Vyn "A Star in the Night"/Rewards

Story Summary

At a birthday banquet for real estate tycoon Mr. O'Connor, the main character struggles to navigate the crowds in search of the guest of honor in order to land a deal for Themis with O'Connor's firm. When she finds Mr. O'Connor, she's surprised to see him in conversation with Vyn, whom he refers to as a "very important guest." His secretary, Lee Philips, gets into an argument with his daughter, Miranda O'Connor. Miranda storms off and knocks the MC over in her rush, but the MC is saved from a fall by Vyn, then introduced to Mr. O'Connor.

Mr. O'Connor welcomes the MC to the banquet and agrees to discuss a partnership with Themis later. After O'Connor leaves, Vyn claims to be there due to some minor dealings with the business in the past, but the MC feels there's more to it. He derides the hidden plots and schemes at play among the attendees and invites the MC to stay with him for the rest of the event. She shows interest in a ballroom dancing event later in the evening; Vyn offers to teach her a dance and invites her to be his dance partner, but Miranda O'Connor interrupts by demanding a dance with him before the MC can accept. Vyn is deeply offended by the invitation, but the MC urges him to accept as it seems like part of a larger problem.

On the dance floor, Miranda is extremely reluctant to dance with Vyn, who guesses that she really wants to dance with someone else. He questions her behavior, and she responds that she needed her lover, her father's secretary, to be jealous. On the side, Lee discusses his history with Miranda with the MC. Lee vents about how he always falls short of Mr. O'Connor's expectations at work, and the MC chastises him for considering resigning and running away from the problem. Just when the two are ready to reconcile, Lee gets a call that the lead dancer he'd hired for the event's last dance has been in an accident.

Lee explains that Mr. O'Connor wanted the last dance of the evening to be a Viennese Waltz; Miranda adds that the dance was her late mother's favorite, and her father would be furious if the dance were canceled. As the MC considers how to ask Vyn to help them, he initially refuses, but the two lovers bow and beg for his help, and the MC takes their side and offers to learn the dance in the next hour to perform it with him. Vyn accepts, and the two move to an empty side hall so that Vyn can teach her the dance. During a break, they have a long discussion on his proficiency in dance and his cynical attitude toward events like these.

Miranda does her best to stall the last dance; her father confides that he's known about her and Lee for a long time, and that he thinks Lee is a good man. He reveals Lee's difficulties at work are all trials he's set up so that he can be assured his daughter is in good hands. Lee signals to Vyn and the MC to enter and begin their dance. As the MC observes the dynamic in the group on the side, Vyn demands her full attention and praises her performance, which goes perfectly until the end, when her shoelace loosens.

As the MC begins to lose the steps of the dance with her shoe loose, Vyn adapts and leads her through a new move to cover it. The two bid farewell to Mr. O'Connor and the couple, and Vyn takes the MC home. She asks him about the occasions that soured him toward balls and similar events, and he answers that they had been on his birthdays, which he no longer celebrates. The MC asks to celebrate his next birthday with him to make up for his bad memories; Vyn agrees on the condition that she will only be his dance partner in the future.

Illustrations

Dancing with YouThe dance steps aren't too difficult, but it's hard to breathe with him so close to you.

Video Call

Video Call		Vyn: A Star in the Night (After Story 6)

Video Call script

Vyn: Good evening. I hope I am not disturbing you by calling so suddenly.

Vyn: There is a ball at the Victorian District next weekend. I hope to invite you as my date.

Vyn: Hm? That was quick. I thought that I needed to give you more time to consider...

Vyn: Well, I am very happy that you accepted my invitation.

Vyn: Oh, and I can teach you a couple more dance steps if you like.

Vyn: You can pick one when we get there. I will dance with you.

Vyn: My favorite...? Are you asking me about what kind of dance I like best?

Vyn: I... actually do not have one that I like in particular...

Vyn: Or rather, to me, dancing is...

Vyn: Ah, no need to apologize. The question does not offend me. You do not need to tiptoe around me.

Vyn: It is not that I dislike dancing. It is because I only saw it as a form of socializing and was never able to truly appreciate it.

Vyn: But that all changed after I met you...

Vyn: It seems that you are special after all. Because of you, I am able to experience feelings I have never felt before.

Vyn: Hmm... I would love to keep conversing with you, but it is getting late, and I do not want to disturb your rest.

Vyn: I will save the rest of what I want to say to you for the day of the ball.

Story Locations

Misc
Banquet Hall

Misc
Empty Banquet Hall

Main Character's Residence
Outside the Neighborhood

Story Characters

Vyn Richter

Mr. O'Connor

Lee Philips

Miranda O'Connor