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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 27, 2011 22:48:15 GMT -5
My brows furrowed a bit as she spoke of her father's wishes. "But in a way," I said quietly and prayed I didn't offend her, "That demand in itself violates the precept by stifling your very nature, does it not?"
I gazed at her; her beautiful face, her perfectly-shaped lips that I seemed to have some sort of obsession with, the gorgeous eyes that were so full of righteous anger, and the mass of blonde locks that topped it all off. Something shifted in me then, and I decided it would do no good to examine it at that moment. I was simply content to look at her.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 27, 2011 23:01:45 GMT -5
I furrowed my brow, suddenly frustrated. "If you imagine it is so, I invite you to tell him. Perhaps he will act more like a priest and a Kusheline man than a father!"
I took a deep breath, drawing air into my lungs and letting the old air out. "I love my Papa, but sometimes...sometimes it feels as if I am trying to break down one of the walls in the temple, and they have stood for many, many years." I squeezed his hand gently, as if to reassure myself that he hadn't decided to disappear like a forest sprite once I began babbling.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 27, 2011 23:39:20 GMT -5
"You know I would be happy to talk to your papa, Adelaide," I said with a sincere grin. She squeezed my hand and I returned the gesture in reassurance, wanting her to know that I would be the wall she could lean up against.... Really? Had I just thought that?
Gods.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Mar 28, 2011 20:37:39 GMT -5
I sighed. "As you have said...repeatedly...but I don't know if he's ready to meet you." My father was a reasonable man, but I could not predict how he would react to his daughter's sudden friendship with an adept.
"Perhaps I could...engage him hypothetically?" I suggested. "I could say something like: 'Papa, how would you feel if I told you I had made the acquaintance of an adept?' and note his reaction. Then, if his reaction is favourable, I could arrange for introductions to be made." I nodded to myself. It sounded like a feasible plan.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Mar 31, 2011 9:00:58 GMT -5
"It may work, but what if his reaction is ... less than positive?" I asked. "What will you do then, keep me a secret? If your papa is the sort of man you've made him out to be, he would appreciate that even less if or when you finally did tell him about me," I pointed out. "Then what would we do?"
I didn't mean that her plan wouldn't work, I was simply trying to play the devil's advocate. "What if we told him together that I'm your new... friend?" I asked her. "Would that be better, or would that just be a horrible idea all around? Maybe once he sees me and talks to me and can ask me all of the questions and make any threats he'd like to, then he'd feel a bit better about it," I offered.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 1, 2011 20:11:04 GMT -5
I pursed my lips in thought. "I...honestly don't know how he would react to that..." It sounded like a sensible course of action, though.
I giggled suddenly. "He might assume that your intent is to seduce me, shameless adept that you are!" I squeezed his hand again. "You will have to assure him that your intentions are as pure as fallen snow, yes?"
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 4, 2011 8:29:35 GMT -5
I chuckled and returned her squeeze with one of my own. "Indeed, I'll have to keep my depraved plans a secret," I teased her easily.
"So, when would you like to go talk to your papa?" I asked as I played with her fingers once more, drawing the tips of mine along the sensitive spaces between hers. Her skin was so soft.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 4, 2011 16:38:41 GMT -5
I shook my head. "We usually spend time together in the evenings, but lately he has been occupied with his duties. Priests are seldom idle, or so he says..." I grinned. "He likes to pretend he doesn't enjoy idleness sometimes. I know how much he naps on feast days!"
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 4, 2011 16:57:37 GMT -5
I couldn't help but laugh. I loved how candid she was, and how she didn't mince words. I wished more people were that way. "Well, everybody needs a good nap now and then," I joked.
Glancing down at her, I asked a bit more quietly but with a grin still on my face, "Is there a certain evening you'd like me to come over, or should I await a missive?"
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 4, 2011 17:59:22 GMT -5
"I'll contact you," I said. It almost felt like one of the romances in the books that I read in the temple library. A tale of lovers who were forbidden to wed by their families, so they exchanged missives and met in secret.
"I think it would be best if I made the introductions. I do not know if it would go well if I suddenly announced that I had made a new friend outside the temple walls. He would probably assume that you were a penitent, and not many penitents make repeat visits that involve more than smalltalk."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 4, 2011 18:06:04 GMT -5
I nodded in understanding. "Of course, peaches. I will await a missive, then. Is there anything I should... bring? That would endear me to your father?" I said, suddenly a bit nervous. "You said he likes sweets...."
Gods, I was going to meet Adelaide's father. I supressed the urge to make some sort of terrified squeaking noise. I was a man, after all! And her papa was... a bigger man, from what she said....
Gods.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 4, 2011 19:52:31 GMT -5
I thought about it for a moment. "He likes...many things. A penitent once brought us some little cakes decorated with candied flowers. They were probably from a shoppe in the Artisan's District. He ate...a few more than I imagine a man ought to eat..." I giggled. "But I imagine any sort of bonbon will do."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 4, 2011 19:57:15 GMT -5
I laughed. "Ah, then I know precisely what to get him, if he likes bonbons," I said with a light nudge against her. "Especially if he likes them half as much as his daughter does."
Sighing once more, I found I could not keep still from the sudden nerves and so I did what I usually did when I was nervous: I paced. I squeezed Adelaide's hand before standing gracefully and moving to walk back and forth in front of her, about the length of the bench. Walk, turn. Walk, turn. Walk, turn.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 4, 2011 20:09:39 GMT -5
I was more than a little confused when Remy stood and began pacing. "Remy, why are you doing that? Did I say something wrong?" I couldn't think of anything I had said or done that would cause him to pace, and yet that was exactly what he was doing. I had to wonder again if all men were this obtuse.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 4, 2011 20:17:10 GMT -5
"No no, not at all, love," I said absently. "I, ah... I pace when I'm nervous," I explained quietly as I moved. "It's something I've done ever since I was a child." I figured this was a better excuse to pace; I was meeting Adelaide's father for Elua's sake. I began to honestly wonder if I would survive this and come away with all of my parts fully intact and still attached to my body.
I needed to make doubly sure I got those bonbons before Adelaide sent her missive. Anything to 'sweeten the deal' so to speak.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 4, 2011 21:22:18 GMT -5
I put my hands on my hips. "Well, I don't understand why you're suddenly nervous. It might be a fortnight before I can speak to Papa about you. Besides, it's not like I'm dragging you before Lord Kushiel Himself. Papa is a reasonable man, he's just...just...a bit...protective...just a little."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 4, 2011 21:33:53 GMT -5
I raised a brow and glanced at her as I paced. "Well no, I know it's not Lord Kushiel Himself, but your papa... Well, from what you've said, he's rather intimidating, and I want him to like me so that I can continue seeing you. So I suppose for me it's sort of a big deal. Not to say that it isn't for you," I added quickly, making sure her prickly side had no reason to come out. "I simply... Worry too much, I suppose," I said with a helpless shrug. I hated admitting weaknesses, and cursed myself inwardly for being so open with her. Gods knew how she would react.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 4, 2011 22:59:12 GMT -5
I looked at him. "Well, he is merely human, Remy, and it's not in his nature to harm anyone, except penitents, but they aren't harmed in any lasting way." I let him pace for a few moments more before I stepped in front of him.
"Oh, stop!" I exclaimed. "You are being daft! I think he will like you, Remy, as long as you are polite and show yourself to be an honourable sort. Then he will see that you will be a good friend for me, and we can work in the gardens together." I grinned. "'Just think, I have to work with him every day, and so do the other acolytes, and they are all hale and whole."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 4, 2011 23:15:53 GMT -5
I skidded to a stop as she appeared in front of me, my hands coming instinctively to her hips to push her out of the way in case I couldn't stop fast enough. I removed them quickly lest I get the rough side of her tongue once more and ran the fingers of my left hand through my hair.
"Yes," I agreed. "But then again, your father doesn't think them-- or you-- evil or lacking a soul or intent on seducing... Well, you," I pointed out with a grin.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 5, 2011 13:05:13 GMT -5
I sighed. "Papa doesn't think that you're soulless or evil, he just...doesn't want me to get hurt." I looked down at the dirt at my feet. "Sometimes he treats me like such a child, when I've almost reached the age of majority! It's not--it's hardly fair!"
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 5, 2011 13:37:49 GMT -5
I smiled and reached my fingers out to rest them under her chin and tug lightly, bringing her eyes up to meet my gaze. "You know Adelaide, as infuriating as it is to you, I have to agree with your papa. You're beautiful and priceless, and I'd want to protect you too. I don't think he means to treat you like a child... It's probably simply that he remembers you as one and mayhap he's scared you're growing away from him. Papas can be that way, I've heard," I murmured with a kind smile.
Please Gods, let her take that as the compliment I meant it to be.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 5, 2011 15:07:54 GMT -5
I scowled. "He's only known me since I was ten summers old. I was raised at the temple in Kusheth, and when I was sent here, I met Papa." I turned away from him and began to pace myself. "I'd wager if I were a boy his hosen wouldn't be in a bunch!" I grumbled.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 5, 2011 15:13:23 GMT -5
She was adorable when she scowled like that. I watched her turn and pace as I had done, her tirade spewing forth from her mouth. I tried hard not to concentrate on what I would rather be doing concerning her lips-- really, did I have a disease or something?-- and listened to what she was saying.
"Well love, we could always elope," I joked, holding up my hands quickly. "Kidding, of course."
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 5, 2011 15:37:29 GMT -5
I paused and looked up at him. "Well, we could do that, but I think it would upset h--" I narrowed my eyes at him. "Wait, what do you mean, 'elope'? Lovers do that sort of thing, Remy, not friends, and I don't know you well enough for..." I blushed. "That, so knock it off!"
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 5, 2011 15:50:49 GMT -5
I couldn't help but laugh at her reaction, but I stifled that quickly and settled for grinning. "And wouldn't you want me to be your lover, peaches?" I asked her, simply to see the blush come to her cheeks. "After all, people I don't know come to me quite often for... 'that'," I pointed out. "Not elopement, of course, but things of a carnal nature."
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 5, 2011 16:04:28 GMT -5
My blush deepened. "I don't want to think about what you do with them, or me, or...anyone!" I exclaimed.
"I'm not--ready for that yet. It's not just because of Papa, either. I--" I looked down at my feet. "I'm not an adept, or an initiate in Naamah's Order. I don't...know of these things. My whole life has been this temple, and Lord Kushiel..."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 5, 2011 16:31:29 GMT -5
"Well, Lord Kushiel was once a father also, was he not?" I inquired, crouching a bit-- okay, more than a bit-- to put my face down below hers so that she'd have to look into my eyes once more.
After a moment, I straightened and ran my fingers through my hair. "It's unfair of me to bait you, I apologize Adelaide," I sighed quietly, an air of defeat to my voice. "You see, there's this... this strange, burning desire within me to kiss you, and I've been keeping it tamped down but for some reason it continues to bubble up to the surface. I have better self-control than this, so I'm not sure why this is happening, but I will not allow it to happen again."
Moving back to the bench, I sat down and rested my head back against the sun-warmed wall of the House, my eyes closed and my hands on my thighs. What in the seven hells was wrong with me? Come now, Rémy, I berated myself harshly, my brows furrowing unbeknownst to me. You have training. You are an adept. There is no excuse for this. Knock it off!
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 5, 2011 18:05:07 GMT -5
I blinked. "Remy, I--What?" It was ludicrous, I couldn't fathom why he would want to do such a thing, especially with someone like me.
"Remy, I--I'm sorry, I can't talk about this right now, okay?" I looked for Messire Grunt, finding him skulking in the shadows like a thief. "I should go, Lady Elise will be cross if I do not return before supper."
I did not mean to run from him as if demons from Hell were chasing me, but I suppose my puzzlement over his confession breathed new vitality into my limbs. So I ran...
I tripped once I was inside Orchis House, but I picked myself up off the floor and continued to run...
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 5, 2011 18:23:37 GMT -5
"Ade--!"
She gave me no time to protest her leaving before she was off like a shot, those long legs I had admired on our last meeting carring her over the threshhold back into Orchis, Messire Grunt following her like a shadow and sparing nothing, not even a glance for me.
I felt wretched for scaring her off so. I hadn't meant to do it, I don't know why in hells I had even made the confession. Sighing miserably, I stood up and made my way silently back to my quarters, lying on my bed and not moving for a long time.
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