Fleshing out the Library

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

I grinned. I couldn't help it. "Well, I will try as hard as I may to ensure the first is memorable enough to warrant a second." I had, earlier today, gotten my measurements and whatnot taken with a clothier. "I doubt I will be hard to miss, unless my idea has been likeminded to the rest of the City."

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

"Is your outfit grande?" I asked curiously.

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

"Well, it is something that I thought of when I first thought to attend Beltane. I think it is somewhat peculiar and unique." I responded.

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

"I can't wait to see it then." I said smiling. "Sounds like you're quite daring Aloysius." I turned and walked a little further down the stack to some other books.

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

I followed her steps, looking at books as I did so. "Oh, perhaps not daring, so much. I just like to do something of my own, when given the chance." I shrugged slightly as I said it, thinking truly to myself that I wasn't daring, and had never been described as such.

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

I turned back toward him not realizing that he had been following and jolted slightly to a stop, I smiled softly.
"But to do something on one's own is daring. Especially at court."

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

"Very true, Sidonie, very true indeed. I suppose I had not thought of it in that manner. All things considered, I am far used to doing something of my own desire than I am of somebody else's." I smiled again, this time thoughtfully, as I considered my father's wishes that had brought me to the City in the first place.

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

I smiled.
"Then you should count that a wonderful characteristic Aloysius, many at court are bidden to to as some one else desire's. Its nice to hear some one willing to do as he wants."

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

"And what of you Sidonie. Are you one such bidden?" I asked it as politely as one might be able to ask such a question, my thoughts travelling not only through our conversation, but that of others I had been having over the past few days.

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

"I'm only bidden by my desires." I said softly looking back at him from under my lashes.
"Where ever they may take me." I smiled feeling my cheeks warm again and looked away walking back down the line of the stack.

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

I smiled and watched her walk away this time. I kept some distance as I skimmed the last shelf of books. "Well, I am most glad that you desires brought you by this bookstore today." I couldn't believe that I was being so bold as all this. Not only was she somebody I admired, for I enjoy her writing, she was a beautiful woman as well.

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

I turned and looked at him smiling as I did.
"As am I." I said honestly. I inhaled as I took in Aloysius' form once more.
"Though I must say, I'm more then interested to see where else my desires may take me."

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

I turned my eyes down at her last comment, not entirely sure what it was to be taken, but the words themselves meant enough in any manner. "That..." I started before having to stop again with a chuckle. "Well, that would certainly be interesting, would it not?"

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

"Any spontaneity can be interesting wouldn't you say," I walked toward him. "Thats the greatest part of desire, watching it as it takes hold of us, drive us. Desire is the most spontaneous act and tends to get us both into trouble and have us create the most powerful of experiences." Smiling I came up to him and stood mere inches from him.

I had to admit it to myself. I liked him and there was desire fully on my part. My mind flash to indecent day dreams and I pictured what he looked like under his clothing. But here, I would not act like some trollop and display myself like a brood mare. Instead I would gauge his reaction and follow from there.

"Wouldn't you agree?" I asked softly looking up at him, my smile cat like and wry.

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

My first instinct would have been to pull away, put some space between myself and her. I overrode it with sheer force of will, hoping the battle didn't show in my face. Instead, I smiled slightly, the merest glimmer of teeth.

"I think I would say the same. Spontaneity is to be cherished." I replied softly. "As is the desire that may arise from such spontaneity." I slowly reached a hand up and let it rest in the hollow between neck and shoulder. "And any trouble desire would tend to get one into is often a trouble worth having."

I turned eyes the colour of crushed wisterian down upon her face, gauging my actions, and hers, closely. My hair fell over my shoulder on one side, curtaining out and falling over her shoulder as well.

"Wouldn't you agree?" My voice was low and controlled, but only through concentration.

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

My body betrayed me horribly as I instinctively leant into his warmth, my mouth fell open slightly as my breathing sped and I needed more air then usual. I closed my eyes softly trying to balance myself against the shiver that crawled across my skin, and my heart beat uncontrollably.

"I would." I whispered breathily as I looked up at him and I forced my mouth to close. I breathed steadily through my nose and looked to his chest, desire to reach out and touch him there. I couldn't say much else after that, my mind wandering to the most unwholesome of thoughts.

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

I was scared, intrigued, and I would be willing to bet, without personally checking, starting to get aroused. This woman was absolutely stunning not only in her beauty and intelligence, but in the manner of just being her.

My voice had managed to work itself down into a whisper, albeit one that started deep in my chest so that it nearly caught in my throat as I spoke. "That's good..." My hand, resting against her neck, could feel the pace of her heart. When her face lowered somewhat and her eyes opened on my chest, I thought for sure she would be able to see my heart trying to escape from within. At least, that is how I felt it was beating.

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

I shifted my book to the hand that already carried my purse, and with bold trepidation I reached up, my hand coming to rest on his chest. My eyes were still focused on his chest as I touched him, my finger tips just barely touching him.
Finally looking up at him I smiled.
"I'd ask you to kiss me, but I think that would be indecent." I said softly glancing to the side where I could see a pair of eyes staring at us from over a book.

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

I followed her gaze to the same set of eyes. "I think, perhaps, we will save said kiss then..." I replied in a voice that matched hers for volume and softness both. "We could make an even larger scandal at..." My words were a gentle tease. "...Beltane?"

I could still feel my heart pressing against her fingers, as lightly as they rested there. "Should that work for you, of course." He moved his lips to a mere fraction of a breath from her ear. "As long as you can deal with the waiting..."

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

I smiled at his words and thought on them till his lips brushed my ear and my heart and breath stopped as he whispered. For a moment I simply stood there aching, my hand pressed more firmly to his chest and my fingers tigtened grasping cloth beneath them.
I didn't speak until I felt my breathing had returned properly.
"Waiting will make it all the more sweeter." I whispered in return before pulling back slowly. I let my lips gently brush his jaw and then the corner of his lips as I pulled back until I was looking at him square in the eye.

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

My eyes were narrowed slightly, feeling her lips brush against my skin. "It certainly will..." I managed as her lips pulled away from me. I would have simply stopped caring then and there and captured them before they could get further away, but I fought that with all I was worth.

"Elua knows how sweet that will be." I whispered, only loud enough for her to hear. Flicking my eyes off towards the shelf I noticed the eyes were still there. Damnable person just wouldn't leave us be for one moment. A moment I knew would come and that would be welcomed.

"Waiting will make the moment sweeter, but the wait will be the death of me..."

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

My breathing hitched again as he spoke, the thought of having him wait patiently for our kiss, for us being seperated. The heat was unbareable and only the smallest amount of propriety I still owned stopped me from wrapping my arms around his neck and taking him there.

"You won't be the only one I can assure you," I said softly trying to regain composure. "Perhaps you can take comfort in that." I offered with a teasing smile.

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

"A small comfort, dear Sidonie, but a comfort none-the-less." I said teasingly. I took her hand that rested against my chest in my other one and lowered it. I simply held it for I was at a loss for words that I hadn't ever thought would come. I moved the one on her neck up slowly, fingertips gliding along the silky smooth skin to brush a locke of hair gently out of her face. It was the only thing I could do until I could manage to get some semblance of composure.

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

My breathing was still strong as the longer we continued to stand there, the further away I stood from propriety. Damned propriety.
I arched slightly toward him and felt my cheeks warm as his fingers toyed with my hair.
It seemed that silence was appropriate at the moment for anything I would have said would have broken all I had said previously, and the clientele of the store would find us in throws.

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

I think more was shared between us with the silence alone than nearly all of we had just said.

"Dinner..." I breathed. I shook my head slightly. "I mean, would you care to join me, for dinner?" I hoped we would make it through dinner, but then, on the other hand I hoped we wouldn't even make it to dinner.

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

I smiled up and him and pulled away a little more trying not to look like a love stuck sixteen year old.
"Yes," I said smiling. "That would be...perfect." I glanced to the side seeing the same eyes still intently focused on us.
"Shall we?"

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

Taking a book from elsewhere on the shelf I set it in front of the eyes staring at us and, settling a hand into the small of her back. "Ah. People have no sense of privacy here..." I laughed as I said it and started towards the door.

"Do you have a preference you would prefer to eat?" I asked softly, not knowing of any place in the city that would be appropriate, though I suppose my borrowed apartments in the Palace would work if nothing else.

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

I smiled and felt a rush run through me as he wisked me away.
"How about my town home, my cook is dieing to make a home cooked Aragonian meal."

[Aloysius d’Brézé (I)]

A grin split my face from ear to ear.

"Ah, dear Sidonie, you are truly amazing. Though I bask in the glory of the Aragonian written word, I have not yet had the chance at sampling the delicacies of its tables." I drew a deep breath, which quickly turned itself into bright laughter. "I have walked here, this day, I would hope you have not done the same, or we may be a touch later for dinner than even your cook may imagine."

[Sidonie Raviver (D)]

We were outside before I knew it and I glanced down the street to see my carriage, I waved my hand to the driver and he hitched the horses forward pulling the small carriage forward.

"It just so happens." I said glancing back to him as the carriage approached. Smiling I felt my heart almost racing with excitment.
"Do you walk often?" I asked as I turned back to the carriage, the driver jumping down and opening the door for us. I moved forward and stepped into the cab of the carriage and waited for Aloysius to follow.