The "King and Queen of Prospernalia" Contest - Day 1 - DONE

“Congratulations!” Bella laughed and clapped her hands, her excitement for the winners seemingly entirely genuine. She had mostly gone up for a chance to show off her new dress, anyway. Her comparatively modest applause was still encouraging and somehow managed to lift her spirits even more than they already were.

Once the winners were settled and getting their prizes, Bella took @banditkelly ’s hand and pulled her off the dais again, skipping away into the fairgrounds looking for the next bit of fun.

Before the applause had even come, Badger was ecstatic. He’d joined the contest for the excitement of being in front of people, and for the fun of potentially having a story to spin in a tavern sometime down the road. The gnome, who was admittedly the fringe candidate for King of Prospernalia, was already pleased with the outcome of his participation in the contest, as he reveled in the delight of being Ganymede Galaii ‘s obvious favorite among the other (male) candidates. If one were to look closely enough, they would see the Badger’s ears wiggle and his smile widen as Ganymede touched his chocolate-smudged face.

If the Princess of Parties herself wasn’t the high note of the occasion (and she obviously was), it would certainly have to have been when Badger heard the crowd cheer for him. It was not as raucous and thunderous as the applause had been for Raoul before him, but Badger soaked it in as he waved to the crowd once more, the same big smile plastered across the lower half of his face.

It felt good, even if he hadn’t won. In fact, it felt great! Badger was a street performer by trade, and obviously had become used to the laughter and polite clapping that others in his profession would know well if they were any good at their job. But this was different; he wasn’t putting on an act, he wasn’t doing a bit for laughs, he wasn’t jugging, or singing, or spitting flaming fuel oil into the air. He was just being himself! A gnome, covered in chocolate, receiving applause for simply stepping on stage, even if it was with a comically sized bar of chocolate. Like nearly all actors and performers, Badger, at his core, desired attention. If he wasn’t so caught up in enjoying the moment, he may well have wondered if this wasn’t a little what fame might be like.

Bringing Badger right back down to earth was the mention of free drinks from the newly minted King of Prospernalia. Badger gnawed off another hunk of his delicious treat before extending a chocolaty hand to Raoul Ferdinand as he worked his way down the line of males.

“I’m the last person in the world you can threaten with a good time! I’ll be taking you up on that offer!” Badger laughed, obviously genuinely happy for Raoul. “I knew you had it when I saw the pants.”

Raoul looked over to Ganymede Galaii when she approached and broke into a wide smile when the tingling of that remembered kiss started up again. "Now who is threatening with a good time? I think I spotted the ale tent across the way, and suddenly I feel like keeping a promise I made to myself to give them most of my money." He laughed and hopped down from the dais, gallantly offering his hand up help the others down.

--[exit to The Ale Garden]--

"Mmm," Ganymede sounded, in sarcastic agreement with Badger as he waxed poetic about Raoul Ferdinand. Gany's eyes were dancing with mirth as she glanced at the too-perfect, and too-handsome King of Prospernalia, and then let her gaze settled on the chocolate-coated gnome.

Raoul offered a hand to help them down, but as she was sitting at the edge of the dais, she needed no help. She simply slipped off the edge and landed on her own heels, her hair swaying behind her as she made her way to Badger. There was a little smile on her lips as she followed them toward the Ale Garden.

[Exit]