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 Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 2:44 pm
Laci started to feel a little flustered. She didn't remember the dance asking them to be this close together. She glanced over her shoulder one more time to see the other ladies' expressions, they looked even more unhappier. Yeah, they weren't supposed to be this close. "Uh." she said refocusing on Nhil. "Well I don't know what you would like to know." She said flatly. He likely was just being polite, she didn't wan to bore him to death with stories he really didn't care to hear.
~ ~ ~ ~
Again Parry giggled. "What would I care if they have the wrong impression of me?" She asked moving in one more time, ignoring his discomfort. "I am a princess of another land. And I will never see these people again."
~ ~ ~ ~
Avarrosa sighed and moved in close to her husband. "I don't want to even think of those years. I know I was a handful when I was a teenager. They say your kids pay you back ten times." She shuddered lightly. "If she is even half as bad as I was." Avarrosa looked off into the small crowd trying to catch a glance of their daughter. "I will go to my parents and apologize."
~ ~ ~ ~
Paha laughed. "You never get used to it!" He glance back and forth between the two women on his arms then back to MiIllin. "Try having like ten girls on their pariods all at one time. It's enough to want to get neutered."
~ ~ ~ ~
Leonidas held Telmina close as he worked his way through all the people. He found little Afsana, by the deserts. What a smart child. Walking over her stood behind her as the lady smiled and was going to give her what she had asked for. "I'm sorry My Lady. But the little lady has yet to eat dinner, she can't have sweets with out eating proper food first."
The women looked down at the child then back to Leonidas and smiled and apologized before walking off.
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:13 pm
Nihl chuckled softly, "Don't pay them any attention, that's all they care about. If you ignore them, generally, they'll give up and go away." He looked thoughtful for a moment before continuing, "Yes, and, about you. Anything, I'd love to know anything. Tell me what you like, what you don't like and what you do for fun, or," his voice lowered, although he probably wouldn't have been able to catch himself if he had noticed, "what you want to do."
---
Once more, Attorra stepped back uncomfortably, and sighed, "Well, unlike you, I do have to face these people again, some of them daily, and I don't wish to give them anything to speculate about. They have enough already."
---
"Don't say something like that, I'm not sure I would ever live it down if I had to see my mother." He suppressed what seemed like a shudder and cleared his throat, "I'm sure you weren't all that bad. And, through my childhood, for the most part, I was relatively well behaved. Maybe it'll even her out." He smiled, "But we have a few moments to spend not worrying about her, what can we worry about instead?"
---
Millin laughed, "You won't find a damned man in the world who pities you, Paha, you brought all of that upon yourself!" He folded his arms and surveyed the crowd for a long moment before he sighed, "Attorra's such a girl. But your daughter seems interested anyhow."
---
Afsana's tiny little cheeks turned red in rage as she turned slowly, steaming, to face the General. "You're not my mom!" She hissed, fists and teeth clenched, "You don't get to take my cookies away! Give me cookies!"
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:40 pm
Laci took his advice and didn't bother to look back again. She could still feel icy daggers being wished into her back with their glares, but she didn't give them any more of their time. "I want to go home and finish reading a book. I was maybe fifty pages away from the ending when my father barged in." Laci could hear the last couple lines of the song. This set would be over in just a moment and he could drop her off and pick a new partner. "As for fun," She shrugged "I read, study, and play with my littler brother. Other then that my life is rather dull."
~ ~ ~ ~
"Like what?" she asked not trying to invade his space again. "Most of these people are just commoners off the streets, or people of your lands, right?" Parry shook her head. "They should respect you, and let you do what you want."
~ ~ ~ ~
Avarrosa smiled suddenly. They had came in late for this song, and it was beginning to wind down. "We could make plans for the night." She said lowering her voice. "Afsana is sure to be sleepy, we will probably have the night to ourselves." A dark glint was starting to sparkle in her eye.
~ ~ ~ ~
Paha laughed, one of those laughs that makes you gasp for air and your eyes tear up.
Nissa was giggling with Zanna who also found Millin's observation amusing.
It was a few more momments before Paha had enough air to actually talk. "Millin, Oh gods Millin. You can't tell?" He asked whipping his eyes. "Parry, Parry is that ones name." he started to chuckle. "Parry is a boy's name." He didn't think he would have to fill in any more.
~ ~ ~ ~
Leonidas smiled, ever so slightly. She had a temper worthy of any warrior he had ever met. Bending down to more her height but still tall enough she couldn't take a swing at his face. "Now little lady." He said with another small smile. "If you eat your proper dinner, I will get you some sweets. But you have to eat good food first."
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:07 pm
Smiling, as both the woman's statements and the music came to c lose, Nihl took a step back to join the rest of the crowd in applause before the music started up again and s=he stepped forward to reclaim his place as her partner once more. "I hope you don't mind, Lady Laci, but we didn't get to finish our chat." He picked up the dance, but to the new music, and started up with it their conversation once more, "Sounds like you prefer silence." Nihl laughed again, "Not a lot of that around here, I find that the ocean nearby is the best escape from it all, but, after so many years of it, they know where to find me. The book you're reading, anything special?"
---
"I was referring to my family, actually." Attorra took a step back as the music finished and bowed out, "Thank you, milady. But if you'll excuse me, I need a moment with my father."
---
"If not, I hear Attorra's really beginning to love this babysitting job." He smiled and put his forehead against hers as the music stopped. He leaned in to kiss her gently at first, before he slowly began to lose himself in it.
So much so he hadn't noticed the music starting up again.
Attorra walked by his dad's friend and his wife and loudly reminded them, "Music's started."
---
Millin made a bit of a disturbed face. "It's wearing a dress, Paha. What the hell is wrong with you?" He shook his head and was happy to see his son make a safe getaway. "Don't talk to me, child, go find a wife. A girl wife."
"Was that a boy?" Attorra was addressing Paha, and not happily. "Because that is not funny!"
---
"This is the good food, stupid head." Afsana stuck her tongue out and then proceeded to storm off, away from him.
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:38 pm
Just when she thought to make a quick escape she found herself set up to dance another set. "It's not that I prefer silence, It's just that I am not a fan of gossip and drama." She said stepping easily, this dance she knew well enough to do in her sleep. "As for the book, no not really. Just some thing to keep me entertained. " She was trying to keep from ending up plastered to him again. "It would seem you need a new place to relax your majesty."
~ ~ ~ ~
Parry frowned, he was rather cute. It was a shame he wasn't interested. Shrugging it off Parry soon found another hapless young man to lure onto the dance floor.
~ ~ ~ ~
Avarrosa was forced to pull away, or the two of them would be causing quite the scene. "You will get me into trouble if you keep that up." She said pushing her forehead against his lightly. A small pouted smile on her face.
~ ~ ~ ~
Paha restrained his laughter. "Yes Parry is my son." he had a stupid grin. "he insists he is gay, and he said the only way he would find a boyfriend was to dress as a girl. As long as he doesn't try to sleep with any one I could careless." He glanced down at Nissa who didn't look too happy.
"I told him he had to dress appropriately. he slipped out of his room in the dress before I could stop him." She said glaring the direction her son was dancing in. "Why is it out of all your kids I end up having the weird one?"
Paha laughed. "I don't know. It's not so bad. He wont have kids, and your not a grandmother yet. And he makes one less bunch of grand kids to make you feel old." Paha sighed
~ ~ ~ ~
Leonidas chuckled. Yes she had quit the temper. "She's cute isn't she Teli?" He asked the little girl how was still clinging to him and watching his progress through the crowd. She didn't say any thing and Leonidas continued to follow a small distance behind the little blond headed girl.
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:17 pm
"Unfortunately there's no place quite like the sea." Nihl sighed and smiled a half-hearted smile, "I could walk along the coast until I was far enough away from them to give me a breather, unfortunately something terrible would likely happen to me. I've awful luck. Not that I should worry, Grigori over there sees the future." He shook his head and laughed quietly, "I seem to be on about myself again. You dance beautifully, by the way, when you don't let those women and their nasty stares get to you."
---
Grigori sighed, "I'm not sure if you can earn a nasty reputation when the only man you're ever with is your husband," he pulled her close once more and started their dance again as not to be in the way, "but if I did decided to ravage you in the middle of the dance floor, that might look bad. Actually, it might look fun," he laughed, "and everyone else might look jealous."
---
Attorra made a face, and felt like he might vomit. What was wrong with these people. Lord Paha was it? Oh he was going to hate him forever. He suppressed any sort of face his instincts wanted him to make and excused himself, quickly exiting the conversation and the ballroom.
Millin sighed and looked angrily at Paha, "Thanks, now he'll never get married because he'll think all women are hiding penises under their skirts." He sighed and rolled his eyes, "I'd better go get him to make sure no other men find him alone to take advantage of his youth and innocence. And scrawny little limbs."
---
Afsana, who thought she was safe from followers, looked both ways before shoving open a secret door along a nearby wall. She disappeared into the hole and closed it behind her. Luckily she knew her way around, or the darkness would have stopped her where she was.
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Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 2:40 pm
Laci turned her head slightly to the side to hide her blush. "Thank you your majesty." She said finding some plant to stare at for a few moments as they danced by it. "You're no slouch yourself." Walking to talk about some thing other then this ridiculous dance she was being forced to preform she switched subjects. "It's safe to assume you're well taken care of then?" She asked wanting to keep the conversation on him and off of her.
~ ~ ~ ~
Avarossa couldn't help but laugh. The idea of the two of them, making love on the dance floor was just so crazy. "I think you would rune any chance of Nhil finding a wife if you pulled a stunt like that." She said keeping in step with the music.
~ ~ ~ ~
Paha chuckled. "Oh the boy will be fine, just wait for the testosterone to really kick in and he'll be more then happy to try and find a wife."
~ ~ ~ ~
Leonidas watched, with interest, as the little girl made it into a secret door. His job just got that much harder. Walking up to the spot where he saw her go into the door he stopped. "Telmina you're going to have to walk like a big girl now." He said putting the pouting child down.
Looking all around the room he made sure no one was looking, and pushed open the door. Darkness was the only thing he could see. Crawling in he reached back and pulled the little dragon child in before him. His eyes were already adjusting and he could see there was no immediate danger.
~ ~ ~ ~
The king and new queen of Mesalan had arrived and were being greeted by Kurag. They stood off in the corner of the ball room chatting. Thomas didn't exactly like Kurag, but to be polite and show respect for the king of G'reth he would treat all of his people with respect.
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Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:51 pm
Nihl scoffed like he wasn't sure the woman had just said what she did. Or maybe he was misinterpreting it. "I'm sorry did I hear you correctly? Am I well taken care of? I don't think the answer is for the ears of any young woman."
---
Grigori made a face, "You're right. Then he would do what we agreed as a default, I'd have to stand in for a wife until he found a proper one. And that might never happen." He managed to lift her chin and kiss her once more in the midst of the dance.
---
"Testosterone kick in for him or his potential wife?" Millin didn't think he should be making jokes, but sometimes it was too easy. He turned toward the exit that Attorra had escaped through and sighed, "I'll be back." He then proceeded out the door after his son.
On his way out, however, he noticed Mesalan and his wife had arrived and stopped to greet them, "Thomas, Clair, good evening. I trust you're well?"
---
Afsana, having grown up within the maze, knew exactly where she was going. She took a few small twists and turns and one sharp corner before emerging into a room with just a tall staircase and a single torch on the wall. Immediately, she took to the stairs. Unfortunately, with her little legs, the stairs would take her much longer than they would anyone else.
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Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 3:35 pm
This time Laci could not hide her flush. Her checks burned as red as any signal fire. "No, I believe you misunderstood me!" she said loudly before she could get her voice under control again. A few women close by turned and looked at the two and began to whisper, again. "I meant since Grigori, was is, can see the futur he must take good care of you, steer you from harms way and what not." She said quickly.
~ ~ ~ ~
Avarossa giggled and quickly pulled away. She wouldn't be lured into causing another scene. "I do believe I would pay to see you married, to a man!" She giggled again and smiled. "But isn't he still dancing with the first girl? You might be in luck. Keep an eye on him, and if you can catch him doing some thing that might force a marriage, well be ready to point an accusing finger." she said with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
~ ~ ~ ~
Thomas was thankful for the distraction. "Ah Millin!" He said quickly extending a hand to greet the man. "How have you been, fatherhood treating you well?"
~ ~ ~ ~
Leonidas was sure to keep himself and Telimina far enough behind the little human girl as not to be noticed. But if they didn't get out of here soon his back was going to give out. Crawling around like a child was not easy for a full grown man in heavy clothing.
Finally they reached a room with lots of room and just as many stairs. Mentally curing the child he began to ascend the stairs after her.
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 5:15 am
Nihl couldn't help but smile as the woman seemed a bit flustered, "Ah, I apologize, I'm really terrible, I am. He nodded and smiled as she continued, "Yes, both my brother and my friend have been doing quite well in watching out for me. But they seem to be busy with their own families more and more of the late. I think it's why they want me to have my own. So I'm less of a bother to them."
---
"Who said anything about marrying him?" Grigori made a face, "I meant all of the other unpleasantries." He smiled in place of a louder laughter to keep them from making another scene before his wife presented her wicked ideas, "Well, you are just naughty today, miss. Someone's getting a spanking tonight."
---
Millin rolled his eyes and replied with a "Not well, as it does for most. And Paha's decided to be no help." He sighed, "One day you'll know all of the tortures as well, won't you." He slapped Kurag playfully with the back of his hand and laughed, "You too."
---
Afsana, still thinking she was alone started loudly singing one of her favorite bedtime songs as she continued to take to the stairs like a mountain. Soon though, she had to stop to yawn. She certainly hadn't had a nap that day, or slept well the night before, because she liked to fight with mommy about bedtime. She finished her yawn however, and kept climbing and finally came to a side door. She opened it and climbed another four or five steps to a trapdoor which she pushed up on to emerge in her and her parent's room in the palace.
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 4:44 pm
Laci still felt blush burn on her cheeks. "Families are important. Especially for some one like you. I mean you have the crown to pass on after all." She said nodding her head. "Have they started to pressure you yet?" She asked looking up again, they were close again. "My father has started with it, the 'you need to get out more or you'll never find a husband'." She said mocking her father's tone.
~ ~ ~ ~
Avarossa couldn't help but giggle some more. "Oh sweetie." She suppressed a bigger laugh. "I am afraid if you took over the jobs of a wife, you would come crying back to me with in a day or so." She danced carefully, trying not to step on her husband's feet. "or he would be rid of you once you didn't produce him a kid."
~ ~ ~ ~
Clair sighed "Please, don't encourage him. He wants a palace full of children." She didn't sound like she was happy about the idea.
Thomas chuckled. "I love kids darling, just look at old Millin, doesn't he looked thrilled with his kids?" He asked smiling at the man.
Kurag laughed. "The poor man is nearly pulling his hair out because his two daughters. I am sure he is happy!" He laughed again.
~ ~ ~ ~
Leonidas chuckled to himself, the child was starting to slow down. If he got lucky she would fall a sleep and he could just keep watch over her. He waited till she was into the trapped door. Silently he listened to the girl in the other room. He didn't want to go in and scare her away.
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:17 pm
Giving the woman before him a smile, Nihl nodded, "Yes of course. Though that was the goal with both of the failed marriages." He made a face like he broke something of great value and looked away, "I'm sorry. That's not a very thrilling topic, though it is eventful, mostly it's nonsense. Lessons learned on my advisor and brother's behalf." He looked back into her eyes however as he spoke again, "You should heed your father's advice, but still, take the time to fall in love. It's something that everyone deserves."
---
"Jokes on you, because I'd have a kid the next day," Grigori smiled smugly, "I'd adopt one immediately, to get Nihl to 'stop doing that!'" He laughed as he mocked a womanly voice at the end. He returned to a more appropriate stance and finally finished his laughter before he sighed, "Maybe one day, Nihl will be as happy and lucky as you are." He winked, knowing full well she should know he was kidding.
---
"He is." Millin replied, emphasizing his sarcasm, "Especially when they run out of the ballroom crying and holding up the sides of their dresses." He nodded, "Yep, I'm headed after that one now. Poor Attorra."
---
Afsana continued to sing the songs loudly to herself as she fished under her parent's bed and pulled out a key that she certainly wasn't supposed to know about. From there she waltzed out of their room through the usual entrance and toward another seemingly normal wall. Checking to see that the coast was clear, she moved a heavy tapestry out of her way and, with the key, unlocked a small door to reveal the king's secret sweets stash. She giggled proudly at her success and started collecting armfulls.
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 3:13 pm
Laci had heard of the king's failed marriages. She heard plenty of rumors having about them as well. But she could see his look and decided not to make another comment on it. "I know. But my father is being rather pushy." She said a slight whine in her voice. Like she had had this conversation many times. And had pleaded her case just as many. "If I don't find some one soon he may try to sell me." She said with a dramatic sigh. Once again the music was starting to slow to an end.
~ ~ ~ ~
Avarossa took on the look of an offended women. "How dare you sir!" She pulled back, only slightly. "No women whines like that!" a small giggle ruined her act of being angry. "I only hope he gets to be as lucky as you and finds a smoking hot wife, like your wife." She said with a totally straight face.
~ ~ ~ ~
Thomas frowned. "Your son is in a dress?" he asked clearly confused.
"I just saw the boy head out that way. I didn't see a dress on him." Kurag said looking over his shoulder to make sure he had seen right.
~ ~ ~ ~
Leonardo emerged from the trap door to see the child stealing sweets. Shaking his head he crawled from the door way and pulled Telmina up with him. "I don't believe you are supposed to be eating those." He said walking over and snatching the child up.
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:14 pm
"Well Miss Laci, you've said once that dancing is not your forte, and here I've made you suffer through two sets already." He smiled as the dance came to a close, but held onto the woman's hand. "I don't know about you, but I could use some fresh air. Fancy a stroll around the palace walls, milady?" He thought on that for a moment, "Of course you wouldn't not by yourself with a strange man, I would hope you would say no. How about, then, my friend and his wife join us, hm?" He turned away to face the married couple coming to a complete stop, "Grigori! Ava! Join us." Although he usually never exercised his right as king to give commands in an aggressive way, he had a tendency to make them sound gentle, but still not optional.
Grigori smiled and nodded, "I can get into that." He pressed his forehead to hers again as they began to slow with the music until their moment was intruded upon by the King's "request". He sighed, "Let's see what he wants."
---
Millin pat Thomas on the arm and smiled weakly, "Paha's son actually. I'll explain later." He turned to face the dance floor where Nihl seemed to still be in the company of one woman and holding her despite the fact that the music had stopped. He suppressed a smirk and cleared his throat, "My my, this might prove to be much easier than we thought."
---
Leonidas's voice startled Afsana nearly out of her skin. She jumped, dropping half of the contents of her arms onto the floor. Looking up, and seeing him coming for her, she ducked and attempted to make a run for it screaming, "Help help! Somebody! I need an adult!"
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:40 pm
It was clear he wouldn't hear of a protest from her. But with him being the king and what not there was no way she could have protested a walk any ways. Nodding her head she glanced over to just who he was talking to. Laci had read stories of young men luring young women off to be ruined. But that couldn't happen with friends. Clearly the king was a smart man.
Avarossa walked with her husband to see the king, and what was this, his lady friend. "Hello your majesty." Avarossa did a small curtsy.
~ ~ ~ ~
Thomas made a slightly worried and disturbed face. "Paha's son?!"
Kurag looked to see what Millin was looking at. "You may have gotten lucky."
~ ~ ~ ~
Leonidas was quick, from training, and from raising five kids of his own. Dashing after the child he tried to snatch her up again. "You need an adult to teach you manors!"
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