Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
New to the forum? Check out our Introduction Page and New Members Guide! 1.1: Statistical Updates have been completed for the month.
Add Reply
A Not-So-Subtle Matchmaker
Topic Started: Jan 13 2014, 08:57 PM (3,907 Views)
Demoness
Member Avatar

Despite being the dead of winter in the northern hemisphere, all was not gloom in Demoness. The season was called Second Summer and was indeed more like its counterpart than an opposite. The weather was warmer and slightly humid, though the latter was due to the shower was predicted to visit Sacred Rock later that evening. For the time being, the weather was overcast as Ned Davion descended into the airport. He would soon be followed by Gavrila de Sud, but he was not quite aware of that fact yet.

Visits between Fenwick and Demoness had become more than routine, with the prince representing his country more often than his father, and they had lost all their formality; a simple phone call announced his arrival and a car would meet him at the airport with little fanfare. He was admitted to the Plateau and after a little witty banter with the Guardian of the Gateway, an ex-girlfriend, he was led into Jia Li's private solar.

Though technically a solar, it was more specifically a library and Jia Li lounged with her legs across her husband's lap; a chitael, either Nemesis or Aphrodite, lay in hers. She propped up a book on her chitael's head, reading happily while her husband reviewed something on a tablet. She looked up as Ned entered and smiled. "Hey, Ned-mitsu," she greeted. "I'd stand but..." She indicated the hundred pound animal purring on her lap. "When did you get in?"
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Replies:
Fenwick
Member Avatar

Ned just shrugged again. "Can't give everything away the first time you meet someone," he said with a smirk. "Besides, what's the suspense if nudity's not particularly special?"
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cetatsenia
Member Avatar

"Just because nudity is not special does not mean zat zere is no reason to want to see anozer person wizout all zeir clozes on," Gavrila responded, now absolutely certain he knew she was flirting with him.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Fenwick
Member Avatar

Ned shrugged. "I can't find any fault in that logic."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cetatsenia
Member Avatar

"Because zere is not any," Gavrila replied simply, smirking.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Fenwick
Member Avatar

Ned cleared his throat to keep from laughing again and tried to regain a straight face. "Well... how about that tour?"
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Demoness
Member Avatar

Jia Li was grinning. "Oh right, the tour," she said. "Perhaps the two of you should go change. I'll meet you up by Ned's room. We need to go check on Adiko."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cetatsenia
Member Avatar

"All right, so now how exactly am I getting to my room to change? And how am I getting to Ned's room?" Gavrila said, smiling, "You better have a servant or somezing available to take me zere, because I have no idea where anyzing is in this behemoz of a palace."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Demoness
Member Avatar

Jia Li laughed. "It's just like a city: you stop someone and ask for directions," she teased. Then she nodded and Chihiro reappeared. "Masaki-was will escort you around."

Chihiro bowed politely. She was entering middle age, but her dark hair was still unmarred by silver or white strands, and she smiled as if she had a secret. "Milady, your room has been prepared and your luggage was already brought there. It's a few floors up, but it is in this wing. I will show you around and after you have changed I will show you to Prince Davion's room," she said. Her voice was warm and sincere. "The Palace is daunting to navigate at first, but you will get the hang of it and there is always someone around to help you find your way."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cetatsenia
Member Avatar

"You are damn right zis place is like a city," Gavrila said with a laugh. Then when Chihiro entered the room, Gavrila turned her way and listened to what she had to say.

"Well, all righty zen. Zat sounds great," she said, standing up, with Aurel following suite, "So I take it I have my leave for ze moment? See you all in a few minutes." Then she turned to Chihiro, "All right, let us get going."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Demoness
Member Avatar

Chihiro led Gavrila up several flights of stairs so that she was on the top floor. The room was a bit smaller, but like Jia Li's, it was essentially a small apartment. Gavrila's luggage was stacked neatly inside the bedroom, allowing her to unpack at her leisure. There were also several slippers, some worn, indicating that there were pairs in every room and though the room didn't appear to be used that often, it was still clean and welcoming. The windows were open, allowing a soft breeze to billow through the light curtains, and if Gavrila cared to look, her view included a balcony and the field directly behind the Palace. Most importantly, her room included a lock, something that Gavrila would have been advised was a privilege prior to her arrival.

"I hope the accommodations are to your liking," Chihiro said. "We cannot do much about the temperature, unfortunately, so if you are uncomfortable I suggest asking one of the servants to bring up fans or water for you. The toilet is in through there, in the main bedroom, and there is also a showering facility, but if you find it too small for your liking, the baths for this floor are at the end of the hall." She continued to explain the customs of the bath, including washing before entering, soaking, and the segregation by sexes.

---

When Gavrila was escorted away, Ned was left to his own devices; after all, he'd lived there for several years. Jia Li excused herself from her room so she could visit her daughter down the hall. Each member of the Imperial Family had their own room, even Xel, despite not using it, and Adiwyn was no different; she would come to appreciate it as she grew older. Unfortunately, her suite did not open into Jia Li's.

Adiwyn looked up as soon as she heard the door open and grinned widely as she raced to embrace her mother, ignoring the paint that had gotten all over her hands and face. Jia Li knelt to hug her and picked her up. "Aya!" she cried.

"Adiko," Jia Li replied, echoing her high pitch. She tickled the child as her husband sat down next to the older woman occupying the room. Despite being nearly a century old, Adiwyn Tsukihana had aged well. Her pale skin still acquired wrinkles and her hair had gone white long ago as her eyes faded, but her posture had not become hunched and she still smiled like a girl. A long jagged scar, hidden by her hairline, ran the length of her crown and it had two siblings in her chest: an entry and exit wound from the bullet she had caught.

"Grandmother," Xel said respectfully. "How was she?"

The elder Adiwyn put aside her needlework before answering him. "She wondered where the two of you were, especially her mother. It'll take her some time to get used to the absence."

"She needs to get used to it; she starts school soon and Ji-ji can't hold her forever," he replied dryly.

She smiled knowingly. "Let them have their time together. Childhood doesn't last forever, especially the awe of a parent." She turned to him. "Just because your childhood was different, doesn't mean this is wrong."

He sighed. "You both spoil her," he chided and she only smirked in response.

"-And then we came back from the park and I tried to ride the chitael-"

"Which chitael?" Jia Li asked her daughter curiously.

The little Adiwyn stopped her rambling narrative and took a breath as she thought. "I don't know."

"I see," Jia Li replied. She gave her a kiss. "Are you ready for bed?"

"No!"

Jia Li only smiled. "Then what do you want to do?"

"I want to go with you!"

"Aya has guests," she replied. Then her smile widened. "Including Uncle Ned. Do you want to see him?"

"Yes!"

She laughed. "Okay." She looked up to meet her husband's disapproving eyes and clucked her tongue. "Gavrila won't mind. Besides-" She lowered her voice. "She's tired. She'll be asleep in half an hour," she whispered.

"Not if she sees Ned," Xel replied. "She'll be up for hours." But Jia Li just shook her head and picked her daughter up. After cleaning the paint off her face and hands, they were ready to go and arrived in front of Ned's door.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Join the millions that use us for their forum communities. Create your own forum today.
Learn More · Register Now
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Archive · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Theme Designed by McKee91