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 Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:05 pm
the courtland Founded by an art collector by the name of Joseph Courland, the Courland is a round shaped art museum with five levels of art both above ground and below. It host a wide variety of modern art and contains everything from Minimalism, Dada, Contemporary, Gigantism, Super realism, and more. While the museum is a wealth of art and beauty, it also holds tri-annual art exhibit for modern novice and undiscovered artists during the spring, summer, and fall. The most popular exhibit is the kinetic sculptures which are allowed to roam the second level of the museum in a continuous loop. All levels are open to the public but the fifth level (the only underground one) is a frequent host of parties and contains a large IMAX screen for artistic films and documentaries. Due to the active schedule of the Courland, the musuem is rarely closed except at earliest morning time.
"I know."
"...Sir?"
"I'm waiting for someone."
If anything, Irene looked more like one of the street thugs than a noble. He did not wear a Jacket (even though it was in the middle of winter), and his hair was uncombed and set loose, flying with the night wind. He wore a plain white undershirt that was usually worn underneath all the decorative and expensive clothings under normal circumstances, and the shirt was left unbuttoned half-way, revealing the young noble's slender but strong muscles.
If moonlight had shone on his face, one could see a clear mark which indicated that he was slapped by someone. Because of it, the side of his cheek burned and swelled a little, but Irene seemed to not notice. There was a serious and determined expression, and his eyes, now looked golden, stared into space, searching for the one to appear.
The one he snuck out to see.
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:14 pm
The woman would appear as she had been ordered, and she didn't look any happier about it at night than she had during the day. She opted to wear a long embroidered skirt of rich purple and black, with a blouse of the same color and markings, cinched at her stomach. It was long sleeved and very demure, suitable for her position in society and enough to keep her warm. Her hair was pulled up much in the fashion it had been at the Masquerade, pinned and looped to keep it out of her face in the chill breeze of the night. A shawl draped over her shoulder, clutched at the breast with one hand, the other gathered about her skirts to allow easier walking.
Her face was pale and uneasy, clear to see in the moonlight since she was approaching the museum. She hadn't been here since Qadir and Degas, and she easily missed Irene in the shadow of the large building. Crystal sighed quietly to herself, looking around with mixed apprehension and weariness.
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:52 pm
The young noble's eyes brightened a little as he spotted Crystal approaching. His heart skipped a beat, as Irene suddenly became nervous. On one side, he was happy that she came, but on the other...
It was already dark, and, for someone who had a fear for darkness, Irene was not all that comfortable with the meeting place. Yet, it was the only quiet place that he knew about, and it was a place that if anyone were out to search for him, here would be overlooked. He was already yelled at, and hit upon by his strict mother for disappearing during the day, and now...he knew what he was risking, and for a fleeting moment Irene wondered if he should turn back and head home. The poor maid who sympathized with him had already done enough favor to let him out, Irene would feel guilty for her if he was found missing under her watch.
But now that the flower girl was here, Irene wasn't sure if he should go back. No, he shook his head, it was too late for that. He could already feel the angry emotion that existed during the day coming back to him. There were so many questions he wanted to ask, and he'd regret it if he didn't ask now...while he still had the chance to meet with her.
Seeing her approach, the young noble walked toward her, stopping halfway and waited for her to come close. Golden brown eyes stared at Crystal with a defiant calmness, and looked cold under the dim moonlight.
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:20 pm
In another sweeping glance over the area, she spotted someone near by. She was about to take a few steps way - the lunatic wasn't wearing a coat, and it was so cold outside! - before she really got a good look at him. The long hair, the face...even though it was wearing an expression she didn't recognize, she'd know him anywhere. Crystal stared for a long moment, her own expression one of stricken surprise, before she took a few steps towards him. "...my...Lord?"
He looked less Lordly and more debonair, like a lost pirate. She almost smiled at the idea, but she had to remember how he handled her earlier and his bizarre behavior; that kept her face neutral despite her slightly furrowed eyebrows. Her delicate chin lifted as she approached him slowly, the shawl wisping lazily in the breeze like a pair of broken wings. "I have come as instructed, my Lord. What can I do for you?" Her voice was cool and soft, melodious as always, but without the personable warmth it usually held when speaking with loved ones.
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:36 pm
Irene twitched at the calling of his title. His eyes, still locked dead on Crystal, looked as if he was about to leap onto her like a beast and tore her apart. His hands contracted to two tight fists, and one can almost hear his teeth grinding with each other.
But he had to resist. At least for now. He had to be sane enough to get answers from the girl. Perhaps after tonight the girl would no longer see him as a friend, perhaps she'd hate him for asking, perhaps they would never meet again...
But this time Irene wanted to do it for himself. Hiding all these emotions would end up killing him in the long run.
Her calm and soft voice made him shiver, and seemed to remind him how cold the winter night was. He made a noise that sounded like a snicker, and replied as calmly as possible...even though his voice sounded a lot heavier than usual.
"Why, thank you for coming, my lady (the word was emphasized with a dark bitterness). I hope I did not disturb your time with your...family."
He nearly hissed the final word, a word that he hated at the time being. In his mind there was an image of Crystal and Kaoru sitting down near a cozy fireplace with some man...perhaps that noble he had met before, and chatting happily. To this image he bit his lips, and stared at Crystal expectantly.
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:43 pm
Her face remained neutral, but her eyes...they darkened ever in the slightest. "I'm here. What would you ask fo me?" she repeated cooly, not at all outwardly rumpled by his strange and pompous attitude. It was all Crystal could do not to frown. She was required to come here - he using his sway as a noble to do so - and now he was playing more games. It was almost like the Masquerade...and she could play that game well now. She'd had enough practice today to almost be perfect in it.
Even so, she said nothing more outside of her inquiry. Crystal was not easy to get a rise out of - at least, not in anger or any negative emotion - and so she continued to stand, clutching her shawl and shivering slightly anyway. It was darn cold outside, and a slice of her mother's pumpkin pie with a mug of hot cocoa sounded delightful.
The breeze ruffled her clothes, reminding her that she was still very much outside and in the presence of a seemingly frigid man. She kept her calm, dark eyes unnaturally patient as she waited.
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:57 am
"What would I ask of you?" Irene sneered, taking his eyes off of Crystal for a brief moment then back again. "I'm not to play games, Crystal. To me, you are either playing innocent or just plain insensitive. Now tell me, my lady, which one is the truth?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:09 am
Crystal looked away. Why was he being so cruel? Had she not done as he had demanded of her? Even the use of her name did not phase her, for he called her 'my lady' mere moments thereafter. Her heart ached with pressure, something she didn't understand. Taking a deep breath, she returned her gaze to Irene, although she didn't look him in the eye; her grey orbs rested upon his cheek bones, as if she couldn't bring herself to really look at him. Her eyes were the only place her confused hurt showed.
"I do not understand what you mean, my Lord, and if I have affronted you I am terribly sorry." Her voice was mostly calm, with only a slight wavering undertone.
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:25 am
Irene shook his head, both frustrated and hurt by Crystal's expression. "You don't understand...do you understand anything?"
The word came out as a shock even to himself. He didn't mean it to come out so insulting! The young man forced himself to look away, and took a few deep breathes. The scene, for the moment, was deathly silent. The occasional wind blew by and bushed Irene's rather messy hair to the front of his face, hiding his dark expression.
"I shall make it more clear then, Crystal. I, though born into a noble family, do also deserve the common rights as every human kind on this planet. Now tell me, what was it that made you hide the truth from me? How much less worthy was I to that Q---"
Irene had to spat to stop himself saying Qadir's name outright. He flung one of his arms up impatiently to brush away the lock of hair that was blocking his face, and returned to gazing at Crystal. His eyes, although softer in expression, looked just as hurt as Crystal's. Choking on his own words, Irene sighed eventually, unable to finish his sentence.
"At least tell me, Crystal, that I have no hope whatsoever in being with you. Then I shall depart without this spiteful feeling that's been troubling me ever since."
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:50 am
Silence. She stared at him, waiting. Waiting to see if he'd sling more insults, if he'd tear her apart where she stood...waiting to see if he'd explain why he was so angry with her. Crystal remained silent as he started to speak, and couldn't help the flush that came to her cheeks at the near-mention of the vampire's name. His last words sufficientlly cooled her blush, in shock, more confusion and a small bit of relief. The latter only came from that fact that he was finally telling her what was ailing him, even if there was nothing she could do about it.
Crystal moved towards him slowly, lifting her hand to brush the back of her knuckles against his cold cheek. "My L...no," she murmured to herself, "Irene." Her fingers lifted to keep his hair out of his face, gazing into his eyes. So this is what hurt him so? They'd have to deal with each other on an equal level, then, and she wasn't sure Irene was capable. The idea that the noble might want to court her...
"I have not seen him for some time," she began, feeling a little afraid. "I have hidden nothing from you. Even so..." her warm hands hovered closely to his skin, "...we hardly know each other at all. We are divided by class and station, and--" She stopped herself, realizing she was getting off track. A soft sigh passed her lips before she continued, "I do care for you, Irene. We..." She bit her lip, unsure how to address the whole courtship issue. "...need to spend more time together as a man and a woman, not a noble and a flower girl. Is that why you disdain Qadir so? Because it is how he and I interact?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:04 am
Irene shivered, a bit taken back by Crystal's touches and her words. He bit his lips and ducked his head like a little boy , enjoying the flower girl's gentle scent. But yes, of course he was uncomfortable when Qadir was around, and yes, of course he'd love to spend more time with Crystal...but that was not the complete reason why he was so frustrated. Slowly he shook his head, and looked up to Crystal.
"No...I do not disdain that gentleman. As a noble myself I am taught to not possess hostile feelings toward others under any circumstances. But if you did not see him for some time then..." Irene stopped, suddenly feeling extremely embarrassed to ask the question that he wanted to know the answer of. The cold and dark expression on his face was soothed, replaced mostly by confusion. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, and it took him seemingly forever to finish the sentence.
"then may I ask who...fathered Kaoru?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:30 am
The woman folded her hands into her shawl, watching him patiently. She couldn't completely believe him and his words on the vampire, as she still remembered quite well his reaction during that evening. He said he'd been watching the two of them...
Crystal jumped as if a snake bit her, blinking in wide-eyed surprise at Irene at his question. Her lips parted in shock...and then, she started to laugh. The woman shook her curly head, brushing at her eyes with embarrassment. "If Kaoru was my biological daughter, I would have to have had her at...twelve years old?" She laughed again, unable to help herself, deeply relieved that the source of Irene's tension was, in fact, completely unfounded. "I...adopted her. Only recently."
Delicate hands covered her mouth to try and stem her mirth, although the edges of her grin were visible.
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:38 am
The young man blinked. It took him a moment to figure out what Crystal was saying, and when he finally registered the information, all he said was an "oh." the flower girl's laughter was reliving in a way, but the young noble could not help but to reflect on how stupid thoughtless he acted and how ridiculous his doubts are. Why didn't he think about it before? Or rather, how old did he think Crystal really was? She shouldn't be any older than himself! The young man stood there numbly, half shocked and half guilty about asking such questions. Eventually though, he could not help but to laugh with Crystal, both at her laughter and his own silliness.
"I...forgive me, it was my mistake."
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:46 am
She continued to grin, moving her hands to wave them dismissively. "An honest mistake, and one I would not hold against you." Crystal was amused, but unsurprised by the assumption. Nobles lived by appearances; lower class were practical, and had to stretch each piece for all it was worth. She tilted her head to the side, her amusement turning into gentle concern. "Was that what was plaguing you today? You know, Kaoru is quite fond of you."
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:52 am
"Ah..." Irene started to speak, but decided to hold off on what he was about to say. After all, complaining to Crystal about him being jealous of Kaoru for Crystal's attention just seemed plain immature. So instead he just nodded, much like a little boy who was listening to his mother's reprimand after he had made a mistake.
Of course, the longer the silence lasted, the more awkward Irene felt. He debated whether or not he should go home. No...too early for that. If he were to sneak back in this time, he'd surely get noticed by his mother. The young noble smiled a little and straightened himself up, looking around and suddenly finding himself...cold.
"I don't suppose, " Irene asked hesitantly, "that my lady is willing to kindly treat this foolish noble a cup of hot chocolate?"
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