CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY EVERYONE LOVES TO HATE*
Fandom: taking back Valentine's Day since 2008!
So last year bottle-of-shine had a Kissing Battle. The last edition is here (EDITED TO ADD: this is the old battle, not the current one!). It was a lot of fun and might be known around FF-fandom circles as the best Meme ever**.
Pretty much everyone I know is stressed about something, too, so this round of the ( Read more... )
So last year bottle-of-shine had a Kissing Battle. The last edition is here (EDITED TO ADD: this is the old battle, not the current one!). It was a lot of fun and might be known around FF-fandom circles as the best Meme ever**.
Pretty much everyone I know is stressed about something, too, so this round of the ( Read more... )
“This is the Justice Akademy, sir,” Drace said, balancing the books into a stack. “Are you a cadet?”
“No, my lady,” the boy smiled. “But as an apology please at least allow me to help you carry those books to your destination.”
“You’ll be in even more trouble if they find you,” Drace said, though she allowed the boy to take half her books when he smiled so winningly.
“Then it would be best for me to be seen in your company,” the boy said gallantly, with a little bow, as he fell into step beside her. “My name is-”
“ ‘Tis best that I do not know, were they to ask me later,” Drace interrupted. “Are you looking for someone in the Akademy? I could send word, have them meet you outside.”
“This ‘someone’ is busy today, and I wanted it to be a surprise.” Indeed, the boy had a wrapped package slung across his back, slender and long. A blade, perhaps, Drace surmised.
“Ah. And you were lost instead?”
“Indeed. Luck is mine today, to have found so charming a guide,” the boy grinned. He was definitely younger than her, Drace thought critically, as she navigated the quiet Quarto towards the east wing of Bureau Chambers.
“Your lines could use work, child,” Drace said dryly, just to push home the point, but the boy’s smile didn’t waver: instead, he suddenly seemed intrigued.
“What is your name, my lady, if you would not have mine?”
“Drace.” Drace was already used to giving her ‘Judge’ name over her real one. “I am associate to Magister Zecht.”
“Oh, I have no doubt you would some day make Magister.” Now that was certainly laying it on far too thickly, Drace thought, but she smiled faintly. Encouraged, the boy pressed on, “Though I think it quite unseemly that Magister Zecht would push you into heavy carrying.”
“Magister Zecht has no eyes for gender in allocation.” She liked that, and besides, she liked the unpredictable Magister enough to feel defensive on his behalf. “Unlike some of the others. Here we are.”
She paused outside the second Bureau’s Chambers, and through some effort, managed to buzz the door. It opened to show Judge Magister Bergan’s Chief Associate, Judge Allan, who stared at past her, wide eyed. “Judge Drace… oh! Your Highness, what a surprise!”
“Shh.” The boy smiled. “Will you not help us with these books, Allan? Also, is Bergan about?”
“He is at work in his office, your Highness.”
Stunned, Drace could only stare at the boy - no, at Vayne Solidor as Allan hastily took the books from them and staggered away to a desk, sure that she was blushing with embarrassment. Vayne only seemed amused, however.
“Your Highness…”
“I would rather you called me Vayne, my lady Drace. That is, if you would now accept my name.” Vayne bowed slightly.
“Ah, of course.” Drace didn’t resist as he took up her limp hand and brushed a kiss over her wrist. “Er.”
“Can I see you tomorrow?” Vayne asked, looking boyishly hopeful, and Drace’s blush deepened further, confused and still off-balance.
“Ah…” she paused, when Bergan seemed to abruptly appear behind Vayne, clearing his throat, and took the opportunity to stammer her greetings and escape. Princes, she felt, as she fled, had no business not advertising their presence more to the unsuspecting.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment