard down around. Though I do sincerely hope you and your magic won't prove me wrong on that point," he chuckled, offering the woman a teasing smirk. "It's... rather refreshing, compared to always having to keep my guard up back home. Though I'll certainly not promise I'll never say something odd... as I likely am now," he added, putting on a little grin.

"To put it rather more simply, then... I'd say I'm pleased that I was chosen for this, regardless of the circumstances... and for you, I'm sure you'd have to be pleased that you didn't get a... what was your term for them again? 'Meathead'?" he suggested with another little smirk.
 
At his words and teasing smirk, Joanna snickered to herself as she rested her hand on his arm once more. "This is true. Nothing is impossible. And I promise I won't use my magic on you too much." She gave him a teasing smirk as she nudged him.

Shrugging, she cast her eyes down for a moment. "Yes, that's the word. I'm certainly glad you have a good head on your shoulders."

She seemed to have lost track of time as she continued to converse with Drace until the sun began to disappear behind the mountains. It wasn't alarming for her, she just shook her head and chuckled. "I guess we got carried away."
 
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'Too much'? On that note, Drace let out an amused little chuckle, that smirk remaining on his own features. More and more, he could hardly help but be interested in Joanna, in certain ways. The temptation to say more, to try something... was certainly there, but he'd not so much as show it. Not least of all because he'd made the mistake of charming someone before; he couldn't, wouldn't keep that up. If something were to happen here... then it would happen simply because of how they were naturally.

"I suppose we have," the dragon chuckled lightly himself at that particular note, after a few more topics had come along, before giving a small shrug. "I might say I hope people have gone looking for you and had to solve their own problems once they couldn't find you... but perhaps that wouldn't be so ideal when they come back later, hm?" he suggested with another slight smirk. "Shall I let you go for now, then? I will of course need to know when and where to meet you for tomorrow's festivities -- or before then, if you wish -- but besides that, I think I may be getting in what study I can," he suggested with a curious little tilt of his head, turning a little in the meanwhile to face her a bit more.

"Besides that, though... if I may be selfish, might I request some time like this each night we're able before we're ready to really turn in to our rooms?" he requested. "Our own little escape besides your spot in the forest, perhaps... you, from all the responsibilities and having to keep up any appearances you might need, me, from the rest of the humans that will... likely take time getting used to me, at the least," he added, perhaps a bit hopefully.
 
"If they needed me, they would have found me by now." Indeed, for anything menial, they would have figured it out themselves. Joanna was content to have had some time with Drace. "There will be a parade sometime around midday in every village and city square. It wouldn't matter which one we attend."

As for the fireworks... "With the ball going on and the ballroom being full, we could sneak off as the sun sets. The balconies will have a wonderful view for everyone's fireworks." If she was honest with herself, she was very much looking forward to watching them with him.

Nodding at his request, she patted his arm. "That would be lovely." With that, she rested her hand on his for a moment before going back to her room.

"Good night, Drace."
 
Midday it was, then... then back to the castle for a time, from the sound of things, and out to the balcony afterward. A simple enough schedule, Drace found... which would leave him the morning presumably free. So, as Joanna otherwise affirmed his request, the dragon himself offered a soft little smile and a nod of his own.

"Good night, Joanna; should you need me, I'll be here for the night, or likely in the library for the morning. Fair warning, I wake up early," he offered, hesitating perhaps very briefly on speaking her name without 'queen' as he'd spoken before... but perhaps it was just fine like that. Were they to be equals, there was likely little need for such a thing. Like that, then, the dragon idly watched the queen until she left through the door attaching to her room, until his eyes returned to the scenery the balcony offered.

There he remained for some time, 'til he went off to sleep -- still quite surprised as he was by just how soft the bed was. By the morning, though, he was habitually up and about, ignoring the odd looks from the occasional guards passing by as he made his way to grab a quick, small snack once he'd found where food was, and over to the library to pull a few books and start a bit of personal study on a bit of the human kingdom's history and culture for now; both things he imagined he'd need to be knowing, in time. Either way, he would be rather easy to find if needed, both for having said just where he was going, and enough people having seen him go that way.
 
Joanna slept soundly as soon as she climbed into her bed. She awoke after the sun had begun to peek over the horizon and she went to eat. Several servants went to her to let her know that Drace was in the library, and she simply nodded and thanked them. She, herself, had a stack of books in one corner of the library and went to it, sitting on the floor and continuing to leaf through them.

Letting Drace be, she went throughher current book and jotted down notes. Even now, her mind began to wander and she thought of how Drace would look once she could study his anatomy. Not that she was expecting much more than to sketch it and make detailed notes about it. Though...

She was about to start her second book of the day when she glanced up. One of the servants gave her a quick bow.

"His Excellency Prince Quentin will be coming this evening," he said. "He will be bringing gifts, from what I hear."

Sighing to herself, she shook her head. "Thank you for warning me that stubborn bastard is coming."

"My lady!"
 
Vaguely, at least, Drace had at least noticed Joanna's presence. For now, though, he felt, just as she seemed to, that it was fine to leave her be in peace; for them both to study at their leisure, without current disturbances. Though, when someone did speak -- a servant, he easily noted as he glanced up from the book he himself had been perusing -- a thoughtful little hum escaped him hearing who was apparently coming... and that they'd be bringing gifts. One of her many suitors, no doubt... though hearing Joanna's response, he could hardly help but chuckle in amusement, especially at the servant's attempted admonishment.

"I've heard far worse language than that, quite regularly; don't worry of that on my count," Drace smirked, his eyes still focused on the book for now, though his ears occasionally flicked a little in alert, perhaps keeping some track of where everyone yet remained while he wasn't actively looking. "Are they all not stubborn bastards, though, these nobles of yours? Even from what I've read so far, it seems to me like many of these other nobles speak quite loudly but have little besides money to back it up," he mused, glancing over to the servant that had come along with that slight smirk still on his face.

"Would I be wrong, or do you tend to get along with them? I ask honestly," he curiously asked. Though whatever she might say, or claim, he could only guess the truthful answer would be 'no'.
 
"Most, yes." Joanna shook her head at the servant's ambling off in shock. "But I hardly kniw any nobles I get along with." Drace wasn't wrong. "I assume dragon nobles are the same way."

Most nobles, regardless of their race, seemed to be similar. At any rate, she read a few more chapters before closing her book.

"I'm certainly not looking forward to the ball. Quentin isn't easily intimidated and the only suitor that has actively sought after me. I think the only thing that would stop his pursuing me is if I announced my engagement to someone else."
 
Hm... part of the question, he could admit, had been for the servant just as well, for as well as it seemed many of these nobles didn't treat those they saw beneath them... but no matter. Once the servant was gone, Drace returned his eyes to the book for now either way, though the lingering flicking of his ears would do to show quite well that he was very much still listening.

"I did say our own prince could be quite difficult, after all," he replied with a little nod... though he seemed to pause from reading otherwise, exhaling a thoughtful little hum as he mused on it a bit further. The prince was one thing... but the king? He respected him, certainly; he followed him, as he was expected to. But getting along? Well... perhaps not. Theirs was something of a necessary relationship on either side.

To Joanna's next statement, though, Drace gave an idle little nod, a slight smirk crossing his face as a thought came to mind... but perhaps not, as it would very much get people talking. A lot. "I wish I could suggest you pass me off as the prince come here for this truce, rather than a knight, to help rid yourself of him and whoever else would be quite so stubborn... it would, at least, certainly be amusing to see the shock on all their faces hearing the queen they so desire wasn't even marrying a human," he suggested with a little chuckle. "But then, I suppose people would be worrying over it quite a bit, wouldn't you say? Besides, we..." he trailed off, biting his lip slightly. What he was about to say... even he wasn't fully certain, but he could at least try and move on from it.

"Would it be possible, then... to have arrangements to help avoid him? Enjoying the food, finding others you can at least tolerate to chat with, should he not butt in... teaching me to dance, if you must. It should occupy enough time, and be enough of a bother -- stubborn as I myself can be -- to help lead him off," he suggested... rather genuinely, at that.
 
"Yes. Jarus's son was a bit... shall we say overly eccentric when I met him in the war room." Even then, the dragon prince thought it would be amusing to chase after her in hopes of courtship. But she was able to hold her own. She stifled a laugh when Drace said he wanted to see the shocked look on everyone's faces had she passed him off as a prince instead of a knight. "There would be an uproar, I'm sure."

Though his trailing off had her finally coming to his side as she watched him bite his bottom lip. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she chose not to press the matter and sit beside him. "Quentin would try his best, but I'm sure it would deter him if I was too busy with someone else." A gentle nudge followed. "Someone like my knight." The thought of him attempting to dance would be amusing, though that would likely be a last resort. But most of what he brought up should hopefully be enough to send Quentin off.

"Did someone want to see a parade?" she teasingly asked, moving the book down somewhat. "We have time to get to one of the cities if we go now."

Not only would he experience human parades, they would be able to spend time together away from everyone and enjoy themselves before they had to return in order to prepare for the ball. And they would have time to return before the guests would begin to arrive.
 
‘Eccentric’, hm? That would certainly be a... polite way to put it. Still, even as he did likely approach digging himself a little hole again, Drace gave a soft little smile all the same feeling Joanna’s hand on his shoulder, seeing her come sit beside him.

“You need say no more than that; I think there should be enough unusual to me, perhaps even enough others curious that I’m here, to help avoid the man,” he assured with a little chuckle.

To her next suggestion, then, another smirk came easily to his face... only widening a little at her suggestion that they had ‘time’. “Time? You can’t have already forgotten how much distance I can cover by wing, surely? Or are you suggesting that I need to go faster?” Drace teased. “Either way... shall we head back and leave from one of our balconies? I don’t believe anyone will suspect anything if we’re just going to our rooms,” he suggested.
 
"Yes, we can leave from the balcony," she told him. No one would bother trying to find them on the balcony, and more than likely, she and Drace would return before anyone knew where they went. She beckoned Drace to follow and they walked up to their rooms where she stood on his balcony.

Letting him pick her up and fly her to one of the villages, she could hear the cheering and clamoring grow as they approached. "Not a moment too soon." She saw a few of the soldiers riding their steeds down the streets as they parade began. Ribbons and hats were thrown into the air as kegs of ale were broken open and cups were filled. Musicians were almost drowned out by the spectators' cheers as several performers and decorated war heroes strolled down the pavement.

Joanna was content to watch from the sidelines as no one had noticed they arrived.
 
With a little nod, Drace set down the book he'd been perusing for now, picking himself up to his feet after Joanna got up and following along beside her, just as ever. Thankful that there were no... disturbances on the way, least of all from Sebastian that he thought he might've caught a glimpse of once on the way, he went along with her to his room, only to carefully pick her up into his arms and set off by wing whichever way she pointed out to check out until they'd have to return.

Even from the air, he could very well tell the activity through the streets, especially what appeared to be the main street. Finding a nice and quiet spot to come down and land either way, he carefully lowered Joanna back to her feet when he could, otherwise finding it simple enough to get a good view of the... curious festivities.

"Mm... if there was more fighting and challenges going on, I might almost be convinced I was back home, with just how noisy it is, how many drinks and the like seem to be going around," he suggested with a little chuckle, making sure to speak loudly enough that she'd be able to hear him from where he stood by her side, but not draw too much attention to them. Something he doubt he'd be able to keep up forever, even just by virtue of his own size. Something that... perhaps wasn't always an advantage, his ears flicking a little and the dragon glancing up curiously as a few of the ribbons and such being scattered along through the air here and there seemed to get caught on his ears, a bit of his fur... even one of his short horns atop his head.

"I'm going to look like a decoration by the end of this, aren't I?" he sighed lightly, a little smirk forming on his face all the same. "And what... is that, precisely...?" he asked, his eyes moving over to a little further down in the parade, with some horses drawing what appeared to be... quite the spectacle, really. A few horses drawing some sort of... magical tool or something? He could only assume so, given what looked somewhat like people moved rather too stiffly to be people. Never minding the variety of sights elsewhere throughout, from performers to several others.
 
Joanna chuckled. "Well, there might be a few drunken brawls later on. But nothing too organized." She smirked as the ribbons began to land on Drace and she tried her best to remove them. She enjoyed the fact that he was able to relax some and not be overly serious. When he pointed out the horses drawing something behind them, she squinted slightly before sighing to herself. "Oh, they like to haul that around. I've been able to figure out what that thing is."

It was an odd thing for them to show off whenever there was celebrating to be had. She picked off a few ribbons that draped themselves over her hair and shoulders.

"Here!" a drunk man said, handing Joanna and Drace a mug of ale before he staggered off. A few performers ran around with puppetry as the crowd now began to throw all kinds of flowers all over the place. Joanna stiffened slightly from a rose landing on her head, but she dipped her head to let it slide into her hand. Studying the yellow rose for a moment, she giggled at the increasing amount of ribbons covering her knight. "Poor thing," she teased, pulling a few more ribbons off his horns. She did, however, slip the rose behind one of his ears.
 
Brawls... hm? Drace had to admit, there was a certain temptation there -- in some part as force of habit from back home -- but perhaps it would be best not to draw so much attention to himself. At least, not so early on in his stay in human lands. And yet... perhaps the drunkenness could have its own advantages, he mused, blinking in surprise at the mug of alcohol -- as his nose could easily tell even from there -- pushed into his hands before the man that had done it went along as if there was nothing odd there.

"Hm... mm?" the dragon soon curiously hummed after taking a little drink of the ale that was apparently now his, at least for now, his ear twitching a little as he felt something slipped by it. "Not bad, I'll admit," he mused, licking his lips slightly... and soon enough reaching an arm over to draw Joanna against his side as a couple, or so it seemed, fairly suddenly came out of the crowd and ran by laughing, in spite of giving him a brief, odd look. "Ah... s-sorry. Seemed the best option so you weren't run into," he offered with a somewhat embarrassed little grin, making sure to slowly remove his arm from around her waist, though there was very much a temptation not to, he found.

"All of this, though... is quite curious. The shows, the music... the lack of worrying if you'll be challenged to something or have to avoid something being thrown at near any moment," he offered with a slight smirk. "I think... I could get used to being in human lands. In time," he added.

"But, since we'll only have limited time here... shall we go somewhere a bit higher up, where we'll have a better view of everything while we're here? One of the rooftops, perhaps, or some other such place. Just before we may have to leave back to the castle," he suggested.
 
Joanna sipped at her ale before she felt Drace pull her to his side as a couple ran through the crowd. Her hand rested on his broad chest as he apologized and slowly removed his arm from her waist. Chuckling to herself, she felt another rose tap her head and she slipped it behind his other ear. "Yes, we tend to be a bit merrier with our events. Although we do have tournaments every now and then as a way for warriors to prove their strength."

Though there won't be one for quite some time, those who had come home from the war were no doubt eager to rest and not raise a weapon regardless of the reason. Glancing at the rooftops, she pointed to one that was furthest from the crowd, but she suspected it would give them an optimal view of the parade.

"Wait until there's a wedding. Everyone is in the streets slobbering with ale and stagger around as they attempt to dance." Once they reached the rooftop, she looked at the street below them and watched as the dancers continued to fill the streets and had a tightrope walker going about between wagons. "You could always enter the next tournament. Knights usually have a lady wear their colors as it shows that they have someone who favors them."
 
Tournaments... he would certainly have to see, and enter, one of those when the next one might come around. In time, then; plenty of time, perhaps, to get himself more acclimated to this kingdom, to its odd, scale-less inhabitants. And... a flower? Was that what she had decorated his other ear with? Well... no matter. For now, Drace gave a small nod as Joanna pointed out a promising rooftop, carefully picking her up once more and flying off in a bit of an out of the way route toward it that wouldn't be too likely to draw eyes. And once they were on the flat rooftop, he carefully set her back down, his eyes slowly wandering over ever more of the parade, and the unusual attractions within it, that he could see, the occasional person or couple running off here or there.

"'Attempting' to dance is likewise the best you'll probably be getting from me," he offered with a little chuckle, on that particular point. The roses managing to stay behind his ears all the while -- he could at least shift them enough to help ensure that -- his ears flicked up slightly all the same as she herself suggested entry to the next tournament. "And you would have confidence enough to be wearing mine, then, I do hope?" he asked with a little chuckle... before that was all but cut off by an embarrassed little grumble. He'd thought at first that she'd meant favoring them to win, but perhaps it was...

"That is, so long as you meant favoring them to..." Drace started to speak, before stopping himself this time with a heavy sigh. He'd considered just saving it for that night, for the balcony... but perhaps it was better to just get it off his chest, so to speak. "At risk of making things awkward, or difficult... would you consider it... if I said I might wish to be more for you? If I said I might be... I am becoming attracted to you...? I'd treat you no differently than I do now regardless, that much I can assure you... but I'd not be doing myself any favors if I didn't at least say it..." he asked, though for the moment, his eyes nervously avoided her, worrying that it would likely be impossible between a human and a dragon regardless, never mind her plain, stated distaste for suitors.
 
Joanna drew in her bottom lip as she laughed. "Well, attempting is better than nothing." She could only imagine him having two left feet and flaunting his wings while everyone avoided him. She was about to ask what his colors would be when he mentioned that he hoped she would wear them for him, noticing his embarrassed grumble. Clearing her throat, she placed a hand on his arm as he tried to speak before he sighed.

At his request to be more for her, her cheeks reddened slightly, more so once he confessed that he found her attractive. Her eyes searched for his before she could gently raise his head with one head. "We are to speak freely with each other," she said, offering him a small smile. "There's no need to be ashamed." She considered her next words carefully as she wasn't quite sure how to say it. He was certainly more pleasant than all of her suitors combined, but she couldn't help but feel that he was telling her all this in hopes of him possibly courting her. With that, she brushed her lips against his cheek.

"I would be lying if I said I didn't find you more than pleasant. Normally, I would be teasing you about how we've only known each other for a handful of days..." She gently rubbed his arm in reassurance. "But I would consider it. I would rather be with someone that makes me feel comfortable than someone I can hardly stand."
 
So she said, but... well, perhaps she'd see. He'd not exactly had much experience dancing besides, nor even daring to attempt it, so he could well enough say that he, at best, only had some small idea where to begin. And while he wasn't necessarily clumsy when it came to most things... he also wasn't much built for smoother movements.

That, however, would be in a little while, after they returned to the castle and the festivities there began. For now, Drace blinked in surprise as he felt Joanna's hand, offering no real resistance as she directed his gaze back toward her, nervous though he might have quite plainly been. Then her lips against his cheek, easily drawing out a small, somewhat embarrassed little sound from the dragon that might have been so tough in nearly any other circumstance; not so while he was taking a risk like this.

Hearing her say she would consider it, though, had his ears perking in surprise and interest -- enough to have to somewhat quickly catch one of the flowers drifting away from one of them, and carefully replace it where she'd left it. Never minding just how much it seemed to cheer him up... but just as well, a promise was a promise, and he'd promised not to treat her any differently. "That you would consider it is the best I can ask, for now. For the rest... well, we shall see if we come to like each other enough for anything further to come, shall we?" he suggested, putting on a wider grin than he'd shown before. "Now that I have that out of the way, then... when should we return to the castle, to make certain nobody misses you too long? And... I'd dare say I heard whisperings earlier this morning of a tailor being called for to make something about my size by the time of the event. I am to be on my best behavior, shall I guess?" he asked with a little tilt of his head. He could do that, at least... much as it was rather more fun to just be more free about things, as he could around her alone so far.
 
Joanna smirked a little as she heard him become flustered over her kissing his cheek. Well, she didn't want anything to be impossible between them, and should anything blossom between them, it would likely unite their lands further. "I want to keep the possibilities as open as possible. But perhaps it would be something that others would openly welcome eventually." One could hope, anyway.

Laughing at his comment about being on his best behavior for the tailor, she shook her head. "She would want you on your best behavior. It would prove difficult to replace her otherwise." She jumped slightly from the fanfare and an open carriage was going along behind the parade with the crowd erupting into applause and cheering. "We might want to go back now. That's Quentin's carriage."

She had both hands on his arm as she watched a man with Elven features wave his snowy hand to those he passed by. His ebony hair was pulled into a high ponytail and his pale blue eyes scanned the crowd. A little frown broke his thin lips as he continuously peered into the sea of people. He glanced up at the barren rooftops and shook his head. "I thought Joanna would've been out here," he muttered to himself before painting another smile on his face and let women and men alike slower him and his carriage with roses and other flowers as he laughed lightly. "Yes, yes. Thank you. I shall do my best to win your queen's heart."
 
"Eventually... perhaps even after they've seen more of me, just as well," Drace agreed with a small nod. At least, he had no intention of causing any trouble; he doubted he'd be able to just avoid it outright, but, well, they'd see. He had plenty of time in the meanwhile to study and the like, to be able to make a better impression for later, at least.

Chuckling slightly at Joanna's next response all the same, the dragon's ears flicked up a little at her next mention. So that was Quentin, was it? As flashy as he might have guessed, from the fact that he was being so openly stated to be bringing gifts. "Mm... I suppose it's about what I might have expected, from how things sounded earlier. Somehow though, I expected he might be a bit... pudgier. I'd heard many of your more showy nobles can be," he suggested with a little chuckle. Still, leaving wasn't sounding like such a bad option, so he, at the very least, could avoid notice 'til later. So on that point, he carefully picked the woman back up into his arms, moving to fly up a little off to the side so they wouldn't be immediately visible as they made their way out and along back to the castle.

Just to find that they were apparently already setting up in his room, the few women fairly suddenly alerted to him carefully swooping down with the queen in his arms.

"Ah... I see we may be back just in time," Drace mused, carefully lowering Joanna back to her feet in spite of the somewhat odd looks. "I suppose you might be staying to help decide on fashion? It is... not something I have any inclination for," he suggested with a slight, if slightly embarrassed, smirk as he glanced back over to Joanna.
 
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