Remram

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Magnus Pawonska

Location: Grand Ballroom
Attire: Attire: Starry Night Attire
Interactions: @Redking0380Fareed

---

What a stern looking fellow he was, but then again, he was one to talk.

Magnus chuckled though this was out of relenting that this very grumpy looking man had a point. He stood there with his arms folded as he looked at Nora and potential suitor. "Maybe you're right." A smile crept along his lips with his admission. "Maybe I should be watching with a discerning eye and be selective of her potential suitors, but I also want to trust that she can make the best choice for herself. I can only do so much to protect her until I become a hindrance."

All he wanted to do was to shield her; her life was a precious thing, but he knew that he had to let her go and live it.

"She knows that I am always in her corner. I can advise and have my opinions, but at the end of the day she is a woman, not a girl, and I will respect her autonomy." He glanced up at the man before focusing his gaze back on his sister.

"But full transparency, I will step in if it looks your man makes her uncomfortable. I still have some responsibility as her brother," Magnus stated without removing his gaze from Nora and the man before her.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Askel Camila

Location: Grand Ballroom
Attire: Starry Night Attire
Interactions: @CitrusArms Stratya

---

Askel had looked up from his glass of wine to see Stratya come his way. With a wave of a friendly hand, he greeted her though her mind was elsewhere. She wandered next to him and grabbed the first glass of wine she saw before she stopped herself short of just breathing it in. When she had finally noticed him the knight captain had looked so vulnerable and small, as if her heart was continuously breaking her pieces.

All he wanted to do was to hug her and tell her that everything would be okay, that she could grieve, but he couldn't, not here. Not in the presence of King Edin and with the wagging tongues and peering eyes. All Askel could do was to give her a compassionate smile. "Nothing that I haven't steeled myself for."

His eyes, however, told a different story. They told her to get a grip. Askel knew that battles were not only fought in open fields or mountainous ranges, but in balls and galas where any social misstep could cost her life. Right now, Stratya was standing on a knife's edge and whatever grief that she felt now had to be saved in the privacy of her own home. Tonight, she must be Knight Captain Durmand of Caesonia not just for her honor, but for her life.

"I must say, you look quite impressive. Why, I feel underdressed myself by comparison." Askel commented in hopes of steering her thoughts away from this morning. An apologetic smile crossed his freckled face. "I'd offer a dance, but I promised someone that I give them my first for the night. The best I can do is share my time and some food and drink."

His hand motioned to the tables of various delicacies from across the three kingdoms. "And lucky for you, I happen to be quite knowledgeable."

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Magnus Pawonska

Location: Grand Ballroom
Attire: Attire: Starry Night Attire
Interactions: @Redking0380 Fareed

---

So, this was what a king chosen by holy decree was like. If there was an argument for atheism, it was sitting upon a throne for no just and all-knowing beings would have picked a poor specimen such as King Edin. Magnus could barely fathom the kind of barbarism, the willingness for violence even against your own family, and then have it be applauded by the masses. How could his own family even be willing to breathe the same air as the man let alone sit next to him? The very thought of being in the presence of a man who murdered his wife, their own mother, would have made him sick with rage.

But this was business, as awful as it was to say. Witches get burnt at the stake if they're caught. It was a reminder to stay vigilant, especially with ever growing presence of Witch Hunters in Sorian. All he needed was to lay low and make sure that his siblings had some fun despite their situation, especially Nora. Of all the people that he hoped to gain something from this absurd venture, he hoped for her to make the most of their time in Caesonia. She deserved it.

Magnus had accepted a glass of some sort of sparkling rosé and hung back to watch the people dance. Try as he might, it was quite hard for him to blend into the background. He stood over people like a wall of muscle, imposing and yet elegant in his blue jacket with golden filigree stitched into it.

A bored sigh passed his lips. If he was going to be here, then at least he should sample some of the foreign foods. The spices of the Alidasht cuisine were quite enticing, a collection of various spices and foods that he was unfamiliar with and yet, wetted the appetite. What awaited him at the table, was, well, a giant. When was the last time had he needed to look up at anyone? The man certainly looked less than pleased for some reason.

Magnus followed his line of sight and saw that Nora was speaking to a man, an Alidasht delegate likely. With a polite clearing of his throat to get the man's attention. "Pardon me, I couldn't help, but to notice your... disapproval of that man over there speaking to my sister. Should I be concerned?"

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Nolan Edwards

Location: Grand Ballroom
Attire: Attire: Starry Night Attire
Interactions

---

This was a sham. That pompous troglodyte sat upon his thrown declaring that festivities had begun like they had not watched his wife burn at the fucking stake this morning for the crime of being a witch. Not a witch that had done wrong, not for cursing, killing, or manipulating the hearts of people, but for being a witch. There was no amount of gourmet food, no amount of fine wine, no amount of music and dancing that could gild what was a fetid apple rotten to its core and they were supposed to go one like nothing happened. The very notion of being in the same room with the fat fuck was nauseating, but here he was, among the vultures.

Nolan stood by Duke Gideon's side, holding a glass of champagne as his green eyes scanned the room for any familiar or friendly face. To say that he loathed these functions was an understatement. The peering eyes of his peers and his family's peers with judgmental stares, sniggering and whispering to each other with ill-intentioned, unfounded rumors though at this point he should be used to it. The stray that had been taken in by Duke Edwards, so often had he heard those words and so often had they been used to

He was too proud, too clever, just too much for what a stray should be.

So, he stood there with that patented aloof, cold expression while dressed handsomely in the suit that his mother, overbearing and perfectionist, thought perfect to represent the Edwards. Admittedly, it was a fine suit with many ornate elements and a green overcoat that was a particular shade of green he fancied, but he would rather be in his office with a cup of tea and a slice of cake than be in this room reading a book. It was a waste of time for him to be here.

He knew his reputation, so he doubted that he would find anyone that would be willing to put up with his neurosis once they got to know him. For now, he would just blend into the background and eat whatever food there was.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Askel Camila

Location: Grand Ballroom
Attire: Starry Night Attire
Interactions N/A

---

It had been a very long time since he had been announced like this. The wandering prince of Varian took his place among higher society, where fineries and trappings of decadence lined the halls. Watchful, curious eyes pierced into him as curious murmurs had not fallen deaf upon Attendants scurried about and music swelled to the movements of elegant movements of guests gliding across the dance floor dressed in their finest attires. It was business as usual, an eeriness that had not escaped his notice. The queen of a country had been burned at the stake and here they were gorging themselves and dancing the night away.

The dissonance had not escaped Askel. For lack of a better word, it was surreal how a beloved figure of a kingdom could so easily be betrayed and forgotten by so many of denizens that she ruled over, by her own husband. It was no wonder that his parents had wanted little to do with the kingdom, especially with a man like King Edin at its helm. All he wanted to do was to scoop his family and his beloved into his arms and take the first train out of this godforsaken kingdom, but alas that was not meant to be.

All he could do was to make the best of a terrible situation, but one would have never thought any the wiser if they were to look at him for Askel; he stood with a regal posture fitting that of a knight and a sociable, charming smile fitting of a prince. His attire of choice was a black suit, militaristic in nature that accentuated his powerful figure, with some gold ornamentations and a blue cloak that draped past his shoulders. The only thing that made him feel naked was the fact that he had to leave his sword at the door.

Held between his gloved hands was a glass of wine, his dark violet eyes scanned the room. While he could not deny the reservations he held, he could also not deny the light bubbliness that floated in his chest. It certainly was not from the wine.

Sleep had evaded him the night prior, boyish excitement with thoughts of a beautiful woman that he hoped to see again had ruled his mind. Never before had his heart had raced before and he could only wait until he sees her again so that they could once again dance like they did before.

So, he waited.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Askel & Ranya

Flashback

Part Two

Time: Night, Ignis 9
Location: Sorian Streets

---

So, he would leave the tavern with her and return to the air of an Ignis night. The streets were much quieter than before with only a few remaining on the streets; stragglers returning from a night of drinking, tired Caesonian men making their way home after long hours of work, and couples who were more at ease than Asklel and Ranya. His arm was linked with hers as they walked in silence though this was more of a courtesy on Askel's part. It was plain to see that she needed some quiet, to sort her feelings and her head out and perhaps for himself too.

Ranya walked with her arm tucked into his, the cool stone beneath her bare feet grounding her with every step. The steady brush of his side against hers was a quiet comfort; her mind was not busy searching for an escape or crafting a clever excuse. Instead, she found herself caught between the image of the 'holy jewel' she was meant to be and the girl she truly was, wrapped in a knight’s borrowed warmth. The scent of him made her feel more real, more herself, than she ever had within the walls of her own palace. She did not want to slip away into the safety of shadows this time. She only wanted to see where their shadows, tangled together on the stone, might lead them.

Over the course of their walk, they found a bench underneath the light of a lit lamppost to sit with silence heavy over between them. Eventually, Askel broke it. "I... I think I can answer your question, but you'll have to bear with me for a moment. I fear I may ramble for a bit, but there will be a point to it I promise." He smiled at her worriedly, as if he was going to give the wrong answer but decided to take the plunge. "We're kindred spirits, you and me. I won't claim to know of your life, but even I can see we've lived very different lives though I think we're more alike than you think."

He leaned back against the bench and looked up at the moonlit sky. "I always watched where I step, even as a child. When we were kids, I would always chastise my older brother Lucian for acting so rash and for making me worry all the time. He'd just follow his heart without worry or warning. In some ways, I could not help, but to admire it just as much as I admonished it."

His smile cast downwards, and he looked at her with a humorless gaze. "But I'm a knight. A moment of hot headedness is the difference between life and death. There are those that speak of 'passions as a warrior' and charge headfirst into the heat of battle without a thought behind their eyes, but they are the first to lose their heads." He said with grimness that clung to his words like dark knowledge that haunted his memories. "A steady heart and mind is needed though I suppose I kept my heart steady even with matters of love if you can believe it." His normal smile returned though she had seen him smile truly. She knew it was self-deprecating.

"I've never been against love, just the concept of falling in love at first sight." Askel admitted. He looked back up at the moon and raised his hand up towards it to reach out to it futilely. "The hearts of people are a fickle thing; so many times, we fall in love not with the person in front of us, but the idea of them and then place standards that they could never hope to reach. He clenched his hand when it overlapped with the moon, as if to illustrate that he never was really able to grasp it to begin with. "It's a cruel way to be and I never want to be the one to hurt someone... and yet, I can't help but wonder how many times I have stopped myself because I was afraid to make a mistake."

His words about 'falling for an idea' struck her with a familiar ache, sweet and sharp as the memory of a half-forgotten song. All her life, people had adored the illusion: the holy icon, the perfect jewel, the untouchable dream. Even when she slipped away from her silks and titles, vanishing into the city’s shadows, they only saw what they wanted–a glittering distraction, a fleeting conquest, a riddle to unravel for a single night. No one ever searched for the girl who spun barefoot in smoky taverns, chasing the pulse of music through the floorboards. No one tried to see past the shimmer and find the real girl beneath, not until Askel.

He chuckled dryly and shook his head. "In that way, Lucian is far more noble than I am. When he was in love, he had no hesitations; he just dove straight right in and married the woman he loved since they were kids! He's always been a puppy for Sophia since the first time he laid eyes on her!" He laughed and yet there was a pain behind it, as if it was a memory that brought equal parts joy and pain like it was something that had been lost. A smile full of melancholy and fondness crept along his lips. "I respect him for that though I can't help, but to admit that I am jealous that he could just follow his heart just like that."

Askel focused on her, his eyes filled with a warmth for this woman that came in like a storm and occupied his heart. He took a deep breath and then began to speak in Gazalian and for the remainder of what he had to say never slipped back to Eromorian. These words were for her and for her alone, not for someone passing by or an eavesdropper that found their lives entertaining. They were only for her. "But then I look at you and something clicks together." He began hesitantly though slowly began to find his footing. "We don't know each other, but we understand each other, something some people spend their entire lives searching for and never find. We're not riddles to be solved, we're both sojourners on a lonely path looking for something that is real and maybe I could hope to dare say that we both found something together." His hand found hers, rough, calloused, and yet they radiated with gentle warmth.

"I don't know much about love... I barely know its shape, but I can tell you that it's as imperfect as it is noble. We'll argue, we'll disagree, and we'll always working to stay in love because it is not something that exists in perpetuity though that is by design; it requires effort and care from both parties, but that's what makes it so incredible."

His voice dropped to a whisper, as if he was speaking something reverent. "I've seen it with my own eyes. Lucian and Sophia, my mother and father, and the people I've met over my journeys. I've met couples who've grown old together that have seen everything through and still somehow stay in love even when the weight of the world should have torn them apart," the prince said with such endearment though his heart began to race because now he was starting to reach a point of no return.

Askel could feel his mouth going dry and a lump began to form in his chest. In his eyes he ran the gambit of nervousness, anxiety, and fear, but determined to walk past the threshold. He took a deep breath and finally said, "I don't want a perfect, effortless love. I want you." He gently placed his forehead against hers and smiled even though he could feel his heart wanting to burst through his ribs. "So let me love you, let me learn of you, and let me cherish you and in turn all I ask is that you love me, learn of me, and cherish me." He tried to put on a brave face, but he started to shake. It was his turn to feel so exposed with his heart laid completely bare to her.

Askel pleaded, his voice sounding so small, so vulnerable. "So please, don't run away, not from this. When you're so busy running, you're only looking ahead and never notice what life has to offer you. Let me make your world bigger."

The first notes of Gazalian on his lips struck Ranya with the force of a summer storm. Her own tongue–the language of her mother, her prayers, the secret shape of her soul–spilled from this Varian prince so easily it nearly undid her. A jagged sob tore free, raw and trembling, half a gasp of relief and half a cry of fear, as the polished 'Jewel' she wore for the world cracked and fell away.

​In that surrender, the air itself thickened, shimmering with a heat that bled from her skin. It was something radiant, restless, and ancient awakening in her blood. Her eyes, always sharp and veiled, now pulsed with molten light, the green deepening, gold blooming at the edges in the hush of lamplight.

​She held on, fingers locked around his with a desperate, white-knuckled grip, clinging to the rough warmth of his palm as if it were the only solid thing in the world. Her other hand rose, trembling, to trace the line of his jaw, then cupped his face. Her touch was burning, a silent claim, drawing his gaze into the gravity of her own.

​"You are a fool, Askel," she whispered back in Gazalian, her voice wet and thick with a sudden, fierce devotion. "To offer your heart to a woman you found in the shadows... it is madness. And yet, A small laugh escaped her as a tear slipped down her cheek. ”I am exactly that same kind of fool. I will love you, Askel. I will learn every shadow of your soul and cherish you until the sands stop shifting. I give you my heart, wholly and without caution. But..."

​Her thumbs swept over his cheekbones, her warmth almost humming, as if she could shield him from the words she was about to speak. She drew back just enough for the truth to settle between them. "I cannot simply let you love me, not until you understand the weight of what you are asking to carry. You speak of making my world bigger, but you don't know the storm that guards my gates. You would have to face a father whose love and protectiveness is an obsession, and brothers who see every shadow as a threat to my life. They are fierce, and they do not forgive easily."

​She stilled, a cold shudder rippling through her, and the warmth that clung to them faltered, flickering like a candle guttering in the wind. Her eyes darkened, shadowed by a dread that felt older than words.

​"And my uncle..." her voice was laced with a bitter edge of fear now. "He does not see a woman when he looks at me. He sees a symbol. A tool for his own power. He is a man who weaves silk into nooses, Askel. He will not see a Prince in love; he will see a thief stealing his most precious prize. He will make your life a living hell simply for daring to look at me."

​She leaned her forehead back against his, her eyes searching his for any sign of retreat. "I am afraid that when you finally realize the truth of who I actually am, when you see the true shape of the cage I live in, the cost will be too high. I am terrified you will realize that loving me is a war you never intended to fight. So I am asking you now... are you truly brave enough to stay when the world comes to tear us apart?"

It was such an unfamiliar feeling, the gentle caress on his face. A warmth separate from his own that soothed his soul and yet her eyes held an intensity like molten gold. His finger caught the trailing tear that ran down her cheek and looked at her with relief rather than retreat. Rather than retreating, she would have felt herself being pulled towards him in an embrace. A content sigh escaped his lips while he rested her head on her shoulder just for the moment. "I will endure and I will fight," Askel stated simply. He pulled back from her slowly, reluctant to separate himself from her warmth. "However, I do not wish to view your family as adversaries, just... people whose hearts I have yet swayed." He gave her a hopeful smile.

"I mean, I am the older brother of two sisters. If either of them suddenly showed up with a strange man one day proclaiming that they were in love after only a night together I'm certain I would give him some grief too!" He laughed with a grin as bright as Suna and filled with plenty of understanding for what kind of worry her brothers would soon be growing through and what kind of paces they would in turn put him through.

Gently, he held the back of her head, his fingers full her wild halo of black hair, and laid a kiss on her forehead. "Sigh no more, love," murmured the prince. "I'll get through to them that my intentions are pure. I don't want to make you have to choose between me or your family; I want to hopefully one day be called 'brother' by your siblings or 'son' by your father. I want to share our joy with them."

"As for your uncle, well, I'll figure out how to deal with him. I'm sure he'll think I'm an easy mark, but many have made that mistake too. A prince and knight of Varian is not without fangs, my dear." He gave her a sly grin as if to reassure her that he could very well take care of himself. "However, if you are so afraid that I will turn tail then let me solve your riddle tonight and put your mind at ease."

Askel stood up and turned on his heels to take a good look at Ranya. There was an intelligent glint in his eyes, as if he was deducing all of the little bits of information that he could gleam from her. "You're obviously not some lady in waiting. If you were, you would be attending to your ladyship so when I first saw you, I assumed that you were Hanim of particular high standing since it is Courting Season and, you know, because of all of that." He motioned to all of the gold on her that clattered and clinked like coins whenever she moved.

"Now if you were just a noble that would be the end of that, but what you said is strange," Askel continued. "If you were just a mere Hanin then why would you be so key to your uncle's power? That would imply that you have a status that exceeds that of a typical noblewoman whether it is spiritual, pedigree, or government position, and to manipulate you means that your uncle is a man of exceedingly high status as well."

"If we take into those factors into account, including your age since I do not think you hold a governing position, then my conclusion is that you are a Shehzadi though I think you may have to fill in some of the gaps." He smiled at her though not with some smug satisfaction of figuring out a riddle, but of reassurance. The weight that he was about to carry was understood and whole heartily accepted.

A chuckle puffed past his lips and he said with a half-cocked smile. "One of those gaps is, well, how to address you. The only thing that really concerns me is that I still do not know the name of my beloved."

The instant his fingers brushed away her tear, the tightness that had bound Ranya unraveled all at once. She melted into his arms, her head finding its place against his shoulder, where the warmth of him and the familiar, grounding scent of his skin wrapped around her like a promise. His words rang in her ears, more precious than any prayer she had ever whispered.

A surprised, bright laugh slipped from Ranya, scattering the last of her shadows. The image of Askel as a protective, exasperated brother was so disarmingly ordinary that it made the world feel safe for a heartbeat. When he pressed a kiss to her forehead, she let her eyes fall shut, savoring the gentle weight of his affection. Normally, speaking of her uncle would have ruined her mood entirely, but Askel’s sly grin was a shield, turning fear into something almost laughable. It was dizzying, this feeling of having someone step between her and the Grand Vizier, not out of grim obligation, but with the reckless confidence of a man who relished the challenge.

She said nothing, her breath catching as she watched confidence ripple across his face. A spark lit in her eyes, this time fed by a mischievous, growing curiosity. As he unraveled her secrets with a strategist’s poise, relief washed through her. He had the mind to match his courage. He did not flinch at the title Shehzadi; he was simply waiting for the woman beneath the crown.

"Your mind is as sharp as that blade you carry, Askel," she whispered, her voice a mix of awe and a newly bloomed, fierce confidence. "I find I like your intelligence nearly as much as I like your bravery."

She rose from the bench, gold ornaments chiming a private, triumphant tune as she closed the distance between them. Reaching up, she gently curled her hand behind his neck. She drew him down to her, the warmth of his breath mingling with the lush perfume of jasmine and warm vanilla that clung to her skin. The world fell away, leaving only the tender gravity between them.

A flicker of doubt crossed her face with the old fear that the truth of her lineage, or the burden of being Suna’s Chosen, might finally drive him away. The title was meant to shield her, but it was the sharpest blade she carried. Still, she pressed forward, steadied by the heat of his hands.

"I promise to fill in every gap of the riddle, Askel. I will tell you the best way to the hearts of the Sultan and my brothers, and I will tell you the full weight of the title I carry. But not tonight. I do not wish to be burdened by that name tonight. I don't want the world to exist beyond the reach of your arms." She leaned in, her touch lingering at the nape of his neck, her forehead resting against his, her voice dropping to a soft, reverent murmur. "The crown owns my status, and my family owns my future. But they do not own the breath I use to speak my own name. That is the only thing truly mine to give."

She tilted her head, her lips brushing ghost-light against his as she breathed the word into the space between them. For a heartbeat, she let her fingers trace the line of his jaw, anchoring herself to the moment. "Ranya. My name is Ranya. And I have spent my life waiting for a man brave enough to find me in the dark and call me his beloved."

Never before could he have imagined such joy just from hearing someone's name and yet his heart skipped a beat. This beautiful woman that dripped with wit and charm with her arms wrapped around his neck, and her lips just a breath away, and her name was Ranya.

Ranya..." Askel repeated, letting her name settle onto his tongue like melting sugar and then suddenly a mischievous glint flickered in his eyes. A grin cracked along his face as he suppressed a laugh. 'Rani?' Really?" He asked teasingly. Of course, it was fun to give his love a little bit of grief, but all he wanted to do was to distract her from whatever ailed her thoughts. He saw her face, the doubt that plagued her for only the briefest moments. Try as he might, there were still parts of her heart that she could not let him in to assuage.

Askel's grin softened into a smile full of understanding for what she was going through. This was terrifying, not just for her, but for him too. Earlier they were strangers that never once crossed paths, but now they were lovers that made solemn vows that bound their lives to each other. "It's okay, Ranya. Whatever it is you can't tell me yet, I'll wait; we have the rest of our lives." His hands found Ranya's face; his fingers traced her jawline before his thumb rubbed her cheek. There was a look in his eyes, a longing that he never once felt tug at his heart before.

"Forgive me if I speak plainly but..." A flush crept along his cheeks again and his smile took on a tint of nervousness. For all of his worldly experience and wisdom and for all of his etiquette training and knightly chivalry, the protocols of love and wooing were a dulled blade. He murmured ever so shyly, so softly that a dropped pin could have been heard over him. "May I kiss you?"

A playful, genuine laugh escaped Ranya, the last traces of tension slipping from her shoulders. She tilted her head in feigned indignation, though the glimmer in her eyes betrayed her amusement.

"And yet, despite 'Rani' being so close to the truth, you didn't guess my real name, did you?" she teased with a soft giggle. "I find that when you hide a secret in plain sight, people are far too distracted to ever truly see it."

Her smile softened as he spoke, his promise to wait for the rest of her story settling between them. She leaned into the warmth of his hand, surprised by the ache that stirred in her chest as it was unexpected and sharp, but not unwelcome. When he stumbled over his words, so hesitant and sincere after all his earlier confidence, Ranya felt a mischievous smile tug at her lips.

She let herself drift closer, closing the small distance between them until their lips were separated by little more than a breath.

"Oh, Askel," she murmured, her voice a velvety, daring challenge. "If you don't kiss me this very second, I shall be forced to kiss you, and I promise you, I won’t be nearly so polite as to ask."

A nervous chuckle passed by his lips while he shook his head at her. "Gods above, you're dangerous." Askel's eyes softened and with no need for words he slowly leaned in, tilting his head slightly, until his lips gently pressed against hers and let her warmth wash over him. It tasted like Casesonian ale and when he breathed her in all he could smell was jasmine and vanilla with an undercurrent of the warm spices and woodsy smells from his cologne that clung to her.

So, there they were, two wanderers separated by distance that have intersected, kissing under a lamp lit Sorian night with not a single soul in sight or a sound save for the sound of hearts pounding between their ears. It was no fiery kiss or a moment of intense passion, but a simple vow of love. Askel was not claiming her for she was not someone to own. It was a moment shared between two people, an equal exchange to take up a place in each other's hearts.

Ranya’s eyes slipped shut as the last sliver of space disappeared. His lips found hers—not with the hungry fire she’d braced for, but with a gentleness that cut deeper than any fevered touch. She answered him with a slow, deliberate hunger, her fingers threading into the wild tangle at his nape. This wasn’t a battle or a victory, but a wordless exchange, a secret passed between mouths. For once, she wasn’t a trophy to be claimed, but a woman laid bare, her soul colliding with his in the hush between heartbeats.

A low, guttural chuff of disapproval rippled through the air as a shadow peeled itself from the tangled brush. The black jaguar stalked onto the stone path, yellow eyes burning with silent, predatory judgment. Ranya broke the kiss with a theatrical sigh, barely pulling away before pressing her brow to Askel’s, clinging to the last scrap of stolen warmth.

"He has the absolute worst timing," she muttered, flicking a hand toward the hulking predator. "Askel, meet Azrael. Azrael, behave. He’s a friend—" The word snagged in her throat, suddenly too small. She glanced back at Askel, her eyes sharpening with something raw and unguarded. "No. Not just a friend. Not even close. He’s so much more than that." Her mouth twisted into a crooked, guilty smile. "If he’s here, it means Zahra’s sent him to drag me back. I might have pushed my luck with my so-called 'quiet walk.' Azrael’s the only one who can sniff me out when I vanish without causing a panic."

Upon hearing the chuff of an apex predator, Askel's gaze fell upon an actual black jaguar circling him with judgmental eyes that certainly did not like what it was witnessing. His face was a steel mask, his eyes as cold as Varian winters as his hand steadily grabbed the handle of his sword ready to strike at any moment...and then Ranya introduced the beast by name. The steeled expression turned into bewildered shock, his hand fell away from his weapon. An exasperated chuckle of utter disbelief escaped and while he shook his head.

"Sending a black jaguar in the middle of Sorian to search for you? That seems a tad reckless," he said, still feeling the piercing gaze of the jaguar beamed on him. Something in the prince's gut told him that the big cat really did not like him all that much.

Askel knelt down to be eye level with Azrael and slowly stretched his arm out forward towards him. He spoke to the intelligent and powerful creature with a soft, respectful tone and an honest smile. "I know that I am a stranger right now, but I hope we can be friends. Ranya is very important to me as she is to you, Azrael." Askel turned his head back to look at Ranya with a look of appreciation and unbridled love before looking back at him. "It would bring me infinite joy if you would let me accompany the two of you back the guest house, but if you still do not trust me, I understand."

Ranya’s laughter rang out, light and clear, easing the tension that had settled between them as she watched Askel extend his hand toward the great cat.

"Careful, Askel," she teased, eyes dancing. "He’s proud of his reputation. And don't let his size fool you. He’s stealthy enough to give the Silent Assassins of the Dunes a run for their money. If he didn't want to be found, you’d never have heard a sound."

Azrael, on the other hand, seemed entirely unimpressed by the gesture. His golden eyes narrowed, and his tail thudded against the stone floor as he leaned in to sniff Askel’s hand, the motion slow and deliberate. There was a hint of cold and metal in the scent, but it was the jasmine and vanilla that lingered most, clinging to the Prince’s skin. The jaguar’s low, rumbling growl vibrated through the air—a warning, perhaps, or simply a test. Ranya caught his gaze, her own eyes wide and hopeful as she silently pleaded with the great cat.

The great cat glanced between the two of them, then released a heavy, huffing sigh that seemed almost human in its resignation. He pressed his broad head against Askel’s palm for a brief moment before turning away, already moving down the path ahead.

"Thank you, Azrael!" Ranya chirped, throwing her arms around the jaguar’s thick neck and burying her face in his dark fur with total, fearless trust. She pulled back and moved back to Askel’s side, entwining her fingers with his, beaming. "He is my shadow in the dark, and every bit as protective as my brothers. My tiger, Aisha, is the motherly one. She fusses, but Azrael is the silent judge. You’ve passed the first test, though I suspect he'll be watching your every step. But I think he’ll warm up to you." She said as she leaned her head against his shoulder.

Azrael's fur was thick like a heavy blanket and yet somehow had a supple softness that he had not expected though all Askel was going to get was a brief touch. The black jaguar was still too proud and cautious of the royal knight and went off ahead though he was certain that the big cat's golden eyes pierced the dark to make sure they were following. Something told Askel that he had a long way to go before that cat would ever fully trust him, a mission that was sure to be strenuous.

Ranya's fingers found his and a glee in her eyes found his, a balm to his soul. He savored the feeling of her head against his shoulder, memorizing the weight. "Oh? So, you have a tiger too? It appears that I have my work cut out for me." He said with a playful smile though it was a promise that he would not try or do his best but simply would be a part of her life through thick and thin.

The two of them would follow Azrael through the quiet streets of Sorian, desolate save for a prince, a princess, and her black jaguar. The city slept, oblivious to the quickly blooming feelings that two unexpected people had for each other, a giddiness that neither had ever known and yet it also brought an unexpected pain. Askel remained silent, wanting to savor this quiet moment with Ranya and yet in his heart there was an aching pain that grew the closer they were to the castle. He had left behind his own family, many friends, and places though none of it compared to the pain that he felt right now at this moment to know that this night was ending.

Once they could see the guest house off not too far in the distance, Askel looked down at Ranya with a tender, yet melancholic smile. "I had a lovely night, Ranya." His hands, so rough and calloused, held hers gently and yet they dared not to let go. A low chuckle rumbled from his throat. "It's funny, I know that partings bring such sweet sorrows because we'll meet again and yet, it does nothing to ease the ache. I suppose I should find myself lucky to have such a luxury though for that ache also brings an excitement for tomorrow I've never had before."

Ranya pressed into Askel’s steady shoulder, her fingers idly exploring the callused ridges of his knuckles as if memorizing a secret. She glanced up, her eyes reflecting a quiet sorrow that shimmered between them, softening her features with a gentle ache.

"Sweet sorrow," she echoed softly. "You have a way with words, Askel. But I agree... the ache is unmatched. It’s a strange thing, to miss someone while they’re still standing right beside you. To be truthful, Askel... this has been the best night of my life so far."

They slipped beneath the dappled shadows that danced across the garden path, the air cool and fragrant with night-blooming flowers. Ranya tugged his hand, drawing him to a stop. "Wait...please," she whispered, her voice a soft command. She stepped closer, her palms gliding up his chest until they settled over the rhythm of his heart, her touch both a question and a claim.

She rose onto her toes, claiming his lips in a kiss that unfolded like a secret—slow, deliberate, and deep as midnight water. The world seemed to hush around them, the air thick with longing and the promise of tomorrow. The taste of him was both familiar and dangerous, a warmth that melted the boundaries of stone and shadow until nothing remained but the two of them, suspended in the hush before dawn.

Behind her, Azrael voiced his feline displeasure with a drawn out groan, his tail snapping against a stone planter in a show of dramatic impatience.

Ranya let out a breathless laugh against Askel’s skin, her forehead resting against his. "He’s losing his patience," she murmured, gesturing with a tilt of her head to a window tucked behind the leafy boughs of a nearby tree. "That is my room. Zahra will be waiting there for me, and I've pushed my luck quite enough for one night."

She sought his hands once more, her fingers weaving through his in a lingering farewell. Her eyes glimmered with mischief and something older, deeper. "My people have an old belief. We don't think dreams are just tricks of the mind. We believe that when you see someone in your sleep, it is because their soul has traveled across the sands to find yours." She leaned in, her words a velvet promise against his ear, spun from the legends of her homeland. "So, close your eyes tonight, my prince. I’ll come find you."

With her hand over her heart she would receive her answer, a racing heart that could not hide its owner's earnest feelings. His arms wrapped around her as they embraced, their lips meeting for another kiss shrouded by night and the pollen that fell from the garden. It was a taste that he could only describe as 'her,' intoxicating, sweet, and yet grounding him back to the paved stone. He only reluctantly pulled away from Ranya when Azrael made his displeasure very known.

Askel looked at her longingly, never wishing for the moment to end. It almost felt unfair, to finally feel the happiness of love and then having to swiftly depart and be so far even when they were staying under the same roof. However, her talk of dreams brought some comfort to him; a beautiful way to say that she would never be far from him even in sleep. "I'll meet you halfway then," he lifted her hand and pressed a gentle kiss on the back of it.

His gaze fell upon the impatient golden glare of the jaguar. "You better not keep Azrael waiting. I fear that his patience for me is wearing thin." Askel finally released her hand and took a step back. He never knew how painful it was to say goodbye, but he gave her his brightest smile for he knew that tomorrow would be another day and that there would be many tomorrows from now on. "Goodnight Ranya. I hope I get to say it again and again."

A sharp ache bloomed in Ranya’s throat, the threat of tears prickling behind her eyes as the weight of goodbye pressed in. She dipped her head in answer to his promise, her heart swelling with a bittersweet longing that shimmered just beneath the surface. Her gaze slid to Azrael, who all but radiated impatience, and a soft, shaky laugh slipped from her lips.

"He’s quite right," she murmured, casting a playful, mock-scolding look at the jaguar. "Though he could certainly use some practice in patience. He acts as if the world will end if we have but one more minute."

She turned back to Askel, her heart blooming at the thought of endless goodnights. "Then I will see to it you never lack for chances," she promised, her words velvet-soft and trembling with feeling. "Goodnight, my Northern star."

Turning toward the gnarled tree, Ranya let out a low, distinct whistle that pierced the garden’s silence. Almost instantly, the window above creaked open. A young woman, not much older than Ranya, with sharp, pretty features, leaned out, her expression a mix of terror and fury.

"Ranya al Kadir! Do you have any idea—your brothers, your uncle, they have been—" Zahra’s frantic scolding in Gazalian cut off abruptly as her eyes landed on the tall, auburn-haired man standing in the shadows. She paused, her eyes widening as she took in the broad shoulders and the regal air of the stranger. A slow, mischievous smirk replaced her panic. She leaned further out, whispering loudly in her native tongue, "Who is that? Merciful gods, Ranya, you went out for a walk and came back with a temple statue. Is he even real? Can he actually move, or is he just there for us to look at?"

A bright, musical laugh escaped Ranya as she caught a low branch, lifting herself up with the easy elegance of someone born to climb. "Careful, Zahra," she called in Gazalian, her eyes alight with mischief as she swung onto the limb. "He hears you, and he understands every word."

Zahra’s face went a spectacular shade of crimson. She gasped, nearly falling out of the window as she stared down at Askel in horror, realizing the "statue" was a living, breathing, and likely very important guest. "Oh! Oh, my... My Lord! My deepest apologies! I—I was merely—" She stammered into a frantic, clumsy bow from the waist up, clutching the windowsill for dear life.

With obvious concern that Zahra was going to fall and crack her head like an egg, the prince stepped forward with his arms prepared to catch her though to his relief she was able to steady herself. Askel could only stifle his laughter and casually waved his hand to dismiss her concern. He cleared his throat from his laughter though with his own mischievous grin he said in Gazalian, "This 'statue' takes no offense."

Ranya reached the ledge in a single, fluid motion, Zahra’s hand darting out to pull her over the stone. Azrael was not far behind, gliding from the garden wall to the branches and slipping into the shadowed room with a last, triumphant flick of his tail.

Settled safely inside, Ranya leaned back out the window, her silhouette framed by the dim lamplight. "Until tomorrow, Askel!" she called down, her voice full of lingering warmth. "And you had best be ready because I demand you save a dance for me at the ball. Don't you dare give it to anyone else!"

Askel called back up to her with lingering affection, "Ranya, there is no one else I wish to dance with more than you!" While he looked up, his eyes narrowed as he realized that he forgot something; his jacket was still draped over her. For just a moment he thought about asking her to throw it down to him, but he decided against it. One way or another he knew that he was going to get it back eventually and, well, he questioned how much she would be willing to part with it now.

"Sleep well!" He called out again though he knew it was time to finally depart. Surely that couldn't be the final thing he said to her for the night though. It just felt so banal, anti-climactic. Or maybe Sylvia finally got to his head. He just shook his head and laughed at himself. When did he become such a romantic?

In Gazalian he called out to her one last time. "I'm not a northern star, Ranya. I'll always be in your grasp." His words hung in the air before breaking his silence. "Goodnight, once again." He gave her the same polite bow he did when he introduced himself to her and began to make his way to the front door.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

In the Garden

Nora & Nolan

Ignis 4th

---

Nora had been in the country for a day now, having settled into her quarters rather comfortably. It felt better than her bed at home for reasons she wasn’t sure she wanted to voice. Her brother had come to her that morning with his shirt, a small tear on one of the seams. She’d rolled her eyes at him, but took it with a smile and a soft, ‘You’ll owe me for this.’

It had taken her a few hours, but she did eventually find the gardens she’d been promised existed. The gardens were beautiful and she smiled cheerfully as she wandered inside. It would be a wonderful place to work on her brother’s shirt and maybe read a few chapters of her latest novel. It had the added benefit of being quiet and a place no one would really look for her.

Her bag hooked with the crook of her arm, she searched around for a nice spot to sit. Something out of the way would be perfect… A few moments later, she had stuck her head around the corner of a hedge to find a bench with a little birdbath nearby. It was out of sight and mostly out of mind.

Once she was set with her things where she wanted them, she got to work on Magnus’ shirt, humming cheerfully. Her familiar, Nox, curled himself under the bench, content to nap in the shade.

The pounding of footsteps would catch Nora's ears, very irritated sounding footsteps and the sound of...clicking? Whatever was going on, they were getting closer. No less than she could begin to wonder what they were from the answer that would soon enter the clearing; a young man wearing an unbuttoned fawn colored morning coat over a white collared shirt, a pair of dark brown trousers, and shoes shined to perfection. Held between the pit of his arm was a book with a leather cover. His face was partially obscured by his ochre brown hair and was somewhat facing away from her although one could see the scowl he wore on his face though one could surmise why he was so annoyed.

In his hand he held a silver lighter, and it just kept clicking without making a spark, and in his other an unlit cigarette. The man heaved a sigh and with frustration coloring his voice he said, "Come on, work. Work you stupid bloody fu-!" However, he stopped himself when he sensed he was not alone. He lifted his head up and looked in Nora's direction, his green eyes finding her own, and froze like a deer that encountered a random hiker.

The young man must have realized he looked like a right fool; he cleared his throat and tried to play off as if he was not about to curse a storm. "I, uh, my apologies. I had no idea that the gardens were occupied."

Nora watched him enter the little space she’d found for herself, her head tilted just slightly in confusion. Her gaze shifted from the silver object in his hand and could work out that was he frustrated that it wasn’t working. A.. lighter?

The look on his face when he noticed her was one she recognized all too well. She lowered her needlework and gave him a small smile. ”I don’t think they have an occupation limit.” She replied as she looked him over. He looked clean, wealthy, and frazzled. And if the look in his eye told her anything, he was also anxious about other people. ”Let me look at that?” She asked, motioning towards his lighter. She wasn’t entirely sure she would be able to help, but her father had a lighter and she’d played with it a time or two. False confidence had her believing that she might be able to get it to work.

Nox lifted his head to look at the intruder, but didn’t seem too fussed and set his head back down again.

The young man looked down at the lighter and then at Nora. Well, he had already made himself look like quite a fool already, but if he rejected her then it would just look even worse. It was already awkward enough for him anyway, so he'd take this chance to appear somewhat normal. "If you'd like." He approached her and held out the lighter to her though he was careful not to touch her.

Nora smiled, happy that he’d decided to trust her with his lighter. For most people, Nora was guarded, a bundle of nerves always worried that the person she was speaking to would be offended, but after seeing him react that way, she didn’t feel as much fear.

She took the lighter and turned it over in her hands carefully. It looked fairly similar to the one her father had… She took a few minutes to poke and prod at the device, looking for things she knew about her father’s before trying to click the ignition source.

It lighted instantly and her face lit up along with it. ”Look! Look! I did it!” She grinned, lifting it for him to see. A proud feeling filled her chest as she looked back up at him.

The young man slowly blinked at the little flicker of flame licking the air from the lighter that he so desperately tried to light many times. A chuff blew past his lips, his face read an equal measure of annoyance and amused at just how easy she made it. "Took me several bloody tries and you just needed one. Just not my day I suppose."

He gingerly took the lighter from her and lit the end of his cigarette, placing it between his lips. Nora would watch as the cigarette began to burn down as this man took the longest drag before resting it between his fingers. Carefully, he pointed his head upwards and exhaled a cloud of gray fumes that rose upwards like ethereal tendrils grabbing the air. It sounded like he really was holding that sigh in for gods know how long.

He closed his eyes a moment to collect himself though when they opened, there was readable relief. That was for a moment before he looked at Nora and realized that once again, his manners were lacking. "Oh, um, sorry. Thank you very much for your help, Ms..." He studied her and realized that he had never seen this woman before in Sorian or any part of Soralia for that matter. And she was in the castle gardens. Oh.

"It just occurred to me that you're a guest. Please pardon my behavior as a representative of Soralia" The man bowed with a slight bent from the hip and placed a hand on his heart. "Nolan Edwards, youngest son of Duke Gideon Edwards and Duchess Victoria Edwards."

Nora watched him, her mind reading in a little too deeply into the annoyed lines in his face. She twisted her fingers into the hem of her dress, trying to ignore the nagging feeling in the back of her head. He looked nice and she didn’t want to upset him. She tried to remind herself that he wasn’t yelling at her, he was just… frustrated.

With some effort, she relaxed, smoothing out her dress with a practiced poise. She watched him take a long drag, his eyes closed. She couldn’t help her own curiosity. What had happened to make him that pent up? She could tell he’d needed it and there was a small giddiness in her at having been the one to help him. Her lips pressed together to try and keep her smile controlled.

”Oh-” She started, opening her mouth to let him know her name. It closed as he continued and she floundered a bit as he bowed. ”Oh, I’m hardly deserving of that..” She replied quickly, her brows raised in mild surprise. ”Nora Pawonska, daughter of Count Pawonska.” She replied, trying her best to offer as he had.

”And I just…” She started, suddenly incredibly worried that he wouldn’t like that she was here. ”I was just trying to… She started again, struggling to find the words, the words that might placate him into letting her stay. ”I just wanted a quiet place… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude or…” She trailed off, turning to start to gather her things, already assuming he wouldn’t want her to stay.

"Enough of that." Nolan curtly said, his arms crossed while the cigarette between his fingers lingered with smoke. The lord's brows were furrowed though this time it was because she assumed so little of him that he would kick her out for whatever strange reason she had concocted in her head. Was his presence so disagreeable that she just assumed that he wanted her away?

The anxiousness on her face was apparent. Perhaps he was at fault after all; his earlier behavior would have warranted a scolding from his mother and father. Nolan took a deep breath to calm his nerves and said, "If I did anything to suggest the contrary, it was not my intention to give you any impression that you are unwelcomed here. You said it yourself; the garden doesn't have an occupation limit. You are just as free to use it as you wish as I am." He motioned to the garden cigarette in hand.

"I would be remiss if I were to chase you away. You are a guest to this kingdom and right now I am merely one of your hosts. It is I who should be of service to you, not the other way around." Nolan placed the cigarette back in his mouth and took another huff.

She froze at his words, eyes widening as she looked up at him. Slowly, she lowered the needlework she had been trying to put away, her head dipping down ever so slightly. She’d heard those words before and they brought back terrible memories. She had to remind herself to stay present.

She lifted her head only as he repeated her words back to him. She offered him a smile, but he’d likely be able to tell it wasn’t quite genuine. He was cold but not in an abrasive way. If anything, he seemed more akin to parchment paper that was neatly folded, but singed at the ends by smoke.

”Thank you.” Nora replied simply, looking from him to his cigarette and back. She didn’t much like the way it seemed as though the only reason she was not chased away was keeping face, but who was she to complain? And besides, if he was going to offer her his service, why shouldn’t she take it?

”May I ask what brought you here?” She asked, now looking up at him fully.

Who did she think she was trying to fool with that smile? He could see that it was something well-rehearsed to pull out for moments like these. Then again, he was not one to talk. Nolan didn't return her smile, but he did not scowl at her either; a coldness that was hard to get a read on, except there was a crack. He looked down at her and what she saw in his green eyes were plain and simple worry, but it was only a flash. His gaze just as quickly averted from hers.

With another drag of his cigarette, he puffed another cloud of smoke and watched it dance away into the ether. "I just...needed some space from everyone, I guess. To clear my head, I mean, " admitted Nolan though he never looked Nora in the eye, but she could see a regret etched along his face. "I had just arrived back in Sorian right after an incident occurred with my brother and sister. They're fine, more or less. Not that it does much to ease my mind." He chuckled dryly though the anger in his voice was just as palpable as his fear. One could only imagine what he was thinking at the moment.

"So, I hoped to catch up on my reading, have a smoke, and take in the quiet. Maybe the last bit before the Courting Season ramps up again." Nolan looked back at her and then trailed down to the sewing box and the shirt she was sewing, a man's shirt. "What about you?"

A flash, nothing more, nothing less. It was gone in an instant. But there was flash of something in his eyes before he began to respond to her. Was it… pity? Warmth? Compassion? She couldn’t really tell, it was gone before she’d even had time to process that it had happened. And then, he wasn’t looking at her again. His eyes had drifted, off to the side of her, the trees, the flowers, anything but her. Nora’s brows furrowed slightly.

They smoothed the moment she listened to him speak again. He sounded genuine and she could understand the desire to get away, put distance between yourself and everyone else. After all, for her, it was in this little bubble that she felt truly safe. Even now, she felt her walls. They’d gone back up the moment he’d entered this space.

”Oh no…” She muttered, her voice soft as she lifted a hand to her mouth. Her siblings were her everything, even imagining something happening to them… The bond she shared with them was greater than any force she’d ever experienced, even them.

From the sound of things, it seemed like he was doing something similar to her and there was a part of her that liked that. It made him seem gentle and kind. Or maybe she was just projecting, who knows.

”Well, my brother tore his shirt the other day and,” She started, trailing off a bit as she reached for her book. ”Um… And.. My sister.. sent me to pick up her novel… She lied, suddenly embarrassed as she remembered the book she’d been reading. ‘Dark Mistress.’ There was no way she was going to admit to that. She slid it under her dress as best she could as quickly as she could.

”Triplets..” She offered, hoping it would keep him from asking her about the book. ”Dad only ever wanted one child so imagine his surprise when three popped out all at once.” She explained, perhaps a bit too animatedly.

Had she not tried to hide the book from him Nolan would have most likely not even noticed or even have cared. Nolan looked at her as if he thought she was kidding him with that performance, but he decided not to press it. If she felt embarrassed enough that she needed to lie, then he felt no obligation to make her even more uncomfortable for trivial reasons. He responded to her little fun fact with a shrug. "Well, I think in that regard we have something in common; I was definitely an unexpected child. I'm not related to my siblings, or my parents for that matter."

Nolan took another puff from his cigarette though he could see it was already almost a bud. He pulled a case from his pocket and opened it, pressing it down to extinguish and dispose of later. "Nothing scandalous I assure you." He continued nonchalantly. "It's no secret that Duke Edwards picked me off the streets when I was a child though I suppose it's better to hear it from me before the usual gossip and rumors spread around again. Always happens when I'm around."

A tired scowl painted his face at the very notion of people talking about him or his family behind his back. It was inevitable. He would have preferred to just hide out in his study and delve into the mysteries of the world or grade papers instead of being something to talk about, but alas, family obligations.

The cigarette case clicked shut and he shoved it back into his pocket. "But family is family and I am lucky to have them." His eyes fell down to where she hid the book before finding her face again. "I'm sure you feel the same way. I am very certain that you wouldn't want your sister to feel embarrassed for reading certain books. You like what you like and if someone shames you for it then give them a whack to the back of the head. Your sister, I mean." He corrected himself before she could.

”Adopted?” She asked, watching him put out the cigarette he’d been smoking. She continued to listen, fidgeting with her needlework as she did. She could understand rumors and wanting to quash them. Though, her rumors were… a lot more serious.

She nodded, a sad sort of smile on her face. ”Family is family..” She mimicked quietly under her breath. Not all family felt like family, not for Nora. Some family were family. Others were more like monsters in her eyes. There was a flash of anger that crossed her face.

”Wh-” She started, her cheek flushing red. She moved her hand a bit too quickly to try and make sure the book was covered and pricked her finger with her needle. ”Ow.. “ She gasped at the sharp feeling and she felt Nox jolt under the seat. He stepped out from under the bench, sending a yellow-eyed glance at Nolan very briefly before sitting down to look up at Nora. She shook her head at him, but he remained, unmoving.

”Sorry… yes. Wack them to the back of the head…” She repeated after him, clutching at her finger with her dress.

"Oh bloody hell," muttered Nolan with a furrowed brow. He knelt down on a knee to get a closer look at her hand. Being close to her made his heart drop to his stomach, but he felt responsible for whatever just happened. "Come on, let's see the damage." He urged her with a gruff tone.

Nora kept her hand close to herself, watching him. She wanted to scream at the panic that threatened to bubble up. He wasn’t even trying to do anything and she still… It drove her mad, her own body. Her own mind.

She thought for a moment, watching his face again, her brows furrowed. Slowly, she reached her hand out, the small tremors in her hand betraying her own emotions. She could only hope he’d think it was because it hurt and not because every fiber of her body was screaming at how close this stranger was to her.

Should I deal with him?

She ignored Nox for the moment, her eyes locked onto Nolan. No.. She thought, her response to Nox. ”It’s really not that bad. Just a little prick…” She mumbled. She dealt with much worse from far scarier people but his concern made her feel… seen.

"And it doesn't change the fact it hurts. Our hands and fingers have a high abundance of blood vessels and nerves so even a prick can be painful and bloody." It was a very hard to tell if he was saying that because he knew that she was afraid of him or if he really just was explaining away the pain; his expression was as still as a statue and indiscernible. His hands rummaged around his coat pockets until he pulled out a white handkerchief and wrapped it around her finger.

"Just apply some pressure to it and it will stop bleeding " Strangely enough, he himself looked a bit off color.

Nora listened and watched quietly, glancing from him to her finger as he wrapped the handkerchief around it. It was a small gesture and probably meant nothing to him, but for Nora it felt… bigger than that. It all at once warmed her and made her wary.

”Are you okay?” She asked after glancing back up at his face. She shifted a bit in her seat absentmindedly as she reached her other hand to squeeze the handkerchief to her finger. It really was mild compared to things she’d been through before, so it barely felt like anything at all to her. It just shocked her.

However, his concern and explanation made her curious about him. Was he always this kind? Did he always look that pale and off-color talking to other people? What was he like with other people? What was he like behind closed doors? The thoughts fired off like a storm, her mind racing even as she waited for his reply.

Nolan stood back up and took a step back away from her, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow with his hand. "Oh, um yeah, I am, uh, I'm just... bad with blood," he lied and prayed to whichever god that would listen to him that she would believe him. Blood was something that he was used to, blood, bruises, and broken bones. It was one of the things that he lived with for so long that the sight of it alone would never make him flinch let alone nauseas, but better to be thought to have a weak stomached than anxious around the opposite sex.

Nora frowned, a flash of pity crossing her face. At least he probably didn’t have to be around much blood.

"I'll be fine in a minute. And, uh, don't worry about the handkerchief." He brushed her concern off with a wave of his hand. Fiddling with the silver case, he pulled a cigarette out and this time his lighter clicked and lit the damned thing this time. The cigarette tremored between his fingers before he took another drag.

He looked at her and held the case towards her. "You smoke?" Nolan asked in hopes of changing the subject.

She had opened her mouth to protest about the handkerchief, but closed it when he asked her a question. She blinked a moment, watching him as if trying to consider what she wanted to say. ”No, but my dad does.” She replied. Her curiosity remained, but he seemed… flighty. She could understand the signs as someone who was rather flighty herself.

”Does it help?” She asked. Maybe smoking helped nerves… She wouldn’t exactly say no to trying it if he offered.

He glanced down at her and saw the innocent expression on her face, a genuine desire to know why he would do this to himself. Nolan crossed his arms and his eyes peered up at the sky in thought. "Well, smoking itself doesn't. It's more like the ritual, the routine, that’s calming though it doesn't have to be a cigarette. Could be anything really, but I suppose that's my one vice."

Ritual? she repeated in her head, her mind trying to wrap around the concept. A routine that brought calm, something to do that helped you through… Maybe it was like breathing exercises? The ones her brother had walked her through.

For the first time in this conversation, his lips curled upwards and a light chuckle escaped from his voice like light breaking through a cloud. "I wouldn't recommend it though; these things will probably kill me if I don't quit eventually." He said with a macabre amusement as he examined the little tubes of death between his fingers.

Nora’s expression shifted when she saw his smile. She felt the flicker of butterflies in her chest, watching him. A glimpse of something wonderful, like sunlight after long weeks of rain and clouds. But as soon as it came, she felt the crushing weight of his words on her heart. Her brows furrowed as an ache tore at her heart.

She glanced down at Nox, who by now had turned to crawl back under the bench.

”I…” she started, her voice faltering as emotions choked at her throat. ”I know I don’t have any right to say this.” She looked up at him, her gaze pleading with an honesty she could only hope he saw. ”Please consider quitting soon. Don’t shorten your life, especially if there are other options, other routines.” It was the most she had spoken all at once with anyone other than her siblings in a long time.

”Please.”

For the life of him, Nolan could not figure out what was going through her head. Why did she sound like she was going to cry for him? Why did she sound so choked up with emotions? He was disarmed by her, and it showed; that icy exterior had switched to panic as to what to do. Quickly, he pressed the cigarette against the case to put it out leaving a bit of smoldering ash. "Hey, hey I'm okay. See? I put it out." Nolan said while he held the extinguished cigarette in front of her in an attempt to try his best to reassure her.

He sighed and forced a practice smile though for as a natural as it looked, it felt different than the one prior. It was in the eyes; they lacked a certain luster. "Come on, don't get worked up on my account." Nolan chided gingerly. "I'm not worth it, Lady Pawonska. We're just strangers and when this Courting Season is over the odds that we'll meet again are slim, so don't look at me like that."

With no word of warning Nolan sat on the ground, leaning back to look at the sky with his hands keeping him propped up. "Just do what you were doing before and I'll do what I planned to do, sans smoking. It's too lovely a day to get caught up in the details." He said as he finally pulled the book he held between his armpit onto his lap.

The details… Strangers who would never see each other again. Her frown remained, an empty look in her eyes. Yes, what good were the details? If anything, he just wouldn’t smoke in front of her. There was no reason for him to listen to her, she held no sway, no power.

Nora managed a soft hum in agreement, her gaze dropping back down to the handkerchief wrapped around her finger. Don’t get caught up in the details. She supposed there might be a certain truth to that. With a gentle sigh, she unwrapped her finger, checking the prick before setting the fabric to the side. She picked her needlework back up and got back to work on her brother’s shirt.

Still, there was a part of her that, even if she never met him again, would carry with her the notion that he was actively shortening his life. He may not remember her, but she feared he would be on her mind for quite some time.

Nolan cracked open his book and typically he would have been absorbed by the ink on the pages. However, for some reason even if it was a sunny, gorgeous day in a garden it felt like a cloud was hanging over his head like a pall cast upon him. And he could feel the source of it right by his side. Closing his book with a loud, he looked up at her with a knitted brow and said, "Lady Pawonska, if you have something to say then just say it." It was one thing to hold herself back out of politeness, but he detested it when someone had something to say, but held their tongues.

She started when he spoke, very nearly pricking her finger again. She shot him a glance, her brows furrowed in mild annoyance.

”I believe you made it perfectly clear that you did not want me to say what was on my mind.” She snipped, a rather rare thing coming from the usually mousy girl. ”Besides, you made a good point.” She added after a moment, her posture sinking back down a little.

”There’s no sense in getting all worked up over it. It was silly of me to do so.” She added quietly. Nora took in a deep breath and turned her head to look at him again. ”It is a lovely day. Enjoy your book, Mr. Edwards. Don’t let me ruin that for you. I’m not worth it.” She told him, a little bit of a bite to her words.

Nolan grimaced when his own words were used against him. For a rather meek looking girl she sure knew how to fight back. As much as he wanted to meet her with the same energy as she was giving him, a part of him knew that he was at fault. "In all due respect, I said no such thing. You were always free to say what was on your mind." He stated with an even handedness to temper her anger.

He placed his book to his side on the grass and stood back up. The lord said softly, "What did you want me to say? How am I supposed to react when you look at me like that, pleading so earnestly?" He asked not to shift the blame, but because he truly had no idea what he was supposed to do. Gods above, the look that she gave him would have gotten lesser men to go on a mountainous pilgrimage on their knees.

There was no anger in his words or in his face, just regret. "Lady Pawonska, you had pinned me into a corner, and my only concern was for you not to worry about me. I only wished to spare you of whatever unpleasantness you were experiencing for me. It appears I have failed in that regard." He admitted to her and himself, taking fault for where he had stumbled.

Her lips pressed together in a tight frown, more because he wasn’t entirely wrong and he was taking responsibility for his own actions. Biting back any more felt mean and uncalled for at this point. But it wasn’t like she could tell him the honest truth about why she had reacted so poignantly to his statement about smoking. She felt Nox bristle underneath her.

”I was a little too intense and for that, I apologize.” She started, taking in a deep breath to steady herself a bit. She leaned forward as she spoke, her needlework laid out on her lap. ”You cannot spare me the unpleasantness of my own feelings. I feel them and they will remain regardless. If you do not wish to quit smoking, then simply do not.” She tried to explain, her own voice sounding oddly foreign to her.

”When there are people out there with no hope of living past a certain year, it pains me to know that someone would willingly shorten their life. I hadn’t really considered it with my father, but I suppose I shall have to admonish him too when I return.” She continued. She looked up at him again, this time with eyes that held a bit more compassion once again.

”You have not failed in any regard, Lord Edwards.” She added after a moment. After all, who was to say they would ever meet again after the courting season. She kept that last thought to herself, for fear of sounding petty again.

The lord furrowed his brow when he was once again called Lord Edwards. "Nolan, just call me Nolan. Being called 'Lord Edwards' makes me feel like you're talking to my brother." He asked simply. Well, at least this was all out in the open now. At least he knew where she stood, which was better than where they had ended up before which at this point was the bottom of a cavern.

Nolan.. She thought to herself. Nora took in a soft breath, trying to slip that switch in her mind. She knew it sounded too formal and thinking about it more, she hadn’t even realized she had started. She wouldn’t realize that she was subtly putting up her walls again.

Nolan tried to smile, at least something to bring some brevity to this conversation. "I lived an entirely different life before this one," he stated. "A miserable one where I expected to die on the streets like a dog with mange. Nearly did." He added with a chuckle though there was no humor in it. His green eyes found hers that asked her for some sort of understanding that she could levy his way. "You don't get to walk away from it, even if by some miracle your life changes for the better. You hold onto that even when you don't and that manifests in many ways and you cope with that in whatever way you can."

Nora tried to temper her expressions. Based on his reaction before, she didn’t think allowing him to see how sad his story had made her was a good idea. He didn’t seem like someone who wanted pity and there was a part of her that was starting to understand why he had reacted the way he did. Everyone had their stories. There was a part of her that could understand his pain, his suffering. While hers was not the same, she had similar means of coping and protecting herself.

He let his words hang in the air before he continued. "Just as you said, these feelings are my own to manage and so are my habits... But I suppose you have given me something to consider," Nolan conceded with a nod.

She tried her best to unfurrow her brows, trying to hide her worry and failing. She did not want him to see her looking at him like he was a lost puppy, but she couldn’t help it. ”That’s more than I can ask… Nolan.” She offered.

”And thank you for giving me that context.” She added. She felt a little foolish now, having gotten so angry with him. ”But still! If I see you with that lighter and a cigarette, don’t blame me if I snatch it away from you!” She huffed, puffing her chest up a bit and wagging her finger at him.

”You deserve to live a long life for having survived to this point.” She added with a soft smile.

"Well, I can appreciate the sentiment... Thank you very much." He replied with a smile though it was awkward and stiff. It was never his intention to share a bit of his own past with her, but with someone like her it seemed to be the only way to get through to her. Hopefully this does not become a common occurrence on the off chance they should meet again.

But a smirk grew along his lips at the idea of this mousey girl trying to take him anything. "But you sure are confident. If you think you can snatch anything from me then I welcome you to try." Nolan chuckled at the notion. It was sweet but amusing that she thought that she could do something like that to him of all people.

Nora’s lips pressed together in a pout at his challenge.

"There's a reason why I survived as long as I did and it sure wasn't because I could talk my way out of a problem." As if he pulled it out of the air, the book that Nora was hiding was suddenly held in front of her. He took his time to examine the back and front with an unreadable expression. "'Dark Mistress.'" He read aloud with a neutral inflection. It was certainly a book that fell far outside his interests if he were to go by the name alone.

She could feel her heart drop into her stomach as he held the book in front of her. When had he- She swirled, her gaze dropping to her side where she had tucked her book under the fabric of her dress. Her eyes went wide when she realized it wasn’t there.

"As I said, I'm not one to judge what a person chooses to read." Nolan held out the book for her to take. "But if your 'sister' wishes to talk about it, I have a friend that loves to read too who would be open to meeting her."

Nora reached for the book, heat flushing her features. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, pressing the book to her lap as if doing so could erase the book’s title from his memory. ”I’ll still try.” She mumbled after a moment, her eyes kept firmly on the ground beneath him.

”Because-” She started, huffing a bit. ”Well, because I want to.” She straightened a bit, as if sitting taller would give her more confidence. She knew, based on what he’d just done that she didn’t stand a chance in actually taking it from him, but she was still determined to try. Even if just to show him her determination.

Well, it turns out that she had a little fire in her after all. He met her determination with a smirk that challenged her to make good on her promise. "You are very much welcome to try." Nolan sat back down on the grass and cracked his book open again. Without pulling his eyes away from the pages he asked Nora, "By the way, is that a no on introducing your 'sister' to my friend or...?" The question was left hanging in the air.

Her pout resurfaced at his repeated challenge. She would show him. Nora Pawonska was a woman to be reckoned with! When she wasn’t busy cowering in the corner… She felt Nox snicker underneath her and swatted her foot at him.

”Who is the friend?” She asked, curious.

His eyes were still glued to the book even when she had asked him a question. Without lifting his head to look at her he said, "Charlotte Vikena, the Duke of Vermillion's daughter. She's the only other person I know that likes to read as much as I do, but your sister would probably feel more comfortable talking to her about that book than with a man."

For a moment he pulled his gaze away from the pages and scratched his chin thoughtfully. "She's a bit more guarded these days, but if I am the one to introduce her then it should be fine."

Nora thought for a moment, staring at her hands. She wouldn’t hate more friends, especially if they could talk about books together. Her fingers gripped the page as she bit the inside of her lip. Trust was something she had very little of, but she knew if she never tried she’d be stuck in her home with her parents forever.

”Okay.” She replied rather firmly, lifting her head to look over at him. ”Introduce us.” Her words were more a command than she’d intended them to be.

Nolan simply nodded in response. He didn't look at her, but she could see a smile curl along his lips. "Then I shall make it so." Well, he said it himself; he was at her service after all.

She felt her heart do a little flip at his words. Half flustered, half embarrassed. It suddenly occurred to her that she had said ’us’ instead of her and she could feel her face heating up again. She wanted to disappear, vanish.

”Thank you… Nolan.” She managed quietly, trying to hide her face from him now. She cleared her throat after a short moment, trying to think of a way to change the subject again. ”What are you reading?” She asked. She set her book to the side and began working on her brother’s shirt again. While she had wanted to disappear, she also didn’t want to be alone.

Nolan glanced up from the book back up at Nora who was definitely a bit redder in the face though he decided that he already gave her enough grief. "From Eromora to the Moon," he stated. "It's about two gun clubs trying to send a rocket to the moon before the other does. A rather novel concept I think." He flipped through the pages and held it upwards to her and, well, there was definitely text on those pages, but those weren't words: those were mathematical formulas.

Nora’s eyes went wide with excitement. The moon?! She straightened almost immediately, eyes darting over to him. She blinked at the pages, not even entirely sure what she was looking at but her mind raced with thoughts of what it might be like on the moon. While the pages of his book were scientific in nature, Nora’s thoughts were fantasy, driven by an innate love for the way the moon made her feel.

"The author even added some calculations though I do question their validity. I'd check myself, but if I have to check over the work of someone else one more time, I may off myself." He said with a tired smile as if his brain had been wracked with numerical problems. "I work at the University as a teacher's assistant for the programs, but when school's out I tutor. You'd be amazed to learn that most nobles have slugs for brains." It was the explanation he offered though he looked quite young for such a job.

Her mind was still swimming with ideas even as he continued and she nodded a little too quickly. ”That’s amazing… She mumbled, suddenly looking at him with renewed interest. ”Do you think it’s possible? Going to the moon? What would it be like?” She shot out questions at a lightning speed, pure passion behind her eyes.

This was the most excited that he had seen her, or at least excited with positive energy directed towards him. Now, he could tell her that it was possible, but the trials and tribulations to pull such a feat would be beyond their lifetime or the brutal environment of space, though perhaps for now he could just let her dream. "Well, mathematically speaking there is no reason as for why we couldn't, but I imagine that it will be a miracle in engineering, mathematics, and technological advancements." Nolan placed a bookmark in the page he left off and closed it before looking up at the sky.

"The gravity of the moon would be different than ours. Maybe we'd be able to jump a little higher and fall slowly down like a feather. The view would definitely be amazing; imagine being able to see Eromora from a distance? Just a blue marble that we could hold between our fingers." Nolan lifted his hand up and held the sun between his fingers, imagining what it would look like to stand on the surface of the moon and hold Eromora just like that.

Nora felt her heart swell as Nolan continued, answering her question. She couldn’t even imagine what that might look like and the idea of it left her feeling a strange giddiness. ”I love watching the moon…” She mumbled, turning her head up to look at the sky as well. ”It always makes me feel so small. As if I am small, then that means my troubles are small. There’s this whole big space out there and I’m barely a blip in it.” She admitted absentmindedly, probably sharing more than she really meant to. But the dam had broken and there was no stopping her now.

”There’s something really nice about that thought, I think. I used to tell myself that often when I was-” She stopped mid-sentence, her voice dying in her throat as she realized what she was about to say. ”when I was younger.”

Her sudden loss of energy had not escaped his notice, but there was no need to delve into it. "I like it too" he murmured with a smile, his eyes soft and wistful. "Especially when it's a snowy night. It reminds me of, well, of a different time." There was something complicated in his tone; there was a sadness and longing for something that had long passed and yet, there was a fondness and love. He exhaled and closed his eyes, enjoying the breeze that carried the scent of flowers and the warm rays of light.

Nora turned her head to look at Nolan, glancing over his figure. There was a certain tinge to his tone that made her feel a sense of… connection? Empathy? She couldn’t put her finger on what it was, but she knew that he was someone who likely understood her far more than others. There was comfort in that, but also a sense of danger. Getting close to people always hurt.

”Do you like the cold?” She asked without thinking.

A restricted chuckle escaped as a puff of air and hid his mouth with his hand to hide the amused smile on his face. "I have a complicated relationship with it," Nolan stated, resting his head on his hand with a propped knee. "On one hand, it's indiscriminate and doesn't care if you are able to dress warmly or are huddled in an alley between barrels trying to stay out of the blizzards."

After all these years he could still remember those nights trying to maintain a modicum of warmth, hiding in whatever scrapped together shelters and stolen rags for clothes to protect. The times where he shivered, hugging himself while feeling his stomach groan with dissatisfaction. If one were to ask him how many nights he went to sleep like that, he would have told them he lost count.

Those were trying times, but the cold paradoxically filled him with warmth. "But when I can't sleep, I like to open the window and let the winter wind in." He murmured. Nolan looked up at her and asked, "Do you?"

Nora listened, intrigued by his answer. A complicated relationship… So, he liked it but didn’t like it. An odd sort of paradox she hadn’t considered. She tried to think of anything that she both liked and hated, but the only term that came to mind was something she would rather die than admit to enjoying.

”The cold…?” She asked, more reminding herself than anything. She sat for a moment, as if trying to think, before she shook her head. ”I prefer it over summer, but I also don’t really care for it too much. Though…” She paused, looking up to the sky. ”I do feel like the moon and snow go somewhat hand in hand.”

Nolan lifted his brow curiously and asked, "How so?"

She hummed thoughtfully, taking in a soft breath as she thought. ”Because they both feel lonely?” She attempted, pursing her lips as if she weren’t quite satisfied with her answer. ”Though I’m not sure that’s the entire answer. I feel like… it’s somewhat sufficient.” She nodded.

”They are both white, if we want to consider superficial reasons. They are both beautiful.” She paused, glancing over to Nolan. ”But more than that I think they just complement each other.”

What a strange answer. He never once thought that the snow and the moon were lonely things though perhaps that was because she was right, they complimented each other. One could hardly imagine a cold wintery night without the shine of the moon on fields of white. "I suppose that's a fair enough reason." Nolan stood back up and brushed himself off whatever dirt and grass that was attached to his pants and jacket.

"Well, Lady- I mean, Nora, your company has been pleasant, but I am afraid that I should return to my family." He turned back to her and with his hand laid on his heart he gave her a polite bow. "I enjoyed our impromptu meeting, bumpy as it was. I hope that you find the rest of your day to be agreeable."

Nora stood as Nolan got up, setting her needle and Magnus’ shirt to the side. [colo=tan]”I have enjoyed it as well, Nolan. Please enjoy the rest of your day. I look forward to meeting again hopefully.”[/color] She returned, giving him a gentle smile. She didn’t want his earlier comment about never seeing each other again to turn true…

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Sylvia & Askel

Ignis 6th

---

The lovely early afternoon sun hung above the great city of Sorian, its streets abuzz with life of its upper crust in the noble dining district. Specifically, Sweet Serenity Creperie and Café was abuzz with life; partners bringing their significant others, parents bringing their children, and in this case a particular royal pair of siblings sitting together by a window seat.

They certainly had no trouble finding a table when they had informed the staff who they were though one could hardly call it a private luncheon. At the insistence of Ambrose a few personal guards were sent with them, some sitting inside at different tables to get a clean view and some that waited outside in shifts. Askel paid little attention to them though that was because he was a tad distracted by something else.

"Sylvie, I understand that you're excited. It's been a while since the two of us could go out like this, but I must ask... Why in the world am I dressed like this?" He motioned to his entire being. His typically fluffy messy mop of hair was combed to a painful level of neatness and his clothes fit for a valiant Varian knight and prince all handpicked by his sister of course, completely unaware of his dear sister's intentions. Askel felt a bit overdressed for the occasion, but as her older brother he felt obliged to spoil her every so often, especially given the amount of time that he had spent apart from her and everyone else.

”This only happens to be the newest and most popular cafe in all of Sorian! I couldn’t have you looking anything LESS than your best if we were to take advantage of…certain opportunities!” The bright smile on her lips might have seemed innocent to all that didn’t know her. Her vibrant blue eyes glancing towards each table as she made mental notes of unattached partners meeting specific qualifications only she knew. It was only then that her hands picked up the menu laid on the table before them. ”Oooh they have a triple chocolate cake, Askie! That’s THREE times the chocolate!” Sylvia barely kept her voice contained as she excitedly bounced in her seat.

Truth be told she hadn’t ACTUALLY gone in herself just yet. She had merely overheard some of the castle maids talking about a new cafe that was just opened and receiving great attention from a certain demographic she had been keeping a very careful eye on. Sylvia was just killing a few birds with one big stone.
A soft laugh parsed his way through his lips. Askel could never see through his sister's schemes, so when he saw her excitement, he only saw an excited girl that wanted to try the trendiest and newest places with great enthusiasm. Sylvia was so fortunate that he was so gullible when it came to family. "Only you would come to a creperie and look for cake." The prince said with a light chuckle.

A waiter was quick to approach them to take their order. "Buy whatever you want, it's on me today." Askel offered with a smile full of brotherly love for this precocious little creature that he called a sister. Once they were done giving their orders they were once again left alone.

Askel felt strangely awkward around her to no fault of her own. It really had been a long time since he had spent any time with her alone. It was easier when they were all together; they could all bounce off each other and talk normally, but now it was just them. Did the years he spent apart from her put a rift between them? Were they more like strangers than brother and sister? Those were the kinds of thoughts that ran through his head.
He cleared his throat and tentatively asked, "So, how have you been enjoying yourself? With the trip, I mean. It's not every day you get to leave Varian for such an extensive amount of time. Have you been making friends?"

”Thanks, you’re the best Askie!” Unlike some, she didn’t even pretend to resist the generous offer and took it in stride. Her eyes darted quickly through the menu, mostly as a show, before she placed her order. Slices of strawberry, velvet, and of course that triple chocolate cake were ordered. Sylvia, in a show of petty spite, ordered a single mixed berry crepe along with some herbal green tea with some honey.
The prince had been more conservative with his order; an order of mushroom crepes and a latte that stood in stark contrast to his sister's order. While he appreciated his sweets, Askel could never understand how she could tolerate eating so much cake.

Sylvia’s expression had yet to dim once since they had met up, only offering varying degrees of smiles. Her gaze had been flicking between the other customers, looking at their order as she considered what to get next time. Aske’s question managed to bring her attention back to him. ”Hmm, I would say it’s been pretty fun so far…” She adopted a thoughtful expression as she held a finger on her cheek. ”There’s been so much to see! As for friends…” Syvlia shrugged at this. ”I have gotten to know some of the maids, they told me about this place, remember?”

Askel blinked as he processed what she just said. Had she not met anyone yet? "Oh, right," he said to cover up his faux pas. Now he was worried for another reason.

Her smile brightened once more as her tea was set in front of her. She didn’t waste time and brought the steaming mug to her lips and instantly flinched at its scalding heat. Sylvia gingerly set the cup back down as she looked back at Askel. ”How about you Askie? This hasn’t been too much on you, right?”

Askel had a grin that radiated ease and shook his head in response to her question. "Oh no, on the contrary I've gained some acquaintances." He lifted the dainty cup of espresso and took of a sip of the scalding liquid though it appeared that his tongue was as calloused as his hands; the heat failed to faze him in the slightest. Delicately placing the cup down without so much as a clink, her brother continued.
With each finger he listed his limited number of encounters off. There's Knight Captain Stratya Durmand who I had an excellent spar with and then kindly treated me to lunch. She's also quite the baker, you'd like her. Then I met Olivia, that fiery lass fighting some nobles that were bullying some poor girl. I had to step in and scare them off, but long story short I'm training Olivia to use a sword so she doesn't die in an alley when she decides to become a vigilante again."

His face lit up as he remembered something very important and, well, indeed it was. "Oh, Mina dropped by my room to have tea and play cards the other day! It was so nice to catch up with her after all these years. Gods, I missed her, just as much as I missed all of you." The cogs in his head began to turn and that warm in his eyes faded away as he squinted at his sister; he knew what kind of machinations she had in store. Pointing an accusatory finger at her, Askel said, "Don't you dare even get any ideas with her, or any of them for that matter. They are off limits for your matchmaking schemes, okay?"

Sylvia’s smile and eyes grew wider with every mention of his new group of friends. She was barely holding back bouncing in her seat as she was so excited at the news. ”That is unacceptable, AS-KIE!” Her hand had slammed into the table before her as she stood up, only hard enough to make the table slightly shake without spilling anything. ”Three! Three wonderful, beautiful encounters with lovely maidens and you want to tell me they are off limits!” There were no restraints in her volume use as she expressed the closest thing to righteous fury.

She began to make a very short loop as she paced back and forth by her chair. ”A lady knight sparred with you and then took you to lunch? That’s basically courting for you! And you’re going to train some girl after you have saved her?!?” The frustration only escalated despite her somehow managing to keep from outright yelling. ”Best of all, you had a woman in your room! It’s…it’s….well scandalous!” The nerve of her brother for trying to stop her when there were three prime opportunities for him to find his wife was unbelievable.

Sylvia let out a small huff of her annoyance at him out as she sat back down, smoothing her dress out. ”Although…maybe it is best that I let the situations progress naturally. Something you’re doing is working to pull three women into your orbit like this….” The temper that had been swirling in her head cooled down as she thought it through. She smacked a balled fist into her open hand. ”Alright, very well Askie. I shall not construct any schemes to pull them….I shall just support you as a younger sister should!”

People were staring at the two siblings though Askel really could not blame them: his dear sister had made quite a scene and now his love life or lack thereof was now on public display. The only reason he suspected that they were not being asked to leave was because they were Varian royalty. A tired laugh passed by his lips at his sister's proclamation. "I do appreciate the fact that you care about my wellbeing, but you do realize that we have very different views on love, don't you?" His eyes cast down to his plate as he finally began to tuck into his crepe.

"They're all wonderful women, but my brain and heart are not in alignment." The prince admitted before he took a bite, his mouth filled with an herbaceous mushroom cream sauce. Taking his time to chew and swallow while he gathered his thoughts, he continued. "Romance between soldiers is frowned upon for good reason and Stratya is a Caesonian knight and I am a Varian knight. It wouldn't work even if we had feelings for each other; the compromises would be too much for both of us. I could never ask that of anyone." Askel dissected whatever fanciful ideas of romance that were in his sister's head.

However, he was not done just yet. "Olivia for all intents and purposes is a student. While she may not be my squire, she is someone who is trusting me and I am in a position of power and authority. I would not want to abuse either." He stated matter of factly. "And Mina is my best friend. The sort of love you're thinking is not what I want from her, and I know that's not what she wants from me either." Besides, he knew what kind of trouble Mina was going through and the last thing she needed was him to suddenly develop feelings for her.

"It would be easy to be infatuated with someone and call it love, but that would only lead to pain and I'm against hurting people." For a second, for just the briefest moments there was a faraway look in his eyes with something indiscernible, but it was just a flash in the pan. A grin spread along his face and he pointed his fork at her. "Besides, I am not so arrogant to assume that they would see me as a future husband. There are other more qualified bachelors than I."

Sylvia shook her head as she wagged a finger at her brother, tsking at his wonderful counter argument only to flop on his face at the finish line. ”You nearly produced a perfect counter, my dear brother, but I must vehemently dismiss your final statement. Thus I will disregard everything else as well.” While her voice still carried plenty of energy, Sylvia had reduced her volume to a proper level. The imperious look held only for a brief moment before her eyes softened and her smile relaxed.

”I merely jest. I hear what you are saying brother and I will not press them if this is how you truly feel.’ Sylvia let out a sigh as she leaned her chin on her hand. ”I actually do admire your thoughtfulness, stubborn as it can be at times.” There was a brief melancholic look as her thought drifted somewhere else for just a moment before a small shrug returned her typical, bright smile back to her lips.

”You are the brother of the most beautiful, talented, charming, and of course humble little sister. It is only a matter of time until the right one wises up.” She stated with complete confidence placing a hand on her upper chest, then dropped it shortly with a content sigh. ”I am glad we have gotten this chance to talk before the ball.” Sylviva uttered the simple statement with pure honesty. In truth, she felt out of all their siblings she was the most nervous to attend.

"I'm glad we were able to too." Askel gave Sylvia an appreciative smile and fought back the urge to reach over the table to lay a large hand on her head and ruffle her hair. It was always tough to be in a new place; people and customs that you don't know abound and there was very little familiar to find relief in. That was something he experienced with every new place he found himself in constantly adjusting and learning while making sure to not step on eggshells, so he of all people understood what it was like.

"Speaking of my 'beautiful, talented, charming, and humble little sister,' I hope that you are able to pull your focus away from my life and onto yours. I am willing to bet that you'll be catching the eye of many suitors." He chuckled and with a teasing grin for he knew how she was going to react with what he was about to say. For all of her talk of love and romance for others, whenever it was brought up for herself, she deflected it better than any well-placed strike. "And before you say it, Ambrose and I will not duel them. You'll never marry then."

His eyes narrowed as he focused on her face for a moment. "Hold on you've got some cake on..." He pointed to a bit of cake on the corner of her mouth. "Ah, let me get it." Disregarding propriety and her own protests, Askel reached over the table napkin in hand and began to wipe her face with the delicacy of someone trying to polish a sword to pristine condition. In other words, he was not very gentle.

Askel’s words seemed to perk Syvila up further and she used the brief pause in the conversation to eat more of her cake. Her expression shifted to varying degrees of delight from each bite. She became lost in the rich sweetness that when Askel spoke again she was in the middle of savoring another bite. The moment he mentioned suitors she swallowed quickly and not all went down the correct pipe. Sylvia coughed a few times slapping her upper chest as a rosy blush colored her cheeks. ”That is…I will not….”

Syliva found herself unable to find the right words when she furrowed her brows with a pout at his sudden change in subject. ”What cake? Askie what are you…” Her words shifted as she felt like her face was being molded like clay instead. Sylvia lightly slapped his hand away as she pulled her head backwards. ”Askie, stop! I am not a child. I can get it myself.” She took hold of the napkin next to her in a quick, pointed grab and dabbed the corners of her lips and cheeks.

”I do hope you intend to sleep with one eye open dear brother. I shall not forgive this offense.” Sylvia huffed and crossed her arms, her tone leaving whether or not she would follow through a mystery. A frown appeared on her face at the sparse holdovers of treats on the table. It seemed they, or she, had really gone through them fast. She did eat faster when she was nervous.

Seeing the discontent on her face, Askel realized that he perhaps went a step too far. He smiled at her apologetically though there was a strange tint of regret. "Sorry, sorry. I sometimes forget that you're not my little rambunctious sister with crumbs on her face, clinging to my side anymore. You're a grown woman and you have become a wonderful lady. I do hope you know that." There was so much that he had missed when he went off to see the world, so much time with her and their sister, their brother, their parents, and their friends. Seeing her like this, this girl that had grown into this graceful and beautiful woman, did make his heart ache and yet, he remained smiling because he was there with her now.

"But even as we get older, I will always be your brother, and I will always be there to lend an unjudgmental ear when there is something worrying you." He leaned forward with his elbow on the table and rest his head on his hand in a matter that was least regal. A smirk played upon his lips. "Such as your aversion to your own love life though I will not push on the matter further. Just know that if you ever feel ready to talk about it, I'm here for you now."

He leaned back into a proper position, knowing that his manners were relatively poor. "Or you could tell me what sort of ideas you had getting me gussied up like this." His hand gestured towards the outfit she picked out once again.

Sylvia let her arms fall back onto her lap at Askel’s heartfelt apology and couldn’t help the light blush that colored her cheeks. She was incredibly proud of all her siblings, but one fact she could never admit was that her image of a princely knight coming to her rescue largely came from Askel. Her hands were clasped in her lap as he continued and tilted her head as he leaned on the table. She fidgeted a little as he brought up her shyness around the topic again.

”That should be obvious, brother. I was certain you’d be approached by all kinds of wonderful, pretty girls by now…” She hummed tapping a finger to her lips though the mischievous tint to her words were lacking as she looked at him with fondness. ”I am really grateful to have you as a brother, Askie.” Sylvia paused and her lips opened and shut a few times as she tried to come up with what to say next. ”One day, I will. I just….it is…” There was a brief darkness, a weight in her eyes for a moment. [color=#F09A99]”We should really have another outing like this, but I promise it will just be for fun and no [i]other] reasons.”[/color] Syvlia quickly received with a giggle, a smile once again adorning her lips.

"Oh give yourself some credit; I am having fun," Askel reassured with a smile. "But I would appreciate it if I chose my attire next time." He half-joked; the outfit was actually a lot warmer than he anticipated and he was drinking hot coffee.
One day, he hoped that Sylvia could tell him what was on her mind, but the heart is such a fickle thing. It can carry an unbearable weight, but should a helping hand come to share the load then it may never take it. Askel could only hope that one day she could.

Pokémon: Start

@PlatinumSkink

Inventory

Items:
Key Items: Pokedex, Umbrella, Mandolin, Sketch pad and Graphite Pencils, Old Rod, Forearm Guard (Bracer), Dragon Chew Toy, Swanna Pail, Fruit Basket, Jacques’ Letter, Ferryman Phone, Bigfjord City Address, Sylvia’s number

General: 6x Potion, 5 Super Potions, 4 Great Balls, 12 Pokeballs, 3 antidotes, 3 paralyze heals, Red Scarf, Blue Scarf, Fighting Gem, Rock Incense, Repel, Ability Capsule, Moon Stone, Black Belt (Equipped), Fire Potion, 2 Berry Smoothies, 2 Berry Gummies, 2 Berry Bars, 2 Berry Poké Puffs, Rare Candy

TMs: TM57 Charge Beam, TM89 U-Turn, TM130 Mega Drain!

Badges: Shrine Badge

Pokédollars: 19,585

Roster

Cecil

Pokémon Name: Cecil
Species: Darumaka
Gender: ♀
Type: Fire
Personality: A jolly, over confident creature that will sass the hell out of people and demands cuddles.
Quirks/Talents/Aspirations/Other: It tries to mimic Basil drawing, but all that it makes are just scribbles and blobs. Also likes marmalade sandwiches. Her goal is absolute domination on the battlefield and help Basil out of his shell.
Level: 15
Moves: Rollout, Tackle, Incinerate, Rage, Fire Fang, Headbutt
Ability: Hustle
Held Item: None
Health & Status: 20%

Crocus

Pokémon Name: Crocus
Species: Bulbasaur
Gender: ♂
Type: Grass/Poison
Personality: Crocus is a curious, friendly creature. A bit too friendly and trusting for its own good.
Quirks/Talents/Aspirations/Other: His goal is to be an adventurer and go where no Bulbasaur has gone before! Smells like freshly cut grass.
Level: 15
Moves:Tackle, Growl, Leech Seed, Vine Whip, Sleep Powder, Poison Powder, Take Down
Ability: Overgrow. Boosts power of Grass-type moves when heavily damaged.
Held Item: None
Health & Status: 100%

Glory

Gender: ♂
Type: Fighting/Flying
Personality: (Up to player.)
Quirks/Talents/Aspirations/Other: (Up to player.)
Level: 17
Moves: Detect, Tackle, Hone Claws, Karate Chop, Wing Attack, Roost, Aerial Ace
Ability: Limber. Cannot be paralyzed.
Held Item: Black Belt
Health & Status: 100%

Stella

Pokémon Name:
Gender: ♀
Type: Psychic
Personality: (Not entirely up to player.)
Quirks/Talents/Aspirations/Other: (Not entirely up to player.)
Level: 72
Moves: Pound, Confusion, Tickle, Play Nice, Fake Tears, Double Slap, Psybeam, Embargo, Feint Attack, Psyshock, Flatter, Future Sight, Heal Block, Psychic, Telekinesis, Charm, Magic Room.
Ability: Shadow Tag. By standing on a target’s shadow, this Pokémon prevents the target's escape.
Held Item: None.
Health & Status: 100%

Volta

Gender: ♂
Type: Electric/Poison
Personality: (Up to player.)
Quirks/Talents/Aspirations/Other: (Up to player.)
Level: 1
Moves: Belch, Tearful Look, Nuzzle, Growl, Flail, Acid
Ability: Rattled. Raises speed if hit by a Bug, Ghost or Dark-type attack, or if Intimidated.
Held Item: None.

Soren

Gender: ♂
Type: Dark/Dragon
Personality: (Up to player.)
Quirks/Talents/Aspirations/Other: (Up to player.)
Level: 9
Moves: Tackle, Dragon Rage, Focus Energy, Bite
Ability: Hustle. Pokémon’s attacks are more powerful, in exchange for accuracy.
Held Item:
Health & Status: 100%

It was a trippy experience to ask a question and then suddenly remember the answer as if he had known it all along. There were many paths to reach their goal, but many obstructions and many ears to the ground. That meant really, besides a few trusted allies, that they were on their own. Another task to struggle against, but one that he welcomed if it meant someone could be saved.

"If our foes are strong and we're on our own, then where shall we seek strength?" Basil asked plainly.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Olivia & Askel

Ignis 4th
@Potter

---

The streets of Sorian were bustling with people. Flora Road’s bazaar had garnered attention from nobles and peasants for ages; whether merchants from other lands came to sell their goods,nobles to sell their wares, or peasants selling their goods for cash, it was nearly always busy. The cacophony of voices drowned one another out. Olivia sat on the edge of a nearby rooftop observing, her legs dangling over the edge. She wore a dark navy blouse, pants, and boots with a sunhat covering her head, and her lock red locks hung in braids. She watched a young girl dressed in rags with greasy hair, dust and dirt covering her and holding a basket that had seen better days. She bounced from stall to stall, attempting to convince people to purchase her eggs. Liv’s heart clenched; it was as if she were watching herself in the past.

Two noblewomen, arm in arm and nearly identical brunettes and their escort stood nearby, buying goods and selling whatever trinkets they decided to part with. Realistically, Liv wouldn’t be surprised if they were scamming others. As the peasant girl moved away, the man from the noble trio bumped into her. The girl, frail as she was, fell, and the contents of a basket spilled all over the ground. Eggs, milk, bread, and other average artistic trinkets fell to the ground. There was a pause as some people looked, and then the woman-a brunette-gasped loudly and dramatically as she gazed down at her dress. The young peasant girl (Olivia decided to nickname her Helena) stood up and dusted off her clothes sheepishly. She began gathering her items, but the women’s shrill yell made her flinch and stop.

”You wrench! You got your filthy milk all over my dress? Do you know how much this costs?” She raised her hand but the man caught it and held onto it.


”Now now, Priscilla, we shouldn't yell at people,” The man softened his voice as he began to dust off the lady’s dress. ”It’s not this brat’s fault she was born unlucky.” He paused for dramatic effect. ”Be a good rat and clean up your mess.” The two women howled with laughter. Olivia’s face reddened with fury and the girl’s expression cracked like an egg.

”Phillip, that was great!” The woman, apparently Priscilla, exclaimed. Her sister, still howling with laughter, pushed the girl to the side. She cried out and hit the ground again, and Olivia noticed dots of blood on the ground from where she must have skinned herself. She stood up, clenched her fists and cursed herself for not carrying her bow.

”Here little rat, clean up your mess.” The other girl teased, as she kicked around Helena’s items. Her face was red with embarrassment and anger, but she didn't say anything. As she went to grab the bread, Phillip picked it up and chucked it to Priscilla who held it out of the girls’ reach and laughed harder.

”What’s wrong little rat, you can’t reach it? Here, Petunia!” She tossed it to her sister. Phillip kicked her milk carton and eggs further down the road and picked her basket up.

”This is a basket? Are you serious? I guess you don’t need this thing anymore,” He ripped it apart as the girl jumped for it, tears streaming down her face.

”My mama made that! No! Please!” Helena cried out with grief.

Heat rose in Liv’s face and all she could see was red. Her heart clenched as if someone were squeezing it, and her lungs begged her to breathe or else she might collapse. Nobody stood in to help the poor girl and watched with horror and amusement. Phillip watched her leaping and kicked her backwards into the dirt, the trio howling with laughter. Priscilla set her foot on the girl’s back to keep her down.

Olivia moved silently. She parkoured and landed behind the group–silent and vibrating with controlled fury. A few heads turned to see her and blink with surprise. ”Put down the bread and give her back her basket.” Her voice was low yet menacing. Liv stopped the milk carton from cascading further away with her foot.

The quartet turned to her, all pausing, expressions and laughter halted to discover the saver of the young girl. Helena’s locks were smudged with dirt–in fact, it was hard to truly tell how much had been added during the scuffle. She flashed her a kind smile then turned to glare sharply at the group. ”I said, put down the bread, and give her basket back. Can you hear?”

Priscilla scoffed. ”And who are you supposed to be?”

Liv ignored her and stepped closer to Phillip. ”I’m asking you one more fucking time and then I won’t apologize for what happens next.”


Phillip gulped, seeing the fury in her eyes, the controlled calm she was oozing and the menacing look in her eyes–and tossed the bread to Petunia, but Olivia moved faster and intercepted it. She snatched it out of the air and handed it to Helena with a sweet smile. ”Stay behind me, darling.” She ushered her behind her. Helena froze, then ran behind her and clutched her bread.

”You three are picking on a weaker target; that doesn’t make you noble, it makes you cowardly. You are the worst of the worst.”

Petunia scowled at her and stepped forward. ”Do you know who we are, girl?” She bristled with indignation.

”No, but you’ll find out who I am in a second.” Olivia raised her fists and the three of them began laughing again raucously.

Phillip, enthusiastic about the fight and odds, pushed his sleeves up. Liv’s eyes narrowed and she stepped forward. ”You going to pick on someone your own size now, sugar?” She taunted with fury. She gritted her teeth and could feel the urge to use magic raise, yet she resisted–for now.

Phillip swung first, hoping to punch and knock her out–but Liv, anticipating his moves, leapt out of the way quickly and performed a roundhouse kick to his head. He yelped as his fist swung wildly, and stumbled backwards. Priscilla gasped in horror–again, was that all she could do?-- and aimed to punch her next while Petunia recoiled and then tried to intercept behind. Liv dodged them both and punched Priscilla in the abdomen and kicked her hard backwards.

As Philip regained his balance, he was ready to charge right back into the fray when he felt gravity fail him. Something lifted him into the air, a hand gripping the collar of his shirt. When he turned to see the cause, he discovered it was a young man with auburn hair and violet eyes that glared daggers right into his heart. Before he could say anything, he was just casually tossed aside like a bag of potatoes and landed unceremoniously onto his ass.

"Three against one? I'd ask if you had any shame, but I think we all know that this isn't the lowest you can go," Askel said with an amused smirk though his eyes told a very different story. To Olivia, he was just another noble judging from the way he dressed though his choice of clothes were far more subdued though of fine make. However, his clothes failed to hide an impressively strong physique that laid beneath it and attached to his side was a sheath that held his longsword. His presence could only be described as suffocating.

The young man feigned a polite smile and with clasped hands began to speak though his words, polite they may be, were laced with venom. "Pardon me, I couldn't help, but to overhear your exchange as I was passing by. Well, it seemed rather one sided by the looks of it. It's no wonder Caesonia's state of affairs are in such shambles with rabble like you running amok. Just a bunch of hoodlums," he said with never letting the corners of his mouth droop into a frown.

"Now I am a most gracious man. I am giving each of you a chance to repent and pay for whatever damages and more you have caused. A peaceful, just solution is better for all parties involved. Respectfully speaking, the three of you probably do not stand a chance against her and, well," For just a brief second, there was only menace. That polite smile fell and there was only scorn, those dark blue violet eyes were colder and sharper than any blade. "There are only a handful of people in Caesonia that could handle me and none of you are one of them."

He let his words hang in the air like a heavy morning fog before his expression relaxed and a smile crept upon his lips. "So let's settle this as cordially and politely as possible!"

Olivia’s eyes widened. Who was this? His outerwear described a nobleman and his physique told her there was more than meets the eye. She didn’t relax because she couldn’t tell if he were to be trusted yet. She huffed–three against one, she had done worse than that. Did she look like a damsel in distress? A spark of irritation rose inside but she quelled it with a deep breath. His politeness was merely a play–one that the trio had so graciously begun earlier. The venom could not be disguised with his flowery words of cordiality and peace. His words offered a threat, and though he was capable of carrying it out, she had difficulty judging whether there would be further consequences. How could this trio of insolent pigs be allowed to wander freely? Who was to say the trio wouldn’t perform such cruelty again? Clearly, whoever he was, he was the most gracious man. She wouldn’t say no to assistance, especially from what appeared to be a higher up nobleman.

The fury she had been withholding was beginning to dim, as the trio now looked flabbergasted that two people had stood up to them. She glanced at Phillip who was now sheepishly dusting off his pants while the two girls' feathers couldn’t have been more ruffled. ”You heard him.” Olivia gestured impatiently with her hand and glared at them. ”Give her back the basket, food, and get the fuck out of our sights.”

Priscilla, the queen of gasping, let out a tinier one and grimaced as she picked up Helena’s now dirty and broken basket. Olivia glared at her hesitation, then snatched it and handed it sweetly back to Helena who was trembling and wiping her eyes. She moved up to Petunia and glared menacingly at her. “I see you have food you’re not giving her.” she said coldly. “She’s clearly starving–share, for once in your miserable life.”

Petunia’s face flushed, and her fury gave way to reluctant compliance as she shoved food–bread, eggs, fruit and vegetables–toward Helena. Olivia didn’t wait; instead, she guided them into the basket, then moved back in front of her, with her shoulders tense and ready. ”Get the fuck out of here.” The trio exchanged a look before scattering, tails tucked.

Olivia exhaled and carved their faces and names into memory. She turned to the red-haired, violet-eyed man and offered a faint smile. ”Thanks for your help. What’s your name, sir?” Liv turned, hoping to find out the girl’s real name, but she had scattered like a leaf in the wind. Olivia sighed and fixed the onlookers with a glare until they remembered their business.

“And just so we’re clear,” she added, glancing back at him, her smile thin and humorless, “I could’ve taken them but your help was most graciously accepted.” She paused as a mischievous smirk flashed across her face. It wasn’t arrogance–it was a promise.

Askel had stood there with his arms crossed and still like a statue, his gaze stern and unwavering as he made sure that dear little girl was given her basket back and more. The only thing that moved were his eyes that followed every morsel of food that was shoved into the child's basket. As much as he would have loved to drag these nobles by the hair and throw them in front of a judge for their shared crimes, he knew that this was going to be the most amount of justice that could come out of this situation.

His eyes followed them as they skulked away, making sure that they truly had gone and were not just lurking around a corner. A sigh heaved from his body, not of relief, but of frustration that this was all he could do. At the very least a little girl had food, so he'd take whatever victory he could get.

His attention was turned to this spitfire of a young woman. The stern look faded into something softer and a chuckle light as snowfall floated in the air. "Oh I have no doubt that you could, but the trouble always comes afterwards. If a noble can't hurt you physically, then they are damn sure to try to hurt you in any way that matters. If you're going to fight nobles, you need more than a kick to the head." A scowl flashed upon his face as his gaze trailed back to the direction that the hoodlum nobles went towards. "Makes me wish those fools tried to punch me; King Edin would throw fools like them under a trolley to stay in our good graces. About the only way to get any sort of justice with people like them."

Olivia listened to the newcomer with her arms folded. Her gaze kept scanning their surroundings then landing on him. Anytime someone looked their way, she would scowl at them and they’d turn away sheepishly. While his words rang true, OIlivia was unconcerned. Her reputation was not something she worried about. As he continued speaking, her eyebrows rose–what did he mean with the King? Who was she talking to? Her chest tightened and her heart rate quickened. His fury towards the idiotic trio began to dim towards kindness and sheepishness.

A look of realization dawned upon him and gave her a sheepish smile. It was certainly a departure from the man whose words were laced with venom and a smile to kill. "My apologies, I have yet to introduce myself." He performed a small bow from the hip and laid his hand over his heart. "My name is Askel Camila, knight of Varian and second in line for the throne, but please, call me Askel."

Once he introduced himself, Olivia stiffened. She was speaking to a knight and a Prince? That explained it. Liv swallowed hard and quickly moved into a curtsy. ”Oh dear me, excuse my ignorance.” Olivia replied fervently and raised her head to meet his eyes. ”I am honored to make your acquaintance, Pri- Askel.” She corrected herself quickly.

The prince-knight returned to his natural pose though he was far more relaxed now than before. "So, do you usually go around playing vigilante or is this your first go around?" He gazed at her though one could tell there was no ill-intention; Askel was quickly studying her, and a look of worry painted his face. "To say you're awfully ill-equipped would be an understatement. What would you have done if either of them had a weapon?"

Olivia straightened once he had as well and smiled gently. Vigilante, huh? That was what he called her. Was she? She scratched her head and bit her lip. ”I was just enjoying the scenery and saw those thugs messing with the poor girl. So no to vigilante, but I do like to look out for the… lower class.” Calling them peasants caused her throat to clench. ”Eh, weapons don’t scare me much. I would’ve handled it just fine. They weren’t really lookin’ for too much trouble.”

As the memory of the tavern slunk through her thoughts, she bit her lip and leaned against the nearby brick wall. ”So, it looks like you handle yourself well too.” She paused, thought about her words, and continued. ”You seem to know what you’re doing, how do you feel like teaching me more defensive or offensive stuff? Cause if I see more nobles picking on the… lower class, I’m going to step in.”

Askel's brows lifted from his head at the sudden request to train her, this stranger that really took who he claimed to be at face value. On one hand, this was a terrible idea; one should not teach random people he meets on the street how to wield a sword. On the other hand, if she was going to keep taking justice in her own hands then she may meet her match one day.

With crossed arms and a furrowed brow, the prince said, "Normally, I would be against civilians throwing themselves headlong into danger, but in this case, I get the feeling that the responsible thing would be to teach you. I'd never stop worrying if you end up dead in an alley." The idea of this girl lying dead in the streets, cut up all because she had no way of defending herself properly and it would have been his fault. With a sigh, Askel relented to the imagery that filled his head and said, "Alright, I'll do it. You don't look like the sort to go out of her way to hurt someone, at least I hope so."

Preemptively, he held his palm out to her to signal her to stop her from saying anything else. "Before you offer compensation, and I do mean this as kindly as possible, I don't need anything. This is for my peace of mind alone." However, he offered her an appreciative smile. "But your name works too. I can't keep calling you 'you;' I may have been away from the court for years, but even I still must address a lady properly."

Laughter nearly bubbled out from Olivia at the word civilian. Not to mention, him thinking she'd end up dead in an alleyway. She knew her request was sudden, but how often would their paths cross? Then again, he didn’t know she was feigning nobility–perhaps they would meet more often than she anticipated. She folded her arms and listened to him–how he didn't want anything, and how it was for his peace of mind only. She smiled wryly.

“I do appreciate your acceptance. I’m not just some random stranger, Prince Askel. I’m Lady Olivia Hawthorne, and I am a family friend of Duke Lorenzo Vikena’s family. Also,” she smirked and pulled a blade from a hidden pocket. She twirled it briefly before letting her hand rest.

“Noblewomen aren’t usually walking around armed.” Olivia paused as she set it back. “I had this blade waiting in the wings, should I need it.”

Askel slowly blinked as he processed what she had just told him. She was a noblewoman? And a friend of Duke Vikena's family? And he spoke to her like she was just a commoner? Oh. Oh no. "I am so sorry" He exclaimed with great exuberance. "I just assumed that you, well, weren't. Most nobles don't go out of their way to those less fortunate than themselves." Askel tried to explain though a heavy sigh just poured from his lips. Maybe being away from the court for so many years had some drawbacks too.

Taking a deep breath to regain his composure, he said, "Be that as it may, a knife is not going to cut it in most scenarios, Lady Hawthorne. It's better as a secondary weapon, for surprise attacks, or extreme close quarters combat. A knife is light has very little defensive measures against anything bigger and heavier."

He folded his arms and looked at her as if he was peering through her, examining her build. As far as he could tell she certainly did not live a sedentary life, especially with that roundhouse kick she landed earlier. "So, when do you want to start?" The prince asked.

”No apologies needed,” She brushed his apologies off and smiled sweetly. She giggled at his reaction, but it struck a chord in her heart. It was true–most nobles didn’t care for the lower class. Charlotte was an exception. She waited until he had regained his composure and gazed around the marketplace briefly. Then her gaze returned to him as he spoke. She nodded in agreement. A knife wouldn’t cut it–her past told her that. Still, she wasn’t used to running around without her bow on her–these damned noble rules were too restrictive.

”I’m available when you are, Prince.” She replied and put her knife back in her pocket. ”I do appreciate it. What works for you? Also, I know it was random to just spring this on you. I was at that tavern event the other night on Drunkard’s Day and I really do want to protect people around me better.” She sighed.

”It’s been lovely chatting with you, by the way.” She then added with a grin, mischievously. ”I’d have hated to be the guy you picked up and tossed. You tossed him like a sack of flour,”

"I don't exactly have a packed schedule if I have time to throw men like that." He said with a humorous smirk. There was plenty of free time he had on his hands ever since he arrived in Caesonia; all of his duties as a prince and knight of Varian were on hold until the ball where he needed to show his best face. Well, his duties as a knight certainly were never put on hold. Olivia certainly was earnest in her desire to protect people though he could only wonder what happened during the Drunkards Day night.

Well, it was not really any of his business; if she wished not to go into the details then it was not his place to dig into it. With all of this free time on his hands he suggested, "If you wish to train right now then I would be able to accommodate you." However, he took a moment to consider what he just said.

"But I understand that you may have your own commitments, so how about this? The training grounds across the brewery are open to the general public, so I've been training there in the early hours of the morning. Meet me there and I'll give you your first tasks then." Askel offered as a compromise. He certainly would not mind having company in the wee hours of the morning.

Olivia laughed at his joke. Not only was he a knight, but he had humor and was friendly. It was oddly welcoming, but she didn’t let her guard down. Still, Olivia remained jovial and friendly herself–he was willing to train her, and she needed all the help she could receive.

”Tomorrow morning sounds great–thanks!” Liv replied. ”Um, I’m not sure where you were heading again, and I don’t want to keep you either in case anyone important wonders where you are. Think I’m going to go home and hope I don’t see any more trouble.” She nodded to him and then disappeared into the crowd like smoke.