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 Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 8:17 pm
"W-wait, no, you don't have to--" Lee's cheeks grew red, and she rubbed her shoulder nervously. "I-I wouldn't wanna bother him, ya know?" Faolan picked up on her fondness of Rory pretty quickly it seemed.
"Eh... I wasn't really looking. But I'm pretty sure it took like a second for them to change. I looked over and saw two naked kids." Lee laughed nervously, wishing she had more to tell the woman. "But they were both excited, I think."
While her answer hadn't really told him why she had blushed, he didn't bother pushing it. Lauss was relieved to hear Rhian knew where she was going, but once they arrived to the stage his face dropped a bit. "It's over?" A large crowd was drifting away from the area, and the stage itself was empty now.
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 8:37 pm
"I donnae think he'd find it a bother, Lee. He's reet fond o' you," Faolan chuckled, walking out after Ziazan. He was in total matchmaker mode now and there wasn't any way to talk him out of it.
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:09 pm
Ellandra blinked. Then she smiled. "I suppose that must have been a shock, hmm?" Walking over to the couch, she gestured for Lee to follow as she sat down carefully. Once Ziazan and Faolan were outside, she smiled at Lee - perhaps a bit deviously. "Now. . . . what's this about a "Rory"?"
Rhian shrugged. "Don't worry, Lauss-teacher. Another show will start soon enough. Want to dance until then?" She asked cheerfully, squeezing her fellow alter's hand gently in a comforting manner.
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:26 pm
Lee bit her lip, sighing as Faolan walked out. He was really coming over, wasn't he?
"A little, yeah." Lee followed behind Ellandra, sitting next to her carefully as to not disturb the pregnant woman. Her heart beat a little faster at Ellandra's mention of Rory's name, and Lee sunk a bit in her seat. "He's just... a boy." Biting her lip, she figured there wasn't much hiding it if he was to be coming over for dinner. "A very sweet boy." Looking down into her lap, she could feel her cheeks burning.
"Would Rhi like to learn the waltz? That's the only dance I know." Assuming she'd say yes, Lauss hopped off toward the stage, bounding up the steps, ready to begin.
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:38 pm
Ellandra smiled warmly and lifted Lee's chin to make her look at her. "Don't be embarrassed, Lee. Remember, this place is full of endearing and charming men. How do you think I wound up here, hm?" Really, Lee needn't be so embarrassed, it wasn't like she had anything to be ashamed of. Oh well, she wouldn't pressure the teen about this Rory, she'd meet him later on, it seemed.
Rhian nodded and giggled, following Lauss and falling up the steps on the way. Unfazed by the crash, she righted herself and got to her feet, stepping over to Lauss and ready to try. "Oh, yes please, Lauss-teacher! This will be fun!"
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:12 pm
"B-but Ellandra, he isn't just charming. I mean... he's really different. And... I think he likes me. Or at least he thinks he does." If she could talk to anyone about this, it would be Ellandra.
Lauss had almost gotten used to seeing Rhian trip, and simply tilted his head and checked from a distance for any scratches before smiling back at her. Lifting his arms as he'd done with Ellandra at the ball, he instructed her where to place her own. "It may be easier when there's music..."
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:19 pm
Ellandra's smile grew warmer, and she patted Lee's hand gently. "well, why don't you tell me more about him then? He seems to be someone very special." Oh yes, Lee very much liked this young man. How wonderful for her - and for him, if they both liked each other that much.
Rhian shrugged. "It's okay, there will be music another time," she said, placing her arms as Lauss instructed. This was going to be so nice. At least, as long as people didn't show up thinking this was an act or something. Oh well. Even if they did, who cared? Not Rhian, that was certain.
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:39 pm
Taking a deep breath, she thought a moment before continuing. "Well... he's shy. And seems like he has a hard time with girls. He likes animals, too, I think. Or at least horses. And, you'll see, he's really cute." Sighing a bit, she looked up at Ellandra worriedly. "The problem is, I don't think he'd like me too much if he got to know me..."
Lauss beamed down at Rhian and began moving his feet as he'd seen Ellandra do. "I suppose you just follow my feet with yours." He thought to himself that this was good practice to learn to keep his balance. Couldn't hurt Rhian either...
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 11:05 pm
Ellandra unthinkingly wrapped Lee in a hug. "Sshh, none of that now, Lee. Give him - and yourself - a chance," she said, smiling at the teenager. She was so uncertain of herself. "And if there's anything you truly dislike about yourself - and I do mean you, not what you think Rory might dislike - then you'll just have to work to change it, that's all"
Rhian nodded. "I'll try, Lauss-teacher," she said, biting her lip and concentrating on her steps. Hopefully she could get through this without falling down. . . .
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 11:35 pm
Lee let her head sink down as Ellandra hugged her. "I just dun want him to be disappointed..." But she'd give it a chance. There were things that would have to change. Perhaps everything she disliked couldn't be helped, but she could at least try to fix little bits. Perhaps it was easier said than done, though... "...What do I do about Lauss? What do I say if Rory meets him?" Perhaps this was even too much for Ellandra to help with, but she may as well ask.
Lauss quickened up the pace only a bit, starting to get the hang of it. He took his eyes off his feet for once and looked up at Rhian. He knew that the waltz wasn't meant to be romantic, at least if he were to be true to the Victorian times, but he couldn't help but feel the sense that Rhian was special. He was once more wonderfully uncomfortable when she was this close. "May I kiss you?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:42 am
"Oh, Lee," Ellandra said,, hugging her a little bit closer. "Don't worry about that, hmm? I highly doubt he'll be dsappointed in any fashion, so just enjoy the time you get to spend with him, hmm?" She paused and thought for a minute, a floral aroma drifting around the area of the couch without being overly noticeable.
"I suppose, about Lauss. . . the best thing to say would probably be that he's a servant who followed you when you left your parents'. . . it's the closest to the truth, and would be easiest for him to follow. Perhaps he followed you because of his loyalty, and because he met a certain girl who was also heading to Farstep - that way Rory won't have any reason to worry about any romantic relationship that he might otherwise assume. . ." It wasn't the best cover story, but it was all Ellandra could come up with, truly.
Rhian beamed even as she struggled to follow the steps without tripping, but nodded. "Yes, Lauss-teacher - I would like that very much!"
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:28 pm
"O-okay..." It was nice to get her worries off her chest, but she still couldn't help the dreading feeling she got whenever Rory was mentioned.
So she would have to lie to him. That's what she was dreading. But honestly, she didn't have much of a choice -- either that or have Banning very unhappy with her. Ellandra brought up a point that Lee hadn't thought of yet -- Lauss being mistaken as a boyfriend. But even that had been covered by Rhian, and Lee was actually a bit thankful the alter had gotten into the habit of kissing him in front of everyone. "That would actually work, wouldn't it? I mean, I won't tell him to lie, just... sorta avoid Rory." She didn't imagine Lauss would want to deceive, or have the ability to fabricate details of his cover story when needed. The only thing he'd have to do is keep his distance. A weight was lifted from Lee's shoulders, and she sighed before thanking Ellandra. "You're the best. Seriously."
Lauss kept his feet moving, guiding Rhian about the stage and preparing himself, the nervousness rising in him now that he was somewhat committed. Practicing his lip movements, timing how long it should last, planning where to best place his hands -- above the shoulders, of course -- he finally stopped dancing and looked down at Rhian. This would take a lot of concentration. Taking a deep breath, he haltingly brought his face closer to hers, looking down at her lips the whole time until they were nose-to-nose. Lips puckered, his eyes floated up to meet hers and all at once his planning was erased from his mind. In fact, everything had vanished; everything but Rhian's eyes. A hand moved on its own, fingers brushing through her hair before he leaned in and closed his eyes. His was a sweet kiss, not passionate like Rhian's had been, but loving all the same. Not at all what he's planned.
Breaking away, his thoughts flooded back to him, and so did a sense of disappointment. "That wasn't right, was it? I apologize, Rhi." Surely he'd messed up; all his calculations had been forgotten and he'd been forced to make it up. Surely that wasn't the way to go about kissing someone.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:07 pm
Ellandra blinked. Then she smiled a little. "No, Lee, I'm far from the best, but I think I at least came up with a workable solution for you - hopefully without Faolan having to claim any more Essentics as long-lost children," she said thoughtfully. "I suppose it's a very good thing Rhian's so taken with Lauss, in this situation isn't ? And I do believe he's very much taken with her, as well. . ." The brunette trailed off for a moment, then looked thoughtful. "I wonder where they've gone; I hope they can manage to stay out of trouble and not draw too much attention to themselves. . ."
Rhian was aware of Lauss' rising nervousness, but didn't totally understand why he was so scared. Then he kissed her, a sweet, gentle kiss, very much like his own personality. When he broke it off and looked so disappointed, Rhian could barely find the wits about her to shake her head. "No, Lauss-teacher, don't apologie. . . that was perfect." Kissing him on the cheek, she smiled warmly at him and explained a little further, "You felt with that kiss, that's really the only part that matters in the end." Then she pulled him into another, more passionate kiss, which was broken when a voice yelled out,
"Oi! Looks like the kissing booth's been moved onstage for now!"
Then, and only then, did Rhian realize that the stage-area wasn't deserted any longer. In fact, a small but very-much-present crowd had gathered, and in a moment of Ellandra-like shyness, the flutterby eeped and hid behind Lauss. "Let's get out of here, Lauss-teacher, quickly!"
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:44 pm
Lee nodded, thinking that perhaps it would have been best if they'd been escorted... "I'm sure they're fine..." She wasn't sure she believed herself.
A perfect kiss? That would mean he'd have to keep himself from thinking from now on. It might take some practice, but perhaps emotions would come easier if he didn't try to make them logical. Lauss tried to clear his head as Rhian kissed him again, but found it difficult as he noticed a small swarm of people were walking toward them. As Rhian pulled away, Lauss tilted his head and looked down at the source of the voice. "Kissing booth?" He barely noticed Rhian hiding behind him, but nodded at her request and casually began to walk off stage. "Are we in trouble?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:15 pm
Faolan returned with Ziazan, both carrying paper sacks of food. Rather than cooking for several people, the young man had simply opted to get hamburgers and fixings for everyone at the vendors close by. Behind them a teenaged boy with shaggy black hair followed, head down a bit. All three were well into some conversation about horses.
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