you //still\\ have all of [me]~crystalfrost <3~

[~echo~]

Anne looked genuinely surprised at his thanks. She was never thanked for something she was expected to do. "Ahem... you're welcome," she said shyly, the words feeling foreign on her tongue. With that, she walked out the door and back to the servants' quarters.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend went back to his book, and then glanced back at the door with a frown.

[~echo~]

(What now? )

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(Hmm... well, they could meet again at like a party where she's serving refreshments?)

[~echo~]

(Good idea! I'll start)

Anne breathed in, gazing at herself in the broken piece of glass that served as a mirror for the girl. She rarely had a chance to wear her best dress, but she still felt like a pauper in comparison to the elegant people that were coming to this party. Normally, the girl would be cleaning up afterwards, but again, the normal refreshment-server had come down with a nasty illness and she was asked to serve in her place. She brushed off the piece of lint off her sky-blue dress and smiled at herself, trying to swallow the impending tightness she felt in her chest. Why was she nervous? "I'll probably drop punch on some pompous man's clothes," she muttered. With a final look-over, she walked out and entered the ballroom. She was stunned at how beautiful it looked in there with all the beautiful dresses and the intricately designed room. She made her way over to the trays on a table, selected one with hors d'oeuvres placed on it and walked around, asking various nobles if they wanted a snack.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend entered the room, his hands behind his back. As always, he was late, something that would drive his father crazy. He was dressing in a well-tailored suit, black with a white undershirt. He glanced around the room, face impassive, before going to join the rest of his family at their table.

[~echo~]

Anne noted the ward's appearance, wondering if it would be deemed disrespectful to chat with him. Deciding to use the ploy of hors d'oeuvres to be able to talk to him, she walked over to him and smiled. "Fancy meeting you here. Would you like some hors d'oeuvres?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend glanced up. "Hmm? Ah, no thank you," he said. "I'm not very hungry."

[~echo~]

Anne nodded. "Very well. Find me if you are," she said, a little taken aback. He was a male and she knew how much they liked to eat. But she simply nodded and walked off into the crowd of colors.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend's eyes trailed after her. Eventually, he stood up to leave the table, following after her.

[~echo~]

Anne was asking another noble if he wanted a snack and then moved along to the edge of the wall to watch the ballroom dance starting up.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend made his way to the edge of the ballroom, a few paces ahead of her. He gave her a little wave, gesturing her over to him.

[~echo~]

Anne noticed him and walked over to him, balancing the tray on one hand. "Hello again. "May I help you?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Ah... well," Elend said. He glanced down, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. He was usually much more suave than this, not that he cared enough to use it most of the time. "Can I show you something?"

[~echo~]

Anne blinked, wondering what he could possibly have to show her. "I suppose," she said, awkwardly placing the tray down on a table. She looked up at him.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend waved her along, slipping through the crowd toward a closed door that led to a staircase.

[~echo~]

Anne pushed down a slightly nauseated feeling she felt in her stomach because of where he was leading her but followed after him anyways, trying to look inconspicuous.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend opened the door and climbing up the steps, not looking back to see if she was following. The stairs led up to a balcony that overlooked the ballroom. The young lord stepped up to the railing and looked down on the people dancing, chatting, and eating. It was pleasant up here. Secluded, peaceful.

[~echo~]

Anne followed silently, then smiled in delight. It was much better up here. "It's nice up here," she said. "But why did you bring me up here?"

[~echo~]

(Bump, please? )