(Note: hello howdy hey, I was in a major slump for a While, back now and hope it's for a long time. Gonna try to keep each chapter at least over 1000 words each. Check out my ko-fi: GoodieGhosty)

No sooner had Dark accepted him did he find himself being taken giddily by the hand and lead well off the open balcony. Back into the palace and through the throng of dancing people. For once, once, Dark wasn't worried about appearances. There was no need for him to! Why hadn't he suggested a masquerade ages ago?

"For a drunk man you really know how to move." Dark commented once they stopped, watching as Wilford turned to face him.

"It comes with practice." He winked, holding Dark's hands. Both of them. "Who shall lead?"

"You made the proposition, and so you shall lead." He stood there, watching as Wilford seemed to fumble with where exactly to place his hands. Dark chuckled, "You don't dance much, do you?"

"I did say I was going to make a fool of myself."

Dark took Wilford's hands, placing them in the correct positions. It was practically engrained in his brain by now. All those dance lessons he had been forced to take for so many years. His instructor had been such a pain. He thought it odd Wilford didn't even know the basics, being a prince and all. Maybe they had different expectations of the royal bloodline.

"Never too late to learn." He smiled, looking to Wilford. "Now it's just a matter of not stepping on each other's toes or bumping into any of the other dancers."

"Oh sure, take all of the fun out of it." Wilford laughed, "Very well. I guess that I can try not to rack up any unnecessary collateral damage." He looked down to their feet, getting the gist of what exactly to do from glancing at the people around them. One could tell he was steadily gaining more and more confident as the time and the music wore on.

Dark only got stepped on once. Once! So far at least. He considered that a win. Hell, dancing with a handsome young prince was already a major win. He just felt like he won the jackpot and then some. His heart felt like it might burst right out of his chest. He wasn't used to... wasn't used to what?

Being around such a charming stranger for one. One that he liked at least. He's met plenty charming people whom he had grown to detest within five minutes of getting to know them.

Wilford looked to be enjoying himself a rather lot now that he had a good hang on things. It sounded as though he were mumbling quietly to himself throughout it all. Counting out loud. Dark figure it was the steps in the dance or something similar. He found it endearing.

Dark was beginning to feel rather sluggish after a while, and as much as he enjoyed dancing with Wilford he had to end it. "As much as I would just love to continue dancing with you, Wilford, I don't think I can keep up this dance much longer."

The quiet counting ceased.

"Aww, darn. What a pity. And I was just starting to get the hang of it too." The two came to a stop, Wilford still continuing to smile at him.

Was Dark's vision acting strangely? Or was the lighting just suddenly beginning to get all... wispy. Spotty. Just plain odd. Dark put a hand to the side of his head, grunting. "Ohhh," he groaned, "I think I've had perhaps one too many glasses of wine." And just his luck it would all begin to kick in now, of all times.

"You're not looking too well, now that you mention it." Wilford had his hands on Dark's shoulders, holding him steady on his feet as he began to teeter. "You should go, get some rest."

"I should... but, ah... how do I contact you? At least let me know how long it is that you'll be staying in our neck of the woods." Dark didn't want to go and never have a chance to speak to or see Wilford again.

Wilford paused, mulling it over. "How long, how long... now let's see here then." He drummed his fingers along the prince's lax shoulders. "It's currently undecided. But if you're so inclined... I may just pop by for a visit during the week. Maybe then they'll be no need for masks."

Dark was thrilled. He didn't look it. He looked like he'd seen much, much better days. And Wilford didn't even have to see past his mask to tell that. It was all in his posture. And the swaying was also a dead give away as well. Dark looked like you could blow a puff of smoke at him and it'd completely topple him. "Good... good." He sighed.

"You know, I could always walk you back to your chambers. It would be to trouble at all for me. No sir. Hell I would even carry you all the way there if you just asked me to!" Wilford said, trying to get the prince to laugh some. "Tuck you in too. Nice and snug."

That did sound awfully tempting.

Really, truly, awfully tempting.

Dark nodded, and just that gesture alone was making him dizzy. "Yes, please." His hands clung to the pink prince's fine-yet still entirely clashing and worthy of being called an utter eyesore-clothes. His stomach was doing some twists and turns, and he didn't know if it was from Wilford or the wine.

Dark had been drunk before. This didn't felt like that. At all.

"But please, try not to get us caught." He found himself laying into Wilford, face pressing to his chest as he made himself comfortable. Attempted to anyways. His head was swimming. Up a creek, no paddle, with anchors tied to his feet. So it was more like he was drowning. Not a fun experience, if he were to be honest. "Can't have people seeing us sneak off now."

"Don't worry about a thing. I'm good at getting around unseen."

"That's a relief... now please, before I add to your mess of a wardrobe."