Ekon couldn't help but smile at the thought of Princess Anasuri running three people people into the buffet. She was so tiny, he couldn't imagine her weight acually doing anyone harm. It seemed that Lord Philly and Princess Anasuri were close, and very good friends. To be frank, Ekon was happy that she didn't just have scary Lady Melina as her only friend. Lord Philip was a good balance to that other funny, intimidating woman.

Ekon watched as Princess Anasuri took Lord Philip's hand, and couldn't help but inwardly sigh. Ekon didn't know why he'd expected this job to be any different even if Princess Anasuri was actually a decent elf. It would always be his job to watch from the sidelines as she lived her life and he didn't have one. It was what he signed up for, but not the life he would have chosen for himself if he'd been given the chance.

ts? not much else is going to happen - unless you want it to?

I don't have any ideas for something at the moment, what do you want to ts to?

mb to the end of the ball? they are leaving to go back to their quarters?

Oh okay yea, sounds good, you wanna start or should I?

i will :)))

and wow. i- i really made anasuri a millennial/gen z on accident whoops. she is relateable on a level i didn't know existed.

-

After what felt like a year in Anasuri's book, the party was finally over. It still took another hour until it actually ended, though, and the meandering guests were (at last) all gone.

Anasuri waved goodbye to the last face she didn't recognize now and definitely wouldn't want to marry tomorrow (or ever), she immediately released her prim posture and slouched forward, kicking off her way-too-high heels in the process, "Freedom," she groaned quietly, as her head fell forward, forgetting about the crown perched there. That then created a mad scramble to catch it before it hit the ground which, of course, failed, and made a loud clattering sound that drew the attention of the maids and guards who had begun to clean up. Anasuri waved them all off as her face reddened in embarrassment, and squatted down to pick back up the crown, and her shoes.

"I think I am the most graceless princess in existence," Anasuri said dryly, throwing a glance to Ekon, "Like seriously, how do I manage to make people think I have poise. That is my magical talent right there - deception. Everyone here has been deceived. I have no wit and charm and humor - it is just chaos bundled in a tiny package."

She set her stuff on a table and knelt back down, picking up scatterings of trash that had been thrown on the floor, and continuing on to a new spot once the area around her was clean, "Wait - I... I could be using a broom. That is - ugh - I. My brain is in the bin. Sorry, one moment please." Anasuri was mostly talking to herself at this point, although she knew that Ekon was likely listening to all of her ramblings, and while she may have been embarrassed at one point to let someone see how her brain worked out loud, after a shit-ton of hours socializing, Anasuri was just about numb to it all. She just wanted to help clean up the dining hall, then go back to her room and sleep for a year.

Ekon couldn't help but grin at Princess Anasuri's eagerness to throw off the torture devices on her feet. Though the mess that followed was mildly concerning, Princess Anasuri truly was a bit of a mess herself. Granted, he should've figured that out from the moment he started working as her knight. Despite what Princess Anasuri said, he couldn't help but disagree, as he'd said before, she truly was powerful and confident, but in her own element. Not here, among the high royals and stiff people.

Ekon himself was stiff and a bit sore from his armor, but unlike Princess Anasuri, who could easily throw off her shoes, he doubted he'd be able to get away with something so inappropriate. Plus, he couldn't easily take off this armor with all its clasps holding it in place. What he could take off was his helm, and he did so with a bit more grace than Princess Anasuri had had when she kicked off her shoes.

Underneath the helmet was Ekon, small indentations had been made by the helmet against his cheeks, and he looked a bit of a mess. Luckily, his long white hair had stayed in its bun, so he didn't have to deal with that getting in his way when he was helping Princess Anasuri.
Ekon couldn't hide the small grin that snuck up on his face at Princess Anasuri's sudden urge to clean the floor with her bare hands. Shaking his head, he darted away for a moment and by the time Princess Anasuri mentioned using a broom, he was back with two. "You seem to be quite exhausted m'lady, you don't have to stay and clean..." he trailed off, looking down at Princess Anasuri with wide, golden eyes. "But," he sighed, "you're stubborn and probably won't want to leave until the place is cleaned up. So instead of creeping about on the floor, have a broom." Ekon held out the broom with a small, kind smile.

Anasuri laughed loudly, and took the broom with a look of gratitude, "No, I do not have to stay. But the people who work here have already been here all night. If I can help reduce that workload?" the princess shrugged, and began to sweep up the mess into tidy piles, "Then I don't see any reason why I should not help." Anasuri paused for a moment, and with an annoyed huff, continued on, "I am not sure if I phrased that correctly, but I am too tired to care."

-

ts to done cleaning?

Sure))

~~~
It had been pretty easy to clean up, but it was work Ekon welcomed. Focusing on the clean up kept his mind from straying to his companion, who had yet to return with Dava. They hadn't spoken in days, and Ekon missed him more than he wished to admit. The cleaning kept his mind from worrying about Dakota, and that was exactly what he needed at the moment, a distraction.

Once the cleaning was over, Ekon took Princess Anasuri's broom and returned it to the woman he'd gotten it from. She thanked him profusely and kept grabbing his hand, which was rather uncomfortable for him and he quickly returned to Princess Anasuri, thoroughly startled by the maid's odd behavior. Clearing his throat, he finally spoke. "Is it time to retire then?" His voice was surprisingly low, as he grew tired by the minute, and his armor weighed him down. Plus, being away from your companion for so long wasn't natural, and he was feeling the affects of it.

Anasuri's head snapped to look at Ekon, her eyes refocusing after having gotten lost in some other world, "Oh. Yes. Sorry. Let us go, then. Dava told me once she found Dakota that she'd go to my room, so they should be there. I hadn't wanted to worry the party guests with any intimidating companions." Most of the royals talked a big game, but with any companion bigger than a dog, they tended to cower in their boots, and hurl insults at the human counterpart of the larger companion.

Anasuri guessed they were embarrassed by the size difference as well (hdfauoh;). The pair began the trek to Anasuri's room, although the princess did not put back on her heels or crown. Instead, they were held loosely in one hand while the other trailed lightly against the wall.