poly_chromatic | Entry 615; Day 1586

Current Location: Opera Abandoned

Entry 615; Day 1586

[Private to Rosella || Unhackable]
Rosella, may I speak to you this afternoon or this evening?

I thought we might walk near the lake and the rose gardens in Xanadu. It's a bit early for roses, but sometimes Xanadu's whims and weather can prove surprising.

~C.

[ooc: Things are afoot!♥ Please pretend this was posted early in the afternoon, when I was, IRL, trapped in an immensely long meeting. No! Life in the City carried on!]

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I do hope you're not afraid to hear it, either.

[She draws away, then, just a bit--enough that she can see his face, but more importantly enough that she can make him look at hers, and see her smiling.]

Because I'm going to tell you and tell you until I'm sure you believe it, and then I'm going to keep telling you because it's true, and even moreso after that because I simply want to. I love you, so much, and I won't stop. No matter how burdensome you think you can be, no matter how frightening things may grow. I love you. All of you. Even the things you don't like about yourself. I love you, no matter where you are or where I am or any of it, it doesn't matter. You matter.

And of course I want to be with you and of course I want you all to myself if I can help it, but those are things that can change. I love you, and that won't change, no matter where you are.

[And now, a kiss...followed by a rather self-satisfied variation on her smile.]

Though I can hardly say I mind having you right here and now, I must admit.

I certainly don't mind being here, really.

[His smile softens a little.]

And will you wear my ring as well, then?

[Because he has a ring, all sapphire and diamond, in his pocket, tucked away safely, waiting for her.]

I think I've given you a few trinkets and gems before, at Christmastime and at your birthday, but I don't believe I've ever given you a ring before. Will you wear it?

[She draws in a breath, slow--because it's not just the suggestion of the ring itself that suddenly makes it all so real again, and almost to the point of overwhelming, but because of the way he almost offhandedly calls it mine.]

I will if you put it on for me.

[Her left hand comes up, then, to lightly touch his face before remaining in easy reach for exactly those purposes she's just suggested.]

[Perhaps it's a little cliche, a bit too much of a scene--but he gave no ring to Emmeline though perhaps he should have, there was no time for a ring with Meridiana as that storm broke so quickly, and Suzette's ring was her own before it was stolen. Here, then, there must be a ring.

And he does put it on her hand.

It fits fairly well. Fortunate for that.]

[It's sapphire and diamond when he draws it out, and for a second her breath catches; it was always among her favorite stories as a girl, the tale of how her father traveled all over the land in search of her mother, and collected the diamond and sapphire treasures of Kolyma to present to her as a wedding gift. She'd been so young, and yet she'd loved to play with them on the rare occasion that she had the chance--draping the necklace about her child's throat, dangling the bracelet off her too-small wrist--and she'd looked in the mirror with her grown-up jewels and thought someday, someday.

This ring is her own, and it fits. Diamonds and sapphires, and it's just the way it ought to be.

She holds it up, admiring it so he can see, and then nudges in close so she can murmur near his ear.]

I've never tried being a countess before. Do you suppose I'll like it?

Do you like the sound of it? Lady Rosella, Countess of Hargreaves.

[He tests the sound of it, the feel of it in his mouth.]

You could hardly give up being a princess, though. A princess can be a countess at the same time, if she's willing to glance so low as that for a little while.

Is that how it goes in London?

[She has to bite her lip to try to keep her smile at bay; the sound of the title in his voice brings a pleased flush to her face, and she can't quite explain why, save for the obvious.]

In Daventry one ends up a prince by marrying a princess, you know.

It is. A princess can be everything, all the way down: a princess, a duchess, a marchioness, a countess, a viscountess, a baroness--even a commoner, if she chose to go in disguise. So you could be Princess Rosella of Daventry and Lady Rosella, Countess of Hargreaves.

[Just by... Now that gives him pause.]

Is that how it goes in Daventry?

Mmhmm.

[Of course she knows all the fairy tales, and of course in Daventry so many of them are true; kings certainly wouldn't promise away their daughters to just anyone, commoner or royal alike, if it meant the daughter would lose all her titles by it.]

I don't think you'd be so bad at it, you know, being a prince. If...if it were what you wanted.

[He smiles at her, looking up through his eyelashes.]

You'd have to teach me how to be a prince. You don't think I'd be so bad at it, but it's not something I've done before. Would you teach me?

[She'll always treasure the sight of those smiles, no matter how often she sees them now. She remembers all too well a time when she never did.]

Well, you're off to a fine start already, I should think, finding a princess and convincing her to marry you.

[She teases, raising her hand to show off his ring on her finger.]

And of course you'll have to learn to hold her hand whenever she pleases, and kiss her when she likes, and sweep her off for moments alone among the roses--do you suppose you can manage that?

[He pauses for a moment and puts on a pensive face--a show, really.]

I believe I can. I've done a few of those things before, once or twice.

Then I rather think you'll be fine with it.

[Oh, a show, is it. Well, two can play at that game, certainly.]

Oh, but there is one other thing, I think.

One other thing? What is it?

[His mind is racing...]

[She ducks her head, smiling still, but her cheeks are going faintly pink.]

Well, it's just...you have to live happily ever after with her, that's all.

[Ah. Well, then.]

It might take me a little while to learn how to do that. But I think, if she is patient with me, I could learn how to live happily ever after with her.

[And, because there is nothing else or better to do at such a moment, he kisses her again.]

[And he best be prepared for a long kiss, and a loving one, because that's what he's getting, as long as she can hold her breath for it.]

[It can hardly be called their first kiss. It's not even their first kiss since he asked for her hand. But it will hardly be the last kiss and hardly the last kiss of its kind either.

She kisses him and he kisses her in return.]

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Entry 615; Day 1586

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