Ballad coughs to clear her lungs and makes what’s probably a very funny face to observe as she testingly runs her tongue over her teeth. Do they taste like saltwater now? Ballad gives Jade a little squeeze-hug from behind after piggyback ride, in appreciation. "You took those stairs with vigor and vim, Jade! An army would have fallen before you!!" husky-voiced, thread of laughter suggested but only suggested.

Some of the violets in her half-crown (tiara) have been sacrificed to the tides, so her crown is significantly more bedraggled, and there’s a primrose caught in one of her braids. She gave Jade an appreciative look when Jade helped her get her footing, then realized that, er, a sopping wet gown is not ideal for modesty. Although high altitudes and very cold air doesn't usually bother Ballad, she finds herself shivershivering until they're back in the carriage with blankets and towels. Ballad wraps herself in one of the blankets like she's prepared to go to sleep right now, a soaking wet burrito.

"I should have had the bonfire built here," Ballad says, regretfully. Then, "Hmm? No, thank you Jade for wanting to bring us here. It's so fascinating to see with my eyes what I've only heard tell of before."

*smiles* and Looks over at Ballad as she is talking and a blush creeps up his cheeks as he registers Ballad's figure and quickly turns away.  He then turns and notices Jade and Ari as well and his blush deepens. "I'll...run ahead and make sure the fire is nice and hot."
Jon then quickly takes the lead of the group.
"I know they are all beautiful, but this was different.  I don't know why I reacted that way.  Get it together." he thinks to himself as he heads back to the bonfire.

Once back at the bonfire Jon stokes the flames to make sure it is nice and warm.  He starts packing some of the unneeded things.
Then realizes that the guards are there and asks the Guards over to help. And he asks them "Listen, keep your backs to the ladies for a little bit after they get back until they are wrapped up." but Jon's normal edge is not there.

"Oh, I hope Jon is ok. Do you think I hurt his pride by winning ? Sometimes I let my pride get ahead of me. I keep forgetting men really really like to win." Jade burried her face in her hands.

"In Rebma it's the opposite and I am just trying so hard to hold back when I am in Amber. I wish, I were as confident as you Ariadne. Your amazing and you seem to not care about holding back you just speak your truth. I am not really a rebel though."

Jade closed her eyes rubbing them glad that her face was already wet.


This message was last edited by the player at 20:32, Mon 08 Feb 2021.

Ariadne chuckled,  smiling warmly at Jade
'Being 'a rebel' can be a bit overrated,  honestly.   Usually,  there's a somewhat traumatic reason the rebel was rebelling in the first place".
She glanced off at where Jon had trotted to
"I'll admit that it hurt MY pride to lose, but if i can get over it,  so can he.  I'll admit,  I've lived for the last ten years not really ever worrying about losing to anyone,  so this is a bit of a shock to the system "

"Did you do a lot of competitions on Earth, Ariadne ?" Jade tried to recover from crying.

Ariadne sighed with a chuckle
"Sometimes I feel like Everything is a competition on Earth.  It's one of the flaws in the place, that there often doesn't seem to be enough of everything to go around.  Most people have enough to live, but the luxury items are fairly scarce, with most of us scrambling for money and fame."

"Oh, uhm your rich should share if they have the money to spare. I try to help out in small ways the people we come across."

In reply to Jade (msg # 236):

Ari shrugged
'I worked to never have to depend on my father's money,  and even when i wasn't worried about money, there was always competition in other ways,  like for attention,  fame, and prestige "

"I have to admit,  I want to stand out just a little. To step out and be myself. I was always the Queen's shadow. There for her to aid her every moment. Now I am really out on my own and I don't know what to do with myself some times."

Jon takes a quick peek and sees that the ladies are covered in blankets.  "Ok we can turn around now" he says to them.
He comes back from around the carriage. "Jade, that is the joy of being on your own.  You can just relax in bed if you like.  Or try something new." *grins* "We know you are a fabulous signer and illusionist, but have you tried dancing, painting or sculpting?  You are a very creative soul."

"I am good at sculpting and am trying to find my style in painting. Sculpting is popular in Rebma. I know how to dance, but I am not used especially good at it. I find it enjoyable though."

"You ok Jon ?"

Ariadne nodded and smiled at Jon.
"I'm feeling similar, believe it or not.  Back on Earth, while I wasn't, like, totally in charge of the place, by any stretch of the imagination, I was, for the most part, a leader in my chosen profession, and even comfortable in my social circles and how my life was going.  To be honest, looking back on my life, I was almost too complacent about everything, and just living life in a relaxed manner.
All of you people and all this craziness has been a bit of a jolt, frankly, and I feel like I have to scramble to get back up to full speed. "

*smiles* "Yes, I am fine." he looks a bit confused by the question. "Can I get you ladies anything, while I am up?" he asks. "We will have to go dancing sometime them." *nods* to Ari "But you are doing great.  Just from what you and Lance shared, Amber, Rebma and my home are vastly different than your earth.  So it makes sense that it is a big adjustment. That aside, you are fit in nicely." she can tell by his tone he is being genuine and sincere.

"Lemonade would be really nice Jon." Jade smiled sweetly.

She stepped aside so that the carriage could be filled.

Ari chuckled.
"Yes, that sounds good."
She grinned playfully at Jon.
"Barkeep!  Lemonades, all around!"

*grins* "Coming right up, you princess-ness" he teases and chuckles Jon looks to the guards and Odile. "Would you three like anything? While I'm at it?" he asks.  While he waits for their answer, he pulls three lemonades for the ladies and picks them up forming a triangle.

Waling over to Ari, he kneels down carefully so as to not spill the lemonade and offers her the middle one.

Giving a half grin and a playful nod, Ari took the middle lemonade.

Jon smiles and nods back. He then moves to Ballad, kneels down and offers her a lemonade. "For you, my moon princess." he says with mock formality.

Ballad must be very sleepy indeed to have been so quiet, or perhaps she was very surprised, or perhaps it is a mixture of the two. Either way, Ballad is quiet on the return to the carriage, listening to the others speak and thinking.

And so she takes the glass of lemonade without a word, lifting it in a vague cheers to release Jon on to the next princess on his list.

Jon smiles fondly at the sleepy Ballad.  He then turns to Jade, still kneeling and offers her the lemonade. "And for you, my Sea Princess and champion of the day." he says with warmth, fondness and sincerity.

Jade brightened quite a bit and almost dropped the blanket she was holding in her eagerness to accept the lemonade as if it were a trophy. She quickly grabs the blanket before it slips off and takes the lemonade in her other hand.

"Why thank you, kind Sir."

She lifts the glass in toast to her cousins and sips it. It certainly did taste better then sea water she had to admit.

*smiles* and a hint of a blush as the blanket starts to fall.  But Jon turns away to stand up. "You are most welcome, my princess." he says as he head back to get his drink.
He looks at Odile and the guards again "Are you sure you don't want anything?  It is really not trouble." he asks in a friendly tone.

Jade gives a smile and quick nod to Odile that she should go for it and ask for a drink.

Ari sips her drink,  enjoying the night

"All right-- I'd like some of that...!" chirps Odile of the beverage...