Trash Panda

~Bonsoir~

Vail raised a brow when Lady Crest spoke his name, intrigued that she had picked him out among all his relatives in the manor. He didn’t recall ever meeting her before, but it seemed like Victoria had been drafting sketches of him during their time apart. The realization that he entered her thoughts so often was as endearing as it was flattering. He made a mental note to ask her if he could take a look at her work sometime, since she must have been a talented artist if her mother could recognize him after merely seeing his likeness on parchment.

Holding the widow’s gaze, he could tell by the dilation of her pupils that she could feel the effects of his pheromones on her psyche. However, to his interest, she seemed to compose herself before his eyes, shrewdly explaining the reason for her appearance. He would have lingered on the detail, curious to know how she had overcome her human weakness for his kind, if not for the disheartening news she had brought with her. Apparently the Wynters were moving, and fast. He set his jaw as she described what sounded like a small war between the Order and the other vampire clan, one that would certainly bleed over to ensnare his family as well. It was what he had been warning his father about for days, yet the leader of the Hygraces continued to willingly turn a blind eye.

“I appreciate that you came all this way to tell us,” he expressed, eyeing the scroll in her hand. As grateful as he was for Lady Crest’s efforts, he had a feeling Peter wouldn’t be quite so enthusiastic. His father’s method had only kept them safe when the Wynters hadn’t been actively trying to overthrow their clan. Keeping their heads down wouldn’t work if their enemies began pursuing them intentionally. Unfortunately, the clan leader was bullheaded, and had yet to listen to anyone who had told him that he needed to change his strategy. He doubted Victoria’s mother would have better luck.

At the widow’s following words, Vail blinked in surprise. Unlike his own parents, there was no sign of frustration in her voice and no hint of anger on her smiling face. “It was my pleasure,” the response formed automatically on his lips while he pondered her unusual reaction. After enduring nothing but disapproving reactions to his unorthodox relationship with the Crest heiress, receiving anything even slightly more congenial felt like a mirage.

What was more astonishing was that it sounded like she was giving him subtle permission to seek Victoria out while the Saints were away. He parted his lips to respond but didn’t speak a word before another voice said behind him: “Vail, what are you doing?”

The Hygrace heir turned to find that Peter was descending the staircase, followed shortly by Katherine. “I was just leaving,” he answered taciturnly.

“Hunting again?” his father frowned, walking to the door. “Careful you don’t overdo it. You’ve been going out quite a bit lately.”

“I’ll make it quick,” he assured the clan leader, stepping out of the manor before his father could attempt to convince him to stay. As he passed Lady Crest, he offered her a subtle, appreciative nod and then turned away to head to the wrought iron gate. His posture was stiff when he neared Ray, but he knew the Saint couldn’t touch him without inciting the vengeance of the Hygrace clan, so he said nothing to the other man on his way into the city.

Behind his back, he could hear Peter’s faint voice on the wind, inquiring what Lady Diana Crest wished to speak with him about.

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

That would be interesting! Was that also about the time you were thinking of having Gavin and Beatrix start talking?

Hope so! I'm too busy today, but I'm gonna try to play with the file sometime this week xD

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

When Penelope pulled back from the kiss, Crow met her gaze with a grin, panting as he caught his breath. Hearing her call him her suitor sent a thrill of excitement up his spine. Until recently, he had never believed any woman would choose to let him court her. When he’d been living in the outer villages, the most interest anyone had shown in him had been purely physical. He had thought that the best he would ever get were the one night stands he got away with when he met girls at the taverns. After he and the knight had gotten back together, he still didn’t have much hope for a traditional relationship, since her father had seemed like he would refuse to give them his blessing. Apparently, he had been very wrong.

“I’m still trying to wrap my head around it,” he admitted with a laugh, resting his cheek against her head while she stayed in his arms for a minute longer. As they embraced, his gaze drifted over the edge of the crenellation to look at the snow-covered citadel. Alone with her on top of the tower, he found himself hoping that this was a portrait of what their future together would be like. If it was, he had more to live for than he ever had in the two decades he’d been alive so far. He made a silent vow to himself to be the best suitor he could be to her, and the best husband following the eventual wedding.

When she stepped back from him, Crow let his arms drop back to his sides. Absently, he was glad that he’d thought to stop by his bedchamber to get his cloak before he’d joined her at the tower. The winter wind that blew by was even more frigid when they were so high off the ground. Without her close-up heat to keep him warm, a shiver ran through his body.

“That won’t be hard,” he smirked, reaching to take her hand and giving it a gentle tug as he headed back toward the hatch. “All it will take are a few public displays of affection, and the rumormongers in this castle will take care of the rest. Now, come on. As your suitor, I’d like to accompany you for a meal in the Great Hall… and maybe a kiss to put all those noblemen who’ve been after you in their place.” He casted her a wry wink.

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

Same! And I might have to postpone posting until tomorrow morning ^^; I thought my class would be short today because it was the first one, but it lasted for the full two hours, and I have to clean before we have people over for a game night in three hours. I'll write one if I can, but it depends on how long everything else takes.

Amnesia [Suki & Summer]

It was really cute! I'm thinking I'll push us forward to when Cas almost kisses Iris and they get the call to come back in my next post.

My first class today got cancelled because my professor is sick, but I've got another one soon, so I'll probably get my reply up after I get home!

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

They're really not xD I've already been planning out pieces of how I think it's all gonna go down when Albin tells Crow to break things off with Penelope.

--

EDIT: I just found the old score for the orchestral arrangement of one of the songs I wrote inspired by this RP buried deep in my email (it's dated back to 2014 lmao). I'm gonna try to turn it into a sound file! If it works, I'll send it to you ^^

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

When Crow reached the top of the stairs, he pushed open the door above his head and was pleased to see that Penelope had arrived first. He would have been too excited to sit still if he’d had to wait for her on the tower, and he didn’t know how much longer he could go without telling her how his conversation had gone with Albin. It almost felt like a dream. After over two years of hamstrung attempts to be together, first in the outer villages and then in the inner kingdom, they had finally checked all the boxes they needed to take a step toward getting married. He couldn’t wait to move forward from all the people who had both intentionally and inadvertently tried to keep them apart.

Climbing up the last few steps, he dropped the hatch behind him and stepped over to the knight. As eager as he was to share the news, he couldn’t help but notice how stunning she looked in the low light of the sunset. Her skin had a warm glow, and the shadows casted across her face contoured her already beautiful features. He marveled that this woman wanted to be with just as much as he wanted to be with her. It was amazing that he’d gotten so lucky.

“He said yes,” he breathed, winded from the long flight of stairs and the excitement that had built up inside of him. A grin took over his lips, and he swept Penelope into his arms in an affectionate embrace, unable to contain his delight any longer. “He didn’t even protest; he just said yes! We don’t have to hide anymore.”

Without waiting for a response, he pressed a kiss to the knight’s lips, holding her tightly. No longer would they have to pretend like they weren’t interested in each other or sit back and bite their tongues when someone else tried to woo the other. They wouldn’t even have to look over their shoulders just to steal a peck on the cheek. At long last, they could announce to everyone that they were in love with each other, and he couldn’t have been happier.

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Albin may not be as approving as Crow thinks ^^;

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Albin leaned back in his chair and studied his son with an unreadable expression. Though he said nothing at first, Crow could tell the king was hesitant to keep proffering favors when he had already compromised so much lately. He fidgeted anxiously in his seat as the silence dragged on between them. He would have brought up his desired courtship with Penelope first if there had been an easier way to do it, but it had been a more natural transition to pique his father’s interest with the mention of the guards on his trip. Now, he just hoped the king’s generosity hadn’t been fully spent.

“I’ve catered this journey to your liking as much as I reasonably can, Collin,” Albin pinched the bridge of his nose as he ended the stillness. “I’m sorry, but to do this job, you’re going to have to put up with some things you don’t like.”

“No, no,” Crow shook his head. “It has nothing to do with the trip.”

“Then what is it?” Albin frowned bemusedly.

The viceroy took a steeling breath. “There’s a woman—” He didn’t get any farther before his father let out a low chuckle.

“Oh, I knew this day would come,” the king said sagely. “You really do take after me in more ways than one.”

Not exactly, Crow thought dryly, though he held his tongue. “Yes, well,” he coughed. “There’s a woman at the castle with whom I’ve been captivated for a long time, and her father recently gave me his blessing to court her.” He spoke carefully, keeping his eyes fixed on Albin’s face to gauge his reaction. “I know you said you want me to put off marriage, but I’ve been working hard on my studies, and I give you my word that I won’t let it affect anything regarding the negotiation with Younis if you allow me to pursue her. I’ll keep my work and my personal life separate, so… can I tell her father that I have your approval?”

“Who is this woman that’s made you so smitten?” Albin asked.

The viceroy swallowed, “Penelope Vermillion.”

The king’s jaw tightened briefly, “John’s daughter?”

Crow nodded, “To be completely honest, I’ve been taken with her since she was my guard the first time I went to Younis.” He rubbed the back of his neck bashfully as he made the confession. “She’s also the reason why I accepted your offer to be viceroy… I was hoping that now that I’m a nobleman and now that her father approves of me, we could start courting.”

Albin said nothing at first, taken aback by the news that his estranged son had been interested in his friend’s daughter for so long. After a thoughtful pause, though, his lip curved upward in an incredulous smile. “I have to admit, I’m surprised,” he rolled his shoulders in a stretch. “But, you have been improving at an impressive rate, and I suppose your hard work should be rewarded. So, yes, you may tell John that you have my approval.”

Crow stared at him in astonishment. That was it. No argument. He’d gotten what he wanted without even a semblance of a fight. He grinned at the king excitedly, “Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.” Pushing back his chair, he stood up from the table. “And that was all I wanted to ask you. I’ll see you tomorrow, father.” He dipped his head respectfully and hurried out the door to find Penelope and tell her the good news. In his elation, he didn’t even notice Albin’s cold eyes on his back as he left the room.

--

On his way to meet with the knight, Crow only made one stop to fetch his cloak from his bedchamber. He walked at a swift pace through the halls of the castle until he reached the snow-covered courtyard. Following the path by memory, he crossed the open area to the garden and then beyond it to the door that opened at the base of the southern tower. Hoping that she was already there—or that she wouldn’t take long if she wasn’t—he began the climb up to the top, hardly noticing the burn in his legs and lungs as he ascended the spiraling staircase.

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Crow managed to get Albin to agree to one thing so far cx