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 Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:56 am
"Ah or jewelry is for one that is held in regard from afar." Kasai winks slightly, "and you wish to shower with adoration." Kissing Fauve's hand again he stands slowly, "but at your request lovely one, I will only shower you with flowers." He looks over to her out of the corner of his eyes, a soft warmth filling him that he knew had to do with her presence. He had not had this much fun in sometime, though his high mood he reasoned was because he had not had to return to the estate either...though recently he had been able to speak civilly with his brother. Pushing thoughts that were not as pleasant as the lady on his arm out of his head, Kasai continued onward.
Kasai smiled slightly as she meantioned the Feté, looking over to her with his dark garnet eyes he speaks softly, "oh no, once when I was very young I attended court functions. I am of house Balrathi...times however have needed me to be away. But I have been away so long I haven't gotten an invitation to such." Kasai was sure to meantion his house name, she should recognize it as being of noble origin, he inwardly cringed. He hoped she didn't know of his father's indescreations and of their current status. Plus his explanation was much better he supposed then just saying, oh no..I'm noble just poor with my father's debts hanging over my head. Kasai gives Fauve another smile looking over, "but even if I were not noble enough for such a place as the palace...I would still adore one such as you from afar."
The lines were stolen, and most of them he didn't mean...but quoting them and flattering Fauve was easier then considering the past.
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Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 7:36 am
She was relieved that Kasai wasn't going to push the gift issue. Honestly she would have felt like she were taking advantage of him. She had to keep reminding herself they had just met. There was just something about him that made her think they had known each other a lot longer. She offered him a very genuine smile, one that made her face light up. It wasn't reserved, or demure, it was toothy and happy. "Thank you for not pushing the issue. I honestly would feel so guilty about it I doubt I would be able to wear it no matter how beautiful it might be." She patted his arm gently.
Fauve had to admit to herself that the family name he said didn't mean a thing to her. Maybe if she paid more attention to things like politics, she would have. Instead of making a stupid comment, she just nodded to him slowly. "I see, I am honestly sorry I brought it up. It was uncouth of me to do so."
She pulled up in front of a jeweler's and leaned over to look at the confections behind the glass. Using this as a perfect chance to change the subject she glanced up, "What do you think, Aqua Marine? or Sapphires?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 8:09 am
Kasai smiles slightly watching her lean over the case, truthfully nothing in that case did her justice. With the odd random thought added in he shook his head, "hmmm, do you have a swatch of fabric from the dress? You have such lovely eyes I would say sapphires but something more muted like the aquamarine might be better so that your eyes and the dress are what people notice more then the jewelry." Kasai taps the case showing Fauve a couple pieces of jewelry as he details the pluses of using each type.
Shifting uncomfortably as he stands he makes his mind go back to his more wide spread goals. "As for my family, my brother is an officer in the military right now, I myself wasn't cut out for such things." He offers her a rather roguish playful grin, "not the discplined sort. But the Feté does sound interesting. If I had a way to go I would love to see you once your outfit is finished. I have a feeling you will be extremely lucky and there will be much envy all around from the other females." Resting back he gives her a slight wink with the last comment.
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Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:32 am
Fauve eyed the jewelry and she leaned over the counter, leaning on it as she haggled with the proprietor. She wasn't bad at it either, not overpaying a single solitary cent as she takes the box with a pair of earrings, a necklace and an anklet in it. The necklace was a beautiful combination of crystals and aquamarine. It was definitely a unique piece, with matching earrings. The anklet was just a plain silver chain with some bells attached to it. She really got it because she wanted to try wearing it during her juggling routines with Ashy.
"My parents died saving my life." She says it quietly, but simply. It was obviously something she was either very upset about, or had come to peace with. Her eyes didn't really betray which it was however as she turned to look at him. "My sister, Ashirha, and I live in the palace now with the Kings daughters, Io and Zahar. Honestly though I don't know why you would want to attend, it's so very boring. You dance until your feet hurt, pretend you don't eat even though your ravenous, and giggle at stupid jokes all night long."
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Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:48 am
Kasai was familiar with some with Fauve's story but hearing her relate her parents demise gave him a brief pang in his heart. Blinking slightly he looked over what she had purchased; she was very good he realized and the set was very nice she would look lovely in it. He hoped he wouldn't overextend himself but he couldn't resist reaching forward and brushing her cheek, "you'll have to tell me of these things sometime." Taking her arm he turns back toward the palace, "As for the Feté, it's all in the entertainment and your companions." Kasai grins slightly looking over to Fauve.
Winking slightly Kasai reaches up and takes an apple blossom from the tree they are passing under, "as I promised I would shower you in flowers dear one. And the Feté even if I do not get to attend, I wish to see you as you would be dressed for it. If you would grant me such a humble request. Though I can't promise I won't be speechless under your beauty." Kasai stops in front of the steps where he had first met Fauve, "And here m'lady I leave you. If you would be so kind I would request you let me offer you a lunch in the public gardens near the palace tomorrow. I happen to know a lovely place that makes the best picnics."
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:57 pm
Fauve took the apple blossom, and the barest ghost of a smile crossed her features. The look that she had seen in the mirror of the dress store was completely gone, wiped away by her eagerness for companionship and skilled small talk. "I suppose I just don't have many companions that are overly interesting. Mostly just the princesses and my sister." She glanced up at Kasai in time to see him grin slightly and her heart skipped a beat. In her mind he had gone from rakish to dashing in a matter of two to three hours.
"Perhaps you will see me, and perhaps you won't. It is very inappropriate for a man to be in a womans chambers, and I doubt I would be wearing it outside before that night." She gives him a sly smile, "I would however be very happy to meet you for lunch. I will see you around midday tomorrow." She backed up the bottom two steps and watched him for a moment.
She wasn't sure she was doing the right thing, but always playing it safe seemed like such a boring way to live.
She turned on her heel and walked back up the steps toward the Palace. Today had been much more interesting then she thought it would be.
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:14 am
========================================
The Day of the Picnic
========================================
Kasai pauses near the stairs, giving himself a critical once over he adjusts his loose fitting shirt. Kasai glances over to the basket in his hand, the thick wicker basket was ladened down with various food stuffs and a small bundle of flowers set on top of it. Kasai moves and leans against the wall to finish his wait, tapping the toe of his black boots over the cobbles as he does.
It had only been a day but he found that thoughts of Fauve were becoming somewhat distracting to him. Frowning over the development Kasai continued to lean back; he had a job here and frankly he knew he could be useful even if it took him a bit of sneaking to let the king hear and realize it. Fauve was a distraction and not being use to deeper emotions pushed away more involved thoughts of her, laying the distractions to rest as he could.
Shifting a little uneasily he takes a moment to peek up the stairs. Kasai didn't like having to sit alone with his thoughts too long...because they tended to start to disturb him.
Keep your eye on the game, my boy. Think of yourself and no one else, that's how you come out on top. The voice of his dead father echoed in his mind. His father was dead now, but his teachings stuck with. And one thing of Madrigal Balrathi, if he taught his sons anything was that lesson by example. Kasai had hated his father underneath it all, hated him like one can only hate someone they love...and like it or not Kasai was following in his father's steps.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 9:25 am
Fauve had fidgeted all morning long, the tutoring lessons seems to stretch on into forever. Every time the blond could she would stare out the window, and think about the man she'd met yesterday. She had no idea why, but she couldn't wait to sneak out of the castle at lunch to go see him. The red hair, and searing crimson eyes danced through her daydreams all morning long.
When she could finally bolt out, and not get caught she slipped away and practically ran to meet him. Ashy would need an explanation soon if this sort of thing kept up, and secretly she hoped it would. Her sister would notice before anyone else that she was disappearing for hours on end, and when Ashy wanted to know something, she was really persistent.
She paused at the landing of the stairs to get some of the breath back. She didn't want to rush down the stairs out of breath, she wanted to be more refined then that. She slid down the stairs gracefully, and smiled up at Kasai. Her hair wasn't done up like it had been, and in fact because of her pell nell escape it was falling out of the simple clip it had been held back in. Tendrils of the honey colored hair fell around her face. Her cheeks were rosy and she had a very happy smile curve her lips. She was dressed in a pale green sleeveless sun dress, with a pale blue and yellow floral pattern. The bottom two buttons on the skirt had come undone in her sprint, and it created a sort of slit almost up to mid thigh that she hadn't noticed yet. Her chest was still heaving slightly, despite the fact she was no longer huffing and puffing. "Am I late?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:01 am
Kasai watched Fauve as she came down the stairs a small smile playing over his face as he did. She was really quite lovely even with her hair falling about her face. Tilting his head slightly he smiles rather genuinely as she comes down the steps; a rather graphic image of tangling his hand in those lovely honey curls came to mind. Kasai shifted and pushed it back, perhaps later he could indulge in such but for the time being he had other acts to play.
"Late? Oh no, you are not but in my own eagerness perhaps I am early." Kasai smiles rakishly and moves close to where Fauve stands, he lets the intimacy of the closeness last only a moment before turning and offering his arm. "And even if you were, Loveliest Fauve I would have waited for late hours into the night with just the hope that you would appear to grace me with your beauty." Kasai picked up the basket with his free arm and held it up for Fauve, "a humble gift for you..." the small grouping of springtime flowers laid within sight making a pretty picture of whites and yellows with a few dashes of red.
While he waits for Fauve to accept the gift his eyes go to the few small buttons that have freed themselves and then upward taking in the view of her again from up close. He speaks softly, "your very lovely, with you hair tumbling down and your sun dress clinging like it should be the finery of a queen." Realizing that it was probably pretty obvious that he was enjoying her appearance, Kasai looked up to meet Fauve's eyes, flushing slightly from either embarrassment or more base desires he somehow appears sheepish over the oogling. "Forgive me..."
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:48 am
She was relieved she wasn't late, and she heaved a small sigh of relief. actually now that she knew she had been pretty much on time, the blond girl felt a little silly about her sprint out of the palace. Fauve took stock in her appearance and she felt a little embarrassed, but this was more her then the perfectly manicured girl that had waltzed out of the palace the day before. The rakish smile he offered her made her wand to reach out and touch her lips. 'No...' she scolded herself. Fauve had promised herself last night before she had fallen asleep that she wasn't going to behave like this. It wasn't proper to fling yourself at someone you had known a single day.
At the mention of the flowers she reached out a hand and she gingerly took them from him, holding them to her chest. The rose she had received the day before was hanging upside down from her mirror, so it could dry perfectly into the picture of loveliness it was today. Ashy had been curious why she had bought herself a flower, and Fauve had let her believe she'd bought it for herself. She wasn't ready to share Kasai with anyone yet, but her sister would want explanations soon.
She didn't realize at first that he had taken the chance to stare at her during the moments she had accepted the flowers. It was the look in his eyes. She couldn't help reaching a hand out and touching the side of his face. "It's, well..." she paused and shook her head, "I hope these flowers are more well behaved then the rose yesterday."
Fauve just changed the subject, because she didn't want to admit that she'd liked being looked at like that. Most people in the castle still looked at her like she was a little girl, but that look had not been one that you give a child. She raised her bandaged index finger and wiggled it at him with a bit of a smile, trying to distract them both.
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:10 am
Feeling her fingertips on his cheek, Kasai moves slightly so he rests his cheek against her hand. He did feel somewhat like a school boy realizing that his heart had sped in beat but he retained some control, mostly enough not to do something embarrassing. Kasai gave himself a small mental note to be sure to find some other reliefs for this...before he ended upsetting Fauve. She blushed and squirmed; he takes a moment to think about her squirming, well enough but she definantly would be a bit apprehensive over his thoughts after only their short meetings.
Looking over to her finger Kasai smiles the lust receeding leaving his eyes with a more open amused expression. "I was sure today to only get the best behaved flowers." His eyes go to her finger, tilting his head Kasai kisses the bandage very lightly, "ones less prone to jealousy, though with you...that was very hard to accomplish." He winks to Fauve, "for such beauty creates it without falter." Kasai looks over the garden and smiles breathing in the scents of the flowers, "the perfumes of this place and lovely company...there is not more one could wish for."
"Along the back wall there is a lovely natural bower, some pink bell looking flowers of some sort all over the place." Kasai looks over at Fauve out of the corner of his eye as they walk, "I thought if you would like we could sit there. You will be the loveliest among the flowers and...it's private."
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:23 am
Fauve walked with him, and she had a feeling she was going to need to do some explaining when she got back to the Palace. She had no intentions of rushing this meeting, which she would have had to have done to get back on time for some of her afternoon lessons. A part of her mind murmured that she was going to have to be less reckless when meeting with Kasai, or people would piece it together.
He'd kissed her finger. Yes alright she had tried not to think about it overly much, but it had been a little unexpected. Something about him made her so damned confused. One second he was looking at her in ways that made her flush and weak in the knees, and the next he was being a complete and utter gentleman.
The wild side of her liked him better when he had that passion burning behind the crimson eyes.
That was the part of her that Fauve was trying desperately to quash.
"I... when you flatter me I just don't know what to say." She shook her head, the tendrils of blond hair twisting in the wind. "However it sounds absolutely beautiful. I'm surprised you seem to know your way around here pretty well. Do you come here often?"
She had to try and change the subject, talking about herself made her feel a little uncomfortable. Especially when she wasn't sure she believed anything he said.
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:18 am
As Fauve spoke of the gardens long dead memories surfaced to Kasai's mind. He actually paused becoming very still his crimson eyes swirling with sadness...it was only a moment but he remembered the times his mother would bring him here. He could almost hear her laughter as she played with him and his brother, caring and loving her two boys. "I have been here a few times recently, when I was very young however I came here more often." He blinked slightly trying to surpress exposure to the pain that erupted from that slight decade old thought.
Seeing the spot he had meantioned before Kasai pilfered one of the pink flowers to set in Fauve's hair, "as for the flattering you need say nothing...for I find myself speechless often in your presence. And I would be content to sit in silence as long as I had sight of you."
Feeling a little off center from the flash of past memory Kasai went about distracting himself from it by setting out the lunch. Pulling a blanket from the top of the basket Kasai let it settle on the grass. From Fauve's reactions he knew she was enjoying herself; Kasai was sure he could heighten that considerably but was also attempting to not over extend...or get caught in his own game. He planned to get into the palace, not get arrested for sullying the King's adopted daughter; he wasn't sure if that was even a possibility but no matter how willing the girl sometimes such things got out of control.
He then started laying out the food from the basket, the girl from the shop that had made up the sandwiches he knew was wonderful at such things. Hopefully they would not disappoint. Pausing a moment he looks to Fauve and waits for her to settle onto the blanket, "after you m'lady."
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 9:30 am
She almost didn't notice the pause, but the falter in his step made her glance up at his face. The lines of his face, the look in his eyes, they both told her that he was somewhere else, seeing something else. She reached up and brushed stands of her hair out of her face, watching him fight with his emotions.
That look, is probably what made her realize that she was falling for him. It was such an honest expression that she couldn't help wanting to hold him and soothe the pain away. Fauve was about to reach her hand up to touch the side of his face when he blinked everything away and spoke to her.
Ah.... So he'd been here when he was a child. He hadn't mentioned much about his parents yesterday, but something about the look that had haunted his eyes told her that she should leave well enough alone. Instead of pushing him for information she gave his arm a reassuring smile, "It sounds like it must have been a very pleasant experience for you back then." Her voice was probably overly gentle, but she couldn't help but show some of the compassion she was feeling right now.
They found the little grotto he had mentioned before, and Fauve had to admit that it seemed the perfect private place. She released his arm and took a step away from him, allowing him the space he would need to set up their lunches.
When he turned to her and put the flower in her hair, she saw that the mask was back. For the first time she knew for sure thats what it was, a mask to hide the pain that he carried inside of himself. Fauve had one too, it was in the perfect beauty she presented to the world. If they saw her beauty, they wouldn't want to look deeper. They wouldn't see the scared little girl screaming for her mommy and daddy.
A hand moved up to press the stem of the flower into her hair more securely, her fingers trembling slightly from her own trip into her inner recesses. A place she tried not to think of often.
Fauve settled on the blanket after it was laid out for her, and arranged her skirt so that she was decent. The slit in her skirt actually showed a little more thigh then she was comfortable with, but honestly that was the last thing on her mind at the moment. Trying to drag herself back into the present, and out of her musings she tilted her golden head and offered him a small smile, "What did you bring for us?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:56 am
Kasai watched Fauve as she settled onto the blanket, a soft smile at her movements came to his lips breaking away from his more controlled expressions. At this point Kasai didn't realize that the woman he had met the other day on the way to the market and only known for a short time was already pulling at parts of his emotions he usually was not familiar with; not being familiar...he happily blamed it on lust. Catching a glance along Fauve's thigh, Kasai felt the familar feel of what was definantly lust concentrating on that for a moment he settles down on the blanket across from her.
"Hmmm...well only the best for one such as you." Leaning over, he pulls out a cloth napkin and offers it to Fauve with a flourish, "Sandwiches made with seasoned roast from The Black Swan." The Black Swan was one of the more expensive inns in the city and was known for it's delicacies. "I was also able to secure some of the daily soup in some ceramic containers so it will still be hot."
Kasai carefully starts taking out the containers as he speaks. "A bottle of rose wine," turns the bottle over in his hands looking at the label and gives Fauve a wink, "quite a good year as well." Then last he took out a large covered container, "and a bit of what I'm told is the cook's specialty. A type of chocolate cake, though I have a feeling the sweets won't be nearly as sweet as you are." Along with the actual dishes he lays out a small platter of finger foods such as baby carrots and other cold vegtables that can be eaten with ones fingers and that doesn't make a mess.
Kasai looked over the food and nodded slightly, it looked good. He just hoped Fauve agreed...the same part of him that wouldn't agree that he felt more then lust was also pushing back as he looked to her. He told himself he wished she enjoyed the meal so he would be that much closer to his goal - but he couldn't admit that he also wished to linger with her over the food.
The mask he showed to others was also one in his mind and he could hear his father's voice and the cry of the wyvern from so long ago. No time for weakness or feelings; if you don't take what should be yours...they'll take it from you. He'd seen the other nobles at their games and learned long ago it would be true. Even now as he watched Fauve he wondered how much of her was actually real - and how much was part of the game. Even if he was a fallen noble he was still noble, he justified her interest in him at that moment...like everyone in the courts she was looking for a title, or so he told himself.
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