Watching the Crowd Go By

[Manon nó Courcel]

In the days that had passed since my last assignation, I began to feel that perhaps I had made too much of the scar on my back. I had been so worried about being "flawless" and yet there had been no repercussions so far. Still, I knew that it would only take Trinette's word that I was "disfigured" and I would have to find some other way to make my marque, or be indentured to Valerian House forever.

I'd taken my patron gift and bought a new dress, one of white silk and matching sandals. I wanted to go out in it, so that afternoon I dressed carefully and arranged my dark hair so that it was pulled back from my face but still falling down my back to keep the top part of my scar covered.

I walked through Night's Doorstep to Elua's Square, where I bought a small fruit pie from a stand and went to sit on the edge of the fountain. The day was sunny and beautiful, and people of all ranks and walks of life drifted by, some quickly, as if on their way to some important business, and some more slowly, enjoying the day as I was. I had never realized it before, but I found that I rather enjoyed watching the people go by, and wondering about their lives.

[Prince Delaunay de la Courcel]

The days were passing quickly since it had been announced we were going to war, so I spent what little time I had to free time and enjoying my children. The twins had just gone down for a nap so I wandered out into the city proper and after awhile ended up in Elua's Square.

While I walked I found my eye caught sight of a familiar face and went over with a happy grin.
"Copper for your thoughts?' I asked softly as I came upon her.

[Manon nó Courcel]

I was just imagining that one of the women passing by was secretly a princess of some far off nation (although her features were quintessentially D'angeline), when I heard a voice behind me. A very familiar voice, and as every time I had heart it, my heart began to beat erratically.

"Just a copper?" I asked, turning around and feeling my stomach flip-flop at the sight of him. Gods, was it possible that he was more handsome than before? I tried to remind myself of all the heartache that had came along with my foolish girlhood crush, but all I could do was smile at him, ever pleased to be in his presence.

[Prince Delaunay de la Courcel]

I laughed softly.
"How about a gold ducat then." I said as I bowed to her, taking her hand and giving it a kiss as I did.
"You look as beautiful as ever Manon." I added as I straightened. "How have you been?"

[Manon nó Courcel]

I laughed softly, though my mirth was interrupted by the way I shivered when his lips touched my hand.

"Oh, they are not worth all that much," I said, flushing at the compliment. How had I been? Miserable. Lonely. Hurt. Scared. "I've been well, and what of you?" Rumors of another break with Azabel swirled around the City, and I hoped he was holding up all right.

[Prince Delaunay de la Courcel]

I smiled but she looked a little sad and I had a feeling there was something unhappy that was plaguing her mind but I decided that if ther were true, in the middle of Elua's Square was not the place to ask.
"I've been well." I answered in a gentle voice. "Very well actually." I shrugged a little, Manon knew of my relationship with Azabel, she had been there with me when I was going through all my problems.

"I'm not sure if you heard but Azabel got back together." I smiled gently. "But then broke it off again." I chucked.
"We just decided that we loved each other very much but... it just wasn't to be. We're just too different people." I reached out then, not completely knowing why, and ran my fingers through a lock of her hair. For a moment I just thought about my past experiences with her and enjoyed the memories.

"Tell me Manon," I said then as I stepped forward toward her and dropped my hand away.
"Do you have plans for the evening?"

[Manon nó Courcel]

"I'm sorry," I said, and it was odd, considering how I felt about him, but I meant it. I did want him to be happy, even though I had been mad with jealousy when I'd heard of their reconciliation. "Are you all right?" He'd been so hurt before, and I wondered what made this Azabel think it was acceptable to bounce him back and forth this way. For no matter what he said, in my mind it must be her fault. He reached out and touched my hair and my thoughts drifted back to our two assignations, the best I'd had, the only ones that held any meaning for me, and the only two that had gone toward my marque.

"Plans?" I asked, my mouth turning up into a smile. "No, not tonight..." I felt my cheeks heating up just a bit. Shouldn't I pretend to have a busy social life? I couldn't though, because I was too busy praying that he wanted to spend the evening with me. Please, Naamah, I miss him so much... Dante would have told me the smart thing to do would be to walk away, but I couldn't do that. Any time with Delauney was better than none, and I would cherish every moment even if it was our last.

[Prince Delaunay de la Courcel]

"Good." I said softly as my hand then reached for her face and cupped her cheek gently, ignoring her question about if I were alright or not.
"Should we go to Valerian House then?" I asked, stepping forward and letting my hand slide down to her her hand in mine.

"I want to take you home with me so we should get a contract signed up." I grinned and without letting her answer I turned and walked us in the direction of Mont Nuit.

[Manon nó Courcel]

The touch of his hand on my face made my heart beat faster, because it carried with it all that I knew he was capable of, pleasure and pain perfectly entwined.

I squeezed his hand and fell into step with him, torn between desire and fear, because I wanted him but there was the matter of my scar... I couldn't be too worried, though, because I couldn't imagine him going to the Dowayne about it. Even if he did, it would be worth it, to be with him again.

"It's wonderful to see you again," I said, looking up at him with a smile. I felt like I must be dreaming, that a simple walk in the square could have yielded a dream come true like this.

[Prince Delaunay de la Courcel]

As we walked away from the square I held her hand tight in mine and smiled at people we passed by, not caring if people said anything about that fact.
"It's wonderful to see you too." I said gently as I looked to her. "I meant to send you a missive, but I'm afraid I've been self centered as usual." I shrugged a little but continued to smile.
"I'm sorry for that. I've been a cad, will you forgive me?"

[Manon nó Courcel]

"Of course, there's nothing to forgive," I said, and of course I had already forgiven him, my heart leaping that he had even thought of me since our time together. He was under no obligation to think of me at all, I was merely an adept that he had passed time with once or twice. I knew better than to ever let myself think it was more than that, but it was harder not to let myself hope for it.

"I'm sure you've had a lot on your mind, you are a Prince, after all." I squeezed his hand again and tried to keep from skipping. Mont Nuit seemed a thousand miles away, and all I wanted was to sign on the dotted line and be alone with him again.

[Prince Delaunay de la Courcel]

I looked to her and smiled fondly.
"You're very kind." I said gently to her, anticipation growing at the desire to take her home to be in private with her. We began to near the Night Court and slowly but surely made our way to Valerian House.

"I did miss you," I added softly, stopping us for a moment before I leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
"I miss your company."

[Manon nó Courcel]

"You did?" I asked, smiling widely and feeling oddly light and filled with happiness. I realized that all the time I had been sad, I had been seeing this all wrong. I just had to live in these moments, and who cared about the rest?

"I missed you too," I said, and then made a hurried confession, "I worried about you." I felt my cheeks heat a bit at the audacity of it all: a simple adept worrying about a Prince, it was patently absurd. But I had seen something in him, pain and something darker, something he struggled with, and I was not afraid.

[Prince Delaunay de la Courcel]

I knit my brows gently and looked to Manon with something a mix between surprise and concern.
"You were worried about me?" I asked gently as I looked to her and a smile grew on across my lips. I leaned again and kissed her lips this time before pulling back.

"Come on, lets go sign that contract shall we." I took her hand in mine and turned us heading back toward Valerian.