[center] [h1][color=D2691E]Farim &[/color] [color=E77298]Anastasia[/color][/h1] [color=D2691E][b]Location:[/b] Outside Alidasht Guest House[/color] [color=D2691E][b]Time:[/b] 7pm[/color] [color=D2691E][b]Mentions:[/b] [color=E77298]Anastasia[/color] [@princess] and [color=9AF781]Leo[/color] [@Helo][/color] [/center] [color=D2691E][center]__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/center][/color] [center] Farim wandered back towards the guest house, almost lost in thought over the proceedings of the night. His confrontation with Mayet, then the Sultan’s summons, Charlotte investigating the party from the other night. A lot seemed to be happening all at once that his mental energy simply seemed to be at an all time low. He let out a long sigh as he pulled his gaze from the stone road to the sight of Anastasia and another gentleman he believed to be called Lord Leo. But it seemed he caught the end of their conversation, being just out of earshot as he saw the man begin to head inside. He felt his lips curl into an almost involuntary smile while his attention moved to Anastasia. His walking pace sped up to a brisk stride before he stood behind her, not trying to be loud but not necessarily being super quiet either. [color=D2691E]”Well well well if it isn’t the star of my day. You certainly have a way of brightening up a rather sour evening, Princess. Have time in your busy day to talk to a friendly foreign noble?”[/color] He would chuckle and place his hands across his chest in a casual stance. [color=D2691E]”If so, perhaps you would like to share how the rest of your day went after our fateful little meeting?”[/color] Anastasia’s eyes, a shade of amber, lit up with excitement as she twirled around to face her new friend. [color=E77298] “Farim!”[/color] She closed the distance and enveloped him in a brief hug. [color=E77298] “I was so hoping we’d get to talk. My day was okay after that I guess… I went home and got some sleep after what happened.”[/color] The air in his lungs escaped as her arms wrapped around. He let out an audible [color=D2691E]”Oof!”[/color] but quickly returned the hug. [color=D2691E]”I am glad we can be seeing each other again so soon! Thara must’ve been good company if you were giving her treats. She did not make a mess did she?”[/color] [color=E77298] “Yes! She was such a good girl. We’re totally best buds now.”[/color] She replied excitedly. He smiled happily as he continued to hold the hug between them. [color=D2691E]”Yes I rather do love that bird. I’m glad she had been good company. I must say, you certainly missed quite a lot before your grand entrance.”[/color] He leaned back to look into her eyes with a bit of a bashful expression. [color=D2691E]”I may or may not have made one of my cousins mad enough to never want to speak to me again…”[/color] [color=E77298] “Really?”[/color] She looked up and frowned, [color=E77298] “What happened?”[/color] He wanted to choose his next words carefully. Slander would get him nowhere and exaggeration would only make things worse. [color=D2691E]”There was a disagreement at the table to say the least. My cousin was saying things I simply did not agree with so I stood up and said my piece. It resulted in a very unhappy Mayet storming out of the room and renouncing all ties with me.”[/color] He would sigh and shrug. [color=D2691E]”Seems like I still have much to learn in the ways of the diplomat.”[/color] A look of disbelief flickered across Anastasia's face, her voice laced with shock, [color=E77298] “Oh gosh… How could she do that over one disagreement? … Ah nevermind, I guess we know I kinda know how you feel today...”[/color] Anastasia took a moment to gather her thoughts, allowing empathy to guide her response. As she looked up at him, her gaze filled with genuine kindness, she offered words of reassurance. [color=E77298] “ I am sure you did a great job. Sometimes people just have miscommunications. You seem nice and well-spoken to me.”[/color] Farim would smile and return the kind gaze that her eyes gave him. [color=D2691E]”Thank you. You are just as talented. The room was rather dull until you came in. As I’m sure you can guess the argument happened shortly before your arrival. But it’s good you’re here. Now I can say my day ended on a high note seeing you again.”[/color] He grinned and winked briefly at her as his body and mind began to settle. It really had been a taxing night yet somehow this woman he never met before just seemed to calm and settle his nerves without lifting a finger. [color=E77298] “Yeah everyone seemed super tired and weird. “[/color] Anastasia admitted. His next comment did manage to pull a smile out of her and she gave him a wink back. [color=E77298] “I wanna say that too buuuut my day’s not over yet. Talking to you would be a fantastic way to end my day though.”[/color] She audibly groaned as her arms slipped off him, reminded of her next task. She threw her head back and glared at the sky as if it were the source of her problems, telling him, [color=E77298] “After I’m done here, I gotta go talk to mister party-host and ask him what the heck happened. “[/color] Farim’s hands moved onto his hips as she pulled away, he secretly wished they could just sit there hugging warmly to fight against the slight evening chill. But he settled for this moment and felt his face tighten slightly at the mention of this party host. [color=D2691E]”Well truthfully I do need to see my Uncle and Hafiz within the hour. Likely about this dinner. As for the party host….if they’re bold enough to pull the stunts they did before they may try to do other things. Will you be okay going alone?”[/color] He had a gut feeling about such a thing. Late night meetings with morally gray people hardly ever go well. [color=E77298] “Oh geez. Good luck with that… As for me, I [i]hope[/i] so. Wulfric and Leo seemed worried about my safety and now you do too now. “[/color] A small amount of fear crossed her expression as she spoke, [color=E77298] “ I thought I’d feel fine going to see him but now I’m getting a little nervous since everyone else seems so spooked.. My brother’s making me bring guards so I don’t know if the guy will even let me talk to him honestly.”[/color] Anastasia then straightened her neck to look at him and smile, [color=E77298] “But I promised Callum. I wanna prove to him that I care and I’m trying.”[/color] [color=D2691E][i]So he hosts secret parties, potentially uses drugs on whoever attends unwillingly, won’t meet if guards are involved. Yeah this guy is bad news. But Anastasia says he is a friend, perhaps he is misunderstood? Either way. Caution is best.[/i][/color] His thoughtful gaze would likely seem to look almost through her for a moment before he blinked himself back to reality. [color=D2691E]”I don’t mean to alarm you. I just would like to help. Do you want a less conventional guard? I can always have Thara fly around again.”[/color] His tone was more calm, and suggested a more agreeable mood rather than one that outright disagreed with her questionable nightime excursion. Her expression had mildly lit up for a brief moment. [color=E77298] “Oh, no that’s okay. I don’t want Thara to get lost or hurt. I’ll be fine... What’s the worst that could happen?”[/color] She shrugged and gave him an even bigger smile, her tone lighthearted as she assured him [color=E77298] “ I’ll just wear one of my cloaks so no one notices that I’m a cute princess wandering the streets in the dark of the night.”[/color] Her smile was quite infectious, prompting him to grin slightly at the sneaky adventures of Annie. [color=D2691E]”Oh you are certainly a fun person, princess. But if you find yourself in trouble my door is always open.”[/color] He gestured towards the guest house and with a bit of a chuckle he spoke again. [color=D2691E]”I will be wanting to know if you are safe so, would you perhaps like toooo meet again tomorrow?”[/color] His voice teetered for a moment as a small bump of shyness hit his throat. He quickly staved it off and resumed his friendly expression. [color=E77298] “Of course!”[/color] Anastasia answered immediately and joyfully. He clapped his hands together with a quick sharp breath annunciating his excitement. [color=D2691E]”Amazing! Where and when would you like go?”[/color] Her eyes brightened and she closed the distance between them to take his hands, [color=E77298] “ Let’s go do whatever’s fun tomorrow night! I’ll come to your room tomorrow and we can look at the newspaper together!”[/color] She exclaimed excitedly. [color=D2691E]”It’s a date then!”[/color] He slyly stated. He may be acting a bit bold but he also wanted to see how she’d react to stating such a thing. [color=D2691E]”I’ll make sure to be on the lookout for you then.”[/color] He glanced up for a moment at the moon rising in the night sky. He let out a slow breath before returning his eyes to look into hers. [color=D2691E]”I think it might be time for us to end our fateful meeting, sadly.”[/color] He didn’t necessarily want to rush her, but keeping the Sultan waiting would be bad news. Surprise had filled Anastasia’s eyes. She had then felt a mixture of happiness and fear at the same time. After a slight hesitation, she smiled at him, [color=E77298] “...Yeah! Let’s do it!”[/color] She responded happily. Anastasia held her hands together then nodded, [color=E77298] “Sure. I’ll see you tomorrow then, Farim. Stay safe!”[/color] Farim noticed the slight pause, but her joyful smile simply wiped away his suspicions. As she went to say goodbye however, he reached out and gently held her hand, taking a few steps forward and giving her a strong yet caring embrace. [color=D2691E]”The one who should be staying safe tonight is you, dear Annie. I will see you tomorrow. But until then, may the Sun Gods light your way.”[/color] He would hold the hug as long as she’d want before letting her run off to wherever she needed to be. He couldn’t help but worry, but he silently prayed to the Sun Gods to watch over her. [/center]