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Post by Shiningami on Aug 21, 2007 14:04:45 GMT -8
Elizabeth saw the fear left in his eyes and knew there was something more to the usual nightmare. Something must have hit home tonight, and she really did not like it, especially that he wouldn't tell her. But of course, she knew not to press the matter, he was trying to forget about it, just like he was trying to forget about the years he spent in the prison.
"Well, alright, but come back to bed soon, alright? If we are to leave in the morning, you're not supposed to look like you were out all night long." With that, she shivered, pulled the blankets up to her chin, and closed her eyes, trying to make her imagination stop coming up with things he saw. The worst of them making her shiver again as she dozed back into sleep.
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Post by Luna on Aug 21, 2007 17:37:48 GMT -8
Jayden merely nodded absently to Elizabeth's words but instead poured himself into the books before him. It helped to lodge him in reality; this was the kind of problems he faced now, not those ones.
It was several hours and his candle had burned low before Jayden looked up from his research and stretched, yawning. Glancing out the window showed that dawn wasn't far off. Great. Oh well, whoever said he had to leave early?
Blowing the candle out and sliding out of the robe, hanging over the back of the chair, he made his way over to the bed and once more slipped between the sheets, trying to be as quiet and gentle as he could so he wouldn't wake Elizabeth before relaxing his body for sleep.
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Post by Shiningami on Aug 24, 2007 10:13:55 GMT -8
Elizabeth felt him slide into bed, but instead of nagging him for coming a few hours from dawn, she just slipped her arm around his side and slide up beside him, happy that he was back next to her.
But before returning to her dreams, she couldn't help wondering why he wanted to read, and what he was reading. Since it was so dark, she wasn't able to read any of the titles of the books. Mentally shrugging, she clnched her eyes shut to try and block out bad thoughts and forced herself back into the last couple of hours she had left of blissful sleep.
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Post by Luna on Nov 27, 2007 3:37:09 GMT -8
Jayden fell asleep relatively quickly and, thankfully, his dreams were made mostly of nervous shaddows, not the vivid terrors that had scared him so much earlier. Those sort of dreams he could deal with. He hadn't known a solid nights sleep since he had managed to escape prison so it was the closest he ever got and didn't really bother him.
It was nearing midday when he finally awoke again to a rumbling stomach and as he rolled over onto his back he stretched and sighed softly. Thinking about all that he had read and deducted about their quarry last night made him eager to get on the way now, despite his relative lack of sleep.
Sliding out of bed he heated a pan over the embers of the dying fire and cracked an egg into it. Their supplies were getting low which was a good thing since they were leaving, so he couldn't add sausages to it but it didn't really bother him. He would have to help Elizabeth dress soon in her noble gettup. He smiled at the thought. That was sure to be amusing.
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Post by Shiningami on Nov 27, 2007 8:41:48 GMT -8
Elizabeth awoke at the sound of frying eggs. She sat up groggily and looked over to the fireplace. "Smells good." She said through a yawn while stretching. She got up, fiddled with her hair trying to smooth it out, and tiredly walked over to Jayden and kissed his cheeek. She then let her head thump against his shoulder with her arms around his waist. With another yawn she asked, "Do we reeeally have to go back?"
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Post by Luna on Feb 5, 2008 16:29:16 GMT -8
Jayden smiled when Elizabeth kissed him and chuckled when she made her opinion on going back clear.
"Well, no," he said contemplatively as he flipped the eggs. "We could leave things are, let this heir die in peaceful obscurity, let this tyranical queen have our heads if she catches us and drain the country dry and us continuing to live as we are," he finished as he served up the eggs on two plates, handing one to Elizabeth as he picked at his own.
"But where's the fun in that?" he said eventually with a playful grin.
Finishing his breakfast he stood and went to the cupboard that held their various forms of dress. Looking around he eventually pulled out a lemon-coloured underdress and an emerald overdress. "What about these?" he suggested, reaching up to the top and pulling down the corset as well. His clothes would be much more comfortable, if colder; servants dressed for ease of movement and comfort rather than fashion.
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Post by Shiningami on Feb 16, 2008 12:00:43 GMT -8
Elizabeth propped her head up with one hand, with her elbow on the table. "I hate it when you're right...and when you are so sarcastic about it." She gave a half smile towards him as she finished the last bites of her egg. "Those would work well...I just wish I was naturally un-naturally thin." She groaned as she cast a fretful glance at the corset.
She grabbed the layers and layed them on the back of a chair, while wrapping the corset around her abdomen, and adjusted her chest accordingly. She turned around to give Jayden a hint that she needed help killing her lungs. "So our major plan of action today is....? I think this stupid corset squished the plan right out of me." She said dryly as he finished up tying the strings, and slide the lemon colored underskirt over her head.
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Post by Luna on Feb 16, 2008 18:48:01 GMT -8
"I don't," Jayden replied simply. Not that he prefered fat women but unnaturally thin women werent his style either. Elizabeth's healthy build was just right for him. At the glance he moved forward and took a hold of the laces, bracing her back and yanking them, continuing the process till all the laces were done up as tight as they would go and then some.
He shrugged at her question as he stepped away from her, allowing her to dress the rest of the way. Looking over his shoulder at her as he took his own clothes out of the cupboard he couldn't help but think, no matter how uncomfortable they may be to wear, the corset really did accentuate her natural curves, making her all the more beautiful. Feeling the familiar stirrings that wouldn't really be appropriate to indulge in at the moment, he settled with a chaste kiss at the back of her neck as he dressed.
"Re-enter society. Perhaps throw a party of some kind, see what information can be gleaned about this particular unknown, while I check the underground and the like. Nothing to it," he added, knowing it was quite the opposite. He had the easy job; navigating the alleyways and thugs was easier than navigating the intricacies of upper class society.
"Ready?" he asked when he was fully dressed.
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Post by Shiningami on Feb 16, 2008 23:03:04 GMT -8
"Well if I was naturally un-naturally thin, I wouldn't have to deal with killing my lungs every time I had to be all 'noble'." She said 'noble' as if she were pinching her nose. She threw the emerald dress on top of the lemon one and smoothed the fabric down. "I have to admit though, I kind of like getting all primped once in a while...It makes me appreciate the way I used to live so much more..." Of course she was referring back to when she lived with the playwrights and actors, before Jayden was graciously returned to her.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and groaned. "Oh I suppose I'm ready." She jokingly fluttered her long eyelashes at Jayden while looking over her now modestly covered shoulder. Her eyes matched the emerald of the fabric perfectly, and with her now very long auburn hair not yet pinned up, gave her a very seductive yet beautiful look. She laughed when she saw Jayden's look and calmed him by saying, "Don't worry, you're the only guy who gets those looks." She have him a peck and started on her hair while walking towards the door. "I hope Samual hasn't had much trouble." She commented quietly.
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Post by Luna on Feb 16, 2008 23:33:40 GMT -8
"If you were naturally unnaturally thin then you would have to get a smaller still corset," he retorted with a small grin. "I like you getting all primped up too," he said, stealing a chaste kiss.
"Do you... ever wonder what happened to them?" he asked. "Ever regret leaving?" It was something he had never really been game to ask, afraid of what the answer may have been. The playwrites and actors had been her family but he had been too scared, mentally and physically, to stay around such large crowds of people. Elizabeth had seen his need and left them in order to help him, to recreate him as a human again. No small task. He was greatful but at the same time he was increadibly guilty.
Following her out the door, he smiled. "I'm sure he'll be fine. He's very capable and has always managed in the past."
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Post by Shiningami on Feb 17, 2008 8:49:32 GMT -8
She sighed, she knew that he would have asked sooner or later. "Of course I miss them, but I don't regret leaving them. I think they were grateful for me to go, after the soldiers were after us." She laughed. They had had quite a few run ins while they were with the playwrites.
As they walked back, she breathed as deeply as she could. "I am still so sore after last night. I never told you I jumped off the balcony."
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Post by Luna on Mar 21, 2008 14:20:28 GMT -8
A small smile crossed Jayden's face but he had found little humour in the comment. Afterall, the only reason there were no soldiers trailing them now was because they had gone to ground; he was still a wanted man even if he didn't commit the crime he was arrested for. He nodded though, accepting of her decision. It had worried him, still worried him infact, that she might have felt obligated to come with him, especially then when he was so messed up he was barely human. Now at least he could hide his scars, most of the physical and all of the mental, she had no obligation to stay. That worried him.
He was brought back to the pressent and out of his brooding mood when she spoke agan, bragging about jumping off a balcony. He smirked and said, "Well that was a silly thing to do, now wasn't it?" He could have scolded her for being caught, or for taking such a risky exit but frankly he couldn't be bothered. He knew that she knew what she was doing, he was no longer her teacher afterall, especially considering she was mostly better than him at such jobs now, what with his limp and stiff leg afterall.
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Post by Shiningami on Mar 21, 2008 18:56:32 GMT -8
Jaydens taunting comment took Elizabeth by surprise. She had expected a scolding for her stunt, but just got a joke. But she smiled anyway. "I suppose it was. But it was better than getting myself dragged off by those castle guards."
Elizabeth paused for a moment and then added, "The Queen didn't seem so happy that I got away again. I hope she didn't catch too much of a glimpse of me this time." She shrugged and smoothed out some flyaways in her hair. "Well that should do it. How do I look?" She twirled around for him, which made her naturally wavy hair twirl around her smooth neck. At least the small peices that wern't tied tightly into a coiled bun at the top of her head.
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Post by Luna on Mar 22, 2008 20:45:27 GMT -8
"I'm sure you didn't. The most she may have realized is that you were female. When you come back from a job you look nothing like the primp and proper lady you are now," he said with a small smile.
When she twiled like that Jayden felt his heart leap. It was this that had kept him alive and mostly sane over the past few years.
"Lovely," he replied, slipping a hand around her supple waist to rest on the small of her back, kissing her deeply.
Pulling away, before they got too carried away, he said, "Come on, let's get going. All too soon we'll be in the city and will have little time for close company. It would be unseemly for an available young woman to be having an affair with her manservant," he added wryly, walking along after closing the front door with an arm around her waist, making the way towards the city, her walking upright and elegantly, and he in his raggard servants garb and limp. Should anyone have seen them they would have made an unusual pair, probably assumed he was some kind of mugger who took his fancy to an upstanding woman of society.
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Post by Shiningami on Apr 9, 2008 10:18:22 GMT -8
Elizabeth kissed him back and felt her heart bound into giddiness that she had to choke back.
His comment caught her off gaurd. "I am certainly not available. And don't you be telling your friends that either. I don't want grubby, smelly, old men chasing after me." Her tone was curt, very matching with her now prim appearance, but her last sentence carried a bit of humor with it as well.
"So whats you plan of action for when we get to the city?"
((Do you suppose we should have the queen somewhat notice the familiarity of Elizabeth and the woman who stole from her? But one of her advisor guys or whatever could tell her that it was impossible for Elizabeth to be involved in that sort of thing, and he can read off a long list of the ancestors that are supposedly Elizabeths? (Did that make sense?)))
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Post by Luna on Apr 9, 2008 18:43:05 GMT -8
((sure, as I said I dont really have any plans for this rp except way in the future when they've found the guy))
Jayden started laughing when Elizabeth protested to her being 'available' and shook his head. "Ah, but dirty old men tend to know a lot of secrets that they would be willing to tell an attractive young lady of standing who seems to dote on them," he said grinning, enjoying every moment of his teasing. "Just play the flirt without being the whore and I'm sure you'll come up with plenty of information, probably even more than myself since all the nobility has time to do is gossip."
"As for a plan... Very little. We enter society as a noble woman and her servant and see what we dig up," he said. He had actually put a lot of thought into it, though more to what he would do than what he would ask his lover to do; he had to think about something early this morning to keep his mind from his nightmares and memories afterall. "I think if we throw a dinner party for you to have... come back from visiting your uncle or something we could dig up a few things. Afterall you could ask what has been going on in the time you have been away, ask for some interesting gossip from..." he paused, "some dirty old men," he added with a grin.
"As for me, I plan to go into the lower city, dig up a few contacts, see if they know anything or find out a few things." That was all he said. He didn't want to concern her with the details knowing that she didn't really approve of his friends, thieves, murderers and rapists all. They had their uses though.
As they reached the road Jayden slipped easily into the character of personal manservant, saying softly only, "If anyone asks, your caravan was attacked by bandits on the way, and we two managed to slip away. That should stop them looking strangly at a noblewoman walking." He fell back a few steps to walk slightly behind Elizabeth as his position demanded and exagerated his limp to make him look less desireable.
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Post by Shiningami on Apr 17, 2008 20:07:36 GMT -8
As they walked and he stopped talking, before he slipped back, she said strongly yet softly, "I refuse to even act the part of whore, of even flirt, because it's only a matter of time until they want more than just flirting and I will kill them." She lifted her nose a little higher into the air as her position in society dictates, and started to strut down the street, aloof of all around her. When she saw a few ladies she knew, they gave her a quizzing look and she paused for only a moment to say, "My caravan was taken by some hooligans. I'm on my way to report the men I saw. I'm just glad I was able to excape with my dignity in tact." She gave a very small curtsy, which was more than was nessecary. Those women were below her in standing, merely Ladies instead of the Noble Lady that she was.
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Post by Luna on Apr 21, 2008 21:00:36 GMT -8
Jayden rose a hand to his mouth and coughed to cover a grin. Her acting skills hadn't deminished in the least since she was part of the acting troupe. He just hoped that his own skills were up to the task. Information getting, that was easy, a little push, a little shove in the right direction at the right person and the gates were open. He guessed it was alright for a servant to have strong feelings for his mistress but not for him to be so familiar around her. That would be the hard part.
"Hardly," he hissed out the corner of his mouth after they passed the ladies, barely managing to hide his wide grin behind his hand. "Your forced to walk, that's hardly dignified for a Lady of your stature."
Reaching the gates of the city Jayden followed behind Elizabeth all the way to their mannor house, but paused outside the gates. "This is where we must part," he said. Throw a parties, socialize, flirt, but most importantly keep your ears open. You never know what seemingly-unimportant scrap of information might be useful. Perhaps to steer conversation in the right direction say that you are considering making a donation to a monastery but you dont know which one or something. I'll be back in the early hours of the morning," he said before turning and heading down the street, his hand brushing hers, the only display of affection he could hide in public.
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Post by Shiningami on Apr 21, 2008 21:29:35 GMT -8
Upon hearing his comment she twisted back her head and gave a very cold glare...and it would have been perfect if not for the smail that she couldn't contain. She turned forward once again, mentally noting that she would have to get him back within the next day or so. Maybe tickling him or something...but her thoughts were broken as they had to part, she caught herself before she leaned in to kiss him goodbye and felt the familiar feeling of her heart wrenching in two as she watched him hobble down to the servants quarters. She drew in a breath and marched up the steps to the front door.
With a gloved hand, she twisted the handle and strode in, letting a servant close it behind her. Once again, she had to catch herself before saying her thanks. It would odd if she were to thank someone in lower status for doing an expected job. She strode into the corridor and entered into a large room filled with glowing candles, even though it was still daylight outside. Her heart rose when she saw a dear friend of hers, the Marquess of Duvera, Erick Dominsus. She smiled, then moved her eyes over to the man sitting in the chair across from Erick, and her heart fell once again. It was that vulgar old man she despised so much, the Duke of Hungford, Charles Jucoba. But she turned her eyes once again to Erick. He was the epidomy of handsome. Tall, possibly a foot over Elizabeth, tanned skin, glowing blue eyes and dark black hair. Although he is just a few years older then Elizabeth, she is always surprised at how mature he looks.
Stealing herself away from gazing too long, she makes a couple of loud footsteps towrds them, holds out her hands for an embrace and says, "Erick! Oh how lovely to see you! I had hoped I would find you here."
Erick turned and stood, his bright white teeth flashing in a brilliant and true smile. "Lady Elizabeth! It has been too long."
"Yes it has. How have you been dear friend?" She pulled back from the embrace with a glamorous smile still plastured on her face.
"I have been well. How hav-"
The Duke had stood up with his huge belly jiggling. He cleared his throat once more and looked at Erick then smiled with nasty teeth at Elizabeth.
"Oh I'm sorry Charles. Elizabeth, surely you remember Duke Jucoba."
"Oh how could I forget?" She forced a smile and held out her hand. The Duke took it and kissed it. She thanked the Gods that she was wearing gloves.
In a burrly, forced, raspy voice the Duke said "And how could I forget the angel Lady Elizabeth?"
She withdrew her hand and turned back towards Erick. "So I hear you are now a Marquess? What luck you have, Erick." She looked up into his eyes, being quite sure to make it as friendly as possible and not the dreamy look she had seen on so many other young ladies.
Her voice made Erick melt. It was all he could do to stand upright and continue as gentlemanly as possible. How right was the Duke at calling her an Angel...Erick had been hurt when he had learned of her running away. He always thought it was because of him that she had done that...well, if she would accept his dinner invitation, just the two of them, he would certainly have to ask. What good is being a Marquess if the one thing he wants, her, is going to be denied him yet again?
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Post by Luna on May 12, 2008 0:39:35 GMT -8
Jayden stopped at the servant's quarters to deposit his small bag of belongings before leaving once more, not bothering to check on Elizabeth, knowing she would be fine. Afterall she was in no real danger here. It was Jayden who was going into mortal danger.
Limping into the poor quarter of the town he made a few enquiries eventually leading him to a port-side tavern several hours later, a run down violent place. Going up to the bar he ordered a drink and said in a low voice, "I hear you're the one to find information."
The bartender looked him over and said eventually, "I'm a link to the Black Cat if that's what you mean."
Jayden surpressed a sigh. Already two of the leads he had followed had merely lead him to the Black Cat which was completely useless since if the Black Cat knew he wouldn't be here looking.
He shook his head. "This isn't a job for the Black Cat. I'm a runner for the Cat and need this information for him."
The bartender leant on the bar and eyed him suspiciously. "And just what is it we're supposed to find that the Cat can't?"
"It's not that he can't it's that he has far more important matters," Jayden snapped, his voice with a tone of authority that he hoped would stop the man questioning him. "Eighteen years ago a baby was delivered from the palace to a monastary somewhere. He needs to find what monastary. Nothing more, nothing about the babe, he's not interested in that as it's only a point of reference, only the monastary itself."
The man seemed to consider it before nodding. "I'll send some men out on it. Check back tomorrow."
Jayden nodded, paying for the drink and left, to chase up some other former acquaintances to see what they could yeild.
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