Rooftop Discussion [Essie]

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

For a moment all was happy and I chuckled as she stuck out her tongue at me- but then she frowned and her hand went to the scar that I'd seen before and things started to come slightly undone. Not that I could blame the girl; it was obviously something that had caused her a good deal of pain in its creation and my fingers itched for a moment to find the person who had given it to her and beat them as bloody as I would her sick elder brother if I ever saw him. What was I thinking? It's not like I could do that right now, and letting myself think that way wouldn't help anything right now.

As she pressed back against me a bit more I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and let her settle, turning slightly so that she could make herself comfortable on my shoulder if she wanted. "If you want there are gowns with sleeves that should cover it, just make sure they're not too wide at the neck," I told her in a sympathetic tone that held a flash of conviction. "But if you do show it I think anyone who would think you less for it doesn't deserve your time or attention anyway. Not all adepts are that shallow. Don't be ashamed of it and don't let it stop you or whoever did it wins."

[Estella de Cartier]

He wrapped his arm about me and I reste my temple on his shoulder, drawing comfort from the friendly embrace, and from his soothing and empowering words.

"You know, youre right," I said softly. "If they stare, then that is their problem." I smiled and settled against him, shifting and wriggling slightly back and forth before giggling and coming to rest in the nook his arm made perfectly.

"But just in case, will you dance with me when we go?" I asked, my voice a little timid. i it my lip, hoping he could not see the flush that rose to my cheeks as I pressed my head more firmly to his shoulder.

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

Generally there wasn't anything about the timid, shy girl persona that did anything for me, mostly because I knew it was an act designed to make a man feel like the rescuer so the girl could get her way while being indulged. Essie was different though, and I actually felt myself falling into that a bit because it wasn't an act. She really wasn't sure how she would act or what would happen and she was too sweet for me to want to see her floundering as she figured it out.

"Of course I will, and I'll teach you a few tricks too," I told her with a bit of a cocky grin, leaning my head back against hers slightly and running my hand over her shoulder where it rested. This was starting to get entirely too comfortable but who was I to question anything anyway, especially with so much wine running through my blood. Picking up the bottle in my other hand I took another drink and offered the bottle back to her again. "But I bet there will be tons of people who want to take a chance with you, and I'll show you which ones are actually worth taking a chance on. Deal?"

[Estella de Cartier]

I felt myself beocming excied again with teh notion of attending the reception. he put all of my fears to rest, and I believed him. it had always been hard for me, well since coming to teh City, to trust anyone's word, but Bayard had shown me that he could be trusted, that there was no ulterior motive to his kind words, his comforting gestures, like the way he rested his head against mine, or the caress his hand gave me that tingled, too, like the other caresses he had given me, making my heart skip a beat, just once. I had thought of how we interacted since last we had, and I was happy that he ahd opened me up to a world where trust wasn't always a bad thing, and where scars were beautiful, and life did nt always have to be one burdon after teh other. I laughed softly, taking the bottle from him with my free hand, my other arm pressed against his side. I took a sip from it, letting the sweet but cheap liquor flow down my throat. "Ah you will be my instructor," I said, giggling. "Though perhaps you ought to teach me a dance or two before I make a right fool of myself on the dancefloor," I laughed. Bu the idea of dancing here on the rooftop in the sunset, well, it also made me smile, and my cheeks flush again. It was a romantic notion, one I ha dnever even thought would happen to me. i had put all childhood dreams of romance and lovers behind me with wha tmy brother had done, but I felt that wall coming down now here with Bayard, and though it made me feel warm and tingly, it also frightened me. And if it scared me a little with him, I coul only imagine how trying to build some tie with an adept I had never met would make me feel.

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

Oh good, she was still in a drinking mood. That made all of this just a little bit easier, since it could explain away some of her behavior, and the fact that I was very aware of the press of her against me and her arm at my waist. At least it was innocent enough by most people's standards, and who was I to fault her for wanting a little bit of human contact when I spent most of my time out hunting for it so I didn't have to be alone with my thoughts? No one, that's who. And it was starting to seem like I'd had enough to drink for now.

"That's another reason you should come by Eglantine to get ready, I'll show you a bit there," I told her in a teasing tone. "And make sure you're presentable. Unless you want a lesson right now that's the best time to do it and I don't know how you feel about dancing with a drunk adept on the edge of a roof where we might be spotted." I wasn't really worried about falling over the edge but that didn't mean she was that used to being up so high.

[Estella de Cartier]

I laughed softly as I put the bottle down on teh slanted rooftop surface, steadying it before I pulled my hand away.

"Well, I may be a little tipsy, I said, my hand motioning to show a small space between my index finger and thumb, "but I would say I'm fearless and pprobably foolish enough to havea dance now, if you're not too chicken," I teased. it probably was not the best idea, but Iwas rarely spontaneous, and this seemed like something I needed to encourage more in myself. Plus a part of me just wanted to feel what it was like to dance with someone. I had never really danced with anyone before, aside from pappa when I was little, and that was hardly dancing but more prancing around, holding hands while he smiled and I gigled, carefree an dhappy.

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

"So now the pigeon is calling me chicken," I retorted in a jesting tone, eyes flashing as I looked at her. Not like I had anything to prove, but I was never the kind of person to pass up on a dare and prove that I was, after all, a chicken. Careful not to set her off-balance I rose and offered her my hand to help her stand, my impish grin back in place. "Come on then, and back up that big talk. Let's see how quick you can pick up a few fancy steps." If there was any luck left at all neither of us would slip and fall down over the side of the roof and call a lot of attention to us even if we didn't crash to the street.

[Estella de Cartier]

I giggled, my heartbeat spiking at the level of danger and daring, andin admiration of Bayard, who took teh challenge with a playful smile and was on his feet, offering me his hand. i swallowed down a little bit of fear and took his hand, rising to my feet, rather gracefully, i thought at least. Graceful meanin gthat I did not sway or topple over or fall flat onto my arse again. I looked down, and we were high enough it was true, to cause some injury, though still not terribly high. i took a deep breath and faced him.

"Alright but nothing that requires lifting... if there's any lifting I would rather call myself chicken and sit down safely. I won't feign to be a pigeon and test the sureness of my wings," I teased with a giggle. I stood, facing him, a little awkwardly. i had seen people dance before, and knew where the hands were supposed to go, but I did not kow much else.

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

She wasn't nearly so steady on her feet that I felt confident letting go of her hand, so I simply gave her another smile and drew her close enough that she was a comfortable dancing distance but not indecent. Best to teach her good habits now, right? My other hand went to her side lightly and I waited for her to get her balance steady. "Alright, now I think we're ready," I said confidently, since sounding any other way seemed like it would make her more uncertain. "First, you're going to need to put your free hand on my shoulder and take a deep breath. Don't worry, I'm not going to do any lifts or anything, but you're going to have to trust me to show you what to do. Let me know when you think you can do that."

[Estella de Cartier]

I looked at him, and saw the concern flash befor ehe smiled and gave me instructions. taking a deep breath, I placed my hand on his shoulder, my other hand still in his. His hand was at my waist in a gentle touch, not much pressure, but the touch still... well i wouldn't say tickled, or tingled, it was something between the two and I smiled.

"I am ready," I said, my eyes moving straight from his own to the space betwen us so I could look at my feet.

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

She seemed to settle herself down well enough and I smiled as she gave her consent to start, then chuckled as she looked down at her feet. It was completely different from the way I'd learned and since that was the only way I knew I'd have to teach her a little bit differently. "No, eyes up please," I teased, taking my hand from her waist to put a finger under her chin and turn her back toward me. "If you look at your feet you'll only trip, and up here that would be a bad thing. Instead just follow my lead, move your foot backward when I move mine forward, forward when I move mine back and let me nudge you in the right direction. We'll start with a slow waltz, it's a three-step dance and doesn't really require that much moving for the basics."

With that said I gave her a crooked smile and then put my hand back on her waist, moving my left foot forward just slightly and then waited for her to notice and move her foot back before I made any other motions. Best to start off at the slowest possible pace right now and not risk a dangerous tumble than to move too fast.

[Estella de Cartier]

When he lifted my face, his finger upon my chin, I felt my cheeks flush. I knew it wasn't the wine, because I was warmer than the wine had made me. I brought my eyes to his, looking into his eyes, such an interesting shade, that lovely violet hue, the mirth that danced there. It was a catchign feeling, and I returned his sly little smile with one of my own as he explained the steps, and why I had to look at him. With him, I could do this, but with someone else, Elua, I feared I would only blush and find myself looking away at anything but the person. I took another breath and felt him move a step forward, his left foot, his body shifting his weight, which I felt, and nudging mine in the direction that meant I put my right foot back. i stepped back with my foot, placing my toe first, then heel, though I moved a little mechanically and awkward. I suppose that was expected since I was learning, but I did hope I would pick up the steps quickly and not look like a stiff board come tomorrow night. I smiled at him, resisting the urge to look down and see if I was doing it right, and had not stepped to far to one side or the other.

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

She was doing well, at least from what one single step could tell me, and I smiled and nodded encouragingly as I moved my other foot backward while turning her slightly to the side. "Remember to keep breathing, otherwise you're never going to relax," I told her with a little amusement as I continued to show her the steps, one slow movement at a time. This was never going to teach her tempo but that was something we could work on tomorrow once we weren't dealing with the wine, the sloped rooftop and the newness of all of this. "Just think of it as pickpocketing for your feet- keep your steps subtle and read the other person and you can't go wrong."

[Estella de Cartier]

"Breathing, right," I said as I caught myself about to look down. "Gods help me if I faint from lack of air because I am thinking too hard on the steps," I said. He made another step, moving his other foot back. I felt the shift in his body, and thus the shift in mine, and I put my other foot forward, thinking of the advice he gave me. Pickpocketing with feet. I laughed at the analogy, my head dipping down and the top of my head resting lightly on his chin. It took me a moment to realise it and I brought my head back up. I cleared my throat. "Alright so thats two of the three steps," I said with a smile. "Whats the third? And do we just do it in a line, or a circle, or ...," I laughed agian. "I'll stop talking now... and let you teach." I smiled at him softly.

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

"Try not to pass out on the dance floor if you can avoid it," I agreed with a wry chuckle, the brush of her hair soft against my face even as I held very still and waited for her to move, mostly because this wasn't the most steady of surfaces. When she did I listened to her questions, then gave her a smirk. "Oh, but the shift sideways was also a step in its own way. Think of it as moving in a triangle. Forward, over, back, turn, it's all just repeating. And you're a girl so all you really have to do is watch for what foot the other person uses and then follow along. Want to try speeding the steps up a little?"

[Estella de Cartier]

I snickered, snorting a little then laughed harder, but luckily kept my balance and caught my breath. "Yeah that would be horrendously embarassing," I said, taking a deep breath. "And yes, let's speed it up and see what happens," I replied. "I think I'm getting a hang of it... well so far... two steps in."

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

"Three steps in, thank you very much," I told her in an jokingly officious tone, then gave her a wink and started to lead her through the steps at a more measured pace, though I was careful not to rush her through it. The sound of her laughter carried through the air and almost seemed to linger but I wasn't going to dwell on that right now. It was enough that I'd simply been able to get that reaction. "How are you keeping up so far?"

[Estella de Cartier]

I laughed again at his tone, and I stuck my tongue out at him as he winked at me and laughed again. We picked up the pace... one... two... three... one..two..three... and I no longer felt the urge to look down at my feet, but kept my eyes on Bayard's, and realised that dancing required a great deal of trust. You had your hands on another person, leaving it ot them to move both of you through the steps, and not lead you off, or misstep and stub your toes. And I trusted Bayard, and that I think helped a lot with how well I moved with him. I wasn't worrying about my footfalls, I wasn't worrying about the way my body moved. I stopped tensing, though I think I had to thank the wine a bit for that part, and just let my body move the way he guided it.

"I think I am doing well," I said softly, my eyes on his. I looked into them truly for the first time, into the depths of them, the hues of violet, and brown, and other tiny bits of different colours that swam in the pool of purple. And for once, I lost myself in someone's eyes, and felt it happening. It was like falling with my eyes closed, and I felt my stomach sink, but not in a bad way. I smiled, feeling my cheeks warm to the point of tingling as we moved. "You can go faster now," I whispered.

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

It was almost amazing how quickly she picked up on all of this once she let herself go enough to just let things happen naturally and it was a wonder to see, though I wasn't usually one to notice the actions of others that much. She was dancing with me though, in the slow way that I was leading her, and Essie had a natural sort of grace that was probably bred of survival and needing to get around quickly that was in some ways very appealing. Not that I was going to let my mind wander too much in that direction. Down that road was another sleepless night of wondering whether or not I was going completely insane.

As the dance continued it was easier for her to hold my gaze with her own brown ones, the rich color of mahogany wood with flecks of deeper and lighter tones, and there was a certain open softness in that gaze. I could almost see into her soul if I looked hard enough, and the different flickers of thought and emotion that crossed her face- but somehow that seemed dishonest and a bit cheap. I couldn't help it though, just as I couldn't stop her from seeing whatever she saw, and I could only hope that the alcohol gave me some kind of protective haze. "Alright, faster then," I said in a whisper of my own though I didn't know why, finding a tempo in my mind and starting to lead her to match it, my eyes still on hers.

[Estella de Cartier]

He held me with a strength that was soft and just so... him. It was hard to describe how it felt - except to sum it up in one word - safe. Bayard was safe to me, someone who understood me and for whatever silly reason enjoyed spending time with me, and befriended me. His eyes peered into mine, and I felt wall after wall strip away, fall crumbling at our feet, until there were none left, and I felt vulnerable in his eyes, like he could see anything and everything - the good and the bad that made me me. My cheeks still tingled from their warmth, and though the tempo increased, I had not even noticed, moving in unison with him, a perfect mirror image. I smiled softly, the wine on his breath was sweet and clung in the air between us as he moved faster and plateaued. "Am I doing it?" I asked, my voice still soft. I felt ethereal, like we were in our own fantasy world and I was some lovely majestic creature and he was the prince who had freed me from my prison.

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

There was so much depth to a person that most people who simply passed them by couldn't even fathom, and for better or worse people had their own reasoning behind things. Essie was willing to open herself up to that fact in a way that was completely amazing given her background, especially to me- after all, I spent a lot of time trying to ignore or forget what had made me who I am through pleasure or various mind-altering substances, because people who saw such things wouldn't understand them. She didn't need anything more than someone who built her confidence and a little wine on top of acceptance. She should really have been a Heliotrope with that open, forthright heart.

As the dance continued I felt her relax into it and pick up naturally on the basic steps, following my lead and looking quite charming with that flush on her cheeks and her eyes so bright. If she'd been anyone else or if I hadn't known what I did I may have kissed her then in the sheer beauty of the moment, but I wasn't drunk enough or confident enough to risk it. "Oh, you're a natural," I told her in a whispered tone, smirking slightly and forcing back those pestering thoughts that said the only way to know some things for sure was to try them. "No doubt you'll cause quite a stir when you dance and have everyone in your thrall." I probably should have stopped the dance right then but this was going so well that it seemed a shame to when she was so in need of it.

[Estella de Cartier]

We continued to move, and the smirk on his lips made me giggle and roll my eyes, though I still kept up with the moves, here on the slanted roof with the sunset surrounding us - pinks, purples, lovely shades of orange and blue mixing together in the most beautiful display of evening colour. It was perfect - and truly I did not want it to end. It seemed everytime I was around Bayard I never wanted the time we spent together to end. "Oh I don't think I will be that good by tomorrow," I teased, "let's just hope no one tries to twirl or dip me."

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

"Once we're on flat land I'll show you those, they're not that hard as long as you don't try to fight yourself out of them," I told her with a grin as the steps continued. If she could dance like it was second nature to her at something this basic then it would at least put her in the habit of dancing and being led and that would do her more good than if she had the best lessons but was too stubborn to follow them. "Or are you doubting my teaching skills, pigeon? Here I am trying to help you..." The last was nothing more than a blatant jest and I gave her a wink to show that as the colors of the sunset ran across the roof. It was amazing how the smoke of the various homes and shops in the City could hold the colors so wonderfully.

[Estella de Cartier]

I laughed but hung my head as if in shame, though I couln't help that I smiled. "Oh no, Prince of the Rooftops, I would never doubt your supreme knowledge in all things rooftop and dance related," I teased back, laughing softly as he moved us in our small space on teh rooftop. Of course, the rooftop was not that small, but venturing all over it would not be wise in our present state. I looked up at him, stnding proper again, and had the sudden urge to kiss his cheek, which I did nt think on, but instead whispered, "thank you for everything Bayard," and kissed his cheek, fleetingly, just enough contact that the touch could be registered. I pinkened at my action, and then worriied that maybe I had unsettle dhim with it.

"I.. um I... you see.. I just...," I tried to find the words to explain what I had done and why but they failed me, and so I looked at him, a bundle of expetant nerves, worrying that he would pull away and go off back to Eglantine already from my awkwardness.

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

It seemed she was getting comfortable enough with the steps to joke and tease and that was almost perfect progress. You could tell when something became second nature to a person, they almost seemed to forget that they knew something until they had to do it. And so far she hadn't slipped into any bad habits, so maybe I was a better teacher than I thought. "Gods forbid you doubt my knowledge about anything. It's not good to question royalty, even the rooftop kind."

A moment later the mood seemed to change though and I could only watch with bemused shock as she kissed my cheek, my hands going to her shoulders to steady her on the uneven surface of the roof. It was amazing how subtle things like that were worked into adept training, but it worked and that was enough. Of course once Essie realized what she'd done she was at least twice as surprised as I was, and I probably should have felt more guilty for bringing about that than I actually did. "I do see, and you're welcome," I told her with something of a impish smirk, kissing her cheek in return. She deserved at least that much simple affection, and it wasn't her fault that street rats like I could take it the wrong way at times. That's all she'd meant anyway, wasn't it?

[Estella de Cartier]

I laughed as his hands steadied me and we stopped dancing, that sort of nervous laughter that people seemed to fall into when they felt they had done something that mayhap they should not have, but when he smiled back, his easy smile, recovering from teh shock of it, I felt a little better, and when he pressed his own lips to my cheek, I felt I almost swooned, feeling lightheaded and giggly all at once. I held onto his arms to stead myself a I stopped laughing, my cheeks still very warm as I looked at him, then back down at the rooftop, nodding wordlessly. "So um," I said, changing the topic with a short laugh, "when should I show up tomorrow?" I asked, finally pu,lling away from him a bit to finally seat myself on the rooftop. Perhaps I had had enough drink and dance for one evening. It was making me act on the weirdest whims that were so unlike me... but then again, if they were so unlike me why did it feel.. right? Even the littlest bit?

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

The fact that she pulled away and sat back down almost made me wonder if I'd done the wrong thing, but if I had she'd likely have bolted instead of just acting nervous, or she would have shouted as all women seemed to when they were annoyed. Given her past it could have been anything, and she probably wouldn't appreciate anyone asking her to explain what she was pretty clearly confused around. "Well, I'd say about midday should have you ready in time," I said in a nonchalant tone that belied my slightly racing pulse as I sat down beside her again. Dancing on a roof did tend to make a person's blood rush, especially if there was a pretty girl involved. Not that I was trying to think of her in that fashion. Damn wine. "You can come a little earlier if you want but too much and I might still be sleeping myself."

[Estella de Cartier]

He sat next to me and I felt better that he went to answering my question instead fo questioning what had just happened. It meant that maybe he knew and understood, or if he idn't he did not want to make me feel more nervous, and by the Gods I felt nervous. I did hope that Icould hide it well enough as I smiled and moved closer to lean on him again like I had before we started dancing, not just because it felt like the world might start spinning any minute - and not from the wine - butalso to show him that I was alright.

"Well, that would be a little odd, you waking up to me sitting in your room, steepled fingers, all ross that you've made me of all people wait," I teased. "Midday gives me a chance to go gown shopping, so I shall be there. Do I have to go omewhere and ask for you or..." I trailed off, laughing softly, "I guess you can tell I don't do this sort of thing often," I teased.

[Bayard Roux nó Eglantine]

She leaned back against me with that sort of languid fluidity that spoke of still being a bit drunk and I smiled slightly as I steadied my shoulder a bit so she could use it to support her. Not that I wasn't relaxed enough from my own drinking but I was probably a little more used to it than she seemed to be. It's not as though she was a hedonistic escapist who tended to try to lose themselves in every mind-altering substance that they could if they had a quiet moment because they couldn't stand the thoughts that cropped up. She was both lucky and unlucky that way, but I still hoped I wasn't being a bad influence on her.

"Well, you wouldn't be the first person to sit and watch me sleep, waiting to see if I noticed," I teased lightly, running my fingers back through my hair and looking around for where she left the wine bottle. "But if you do that I suggest poking at me with a stick or some such, I can sleep pretty deeply when there's not a body next to me. Don't worry about finding me, I'll have to be up a little before to do some training so I'll wait outside for you and lead you in. Then you won't have to worry about talking to anyone. After you're there I'll grab something for us to eat and we'll get started on getting you primped and ready."

Soon it would be time for me to go, mostly so I could arrange for everything I had planned for the next day, but also to get some rest. It was a lot of fun to be around Essie but there were times that it took a bit of effort to remember not to think of her in a rather crude light and I would need all of that willpower for leading her through the Night Court the next day.

[Estella de Cartier]

I laughed, listening to him speak. His oice, the way he spoke to me seemed to calm me. Everything was okay, he did not take offence to what had happened, and nothing had changed between us. Though I did feel my cheeks warm at the simple mention of how he was when someone lay next to him. My mind wandered, and for once I wondered what it would be likeoto wake up beside him, which only furthered to deepen my blushing state. Elua, what was wrong with me!? I was never like this, on the contrary, I prided myself on being rather prudish, but Bayard had such a big hand i nmy healing process, and he was a good friend, everything was just so simple with him. I woul dnever have been able ot kiss someone the wy I had kissed him - even though it was a chaste kiss as far as kissing went - but of my own volition. And I doubted I'd have been able to kiss anyone if it were not for him. I smiled, turning to look at him as I leaned against his warm body.

"Good, because only the Gods know how it would end up if I had to ask someone else. Your playful housemates might have me running about the House searching for you," I teased. "Thank you again, Bayard, this means so much to me. So few people have ever been kind to me," truly, there were only a small handful. Those who had found me and nursed me back to health when I had been cut, X who was patient with me, teaching me the ways of the ooftop and of the streets that I had never known before, and Bayard, who was teaching me how to heal and be alright with myself.