Post by Prince Amy O'Connor on Sept 14, 2016 18:34:55 GMT
It was a rare occurrence indeed when the Prince of Nagasaki left the sanctuary of her home; the way her outfits fell in layers of well aged fabric and the distinct chill in the air were often easily identifiable infringements against the code of the Masquerade. With her hair the same snowy white it had always been, she was recognizable to every Kindred within the limits of the City, but to the humans they walked amongst... she was just another strange teenage girl, enjoying the bright colors of the festival. For once, she could seem almost normal, despite the massive gap between the ages of her peers and herself.
It took a conscious effort to not walk with feline grace as she made her way down one of the least busy streets. Her heeled boots still did not make a sound, but the soft rustling of her skirts made her seem just a bit more of this world, which was enough to comfort her. After all, she hadn't come to merely mix amongst the mortals... Amy had a reason, as she so often did.
During her takeover and beneath her lead, the Kine life in Japan had gone mostly unchanged, yet she hadn't once been given the opportunity to attend the festivals that came and went all throughout the year. During the nights the vendors and performers lined the streets, Amy often found herself buried beneath books as they crumbled from age, and hidden beneath stacks of papers nearly as tall as she. Even with the assistance of her lunatic companion and dearly beloved husband, the Princely duties were known to overwhelm her, and by the time she freed herself... The festival had moved on.
Not this time.
Members of her Court had offered her their assistance and freed her for a single evening. Later, just before the lights were to be released, she had plans to meet with Octavianwh. Their destination ensured a sense of privacy, where neither need fear expressing themselves exactly as they were. And yet, as she passed the bridge that covered their rendezvous point, she realized just how close to the rest of the world they would be. Separated, but not isolated. As always, Octavian's thoughtfulness amazed her, melting the ice that encased her heart.
A soft, delicate smile began to play across frost-bitten lips as she contemplated how drastically her life had changed since meeting the neonate Octavian. It was easy to lose herself to reverie and memory, even dodging other patrons on the street. It was only when a young man, no older than the sixteen Amy herself appeared, stepped before her that her attention was captured by the tangible world around her. She startled, taking a step back as fingers encased in silken gloves dropped, moving towards the blades concealed beneath her petticoat. The indifference so beknownst to the Ice Queen froze across the sharp features of her face, even as her head tilted to one side.
Human, his scent assured her. Harmless, though excitable. Almost like a puppy. The comparison was one she would have never made before, one that would have held no revelance to the comfortable stoicism she easily donned. Yet, thinking of it, she couldn't help the slightest widening of her smile.
"Excuse me, Miss," the Asian said, dark hair falling across his features as he attempted to warm her to his unspoken proposition with a boyish smile. He stepped towards her, oblivious to the danger that simply was Amy O'Connor. "Come to enjoy the festival? Here, come here. Write wish, and you'll see! All wish come true!"
Mirth brought forth a bubbling laugh, amusement lining her face for a far too brief moment. She gave a very slight shake of her head, stepping back to maintain some distance between herself and the stranger. While the willingness to converse was an interesting change in her usual behavior, some habits died hard, and she had no interest in close physical proximity with a man that was not her husband.
"Thank you," she murmured, her Japanese flawless. After years in the country, she'd hope it to be... She had her own expectations, after all, and she rarely failed to meet them. Learning Japanese was no exception. "However, all of my wishes have come true."
The look he offered her caught her, for but a moment, off guard. The knowledge that sharpened his eyes, the way one brow delicately arched, as if imploring her. Without conscious thought, she took another uncomfortable step backwards, the tall heel of her boot clicking softly against the pavement. The noise was swallowed by the sounds of the festival all around them, but her ears caught it; he managed to make the Visceriene make a noise. How... unsettling.
"I sure," he continued in his broken English, words accented too heavily, as if he mimicked the Japanese dialect. "I sure there are more... Many more." His grin twitched, momentarily, but the brief exposure of his whitened teeth suddenly brought forth the overwhelming cores of her training. Without conscious thought, she shifted her weight to prepare for the physical altercation that smile promised her, and fingers caressed the tiny stiletto blade woven into the fabric of her sleeve. Yet, just as quickly as it crossed his features, it was gone, leaving only impish excitement in its wake.
"Yes?" The stranger's expression faltered after the moment passed, tension dropping the air a few noticeable degrees. He seemed startled by her posture, quickly back pedalling away from the woman that looked so ready to end him. Fear sparked, but faded as Amy forced herself to relax. No smile touched her, and in return, the boy offered her only something meek and unsure. "Y-yes, Miss? Wish more?"
She stared at him, mind flooded suddenly with curiosity. Was she being paranoid? Was the moment a mere hallucination brought on by too many years in power? She felt a weakness touch her chest, a fear that stilled the barely existent beat of her heart, and offered him only a shake of her head. She was quick to pass the stranger, and the few curious onlookers she had crossed, and hurry back along the sidewalk the same way she had originally come. Even mild panic made it difficult for her to focus and see through the sea of unrecognizable faces, unable to differentiate the possible threats from the innocent bystanders. The cloud of war began to hang heavy over her head, and despite the control she so often exhibited, she felt the paranoia creep it's way across her mind.
The boy... Human, to her heightened senses. Yet, when he looked at her like that... She shuddered at the unbidden memories that wormed their way to the surface. She was just about to give in to the sudden agoraphobia as it set when, suddenly, she collided with the warmth of her summer... quite literally. Arms wrapped around his slender waist and she buried her face into the fabric of his suit, wrinkling the material she was so often obsessed with. The red dots of tears began to form at the corners of her eyes as, at last, her mind caught up to her body, and she realized just who she clung to. Octavian. Her love.
Deep, shaking breath. She attempted to steady herself as the summer breeze she was intimately familiar with began to gently blow the paranoia and fear away, freeing her from the dizzying grip of madness. She took another deep, unnecessary breath as he turned, wrapping her in his arms and cradling her, asking what troubled her so. She allowed the heat of her husband and their passion to melt the emotion that made every muscle tense. It didn't take long as he stroked her exposed skin, chasing away her chill. The soft hum of his voice managed to tie together the last fraying strings of her mind, and with another breath, she was finally able to steady herself.
Once more, he asked what bothered her. Slow inhale, slow exhale, and her smile crept across her features once more, softening the edges of her cheekbones and jaw. She gave a slight nuzzle into his chest, enjoying the feel of him all around her. She hadn't even looked up to see his face... she simply knew. With a chuckle, she shook her head.
"Nothing, my love," she whispered. "Nothing troubles me at the moment... I simply... grew weary. Of the distance. Come, now, please? Let us... go. I wish to settle before the ceremony."
It took a conscious effort to not walk with feline grace as she made her way down one of the least busy streets. Her heeled boots still did not make a sound, but the soft rustling of her skirts made her seem just a bit more of this world, which was enough to comfort her. After all, she hadn't come to merely mix amongst the mortals... Amy had a reason, as she so often did.
During her takeover and beneath her lead, the Kine life in Japan had gone mostly unchanged, yet she hadn't once been given the opportunity to attend the festivals that came and went all throughout the year. During the nights the vendors and performers lined the streets, Amy often found herself buried beneath books as they crumbled from age, and hidden beneath stacks of papers nearly as tall as she. Even with the assistance of her lunatic companion and dearly beloved husband, the Princely duties were known to overwhelm her, and by the time she freed herself... The festival had moved on.
Not this time.
Members of her Court had offered her their assistance and freed her for a single evening. Later, just before the lights were to be released, she had plans to meet with Octavianwh. Their destination ensured a sense of privacy, where neither need fear expressing themselves exactly as they were. And yet, as she passed the bridge that covered their rendezvous point, she realized just how close to the rest of the world they would be. Separated, but not isolated. As always, Octavian's thoughtfulness amazed her, melting the ice that encased her heart.
A soft, delicate smile began to play across frost-bitten lips as she contemplated how drastically her life had changed since meeting the neonate Octavian. It was easy to lose herself to reverie and memory, even dodging other patrons on the street. It was only when a young man, no older than the sixteen Amy herself appeared, stepped before her that her attention was captured by the tangible world around her. She startled, taking a step back as fingers encased in silken gloves dropped, moving towards the blades concealed beneath her petticoat. The indifference so beknownst to the Ice Queen froze across the sharp features of her face, even as her head tilted to one side.
Human, his scent assured her. Harmless, though excitable. Almost like a puppy. The comparison was one she would have never made before, one that would have held no revelance to the comfortable stoicism she easily donned. Yet, thinking of it, she couldn't help the slightest widening of her smile.
"Excuse me, Miss," the Asian said, dark hair falling across his features as he attempted to warm her to his unspoken proposition with a boyish smile. He stepped towards her, oblivious to the danger that simply was Amy O'Connor. "Come to enjoy the festival? Here, come here. Write wish, and you'll see! All wish come true!"
Mirth brought forth a bubbling laugh, amusement lining her face for a far too brief moment. She gave a very slight shake of her head, stepping back to maintain some distance between herself and the stranger. While the willingness to converse was an interesting change in her usual behavior, some habits died hard, and she had no interest in close physical proximity with a man that was not her husband.
"Thank you," she murmured, her Japanese flawless. After years in the country, she'd hope it to be... She had her own expectations, after all, and she rarely failed to meet them. Learning Japanese was no exception. "However, all of my wishes have come true."
The look he offered her caught her, for but a moment, off guard. The knowledge that sharpened his eyes, the way one brow delicately arched, as if imploring her. Without conscious thought, she took another uncomfortable step backwards, the tall heel of her boot clicking softly against the pavement. The noise was swallowed by the sounds of the festival all around them, but her ears caught it; he managed to make the Visceriene make a noise. How... unsettling.
"I sure," he continued in his broken English, words accented too heavily, as if he mimicked the Japanese dialect. "I sure there are more... Many more." His grin twitched, momentarily, but the brief exposure of his whitened teeth suddenly brought forth the overwhelming cores of her training. Without conscious thought, she shifted her weight to prepare for the physical altercation that smile promised her, and fingers caressed the tiny stiletto blade woven into the fabric of her sleeve. Yet, just as quickly as it crossed his features, it was gone, leaving only impish excitement in its wake.
"Yes?" The stranger's expression faltered after the moment passed, tension dropping the air a few noticeable degrees. He seemed startled by her posture, quickly back pedalling away from the woman that looked so ready to end him. Fear sparked, but faded as Amy forced herself to relax. No smile touched her, and in return, the boy offered her only something meek and unsure. "Y-yes, Miss? Wish more?"
She stared at him, mind flooded suddenly with curiosity. Was she being paranoid? Was the moment a mere hallucination brought on by too many years in power? She felt a weakness touch her chest, a fear that stilled the barely existent beat of her heart, and offered him only a shake of her head. She was quick to pass the stranger, and the few curious onlookers she had crossed, and hurry back along the sidewalk the same way she had originally come. Even mild panic made it difficult for her to focus and see through the sea of unrecognizable faces, unable to differentiate the possible threats from the innocent bystanders. The cloud of war began to hang heavy over her head, and despite the control she so often exhibited, she felt the paranoia creep it's way across her mind.
The boy... Human, to her heightened senses. Yet, when he looked at her like that... She shuddered at the unbidden memories that wormed their way to the surface. She was just about to give in to the sudden agoraphobia as it set when, suddenly, she collided with the warmth of her summer... quite literally. Arms wrapped around his slender waist and she buried her face into the fabric of his suit, wrinkling the material she was so often obsessed with. The red dots of tears began to form at the corners of her eyes as, at last, her mind caught up to her body, and she realized just who she clung to. Octavian. Her love.
Deep, shaking breath. She attempted to steady herself as the summer breeze she was intimately familiar with began to gently blow the paranoia and fear away, freeing her from the dizzying grip of madness. She took another deep, unnecessary breath as he turned, wrapping her in his arms and cradling her, asking what troubled her so. She allowed the heat of her husband and their passion to melt the emotion that made every muscle tense. It didn't take long as he stroked her exposed skin, chasing away her chill. The soft hum of his voice managed to tie together the last fraying strings of her mind, and with another breath, she was finally able to steady herself.
Once more, he asked what bothered her. Slow inhale, slow exhale, and her smile crept across her features once more, softening the edges of her cheekbones and jaw. She gave a slight nuzzle into his chest, enjoying the feel of him all around her. She hadn't even looked up to see his face... she simply knew. With a chuckle, she shook her head.
"Nothing, my love," she whispered. "Nothing troubles me at the moment... I simply... grew weary. Of the distance. Come, now, please? Let us... go. I wish to settle before the ceremony."
