"I'd rather not add to my growing lists of oddities. I have enough on my hands with fencing to practice contortion. I saw quite enough of it at Cirque du Soleil when my father took me. Craziness. All of it. I'm pretty sure you have to be double jointed to do most of it.. But perhaps not." Her shoulders lifted in a shrug before she placed her palms on the ground a bit behind her and leaned back on her elbows so she was in a slight relaxed position. 

"There are costumes?" She frowned a bit at this. "I didn't bring anything like that with me.." Not like she had anything like that at home anyway. Of course, her normal attire probably would have worked perfectly since it was pulled from the seventeenth century, but she didn't think of that. Suddenly she shrugged, though it was a bit awkward in her position. "I was just planning on staying in and studying."

"Oh, you fence? That's absolutely amazing. It's so noble and regal." Gilda's voice was showing signs of excitement as she began to talk faster and louder. "All the swish clang beauty of swordfighting is so cool. Face it, Zephyra, even if you don't want to be noticed, you're basically made to be movie star. I can see it now, you swing down from the chandelier and fight off a bunch of bad guys in armor all to save the beautiful lady. It'd be perfect."

Gilda half nodded, her position preventing much head movement. "Probably. Costumes are tradition. And you can't stay in." Gilda's frown returned. "Costumes are super easy, more than that, parties are fun. You want to have fun, everyone likes fun. How about this, I'll get you a date with my sister and she'll fit you up for something nice. She's all about costumes and sewing and other stuff like that. You'll go to the party in style, no protests allowed."

Zephyra couldn't help but laugh at Gilda's interpretation of her future career. "It's simply a tradition in my family. It really isn't all that your mind seems to play it to be." One hand lifted off the ground, shook the single leaf that was stuck to her palm then gently poked the girl's forehead. "You've been watching far too many movies. And I'm not that great anyway." Lies, of sorts. She could parley with her father up to standards even with her non-dominant, right hand. But she was not up to her own standards, so of course she would deny it.

"You've already offered her time to fit a maid's uniform to my 'massive' frame. I don't want to bother her." Her hand was replaced back behind her and her head tipped back toward the sky, causing her hair to pool behind her. "I'm a master protester. Are you sure you want to undergo that challenge?" Her crimson hues fell closed and the smirk on her lips couldn't be wiped away even if the world were to crumble around them.

"Tradition or not, it's neat. Plus it's not like you need to actually be perfect when acting, it just has to look good. Heck, you're pretty enough it won't even need to look that good if you didn't want to try. Of course that would be going down the ladder too so that's no good. You've got to try. I'm sure you'll be plenty good enough to thrill anybody watching you."

Gilda shrugged, a movement far easier than nodding her head in this position. "It won't be a bother, I owe her a favour and getting somebody as pretty as you to model for her would be a good way to pay her back. Making costumes is like her way of relaxing, not that she does anything anyway. Since she can't sew on herself, she trie to use me a lot, but she would go crazy for a new model to play with for awhile. You'll probably end up with a few dozen outfits by the time she's done with you." Gilda put her finger to Zephyra's lips. "No protests. Nod your head, accept your fate."

"I could teach you a few things, if you like. I'm sure you would excel at it. I'll let you have the lime light and watch from afar. Crowds make me a bit uneasy. All those eyes on you, waiting for you to fail." She shivered a bit and once more wrinkled up her nose. "I've only ever dueled with my father and the Hands present. Though I'm sure that'll change soon. Father is already pressing for me to enter tournaments while I'm here. Of course I have no interest in doing such a thing." Zeph lifted her hand a fluttered it as if batting away a bug, but it was simply a terrible idea of her single parent.

"If it isn't a bother, I suppose it would be rude of me to refuse." Her lips pursed a bit before she shrugged as well. "And if it will help clear a debt with her it would be doubly helpful that I go along with this plan.." She fell silent for a moment before the LeRim student pressed a finger to her lips. The redhead went perfectly still and her lips curled upward just slightly at the corner while her eyes narrowed and took a bit of a mischievous glint to them. Suddenly her unpainted petals parted and pristine ivories clamped around her finger. Gentle, but enough to show their presence.

"Nonsense, I have no use for sword fighting. My job will require me to fight with words and arguments. Though I wouldn't mind having a bodyguard like you. Something comforting about having a skilled fighter with you who is also a lot bigger. It'd be pretty fantastic." She smiled. "And you should compete. If you have talent, you should hone it, tournements aren't just about winning, you can find people who are better than you and study them to learn things. It's pretty much your duty as a fencer to watch and fence new people."

"Hey now, I need that finger." Gilda said with a playful smile. She wiggled her finger a bit but waited for Zephyra to let go rather than pulling her finger out. "How are people going to look at me if I've got a girl hanging off of one of my fingers. Plus I'd have to hold it over my head just all the time and that would be awkward, not to mention the showers. It simply won't do."

Just as quickly as she had taken the appendage captive, it was released. "That would be more than awkward.. I'm sorry, but I don't exactly wish to join you during your bathing times. But other than that, people would be jealous of you. Having such a beautiful girl attached to you." She fanned herself and grinned.

"You wouldn't even have to ask. Being Chancellor would have you surrounded by many capable, trained men and women. But." She paused for effect. "I wouldn't trust them. Not enough to protect this precious unicorn. It is a fairly good idea to at least know how to protect yourself a little, just in case. For those once in a blue moon situations, you know?" She pondered the woman's words for a moment then nodded slowly. "This is true.. I never really thought about it that way. The crowds just always pushed me away from the idea."

Gilda pulled her finger away. "Aw, you wouldn't want to bathe with me? Now you've hurt my feelings and my finger." She continued to hold her finger up in front of Zephyra. "Would you kiss it and make it better? Pretty please?" She smiled and waggled her finger. "It hurts so bad, only love can cure my pain."

"Well I wouldn't have to worry if it was you and some other friends. Besides, why should I have to fight, it's easier just to run and a little training isn't going to win against somebody who's trained specifically to hurt me. I figure it's just more pragmatic to focus on other things than bother with something that won't help me enough to make a difference and may lead me into overconfidence. It would be a real shame if I were to be overconfident in my abilities when I'm Chancellor." She laughed. "And don't worry about the crowds, somewhere in the crowds is a smaller crowd just there for you and we'll cheer you on no matter what."

"Th-.. That.. Hm." She flushed and looked off to the side. "You're teasing me.." Was hummed out as Zeph glanced back at the finger placed before her. The same one that had just been captured. Soft lips pressed against the digit before she pulled back. "Better?"

"I doubt many people would try if I was around. I do present a menacing figure, no?" She let out a snort, then quickly placed a hand over her lips as her eyes went a little wide. Oops. "Uhm.." She chuckled nervously then to cover it, "Lead you into overconfidence? I don't think knowing a little bit of fencing would boost that portion of your personality one bit, it's already at a peek. Not saying that it's a bad thing, but I don't believe you have a problem with a lack of confidence." To give her hands something to do the redhead curled one of the other's green locks around her finger, twirling it this way and that. "Having friends there might make it a bit better. I would appreciate their support, but it would probably make me a bit more nervous as well."

Gilda laughed. "Of course I'm teasing you. You're fun to tease." She held her finger up and looked closely at it. "Acceptably better but now it's all covered in giraffe germs." She jokingly wiped it on her skirt and giggled.

Gilda closed her eyes and shifted to a slightly more comfortable position. "Because I'm the best." She lay there in silence for a a little while. "You don't have to be nervous. Your friends want you to win but we don't care if you lose. You don't have to impress us because you're already impressive." She took a slow relaxing breath. "The only pressure is the pressure you put on yourself." She yawned. "Nobody can pressure you more than you accept."

Zeph let out a soft huffing sound and rolled her eyes at the girl's antics. "Next time I'll lick it and really give you a reason to wipe it off." Her nose lifted toward the sky a bit as she hues narrowed playfully.

"The only thing impressive about me is something I have absolutely no control over." This was followed by a soft chuckle and she finally flopped back onto the ground, careful not to jostle the resting girl. "I strive to be the best at what I do, I the pressure I put upon myself is layered pretty thickly. I don't exactly want to impress anyone, I just want to do the best that I can." Both of the redhead's hands tucked behind her head to keep it up off the ground and in a comfortable position. "I would appreciate it if you came, Gilda.. You would give me strength with that crazy attitude of yours."

"See, we're not so different, you and me. You want to be the best and so do I. You just need a bit more self confidence and a lot less pressure from other people. Nobody is going to stop you from getting better but there will always be people better than you. So you shouldn't worry when you lose, as long as you tried your best, you got what you deserved. And the next time you can do better. Simple as that." Gilda rolled off of Zephyra's lap and crawled up so that her head was on the same level as Zephyra's then she slipped in close. "You should put a lot of pressure on yourself, but if that pressure makes you sad, angry, or makes you feel bad, that's not the kind of pressure you need." Gilda reached over and down and put her hand on Zephyra's stomach. "That is like crushing pressure." She said and she pushed down lightly. "It keeps going until you suffocate and die a failure. You need a different kind of pressure, like a train." She took her hand off and lifted both arms into the air. "That pressure builds below you like a steam gun or something and it pushes you up higher and higher. Maybe you don't reach the top. Maybe everything explodes. But you rose, and you were great."

Gilda smiled at Zephyra, I'd love to come, just send me an email with the date and you can bet I'll be all over the bleachers. They've got bleachers at fencing right? I don't know how you plan a swordfight for an audience."

"I have plenty of time to gain confidence before I take the gold at the Olympics. Then I'll show you no one is better than I and you'll most definitely have me as your top guard. I strive for perfection and no one can hold me back from that. Each and everyday I take steps forward to the point of absolute domination of the sport. And I won't stop until I have it. It's why I practice behind the dorms every chance I get. It's not to make anyone proud but to realize my own dreams." Zeph didn't move an inch when Gilda crawled toward her, then leaned over her to capture her gaze. "And you have seemed to add a can of gasoline to that fire. You will make a great Chancellor if you can rally everyone this well."

Zephyra's determined expression softened with a gentle smile and she lazily placed a hand over the smaller one, smoothly tracing a barely callused digit over Gilda's knuckles. "Aye, there are bleachers. Usually they are held in gymnasiums so it's the scaffolding seat style. Plenty of room. But it is a rather sophisticating setting so you would need to hold in your fan girl squealing until I scored a hit." Her teasing had a bright smile playimg at her lips amd her nose scrunching up rather cutely.

"Good, show me and everyone else. You can be amazing and I look forward to seeing you on tv at the olympic ceremony." Gilda smiled, "You know it, I'll go down in all the history books. They'll have pictures of me in all the schoolbooks, or holograms, whatever people have in the future." She turned her gaze back up to the sky. "Everyone will rally behind me and I'll bring glory to my home again, just like Mister Hasselhoff."

Gilda felt the other girl's fingers at her hand and suddenly grasped it in her own. "You're my friend and I'll shout if I want to, let them try and kick me out." She squeezed Zephyra's hand. "When you feel ready to get up, I'll point you toward your dorms but I'd love it if you lay with me awhile longer."