Re: JADE AND BALLAD'S THREAD
On the subject of the earrings, Ballad adds, Because of course she is offhandedly gallant. Jade is also the kind of beauty that strikes against the heart; Ballad admires it. When Jade lofts the bottle, that's where her gaze goes: to the glass? The clay? The metal? Is there a label? If so, she’ll try to crane her head (and if it’s an awkward position — she’ll lean into it, clown) to read whatever’s drawn there.
She says, Here, she flashes a lopsided grin, dimple definitely in evidence. Probably, she's joking. There's definitely a kick in her tone of voice even as she pretends earnest solemnity.
She lets go the pretense of solemnity when Jade asks about Lance. Her answer is, Pensive. A grin.
As for Jon, Ballad makes a thoughtful noise, then replies, A pause. She laughs, mischief.
The next thing Jade says to Ballad has the silvery blonde looking over, studying the Rebman lady's profile. Ballad, well, she's gone starry in that way she has, pleased as absolute punch, and it's very obvious even though she's not actively smiling. That's because she's saying, honestly, Ballad raises a hand to briefly touch her brow, then her earlobe, then an imagined wisp of silvery hair (everything's still in that complicated, shining, artistic twist of braids and more braids), and sort-of almost smile, the lilt of it a hopeful one of course, but also self-deprecating.