Another day in Paradise [Eric/open]

[Noemi de Trevalion]

"I'll be sure to stop by if you remember to do so if you need something too," I told him with a wide smile, glad to see a bit of cheerfulness come back into his features. "Because I'm sure at some point I'll come up with a crazy scheme or a question that no one else will answer for me, and then I'll be bothering you with it and you should feel free to do the same."

[Eric Lamont]

I nodded and took her hand again. "And when you do I shall do my best to talk you through it. "

[Noemi de Trevalion]

"You're really sweet, you know," I told him as he took my hand again and I stroked the back of his with my thumb absently. "If you ever need anything you can come here, I mean it. Even if it's just to escape from work or hide things you don't want other people to know about. I know that no one here will mind and it's not like there's not enough space." I could only grin at that, since it was only my two siblings and myself, without our parents for the first time. "Maybe you can even come up with some pranks on days where my mind is lagging."

[Eric Lamont]

I nodded. knowing that id's probably take her up on that. "You're really are too kind, not that I mind at all." I then let a little look of honest mischief escape. "We just might have to do that."

[Noemi de Trevalion]

"Be careful, otherwise I may be an bad influence rather than a good, sweet one," I teased slightly. "But generally my pranks are pretty innocent and more aimed at making everyone laugh. I don't like to hurt people's feelings, even accidentally, so I'm really careful about things when I may not need to be. Then again you probably already figured that out," I finished with a light laugh.

[Eric Lamont]

I laughed and shook my head. "It might have occurred to me ... Anyway, shall we head back downstairs, look at the gardens perhaps?" It's not that I was especially eager to do something, I just didn't want her to be bored.

[Noemi de Trevalion]

"Sure, if you want to," I said readily, giving him another smile. This probably was a little bit boring to him and there was the rest of the house to see, not to mention the kitten I'd acquired that was probably in the garden. "But I should take off the pointe shoes first, they're not the safest things to go walking around in anyway." with that I pulled the bows on my calves and let the ribbons come free, then slid the ballet shoes off of my feet and nudged them under the bed with my toe. "Now, where to see first?"

[Eric Lamont]

I stood up and took a couple steps towards the door, letting my eyes take in the room one more time. "How about the garden?"

[Noemi de Trevalion]

"That sounds good," I said, standing up and walking over to where he was, nudging his shoulder slightly in a friendly fashion. "Oh, and I got a kitten too, she should be out there sunning herself right now if you want to see her." I probably shouldn't assume that everyone liked animals as much as I did but most nice people could stand them and she was a very pretty creature to me.

[Eric Lamont]

The thought of the kitten made me smile. "I'd love to see her!" I took her hand again and began to walk out and down the stairs. "I've found myself in the gardens at my place quite a bit, possibly my favorite place."

[Noemi de Trevalion]

"I bet the garden there is really beautiful, and peaceful," I replied as I led us back toward the stairs, noticing that his hand was in mine again but not minding. It was a simple show of friendly affection as far as I was concerned. "I still haven't picked a name for my kitten yet though, so maybe that's something I should work on. Will you help me with that?"

[Eric Lamont]

I hoped the fact she didn't let go of my hand meant she hadn't misunderstood the meaning behind it. For me it was a sign of close friendship. "I'd be honord to help in that area," I told her as I allowed her to lead us through the rather expansive house to the gardens. I couldn't help but take a glance at each room, marveling first at the taste, but in addition the sheer exquisiteness of it.

[Noemi de Trevalion]

When he looked at the house it reminded me of the first time I'd seen it- and even after being accustomed to the Palazzo it had taken me time to adjust to the sheer beauty of it. I could only grin as I continued to lead Eric through the house and then we were at the back door to the garden, which I opened. "We can explore the house after the garden if you want," I told him with a smile. "I keep hoping that I'll find some secret passages or at least hidden cupboards with interesting things inside."

[Eric Lamont]

I smirked and nodded. "Sounds like a good idea to me ... Perhaps there will even be a hidden treasure that we don't know exists." I plucked a small blossom off of a bush and twirled it betwixt my fingers. "It's lovely out here, Noemi."

[Noemi de Trevalion]

"If you help me find a hidden treasure you can have half of it, a finder's fee," I told him with a laugh as I watched him twirl the flower. "And I wish I could claim some credit for the flowers but that's not something I have any skill for outside of knowing that they need soil, water and sun." The kitten wasn't immediately visible so I looked around for her, making a small clicking noise with my tongue to try and get her attention. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, and after a moment I stopped and looked back at Eric with a grin. "I don't even know what most of these flowers are yet."

[Eric Lamont]

I glanced around me, searching for the cat as well. "I don't either, I just know that they're attractive." Some larger, pale colored flowers caught my eye and I stopped to admire them. Then I glanced back at Noemi and had an idea. I bent down and plucked one of the blossoms, with a fair amont of the stem and turned to her, standing and placing the flower in her hair. I smiled sweetly at her. "Looks perfect."

[Noemi de Trevalion]

The flower that was put into my hair was a pretty one and I smiled and held still to let him finish, returning his sweet smile and giving a slight, playful curtsy. "Thank you, good sir," I replied with a light laugh, then noticed a slight rustling from under a bush and saw the kitten peeking out. "And it looks like he's finally decided to join us," I continued as I knelt down to pick up the orange, fluffy kitten and hold it lightly to my chest as I rose to show it to Eric. "He's sweet, but I think he's still a little shy is all."

[Eric Lamont]

I turned to look at the kitten, a big, bright smile appearing on my face. It was an adorable little thing and I reached out with a curved finger to stroke his cheek. "I think most things are when they know how delicate they are. Cat's are very self-aware you know, and evetually he'll use that for his own benefit."

[Noemi de Trevalion]

"So he'll find strength in his seeming weakness and turn it into an advantage- but that's the way of most animals, especially cats," I said with a laugh, scratching lightly behind the kitten's ears. "That's how they get spoiled I guess. He still needs a name though and my mind is just as blank as it was when I first got him. Time for you to have the ideas, my friend." I was teasing with that and lightly brushed a piece of hair behind his ear.

[Eric Lamont]

I considered the animal with an amused smile. "Well he's the color of ginger spice. Perhaps that would be a good moniker?"

[Noemi de Trevalion]

"I can't really name pets for food- it either makes them seem like dinner or makes me hungry when I call them," I said with a laugh, shifting the kitten a bit so he wouldn't wriggle quite as much. "I was joking that I should get a lion for my garden, maybe I can name him Leo."

[Eric Lamont]

I smirked and looked at the lil fella. "I like it. ... You hear that boy, you've got quite a name to live up to."

[Noemi de Trevalion]

"I think he'll manage it," I said with a laugh as the kitten gave Eric a momentarily intense look before glancing away as though he had too much pride to answer such a statement. With an easy motion I picked the kitten up in my hands and offered him out to my friend, cocking my head slightly. "Want to hold him, or shall I release the mighty beast to stalk more insects in the underbrush?"

[Eric Lamont]

I held out my hands for him. "If you don't mind." I smiled and waited for her to place the adorable creature in my arms. He was cute, but already showed his arrogant feline tendencies.

[Noemi de Trevalion]

Smiling widely as he accepted I set the kitten gently into Eric's arms and gave Leo one last scratch behind the ears, then watched him relax and half-close his eyes in pleasure. "I know he's probably going to turn into some screaming tom-cat that keeps me up half the night but right now he really is just a sweetheart," I admitted as I pulled my hand away so Eric could do with him as he liked.

[Eric Lamont]

I took the precious ball of fur in my arms and held him close. There's a strange, nearly magical feeling that comes when a person holds a small animal. You feel silly, yet wise at the same time, and you wonder how life can exist starting out so fragile. "He certainly is that."

[Noemi de Trevalion]

The only thing that may have been sweeter than the tiny orange kitten was the expression on Eric's face as he cuddled it and I smiled more widely as I watched him. "Maybe you should get a pet to keep you company," I offered in a helpful tone as the kitten got comfortable and started to purr loudly at the attention. "I'll help you find one if you want to."

[Eric Lamont]

I smiled at the thought but added. "That's an inspired plan, but I'd have to check and see if I'd even be allowed to own one. I think it would be fine, but it never hurts to make certain."

[Noemi de Trevalion]

"That makes a lot of sense, it's probably good to ask," I agreed readily, raising a hand to lightly brush the flower that rested in my hair and make sure it was still securely in place. "But when you do find out I'll be there to help you find a pet that you like. Do you think you'd want another kitten, or a dog, or a bird?"

[Eric Lamont]

I handed her back the kitten. "Probably a cat. They're the quietest, less likely to make a scene as birds and dogs tend to do."