• Memory • [Burhan] A Night Like No Other (Ivy)

[Valeria Burhan]

Note

This is set immediately after V's marking story, which can be found here

101 Vhalar 713, Night

Valeria didn't know how to function. She could only stand there, staring off in the direction that Zanik had vanished in as if hoping that he'd materialise from the crowd of nobles. She certainly couldn't grasp how the Immortal could be gone; she could hardly grasp the fact that he'd just been here!

The young woman could feel where he'd kissed her, as if he'd left a physical mark on her. In fact, the first thing she did when she'd regained enough of her wits was to raise a hand to her cheek, fingers probing the spot in search of something tangible. There was no depression, no difference in the texture of the skin, nothing that explained the tingling sensation that she was experiencing. It couldn't simply be a figment of her imagination, she was certain of that.

"Lady Valeria?" a voice murmured near at hand, making the noblewoman jump, startled. It was just a servant, eyeing her anxiously while she balanced a platter on her arm. "Are you all right? Do you feel well? You've been standing there for the last few bits in something of a daze."

The girl's eyes shifted to hazel, the intensity of the green ebbing in and out. She felt her face warm with a blush but she allowed her lips to fall into one of her easy smiles. "I'm fine, just a little overwhelmed. It's been a busy night but I'm fine. Really," she assured the woman, giving her a tiny nod of acknowledgement before she turned carefully on her heel and made her unhurried way to the washroom. She wanted to sprint, even though she was in heels, desperate to catch a glimpse of her own face to see if Zanik had left any noticeable change. The servant hadn't mentioned a mark on her cheek but then they weren't supposed to offend. Besides, she hadn't given her much opportunity.

However, when she gained access to a mirror, there was nothing there, not even a smear in her make-up. She pretended that she was simply checking her appearance until the other noble lady who was there left, at which point, the young Burhan almost smashed her cheek into the mirror in her desperation to see it more closely. No matter how she squinted or stared at it, there was no mark from his lips, only the rogue that dusted along her cheekbone and the small pock marks from her earlier bouts of acne.

Valeria felt a mixture of relief and disappointment. She was glad that there was no mark of her illicit worship that could be seen by any of the Rynlists that filled her childhood home. However, she wished that she had some outward sign, a mark of proof of what had just occurred to her. Ivy would never believe her.

Ivy!

Thus far, she hadn't seen the Gawyne girl this evening but then she'd been rather preoccupied. Given that this was her party, she was supposed to be every bit the perfect hostess, ensuring that everyone received some of her attention. It wasn't a time for her to spend with her friend at the cost of ignoring others. Of course, she'd also been distracted by an Immortal for a little while, which seemed an acceptable reason to spend time away from the rest of her guests. What was more, considering what had just happened, she was more than willing to make an exception. Fek them all!

Smoothing down her dress, the blonde went in search of her friend, moving carefully through the party so that she appeared unhurried, turning her head slowly as she scanned the many faces, smiling when she had to do so until she caught sight of the familiar well-cut figure of Hunter Gawyne, Ivy's eldest brother. Sure enough, the platinum blonde wasn't far from him. The Lady Gawyne typically remained close to one brother or another, Valeria found, and while she was able to handle herself on her own, the Burhan noble knew that Ivy preferred to avoid others when she could.

V made her way over to the pair, favouring Hunter with a pretty smile - he was in line for the Gawyne Duchy after all - before she turned to his younger sister. "Ivy, I need to talk to you about something in private. Can we step outside for a bit? It's a matter of some importance," she explained, trying to keep her tone level and calm while she was in front of Hunter but the almost amber glint in her eyes was enough to betray her excitement. She wanted to grab the young woman's arm and lead her away but she knew better than to lay hands on Ivy without good cause. "Please, Ivy. The sooner the better."

She took a step towards the exit, hoping that the other would get the message that she wanted her to hurry. She felt as if she might burst if she didn't tell someone soon and Ivy was the only person she could trust with her secret.

[Ivy Gawyne]

Ivy was a creature who had never been good with parties. As a child, she was often too free of spirit to be coerced into taking part. Later as she got older, after that event, she'd grown a distaste for them that was entirely different. She used every excuse possible to get herself out of the dreaded things from feigning illness to panic attacks, and sometimes the later didn't need to be faked. Most of the time though, her parents left her be. At least once they'd realized it was going to be hard to make a proper lady out of her. It seemed that eventually, her parents had gotten the message, it just kind of clicked that the woman was broken. Broken far beyond any kind of simple repairs. But this part, this party was different. It was Valeria's 18th birtharc, there was no way in Idalos she'd be able to wiggle her way out of this one. Of course, that didn't mean she hadn't put up a fight of sorts against her parents. The deal was she'd go willingly without a fight if one of her brothers was with her. After a little talking, it had eventually been decided upon that the brother to go with her would be Hunter.

So at the party, she practically clung to her brother's side. Occasionally she would brush against him ever so slightly when someone looked at her a little too hard or managed to get a little to close. She didn't cling to him the way she might have clung to Caius a couple arcs prior, but she still remained close, at least until Valeria showed up. The older woman appeared, asking Ivy to come with her. The blonde for obvious reasons hesitated for a moment. Her hesitation was only equaled by the excitement that was in Valeria's eyes. Eventually, Ivy sighed, stepping towards Valeria. "I'll be right back," she muttered to her brother. There was an unspoke kind of communication in that sentence, her eyes flickering slightly between a mess of colors that weren't typical of her eyes, which usually stayed between two set shades of blue. She allowed the back of her hand to brush against the back of Valeria's as she moved to stand next to the woman. It was the most physical contact Ivy was willing to offer those outside of her brothers, sister, and cousins who she'd freely offer hugs. It was also a sign of deep respect and trust given ivy usually flinched away from most physical contact with other people. Those who noticed the little sign were usually smart enough not to test their luck.

Ivy was quiet as she walked with Valeria towards the exit, curiosity mixing with caution.

[Valeria Burhan]

Her friend seemed less than enthused to leave her brother's protective proximity. On another occasion, she might have been more willing to accept the girl's skittish behaviour but right now, she found it exasperating and also couldn't help feeling a little stung. Ivy had to know that she wouldn't allow any harm to come to her. There was always security around such parties in case some disgruntled commoner or other decided to enter and cause issue for guests but it was an unlikely possibility, especially given how awkwardly they were situated.Her full lips pressed together, the colour of her eyes grew more muted as she eyed the other with impatience.

It seemed to take an age before the girl stepped forwards but when she did, her hand brushed against the Burhan noblewoman's, quelling her upset at what had previously seemed like rejection. The blonde turned away, eager to lead the way to the exit. Her good humour came flooding back almost at once, despite the young woman's declaration which suggested that she had no intention of lingering with Valeria for long. That simple contact was enough to make her view the situation with greater optimism although she wasn't going to chance reciprocating it; she didn't want to send Ivy into one of her panics. It was a terrible thing to witness but she also didn't want to cause a scene, even if this was her party.

The blonde led the way outside, a noticeable joy to her movements as she clacked along in her low heels. Once out in the cool Vhalar air, she gazed all around her, peering into shadows and little nooks and crannies before she gestured for Ivy to come close, not wanting to have to broadcast what had happened. Despite her anxiety about eavesdroppers, her eyes had taken on euphoric golden hue as her mouth pulled wide in a grin. She clasped her hands together at her breast to resist the urge to snatch Ivy's up in her own.

"I have to tell someone and you're the only one that I can trust, Ivy. I can hardly believe that it's real but... Zanik was here!" she relayed in an awed whisper, trembling on the spot, hardly able to contain herself. "I'd seen him a few times since the party started but I didn't know who he was. I knew there was something about him, something extraordinary but I couldn't understand it at the time. It seems so obvious now! But he talked to me! Out here! I just thought he was this charming, attractive man - oh, so attractive, Ivy! - and he wanted to dance with me so of course I agreed!"

She paused to pull air into her lungs, practically gasping for breath in her excitement. She thought she might faint but that was surely the corset and the exhilaration of it all. She leaned against the wall, suddenly feeling rather weak. Maybe she really was about to faint.

"He talked to me and he knew that I wasn't a real Rynlist, that I worshipped him. To think that I panicked! And then he said something, I don't even know what now, but then I knew it was him and he told me that I had to do things in his name and... and then he..." Her fingers fluttered up to her cheek as she struggled to describe the event itself, remembering the thrill that had zapped through her, a mixture of pleasure and shock and power. She gasped suddenly.

"He kissed me on the cheek, Ivy! But it felt like so much more! It still feels like there should be some sort of mark there but what... what if it is? What if he marked me? It's something Immortals can do, give a mortal a blessing, something that allows them to access some of their power. Do you think..."

Her eyes closed, the magnitude of the thought too large and wonderful for her to comprehend. It would explain why he'd come all the way here. Surely he hadn't come all this way simply to indicate that he'd noticed her. The problem was that she had no idea how she'd be able to tell. She felt different - although it might have just been the excited tingling of her nerves - but she had no idea how to check.

"If he did mark me... how do you think I can find out for sure, Ivy? I mean, how am I supposed to access that power?"

[Ivy Gawyne]

Ivy was as oblivious as always to whatever insult she might have caused with her hesitation. After all, Ivy was Ivy and it took great amounts of concernment to step outside her own front door. It was no understatement on her companion's part to try and avoid one of Ivy's panics. They could occasionally turn violent, not to others but to Ivy herself. And the woman who Ivy called friend hadn't even seen the worst of them, those were reserved for her brothers and her brothers alone. Ivy's own shoes made no noise as they were soft-footed flats. It was almost a good analogy for the pair. V was loud and flashy, she drew attention and put on shows for those around her like any proper noble should. Ivy, on the other hand, was quiet, reserved, scared of taking risks and standing out too much. Yet there was a little more loyalty in Ivy's lack of showmanship. The woman had never been one to tell a lie to those she trusted, though she wasn't above not speaking at all instead. If there was ever a moment when she went quiet for an extended period of time there was something she either didn't want know or was afraid to insult those around her.

Ivy watched her companion, the way she was nervous and cautious, but her eye glinted with what could only be pure joy. V was a far more physical person than Ivy, and as Ivy watched Valeria clasp her hands to her chest she couldn't help but be thankful that her own hands weren't grabbed. She wouldn't have a panic considering it was V, but she still wouldn't be the most comfortable with the situation. Ivy in return for Valeria's self-restraint, Ivy tried to be understanding and keep her composure when her friend did slip. Ivy nodded when Valeria started to speak, her own emotions being cautious but optimistic.

"Zanik!?" She parroted with a quiet gasp, her eyes going wide and her lips parting slightly. She was aware that her companion wasn't completely loyal to Rynlism considering she wasn't herself. She didn't remember who had slipped first, but at one point both of them had ended up admitting they had an immortal they showed a certain degree of favor to. Ivy at the very least had the excuse of having said immortal in her family tree. Ivy seemed to only become more awed as V told her story. Dancing with an immortal, it sounded like such a dreamy concept. It was so outrageous should it have been anyone else Ivy might have been tempted to doubt them. But this was Val.

"Marked..." Ivy muttered to herself at the idea that perhaps her friend had indeed been marked by an immortal. Looking at her closely something did seem to be different. She'd only noticed when Val brought up the idea of maybe being marked. Val seemed to be glowing. No, not the kind of glowing you said someone was doing when they seemed particularly happy. This was a legitimate glowing whispy gold. Her jaw almost dropped. "Val. Val, I have an idea," she said, gently resting a hand on Valeria's shoulder. The touch was feather light, as though it was a butterfly that had been placed on her shoulder and not a limb of Ivy's. "If you really were marked, then maybe you'll have some kind of power to enchant people! We should go back to the party and you should sing! Depending on what happens we'll know for sure if you've got any special kind of powers," she said. Her voice was as quiet as always, but there was a glitter of excitement in Ivy's shimmering orbs. Her voice took on a kind of jittery musicality at the thought of her best friend having been marked by the immortal she followed. Maybe there was hope for Ivy...

[Valeria Burhan]

Ivy's response seemed far more constrained than her own but then she hadn't just been in the presence of an Immortal. Or danced with an Immortal. Or been kissed and potentially marked by an Immortal. Her knees suddenly felt more than a little wobbly and sitting down seemed a good idea but she wasn't going to move to the nearby bench; it seemed too exposed. Instead, she settled for sliding down the wall a little bit, heedless of the fabric that rubbed against it. Her hands splayed out flat against the masonry, clinging to it with the tips of her fingers and the heel of her palms.

As shaky and overawed as she felt, her lips stretched in a dreamy smile as she allowed her friend to process things and think the matter over a little bit. Her friend's touch was unexpected but it made her smile broaden, a wild idea passing through her mind that Ivy was trying to gain something of what she'd just experienced. By touching Valeria, she was practically touching greatness. Furthermore, she perked up at the mention of an idea, her eyes practically aglow with eager anticipation. However, the light faded rapidly from them as the Gawyne explained her plan, colour swirling so chaotically that her pupil was like the eye of a storm. Her irises finally settled on a hue that was so pale that it was close to white, her skin seeming to take on the unhealthy colour as well.

She shook her head, slow and jerky at first but then wildly vehement, the carefully arranged curls falling into disarray. "Oh I can't! Oh Ivy! I didn't even... If I am marked what will it do? What if it shows up? What if everyone can see and they..." she trailed off as her breathing quickened, the rhythm off-kilter due to her rising panic. If she went into a room full of Rynlists and sang for them, what would happen? What if it made it wholly obvious to any and all who beheld her that she was aberrant? Of course, there was Zanik and she loved him but what would she do if it was found out? What good could she be to him or to anyone else if she was utterly disgraced in front of everyone? There was no way that the young Burhan could take that risk. She couldn't simply stand before them without the slightest notion of what might occur.

Her hand groped upwards, moving from the masonry to her friend's hand that rested on her own shoulder, fingers shifting to encircle her wrist. She wasn't thinking of the possible consequences; she was too self-absorbed.

"If I d-do that in front of everybody th-then I might be screaming to the whole room that I'm not a p-proper Rynlist," she whispered, eyes wide in terror. "I don't think I could sing a note even at the idea of doing it." It was laughable given that she'd sung in front of an Immortal but half a break ago. Or was it longer? A break, two, she didn't even know; her sense of time had gone askew.

"Zanik's domain is more than just music. What if... You know what I can do with my looks, what if... I can do something with that?" she questioned softly, her brows pulling together in a crease as a befuddled mix of blue and green entered her gaze. "I can't try it on just anyone, Ivy, but I have no one else that I trust. Not... not like I trust you." her hands went limp, falling to her side as she eyed the other teenager. "I wouldn't have to lay a finger on you, I'd just have to... well... I'd have to try and seduce you with looks," she admitted, red slowing blooming in her cheeks that was clearly distinct from the rouge that had been applied to them.

There was something taboo about the idea of one woman trying to seduce another. Women doing it to men, yes, or vice versa, were both perfectly common but for two of the same sex... Yet, Valeria couldn't deny that it was something that appealed to her. It was something she'd learned while receiving certain lessons from courtesans but back then she'd thought that there had been a quality in them that she wanted, something that made her admire them and want to be like them, at least in manner. Now though, she was aware that it was more than that. The more she'd thought about it, the more it had made sense: a person's sex didn't matter to her, she could be attracted to them regardless of it. Still, just because she'd had that little epiphany didn't mean that she'd ever acted in that direction. She'd never attempted to show attraction towards another woman or try to earn their interest. It probably wasn't that different from doing it to a man and yet the idea made her feel uneasy, sending a queasy twisting sensation to disturb her belly.

But this was Ivy. If she did this with Ivy, it wouldn't be like that because they were friends. There couldn't be anything odd or uncomfortable about that. Ivy was perfectly safe.

[Ivy Gawyne]

Ivy's own expression turned a little darker when she remembered what kind of reactions the people might have. Her companion had a good point. The people of Ryn were... a little negative to say the least. She had learned at a young age that if you had something good to say about immortals, keep it to yourself and those who shared your thoughts. "Hey, it's okay," she tried to comfort Val but her words trailed off quietly and were easily drowned in Val's own panic. Lost in her emotion Val's fingers moved upwards to weave themselves with Ivy's. She swore she could feel her heart stop for a moment, dropping into the panicked pits of her stomach as it skipped a fearful beat. It took every ounce of composure in her body not to flinch as she was quickly trapped in Val's grip. Ivy couldn't help but let out a quiet whimper, but the noise was covered up by Valeria's own ranting which was quick to continue. Ivy shivered slightly. The grip on her hand, her wrist, it was so tight and the touch felt like fire. She wanted her brothers, she wanted to be in a situation where she felt safe. Val was her friend, but by all means, she wasn't safe. Her nature was too much like fire, bright and beautiful and hot to the touch. If you got too close then you'd only end up getting yourself burned, and Ivy had made the mistake of getting a little too close to the blaze. She could practically feel the singe on her fingertips as she mentally debated if she should pull away or not.

"I'm sorry Val, I didn't mean to..." Her voice again wavered and trailed off as her companion panicked over the idea of singing. Only for her expression to completely 180. Ivy could feel her heart pounding in her chest almost like a drum when Valeria turned to her. Use her as a test? Did V forget exactly who she was speaking to? She was talking to Ivy, the girl who couldn't handle romance anymore. The broken child who hated to be touched. Perhaps this was her own fault. She'd never told Valeria the full extent of the reason as to why she hated to be touched and have people near her, especially men. She'd only told her dear friend that she'd had a bad experience. She'd left the details vague enough that it would take someone more observant than Val to piece together the pieces. No offense meant to Val of course. Ivy walked circles around people whenever the event was brought up. It would take someone observant and investigative to actually figure out what had happened to her. Valeria didn't seem like she had the time or energy to worry about whatever happened outside of the moments when it was actually affecting her.

"Wha-what! But, but Val, Val, you can't honestly... honestly ask me to. Val please..." Ivy's voice trailed off once more as her best friend looked up at her. Her expression was pleading, a slight rose tinting her cheeks. Val was forcing Ivy into a corner she really didn't want to go into. Ivy was reduced to mutters and pathetic whimpery sounds as she tried to give one good reason as to why this was a bad idea. While Ivy was seemingly safe for Val, Val was nowhere near safe for Ivy. The woman feared what effects the blessing might have on her. She feared the idea that she might become some's pet again. That thought was almost enough to bring her to tears. And should it have been anyone besides Val then she would have without a doubt been in tears. But this was Val, Valeria was her friend. Her only friend... How could she say no without hurting Valeria? How could she say yes without hurting herself? The meek child that had unspeakable things forced upon her was back to the forefront of her mind and her actions. She wouldn't say anything, she just wouldn't say anything and Valeria could interpret that however she pleased. It wasn't like Ivy was the kind of girl who would fight back...

[Valeria Burhan]

It had the makings of an ideal solution for her little dilemma but the blonde wasn't blind; she could see how the idea was upsetting Ivy. Of course, what seemed like a surefire plan and an innocent, potentially fun, experiment for her wasn't necessarily going to be seen as such by her companion. It should have been obvious before she even opened her mouth but this was Ivy Gawyne she was talking about here; she didn't go in for that sort of thing.

She'd had ample opportunity over the past few arcs to observe the younger woman's reactions to others, the way she shied or even flinched away from contact, the way that she cowered away from men. She'd once given a rather vague explanation about a past experience that had soured romantic relations for her but even then, Valeria had suspected that there was more to the matter than the girl was willing to share. The young Burhan had been far from innocent at the time, in knowledge more than experience, and given her friend's age, she'd suspected some manner of foul play. Some of the courtesans had hinted at unseemly relations that went on behind closed doors in the noble houses, what brother did with sister, what father did with daughter and things that the teenager shuddered to imagine. She had wanted to pry but she'd also been able to see how traumatised the girl was. If the young Gawyne wanted to share then she would but in her own time.

It had been quite some time since such a matter had come to the forefront of her mind and it made her feel instantly guilty. How long had it been since she'd given thought to her friend's well-being? She'd been so eager at the prospect of turning 18 and being able to take up a semi-permanent residence in Andaris that she hadn't taken a single moment to think of someone other than herself. However, she felt it now.

Her eyes became a downcast grey, the blonde stepping away from her friend and away from the wall. She moved away a few paces away, a serious, pensive expression on her face as she peered back into the building where the other nobles were enjoying the party; her own mood seemed at odds with what was occurring inside. She kept her back to Ivy for a few moments, listening to the music within before she turned slowly to face her, keeping her distance. She wrung her hands, fiddled with the skirt of her dress, and bunched the material in her grasp.

"I'm sorry, Ivy, I shouldn't have asked. I shouldn't even have suggested it. I'm sorry," she blurted, close to tears as she gazed mournfully at her friend. She could see how the other noblewoman had been affected and it was all her fault. Valeria hadn't wanted to cause any harm, she'd just been so excited because of Zanik's visit that she'd been eager to share it. Of course, she'd just assumed that her friend would be as interested and as curious about it as her and given her own, rather liberal sexuality, she hadn't thought that it could be so wrong for her to engage in something that in her mind only amounted to a harmless bit of flirtation. Okay, so she knew it would have been more than mere flirtation but there would have been neither malice nor true intent behind it. Now she felt as if she'd ruined everything.

Her parents had deemed Valeria an excellent example for Ivy to follow but really, it should have been the other way around, shouldn't it? The young lady had all the makings of a good girl, appropriately chaste, frigid even, whereas Valeria... It was bad enough how she was willing to act towards men if she had the opportunity but here she was happily ready to add women into the mix. She was completely aberrant and she knew it. She didn't know why the Gawyne didn't bolt in the other direction for fear of her taint. It forced her eyes into a watery blue as tears threatened and then began to spill, heedless of her desire to stop them.

"Just go back to Hunter! I know you don't want to be out here with me, you don't want to be near me when I'm such a-a-a freak! And now I'm going to b-b-be so u-u-ugly!" she wailed, convinced that her make-up was already beginning to run, certain that she must appear to be a complete and utter mess.

Not so long ago she'd been out here smiling prettily at Zanik but look at her now! If he saw her in this moment... the shame and horror of it was too much for her. She couldn't stand the idea of the ugliness that would have been visible to the Immortal, silently wailing to him that she couldn't look ugly when she cried. It was a silly, childish and self-centred thing to do, to whine at a god because she thought she was ugly when she cried but she was so desperate not to be so!

Something moved within her, power shifting so that it enveloped her face, covering and altering the areas around her eyes, her nose and her mouth although the whimpers and self-pitying sobs remained unaltered, at odds with what was now visible on her face. She would be far from ugly now, even in her own eyes if she observed her own reflection.

[Ivy Gawyne]

Ivy couldn't help but release another whimper, her eyes watering slightly. Valeria was being greedy and cruel! So why was she the one starting to feel guilty? "Val, please," the girl tried pathetically to speak, to come up with any kind of way to console her friend as she started to bawl. The comment about Hunter had hurt, more than Val perhaps understood. Of course Ivy wanted to be around Val! She was just, scared. Valeria should have know better than anyone the situation she was putting Ivy into. The poor, meek child couldn't really handle a situation like this. She didn't know what to say to console her friend other than to just crumble to her desires, but that was something Ivy most certainly didn't want to do. But before she could try and do anything, there was a sudden shift in her companion around her face.

The Gawyne was rendered mute, completely silent as she watched as her best friend's face practically changed right in front of her eyes. "Val, you should, look, um" Ivy stumbled over her words as she looked at what was happening and tried to explain it, her expression truly awestruck. Eventually she just dumbly muttered "Mirror," as if Valeria was supposed to understand what that meant. She wanted to show Valeria exactly what she was seeing, how the ugly sobs were the only thing ugly about her right now, and even then there was nothing ugly or pathetic about crying. She wanted Valeria to know what she was seeing, but she didn't know how to show her. Desperately she looked around for a mirror or some kind of reflective surface that would show her companion how truly beautiful she was. Of course, Ivy found nothing of the like and she wouldn't be able to show Valeria till she found a way to calm V down.

There was only one option.

Hesitantly, shakily, Ivy reached out and wreathed her arms around her friend, cooing quietly. Her own heart felt like it was about to stutter and stop. If there was one thing that helped Ivy conquer her fear, it was how much she hated seeing others upset. That was enough. Enough to give her the courage to hug her best friend, something she'd never done to date.

[Valeria Burhan]

Valeria had never actually understood the benefit of crying. People always said that you felt better after you cried but she didn't think that it was true at all. When she cried, she felt vile. Her skin went blotchy, her eyes stung, her nose ran and dripped, leaving her feeling utterly disgusting. The aftermath was no better, especially if she'd cried herself to sleep because the next morning, it felt as if her eyes were ready to swell shut and seemed permanently gritty. Even if she washed her face immediately after a cry, she was left feeling overly sensitive and vulnerable, unable to shift the lump that would have formed in her throat.

The situation was a thousand times worse right now though because she had to avoid being seen by anyone else, or she'd risk gossip about why she was bawling her eyes out, and the only thing she had on hand to mop her face with was the handkerchief that she'd kissed for Zanik and tucked safely away in her bosom. Well, the cloth had almost certainly absorbed sweat at this point and she'd already thought earlier that the stain from her lips was like blood; there was no reason why she couldn't add tears to the mix as well.

The blonde dipped a hand down the front of her dress, squeezing it into the corset to grope for it. Finding it wasn't difficult given that she could feel it against her skin but wriggling it free was easier said than done, especially given that her chest was heaving with sobs and she just felt like dropping to the ground to sit and bawl on the spot as a young child might do. It was at that moment that her friend decided to do something entirely unexpected, admittedly at one of the most awkward moments imaginable. It was so incredibly sweet and such a touching gesture from the girl who had never done anything like it before that it drew a wobbly smile from the blonde and then a blonde at the ludicrousness of the situation.

"Oh Ivy, thank you but your timing..." she giggled, carefully removing the handkerchief in such a way that she wouldn't move too much and dislodge the Gawyne noble or set her skittering away. She dabbed carefully at her eyes despite the fact that saving her make-up was probably a lost cause at this point and sniffled. "I don't know how this happened but this is going to be something to remember, eh? I get marked by Zanik and throw a wobbler for no reason, and you decide to hug me for the first time ever while I'm rooting around my breasts for a hankie," she giggled, the situation seeming all the more ridiculous when she explained it aloud.

The noblewoman moved away slowly, giving Ivy time to release her grip, patting the air in the vicinity of the young Gawyne's arm although she was cautious enough not to actually touch her. "I'll be all right, Ivy, although I think my make-up has gone to the pits," she murmured, blowing her nose on the cloth, which was now stained with rouge and eye paint as well as being damp and having lip stain running through it. "I'm sorry. I'm being stupid, not to mention that I'm being a bitch. It is my birthtrial though," she joked. "It is my party and i suppose that I can cry if i want to but I'm sorry, you didn't deserve this. You've been so good and understanding; I don't know what I'd do without you."

The Burhan fanned her face with her hand, trying to air dry her tears while her irises boiled with kaleidoscopic colour. A crease formed between her brows as she recalled what her friend had said. She regarded Ivy quizzically. "What were you saying about a mirror? Yes, I know what a state I must seem but I don't need it to be rubbed in, even if I probably do deserve to be taken down a peg or two," Valeria commented with a faint smile.

[Ivy Gawyne]

"Noooo, that's just it, you-" the Gawyne sighed heavily, knowing she wouldn't be able to explain unless she could actually show Valeria what she was trying to say. It would be impossible to explain that he face magically looked like a face on par with Edasha "Wait right here, trust me, don't move," she told her friend before releasing her. Perhaps this was the bravest she'd ever been in arc considering what she was about to do. Though her nature was, by all means, skittish, Ivy's loyalty and the measure's she'd go to for those she cared about truly knew no bounds. She stood, fixing her posture and brushing off her dress slightly. She had managed to get a couple of Valeria's tears on her own dress, but it was nothing that couldn't be dealt with. It was nothing that someone like Ivy wasn't completely willing to ignore. Her name which was mostly spoken in whispers meant nothing to most people. If she had tears on her dress, it wouldn't be remembered for long. As she darted off she looked around. She wanted to be able to do this without talking to too many people, so she had to find the perfect person to speak with. Ivy for her quiet nature was good at watching other people. She could see the vanity in the actions and the gaze of a woman halfway across the room from her. Yes, she without a doubt would have a pocket mirror. Getting to her was the problem though.

The young noble moved like water as she made her way through the room, her actions fluid for the sake of avoiding physical contact alone. Just because she'd worked up the courage to hug V didn't mean she wanted to go around brushing elbows and shoulders with total strangers. When her task was complete she could help but sigh in relief. "Miss, do you have a pocket mirror on you. My friend is hiding and I won't be able to convince her to come out unless I'm able to prove how beautiful she is," Ivy spoke in a quiet and gentle tone after giving the smallest of tugs on the woman's clothes. Initially, the woman looked infuriated but her expression quickly softened as Ivy's big watery eyes gazed up at her. The slightest quiver of her lip gave away how frightened she was, but it added to the begging expression. The woman sighed at Ivy.

"Fine, take it. It's old anyway, I could use with buying a new one," the woman said as she pulled the mirror out and handed it to Ivy. The girl gave a brilliant, innocent smile as she quickly weaved her way back through the crowd going to where she had left V.

"See, Val? Look how beautiful you are," the Gawyne cooed as she held out the little pocket mirror. In her mind, she had risked life and limb to go retrieve it, so hopefully, Val would see what she was trying to get across.

[/googlefont]