Mosaic City, located along China's coast, is quite large city sometimes called the Crossroads Between Nations due to its diverse population. While it was once a large tourist spot, the city was placed under a blockade as the military appeared claiming there was a radiation leak. The true hazard, however, is much more sinister.
Taking the young princess's hand in order to stand up, it truly must have been an honor for Zhou, to be extended the tutelage of a future empress not only in combat, but in dancing. How many people could say that they had danced with royalty under the light of a purple sky? Then again, how many people could claim that they met royalty to begin with? With the warm, affectionate words of the maiden fair seemingly resounding in his head to cause his already joyous attitude to grow ever more prevalent, he held her hand gently, looking into her eyes as they stood there in the darkness. "I've not the slightest clue wherein to begin, darling..." A hint of nervousness was present in his voice, possibly out of fear of embarrassment in front of his empress, or flatout fears that he would fail. Nevertheless, he seemed ready to undertake learning the waltz from the princess. For a moment he seemed to stare down into her eyes intently, as if thoughts were racing through his mind as he held her dainty hand. "Isolde...why is it you came to the city? The spirit of adventure, a chance to get away? Or were you plucked from the heavenly choir just to be placed at my side? If so, I may have to become a believer."
Now there was an interesting choice of words that Isolde had chosen to use, she had spoken of an incident involving her little sister, uttered something of her having been exiled, rather than having left of her own volition. Self imposed exile was certainly an option, and considering the circumstances seemed all the more likely rather than her having been shipped off. Zhou always seemed to be interested the more he could learn about the princess, but now wasn't the time, t'was time for pleasantries, dances beneath the purple light of the outer circle's peculiar sky, a color that it seemed Zhou attributed to the maiden fair. Placing a hand to her shoulder blade by hooking it beneath her arm, he looked into her violet eyes with his ever-present smile, possibly hoping to comfort the princess after his last statement seemed to rouse rather unsavory memories for the princess. "Alright, my darling...you lead from here-on out, I will follow." The Chinese knight found himself spending the night with the future empress, and with the basics of fencing having been covered, alongside a few bruises, it seemed as if this was the perfect way to unwind.
Much as he had done during their earlier little dance of blades, Zhou listened carefully to Isolde so that he would be able to adopt the correct stance as soon as possible, so that they could make the best of the night. Forcing his feet to be parallel, shifting for balance, ensuring that he was in the correct position...all of it seemed to come so very naturally for him to adopt the role she had placed before him. After sparring with more vigor than most would exhibit in actual battle, the two seemed ready and able to dance. There was no question as to Isolde's beauty, and something about her seemed to simply draw Zhou in like a moth to flames. Moving his other hand to grasp hers in a way that seemed apparent from the many depictions of the waltz one would often see on television, he seemed to be processing the steps, the movements, all at once. One could only wonder what thoughts raced through his mind other than the dance proper, perhaps he was pondering about the past of his beloved, or maybe it was just him wondering what it was best to say next? Whichever the case, he simply seemed joyous at the prospect of dancing with a princess under the light of that bizarre sky. The pain from the battle had subsided, filled instead with what appeared to be a desire to simply enjoy himself on his day out...remarkably, they still had much in the way of time.
Once her dance partner carefully put the steps she explained to him in order, she mirrored his movements quite perfectly. The way that they were dancing into the night, it would've been a scene from a Disney movie complete with music suitable for a waltz. Of course, her knight looked so dashing when he danced with her. She figured that he was still curious about her past, so a little details here and there wouldn't hurt. She spoke, "Well, that wasn't really the reason I was exiled. It was because of a political dispute. My little sister is also princess of the imperial family and she and I used to be very close before that incident."
Last Edit: Jan 29, 2014 11:54:37 GMT -5 by Deleted
Looking down into the eyes of the beloved empress-to-be, Zhou seemed to be enjoying himself immensely whilst dancing with her. Set to the tune of imaginary music in their own heads, the two waltzed within the darkness without a care in the world, before Isolde sensed his curiosity, and only heightened it with her statement as to why she was truly exiled. However, it was utterly impolite to inquire further, not to mention that it would utterly destroy the sense of serenity that permeated the room. With his curiosity apparently sated, he leaned in closer to her, speaking calmly, quietly to the woman whom he had pledged his very life to not so very long ago. "My apologies if I am prying, m'lady...that aside, it goes without saying you're an excellent teacher. One day I'll certainly have to repay you for all of this. This whole night has just been...just, enchanting." With his steps in line with hers, he leaned in close and kissed her passionately upon her lips, his hand gently holding onto her's whilst they danced. His eyes closed during it, he pressed his body closer to her's, only removing his lips after a long enough time. Zhou was being warm, affectionate, apparently the boy was indeed pleased to be out with her, happy to be free, with her.
"Why, thank you. You are the most excellent student I have ever taught, sweetheart." she responded in a quiet voice. Yes, this night had been the most serene so far. Her lips were met with a passionate kiss from her knight. He was just so charming and sweet to her like a modern knight to his queen. And she was glad that she got to dance with the one she loved the most. His affectionate gestures to her made it very clear that he loved her so much as his beloved and future empress. It reminded her of the Arthurian tales where Lancelot held much love to his queen. Their waltz was much like the nobles of the kingdom dancing with noblewomen of their stature.
With a much more satisfied smile upon his face, her knight waltzed with her within the confines of the darkened building, not once taking his eyes off of her. Isolde had most definitely taken a turn towards the interesting side, especially since she had begun teaching him everything from fencing to dancing. The honorary title of knight was placed on him, he was given a chance to escape Mosaic and his parents once the crisis was resolved, all things seemed in place. With the beautiful empress embraced closely to him, the disaster outside seemed to simply melt away for the time being. Pulling her even closer to his body, the Chinese knight seemed utterly overjoyed with the night they were spending together, before speaking out to her in his calm, joyous tone. "Isolde, flattery will get you everywhere." How calm and serene it was in comparison to the outside of the very building they resided in, the horrors of the outside world were utterly forgotten. Taking the lead and going through the steps, he spoke out only once more. "Tell me...though you were exiled, we will still be able to go to the palace? To enjoy ourselves with moments such as this?"
"I do hope your grandfather is not like my parents then, love, otherwise I think being involved with me would jeopardize your chances at ever truly taking the throne." Zhou's words were laden with a hint of sadness at the situation his empress found herself in, though he did of course maintain a calm, jovial state, his tone still filled with the same happiness that he usually exuded. There was a time wherein he seemed absorbed with thought, dancing with her under the pale light of the purple sky, only to stop, looking down at her once whatever contemplative state he was in had come to it's conclusion. Naturally what he did next was speak to her in his gentle voice, "Regardless of whether or not you are ever welcomed back at the palace, or if I'm never allowed to take my place by your side as a true knight, I will still care for you, Isolde...I promise." After those calming words, and having stopped their dance, he ran one of his hands through her hair, smiling down at her whilst closing his eyes, speaking out one last time. "I'll stick by you, no matter what." A light giggle managed to escape his lips...there was always a certain sense of happiness he gave off whenever he managed to be able to hold her like that.
Having assured the princess that he would be by her side despite the fact that she may never lay claim to her birthright, and with the dance having been stopped in favor of conversation, Zhou slowly released her from his embrace to take a seat once more. Though the dance was brief, one could see that the boy at least appeared to be having fun, as always. Sitting cross legged on the ground, he motioned for her to sit with him as he leaned forwards just a bit and began to speak. "Isolde...there is little doubt in my mind that we will carve out a kingdom in our own way, before this crisis is over. Or at the very least, a legend to call our own alongside whatever knights you seek to recruit. With you as our leader, I'm certain that we will be remembered for what we will do here." As he motioned for her to sit, he smiled ever so softly at her, his gaze reaching her eyes as he patted the ground with his hand. There seemed to be something on his mind that was of an entirely different train of thought in and of itself, but his demeanor would not allow him to say it.
"If we had carved out a kingdom of our own, I'll call it the Holy Britannian Empire." she responded as she sat down next to him. At least, they will be remembered for their deeds of destroying those wicked Shadows here. The Knights of the Round would probably switch allegiances with the future empress rather than be loyal to their emperor. Her brother and sister will have to stay with their grandfather until he could readopt her or just leave her in exile. Well, he will certainly change who will be the heir or heiress to the throne anyway. Maybe he'll elect her younger sister to be his heir instead. She wasn't sure who will rule upon her grandfather's death, though. It seems to be a decision for the near future.
"I can agree with that name, my love." Placing a hand upon her's as they sat side by side, the young knight smiled warmly, clutching her dainty hand in his own soft grip, the warmth of his hand upon her's as they sat in the darkness of the gym proper. With his legs crossed, his gaze upon her, and the wonderful night that they were spending together, despite any trappings of regality, or even those of basic modern society, Zhou spoke to her once more, his voice much more soft, but still as joyous as ever. "Tell me...would I become emperor under those circumstances, Isolde? If so, having you at my side would be a fairy tale come true." Moving a slight bit closer to her, the Chinese knight of the round truly was comfortable around his maiden fair, and there was no question that the empress thought him to be amongst her most loyal, valiant knights, that she cared for him deeply, and he seemed to reciprocate in kind. With a deep breath, he seemed to be steeling himself for something that was not readily apparent, before placing a hand under Isolde's chin, causing her to turn her head to gaze at him. Moving closer to her, he kissed her upon the lips with his eyes closed, wrapping one arm about her back.
Holding Isolde close to himself whilst keeping the passionate kiss going, he wrapped both of his arms about her body, without a care in the world it would seem. Holding her ever so tightly, his hands about her back as the warmth of his embrace would keep them going in the darkness. Eventually his lips did leave her's however, and he gazed down into her eyes with his own. "I've never felt so close to someone before...do you know that, Isolde?" A confession such as that seemed to come from the depths of his heart, for not only was there joy behind his voice, but there was also much in the way of truth behind it. "I don't think I've ever felt like I could...be, with someone like you." Holding her close, his smile grew much more soft, and though they sat there in a lonely gym, it seemed as if Zhou had all he needed right there in the darkness beside him. "If we truly do become legends here, I never want my name to even be mentioned without yours being uttered. You've given me so much, m'lady...I don't wish to see a palace, or adopt some social status I was never destined for...all I want is you."
"Why, yes. Due to my aristocratic lineage, I have never been close to anyone other than you, my dearest." she responded with a gentle smile. It was true that her royal lineage had caused many people to isolate themselves from her because they were afraid that they were not worthy to be friends with her. At least, she had someone who cared for her and not for her social status. She had other friends who were also of noble blood, although they had found her rather strange to be caring towards commoners which they scoffed at. It was that very moment that he told her that he wanted her, not for her status or living at a palace, but only for who she was as a person. In her mind, she was in joy that he didn't care about her stature at all. She responded, "And all I want is you. I don't care if I suffer disgrace from being exiled from my home, I love you so much, Zhou."
Isolde's declaration that the aristocracy could be damned for all she cared brought to Zhou's face a look of what appeared to be unbridled joy that was even more prevalent than any of his previous little grins, giggles, the laughter...no, he did truly seem utterly thrilled over the fact that it looked as if both of them would abandon the pre-conceived notions of tradition, the boundaries of their classes, now that...that was something out of a fairy tale given life. With her held within his arms, his gaze never leaving her eyes, millions of thoughts raced on behind his stare, contemplating what to say next before he decided that perhaps the words that needed to be said were utterly simple. "I love you too, Isolde." Though the early morning was fast approaching, and both would have to take their leave back to their individual lives, Zhou held her close in the darkness, speaking but once more. "M'lady...no...Isolde...my parents may worry as to my whereabouts...but I find myself not caring in the slightest. Let me walk you to your dormitory...allow me the privilege of ensuring your safety." Of course his plea to venture with her, to guard her, was part of his duty, that much there was no doubt of, but upon uttering that he cared not what his parents thought, he had dashed one of his routines to the side in favor of another. If she would allow him to stay with her until the morning light, there would be no going back for either of them.