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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 26, 2011 20:15:10 GMT -5
I sat on a bench near the fountain in the square, idly twisting the stem of a Narcissus flower around in my hands. "Only one copper," said the flowermonger, then, catching sight of my pendant, gave me a knowing smile. "Ah, but I'll take no coin from Kushiel's servants." I didn't recognize the tune she hummed as she walked away, her basket by her side, but I couldn't help but wonder if it was a hymn of some sort.
I tilted my head up so that I could feel the sun's warmth on my face. Finally, the elders decided to release us acolytes from our studies on a NICE day, and I was determined to make the most of my freedom.
I knew I was likely being observed, of course, else Papa wouldn't have so readily agreed to an outing, but supervised excursions were preferable to being trapped in a stuffy old temple all day long.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 26, 2011 20:30:05 GMT -5
I sighed as I made my way to Elua's Square, thinking that mayhap the waters would do something to take my mind off of all of the recent happenings lately, even for a bit. It was a beautiful day and my light blue shirt was open at the throat and my brown breeches fit me like a second skin.
The birds were chirping, which made me smile, but I missed Adelaide quite a bit. I didn't know what drew me to the beautiful acolyte, as prickly as she could be. Something about her, though, it simply called to me. I shrugged inwardly at my thoughts and figured it would all puzzle itself out in time, and I would simply have to be patient for it to do so.
And then, as if my thoughts had materialized in front of me, I saw Adelaide herself sitting on the bench near the very fountain I had been headed toward, twirling a flower in her hand. A grin split my face as I moved over to her and, saying nothing, simply sat down next to her and rested my elbows on my knees, not looking at her and saying nothing. I schooled my features to one of a pleasant look, not smiling but simply calm and waited to see if she would take notice of me right there beside her.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 26, 2011 21:04:56 GMT -5
I felt someone sit down next to me before I saw him, so intent on the narcissus bloom in my hands. I certainly did not expect to see Remy staring at me when I stole a glance at my visitor.
I jumped up, a little startled, fingers twined around the daffodil stem. "Remy! You startled me!" I exclaimed, ceasing to play with the stem. "It's considered polite to offer a greeting before you sit down!"
I hadn't seen him since that day in the temple, and the memory of his naked form caused a blush to stain my cheeks. I did miss his visits to the temple, and it hadn't even been that long since he'd stopped coming to see me.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 26, 2011 21:17:54 GMT -5
I sighed. Still the same prickly Adelaide. "My apologies for startling you, Peaches," I said, grinning easily. I took the flower and, snapping a bit of the stem off, tucked the bloom behind her ear. "You look as lovely as the first day I saw you," I said quietly. "How have you been?"
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 26, 2011 21:32:20 GMT -5
I snorted. "Fine, I suppose. The elders keep us inside studying prayers and hymns and such from sunrise to sunset, pausing only to feed us and allow us to do chores." I did smile a little, however. "I suppose an adept is used to a little more...excitement..."
I moved to sit down again. "Sometimes I...like the peace and quiet. Master Auberon says I should learn to value silence, because that's when the gods speak. I should think, were I a goddess, that I could stand to be a little louder if I had something important to say!" I paused. "That is...probably not the proper thing to say..."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 26, 2011 21:50:58 GMT -5
I smiled over at her as she sat next to me once more. "As an adept, I have seen very little of the 'excitement' of which you speak," I said, not bothering to mention any assignations I may or may not have had.
"Each god and goddess is different, Adelaide," I continued companionably, my elbows coming to rest on my knees once more as I mused. "Some speak with silence, others with thunder and lightning, and still others with the beauty of things, such as flowers or stars. Not one voice is more or less important than the next. The silence is just as important as the thunder and lightning, and if you can listen and appreciate it, so much the better."
Glancing over at her, I took in her features kissed by the sun and couldn't help my old urges coming back. But I'd learned well the first time; I would be much, much more guarded now. So I simply appreciated the view and smiled in a friendly way at her once more.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 26, 2011 22:34:52 GMT -5
I scowled at him. "Y0u sound like my Papa." The thought of Remy speaking to Papa about such things filled me with dread.
Oh, stop it, Adelaide. You would know if anyone had been talking to him about you. Which was true, he would have already called me aside for a lecture regarding anything a boy asked that he suspected was even remotely related to me.
Well, there was no way he would know, besides, unless someone like Messire Grunt told him...
I shook my head to clear away those thoughts, focusing on Remy once more.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 26, 2011 22:44:20 GMT -5
I laughed. "You say that like it's a bad thing," I said to her. "Especially for all that you hold him in such high regard."
I could feel the shared knowledge that she had been at my flagellation, and it was as if a large creature were sitting on the bench next to us. I knew it was time to broach the subject. I cleared my throat before speaking again.
"So... I visited the Temple of Kushiel a couple of weeks ago," I said, softer now that it was a more private subject. I had seen her face peek around the corner, and I knew she had seen me mother-naked. That didn't perturb me in the least; I simply wondered if she would admit it.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 26, 2011 23:26:01 GMT -5
"I know," I said, surprised at how calm I sounded. I turned to face him then, and the fury I had kept leashed until then came in a torrent of words.
"How could you, Remy!?" I exclaimed. "How could you do something so...so...STUPID!" I stood up and began to pace. "You didn't have to make a spectacle of yourself like that. You could have used one of the private rooms or...even gone to Naamah's temple. She looks after adept things, does she not?"
I paused mid-pace and turned to face him, hands on my hips. "You could have been hurt you...you...ADEPT!"
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 26, 2011 23:40:29 GMT -5
She sounded calm for a mere moment before she began berating me, and I simply watched her, my expression calm. I was used to these outbursts from my passionate acolyte, and so I had wondered how long it would be in coming.
Standing, I moved over to her and placed myself in front of where she was standing, getting very close and looking down at her. I could have kissed her if I wished, but instead I gazed intently into her eyes. "Adelaide, I did it as penance because I felt so miserably about the way you stormed out of Orchis House after I told you I wanted to kiss you." I glanced down at her lips before redirecting my gaze to her eyes once more. "I still do, and that will not change. The boys at the temple may not be attracted, but I am. And Naamah is not who you serve, it is Kushiel, and therefore is it Kushiel I asked forgiveness of since you were nowhere to be found. So, in short, I did it for you, you adorable acolyte."
The barest hint of a grin lifted the corners of my mouth and I stared down at her as if daring to challenge any of the words I'd said.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 27, 2011 0:12:39 GMT -5
I had to admit, it was hard to stay mad at him when faced with such an earnest speech, but I could try, gods, I could try.
"Well--I..." I glared at him. "You are...impossible!" So saying, I gently plucked the yellow narcissus from my hair and presented it to him. "But I suppose if Lord Kushiel forgives you, I should not hold it against you. I forgive you. You may have this flower as a...a..." I paused. What did they always say in the tales? "As a sign of my favour..." I giggled. "Or, so they always say in the tales, and then the brave knight makes a declaration of love to the lady, and pledges to serve her always..."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 27, 2011 0:21:58 GMT -5
I grinned down at her as she handed me the flower I'd tucked in her hair earlier. Ah, Adelaide....
"Well in that case," I said as I knelt on one knee and took her hand in my free hand, the other with the flower in it spreading out wide. "Adelaide, I declare my undying love to you and hereforth do so pledge to serve you always, your brave knight and willing champion!" I intoned grandly, gazing up at her with an adoring look on my face.
I couldn't resist. There was no way I could not have done it; the opportunity was so ripe for the picking it would have brought me to tears to pass it up. Hopefully she'd grin and not get prickly.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 27, 2011 0:34:10 GMT -5
I tried to be angry with him for such a brazen display, but instead I erupted into a fit of giggles.
"Rise, b-brave adept!" I exclaimed, chortling, supposing at that moment that such things seemed more romantic when inked on parchment. "But you are not a knight, Remy, knights require training, and vigils, and then someone strikes you on the cheek, and then you would be a knight, but only then." I considered this for a moment. "I suppose I shall have to be content with an adept for my esteemed champion, then." I grinned. "No one else at the temple has their own champion!"
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 27, 2011 11:15:03 GMT -5
I grinned and stood, once more looking down into her beautiful features. "Aye, my lady, and I am so relieved that you are content with this lowly adept! I am proud to be your champion, Peaches," I said as I touched my fingertip gently to her nose, my smile turning warm. "Will you be the talk of the temple with an adept as your champion?" I inquired, my voice more quiet now. I found a strange need to make her proud of me, because I was certainly proud to know her.
I thought back to my talk with Jules back in the halls of Orchis and how he's said to be patient, to bide my time, and to keep myself under control. I didn't think I'd touched Adelaide much at all, other than to tuck the flower in her hair, taking her hand during my proclamation for her, and when I'd touched her nose just then. Before, I'd have done all I could to touch her. Mayhap it was simply best to keep my distance for now though, considering the more I'd touched the more prickly and nervous she'd become. It certainly wasn't as if I wanted to touch her, and Naamah herself knew of my campaign to get a kiss from her, but it wasn't worth pushing her away and I would never commit the ultimate heresy. And so, as much as I wanted to, I refrained from touching her, instead clasping my hands behind my back loosely after I touched her nose and simply smiling down at her as I waited for her to respond.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 27, 2011 13:26:23 GMT -5
"I...wouldn't say that..." I replied. "I probably shouldn't talk about you like that at the temple, Papa might..." I looked up at him. "He might...not understand..." That was a generous depiction of his reaction.
I didn't think Papa would hurt Remy, but he could prevent us from meeting, and I did not want to lose another friend.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 27, 2011 13:55:15 GMT -5
I smiled and nodded. "I understand, Adelaide, and I remember that he's protective."
I tucked the flower she'd given me through the buttonhole of the open button of my shirt, it's fragrance wafting lightly up to tickle my senses. That way it would stay safer, and the way it lay against my blue shirt was quite complimentary.
"So, Peaches, what are you up to for today? Care to join me at a nearby coffee shop to get some tea and a sweet treat?" I asked as I offered my arm to her, using the other to point at the sign for the shop just across the square from where we were. There were tables sitting out in front of it under the shade of an awning so we could sit and enjoy the beautiful day.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 27, 2011 14:09:52 GMT -5
I glanced over at the shoppe. "Well, I suppose there's no harm in...sitting outside, although I'm not permitted much coin." I looked up at him, grinning. "Sometimes I wonder how we all manage to survive on such slim earnings. I suppose rich patrons pay for most everything. Is it like that for adepts, too?"
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 27, 2011 14:25:11 GMT -5
I smiled and took her hand to rest it on the crook of my elbow as we walked over to the little café across the square.
"I would hope you would at least allow me to buy you a cup of tea, Adelaide," I said, my voice low. "It is the least I can do considering my words caused you to run out of Orchis House as if you were being chased by the angel of death himself. As for patrons," I continued easily, "I have not had the chance to have enough assignations, with neither of mine being outside of my House yet, to be able to honestly say whether they would pay for most everything."
I shrugged and grinned down at her openly, not really caring about patrons or anything else at that very moment. I was simply content to have an afternoon to myself and be able to talk to Adelaide once more. I had missed her quite a bit.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 27, 2011 14:43:54 GMT -5
I scowled at him. "I don't need you to pay for anything, Remy, and the fault is mine as well, so.." I paused to sit in a chair at one of the tables. "No matter how well-known this shoppe is for its tea...and its honey-cakes..." I was not even going to comment on the subject of assignations. The thought of him being so nice to me and yet knowing that he would race into another's arms for enough coin was...disconcerting...to say the least.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 27, 2011 15:04:13 GMT -5
I frowned. "Adelaide, I don't recall asking; I simply said I'd hoped you would allow it. Whether you like it or not, this is on me. And stop that scowling, woman; you act like I've..." Waving my hand as I sat down with her, I struggled to come up with a suitable metaphor. "You act as if I've told you I... I don't know, just came from an assignation or something," I finished, shrugging as I came up with the thing I thought might frustrate or irritate her the most.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 27, 2011 15:18:58 GMT -5
I glared at him. "Well...you could have, it's what adepts do, isn't it? Royals run nations, priests make offerings, and adepts have assignations!" I turned away from him, gaze fastening on a young man who was likely waiting for a good time to approach us and discuss if we should like to order something. He would have to be a brave man indeed.
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 27, 2011 15:34:35 GMT -5
Without looking, I held up my hand with the money in it to the young man waiting to take our order. "Two cups of tea and two honey cakes, please, my good man" I said, and he came forward and took the money from my hand. I knew I was being rude, but Adelaide was, yet again, being unreasonable.
"Look Adelaide," I said softly. "I respect your opinion because it's yours, but it offends me that you think I'm some street whore that will invite anything into my bed that gives me a copper. I'm an adept, and I follow the precept of a goddess, just like you as an acolyte follow the precepts of a god. What I do is different than what you do, but that does not make it any less worthy. I do not feel for my patrons as I feel for you, Peaches. They have both been very sweet and nice, and I'm still friends with them both, but I don't miss them when they're not around. I don't think of them all the time. I don't buy them bonbons. I don't want to court them. You, on the other hand," I said as I took her hand in mine, "I do. So would you please stop acting like I offend you with every word out of my mouth? Please? You know that's not my intent."
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 27, 2011 16:25:14 GMT -5
Shamed, I glanced down at my feet. "I'm sorry, Remy." I said softly, feeling tears begin to well up. "I'm not supposed to judge anyone, and I...haven't been doing that with you." I slid off the chair so that I was kneeling before him. This was a position all acolytes were accustomed to, the pose of the supplicant.
"Please forgive me, Remy. Forgive me for judging you," I pleaded, looking up at him. "I'll try harder...not to pass judgement, that's Lord Kushiel's job."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 27, 2011 16:45:17 GMT -5
My eyes widened as she took to her knees before me. Now, any man who has a beautiful young thing on his knees before him usually has his thoughts go straight to private thoughts, but with the way the tears were welling in her beautiful eyes and the way she pleaded with me to forgive her, any thoughts of that nature were thousands of miles away from my mind. Now was neither the time nor the place for them, and so I took her face in my hands as I braced my elbows on my knees and gazed into her eyes as I spoke, my voice low and holding much affection.
"Adelaide, you never have to beg forgiveness from me. You know you will always automatically have it. If it makes you feel better right now, then yes, love. I certainly forgive you. Just...." I sighed and licked my lips as I struggled to find the right words. Aha. "Maybe, instead of worrying about how you think I might treat you like those boys at the temple do, watch me instead of comparing me and see that I know better than to treat any woman that way. You're special to me, Peaches. I'd never hurt you, you know."
I used my thumbs to brush the tears from her eyelashes where they clung like little drops of dew. On impulse, I kissed her closed lashes lightly before I let go of her face, not wanting to make her uncomfortable, especially with her knees on the hard flagstones.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 27, 2011 17:06:43 GMT -5
At that moment I could have cared less if the Head of Kushiel's Order himself was observing us; I scooted forward and rested my head in his lap, sobbing.
"I've been such a fool, Remy!" I exclaimed, sniffling loudly. "I'm as clumsy with my words as I am on my feet, and you've been so nice to me!" I felt tears begin to trickle down my cheeks and hastily wiped them away with the sleeve of my robe. "I'm sorry, our clothes will be all wet from my blubbering..."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 27, 2011 17:25:37 GMT -5
"Oh, Adelaide," I said softly, my heart aching for her as my fingers slid through her hair in an attempt to soothe. There was no need for her to feel so badly, and I felt horrible for making her cry so.
Without thinking, I took her face in my hands once more and I did what I'd been wanting to do since the day I'd seen her; I pressed my lips to hers, kissing her softly. Her lips were full and soft, and only kissed her for a moment before pulling back to look into her eyes once more.
"You're not a fool, Adelaide. You know all you ever have to do is tell me how you're feeling, and I'll always respect what you have to say."
I prayed that I would leave this table with my manhood intact after I kissed her; I hadn't forgotten what had happened the last time I'd brought up that subject. Please, Naamah, look kindly upon your humble servant....
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 27, 2011 17:38:02 GMT -5
It happened before I had a chance to process what was happening. One moment I was sobbing, and the next I was flabbergasted, the feel of his lips on mine lingering like a strong perfume.
Oh, so this was what it was like to be kissed...
I sat back on my knees, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks. "Remy, w-what...what was that?" I stammered, feeling like an even bigger fool. "I mean, of course I know what that is, but...but it was so...sudden..."
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 27, 2011 17:51:33 GMT -5
Okay, so far, so good....
I smiled at her and, instead of apologizing, considering I'd done nothing wrong, I leaned forward a bit. Not enough to intimidate her, of course, simply to be a bit closer should she decide she may want to do it again. "But not bad," I pointed out. She didn't look as if she was in pain, or angry... yet. I could only pray that that didn't change.
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Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on Apr 27, 2011 20:04:36 GMT -5
I shook my head. "No, not bad, just...strange..." It suddenly crossed my mind that I probably looked ridiculous, kneeling like this on the cobblestones with a blush staining my cheeks.
I stood and brushed myself off, seating myself across from him. "This is so...sudden...and people...do it all the time, right?"
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Post by Rémy nó Orchis on Apr 27, 2011 20:10:57 GMT -5
I nodded at her question, watching as she settled herself in the chair across from me. "Yes, people do it quite often, and in many different ways. That was quite a simple kiss, all things considered," I informed her.
The servant came with our tea and honey cakes and I smiled easily up at him, thanking him very kindly and giving him a bit extra as a thanks for tolerating my slight temper earlier. His grin got a bit wider, and I felt good for having made someone's day a bit better.
Picking up my tea, I blew over the surface and took a sip as I waited for her to speak. I knew my adorable acolyte would have something to say in response to my words. All I had to do was wait.
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