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Post by Lili Walser on Sept 22, 2011 23:09:47 GMT -5
Lili continued to gaze at the sky until movement beside her caught her attention. She watched, curious, as he untied his mask and swept it from his face, and couldn't entirely hide a small smile at the theatrics. He always had a flair for the dramatic - his parties suggested it. She didn't think she'd ever spoken to him for this long before, and certainly not on her own. Why, it was almost unheard of for her to be out on a balcony without some sort of chaperone - but no one knew for sure that it was her.
And to that extent, she shook her head slightly. "N-no. I think, for now, that... that I'll have to keep you guessing." A soft smile crossed her lips. "A-after all, where would the fun be, i-if I just gave it away?" Goodness, Gilbert was going to scold her for this, if he ever found out. ... He'd find out. Of course he'd find out. What had she been thinking? ... She'd been thinking that she wanted to go to a party. And... and she did. And so she had. And now she was here. And she was going to enjoy herself. Much as she was at the moment.
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Sept 22, 2011 23:26:24 GMT -5
Although Francis took care not to betray himself, he was slightly taken aback by the girl's reply. He had not expected someone so soft-spoken and shy to match his banter, but Francis realized that he rather liked it. He could admire spirit where he could see it.
He raised his eyebrows. If the girl wanted to flirt, then Francis would happily comply.
"Oh?"
He stepped closer to her. "Can I take that to mean that you enjoy games, my lady?" There was no mistaking what sorts of "games" he meant. "Very well, I'll play. I have to warn you, though, I am a very determined, passionate player."
He gave her a long, meaningful look, then turned back to the sky. "Would you like to set up the rules, then?"
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Post by Feliks £ukasiewicz on Sept 23, 2011 11:43:22 GMT -5
Feliks fluttered his eyelashes and peered through them, noting that Anton's eyes were green as well. "Well, Señor Anton. For tonight, you may call me Lady Scarlet."
Feliks ignored the twittering Lady Vinicci. The woman was a complete airhead, and was lucky enough to marry a noble man who adored her and could afford the lady's whims. "Señor, are we gonna stand here all night or are you going to ask me to dance?" Feliks felt a little bold for asking, but he desperately wanted away from Lady Vinicci, who was now whispering about how lucky a girl Feliks was to snag a man like Anton.
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Post by Lili Walser on Sept 23, 2011 22:28:10 GMT -5
She couldn't help but blush again when he stepped closer. Oh, dear. This went even farther beyond the bounds of propriety. First, she was alone on a balcony with shut doors with a man. A man that was not her family in any sense of the word. Alone. And then he was so close to her... And speaking so candidly...
"G-Games...?" She queried, stalling for time. Her blush was still present - really, she wondered if she would turn permanently pink. Someone would surely notice something amiss then.
"O-oh... Yes, very well." Rules. Rules were good. ... why couldn't she think of anything to say? There had to be something. "B-but... I'm afraid I must confess my lack of expertise at such games..." There. Sometimes honesty was the best policy, right? Well... honesty was always the best policy, but sometimes it was best to just... downplay all that. "I... I sh-should be glad to learn more of how to play, i-if my lord is amenable to teaching...?" She tucked her chin slightly, looking at his profile through her lashes for a moment before diverting her attention back to the sky as well.
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Sept 25, 2011 17:21:02 GMT -5
The girl's glance could well be innocently curious, but Francis wondered whether he detected a coy twinkle in her eyes. That, and her reply was the closest to an invitation he would get. He never could resist fluttering lashes, which was probably why he too employed the technique sometimes when he flirted.
"Well then, let us keep the game simple and straightforward, shall we?" he said smoothly, his eyes firmly trained on the stars above. "I will guess the letters of your name, and you will tell me if I have guessed right or wrong on a particular letter. I will have a total of twenty guesses. If I cannot deduce your name by then, you can remain my anonymous evening star and I will die from the torment of not knowing." Sighing, his hand flew to his heart as if already anticipating the pain.
"But if I ever guess your full name and identity in time..." He finally turned to look at her, holding her gaze with his. "You may reward me with a token of your affection." His intense expression did not waver. "To be truthful, my lady, I find kisses to be the best reward."
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Post by Lili Walser on Sept 26, 2011 22:39:41 GMT -5
His game sounded simple enough to follow. He'd guess a letter, and she'd tell him right or wrong. That couldn't be that difficult to keep up with. "Y-yes. Very well, my lord... though I sh-should hate for you to die o-on my account." She didn't want anyone to die. Death... it was a very, very permanent and sad state of being. She had to reassure herself that he didn't mean it honestly before she could continue... but before she could speak again, he'd turned to look at her.
It was only polite to meet his eyes, since he was speaking directly to her now... so she did. And as his eyes caught and held hers, color began to rise on her cheeks again. Once more, it took her a moment to figure out what she wished to say, and even as the words left her, she wasn't sure they were correct. "A-as my lord wishes, then... i-it is only fair to give you something, a-as you would give me my anonymity." Even if the something were not nearly proper at all. Goodness. A kiss, given to a man she'd rarely - if ever - spoken to before now? A-and he'd know who she was. Wait. Something about that whole thing didn't seem quite fair, now that she was thinking about it... b-but she'd already acquiesced. And she couldn't go back on her word. Oh, dear. Well... she could always hope that he didn't guess.
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Oct 7, 2011 22:56:43 GMT -5
Francis wondered if it was sadistic of him to think that the girl being flustered was completely adorable. He watched for a moment longer, fascinated, as a color that could put the most passionate roses to shame bloomed upon her pretty face. Yet at the same time, he realized that he shouldn't overwhelm her so much.
Ah, the curse of beauty and charisma.
Francis' gaze softened as he leaned away from her, patting her hand carefully. He reminded himself that he had to be gentle with her.
"Well then," he said, stepping backward toward the balustrade, "shall I start?" He made a great show of pacing thoughtfully. After a moment, he paused to study her.
"I hope you won't mind if I group my first five guesses together. Let's see...I should say that you particularly inspire me to say the letters V, G, L, E, and...R." He took a step toward her for each letter, and when he was finally before her again, there was a hint of triumph in his voice."
"Well, my lady? Have I found - ?"
A loud crash from within cut off his words, and the echo of the noise soon drowned under an explosion of voices and screams.
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Post by tomatepirata on Oct 11, 2011 19:12:35 GMT -5
“Of course señorita Scarlet, forgive me for being so rude.” Antonio held out his hand to take hers, kissing the back of it. “If you will excuse us señora Vinicci.” The woman waved them off, smiling a sweet smile that made Antonio vaguely uncomfortable. He’d have to avoid the señora for the rest of the night.
Leading Feliks onto the dance floor, he took up a proper stance and led him through half a dance before a loud crash made the music stop abruptly. He turned to look, eyes narrowing and arms tugging the ‘lady’ closer. “What in the…”
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Post by Feliks £ukasiewicz on Oct 12, 2011 17:39:11 GMT -5
Feliks was enjoying himself, glad to finally have a dance partner who could dance. He loved to dance, but it was only at Francis’ parties did he really get a chance to dance. There were a few men here who fumbling dancers and Feliks had to resist the urge to lead them.
Feliks flinched at the large crash. Loud noises reminded him of the explosion and he jumped into Toni’s arms, whole body trembling. “What is it?” he whimpered into the taller man’s shoulder.
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Post by Lili Walser on Nov 30, 2011 16:16:03 GMT -5
Lili stood quietly, hands clasped in front of her, watching as Francis paced the balcony. Outwardly serene, inwardly she was fretting as she rarely had before. What if he guessed her name? What if he did? Would he tell Gilbert? Of course he'd tell Gilbert. He might insist upon escorting her home - or worse... keeping her here until Gilbert could come to get her himself. The thought of the cab ride with Gilbert's disappointed gaze was enough to make her wish to disappear. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she was paying Francis little attention anymore as he paced. So it was that his voice startled her enough that she jumped slightly.
"I hope you won't mind if I group my first five guesses together. Let's see...I should say that you particularly inspire me to say the letters V, G, L, E, and...R." She watched as he stepped nearer to her with each spoken letter. "N-No... I don't mind... I..." But she fell silent again as he stopped before her, hearing the note of triumph in his voice.
"Well, my lady? Have I found - ?"
She'd begun to open her mouth again to agree that yes, he had found a few letters, when the crashes and exclamations from inside had her spinning toward the door, and backing away from it and into him. Her eyes were wide behind the mask - her pulse, could he only feel it, was racing. "F-Francis... Wh-what...?" She couldn't say more... she was too startled, too worried, too frightened by the screams. She'd been meaning to ask, hoping that he'd agree, was it one of his entertainments...
But the doors to the balcony opening, some of the party-goers streaming out past them to escape whatever chaos had gone on in the room, silenced that question before she could form it. If they looked as frightened and upset as that... then... then... "F-Francis..." Her voice was a timid squeak, even as she clung to his arm. She just... oh, she just wanted to go home. Go home and forget all this... she'd only meant to come for a little and dance... she enjoyed dancing... but... but... oh, dear.
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