A/N: I got very confused and ended up re-writing a scene 3 times…
"What do you mean you don't want a ball?" King Georgios his arms crossed, back pressed to his office chair. He looked like a child
"This isn't the Victorian times, dad. Who has balls anymore? I'd prefer to have a party. Also have you SEEN the list of Selected? Based on their applications most of them would probably prefer to do the twist rather than the Charleston." Serenity said fishing out a folded up paper from her skirt pocket.
"I would much rather do the hustle than ballet" The Lioness said as she entered.
"You're not helping Aspen." Georgios said. The Lioness rolled her eyes.
"Loosen up, sugarcube. Our daughter is old enough to make her own choices." She said as she sat in the chair next to Serenity, who showed her the paper.
"Are these notes?" The Lioness asked, Serenity nodded. The queen looked up at Georgios then at the notes.
"She isn't wrong, Georgios some of these notes say some preferred dances, like...here Mr Hardin prefers a line dance,Catalen and Hikori here seem to like cutting shapes, although that seems like a guess."
"Does nobody like a classic waltz?" Georgios asked, placing his head in his hands.
"Mrs. Crow, Delilah and you." Serenity said, The Lioness stifled a chuckle.
"Anyways, despite being king you wouldn't have won, I held an official vote on a party or ball. Everyone important voted and Delilah, Ophelia, Quinn, Justine, Lenore and Rastus voted for a party. Pearce, Mrs Crow and Breanna were the only ones that voted for a ball." The Lioness said with a smirk. Georgios jaw dropped
"Why did Pearce vote for a ball? I've seen him break dance, cut shapes and do the running man or whatever it is?" Serenity asked, puzzled as to why the captain voted for a ball.
"He would be able to keep a better eye on you and the guests. He doesn't want anyone hurt and does want a repeat of last year's charity party."
"Ok first of all, Quinn started it and secondly I had nothing to do with the bowl of jello falling on that socialite's head." Serenity said. Georgios sighed
"I was gone for two minutes and bedlam erupted. As if I didn't have a sour relationship with the dwarves then." The Lioness shook her head.
"Can you blame them? There were only five dwarves in your tournament and they were all eliminated in the first round." She said, silence then filled the room for a moment.
"The resentment is still there, very few dwarves entered the selection and of the few only two were picked."Serenity said. The Lioness looked over to Serenity and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Go speak to the others about the party, themes music and whatnot. You're father and I will handle the business side of things." The Queen said. Serenity nodded and leaned over giving her a hug.
"Thanks, Mom."Serenity said as she stood up and left. The Lioness smiled watching her daughter leave. Her smile faded as soon as Serenity was gone.
"I hope that she finds someone good in this Selection. I did a little digging and these guys… Preselecting them would have been a better option." The Lioness said as she stood up.
"So I'm sitting there, barbeque sauce on my-" Quinn started, Justine sitting across from them. They were in the sitting room. Justine was sipping tea. Quinn sat with a chocolate cigar in one hand and ice tea in the other. Delilah read a magazine nearby, with Breanna and Ophelia next to her reading the exact same magazine.
"Let me stop you before you continue that." Justine said, raising her hand, Quinn stuck his tongue in his cheek.
"You never let me have any fun.I just want to make you laugh before you lock yourself in your room." Quinn said. Justine rolled her eyes.
"For the last time Quinn, I'm not going to lock myself in my room just because Serenity is holding her Selection. I'm not you." The younger princess said. Serenity cleared her throat.
"So what party do you guys think I should have?" She said going in, everyone looked up.
"Masquerade!" Breanna said, her eyes lighting up at the idea of handsome men dressed in suits and wearing fancy masks.
"It should be eighties! That would be uh what did they say back then?… radical? Yeah that's it radical!" Delilah said turning to Ophelia.
"Oh um… Noble themed? Like everyone dresses like an aristocrat?" Ophelia suggested. Quinn scoffed
"Really? That is something Justine would suggest… How about you go with that New Asian fashion what was it? Harajojo?" Justine shook her head at Quinn's words.
"How are we related? It's called Harujuku and it predates New Asia, Quinn. I was going to suggest a tropical theme. Somewhere beautiful and exotic."
"How about we match the theme of the palace? Around the world and then some." Captain Pearce said entering, he wasn't in his uniform insteading wearing a rather casual outfit, well fitted Black shirts, cargo pants and a beat up military jacket.
"Casual Friday, Captain?" Breanna asked eyeing the man. Pearce smiled gently
"More like I'm off-duty, King Georgios has Captain Pryce covering for me. Anyways why don't you make the party around the world? The ballroom is big enough to cover that." Pearce suggested.
"Our palace isn't around the world though." Ophelia said, tapping her chin.
"Ophelia… There is a pagoda east of the Spanish style chapel, which is more of a cathedral. One that is north of the German-style guest cottages. I'd say this palace is architecturally diverse." Quinn said. Everyone looked at him in surprise.
"What? Am I not allowed to be observant. What am I, a clown to amuse you?" Quinn said. Everyone quieted down, they couldn't really disagree with him.
"Around the world would be nice actually. It could also expand our music, no belly dancers though." Serenity said as she took a seat on a couch.
"Gather round everyone, we're going to plan this together!" Serenity said, everyone crowded around her as they chatted and spitballed idea. Pearce leaned against the wall as he watched.
After about three hours they had settled on what parts of the world the party would have as well as requirements. Serenity, Ophelia and Breanna dashed off to Rastus workshop.
"She got really into that." Pearce said quietly, his eyes drifted over to Delilah, her expression was somber. The dying sunlight hiding half her face in shadow.
"Yeah she did… I'll be in the gardens, Pearce." Delilah said excusing her and leaving him and Quinn alone. Quinn stared at him,then stood up.
"I'm not used to such silence, Pearce. Think Serenity will really find someone?" Quinn asked as he ate the chocolate cigar in his hand.
"Can't say for certain. We have so many people, I don't approve of most of them but one of you will have someone. That's for certain."Pearce said, Quinn looked out the window.
"Auntie doesn't like talking about Pop's tournament. Do you know why?" Quinn asked. Pearce shook his head.
"I don't, Georgios doesn't talk about it much. Records of it exist and it's still fresh in several people's mind. All I know is that it was skewed between races 50 percent were human or elven." Pearce said. Quinn nodded and took another chocolate cigar from the wooden box.
"For that party, make sure it is around the world and not just one location." Quinn said, before pulling out his phone and tweeting.
Serenity looked at the laundry list she and her sisters had created.
"A bit much?" She asked. Ophelia and Justine looked away. Neither wanted to own up to the fact that they got carried away.
"Oh of course not, what are you talking about?" Ophelia said, scratching the back of her head.
"It's perfectly normal for a party." Justine added, adjusting her glasses. Serenity laugh nervously as she began to walk to her father's office with the list.
King Georgios was not pleased with the list.
The party was tonight and Serenity looked at the ballroom it was gorgeous, Every section was themed with a different part of the world. Orange lanterns had the tropical paradise locked into a permanent sunset. Serenity grinned at the darkened section that would be a vaguely Victorian city at night, next to a brightly lit Egyptian themed desert. The Sphinx had Justine's face with the sarcophagi having Serenity's, Quinn's and King Georgios faces. The sandy look of the desert blended to a wild jungle that had Mayan pyramids fake vines hung from the ceiling and the floor was covered in fake foliage. Serenity was satisfied, she could hardly wait for the party to begin. Feeling her stomach growl she decided to head into the kitchen for a snack.
Serenity was surprised to see Quinn, wearing a chef's uniform he was looking down at a loaf of bread, a loaf of bread that had eyes and a mouth.
"What on god's good earth is THAT!" Serenity said pointing to the loaf of bread. Quinn sighed
"I wanted to add a little magic to the cupcakes, Chef Michael and I were making for the ball, I tried it on a loaf of a bread and well. We got this." The bread's eyes turn to Serenity.
"When will you learn? When will your learn? That your actions have consequences!" It shouted in a shrill voice. Serenity was uncertain how it could speak.
"Don't respond… that's all the damn thing says." Quinn said, shaking his head.
"Rastus is going to get rid of it. I have to get back to the cupcakes." Quinn said as he pulled a mixer and several ingredients.
"Don't poison my selected Quinn. I don't want any garlic cupcakes or silver bullets in them." Quinn looked at Serenity with a mixture of disgust and offense.
"Serenity, do you know how gross garlic cupcakes would be?Silver in cupcakes too? I'm not a criminal I take my cooking VERY seriously, you see the hat?" Quinn said. Serenity apologized and quickly excused herself. She had to get ready herself, regardless. Starting with a hot bath.
Serenity sat in her room, in front of her vanity brushing her hair in a side wave. She had decided to wear a navy blue A line dress, with a lace neckline. Serenity had opted to wear low heels instead of the several high heels her maids had offered and brought her.
"I'm a total klutz in heels. Also I want to have fun!" She had told her maids who reluctantly allowed her to wear the low heels. As soon as she was ready she went to gather her siblings to join her. First she stopped by Ophelia's door and practically pounded on the door.
"Ophelia! Put the makeup gun down and let's go" Serenity shouted. The sounds of shuffling fabrics and things falling to the floor was heard from behind the door. In a few second Ophelia came out, wearing A maroon mermaid dress, it sparkled like a ruby and went well with the bright red high heels she wore.
"Off to see Oz, Dorothy?" Serenity quipped, Ophelia rolled her eyes with a light laugh.
" At least I dress well, I wouldn't be caught dead in a dress like yours." Ophelia replied, it was Serenity's turn to laugh.
"You'd have to be dead six months to fit into it."She retorted.
"Are you done?" Justine's voice called from down the hall. Both princess' jaws dropped at their sister.
Justine was wearing a little black dress with sheer stockings, black high heels shoes, Her hair was done in an updo and held with a small black and white crown hair accessory. She wasn't wearing her glasses and she wore simple onyx earrings.
"Justine you're… Ophelia, are you seeing this?" Serenity said. Ophelia wanted to rub her eyes in surprise.
"Yes, I know what you're going to say. I can dress well if I wanted to, I just don't, now are we going to go or what? " Justine said already heading to the grand staircase leading downstairs. Ophelia and Serenity nodded as they went.
Serenity hadn't realized that party had started a little under an hour ago. Several selected were already there, eating food or socializing. Some looked irate as they scanned the dance floor, probably looking for Serenity in the sea of people. Serenity blinked at the amount of people that weren't Selected. Were these people professional partygoers? Or had Delilah invited friends? Serenity didn't have time to ponder as she was approached by a Selected.
"Good evening princess." He spoke, it was a human. He was tall and dress simply in a shirt, tie and slacks. There was a small stain on his tie and the trilby he wore was askew, it irked Serenity.
"I'm amazed that you were able to spot me." Serenity said with a gentle smile. She didn't recognize this selected. He must have been a fairly unremarkable one if Serenity couldn't even recognize him.
"I'm Preston Love, princess and can I be honest with you?" He asked. Serenity was uncertain about this but gave Preston the benefit of the doubt.
"Of course you can." Serenity said as kindly as she could muster.
"I'm a nice guy, you should just pick me. I've seen these kind of guys all the time." Serenity sensed an instant red flag. She had heard about these kind of men, Ophelia had told her about how they kept hitting on her after her classes.
"What do you mean?" Serenity said, deciding to see where this man was going with all this, despite her mind yelling at her to stop.
"These guys, they just want sex and and an easy life. They don't care about you, they only want the crown. Not me though, I'll treat you right." Preston said with a grin, he looked so proud of himself. Serenity tried not to groan instead keeping a plain face.
"With all due respect, Preston. I would prefer see this for myself. It is my Selection after all." Serenity said, Preston's face turned to one of mild anger.
"Why bother princess? They're going to act all innocent around you and then when your back is turn they'll talk about how they want to pound you like yesterday's beef. Don't be a fool to fall for them.I'll eliminate for you just so they don't try to hurt you." Preston said. Serenity sighed, she had heard enough.
"You know what? You're right, I should eliminate someone tonight. Utterly crass and rude men who don't know how to treat a princess." Serenity said, Preston grinned from ear to ear.
"I knew you'd see reason, princess." He said. Serenity looked at him her face going to a saccharine sweet smile.
"Preston Love, you are dismissed from my Selection. A guard will escort you off the premises." Serenity said, Preston was flabbergasted, he growled.
"What? You eliminate your only true love? You bitch!" He yelled as Serenity gestured two guards over. She ignored Preston's insults and comments.
"Please escort Mr. Love off the premises he's been eliminated" Serenity watched as the guards forced Preston out of sight. Serenity sighed and looked around, taking a glass of what she thought was wine, it was grape juice. Over by the Moroccan themed area she saw a familiar face. It was the selected she had picked, Hasani. Serenity smiled, she never found out who his divine parent was, now seemed like a good time.
Serenity smiled and walked over to Hasani who seemed to having a good time despite being mostly alone. He had an empty glass in one hand. He turned to Serenity with a lopsided grin.
"Oh Hey! Princess wanna dance?" He asked with a slight slur in his speech. Serenity chuckled as she covered her mouth. She shook her head.
"Not right now, I just wanted to talk. I never got to know who you're divine parent is." Hasani frowned for a bit, placing the glass on a passing servant's tray. Hasani mumbled something and Serenity tilted her head.
:My dad is the god of chaos, Set." Hasani said, he opened his mouth to speak but closed it as his eyes followed someone behind Serenity, Hasani licked his lips as his attention went to whoever was behind Serenity.
"Hey, Princess we'll catch up later, yeah?" Hasani said patting Serenity shoulder and running off. Serenity turned, wondering if Hasani had spotted a friend. It seemed that he had taking a liking to Pearce who, despite being in charge of security dressed for the occasion in a smart suit and tie. He didn't seem to notice Hasani following him yet. Serenity blinked, she knew Hasani for all of a minute before he ran off. He was going to be an interesting man, especially for the son of a chaos god.
Serenity looked around to see if she spotted anyone else. She spotted Ophelia chatting with a selected, one of the two dwarves. Serenity decided to at least try to get to know him before she was accosted by another Selected.
"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry!" The Selected said, dusting off Serenity's shoulders. Serenity looked it was one of the Selected, a black kitsune.
"Oh no worries…. Um." Serenity bit her tongue, she couldn't remember his name.
"My name's Catalen! Oh but just call me Cat. It's ok if you don't remember my name. You have a bunch of Selected with cooler names."
"Maybe, but you have a unique name, Cat." Serenity said, she liked Cat. He seemed to a be a genuinely nice guy.
"Maybe this is a little forward but maybe I have this next dance?" Cat said, extending his hand out as the current song, a fast paced hip-hop song ended. Serenity smiled and took his hand.
"Why of course, and lucky you. This is my first dance of the night." Serenity said as she walked to the dance floor with Cat. In a few seconds the next song began to play and Serenity laughed.
"I didn't think my first dance would be the Macarena." She said, Cat laughed as he faced Serenity and began to dance to the music.
"It's not a romantic waltz or high energy dance but it's not like I mind." Cat said as he swayed his hips along with the song. Serenity grinned as she stepped side to side to the lyrics before stopping. She noticed that a few people had stepped away and merely looked at her dancing.
"Whatcha all looking at? C'mon move with me, dance with me." She said, after a few seconds several guests and Selected paired up and began to awkwardly dance the Macarena. Serenity moved closer to Cat who matched Serenity's moves. Both ending the dance with a bow to each grinned as she hugged Cat.
"That was really fun, Cat!" Serenity said. Cat chuckled and scratched the back of his head.
"Thanks, princess. I have a lot of fun too!" Serenity nodded, shelooked to the dance floor where peopel had already began dancing to the next song.
"I really wanted to spend more time with you but I have a few others too meet. I'll be looking forward to our date though!" Cat face lit up and he nodded. Serenity made her way way through the sea of people before she was yanked by her arm.
"There you are!" A male jerked her arm away.
"You don't need to manhandle me to get my attention." Serenity said glaring at the male. She didn't recognize him. Was he a friend of Quinn's? Delilah?
"You should at least formally introduce yourself to your Selected instead of wandering around." He said. Serenity sighed
"Oh EXCUSE ME, my future prince consort. How silly of me to enjoy my party and meet who I damn well please." Serenity said, every word dripping with sarcasm.
"I can see why the people of Illea prefer Ophelia over you." He spat his arms crossed. Serenity growled.
"Alright, that's enough leave the princess alone." Another voice said, Serenity looked to see another selected. He looked New Asian with fiery orange hair, chubby cheeks. He has a serious look on his face, it looked unnatural. He looked oddly familiar to Serenity, she had seen him before
"Why should I, Hikori Kojiyama? Just so you can play her like a yo-yo?" The selected crossed his arms and stared at Hikori. Hikori growled lowly. Serenity waved a guard over.
"No, because you're clearly making her uncomfortable. On top of judging her, maybe you should be as nice as the people you portray, James Nimrod. You can't treat anyone that way." James raised his fist, only to be gripped by a guard.
"You're names is James Nimrod yes?" Serenity said as she looked at her nails.
"I really liked you on Beloved, but after your seeing your actions. I'm afraid you are out of my Selection. Escort him off the premises." Serenity told the guard who pulled James away from the ballroom. Serenity turned the face went neutral before smiling. Serenity's eyes widened she recognized him now. He was on an extremely popular travel show. One that Delilah and The Lioness watch religiously, two of past competitors were in her father's tournament, both made it to the top 5.
"Hikori… or is it Koji?" Serenity asked
"You can call me Koji, princess Serenity." Serenity nodded.
"Only if you refer to me by name and not title, Koji." Serenity said, only now taking in Koji's full appearance. He was much shorter that she thought, he was pale for someone like him. The thing that stuck out the most was his fiery orange hair, the color of a warm fire that matches the warmth of his eyes that looked straight into Serenity's.
"Koji, what are you doing here? I mean I know you're a Selected but last I heard you were taking a break." Serenity said, hearing a few guards talk about him. He was certainly high-profile.
"Ah, well, I kinda hurt myself and have instead of just sitting around at home I wanted to try something new and exciting." His voice was sincere and sweet. Serenity liked it and wanted to spend a little more time with him.
"Oh well I'm glad you decided to join. I'm sure I'll enjoy your time here. Would you like to dance?" Serenity asked, extending her hand. Koji smiled but shook his head.
"I kinda wanna take the rest of the party in. Maybe later, yeah?" Koji said, disappearing into the crowd. Serenity just walked away, Koji seemed like he'd be fun, if a little wild. Captain Pearce was sure to like him.
Serenity continued walking around noticing someone leaning against a marble pillar, looking at people. Not doing anything in particular, just people watching. He was tall, pale with freckles and the stark white hair and large wings sagging on the floor, told Serenity he was an angel or perhaps a nephilim? He was handsome and his wings look fluffy. Serenity walked up to him as the music softened down to a slower song, a Spanish song. Serenity tapped the nephilim on his shoulder. The nephilim looked over at Serenity a smile slowly forming on his lips.
"Princess Serenity… Is your night going well?" He asked in a calm voice, straightening up a bit.
"Kinda of? I've already eliminated two of my selected. Thought I have met a few wonderful ones. You're… Asra right?" Asra nodded, he lifted one of his wings.
"You can touch them if you like, I noticed you looking at them." He said. Serenity giggled awkwardly.
"Was it really that obvious?" She asked before gently running her hands over the feathers. They felt nice,and were the softest thing she had ever felt, a tiny feather stuck to her hand when she pulled her hand away.
"Not really, but you tend to pick up on these things." Asra said, he looked out at the crowd of people again, then back at Serenity.
"I'm sorry,I'm not much of a partier, and besides I down want to whack people around with my wings." The nephilim said with a sheepish grin and a soft flap of his wings, blowing the confetti on the ground.
"So I guess that's a no to a dance?" Serenity joked. Asra nodded, but his eyes lit and he took Serenity hands.
"Oh! But I know you love art,I do too! Maybe when we all get settled in we can go to an art museum!" Serenity saw the light in his cool eyes and felt warm for a moment. She grinned and nodded, he let go and Serenity let him resume his people watching.
Serenity wandered around for a good while, dancing with guests. Chatting with some of the gossipy kitchen maids. She left the dance floor, a little dizzy from the people who spun in near perfect turns. Serenity stumbled and fell, only to be caught by another angel. His skin was white as snow and his hair was long and white. His eyes seemed a dark blue, Serenity blinked at him for a while before standing up.
"Um thank you." Serenity said. The angel laughed airly.
"I can't let you twist your ankle." The angel said. Serenity looked at him in angel noticed her look of confusion. He clear his throat.
"I'ma guardian angel, so I can see into the future. If you feel you would have twisted your ankle. I'm Ezequiel by the way. Just call me Zeke." He said extending his hand. Serenity shook it.
"Foresight, must be fun. So Justine picked you, huh. She seemed to have done a good job." Zeke smiled widely. Serenity felt at ease with him.
"You seem like a kind soul, Zeke. Thank you for saving me. " Serenity noticed out of the corner of her eye someone being slammed to a wall. Her eyes shifted to Zeke who stared at the person being slammed.
"Excuse me, Serenity it seems someone needs my help." Serenity grabbed Zeke's arm, the person being slammed was a Selected and so were the two holding him against the wall.
"It's ok, Zeke. I can deal this on my own. You just enjoy yourself." Zeke stopped, he didn't want to let someone being pushed around but respected Serenity's choice. He hung back to watch her actions, he didn't want her to get hurt.
"Sloppy and pathetic? Hear that, Kisaragi? The black dog thinks we're sloppy" One of the men said holding the man to the wall. His and his partner's tail showed that they were Tanuki, the tail of the man showed his kitsune heritage. Serenity marched right up to the men.
"What's going on here?" Serenity asked. The two tanuki let go of the kitsune who held a sarcastic smirk.
"We were just restraining this violent kitsune." one of them said. Serenity raised her brow and turned her eyes to the kitsune.
"Is that so? If Sora was violent, the guard would have stopped him." Both tanuki looked surprised that Serenity knew who Sora was. Sora let out a snort.
"They pinned me against a wall because, I muttered something and then didn't do anything when I ignored them." Sora explained casually.
"That dog is lying!" One of the tanuki said, pointing at Sora. Serenity groaned, she let the two tanuki try to explain before she raised her hand.
"Both of you, out of the palace now."She said, waving them off. She turned to Sora who merely stared at her with a bored expression.
"I could have handled that, princess. I didn't need you." He said. Serenity was taken aback by Sora's cold response.
"I don't doubt that you could have handled that, I won't have my selected being mistreated like that. The tanuki community might not be happy that the only tanuki in my selected last less than a day, but strife against the family isn't entirely uncommon. I'll deal with it."
Sora looked amused at Serenity response. He gave a small smile.
"Nice to know you aren't as much of a airhead as I thought" he said walking away and disappearing into the crowd. Serenity watched him leave and sighed when he was out of her sight.
"Why are the most handsome ones the coldest" She said, walking into the New Asian section of the room. Zen gardens and various plant littered the place. Not many people were here, the only person of note was a vampire, sitting on a stone bench trying to read a textbook. Serenity looked at him. He was Neil Connor, the vampire who made his bloodline VERY specific. Why was he reading? More importantly why was he so far away from everyone. Serenity wanted him to loosen up. She approached him.
"No" He said not even bothering to look up at Serenity. Serenity blinked, Neil looked up at her.
"I know you're the princess, I know you want to dance but. I just don't want to." Neil said looking back down at his book. Serenity didn't even bother she turned and left. She ended up on the dance floor again, a hip-hop song ending, people began partnering up as a Spanish song began. Serenity noticed Quinn pulling a kitchen maid awkwardly as the song's beat began to pick up. Serenity was about to leave when she felt someone stop her. Serenity turned to look expecting her Aunt Delilah by how soft the hand was. Instead it was the boy from Atlin, one of the few humans.
"Dance with me?" he asked simply, a smile on his face. A sincere one. Serenity, spun into his grasp.
"Of course!" She replied as the song began. Serenity had a bit of trouble keeping up with this Selected but he certain knew how to dance. His movement flowed so easily, that Serenity only caught her breath when they separated for a short bit, soon rejoined.
Serenity was impressed by the figure skaters dance, unlike her silly dance with Cat and the odd dance her and there this was taken seriously. Serenity enjoyed her dance with him and dance with him for another song, learning his name in the process. She only stopped when her feet began to ache, the low heels were taking their toll on her.
"Thank you for the dances, Maxim!" Serenity said. Maxim grinned at her. For the next half hour Serenity enjoyed dancing by herself, she had taken off her shoes midway through. She had caught up with Quinn and even saw Justine dancing with Delilah both who sheepishly grinned when they were caught.
"C'mon shake what you're mama gave ya!" Serenity told a selected who stood awkwardly on the dance floor. He looked up at Serenity with sad eyes.
"My mother was the most selfish woman I ever knew, she never gave me anything!" He said. Serenity backup.
"Alright, Jesus." She said as she backed away, telling a guard to escort that boy away. She could tell he wasn't going to last long.
In another half hour Serenity was sitting at a table under the fake Eiffel tower that had been erected for her. With guards suggested they probably should have held the party in another building and themed each room differently. Serenity pondered the idea and decided to use it for whatever party she had next. While rest she had met a few other selected and was now speaking to another one, some scientist named Tex Lands.
"Please not another chemistry joke." Serenity said groaning. The boy was and endless supply of bad chemistry jokes, they were amusing but only made Serenity groan, to her chemistry was alchemy but boring. She genuinely enjoyed Tex's company but couldn't get over his chemistry jokes.
"Sorry, Sorry I'll stop now" He said. Serenity thanked him. Serenity declined his invitation to dance but agreed to having some food with him. Tex had asked Serenity about her ears over food.
"That's a first, well my ear are only slightly pointy because I'm half-elf. As far as I know, elf ear depends on heritage. High elves have the pointiest ears. Wood elves have ears similar to humans." Serenity explained. Tex listen with rapt attention. After they finished their food Serenity not and shook Tex's hand, noting his incredibly soft hands. Did all her selected have something soft about them. She knew some were going to be soft boys but soft wings and soft hands?
Serenity had eventually found herself talking to a half-elf, Jinnar. Serenity had a bit of trouble listening to him. His face was handsome and he certain had the charm to keep her attention. Serenity was certain sure to feel dumb hadn't caught most of what he had said beside him saying that actions spoke louder than words, Serenity agreed and gave him a hug.
The party had begun to wind down by now and Serenity was ready to retire for the evening. Most of the guests had left and only a few remaining to eat. Ophelia was on a bench talking to a few selected who hung around her trying to get details on Serenity.
Serenity herself had been having a conversation with a fairy. Flint Pearbees.
"You were outside this whole time? No wonder I didn't see you." Serenity chastised. Flint looked a little embarrassed.
"Sorry, I was kinda bored after being in here for a while." Flint admitted. Serenity shook her head.
"Well I hope you don't stray off too far during the Selection. You're going to have to be inside a bit more often." Serenity said, Flint's eyes gleamed.
"Is that a challenge?" he asked.
"No, but just try not to fly off without telling someone. They'll go nuts trying to find you and while I understand, Captain Pearce won't find it very fun." Flint tilted his head a bit.
"Understood, anyways it was a great party, princess… but I'm going head to my room." Flint said. Serenity nodded, by the end of her conversation all the guests had left and most of the selected had left to their rooms. Serenity decided to head to her room too.
A/N: ooh we finally meet some Selected, hopefully I didn't butcher them TOO much. We'll formally meet the rest next chapter… which is pretty much just a fancy dinner. Sorry this took so long.