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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Nov 14, 2007 14:58:40 GMT -5
"As is your right. I daresay you know a bit more about your childhood than I," he agreed.
Annikka grinned. "Exactly."
"We must have a different definition of wild. You fit the bill perfectly in my books. Hate to tell you so, but it's true."
She made a face at him, but the smile wouldn't leave her face. "I have a number of friends who would tell you I have sensible down to a fine art."
"No, I don't see her. Actually, I haven't been to see my family since I've been back in Corus. Mithros knows I've had the time. I just....wasn't sure how I would be received. I left home without saying goodbye and haven't been back in two years short of a decade. I don't know what my brother and sister think of me and I'm not really sure I want to."
Annikka knew he was telling the truth; she could hear it. She was glad he hadn't simply evaded her question. She thought for a long moment, wanting to say the right thing. "I... can't really imagine that," she said simply. "Being like that, I mean, living like that. That's a long time to be away from family. But I can imagine how it might happen. Probably I can't imagine it very well," she added. "But at the very least, I can guess." She was silent. It was obviously very important to him.
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Post by spigurl on Nov 14, 2007 18:09:00 GMT -5
"I have a number of friends who would tell you I have sensible down to a fine art," Annikka told him matter-of-factly. Caden suppressed a laugh.
"Well, of course you do. Witnesses can certainly come in handy," the knight replied, eyes twinkling. "But they won't fool me."
Annikka was silent as she pondered what he had said. Caden felt a little anxious, hoping she didn't think badly of him. He wondered what she was thinking.
"I... can't really imagine that. Being like that, I mean, living like that. That's a long time to be away from family. But I can imagine how it might happen. Probably I can't imagine it very well. But at the very least, I can guess," she said, seeming to stumble with her words.
Caden gave her a sad smile. He didn't think she really would understand something like that. Annikka was just so family oriented, unlike him. It wasn't that he didn't want to be, he just couldn't be. Now, he was scared to be. Caden nearly laughed at himself. Imagine that. After everything I've been through, I'm scared of my family. Unintentionally, he sighed heavily.
"You think I should see them, don't you?" he asked, looking in to the distance again. It was getting later. He could tell the days were certainly getting shorter. Dark came early. Soon, they would have to begin walking back to the palace.
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Nov 15, 2007 15:58:11 GMT -5
"Well, of course you do. Witnesses can certainly come in handy," the knight replied, eyes twinkling. "But they won't fool me."
On impulse, Annikka stuck her tongue out at him, a practice she'd deserted some time ago out of diligent teaching by the convent sisters, and rarely committed now. "Hush, you." Her severe expression was developing cracks, indeed hadn't been very steady, and eventually she gave up on the severe part and concentrated on not bursting into laughter.
He sighed quite deeply, and she looked at him anxiously. "I don't think it's bad of you," she said tentatively, frowning worriedly a little. "I can see how it might happen- well, you've told me, haven't you? It makes sense to me."
The sky was darkening, and the nurses and governesses collecting their charges to escort them home. "You think I should see them, don't you?" Caden said quite suddenly.
"It's your call," she said, meaning every word. "If it were me, yes, I would. But I'd be quite anxious about it, at least at first. Scared of what they'd think of me. It's... everyone's judgement for themselves."
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Post by spigurl on Nov 15, 2007 18:28:45 GMT -5
When Annikka suddenly stuck her tongue out at him, Caden raised his brows. What happened to her fine art of sensibility? He told her so, eyes crinkling with mirth.
"I thought you didn't act so childishly," he teased. "Clearly, I'm wrong."
"I don't think it's bad of you. I can see how it might happen- well, you've told me, haven't you? It makes sense to me." Despite her words, Caden wasn't reassured. It was bad of him to think such thoughts, and he knew it. I should visit my family. I know that I should, but I don't know what might happen. That's never stopped you before, the little voice in his head nagged. Of course not, but surely things are different now?
"It's your call," she said, sounding sincere "If it were me, yes, I would. But I'd be quite anxious about it, at least at first. Scared of what they'd think of me. It's... everyone's judgment for themselves."
Caden turned to look at her. "I think I may just do that. Can I ask you a favor? Will you make sure I do talk to them. I know if I don't have motivation, I shall never speak with them."
(OOC: Not going to be here this weekend, so take your time replying.)
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Nov 16, 2007 15:57:08 GMT -5
(OOC: sure. Not a problem ) "I thought you didn't act so childishly," he teased. "Clearly, I'm wrong."Annikka found herself smiling. "I can't win, clearly." "I think I may just do that. Can I ask you a favor? Will you make sure I do talk to them. I know if I don't have motivation, I shall never speak with them."Annikka smiled at him, and nodded. Does he even have to ask for me to say yes? she thought to herself. "Of course I will," she said. Impulsively (she seemed to do a lot of impulsive things now), she reached out to touch his hand to let him know it'd be alright, sure he was still worried, but faltered when she remembered that although she liked him very much, she didn't know him that well yet. Annikka looked away and into the distance to cover her confusion. It was getting quite dark, and she probably should have returned to the palace by now. Her friends might have missed her, or Erinn dropped by to deliver her last week's essay (not likely, but a faint possibility.) It's all right, she reassured herself. Fia and Cam and Lou aren't there to fuss. Nor, she thought with an inward smile of remembrance at past scenes of maternal melodrama, is Mother. "I should go back," Annikka said. She glanced at him, wondering what he was thinking. "Are you coming?"
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Post by spigurl on Nov 17, 2007 15:29:01 GMT -5
"I can't win, clearly."
"Not many can," Caden replied, returning the grin.
"Of course I will," Annikka reassured him, smiling. Caden smiled back, thankful that she would. He may not talk to his family this week, but eventually he would. The knight was sure of it. Caden looked down when Annikka grabbed his hand. A second later, she seemed to think better of it, unsure if what she did was right. Before she could let go, Caden squeezed it, thankful for the comfort. The knight was reluctant to go, liking the rare touch of human contact. "Thank you," he said, his green eyes looking into Annikka's brown ones. "For everything."
As she looked away, probably just as confused as Caden was becoming, he let go. He couldn't believe the time. It was certainly later than he thought it was and intended it to be when he went back. Quickly forgetting the time, he thought back to what just happened. Annikka had a way of making him feel different. He felt...warmer; like the last few years without people didn't matter. His thoughts were interrupted by the very subject that occupied them.
"I should go back," Annikka said, looking back at him. "Are you coming?"
Caden smiled, how could I not? "Of course," he said out loud. He strolled the few feet to her and looked down, his lips upturned. "Shall we?" he asked, offering his arms.
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Nov 18, 2007 6:57:59 GMT -5
"Not many can."
Annikka pulled a face at Caden, hampered by the fact that a smile kept creeping onto her face. "And it would be me who winds up conversing with one of the people who can. That's just typical."
He squeezed her hand before she could take it away, and she felt a rush of relief that he hadn't taken it the wrong way- or maybe had taken it the right way, and didn't feel the need to say it. Dear Goddess, this is complicated. When did I last worry about offending someone this much? "Thank you," he said, his green eyes looking into Annikka's brown ones. "For everything."
Annikka smiled. "You're welcome."
"Of course," he said out loud. He strolled the few feet to her and looked down, his lips upturned. "Shall we?"
She accepted his arm, and smiled up at him. "Why not?"
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Post by spigurl on Nov 18, 2007 16:07:51 GMT -5
"And it would be me who winds up conversing with one of the people who can. That's just typical."
"But of course," he replied.
Caden laughed as she took his arm. He looked down on her, smiling back. "Let's go. Can't have everybody waiting."
(OOC: Done then?)
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Nov 19, 2007 15:23:24 GMT -5
(OOC: Yup, reckon so. ^^)
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