Dazzle (open)

[Darastrix]

'Oh dear,' Jane thought to herself as Karena approached. Well, hopefully the courtier would overlook Tender for the moment.

"Oh, no thank you, Karena," she replied with a pleasant smile. "That's very thoughtful, but I'm quite comfortable. How are you this evening?"

[Kender Bard]

"Oh quite well," Karena responded. "Although, I suppose I could be better." And now her eyes slid to Tender. The young woman gulped. "Ahh, and what do we have here?"

"Tender Morrisson," Tender whispered meekly. Karena extended her hand and, after staring at it a moment, Tender slid hers into the woman's gloved fingers.

"Come with me darling, oh yes, how could I have overlooked you?" the courtier crooned. "I'm sorry, Lady Fell, but I must excuse myself from you a moment and steal this little gem while I'm at it. I promise to return her soon."

Tender smiled, tremulous and unsure, but she felt her spirits lifting.

[Darastrix]

"Oh, must you?" Jane replied, thinking rapidly. She didn't know whether Karena had realised Tender was not of her class, but the woman was no fool when it came to court games, so Jane imagined it was quite likely that she had. "I was enjoying our conversation. Perhaps I may accompany you both?"

[Kender Bard]

"If it pleases you," Karena said graciously. "Though I'm afraid I would not be able to split my attention until my task is over." She took Tender - by the elbow, but lightly. "Come, my little garden flower, I simply must introduce you."

"Introduce me?" Tender repeated, confused, but let herself be led as Karena headed towards her staircase and started to go up a few steps with the girl. People began to look at them.

[Darastrix]

'Karena, please don't be cruel to her,' Jane thought helplessly as she followed, stopping at the base of the stairs. She could just imagine what Karena had planned, but couldn't for the life of her think of a way to stall or prevent it.

[Kender Bard]

Once she was of a sufficient height, Karena cleared her throat (loudly, with a touch of Wind assistance) and now all chatter slowed as the gathered guests turned to stare at the pair.

"Esteemed guests," Karena purred in her cultured voice. "It has come to my attention we have a delightful new guest in our midsts." She gestured to Tender with a flourish, who blushed prettily. "Tell me, sweet child, where did you ever find that gown? I simply must know."

"I.. I bought it," Tender declared, her nervousness and uncertainty helping to dissolve her pretend-cultured mannerisms.

"And from where?"

"Ah..." Tender scrambled. "I am afraid it has slipped my mind."

By now, tittering was beginning and Tender's blush was deepening into the crimsom glow of abject shame.

[Darastrix]

Jane bit her lip as Karena began speaking. When the woman enquired as to where Tender had gotten her gown, she knew there was no chance that the courtier had anything but mischief on her mind. Perhaps it was a good thing she had decided to attend after all.

Drawing herself up, Jane began to ascend the stair, "Karena, I'm afraid I must intervene." Crossing so that she could block the view of Tender from the assembled guests, she continued, "It is a warm night and the young lady appears to be quite overheated. I insist she accompany me outside for some fresh air." She spared Tender a gentle smile before fixing their hostess with a less friendly expression.

[Kender Bard]

Karena raised her brow and affected a post so suggest both offense and catty speculation. "...But of course, Lady Fell."

Tender bowed her head, a small whimper escaping her.

[Darastrix]

"Come, dear," Jane murmured to Tender. "You should feel better once we get outside." Turning to escort the young woman out, she ran her eyes over those assembled. Those who appeared amused by the whole spectacle earned from Jane a look typically employed by mothers when accompanied by the phrase 'I'm very disappointed in you.'

[Kender Bard]

Once outside, Tender couldn't stop the tears that started to trickle from her eyes. "Oh, I've been made a fool," she whispered. "I'm sorry I ever came. I just thought.. I could..." She trailed off and wept quietly. Now nobody in this circle of light and jewelry would ever accept her, now or in the future. No fine husband, no better life.

[Darastrix]

"Oh, Tender," Jane murmured, putting an arm about the young woman. "I am so sorry. I suspected Karena might be up to something, but I couldn't think of how to stop her before she'd begun speaking. Here." She pulled an embroidered handkerchief from her sleeve and offered it to Tender.

[Kender Bard]

Tender dabbed her eyes lightly, scarcely believing that Jane was being so kind to her. "Why are you being so nice to me?" she decided to ask, confusion in her voice, suspicion unspoken. After what had just gone on within, perhaps this was another ploy to have a joke at Tender's expense? She doubted it, but was vastly confused at the differing attitudes of Lady Fell and the other courtiers.

[Darastrix]

Had Tender not been so upset, Jane would have smiled. Thuoth had asked her a very similar question the year before. "Nobody deserves to be treated so poorly," she replied. "It was very wrong of Karena to call you out before the entire company. And you seemed to be all alone. I couldn't have let this pass any more than if she had done the same to one of my own children."

[Kender Bard]

Tender calmed a bit at her words and took a few deep breaths to help stifle her tears. "I should have never come," she admitted, sounding as defeated as she looked. "I just wanted... but what I want doesn't matter. This isn't my place."

[Northen Light36]

"Don't say that," Teardrop speaks softly as she walks up to Tender and Lady Fell. She'd reconised Tender as soon as the other girl had been dragged into the middle of the group but she hadn't known how to stop Karena. Now she hoped to at least offer some comfort to Tender.

"Good evening, Lady Fell," she greets the noble with a curtsy then turns back to Tender. "Tender, don't let those... people get to you." She puts a hand on Tender's shoulder and gives her a small smile. "You have every right to go after your dreams and they had no right to humiliate you like that. And for what it's worth, I think you look lovely tonight."