Definition: to speak in a pompous or dogmatic manner:
Example: Did he pontificate about the responsibilities of a good citizen?
August 31, 791
Lucy let out a small sigh of exasperation as she walked away from the current group of nobles. Her brown eyes half shut as she collected herself. Though a smile was in place on her lips as she gave small nods or inclines of her chin to the various others that noted her passing. It was the end of August, the heat in Fiore was at its peaks and here she was dressed to the nines for her father's end of Summer Soiree. As per their agreement when she made amends and helped him get the family Konzern back, she was here doing her duty.
Wanting nothing more than to shed the god-awful layers of her gown, as she felt the sweat crawl down her back between her shoulder blades. Hating the feel of it as it stopped in one place, leaving the area feeling sticky and very itchy. Deciding that since the party would be going for another two hours at least, that acquiring a cold drink would be a good idea. The thought of water to help flush her system of the several glasses of champagne that she had drunk seemed like an even better idea.
Weaving her way through the throng of people, noting that many were just as uncomfortable as her, leaving her with a perverse sense of pleasure at that knowledge. Lucy continued on her way to the bar, only to see a brief flash of black hair with distinctive green highlights amongst the crowds. Normally it wasn't something that she would take a second notice of, but the hairstyle it was done up in gave her a cause to pause. Her brain racking itself to place why it had seemed so familiar. With a small shake of her head, Lucy continued on in the direction she had been going, until she stepped out of the crowd.
Her eyes immediately landing on the bar, again seeing that head of green tinted black hair, done up in a layered clipped bun. Slowing her steps as she let her mind wander, she took note that the person she was staring at was a male, tall and of slender build wearing a form-fitting white suit. Good posture from the way he stood with his back ramrod straight while giving off the air of being very unsociable at the current moment. Only to have to recall something from earlier in the month. How Mest had whined about Lahar's lectures and how downright boring they were.
Upon which she had exclaimed that it couldn't have been as bad as he was making out to be to Wendy, Charle and herself at the time. Earning her a dubious look of annoyance and pout, before he bet her that if she got a chance to talk to him, that she'd be pulling her hair out after ten minutes. Deciding it was a bet she could win with ease, Lucy made the deal. Telling Mest that if he won that she'd have Mira help her cook him a full dinner, but if she won he had to buy her something she wanted at any store she wanted.
The thought of it caused a smile to curve her lips as her eyes brightened, as she placed the name to the person. It was Lahar from the Magic Council, also a major thorn in her guilds side, since he was so vocal on advocating against them and their 'destructive' tendencies. Lucy decided that she would play the good hostess as an excuse to win her bet with Mest. Besides in her book it never hurt to get to know another person, even if they were a bit of a prick.
Closing the distance, Lucy gave a polite cough once she was in hearing distance, catching the slight stiffening of her shoulders. Before stepping up beside him and placing her hands on the top of the bar. Giving a small nod of her head to the person tending it, smiling when the bartender indicated water with ice, before turning her attention to Lahar. Letting the smile soften a bit at how tense he was standing there.
Deciding to be nice, Lucy spoke softly and in a polite, cultured tone. "So, are you here on council business, Captain Lahar?"
Her eyes watching carefully as he straightened up and a slightly confused look showed on his face as he turned to look at her. Only see him narrow his eyes as he tried to figure out who she was, making it hard for her not to giggle. It was fascinating to watch people try and figure who she was out between the two worlds she lived in, since the way she dressed was drastically different. When a few minutes passed by, Lucy took pity on Lahar and removed her glove from her right hand, showing her guild mark. To have him show shock as he did a double take, looking her over thoroughly, before slamming his normal empirical mask back into place.
Giving a small roll of her eyes at this, Lucy put the glove back on as he turned to fully face her. His dark eyes, narrowing behind his wire-framed glasses as he looked over the second time. Letting his lip curl into a slight sneer as he answered her, "No. In fact, if I had my way, I wouldn't be here at all. These things never interested me, to begin with, but duty is it not, Lady Heartfilia."
His voice was as mono-toned as ever while he spoke. Making Lucy flinch a bit as he stressed a singular word as he addressed her. Dropping her eyes demurely as she felt heat flood her cheeks, Lucy got a shock at what she saw on the left breast pocket of his suit. Instead of the emblem for his rank in the council, there was a very familiar family crest on it. Unable to help herself as she felt her jaw go slack at the shock, Lucy jerked her eyes up to look at Lahar again.
The slight smile of amusement on his lips at her reaction, quickly caused Lucy to stiffen and straighten herself up to her full height. Slipping her own empirical mask on she retorted in a polite tone, "Well then, care to keep me company with a dance young Lord Zieger."
The twitch of his eyebrow as a tight smile plastered itself on his face was priceless at the use of his title and familial name. So with a tilt of her head and a coy smile as if nothing was out of place, as she lifted her hand up to him and waited. Dark eyes still narrowed, Lucy saw the brief internal battle begin waged before he reached out, taking her hand and promptly lead her to the dance floor as a Vienna waltz started to play.
Easily they fell into the steps of the dance, each looking the other in the eye. Finally, Lucy let out a small sigh and spoke in a hushed tone, so only Lahar heard. "I will say this is an unexpected surprise and one that I find delightful."
Knowing it was an offhand comment to start a discussion, it was still honest and sincere. So when Lahar just raised an eyebrow and continued on dancing in silence, Lucy felt a small twinge of irritation. Before trying again, but choosing a topic that might get a response. "So I was wondering what your take on the current magic councils new laws concerning mage guilds are."
The effect the words had been almost instantaneous, as he let out a derisive snort and began to speak in a low, tight voice sounding pompous so that he didn't disturb the other dancers. His voice showing a wide range of emotions at his thoughts, which flickered across his normally stoic face as he went into a virtual tirade about the changes. Causing delight to well up inside of Lucy as he spoke with a zealous like passion. To her it was like she was dancing with a whole different person as he kept speaking, pausing only long enough to catch his breath.
As the dance came to an end, Lahar was still speaking his piece on what she asked, Lucy led him back to the bar to get another drink. All the while delighting in the fact that the man she was now walking and talking with, was no longer the stiff, overbearing jerk with no emotions, who was brainwashed to be a good little puppet for the magic council. But instead was a man who had passion and thoughts, that was a darned joy to listen to, in her opinion. Marveling over this, Lucy didn't notice that Lahar had stopped speaking and was staring at her. So when she came back to herself and noticed it, again her cheeks burned brightly in embarrassment this time.
Looking away, she spoke in a slightly mumbled voice, "Please forgive my rudeness. Did you ask me something?"
As she finished speaking she peeked up at him, noting that he was looking at her with his mask back in place, before he spoke with an annoyed sigh in his voice, "Don't be, I am accustomed to people zoning out when I speak. But I asked you, why you decided to speak to me out of the blue, since we tend to be on opposite sides of the fence, so to speak. ."
Feeling her face grow hotter Lucy gave a small cough before she looked up at him and smiled. "Actually I wasn't zoning out due to boredom, Lahar. It was because I was amazed at how passionate you were talking."
Her words earned her a look of surprise before a genuine smile on his face at her honest compliment. Thought it was gone in a second as he looked at her expectantly to finish. Knowing she was caught, Lucy sighed softly, "Er, you want an honest answer to that to don't you?"
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Lahar stood there staring down at the blond Fairy Tail mage, still a bit shocked at the realization that he, prior to seeing her tonight, hadn't put two and two together the first time he had heard her name. In fact, since what he was seeing right now fidget slightly before and the woman he saw several times due to her guild causing mayhem across Fiore, were one and the same. Then again the same could be said about him since very few knew he was the only son and heir the Zieger Kozern and he was just working in the council as was per quota for him to take over the family.
Drawing himself back to the present when Lucy spoke, her question an obvious avoidance technique. Causing irritation and anger to well in him as he narrowed his eyes at her. With a hissing breath, Lahar spoke, "Of course. IT is polite to give an honest answer, my lady."
At his words, or rather his tone of voice, he saw her flinch away for the second time that night, as she sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth and worried it. Only making him feel angrier since the answer wasn't something she wanted to fess up. Leaving him to wonder if it was a bet she had taken, hoping to win. So when she spoke again, he felt as if the floor was shifting out from under him as she spoke honestly.
"Mest.. he was at the guild earlier this month visiting. He was complaining about how you go on and on with your lectures. On top of the fact that they were so boring. I jumped in and said that you couldn't be that bad. Well, one thing led to another and a bet was made and here we are." She paused and looked down then back up at him.
Her brown eyes showed her emotions clearly, leaving him feeling light-headed and breathless. Because in the depths of her eyes he saw her shame and that she was truly sorry. Blinking his eyes, Lahar heard her continue speaking, "But I did mean that I enjoyed listening to speak your mind. To be honest I was taken back by the show of passion as you pontificated. You know what you like and how you feel, so when you actually speak, it isn't because you're being well, mean as Mest puts it. But because it is how you feel."
Something in him felt as if it was broken, because, for the life of him, Lahar just couldn't seem to form a coherent sentence. This woman before him seemed to be able to turn him around due to her complete honest nature. Coupled with how she wore her emotions on her face, while acting and dressing like a noble born lady, just seemed to be impossible.
Giving a small shake of his head as he continued to stare at one Lucy Heartfillia, once more worrying her bottom lip. With a small sigh, Lahar spoke softly and slowly, "While I am not appreciative of the fact that I am the breaker for a bet. I do appreciate your honesty in telling me, as well as for the fact that you listened to me speak. And apparently enjoyed listening to me, as you put it, pontificated my views."
After finishing Lahar just stood still waiting for her reaction. Which was a bright smile and a soft peeling laugh, that just brightened up the area around her? Making Lahar feel awkward as he felt a blush creep across his cheeks, on top of the fact that he noticed people were staring, whispering and pointing at them. Which never bode well in the high society that loved to make much out of nothing at all.
Giving a small cough, to get Lucy's attention, Lahar tilted his head a the crowd around them. Making Lucy go still as the laughter died away from her lips, as she placed her own mask back into place. A tight smile on her lips as she stood up straighter and turned to look at those watching them. With a small sniff, Lucy spoke in a voice loud enough to have those closest hear her easily, "Thank you for being my dance partner and an enlightening conversationalist, I hope I get another chance to talk with you at another time, Young Lord Zieger."
Shutting his eyes to the half-way, Lahar just gave a small tilt of his head in acknowledgment. Neither accepting or refuting her request, as he watched her incline her chin a bit, before turning and making her way back into the crowd of people, who had begun to look away in their mock shame manner. Before he himself wandered off in the other direction to search out his parents to see if he could take his leave of the function. Lucy and their conversation already filed away and forgotten.