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 Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 11:54 am
Ever since she got back from Tendaji, it had been a whirlwind and the new Oban princess hardly had time to really comprehend how much her life was going to change. At least, if she had let it. Naevius was strong willed and wasn't about to let anything change unless she wanted it to. It was why she had to have the changes with her serving staff as well as the multitudes of "ladies" that followed her around. Not only that, but she had convinced her father to let her go back home, where the one person she wanted to follow her around was. But of course, she never really noticed how much she liked his presence until he was suddenly sent back to the compound. Nae knew it was his job, and she hoped he was getting paid much more now. He had of course kept he king's daughter safe throughout the war. Sure she hadn't always liked it when she was in Tendaji, but now she was home and saw his presence as a blessing. He had kept her sane during their capture and always seemed to tell her things honestly.
This was the reason for the butterflies in her stomach as she and Varinia traveled to the compound. Varinia was one of the few of her handmaidens she actually somewhat liked and trusted and was the reason Nae picked her to be one of the few she brought with her. It was mainly the trust that spurred Naevius to bring Vari with her even though she hated having so many people around. At least Vari seemed to understand and would step out and give her the privacy Nae desired almost always when she desired it.
With the compound in her sights, smaller wooden gates at the back of the compound opened up to let them in without disturbing the days business. That was how Naevius preferred it She didn't want to interrupt people's daily routines unless she had to. Servants hadn't even been notified to ready her rooms, that was how anxious Naevius was to come back home; to see him. Her eyes darted around, searching the faces that greeted their arrival in search of his identifiable smirk.
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 12:24 pm
Today was just a normal work day for Sebastien. He was walking to a new location now, sweating and dusty as he tended to be. The whip Naevius had given him still sat coiled in his hand. It was a blessing and a curse. It made him smile to think of. He hadn't received any gifts since childhood and the time he had spent with his friend, now the princess. Remembering her was hard, though. It hurt still. When they met, she had been nobility willing to spend time with the common crowd. There hadn't been any chance for anything ore than friendship even then, but that was just fine. Now she was just gone, off with her royal duties, whatever they may be, and he was all the way out here, back to work.
His eyes were downcast, looking to a set of written orders, and his brow slightly furrowed.
He had been trying to forget, not Naevius, but the feelings he had for her. He'd spent time with friends and even in the company of young woman, but it was a funny thing. He just couldn't eject the princess from his heart, at least not yet. Work was a good distraction.
Seb glanced up only out of habit, seeing a pair of women coming down the path. He looked to them briefly, then back at his paper-- and a quick double-take.
Naevius?
He wanted to run to her and hug her, but that couldn't be appropriate any more. He wasn't even sure he was supposed to speak to her. His eyes turned to the woman with her, probably a handmaiden, and then back to Naevius. His eyes grew wide and his brows furrowed gently in an uncharacteristic display of concern. Did he just obey his urges and greet his friend? No, he couldn't... could he? He'd stopped in his tracks, and although the realization had only taken a few seconds it felt like there was an eternity hanging in this moment.
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 12:38 pm
This list of 'to do's' for arriving at the compound was surprisingly long. Her father's workers had kept things going but per her father's instructions she was supposed to learn the business so that one day she could run it, at least that was her hope. Not only would she have to learn the business side of beast taming, but she was to continue her training. And on that front, she'd have to pick one of her father's employees to train her. That was the second reason her searching gaze shuffled through the faces that were beginning to surround her to greet her. Naevius kept her polite smile and greeted each one, the ones she recognized she greeted by name, others she noted to have someone get their name so she would know who everyone was. It was something she always strove to do. She had just made it through the small group of people when her eyes landed on someone stopped in the middle of the path with his eyes locked on her. It didn't take long for her eyes to lock on him either, but instead of being frozen in place, a smile rose to her face, a true genuine smile that Seb seemed to be just about the only one besides her father who could bring it out. She motioned to Varinia who had understood and disappeared into the others behind her carrying things. Nae continued her path which brought her straight to Sebastien. With a quirky smile, she looked up at him, but not before noticing the whip she had given him coiled in his hand. "Sebastien." Nae simply said, she didn't really know what else to say. She couldn't just break and hug him like she wanted to in front of all these people. "I was hoping you'd still be here." She looked down, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks that only someone up close would have noticed.
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 1:11 pm
When Naevius smiled, Sebastien's expression relaxed and he settled into that same cool half-smile. Oh, thank the gods, they could still talk or the very least Naevius didn't care about the possible rules on that subject. He had been trying to forget her, he should be pained, but he wasn't. No, seeing the princess was like inviting in an old friend. Things had changed, sure, but he had her here. For how long, he wondered? He'd have to try and find her for another nighttime talk, if becoming princess hadn't changed her nature.
"Of course I'm still here, your royal highness." It was clearly a tease, and he arched a brow at her to say as such as he bowed at the waist. Presumably this wasn't going to help the blush on her cheeks. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again." It was just a brief moment of vulnerability, something Seb wasn't necessarily comfortable with, but it needed to be said. Someone close to him could undoubtedly hear the lingering sadness in his tone but it was gone as suddenly as it had appeared. He wanted to take her hand, to hold it just a little while, but he had to suppress the urge.
"What brings you here? Official business?"
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 1:26 pm
As if Naevius' nerves were feeding off of Sebastien, she relaxed as soon as he had. Of course, his teasing caused her blush to intensify as well as caused her eyes to narrow at him in a playful manner of course. He knew she hated being called stuff like that, especially by him. It was his next words that a little more water to her eyes. She bowed her head a little to him. "I hadn't expected father to send you away like that. I.." She looked around before lowering her voice, "I didn't even get to say goodbye." While there was no change in her tone, her word choice obviously revealed her sadness in that fact. Sebastien's questions made her happy to be able to answer yet also set him up and she found it impossible to resist. She made her face look sad and her voice follow suit, "Actually yes...Seb...I'm here because my father has decided to change your status here at the compound..." She tried to make it sound like he was getting fired, but in all reality, Naevius wanted him to train her. "You'll no longer be a beast tamer her, Sebastien." It was hard to keep her face straight even though part of what she was saying was true. "You'll be training me." She said happily, her smile breaking free finally. "I got permission to continue my training here but I also have to learn the business end while I'm here." She searched his face, hopefully she hadn't taken it too far.
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 1:46 pm
The young man's face softened when Naevius offered her own mournful comment. He hadn't liked the way he'd had to leave, but you didn't deny your boss. You especially didn't deny him if he had recently become king, so what choice had he had? He'd packed up and left and started surrendering to the fact that he was never going to see Nae again, but look at this!
When the princess began to explain herself, he perked slightly to listen. If she was here more than just today they may actually find some time together. Naevius would undoubtedly be followed by a servant or two for safety's sake but the one she had walked here with seemed reasonable enough. Oh, alright, so it was official business so a few days was probably the maximum but-- wait, what? His status? His brows furrowed again and he began to tilt his head. Had he... done something wrong? If they gave him the boot he'd be homeless and jobless and-- oh, screw her. He laughed at the intentional build of tension and shook a finger at Naevius, forgetting that it was probably not a proper gesture for civilian-to-royalty interaction. He'd deserved that one.
"Really! Well, I'd be honored," he said, and he did so honestly. He even coupled it with a miniscule bow of appreciation. So the king trusted him, then, or else Naevius had chosen him personally. Either option was rather reassuring. His next question came with a slightly lowered voice. There were people nearby, after all. "So I'll be seeing more of you, then?"
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 1:57 pm
It had been so hard to keep her face straight, especially with his worried expression. But it was so worth it at the end, especially after so much of his teasing on the way home from Tendaji. Naevius smiled at his finger shaking, it was kind of endearing to her. At least her smile was back now! "You definitely will, whether you like it or not." She said lightly. "I'm sure you have some more work to do," She said eyeing the paper in his hands, "But I'll send my handmaiden to find you when I have some free time." Nae smiled at him before looking around to the people watching them that caused her blush to reappear. With one last smile, she turned and walked away to go get her rooms ready how she wanted them. Later that day... The sun had gone down and most people were settling down after dinner and Naevius had finally gotten her rooms set up and had as such sent Varinia to go get Seb as she had some free time now. She hoped she wasn't interrupting him. What if he was busy? What if he was spending time with his family. She had been gone long enough for him to be able to find a family. What if he had a girlfriend? A wife? The questions made her head spin and she was so worried but still looked forward to having some time alone with him again.
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 2:16 pm
Sebastien followed her gaze to the paper in his hands.
"Ah, yes. That sounds good. I'll see you later, then." He was technically on-call in the evenings as he lived on the grounds, but there were plenty of people to deal with upsets. He could and would spend some time with his friend outside of training whenever he got the chance. Things might still be different between them, but now he had time to figure it all out again. Whatever happened, he was sure that her being here only on occasion was better than never seeing her at all.
Come evening, a young Oban woman he didn't recognize appeared, and his heart leaped. She definitely didn't work here, so this must have been the handmaiden Naevius had sent. He had taken the time to clean himself up after a hard day's work as if he somehow needed to make a good 'first' impression and was pleasant with the maiden while they made their way to Naevius' old home... new home? All that mattered was that it was home now. He felt a bit giddy, like a young boy.
He had had a lot of time to stew over his feelings for Naevius. They were friends, yes, he wasn't going to push or pull either way with that, but it had become clear that he felt more for her than simple friendship. It was a bit odd, something he hadn't felt before and something he definitely wasn't going to share with Naevius, not now, maybe not ever. It'd just complicate things. It did make the idea of visiting her, though, all the sweeter.
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 2:28 pm
Naevius did everything she could to avoid pacing in her rooms for Varinia to come back with Seb. Would he even come? Surely he would...right? Thankfully, Nae had had the grounds keeper draw up a map as there were a few new additions and she had another put where people had made their sleeping quarters in order to re-familiarize herself with everyone and where they were. Of course this was more to help Varinia since her handmaiden would likely be the one going and fetching people to at least keep up appearances. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Vari got back with Seb and Nae let out the breath she hadn't known she was holding. The two girls shared a look and Vari left the room closing the door behind her. "Varinia seemed like a curse at first, always having her around. But she's a lot better than some of the other ones and she'll at least give me my space." Nae said calmly, motioning around the room since it was because of Vari they were able to have some time together. "How have you been? I hope I didn't interrupt your evening..." Her words were quick from her nerves and her hands griped each other in her lap.
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 2:34 pm
When he was finally brought to Naevius he seemed confused a moment when the handmaiden silently left. He was pretty sure they weren't supposed to do that but it was rather nice of her. He'd have to remember her face, she was a good one. Varinia, was it? He gave a thoughtful sound and then turned to Naevius properly. A grin split his face and, considering they were alone, he pulled her into a hug. Things like that would undoubtedly be unwelcome in public and even with other servants at least so long as they didn't know him. He was only a common worker, nobody worthy of trust right off the bat.
The hug was full of affection, and he re-initiated a little bit of a tighter squeeze just before it ended. Ah, that felt nice. "What? No! These are my plans for the evening." He pointed to the floor. Right here, right now. This was where he wanted to be. "I've been well. It's the same old stuff." He paused then and narrowed his eyes, not in anger but as if he was considering something.
"Actually, you wouldn't believe me if I told you." Nobody ever did.
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 2:52 pm
The sudden hug was worth everything to her and she instantly felt comfortable again. She let her head rest on his shoulder calmly, and even after the tight squeeze and he began to let go, she lingered a little bit longer. Naevius was happy to know that this was where he wanted to be, she knew he would tell her the truth so it just made it mean all the more. When they sat down, she turned her attention back to him and cocked her head to the side as he seemed to contemplate something. The 'same old stuff' probably being beast taming things, which hopefully for Nae would be what it would mean if she started saying it. But when he said she wouldn't believe him if he told her what he had been up to she became instantly intrigued, not that she hadn't been already. "Oh what is it? You're not just gonna tell me another fake story right?" She said, raising her eyebrows and giving him a smile. She felt like it was so much easier to be at ease around him, especially when there wasn't anybody else around to judge them. Her elbows were set on the table with her chin resting in her hands, leaning towards him as Seb had her full attention.
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 3:33 pm
There was no awkwardness as Naevius lingered. It was welcome, in fact. He sat without mentioning it and continued. He lifted his hands as if in surrender and shook his head slightly, brows raised.
"You're not going to believe me either way, but it did really happen," he said, voice turning up in pitch. Anyone who hadn't been there, who hadn't seen it, refused to believe it had ever happened. Not one to avoid a good story, though, he leaned forward toward Naevius.
"It was after I'd come back, maybe two weeks? Maybe. It was just a normal day, nothing odd, and then there was this sound. I've never heard anything like it. Then a portal opened up in the ground." He paused in the storytelling, looking to Naevius in a way that begged her to stick with him for this. He laughed slightly and his hands went up again. "I swear on my life."
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 3:40 pm
Naevius' face contorted in disbelief. A portal opened from the ground? That can't be right, how was that even possible? Magic like that didn't exist! And if it did, how did their magic users not know about it. "You're just kidding me again aren't you? Magic like that doesn't exist!" She narrowed her eyes at him as he said he swore on his life. Well, okay. While it seemed impossible, maybe she should listen to the rest. "Is that it? What else happened?" She said, listening more intently than she had before for any sign of jest or it being a lie. "If I find out this is a joke though, you're gonna get it." She said, poking his shoulder from across the table. A sound, then a portal in the ground. After he had gotten back, so it was here! "So it happened here??" She said in part disbelief and panic.
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2015 4:05 pm
His eyes widened. Yes, he knew it sounded impossible, but there it was! His hands turned palms-up, still raised. What could he do? It was true!
"So," he began, letting his arms relax and pointing to Naevius, "Three of these huge freaking spiders crawl out." He spread his arms wide for effect. "They were weird-looking. Like crystals, in cool colors. Enormous things, and they spooked and started running. One was attacking an outbuilding so I thought, no, we have to get rid of these things now. So myself and Doru, he took a sword and we went out to it, and we snuck around it and we tied its legs together and pulled." A little mime of the gesture followed. "So then his buddy runs in threatening us, and I take a tarp and I jump on its back and cover its eyes, and I'm just riding this huge thing while it bucks, flying around, and the others rushed in and they tripped it and tied it down." He began to laugh, knowing how ridiculous it sounded. "The last one had gone off and was harassing the raptri, and I didn't want it to eat any of them-- I don't think it would have been on me if it had, but I was high on adrenaline, so we got a net, and I got a torch and a whip-- Hold on, it's almost over. So I have a torch and a whip." He lifted the hands the had been in in turn. "and I hit it with the whip, and just start yelling, and it gets mad and comes at me, and it's fast and it's big and it isn't afraid of me, and then just as it gets close enough to reach out and bite me or stab me or whatever portal-spiders do, a bunch of the guy threw the net over it and pulled it back, and I jump on it and I stomp on its head until it falls unconscious." That was that. He laughed again.
"I swear on my life, Naevius. Ask anyone who was there. Ask Doru, ask Esidya, ask Vo'shal. Ask anyone. Everyone else thinks we're all part of a really elaborate lie or suffered mass psychosis or something, and then there's the people that were there. Vo' was new at the time, he ran off to get some help and they came back and they didn't believe us, not until we showed them. I mean, there were repairs for days. We had to herd everyone back in-- I don't know what everyone else thought happened? But I swear to you, it happened, and it happened just like that." Even if she thought he was in the end, it had been fun to tell!
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 12:09 pm
Her own eyes widened as he told his story, it was impossible...wasn't it? It sure seemed so, but she had just become the Princess of all of Oba so surely anything was possible. That, combined with it being Seb telling the story, caused her to listen with an open mind. Naevius tried to imagine everything happening as he said it but it all just seemed so impossible. And in all honesty, it was his little interjections that made her believe him along with the end of his story. "Doru, Esidya, Vo'shal. I'll remember those names. Though, if you say you're telling the truth I'm going to believe you." She said sweetly with a slight blush. "I bet you wouldn't believe how...captured I felt with all those people following me around every day." She couldn't help but make things go back to a serious note. Nae knew she would have so much more freedom here and it made her so happy so hopefully Sebastien would be able to see how glad she was to be here with him. "So, mister Giant Spider Wrangler, are you up for your next challenge?" She asked playfully. It really was nice to have him with her again and idly, she got up and went to the bowl that always contained fresh fruit and grabbed a couple of pieces, offering some to Sebastien too.
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