Abdiel stood there with a look of almost questioning in his face, although the holding of his tongue obviously made it proven that he really did know better than to further press Kynell, so he simply gave an affirmative nod. "The lights, of course. Apologies, it was merely for those with worser eyesight, should there have being anyone with such an issue attending" he explained, which was actually the truth, for the first time this conversation. "As long as the issue is not me, I shall retreat my attention from your current predicaments. Now that the lowblood is taken care of, I shall go and call off the party..." He said with almost regret. As Kynell mentioned her intentions to return to her chambers, he replied with a simple, abiding, "If you insist, my love. I shall return to you soon" he promised, giving a bow as he always did.
As the Empress left, he turned to Evanth and pinched the bridge of his nose, shutting his eyes tight and groaning quietly, resting his weight on one foot with one hip jutting out. It was the most relaxed position he'd been in all night. He sighed audibly, before opening his eyes and tugging the collar of his shirt as he turned his attention to Evanth once again. "Honestly, I love her, but loving her requires emotion, and reaching her emotion is like guiding a rat through a concrete maze" he expressed, fully assuring himself that Kynell was far away enough not to hear, and that he was quiet and hushed enough, just to be safe. A mere animal could smell the doubt in his voice during his last sentence, and he was almost positive that Evanth was intelligent enough to realise that he was lying, despite him not knowing about her sensory advances.
"I mean, I know I'm not an open book, but she really could at least tell me things. I appreciate privacy, as I should, but sometimes I just feel...As though...Everything is a waste of time. An ugly structure built on lies...That isn't what anyone searches for in any relationship, surely?" He very nearly asked her, automatically presuming that she had experienced such a relationship, or that she at least knew what he was talking about. Evanth was good at that, he had realised, emotions. She was not sympathetic as such, but she had empathy, however much she masked it, she understood, for lack of a better phrase. Or at least he told himself she did, to keep himself from feeling completely alone.
"Well, you do not need to hear my problems, anyway. I suppose I should call off the party..." He concluded, looking away down the hall to where the entrance of the ballroom was. "I'll clean everything away tomorrow...I sincerely cannot find the motivation at the given time" he admitted, "are you going to join me?" He asked, hoping for some reason that the Advisor would. He set off with a limp stride, almost no authority in his step or his expression, and he let himself look so completely troubled, for the first time in his life. That was, until he approached the door, and as though on queue, Abdiel straightened, standing at 6'5 even without the addition of his horns, and he coughed slightly, flattening his shoulders and erasing his face of emotion.
The prince threw open the doors, and as everyone turned to look at him, he forced a smile onto his lips, holding out his arms for a moment as though to greet them. He didn't stop as they asked his name, even as the crowd reached out as he ignored them. He simply continued walking until he had gathered a glass in one hand and a teaspoon in the other, continuing until he was at the end of the room, in everyone's attention. He tapped the glass five times to gain the attention of his crowd, and called out in a clear voice,
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is with a great resent that I call an end to this party. I thank you all dearly for your gifts and company, and I await the day that we can gather like this again"
It was simple and short, but it did the job, and it was all that he could muster. He let his short, tight curls fall around his face with not a care as he felt his body slouch, and he placed the glass and the spoon back on a table.
People muttered and mumbled, but soon began to leave.
Abdiel proceeded to look over at Evanth, raising his eyebrows and shrugging slightly despite his usually formal nature, and he stepped over to her and tried to smile. "Well, that's that over with, I suppose" he concluded, and he pinched the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes briefly, rolling his tight shoulders. "I suppose I should return to Kynell, see what on earth is truly bothering her" he almost groaned. He placed a hand gently on one side of Evanth's face, and leaned forward slightly to press a feather-light kiss to her cheek. "Thank-you for everything" he said sincerely, letting his hand cup the soft flesh of her cheek for a moment longer before he let it drop, a sad smile on his face. "I hope you sleep well, my dear. I shall see you again when the moon rises" he told her, meaning to call her his friend other than dear, but tongues slip. It was satisfying, almost. He turned to leave, pacing across the room and pushing open the door.
He padded down the long hallways with trouble and confusion etched into his face, fuchsia eyes dark and his fins drooped slightly. As he neared Kynell's door, he stopped, forced a neutral expression, and knocked 5 times. "Kynell, darling, entry permitted?" He asked, almost mocking himself; here he was, asking for permission to his wife's bedroom. What kind of relationship was this? He sighed quietly, forcing a smile and awaiting her reply.
Just added a bit of advancing. I was also wondering, could I draw Kynell, maybe? I just love her design, but of course, I wanted your permission first]]
