(2023-05-18) Society's Little Games - Charity Gala Side Story

Details

Author:	Athena
Summary:	Elohad asks Duchess Esprit to dance. Avrenne works on her agendas, and keeps her feet moving.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Ringside Seats

In the course of his general circulating, Elohad wanders into the orbit of the Duchess Avrenne Esprit, and when he spots her he wanders over with a smile. "You know, Your Grace, I think this is the first time I've spotted you when you weren't already deeply engaged in a conversation. Would you care for a dance while my wife jilts me and runs away with the fresh cheeses they just brought out?"

There's something — brief, but there — around her eyes at the phrasing of it, the 'jilting' of his wife, before it's completely wiped away as Avrenne gives her polite, small, closed-mouth chuckle, holding out her hand in a familiar, easy way, clearly very accustomed to this social ritual. "I would be delighted, Lord Ference," she says, and if her tone is not exactly warm, it is not frosty by any stretch.

Elo leads her out onto the dance floor and restrains his usual exuberance, beginning the dance in a courteous and correct fashion. "I saw you with Captain Tyrrell earlier," he observes. "You know him well?" Way to hit two sore spots in less than five minutes, Sir Elohad. Very gallant.

"Not as well as I would like," Avrenne says diplomatically, only a very odd flicker around her eyes, and the fact that she glances immediately to where he is suggesting something there. "We were peers, back in Lordaeron, many years ago. We lost touch as things shifted, and then, of course, the disruption of the Fall of The City." She says it like The City, like even now, there's still only one The City, and it is Lordaeron. It seems like an old habit, rather than a declaration on feelings of Stormwind. "We recently reacquainted in Northrend, while I was there on business. He is friends with Lord Bertand, who is the fiance of a friend of mine."

Elo is trying very hard not to let his Perception of a Tragic Romance Story show in his eyes, but he may not be succeeding. "I was speaking with him not long ago; he has some very ambitious ideas about how to solve the whole… warlock problem." He does not seem to feel the need to specify what that problem is.

"Yes. I find that, on the whole of it, I am in agreement with him, in fact. I, myself, am a very minor talent of a mage — it was very unexpected — but even I was appropriately schooled in magic, how to use it, how to understand its power, and how to regulate it. And then, of course, I went back home to my family with that knowledge after. The arcane is not at all the same as the fel in many ways, but the methodical approach, the sense of community, without creating a full isolation, that does seem to be a very reasonable method for helping to guide power, don't you think?" Avrenne's dancing is still just barely above the C average, a little closer to the C+ range with Elo, but it is nothing at all to write home about even with the mail functional.

"I think warlocks probably need a little closer watching than arcane mages," Elo says soberly. "The arcane doesn't actively try to corrupt you, after all. But Tyrrell actually wants to work with me on creating an organization that helps keep warlocks safe; that's what he and I were discussing."

"Oh, yes. I agree entirely, Lord Ference. That is, indeed, why I find Captain Tyrrell's approach so appealing. I might have continued to accidentally set men's cravats on fire, if I had not learned how to control my magic, but I would have not been in communication with elements of the Legion's forces. That is a very important distinction, and I think, of all people, someone like Captain Tyrrell who has fought so directly against the Legion, understands why that sort of organization is essential to addressing this concern." Avrenne is remarkably composed as she speaks of him, but her eyes keep darting glances at the Captain. "I think as someone who employs warlocks so carefully himself, that you would also have insight on how to best go about that."

"I think we've done well so far," says Elo, "But it's certainly never a thing I'd have thought to put into wider practice. I think he might be onto something with his idea, though, and yes, he's got service against the Legion to his credit. Apparently he was at Hyjal." Elo casts a glance his direction, pondering him. "He was with the 7th even then, though, and they were the vanguard; my people came in after, and then stayed around for cleanup until I was injured. So although we didn't run into each other back then, technically we're both Hyjal veterans, and I'll confess there's a sort of unspoken bond between those who were part of all that."

The sort that makes people go silent when the name is mentioned.

Avrenne falls silent in contemplation of this.

After this pause, going through the motions of dancing, she tilts her chin a little further up to regard Elo more directly. "Those are very strong bonds, as I understand it. My family often served in the military, as much as we worked to outfit it appropriately. We have always believed that having a direct hand in things, to commit oneself or one's family, keeps us honest, and invested appropriately. When it is not simply, for example, 'a ship used to transport soldiers to the front' but 'the ship transporting my brother to the front,' or not 'a soldier's uniform,' but 'my son's uniform,' you regard it very differently when you are creating the contract to build it."

"Exactly," Elo says. "Make things personal, whenever you can. That's what my Cobalt Blade initiative was about, actually. Once most of my best people went through the Portal, people started thinking of Cobalt Company as 'those people out there' instead of people who were near at hand and ready to help. So I've been doing a lot of work to make certain that we come across as what we truly are and have been from the start: the people who are right here, near at hand, to help you with your personal problems while the military has to be away keeping the world in one piece."

"And it is always a challenge to fight on more than one front," Avrenne says. "But there is definitely a necessity of balance. Problems at home do not cease simply because a war begins elsewhere. Have you had opportunity to speak with Lady Morgauna Thenedain? A dear friend of mine, who feels very strongly on how we must approach the maintenance of our homes here. Those who do fight on the front, as the Commodore said so well," and there, Avrenne looks to where Siamus is, and there's an immediate, visible softening of her expression, a small smile that breaks through the frost shield of composure. "Need to know that their loved ones, who inspire them to fight, are being taken care of, and I believe you have demonstrated that sort of mindfulness quite well, Lord Ference."

Elohad inclines his head oh so humbly as he dances. "I'm getting on quite well with the Fallons," he says warmly. "The Thenedains… I'll be frank; I'm a bit wary. Young Lady Thenedain seems nice enough herself, but her mother seems to have set me in her sights as an enemy, not sure why. And while she isn't technically the head of the house, she ah, clearly is not without influence. So I'm keeping my cards pretty close to my chest around them both, just to be safe."

"Oh, I sympathize. Lady Evelaine is such a formidable woman," Avrenne says graciously. "I have known her since I was a very young girl, and there are times when I feel as though I am very abruptly nine-years-old again and the great lady is displeased with me for some reason that I cannot fathom." She looks to where Morgauna is, and then back to Elo. "So many would have been overwhelmed by such a personality, but Morgauna has always known her own mind, and how to navigate that difficult line of daughter and Head of her House."

She leaves it at that however, as she lets Elo control the dance. "I do hope you know how much I appreciate what you and your family are doing here tonight. This is an issue very close to my heart. I have the guardianship of four, who lost their families in the Fall of Lordaeron. I believe very strongly that we all must ensure that the children of our soldiers are never abandoned."

"Fallon gave a fine speech earlier on that, didn't he?" Elo says. "The indirect wounds of war? I'm glad no one was looking at me; I'm a bit prone to tears for a grizzled old man."

Avrenne's expression does The Thing again, as she looks in the direction of Siamus, that smile breaking out around the edges of the poise of her. "Indeed. It was very moving." She looks back at Elo, all sentiment tucked away again, ahem. You saw nothing. "Much like your own, at the Remembrance Ball. It is at times, a little difficult for people who have been so far removed from what is happening in Northrend to see it, especially when we have been safe here, but we are all, in our own ways, soldiers in this war. But we must laugh and we must still find joy, when we can. I believe that was a common theme in some of your plays, if I remember your work correctly?"

"It seems you do," he says with a warm smile. "Some of them were pure fluff and entertainment, but even that has its value sometimes, I think. And even in my tragedies I tried to show bits of beauty and even laughter, so that the audience had something to hold onto even if I made them cry a little."

"It has been a very long time since I have been to the theater. I think the last play I saw was likely one of yours. 'It Will Be Home'? Do I remember that title correctly? It has been so many years, but there was a song of it, wasn't there, of that sentiment, when they were speaking of the rebuilding? Oh, I'm sorry, I cannot remember the names of the characters, just the shape of them still."

Elo looks momentarily flabbergasted. "I… wow." He blinks and shakes his head. "No one ever mentions that one. Too sad, I guess, much more fun to talk about pirate queens and bandits with hearts of gold. But I was always proud of that one. My best friend said I could never make a 'sad musical' work but when he saw it he came up to me with tears in his eyes and shook my hand. Couldn't even speak, and for him, that was saying something."

Elo smiles wistfully, lost for a moment in memory as he dances.

"I do not think I had a full appreciation of it, at the time, if I am being honest. But, my friend, Lady Priscilla Moore, was a refugee of Stormwind, and I still felt as though I understood better, after that, what it meant to be a War Orphan of that city. It was later, when it was I who fled, who can only look back at my old home, and dream of a return, that it lingers on the edges of memory rather than fading." Avrenne gives him that serious, dark eye look, of someone real fun at parties, before it's brushed aside. "I do not attend theater, these days, but an acquaintance of mine speaks regularly on the importance of the arts, though he was a soldier himself before. In fact, a veteran of Mt. Hyjal, where he suffered an injury that ended his military career."

"You must mean Devon Tennerow," he says. "He seems like a nice fellow. He came to see me not long ago at home though I was in poor condition to receive him, and we didn't get to chat long."

"I do, yes, I am so glad you have had an opportunity to meet. He has some interesting ideas about the local militia, and how we might work a little better to ensure that we are protecting our home. I understand your son was part of the militia in Westfall, at some point?"

Elohad beams proudly. "That's right. He's as brave as they come. Have you had the chance to meet him? Last I saw him he was trailing after Commodore Fallon like a puppy."

"I have not, yet, but I would very much like to meet him. I understand he is part of your teams in Northrend?"

"That's right, he leads White Squad, on the eastern end of the continent. Sir Dane Atley the Red leads Blue to the west. Only, I think they have moved east now as well. But they landed at Valiance Keep back in February."

"Oh, I would be most interested in hearing his opinion on the eastern side. I was there, actually, in Northrend just last week, but I did not have the opportunity for a wide survey of the place. Valgarde, in particular, I did not manage to get to. That is where I expect his team — his squad? made landfall when they arrived?"

"That was the name, yes. I've not seen any of it yet; my business keeps me in Stormwind City and Ironforge almost exclusively."

"That is where Vice Admiral Keller is stationed, I believe." Avrenne makes a small, possibly disapproving sound of thought at it.

"I'm not familiar with him. Been a few years since my military days, and all the names have changed. Well, other than names like Wyrmbane and Fordragon, of course."

"Of course," Avrenne agrees. The Old Guard. "I must know the names for who to contact for supplies, and his is not one I was familiar with except in passing. But, while I was in Westguard, I was surprised to hear some of the news coming out of Northrend about the state of the ships there. So many wrecked, so many lives lost. Perhaps your son has met the Vice Admiral? I would very much like to hear if he knows if there is something more the Vice Admiral need to avoid more of such tragedies."

"I think he's around here somewhere, perhaps after the dance you can ask him. He's got a rustic way about him, but don't let that fool you, he's as bright as they come. He just didn't have the benefit of a good education growing up, and he's making up for lost time as best he can now that he's able."

"Oh, I would never judge a man by his manner or accent, Lord Ference. Particularly as someone who has one that marks me here in the Kingdom of Stormwind as one who does not belong, precisely," Avrenne says graciously. "There are many ways to be a gentleman, and not all of them are how one speaks or awareness of the rules of society's little games."

"I think my son was born to be a gentleman. He just needed to find the right parents to teach him how. Meanwhile it seems I was born to be a boor, and I needed the army to bring it out of me." He barks a short laugh. "Live long enough, and we all find out who we were meant to be."