The Definition of Fun

[Nayt]

Fifteen's disappointment and presumable injury still had Eroina quite sad. He seemed all right, standing perfectly fine and all, even able to be concerned with the dust on his clothes, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to worry. She cared--so she worried. It was just natural.

Sadly, this was the first time she ever worried about someone else. All events of worry prior, however few events she may have had in her life up to this point, were all about herself: instances such as earlier, when she was worried about those in the crowd having some sort of disdain for her, or the self conscious feeling she had when the hooded man wanted to see more of her . . .

"Th-this is him, yes . . ." Eroina trailed off, her voice quieter with each syllable.

Even Eroina recognized the man's insinuation that Fifteen should leave them alone together--and Eroina didn't know how to act. She wanted to say that she wished to spend more time with Fifteen, but she also told the hooded man that she'd spend time with him alone . . .

And so, she didn't say anything at all. She went awkwardly quiet, unable to speak, for she didn't want to put off either man. Socializing was such an awkward thing! It was going to take so much getting used to for her; people fighting, whole rooms of people talking, gossiping, arguing--eating, drinking, being together, overlooking her, praising her, speaking to her so casually, wanting to see more of her . . . this whole party was like a crash course on life with other people. It was a good thing it was happening, but it could be a bit stressful.

[supernal]

He saw it in her face.

The vividly colored hues of indecision splashed egregiously on her face, staining her cheeks, her brow, her lips and her chin. Fifteen was not a man very much accustomed to forethought. This was not to say that he was foolish or brazen, but that his mind was of such a startling faculty that eh was wont to reach a desired conclusion to a problem in a matter of moments.

Eroina could not decide, it seemed. She could not decide whether she wanted to stay with Fifteen or whether she wanted to go with the man, promises made in secret notwithstanding. Fifteen did not like her apprehension. If she did not know what she wanted with the pass of a second, then she was too unsure; she was too wobbly, walking that thin razor’s edge, and that’s not at all what he was interested in.

This other man, whoever he was, seemed like a shady kind of fellow. He obviously did not mean to kill Eroina or anything of such a magnitude, for to do so in the middle of a place centered on an island from which there was no easy escape, teeming with a people that loved her ruled by a king that did much the same.

No. He wouldn’t kill her. He might do things to her, manipulating her obscenely naïve nature, but nothing so much as to cause a pandemonium and resign his life. Molestation came to mind, or something strikingly along those lines. Not the most tasteful of activities to partake in, surely something that Fifteen had never dreamed of, and he was sure that it wouldn’t be too pleasant for Eroina. She was too innocent for such base pleasures.

But should it disconcert her, then a lesson might be learned. A bird in the hand, young lady, is worth fifteen in the bush. Couple this with a sort of compulsion that filled him the moment that he and the stranger met eyes, and Fifteen had reached a course of action.

“Quite.” He smiled wide and nodded once to the man and once to the lady. “I’ll be in the banquet hall, attending to my wife, if you need to find me Eroina.”

And as before, he turned on his heel, placed his hand atop the hilt of his rapier, and excused himself.

[Titan]

It was interesting to watch the man's mind at work, even if I could not actually see into his psyche. Subtle variations displayed themselves that a human would never think to notice; or at least, have the keen senses needed to be able to take note of them. The minor tensing of muscles as the man's thoughts put a hint of apprehension in him. A desire to keep dear Eroina safe from any wrong-doing that might befall her.

His thoughts were strong as they kept him focused long enough for the whole train to pass by. Finally, though, his concentration broke and he knew we stood eye-to-eye. His decision had been made, so he left the two of us alone, departing respectfully. Why, there was even a smile upon his face. Though however small it might have been, his display earned some amount of respect from me, so I returned the head-bow and watched as Fifteen departed.

So it was, that finally Eroina and I had been left alone. I still did not feel comfortable with our surroundings, so kept my face hidden. When turning back to the re-birthday girl I extended my left hand in hopes that she might take it, wearing a very thin smile in the shadows of my hood. Hidden as they were because of my stance I managed to retrieve two of the remaining strawberries from my pack with my right digits, offering one to her.

"Well... might we adjourn to your room?"

[Nayt]

He seemed all right enough--he seemed like he could walk on his own and . . . return to his wife. Why did that make her feel so bad? Eroina knew and understood the concept of marriage; it was one of the many things she had been taught during the past few days of her existence. Love, marriage, and children--things she'd never have. That didn't really bother her, but she still understood that to be married was to owe one's life to another--supposedly unconditional love that was meant to last until death. As per Eroina's thoughts and understanding of the concept, that meant that Fifteen had a prior obligation, and it made her feel bad. Not guilty, but bad. It was like a burning feeling, something she'd never experienced before, something along the lines of jealousy.

Jealousy towards Arethusa, who could spend time with Fifteen as much as she wanted. It went without saying that Eroina became attached quite quickly!

"Okay . . . I . . ." Eroina nodded her head slightly, still wracked with indecision, even though a decision had already been made for her. "I'll come see you soon, Fifteen . . ."

Hesitantly, she took the hooded man's hand. She'd never heard his name yet, or seen his face; he was still just a mystery to her, one she hoped to understand sometime--sometime soon, even. With a silent nod to him, she started to walk onward, intending to lead him out of the garden. Eroina was not all that well versed on the Palace of Vice's many halls, but she knew where her room was, and if she could get back to the party--and she would, she could get back to her room without doubt or difficulty.

((Continued in Promised Rendezvous.))