Snippet #2714201

A very hesitant Lance tried to sit and make himself smaller as the chaos that was clearly the normal for this crowd ensued around him. Family reconvened with one another and friends beat upon each other, as they do. Though he couldn't recall a time when his friends dragged him across the floor while he had numerous broken ribs and possibly internal bleeding...oh wait, yes he could! He backtracked, bringing memories of the Gladiator Cup he once had to fight his way through, which left him in an exhausted state afterwards. It was due to a few miracles that he survived such an ordeal.

Regardless, all he had to deal with now was a sprained ankle. So when Kanwar asked him how he was doing, his reply was quite nonchalant, "Yeah, I guess. Been through worse." He couldn't say the same for the gracious host, who had bags under her eyes the size of travel luggage. Even though she kept a thin, painted smile on her face, it was clear her mind was racing about something important to her. What could be tugging at her strings?

There wasn't time to ask as she was already moving from Serena to Mark to the newest arrival, who had pulled out a white crystal of some kind and proceeded to place it on Mark. The feeling of relief the crystal brought onto Mark was felt throughout the room, as if lifting a cloud of ailing apprehension. It was almost tempting for Lance to take the crystal when offered to him. But he stuck to his roots and held out a palm when presented with the opportunity to use the healing crystal, "Nah, I'm good. It's almost healed anyway." It probably still had a good hour to go before the pain would subside entirely, but he wasn't going to let them know that.

"I have something I must tend to. If you need me or anyone else, feel free to ask a guard for directions..."

Lance curled the left corner of his mouth in thought as she left, causing for him to leave a lingering stare at the door she walked through. Something was still bugging her, it seemed. Even with that slight jovial moment when she warned them of the...erm, "parrots"...there was still strain in her voice. Like she was trying to hold it together even now so that they wouldn't be witness to a potential breakdown. Instinct kicked in and Lance stood up suddenly.

"I...have to make a call. I'll be right back," he told everyone present before leaving out the same exit Kanwar had taken. As he went, he did his best to hide the pain in his ankle. It was easier as it had subsided for the moment, but there was still a trace of a hobble when he walked through the door and closed it behind him.

"Kanwar!" he called to the noble, who was still walking down the hallway. He caught up to her before speaking again, "You okay? You seem to be under a lot of stress right now."