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

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"You looked like you were a bit overwhelmed," Elend said with a shrug.

[~echo~]

Anne chuckled slightly. "Somewhat," she said. "Well, thank you."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend rested his forearms against the balcony railing and stared down at the ballroom below. He didn't say anything.

[~echo~]

Anne didn't try to disrupt the silence until a thought crossed her mind. "I'll be beaten for shirking off my duties," she murmured, mostly to herself.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend glanced over at her. "Right," he murmured. "I'm sorry."

[~echo~]

"It's not like Chef will stop for anybody. She might say she will but she won't," she said softly. "I should go. Thank you for showing me this place," she said, turning to leave.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Bye," Elend said softly, watching her walk away from him. He'd been alone up here many times, but somehow watching her go made him sad. Maybe he just wanted someone to share his hiding place with.

[~echo~]

Anne quickly made her way down the stairs, looking around apprehensively for the cook. She didn't see her so Anne picked up a platter and walked around some more.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend stayed up on the balcony for a long time, if only to avoid his father. The man didn't know about his hiding place, thank the gods.

[~echo~]

(Shall we timeskip?)

Anne was still dreaming of joining the dancers in a beautiful gown, the rest all stopping in astonishment to watch her dance with a handsome young man

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(Yes, good idea. To when?)

[~echo~]

(Iwas thinking that he could go to his hiding spot and he could be there? Maybe she was hiding from the cook)

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(Okay )

[~echo~]

Annah looked around in nervousness. The cook had just finished one of her regular beatings and Annah knew she wasn't quite finished. She also knew that she couldn't take anymore of it! She knew of only one place the cook couldn't find her- the place Elend has showed her. She ran stealthily towards it and sat down once she got there, her heart pounding.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend leaned against the railing, a book in his hands. His eyes flitted back and forth across the page.

[~echo~]

Anne jumped back up. "Oh! I-I didn't realize th-that you were here, Elend," she stuttered, startled. "I'm so sorry to disturb you!"

(I didn't see that you replied! My apologies! P:)

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Elend chuckled. "Good to see you, too," he said.

[~echo~]

She blinked a few times. What was that supposed to mean? She pushed a piece of hair behind her ear and then cleared her throat. "You... don't want me to leave you in peace?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I find that I get lonely sometimes," Elend said, still not looking at her.

[~echo~]

Anne smiled slightly. "I do as well," she said with a glance in his direction.