[ She tells herself that she hates that smug tone, but she has to bite the inside of her cheek and hope her dark skin still hides the red on her face.

Allumette can practically hear all of her friends screaming to not drink with an Ascian. Pimelle would probably be beside herself right now, and she can't even begin to imagine the scathing glare Thancred would give her.

But, really. What was she supposed to do?

Sit here with no answers? Wring her hands uselessly? She wasn't the kind of woman who stood still while the world moved. Instead, she takes the glass and shifts to sit, legs folded beneath her. ]

I'm not that short now. I was at your chest then! That's very different!

[ She swirls the wine in the glass, eying it not warily but with the gaze of someone whose mind was clearly elsewhere and focused. In the starlight, her eyes look a much paler green than usual - rimmed by silver even as they reflect how distant she is from the First as she thinks on the past. The far, far past. ]

... it was some sort of formal gathering. A gala, or... something of that nature. I was there to show my support to...

[ She falters, and her brows furrow. She tries again: ]

I... I was there to celebrate but I wasn't a part of those we were celebrating. I think... I wanted to be? I asked you to dance with me. I was shy, but I don't think you noticed or knew me that well.