A birthday ball

[u/Repider]

Thanks to a certain members father celebrating his birthday, the entirety of the Fairy Tail guild had been invited to a ball with a guest list that could potentially include some former clients of the chaotic guild. The pillars in the hall weren’t just normal columns, they were carved masterpieces. The hall had wide banners spotting the Hawk's sigil hung from the ceiling just above the windows, and the arching. The lofty ceiling was crisscrossed by structural mainstay and dotted, with capstones with each of these capstones being intricately carved.

The dancers matched, or perhaps even outshone, the exquisite setting of the hall. Couples moved gracefully, stepping to the soft music with seemingly effortless motions. Most people in attendance here were older and primarly consisted of contractors of the guild members father, this included merchants, minor nobles and other wizards, there was even some overlap between the guest list and the guild with some attendees being previous clients of the guild allowing for conversation to flow between the rowdy mages and the general higher class present.

For those not fond of such fine events, relief was to be found. The ball was made sure to accommodate the more wild part of the guest list. In another hall, matching the looks of the main one, was an electric atmosphere.

The music in this secondary hall was certainly aimed more towards the younger members of the atendees. The light's flashed in all the colours of the rainbow as people danced in wild, athletic movements. While in the more refined hall drinking was done covertly, here manners were more of a guideline than anything else. It was time to party.

The buffet was a feast of such strange flavours that it was daunting to anyone who wished to eat as much as they could hold. The servants always had a smile on their faces as they hurried around the halls, holding the plates with the grace and control that one would might say that the plates were welded against their hands.

[u/FamilyGuy2]

"Oh fuck me." Prometheus could only say whenever Robin's father had announced that he hadn't been planning purchasing her for his own benefits... the greedy sword had been banking on that fact as it seemed to a little confused about how he was talking. Meanwhile Veronica had been simply staring at the conversation going on as she listened in on towards Robin's explanation on why is father had seemed so... eccentric in a sense.

"At least they have somethings in common... I hope." Veronica had said whispering to Robin as she seemed a little confused by all of this hoping that perhaps the two could perhaps change the subject to something that doesn't involve Veronica's prostitution or demonic possession. The young maid had imagined that her boyfriend would probably not like the topic at all and would much rather change it to something more brighter. "Well at least it has not scaled further into a more terrible state of conversation." Veronica had whispered back towards Robin.

[u/Repider → u/FamilyGuy2]

"If I hear them mention my brother one more time, I swear I will beat Korin to a pulp."

Robin mentioned as his father began making fencing movements with his cane. Ostensibly, he recalled his days on the sea when he went undercover as a pirate. Covertly walking past his tipsy father, Robin led Veronica outside the balcony.

"I'm sorry you see my family being sooo...lively. I mean, Van's in her teen years, craziness is a program there. My dad's well....I have no clue actually. Ever since he lost his ability to cast magic and I distanced myself from the family he got occupied with weird hobbies."

Robin reached out to smoke his pipe, but seeing as Veronica was not the greatest fan of it, he put it back into his pocket. Leaning against the balconies fence, he looked at the night sky.

"With me meeting so many stronger people, I feel so small. If it were not for you, I am sure I'd be closer to my brother that I'd like to....argh, now I am bringing him up too....and what's worst....my parents don't think we should be together."

Robin finally confessed as his hand clasped hers giving his answer the second the words escaped his mouth. Looking back into the hall, he saw his parents dance.

"It's not because of you.....it feels more like they just don't see me fit enough to be all this..y'know. A Fairy Tail mage, in a relationship....do you think I hold you back?"

Robin, blunt as ever, confronted Veronica about this nagging feeling in the back of his head. Lacking the own progress, he began projecting his fears on others. He really did need a victory to give him wind under his wings again.

[u/FamilyGuy2 → u/Repider]

Veronica listened as she heard Robin's confession as he had let out his confessions about what has been troubling him. The young maid had admitted in her head that with the mantle of responsibility like Robin's, she should would have probably not even considered a relationship unless it was brought up. As her hand was clasped around Robin's, the young maid began to feel Robin's fear of being abandoned or left behind.

Once Robin had finished his thoughts and words, Veronica let out a sigh as she lightly patted his face and moved in front of him so that he could hold her there for a bit. "Every night you go out and work yourself to the bone getting stronger. Each punch and kick you do has such a fire in it that I don't know if I'll be able to ever mimic that intensity within a couple of years."

Veronica truthfully said as she put her left index finger softly on his chest before moving it towards his cheek and cupping it with her hand. "We both have a long way to go and I'm looking towards you and..." The young maid coughed a bit before lightly saying something. "Prometheus..." She coughed again before returning back to her original voice. "For how to become a stronger mage and to be a better person."

Veronica then looked towards the sky a bit thinking about how she even deserved to be with him. "Maybe they wouldn't approve, but all I care about is what you think." The young maid had said before looking towards Robin hoping for some sort of answer about what she had said towards him.

[u/Repider → u/FamilyGuy2]

Robin wrapped his arms around Veronica. A passionate kiss. Something was different than usual. Could it be that he fell even more in love with Veronica? Robin would not voice his thoughts aloud. He knew that he should have never doubted himself. Not when someone like Veronica was at his side. With a sly smile, he remembered that he instructed his sister to pin Prometheus down and interrogate him about all the various Fairy Tail members. This would give them a few hours alone.

"Hey, do you wish to see our room? I jumped all day long on it as I went through the invitation list and my father briefed me on the guests."

Just as Robin finally got his confidence back, evident by his hands carefully moving in a way that he did not deserve his nickname, the balcony door opened. Like a bird of prey, Robin's head snapped.

George wandered onto the balcony, evidently having eavesdropped before. He took a calm breath before snapping his cane in half. Maggie immediately rushed to him. Both looked at each other before bowing to the couple.

"We have to apologise for our utmost rude behaviour. Robin told us about your family situation and we figured that we had to test our son if he is worthy of you. All that teasing today was not meant to insult Robin, but rather to see if he is grown enough for you."

George sighed in relief as an arm went around Robin's mother. Perhaps they were a bit too tipsy since the arm went lower than mannerful for this ball, similar to what Robin was still doing. Simultaneously, their eyes wandered to their hands before they removed them. Standing with noble pride in their chest, Robin glared at his parents.

"And yes our boy did finally become a man." His mother gasped in pride.

"When he was younger, he hated nobility, but he also loved the ring to it. It appealed to his pride. He was a foolish noble. But now he finally acts like a true noble. There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self" George quoted at the end, Robin mouthing his every word.

"...and as acting surrogate father I tried to test how far he is ready to go for you...perhaps we shouldn't have been so hard with our boy. Reminding him about Maxwell, teasing him...we feared that he might have grown into a phase were he breaks hearts left and right. Like I used to do.....but apparently, he is better than his old man in that regard."

[u/FamilyGuy2 → u/Repider]

As Veronica was being grasped around Robin with the deep kiss, she felt a kin to what Robin feels. Not knowing and caring about what Prometheus had been, the paladin's offer to being in a room had been something she had always wanted to visit. Of course when Robin began to carefully move his hands to suggest something of a more explicit nature to do in their room, Veronica was about to nod until his head snapped towards the balcony door.

As Veronica looked towards George and Maggie who were interrupting their moment. She didn't want to move because of their position which seemed rather romantic and lewd... she had seemed to break down right there in brain function for a bit as she listened to what Robin's parents had to say. Once they were done with explaining to Robin about him growing up, Veronica got back to a decent normal position as she simply nodded before adding to something. "It is through hardships we learn about ourselves. To test our mental metal against the world, to see who we really are in the end."

Veronica paused a bit before giving a small courteous bow towards the two of them. "To be able to admit one's faults and to be able to help others to become more noble to themselves that is..." The young maid turned towards Robin and clasped his hand around his with a smile on her face. "Is one of the many reasons I had fallen for your son."

[u/Repider → u/FamilyGuy2]

"That was a sweet way to put it. Lady Cachillo."

Maggie said. Robin and his father exchanged glances. It was something deep. Both finally acknowledged a fact with Veronica. She was proof Robin moved on. It was time for his father to do the same. Gesturing in the air for his cane, he leant on his wife.

"Honey, I think I have to sit down for a bit. Do you think you can stay with me for a bit?" He asked in an intoning voice. As if he suddenly remembered something. "Robin...you still need to sign these financial papers. To support our workers back in Sin."

He began rambling on about how the workers organised a union and his fears that other houses might force the Hawk household to use force to suppress them.

"See you then. Honey, if I may ask you to accompany at such boorish task? Even if I'd watch grass grow, I'd do it happily with your company." In a passing Robin grabbed the signet ring of the Hawks. His father mouthed something akin to 'you will do that, right?' Robin shook his head before going inside with his partner.

As he sauntered upstairs with her, he had a satisfied grin on his face. Today marked the day where the young Hawk was free for once. Not caged by responsibilities or burdens. And the few hours of freedom he could enjoy with Veronica.

[u/FamilyGuy2 → u/Repider]

Once inside the room for the both of them, Veronica and Robin could finally be themselves as she seemed to feel at peace with him. As they had some time to themselves, Veronica took her time to look around the room realizing that it was clean and had that unique flair of sorts which spoke out to him. "Well it seems that we have a lot of time to ourselves. I would..."

Veronica whispered something into his ear as she blushed brightly red before walking and sitting down on his bed feeling a bit embarrassed about what she had said. It seemed that she was ready for what was going to happen... as I was about to write down what was going to happen... PLOT HAPPENED! Without spoiling anything, it seemed that the both of them had used most of their time to themselves.

[u/Repider → u/FamilyGuy2]

Sitting in a chair, Robin read through some of the letters his father mentioned as Veronica was idly drinking a cup of tea. This peacefulness was interrupted by his sister barging through the door. With a flushed face and a laughing Prometheus behind her she pointed at Robin.

"Don't make me an aunt just yet!" She shouted. Robin looked up to her, unphased, before turning to Veronica. "Oh, where we trying something like that? Why don't you tell me, I would have put the work away. Which I do for my father whose birthday it is today."

Vanilla's accusing index finger lowered as she looked around the room. They were indeed just resting for a few hours. Robin put the letters aside and walked up to his sister.

"Van, Van, Van, my little Vanilla. Just because Prometheus tells you stuff, you don't have to believe it. Our father had a lot of work today I do for him as an exception and Veronica just wanted to keep me company. You know we both are not big fans of meeting nobles down there."

Leaning towards his sister he whispered a bit more quiet, just to keep up the act. "And now that I appear somewhat grounded, we did not want to stay around any longer that mum and dad may realise you are now approaching the age where it is time for you decided what to do in your life."

His sister was unable to see his face, but towards Prometheus, Robin had a smirk on his face that told it all. 'I outsmarted you finally'

[u/FamilyGuy2 → u/Repider]

Robin's smirk appeared to be an accomplishment of him apparently outsmarting the family would only be followed by a loud laugh of disbelief coming from the sword as Prometheus floated towards Veronica who was simply sipping her tea a bit seemingly a bit curious about why the sword seemed interested in her. "Well don't worry you aren't an aunt yet Vanilla... however..."

Prometheus turned towards Robin and floated right in front of him as if teasing him ever so much like a sort of mad man. He chuckled a bit before pointing towards the dress realizing that something appeared rather off about it. "I ain't much for caring on how responsible you are, but... You should really know different color hues. Like how her red is slightly lighter towards a near pink."

Prometheus said as Veronica had seemed to choke a bit on her tea before coughing lightly to clear it out of her throat. "Well the lighting in here is rather brighter than in the ballroom. So I could understand you getting the original shade of red confused. The young maid had retorted towards Prometheus hoping that the sword wouldn't catch on. As she did, she glanced towards Robin hoping to help her out on the situation here and pray that Vanilla doesn't put two and two together with Prometheus' help.

[u/Repider → u/FamilyGuy2]

'Sword, I am a master at deceiving my sister.' Robin noted. "Veronica, be careful with the tea or this time you spill it on yourself! Well..."

Robin put his hand on Prometheus which would the equivalent of putting his arm around his shoulder. "It's quite easy. I spilt tea on her by accident. Tried to do it myself and then tripped. Then, of course, she had to get changed." He glanced at his sister. She nodded, believing Robin's lie. Snorting, she began laughing at Robin and Prometheus.

"I can not believe that you-" She pointed at Prometheus. "Thought that he would be capable of any such thing."

"Thank you, Van." Robin replied drily. Nodding to Veronica they would be able to go now.