Snippet #1740231

Rima took a few steps away from the bar, her dress grazing her tanned thighs as she moved, and turned her attention to the crowd. Everyone looked immaculate, dressed from head to toe in fine clothing and jewellery so that they all looked the same despite whatever social status they may have. Along with their fine clothing, everyone seemed to have an air of importance about them that they held around themselves like shields. It was an odd thing to watch, people chatting with hard edges to their voices and making snide comments about the other’s kingdom.

Rima tipped her glass back, taking a long sip of the bubbly champagne, and decided immediately that she did not care for champagne; it was too sweet, like drinking candy. She would have much preferred to be in her own clothing with the brothers at the pub in the village, drinking ale and telling stories until the early hours of the morning. She was not one to drink simply for the sake of getting drunk, but she had reached that point on a number of occasions when celebrating one event or another and saw nothing wrong with having a few drinks.

"It's absolute shit, yes, but if you drink a gallon or two you may start to feel a little bit tipsy."

Rima looked away from the crowd of elegantly dressed people and into the face of a handsome man who had quite the presence. She was immediately given the impression that he was someone of importance, whether that meant royalty or not she wasn’t sure. Most of the kingdoms thought that the princess of Gai was dead, as she had been missing for ten years, and she was unsure whether or not the word of her survival had reached all the kingdoms yet. It had only been a year since she had been discovered and it was unlikely that the good news for Gai had been passed on, since it meant little to the other kingdoms. Because of her disappearance, she had missed all of the balls and meet and greets with the other royal families, so she had no idea who anyone was or what they acted like. For all she knew, this man could be a prince, a soldier, or a commoner. In truth, it mattered little to Rima for she often thought that the class systems were ridiculous.

Nair smiled and tilted his head towards her in acknowledgement. "I plan on raiding the kitchen later for the good booze, if you want in."

Rima’s lips broke into a grin as she tilted the glass back; sipping the remains of the champagne, “Count me in of course! You’d think they would have something decent to drink.” She commented with a shrug of her well defined shoulders and placed the empty glass flute on the table behind her before turning back to the man. He was tall, which was nice considering Rima was easily six feet tall even in her tiny heels, had short gleaming white hair, pale skin, and a handsome face which was half covered in a well maintained beard and moustache. She wondered for a moment how old he was, for his mannerisms placed him in his early twenties but his white hair and beard made her think he could be older.

“I’m Rima.” She said after a moment, laughing lightly, “Sorry for staring I was just trying to decide how old I think you are.” The comment was light hearted, and she thought nothing of it, but some turned to stare at Rima in disbelief that a young woman would say something like that. She had no idea it may be considered rude to remark on someone’s age, and likely would have thought anyone silly to say so. “I’m going to say...” she trailed off, taking a confident step forward to look up into his face and smiled as she noticed his eyes for the first time, “Twenty five.” She said with a nod.

“Young lady, it isn’t proper to comment on someone’s age.”

Rima turned to gaze at an older woman in a black gown with a pink mask. Rima laughed and raised her brows beneath her mask, before responding, “I didn’t know that, but I know for certain it isn’t proper to eavesdrop.” Her voice was not cold and cutting, the way that some would have replied. Rather, it was honest and teasing but the woman looked completely affronted and turned on her heel and stormed off into the crowd.

Rima looked back to the man before her and offered him an apologetic grin, emerald gold eyes bright in the light of the ball room, “Sorry if my comment was rude. I’m twenty if it helps level the playing field.” She said before plucking another flute of champagne from the bar top, brushing gently against him as she did so. The movement would have been considered flirtatious by some, in the way that she tilted her head to look at him while she did it, but it had not been her intention to be flirtatious. The truth was, she knew very little about flirting and almost always did it by accident when she as simply being herself which often got her into awkward situations. Rima sipped on the champagne while waiting for the man to respond, her dark hair falling in random loose curls around face.