“Well, that much is fortunate.” She did not ask what Aspel was trying to escape -- perhaps it was enough that she had encountered her at all. “I’d thought to start a new trend,” Ari said. “Gloves and cloak indoors, perhaps woolen hat and boots, but pity, I forgot mine at home tonight. Such terribly comfortable clothing for the ballroom. But if you are going,” and amused smile, giving away the joke of her previous words , “I will gladly join you, of course. Are you going out like that?”
Aspel’s clothing, while not indecent by any means, seemed a bit light for a winter night outdoors.
“We shall have ice instead of fire, it seems,” she said. “A bit less destructive, so probably best, all in all.”
“Indeed.” The joke was missed, as the strained smile remained etched across the smith’s face. That was - of course - until the smile rose, and Aspel couldn’t help but blink, feeling like she’d missed something altogether, and Ari spoke again regarding potentially joining her, inquiring as to Aspel’s current dress status. A glance down was offered at her own ensemble, clearly she’d been so preoccupied that her thoughts had gone amiss between her last locale and this.
“Ah.” Was all that was verbalized as the realization dawned across her face of just what she was now getting herself into. Eyes slowly raised, the smile now offered oddly apologetic, and perhaps a bit timid. “I suspect I am.” Really, what else could she say in a time as such?
A brief pause was taken before her arm was offered up to the woman beside her. “If you would still care to accompany me?”
Aspel seemed too distracted to realize Ari’s words were a roundabout way of telling her to get a coat --or a cloak, a scarf, anything, really. But she also seemed dead set on getting out right now, and Ari could be flexible, even if she did fear their tour of the gardens wouldn’t last very long.
Well, Aspel was Kerwonian. Maybe she wouldn’t even notice the cold.
“Why wouldn’t I?” The question was honest, almost baffled. Why wouldn’t she choose to engage Aspel’s company if given the option? They tended to enjoy each other in a wide variety of ways. “Let us away, then, before the ice sculptures melt, as unlikely as that seems with this current weather.”
The darkness was lit with magicite lanterns, but overall, it was still an adjustment to make after the brightness of the king’s palace. “Which way?” Ari asked, looping her arm through Aspel’s and pressing herself to the other woman’s side, at least partially to offer what little warmth she could.
“My apologies.” Was the instant reply, and honestly, Aspel wasn’t even sure why she was apologizing at this point, but the words were out, and there was no taking them back now. “Of course.” Was all she could easily manage to tack on, letting Ari direct where they first ought to go, as long as it was away from the door, and away from the nobles section of the party. Really, that was all that mattered to her at this point. Even the cold was hardly noticed with how much anxiety had come to be housed within her at this point.
Though, her plans of letting Ari drive seemed to be cut terribly short by the next question, and Aspel paused, glancing in each direction, and barely noting the steam of her own breath in the night air. “Either way seems appropriate. I believe we are likely to find our way around, no?” It would make the most sense for the sculptures and things to be set in a manner to lead the guests in a circle but… One never could be too sure.
“Were there any attractions you had wished to seek?”