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 Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2024 9:04 am
Lily and Nox find themselves in a private room where she finally learns the truth about her birth mother from the Thah Kingdom.
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2024 9:18 am
Could he not catch on to the fact that she wanted this situation to be private? Why did he have to insist it wasn’t a mistake? Maybe it wasn’t obvious. She decided giving him the benefit of the doubt would be better. Lily gave him a look that said, ‘If you don’t take me out of this situation right now I’ll leave on my own,’ and finally, he seemed to catch on. His hand landed gently on her back as he began leading her away.
“Right this way, Lady Lily.”
Her gaze lingered on his when he smiled at her, causing a light shade of pink to bless her cheeks. She let herself get lost for a moment as he led her down the hallway, she wasn’t blind, he was incredibly attractive. It also wasn’t lost to her that he was clearly looking for someone, was this a boyfriend or girlfriend-someone? Sibling? She looked at the crystalline appearance of the room from the opened door as she searched her thoughts. Maybe if he helped her, like actually helped her, she would help him find who he was looking for. She had great instincts and was pretty good about tracking people down.
Lily followed behind him after he checked to make sure the room was the correct one, then returned his smile, “Thanks, Nox, I appreciate you understanding why I might want to talk privately.” She found a large chair and leaned back, crossing one leg over the other delicately- proper etiquette had been drilled into her since the day she learned to walk, this is how you sat in front of men. Legs closed and hands clasped. She sighed to herself; she really was about to let all of that go earlier around Draco and Arsene. What had gotten into her?
The Duchess looked around the room before returning Denali’s gaze; she figured it was time for her to open up to him. He knew who she was and likely knew more about her than she did. There was no reason to keep her thoughts inside any longer. “Okay,” Her smile vanished; the situation was serious, and she couldn’t hide the nervousness on her face, “You clearly know more about me than I realized.” She searched his face before looking down at her hands- hands clasped so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. She only knew what she heard from rumors, that her mother was from Thah, which is why Lily had similar features. She didn’t know if she was alive or dead, she didn’t even know if she was wanted or even loved, and tragically, she wouldn’t be able to ask her.
Three years prior, her father received a letter explaining that Lilith had come down with some sort of illness that caused a cough bad enough that it expelled blood each time she had a fit. She lost weight rapidly and had a fever that eventually led to her death. It was too late for him to send better doctors since her decline was swift, and he vowed he would never tell his daughter. He decided that it would hurt her more, but truly, deep down, it was purely for selfish reasons.
“You said that I looked like my mother…” She inhaled through her nose deeply, practicing methods that helped with her anxiety. Lily didn’t even know what to ask him; she didn’t know anything. “Why would you say that?” She figured it was best to start with something simple. The truth was coming out whether she liked it or not. She knew she would never learn anything from her family, especially her father- he acted like the rumors were fake and all lies, denying everything every time. Moving her eyes from his golden gaze, she dropped her stare to the floor. “You know I always kind of knew it was true, all of the rumors,” a quiet voice replaced her previous stern one. It came out like she was a small child again, “My ’mom’ hated me,” she laughed at herself, what a joke, this whole situation, just a cruel, sick joke. No wonder she had mommy issues. Lily unclasped her hands and instead redirected them to the bottom of her shorts, nervously rubbing the fabric between her fingers. Why was a stranger the one telling her this? Why couldn’t her father grow a pair and tell her himself?
Her green eyes narrowed while sadness and anger twisted through her like a tornado, she was never great at controlling her emotions. Goosebumps dappled her arms as her chest tightened with anxiety, when did it get so cold? Lily tugged her sleeves further down her arms to cover her hands and let out a breath that could only be described as hollow-sounding. What the hell happened tonight? One second she was about to get railed, the next she’s getting life-altering news about her birth mother and trying not to cry in front of an incredibly hot man with his extremely fit chest peeking out from his jacket.
OOC: N/A Location: Sitting Room Company: Nox Feeling: Anxious
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Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2024 5:56 pm
  
Nox knew this wouldn't be a particularly fun conversation, but he also didn't want to lie to the girl. As she sat down in the large chair he sat down in one across from her, however size wise it didn't look or feel nearly as large as hers probably did with his height. His eyes remained on her as he calmed his features, knowing Amena would be in good hands if Hasan and Fio found her, likewise he was sure Langali was looking for her too. He needed to put all of his attention into the situation at hand, something that he never planned for, but couldn't in good conscious not be honest with her about. She clearly was bothered by something it and he leaned forward, his head resting on his hand as he nodded at her pause, speaking only when she took a second to do so. " I absolutely understand, I hadn't realized it would become such a....reunion, in the moment." he was of course, referring to Fio and Hasan, as the two other men she was with clearly wanted nothing to do with them. " At any rate, I'm more than happy to answer any and all of your questions. Honestly." he wanted her to know he wouldn't lie to her, and although he understood any hesitation she may have held towards him, he was still a stranger.
Nox tilted his head slightly in his hand as she fidgeted anxiously, waiting a moment before he closed his eyes and smiled. " You have her eyes. the same almost sandy blonde hair. Honestly, I would have thought you were her if I didn't know." his voice was lower and not as serious as previously when she had heard him talking to Arsene and Draco. " There is one major misconception to clear up right away..." he paused and opened his eyes again, locking onto her green ones that he could see a storm brewing in at the moment. He had choice feelings about her father, but that wasn't what they were here to discuss. " ....your mother loved you. But it was extremely complicated and there were things said and done that created a poor situation." he was aware that sounded an awful lot like excuses so he gave her a second to process what he said before he ultimately continued. As he waited and let her think on his words he looked her over again. She even carried herself the same way as her mother, except he could see the manners that were drilled into her from a young age, similarly to Amena and Nadia, although a little stricter as it was Mars they were talking about. " I also should tell you, I know you hail from Mars. However I know this because of this situation." he didn't want her to feel like he pried into her life, because he hadn't.
After another moment he sat upright and a gentle, (hopefully) calming smile flickered across his face. " Would you like to know more about Lilith or do you want to know why she wasn't present?" he wanted to allow her to direct the conversation as she could handle, he didn't want her to avoid him entirely after this encounter especially since he was worried about her and wanted to keep her safe, especially now that he had met her and knew the types of men about the school.
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Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2024 10:40 am
 
Who was this man and why couldn’t any of them exist on Mars? She watched as Nox leaned forward, giving her his full attention, seemingly without any alternative motives, he only wanted to help her. The chill that had overtaken her not one minute ago melted away with each sentence he spoke. The gentleness and warmth in his voice was something she had not been used to. Her father may have loved her but he was still distant, cold even, she never got this treatment from any man she had a conversation with. It took her by surprise, and she didn’t know how to feel. He made her feel safe, but that feeling in itself made her question it.
Her eyes found the ground once more, a habit she picked up when she found herself in uncomfortable situations when she was younger. She always found it difficult to look a person in the eye when she felt her emotions start to bubble up. At least this way if she didn’t look at them, she could focus all of her energy on staying calm. A metallic taste lightly saturated her mouth, she had been chewing on the inside of her cheek and bit a little too hard. Lily brought her hand up to her lips, double checking that the blood stayed inside her mouth, and thankfully it did.
So he wasn’t kidding, she looked exactly like her.
It was hard to hear that, Lily grew up looking nothing like her father or her siblings, she felt like the black sheep in the family. Or in this case, the blonde sheep. It made her feel out of place, like she never belonged. That and her so-called mother never made her feel welcome even though she raised her from birth. But on the other hand, there was someone who looked like her out there, or who used to look like her. Lily looked up, returning his gaze, trying not to show the many emotions swirling around in her mind. She wanted to know if this woman was alive, but there was a part of her, a very big part of her, that was scared to ask. Especially with how he said “-loved you.”
Past tense.
She lingered on his words for a moment, letting them sink in as best as she could. Every ounce of her was trying to put a mental wall up, building it brick by brick so maybe it would hurt less. Lily adjusted in her chair, attempting to get comfortable but it felt impossible. He knew a lot about her, and she didn’t know anything about him, which added to the uneasiness. She decided she would pivot just for a moment, “Can you tell me how you knew her-” She paused, thinking of her mothers name. No wonder she was named Lily, “-How you knew Lilith?” Her name quietly rolled off her tongue, it felt weird to say it out loud.
If she could learn more about Nox then maybe she would feel better about asking questions, this was all so personal. “Have we meet before?” She didn't have the best memory from when she was younger, her oldest memory being when she was at least 8. Was she separated from her mother as an infant or was it later? She stood up at this point and started to walk around the chair, she couldn’t sit still. Lily continued pacing, this time making her way around Nox’s chair, “I mean you clearly knew my mom well since you know so much about me.” Her voice was low but polite, the last thing she wanted to do was repay this mans kindness with sass.
Her eyes locked onto a wooden table, she walked over, pulling her hair into a loose bun in the process. It was old, some of the sealant that was originally there to protect the wood was peeling off of the surface. Lily leaned onto the table, one hand holding her up and the other nervously picked at the crisp coating. She swallowed quietly at her next question, with her back to Nox she continued, “Is she alive?”
A piece of the sealant ripped off, leaving a long clean line of wood in it’s path. The waxy finish shined in the dim light of the room. Lily traced her finger down the line, it was smooth and gave the aged desk new life. She knew the coating was there to protect the wood but it also made the table look dull -lifeless. She continued nervously picking away, she needed something to do with her hands, she needed a distraction. Her emotions were already her throat and she couldn’t repress them any longer.
OOC: N/A Location: Sitting Room Company: Nox Wearing: Outfit
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Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2024 5:52 pm
Nox could tell this was a lot for her and that was precisely why he was taking his time with talking to her. He didn't want to overwhelm her, no more than what could be done in the time-span that he'd known her and that was barely. He knew of her because of her mother, but the more he spent with her the more he found her fascinating and wanted to know more about her and how she was different from Lilith. When she asked how he knew Lilith he sat back, letting his eyes closed as he kept his awareness up about where she was walking around behind his chair. A sigh escaped his lips as he thought back to his own mother, and the friendship she kept with the woman who gave birth to Lily. He pushed his hair back, fingers raking through the dark locks of hair before he looked over at her out of the corner of his eye, she was taking this very well but he was sure it was all a shock. ' Either she's very strong or someone raised her to be able to keep her feelings inside.' he thought to himself before looking forward again, giving her the freedom to pace and not be stared at when she did so.
" We have not met before, I do not believe." he knew he was answering her questions out of order but this was the simpler question for him to answer for her. " Most of my knowledge comes from my own mother- a close friend of yours." he then said, keeping his gaze forward as he heard her fingernails picking at the varnish on the table. As he thought of his next words the room suddenly seemed to flash back to normal, as if whatever was happening was now over. He felt relief but was able to keep his focus to the very important conversation at hand. " Your mother....Lilith, she was good friends with my own mother." he leaned forward onto his legs and rested his chin on his clasped hands. " While she was in Mars, having you...spending the first few years with you she was corresponding with letters. As the time went on she ended up returning to us in Thah, but she always had a veiled distance when it came to talking about her child." his words were quiet and leveled, trying not to let any of his own feelings regarding his family to slip into his explanation.
His expression hardened slightly as the memory of his own mother returning home upset after spending time with her friend flashed through his mind. " I'm only twenty-three myself, so there's a lot I don't know that my mother does. I believe some of it she was sworn to secrecy, so I often didn't ask but one day she came home far more upset than usual regarding a long visit with her." this was the hard part. As if all of this wasn't easy on her, this would be the worst. He closed his eyes, silently hoping she truly was handling this as well as she seemed to be. " Unfortunately she has passed away." his words seemed more serious than before while he still tried to hold that semblance of warmth to his tone so she still knew he had her best interest in mind. As much as a man who was basically a stranger to her could.
He kept his eyes closed as he allowed the words to both wash over him and her, the implication that he just told her that her mother was no longer in this world not lost on him. This should have been something her father told her, but that man, if he could even be called one, didn't have the courage or the heart to do so. He'd rather keep her in the dark, obviously. " She confided in my mother and Lady Fiorelli's father, about how she was made to leave you. Convinced no contact would be best for you, and when she down the line decided that she wanted to change that, she had gotten push back." he took a deep breath, trying to keep his own emotions in check. " She wanted to be there, she truly did. The differing countries and the pressure from your father kept her from being the present parent she wanted to be." he then stopped again, this time waiting for a response from her. He knew this was loaded information, but he told her he'd answer honestly. He shifted his gaze from ahead of him to the side just enough so he could watch her out of the corner of his eye. He was worried about her.
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Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2024 7:45 am
His voice was unchanged as he answered her questions, still warm, still kind, and she was grateful for that. She was surprised to hear that she spent the first few years with her, those memories had basically been wiped from her mind. She really had no recollection of that, and the more she learned, she wish she had.
”Unfortunately she has passed away.”
She stood still, frozen, it wasn’t until she heard his breathing change, heavier this time, that she realized a piece of the table that she was picking at, splintered off and lodged itself into the base of her thumb. She waited for the pain but it never came. Lily stared as dark red liquid started to drip down onto the wood, leaving a small pool underneath her palm. Her index finger moved and pressed hard against the thin wood fragment protruding from her skin —still no pain. His words repeated over and over again, Lilith spent time with her for a while then she was forced to leave because of her shithead father, and now she was dead. The piece of s**t must have known, right? That she was dying, ’Why didn’t he bring me to her so I could say goodbye?’
The sight of the table in front of her blurred and water dripped onto her hand, her tears started mixing with the blood that gathered. Lily brought her hand up, wiping away her tears, smearing some of her blood in the process. She was still using her uninjured left hand to keep herself up, creating a balancing act against the table. There was a part of her that felt if she let go, she wouldn’t be able to stand on her own.
Her eyes shut tightly, an attempt to stop the steady flow of tears. She didn’t know him, she was embarrassed, she rarely cried and what, now, in front of someone she barely knew? She didn’t even remember her own mother, why did it have to affect her so deeply? She continued to keep her back to him, and tried to suppress her breathing, ’No, not now. ‘ She pressed into her thumb once more, if she could feel the pain from this maybe it would take her mind off of…this mess. It wasn’t a common occurrence, but anxiety ran deep in her history, it was something that she learned to restrain along with her other emotions, but sometimes, she really couldn’t help it.
In the past when Lily felt an incoming panic attack she would immediately change forms and run off. Hiding from her family. Hiding from the shame that would be placed upon her for losing control of her emotions. She would run until her legs gave out, until she couldn’t concentrate any longer on holding her alternative appearance. No one ever found her, so she knew she could lay there for however long she needed. Long enough to control her breathing and slow her racing thoughts. She always felt like she was going to die when the panic came on, like she would have a heart attack and never see tomorrow.
“The pressure from my father… ” she didn’t realize she was speaking out loud at this point, then she laughed, hearing her own pained voice, unable to hold back the looming anxiety attack. Her laugh came out breathless, a mix between holding back sobs and trying to control her breathing. Her eyes opened and she glared at the splinter, her heart was racing and her ears were ringing. The shard was out in an instant, and she stood there, staring for a moment as it started bleeding once again, the pain finally came through. She had to contain herself, but the information of her mother on top of the chaotic few days at school seemed to crash down on her all at once. The feelings that she desperately shoved in a mental box and pushed into a corner on the very top of a shelf had finally tipped over.
She knew she asked for this. But she didn’t realize how painful it would actually be.
Lily slowly squatted down, leaving her left hand on the tabletop for support, and the other in a curled fist. She sucked in a shallow breath, maybe this time she actually would die. It felt like it. She could tell him to leave, but maybe it was the small fear of dying that kept her from doing so, “Tell me about yourself, you know…Like what do you like to do?” She must have sounded crazy, her voice cracked and shame crept in, “I’m so sorry, I—” She stared at the ground, “—I don’t know why…” She couldn’t finish any of her sentences, she was too embarrassed, to ashamed, she needed to chill out.
OOC: N/A Location: Sitting Room Company: Nox Wearing: Outfit
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Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2024 8:29 pm
Nox always held a protective streak for those around him who he began to care for, from his best friends to his best friend's sisters. Now, this too extended to Lily even though he didn't know her very well. He had felt an immediate connection to her, one that he wasn't able to deny especially once he saw who she had been heading off with when he first laid eyes on her. So when the smell of blood hit his nose he turned his head around quickly, his eyes landing on the small pool of blood that was forming underneath her finger. His eyes narrowed slightly but didn't say anything as she pushed on the wood that had lodged itself into her skin. When he saw her tears start to fall, his expression softened and he pushed himself up from the chair, unable to keep himself from stepping in, especially when he heard her voice cracking and she crouched down. While her gaze was trained on the floor he shook his head, unzipping his jacket and pulling it off his shoulders before he crouched down in front of her and gently took her injured hand in his, silently and quickly wrapping her hand up with the fabric off his back, brushing the blood off her cheek as he shook his head. " Don't apologize. It's a lot to take in...come here, try not to hurt yourself again." with a secure grip he helped her stand and sit down in the chair she had started in.
He crouched down in front of her again, his height making it so he was almost still eye level with her when she sat. He kept her hand wrapped in his jacket, one hand over it as he smiled softly at her, an expression he'd often take when comforting Amena or Nadia, and he rarely had to do so with Fiorelli but she was much stronger most of the time than the younger girls. He hated seeing others cry and despite his usually serious exterior he knew when to let his guard down, and when not to.With another light brush of his hand he wiped some of her tears off her cheek, while he kept his gaze on Lily and just let her get out her tears and her feelings, knowing that she was probably both angry and upset, rightfully so.
Not wanting to crowd her, he sat back into the chair he had been in, across from her. As he leaned forward he humored her question earlier that he wasn't sure if she had actually meant or just was rambling. Either way, he didn't want to ignore it if she had truly meant to ask. " As for your question, I'm more than happy to be a form of distraction." his eyes watched her expression before he looked off to the side, his hands clasped in front of him. " My comrades and I from Thah fought through most of the war, including at the end before it was finished. Fun was something sparce but-" a small grin cracked his expression as he looked back to her. " We definitely found our ways." he knew that both Fio and Hasan found their own way, and he himself had been around for a lack of better terms but surely he wasn't going to admit this to the young lady, that wasn't the right kind of topic for her, especially not right now. " But I do enjoy reading, especially to my younger siblings." he didn't divulge any more, unless she were to ask. He felt his chest ache at the sight of her upset, this must have been how his own mother felt when she was helpless to help Lilith.
He sat back again and after a moment of silence he looked up at the ceiling, not wanting her to feel like he was staring. " We can table the discussion and return to it if it's too much. I don't want to scare you off.' he meant what he said, she didn't know it yet but she had an immediate ally on her side the moment he'd laid eyes on her.
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Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2024 11:11 am
Footsteps approached from behind and she bit her lip, trying to contain her emotions as best as she could. She didn’t like being seen like this, but then he was in front of her, and she couldn’t hide it anymore, and honestly? She didn’t care to. Lily winced as he took her hand, she was so stupid. She was careless. Too emotional. Her “mother’s” words echoed in her head, but for whatever reason it didn’t hit as hard as it usually did. Green eyes scanned him as he wrapped her hand in his jacket, her stuttered breathing finally slowing down. She felt her face heat up when he wiped the blood off of her cheek, ’Oh no, what was on my face?’ She thought of how she must have looked, makeup smeared all over, mascara running down her face, she must look like a mess —but of course it’s never that bad.
This guy, he was so… big, he moved her easily, yet he was still gentle as he helped her back to the chair she had been in before her stress walk. She adjusted in the seat and brought her good hand up to her face then used the back of it to wipe away any remaining tears. Her eyes still watered but the steady stream of tears slowed. She locked eyes with him again as he crouched in front of her, and once again she could feel her face heat up. How was it that he was still eye level with her even though he was basically on his knees? Despite the seriousness of their conversation, Lily couldn’t help but admire the beautiful man in front of her. She allowed her eyes to wander, tracing the golden tattoos that highlighted his large chest and arms perfectly. She found herself needing to know more about them.
A sigh escaped her lips as she exhaled quietly, as much as she appreciated how kind he was being she still didn’t understand why. This guy was too good to be true. Did her mother really mean that much to his? Enough where he took this much time out of his evening, chaotic as it was, to explain this to her? Her eyes closed as he moved back to his chair, if it wasn’t for him speaking up again she would have gotten lost in her thoughts once again.
She had forgotten she asked for this, her memory was clouded from her anxiety, but a distraction was exactly what she needed. She couldn’t help but let a small smile tug at her lips, thinking of the way he said it— Distraction…
It was helpful getting to know him better, it made her feel safer around him— more trusting of him. He fought in the war and Lily couldn’t help but feel envious, she was forbidden by her father. She grew up training beside her siblings, practicing hand to hand combat and her favorite, swinging her greatsword around at the dummies. She was incredibly strong for her size, and that was mainly due to having to fit in with the boys she trained alongside of. His grin caught her attention and with a light blush she allowed her mind to roam, filling in the missing pieces of what he may have considered as fun.
She was quick to shake away any suggestive —or impure, thoughts that weaseled their way into her head the second he mentioned reading to his younger siblings. Her small smile grew a little more at the image. It was sweet, and innocent, something she had been very bad at lately. Lily looked over to him, her head still throbbing from crying so hard, and her chest continued to feel like it was being crushed under a ton of bricks, but the sight of him brought her a sense of calmness, something she had not felt all day.
Leaning forward, she watching as he looked up to the ceiling, “You’re really very good at distractions you know,” Her voice came out softer than she expected, and a little scratchy, Lily lifted her hand up to the base of her neck in surprise; all of the crying must have made her throat raw. She coughed into the bend of her arm and took a deep breath. What would she do now? Writing a letter scolding her father was one thing she knew she would do, but as for everything else? She didn’t even know who she was anymore.
“—I don’t want to scare you off.”
A unexpected chuckle freed itself from the tight hold of the Duchess’ anger and sadness, she fidgeted with the fabric that was wrapped around her hand, “Please, you don’t scare me one bit,” Her tone was a playful, she didn’t know if they were at a place where she could tease him but she couldn’t help it, “You’re quite the softie aren't you?” He was an intimidating man, with a sculpted chest… large broad shoulders and very large arms that looked like they could crush a boulder, his entirety was hardened from battle. Just from his physical appearance she would never guess he would be capable of sensitivity. But if this whole situation proved anything, it definitely proved her wrong about him.
“I do have another question,” She took in the room that surrounded them, the school seemed to have gone back to normal in the midst of their conversation. “Unless you’d like to go somewhere else? Or, I mean, if you have somewhere else to be, I completely understand.” It was true, she wasn’t just saying it to be nice, she knew he had been wanting to find someone, maybe it was his siblings he was looking for rather than a partner? She continued twisting her fingers around the fabric on the jacket, “But... anyway, did your mother ever say anything about why Lilith was forced away? I mean I know my father was involved...” She chewed gently on her bottom lip and looked back to the ground, she didn’t want to take advantage of his kindness and keep him from doing what he needed to get done. But she needed to know just how involved her father was.
fun.OOC: N/A Location: Sitting Room Company: Nox Wearing: Outfit
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Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 7:38 pm
Nox was glad he was there because she seemed to certainly need someone. Previous situation aside he was glad he'd spotted her in the crowd, his mother would have wanted him to be her protector as she was unable to do for her friend. He didn't realize how much of a distraction he truly was, when he was around his usual company they'd known each other for years, so there was no new news half the time, unless something new happened in the kingdom. Although coming to the school was a new change in itself, and when he heard her quiet comment about him being a good distraction he couldn't help but grin, his gold eyes flicking back down to her. " Well thank you, I've been told a time or two." the previous times were more of an intimate distraction but again, not the proper comment to make nor the proper time to say it. Not until he knew her a little bit better, and they weren't breaching such a sensitive topic.
At her laugh though, he paused. He hadn't expected to see such an array of emotions on her at their first meeting but he certainly didn't mind. It meant that she was getting more comfortable as time went on. He leaned one arm on the armrest and leaned on it tilting his head slightly, his lips curling back into that grin as she teased him. Again, she managed to surprise him but certainly in a good way. " You've got me." he raised his hand as if in surrender before he lowered it onto his lap. " Don't let it fool you though, I could have taken both of them from before, even if I am a softie." and he was only soft when it came to certain people, clearly she was turning into one of them. Hasan would laugh seeing him go from protective like that to joking around, even if he wasn't fully joking. He would have taken on both men from before if need be. Sure, he'd probably end up a little worse for the wear but that's what years of training and battle experience taught you.
His expression shifted a little more to the serious side again as she brought up another question. He remained quiet as she asked her question. Her concern for his time made him relax as well, the fact that despite how much input she was getting in one night she still had time to care for others. " Hasan is looking for them, his sisters." he didn't know what she thought of who he was looking for but he figured it wouldn't hurt to clarify. While he wasn't part of the royal family both he and Fio had always been quite close to them, and he'd do anything for those girls. And of course, his best friend. At her question though his expression turned serious. He leaned forward and rested both arms on his legs as he thought to himself before he fully answered. He closed his eyes, brushing his thumb over the other and after a moment he opened his eyes and looked at Lily again. He didn't want to tell too much so he'd start small and go from there. " I don't know the full reasoning, no. However, between what I heard myself, and what I heard from my mother it was to maintain the security of his family. Lilith threatened that, and with you being proof of..." he trailed off for a moment gauging her expression, before reaching a hand out and placing it over her uninjured one. "Well, you were proof he had an affair. And he told her it would be easier for you, less confusing." that was the most he knew about it, and he still hated being the one to tell her, but she trusted him enough to ask the questions in the first place so she much have some amount of trust in him even after he scared her at first meeting.
His worry only intensified as he squeezed her hand softly. " She never blamed you for anything, she loved you right up until the end." he would be here for Lily no matter what her next reaction was, but he had wanted...no, needed her to know that she wasn't ever blamed for the situation. He knew that to some it might sound crazy to blame a child for the actions of a grown adult but unfortunately he'd seen it happen before.
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Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 6:06 pm
Lily inhaled deeply, pausing momentarily as she took the time to appreciate his smile--that grin. It wasn’t the time to get caught up in such a thing but it was nearly impossible to ignore the man sitting in front of her. Why couldn’t someone less attractive deliver this sensitive information? He was a little too good at being a distraction, and by the sound of it he knew it. She could only imagine what situations he was in where he had been told he was a good distraction in the past. A light red hue tinted the face of the Duchess, her nose and cheeks brightening at the image, “I have no doubt that you could have.” She raised her hand and pointed toward his body, then moved her index finger up and down, “Look at you.” The red only deepened; she only just met him, and maybe it was the intimate conversation they had been having, but she couldn’t help herself, “I mean you could take me—" Her eyes widened, she needed to course correct and quick “—You could take anybody by the looks of it.”
It wasn’t unusual for Lily to move on from a deep sadness rather quickly, she hated feeling depressed and everything about this conversation was awful. Perhaps it was a way to trick herself into thinking things were fine, if she joked, or teased, it was an easy way out of the s**t her brain would dump on her. Her gaze wondered back to his as she noticed him shifting in his chair, looking sterner than he had been. Right, the people he had been searching for, Hasan’s sisters. Her leg crossed over the other as she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand and her elbow on her knee. Lily searched her memory, attempting to figure out if she had run into anyone who resembled Hasan. Unfortunately, no one came to mind. She had been preoccupied, so it didn’t fully surprise her that she didn’t notice anyone. “I’ll keep a look out for them, and if I do come across them, I’ll let them know that their brother is looking for them,” She could only offer him a small smile, she felt bad that she couldn’t do more, but maybe it was a little something.
The conversation only deepened as he continued answering her questions, she knew what she asked, and she was prepared for the answer, but it still stung, nonetheless. “Well that makes sense I guess,” Sarcasm seeped through her tone, maybe he should have kept his d**k out of random women and situations like this wouldn’t happen. Her delicate fingers tapped her bottom lip, tugging on it slightly in the process. Lily leaned back in her chair, her arms fell, crossed on the top of her legs, and let out an exasperated breath, “Wow, he’s the worst, huh?” She cracked a shaky smile, she was tired of the crying, and if she didn’t try and make light of the situation she wouldn’t stop. But when the warmth of his hands squeezed around hers, she could feel the tears threatening to fall once again.
She swallowed her emotions but the fake smile and glistening eyes told another story. Her mother was dead, and she never got the chance to know her because of her father, the man she had looked up to and adored for her entire life—well up to this moment. She didn’t know who he was anymore. How could she trust anything he said now? Any fingers from the hand squeezing hers became trapped in her own hand as she gripped them tightly. It was fairly easy finding something to hold on to for comfort, thanks to his incredibly large hands in comparison.
Green eyes stared down as she mindlessly started fidgeting with his hand, pressing into his palm or rubbing here and there as she tried taking her mind off of the fact she was a b*****d. Her breathing continued to stay controlled as her new reality settled in, the truth finally unmasking revealing its’ ugly face. How could it not be her fault? If she knew maybe she could have convinced her father to allow Lilith to live with them, under a fake persona, maybe she wouldn’t have died? Now the only way she would ever learn anything about her is through a third party. ’Better than nothing I guess…’ Or was it? Was it better to live in ignorance? Continue to pretend that she was just the black sheep and nothing else? She subtly shook her head as she argued with herself internally, ignorance made her feel crazy and gaslit, at least now she could get to know about the woman who should have been the one who raised her.
Her hands tightened around his, she didn’t even realize she had been chewing on her bottom lip the entire time until it started to feel a little raw, thankfully pulling her from her the endless pit of torture in her mind. Lily finally met the golden gaze that she couldn’t help but melt into, she needed to get out of her head. She knew she put herself in this situation because hell—she asked, but now she was desperate to escape her darker thoughts. So, the Duchess uncrossed her legs and scooted herself forward. She continued to hold his hands using his massive arms as anchors to help propel her. Then she paused, she was grateful he had moved his chair in front of hers, this made what she was about to do much easier. Lily let go of hands then gently dragged her own up his arms until she linked her arms around his neck and leaned in, finally closing the space between them.
fun.OOC: N/A Location: Sitting Room Company: Nox Wearing: Outfit
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Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2025 6:34 pm
Nox couldn't help his lips from curling into a grin again as she stumbled over her words. He certainly saw the appeal she held, even if he was thinking strictly in terms of passing along information at the moment. He leaned to the side slightly as she caught herself and waved his free hand dismissively. " I'm harmless unless provoked, much like my friends who headed off on their own." he knew that a few of them were kind of intimidating sometimes and he didn't want that for anyone who didn't deserve it. Although he had to bite his tongue from making a comment about how he could handle Lily, but not in the sense of a fight. She was attractive and it was slowly making it harder for him, especially with the way she looked at him. He nodded in appreciation at her offer to keep an eye out for the two younger members of Hassan's family. He was genuinely worried for them, but with their brother out there looking for them they would be just fine.
His expression shifted to sympathy as she processed his words. It wasn't easy, hearing that the person you looked up to had kept so much from you. He knew that feeling well enough and hated that he was the one who caused her to feel it even if it was relying information to her. His own eyes flicked down as she began to run her hands along his own. Her hands were so much smaller, and she looked that much more fragile. He hadn't realized until now as he focused on her smaller hands pressing against his palm as she fidgeted with his. He let her continue to do so, if that meant it helped so be it. " I'm sorry for being the bearer of the bad news. I am glad you took the time to listen however." it was that much easier for him to feel like she trusted him even a little bit because she had spent the time listening to him and didn't immediately push him off and ignore him.
The duchess leaning in and closing the distance was far from what he expected her to do, and his gold eyes widened slightly as her hands moved up his arms. He allowed himself a semblance of a moment, keeping in mind that he was here to comfort her, and if this was how she wanted it then he could do so. He just wouldn't let it go too far, he didn't want her crossing any lines that should only be kept for the moments when one had their mind. As her arms linked around behind his head, he raised one hand up to her waist, holding her up securely so she didn't lose her balance and as their lips met he slid one hand up the back of her head. The kiss was soft at first and he returned it without hesitation, her form was smaller and fragile under his gentle but secure grip, both wanting to protect her and enjoy the moment that she had started.
After a few moments he broke the kiss enough so that he could open his eyes and look at her, her green eyes now extremely close to his gold ones. " How bold of you..." his voice held both a softer tone and a slight tease but he smiled and after giving her a chance to pull back if she chose, he closed the distance again. This time leaning into her a little more but still letting her lead the pace and how far she wanted to take this.
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Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2025 2:12 pm
The conversation that they held throughout the evening made her feel like she knew him for much longer than she had, further fueling her desire for the gorgeous man who had been sitting across from her. When she felt his hand on her waist holding her up then his other delicately touch the back of her head, his fingers tangling into the mess of hair she put into a bun earlier—all bets were off. A rush of heat flooded every inch of her body when he returned her kiss, there was a sense of relief she felt. Clearly, she needed this, something to help release her darker thoughts keeping her caged in anxiety.
“How bold of you…”
She held his gaze, her entire being feeling lighter in this moment than she had in a long time. Her first instinct was to apologize for doing such an improper thing out of nowhere, but the tone of his voice kept her quiet. Crimson tinted her cheeks, forcing her to break eye contact for a moment—the teasing got to her in a way she wasn’t expecting it to. Everything felt hot. She brought her eyes back to his just as he leaned back in, this time, taking her by surprise. Her breath hitched and her chest tightened, her heart drummed heavily when his lips met hers.
Lily deepened the kiss, then pulled herself to the very edge of her own chair, as far as she could go without falling. Naturally, she wanted to be closer to him, so she slowly stood up, moving her hands from the back of his neck to his shoulders momentarily while she adjusted herself, and within a second she found herself a new seat. Her hands gently brushing his skin on the way, while her arms slid back behind his neck once again as she pressed into him. The duchess parted her lips just slightly, falling further into his kiss. The taste of him, the warmth, the way he kissed her sent shockwaves throughout her nervous system.
After another minute, she paused, pulling back briefly forgetting that she had casually straddled him as if she had done it a thousand times before. Her breaths came in unevenly as she tried to collect her thoughts on the current situation and position she had put herself in. As she pushed her fingers into the dark locks at the nape of his neck, a coquettish smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
Her green eyes searched the golden ones looking back at her—if only she could read his mind. He was kind, and polite, and had a protective nature toward her, but could there be something else? Maybe she planted the seeds for it. Lily leaned back a little, moving her gaze down his body, then allowed her hands to drift from his neck to his shoulders, then from his shoulders down his bare chest, where she left them, admiring how her fingers glided over his perfectly toned body. She shifted her body just a bit, making herself more comfortable where she sat, before locking eyes with him once more.
She wasn’t sure what her end goal was here, but what she did know was there was a big part of her that wanted to tease him back, “So…” Her voice was low, but inviting, “Have I provoked you?” A grin played at her lips and her eyes lit up as if she herself could create a blaze just by looking at him. Whatever demons her mind had previously started to bring up had dissipated, for now she only had one thing on her mind, and he was right here.
OOC: N/A Location: Sitting Room Company: Nox Wearing: Outfit
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Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2025 7:31 pm
Nox hadn't expect this kind of response from Lily and he honestly was a little worried about her reasoning behind it. He didn't want to become a mistake for her to dread down the line, she had just received some quite troubling news about her family situation. This, however, did not stop his body from enjoying the attention she gave him. As she scooted closer to him he felt his body heating up and her hands were warm on his bare skin. Even through the fabric around her hand he could feel how small her hands were in comparison to his arm. He smirked against the kiss as he felt her moving onto his lap, his hand on her waist moving down to her hips and then to her thigh, pulling her securely against his chest as he moved his hand against the back of her head in a way that caused her hair to fall loose and he then shifted his hand to the back of her neck as she broke the kiss, his eyes opening as his breath came out quicker than usual. He met her eyes as she looked at him and his eyes widened slightly at her question, the woman coming back with her own teasing comment.
A quiet laugh escaped his chest as he smirked at her, his hand on her thigh tightening slightly as he leaned in a little closer so their chests were touching. He licked his lips and nodded his head. " You have...you're an intriguing one, Lily." Lust was not the usual anticipated reaction to what she had been through for the night, but he knew that his own body was making it obvious that he too was reacting the way she probably hoped for. He shifted slightly in the chair, closing his legs a little more so that hers could drop onto the fabric before he pressed against hers to hold her in place. He dipped his head as he pressed his lips against her jaw, before moving down her neck with surprisingly soft kisses, his hand sliding back up and along the back of her head. As he moved his head down to her pulse he paused and opened his eyes but didn't pull away. " You are the most curious..." he pressed another kiss against her skin, "...fascinating person I've met at the school." this time he lifted his head and pressed his forehead gently against hers. His gold eyes locked onto hers as he slid his hand up from her hip to her butt, gripping her softly.
" But it is for that reason I have to cut this short today." he was to look out for her well-being and as much as she made him want her in his arms, his lips on her, and most importantly, underneath him; he had to do the right thing. " When you are not..." he paused, breathing out softly as he lifted his hand from her and pressed his thumb against her bottom lip. "....processing such new, potentially life-changing information, I would be more than happy to continue this little dance with you, sweet flower." the nickname rolled off his tongue and while he kept a firm grip against her head, if she chose to back off, or pull away, he wouldn't hold her there.
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Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2025 10:30 am
Her breath hitched as he pulled her closer to him, she hadn’t expected as good of a reaction as this one and she was loving it. “Intriguing, huh?” She returned his smile, although it turned into more of a grin as he began to shift in his chair. The heat that was flooding her body began to center between her legs, responding as naturally as one would regarding the position she was in. She let out a breathy sigh as he pressed into her, her bottom lip once again finding itself trapped under her teeth as she bit down, tightening her hands on his body.
A quiet moan escaped her lips, each kiss he pressed onto her skin left her shaking, goosebumps dotted her arms and legs, and she felt weaker by the minute. Lily was glad he was holding her steady because all she wanted to do was melt into him. Involuntarily, she pressed herself onto him—her body internally screaming for more of the man underneath her, especially when he locked his gaze on her while his hand moved from her hip to her a**. Her eyes fluttered closed, unable to hold his eye contact, her face was beat red, and she knew it.
“But it is for that reason I have to cut this short today.”
Green eyes shot open, “What?” The word flew out of her as he continued to explain his reasoning, which was a noble as they come. But even if she tried, she couldn’t hide the disappointment in her eyes. When his thumb pressed against her lip, she couldn’t help but hold her breath, ’…Sweet flower…’ Mentally, she said the nickname back to herself in a dreamy, sing-song tone. Many men have given her pet-names in the past, especially floral ones, but when he said it, it was much different. She liked it, a lot.
Instinctively she pressed her lips into his thumb, parting them slightly—a newfound oral fixation showing face. Relaxing into him, she pulled his thumb ever so slightly into her mouth, she wanted more of him and clearly, she couldn’t help herself. Her gaze intensified as she kept them locked onto his while she gave him a preview of what could be. She smiled innocently once releasing him, “What if I told you I’ve already processed it?” Although deep down she knew she hadn’t, it didn’t stop her attempt to convince him it was okay.
If anything, this was exactly what she needed.
She leaned back into him, mirroring his previous kisses, “You are…” She started at his sharp jawline, touching her lips onto his skin before drifting to the side of his head where she paused, “…The kindest man I’ve ever met.” Her voice was a no louder than a whisper just outside of his ear—meanwhile, her hand traveled up his chest, until she placed it on the other side of his face, then tilted it closer to her. Enough so she could continue to kiss him, allowing her tongue to glide over his ear lobe before nibbling on it gently. She took this opportunity to move her lips down his neck, smiling each time she planted one.
With a quiet sigh she stopped herself, finally leaning back. She pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear before she looked at him, her gaze softening. “If you’re sure…” Her bottom lip stuck out, pouting playfully at the man who had set a fire throughout her body. She took a second to scan his face, searching for any sign that he might give up, then she moved in as she closed the gap between them, pressing her chest against his so she could feel as close as she possibly could before her lips once again found his. She respected his decision, she understood he wanted to protect her, and honestly? She loved that. It made her heart feel like it was about to beat out of her chest. Men like this just didn’t exist in her world, and she certainly was not used to it. It only made him that much more desirable.
OOC: N/A Location: Sitting Room Company: Nox Wearing: Sweater Skirt
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