~CHARLOTTE~

She led Yami by the elbow, dancing in between conversations and groups just as she was accustomed to. Yami had avoided nobility his whole life, and she would have too if she had the choice, but it was important for a Captain to know how to do these things. Even though most of the discussions consisted of either gossip or bragging, some useful information was passed around.

Rill was awkwardly standing in the middle of the room, eyes shifting from one group of people to the other. Being the youngest and newest captain, he hadn't quite learned how to fit in, or decided if he even wanted to. Rill is always easy to talk to, even if he's eccentric at times he isn't quick to judge.

"Hello Captain Rill, how are the Azure Deer doing?" She asked, approaching him.

"Oh! Hello Captain Charlotte! And Captain Yami!! H-how are you doing?" His face lit up as they approached him, then focused solely on Charlotte after quickly glancing at Yami. She figured his face was less than friendly at the moment, Yami's resting face was far from the polite semi-smile she developed for herself.

"We are quite well! It's Yami's first time attending the dinner, so I'm just taking him around," she responded politely.

"Oh, yes, I see. You two are amazing together! Oh I know! I should really try to paint you two! Would that be okay?" Rill gushed enthusiastically.

"You're not gonna paint us like one of you're French girls, if that's what you're asking," Yami chimed in.

He did not just say that. Charlotte's face froze at his reference. Rill just looked at them quizzically, not fully understanding.

"Well then, if you do I'd love to see it! Now, let's see what's going on over here," she pulled Yami away before he tried explaining what he meant. My cheeks are always going to be on fire with all the crap Yami pulls. Why am I never prepared when he does stuff like this?

Suddenly his hand was on her side, spinning her around to face him. Before she could react he pressed his lips to the curve of her neck and sucked gently on the one spot that sent chills down her spine. She bit her lip to muffle the moan that instantly crawled out of her throat. Briars curled out from the hilt at her side and tightened around his leg.

"Yami!" She hissed, shaking with anger at the fact that he could catch her so off guard and get such a reaction out of her. If she wasn't trying to hold back she would have punched him for that little trick.

"Hm?" He looked at her innocently, like nothing just happened. He knows full and well what he just did to me... Men are so infuriating! Taking advantage of my weaknesses so soon after he figures them out...

"I was bored," he shrugged, his hands back at his sides.

"Captain Charlotte, I of all people would love to pierce Yami through with my magic, but I expected you to show him a little mercy," Nozel's voice rang out. He walked over to the pair, his arm interlaced with the ever-sleeping Dorothy's. Charlotte noticed that Dorothy was wearing a silver hair pin that somewhat resembled the one Nozel wore in his braid.

The two couples stood facing each other, each with a different mood. Charlotte then realized no one else knew about her little briar problem, so it had just seemed like she was purposely attacking Yami for acting out inappropriately. Did that bastard plan it that way? She gave him a sideways glare, but he wasn't looking at her.

"Nozel, how nice of you to crash our party," Yami addressed him dryly.

"More like you crashed our party. Isn't this the first time you dared show your face at a solstice dinner? Then I must congratulate Charlotte for making some progress with a caveman like you," Nozel shot back.

"And is Captain Unsworth your date tonight?" Charlotte interrupted their bickering. Despite being asleep, Dorothy shifted closer to Nozel and gave a hint of a smile, to which his otherwise pale ears turned inordinately red.

"Indeed," he replied shortly. Dorothy's hand reached up and grabbed Nozel's, creating the image of quite a cute couple. His thumb stroked the back of her palm and they both seemed to relax a bit. The conversation fell silent. Just then, Charlotte remembered something about the Silva's.

"Nozel- you have spent a great deal of time researching curses, have you not?" The three others turned towards her, tensing at the mention of such a sensitive subject. If anyone had answers for her, it was certainly him. Besides, he had a not-so-secret relationship going on himself, so he would know how to discretely decode what was going on.