(Untitled)

[lady_fitzwalter]

Who: Robin and Marian
When: The night of the party and the following morning
Where: The ballroom, then Marian's room
What: Robin ensures Marian gets back to her room. He's such a gentleman ;) (I kid, I kid)

Comments

[lordofsherwood]

He could have kicked himself for saying anything, for not keeping his thoughts to himself, when the lovely mood began to dissipate. He was still not sure what to make of it all; since her engagement to Gisborne, she had appeared to just follow along with that plan. The only time she had demonstrated an aversion to the idea was right before she collapsed from having been stabbed. As soon as she was back at Knighton, it was a return to that mentality

[lady_fitzwalter]

Her eyes moved from his face to the button she was still toying with as she waited for any kind of response from him. She was a little worried that she had somehow bothered, or even angered him, enough that he would leave without another word.

With that particular thought in mind, to say that she was surprised when he apologised would be an understatement. At the statement which followed, her gaze remained on her hand as she considered the best way to respond. It had sounded as though it had been said in jest, and yet with Robin, one could never be completely sure. She was sure he knew the truth, and yet despite that, hearing it would no doubt do marvellous things for his ego. Well, if she did not say it now he would never leave her in peace to sleep.

"Are you deliberately so foolish? I would choose you." The button slipped free of the button hole beneath her fingers, almost as if to mock her with its timing.

[lordofsherwood]

Robin's renewed humor began to evaporate when she did not reply, instead continuing to play with his button. While it was a pleasant feeling, it was not what he was hoping for. About to backtrack once more, he was about to speak when she finally answered him-- and undid his jacket. There were actually two buttons, but he had not gotten around to fastening the bottom one; now, he was rather glad of that.

Trying not to imagine Marian following up with his vest and then his shirt, he reached over to tilt her chin up, to get her to meet his gaze. Her eyes were looking heavy, and served as an excellent reminder that she was not herself just now. Even though he sighed inwardly at that, even the knowledge that she would likely have never said any of this under normal circumstances, could not quash the cheerfulness her reply brought out in him.

"Any foolishness is completely inadvertent, I swear," he told her, with a wink.

[lady_fitzwalter]

"Sorry," Marian murmured quietly. "Sorry, I did not mean to do that." She lowered her hand, her fingers trailing over the buttons of his vest before she pulled it away completely. Undoing his jacket was not all she was sorry for. She would regret revealing that to him later. She should not have let him stay with her when she had such limited control of her inhibitions.

When he tilted her chin up, she did her best to avoid his gaze, looking over his shoulder at the couch, and the window. "I can not blame you. I suppose a fool can not help that he is a fool." She shifted on to her back once again, so that her chin was pulled free of his hold in the same action.

[lordofsherwood]

"Do not apologize," he instantly assured her, trying not to suck in a breath when she ran her fingers along the fastenings of his vest. He would not let her undo it, not when she was not in control of what she was saying or doing... but a part of him still wished she would.

He also wished she would stop looking past his shoulder. "I have it on good authority that I am not a fool, though," he informed her haughtily, halfway between disappointed and appreciative when she rolled onto her back. He dropped his hand down along his side, wondering if she would be awake much longer.

[lady_fitzwalter]

Marian laughed at that. "Oh yes? And who was it that informed you of that? Someone who needed a favour, perhaps." She finally allowed her eyes to meet his, a cheeky smile in place.

She yawned again as she watched him, bringing up a hand to cover her mouth. "I think it is time for you to go." He should not be there when she fell asleep. Her gaze remained on his face expectantly as she pulled her lower lip between her teeth in thought. Since she had been kind enough to tell him what her choice would be, he should offer her something in return.

"Good night, Robin." Her gaze lowered to his mouth as she spoke.

[lordofsherwood]

"It was a very wise person who informed me of it." He wondered if Rose would be flattered, or if she would laugh at the description; possibly both. But, she had been right, seeing through his doubts, and he felt that it was no less than the truth.

Robin was not going anywhere after watching Marian drink enough wine to fell a horse. Well, he would move off the bed, perhaps to that couch on the other side of the room, but that was it. Still, she would likely argue the point, so he decided not to mention it. And anyway, between the way she chewed on her lip and then stared at his own, he was losing most of his ability to speak, anyway. He got the definite feeling that she would be more amenable toward a kiss now than she had been earlier... but that was just it. She had not been amenable earlier, and he was not going to do something that tomorrow she would wish had not happened.

Yet, he could not do nothing, either. "Good night, Marian." Leaning over, he planted a safe, chaste kiss on her forehead.

[lady_fitzwalter]

"I would like to meet this wise person, so that I might correct them," Marian managed around a yawn, which sort of ruined the affect of the tease. Her eyes slipped shut, but with effort she forced them open again. It seemed far too great an effort. When had they become so heavy?

She was not sure why she was having the thoughts that she was, but she did know a kiss to the forehead was not anywhere near what she wanted. Before he could pull away, her hands rose to either side of his face, cupping his cheeks and bringing his head down, her lips crushing against his in a lingering kiss before she pulled back, resting her head comfortably on the pillow once again. There, that was better. She offered him a self satisfied smile.

[lordofsherwood]

"In fact, you have met them," he said mysteriously, waggling his eyebrows. His teasing expression turned fond when she nearly fell asleep; while he was concerned about how she would feel when she awoke, for now, she was simply adorable. Lovely.

He was just starting to lean back from the small kiss, when she was pulling him down for a real one. A voice in the back of his mind ordered him to stop it, to move. But, after nearly six years of wishing she were still his, of missing the way she felt and tasted-- of missing her,-- he could not deny this. When she ended it, laying back down and giving him an utterly gorgeous smile, he smiled back, wondering if how immensely happy he was at that moment was evident. Sure, tomorrow, she may accuse him of lechery; but the fact was that she had kissed himSome of his happiness slipped at that; it was entirely possible that she would have little to no recollection of this in the morning

[lady_fitzwalter]

Consciousness returned to Marian slowly. And as it did, so did her awareness of a very unpleasant throbbing somewhere behind her eyes. With a frown, she lifted her head from where her face had been buried in the gap between the two pillows. This was not good. Just what had she been thinking? Drinking to make herself feel better was a foolish idea, and now she was paying for it.

She mentally went over everything that had happened, and got to the dance that Robin had planned for her before she hit a wall. The next thing she remembered after that was leaving the ballroom, and then Robin had carried her back here. But then, what had...oh, damn. It all came rushing back to her. She had kissed him. Made a complete fool of herself with the worst possible audience present

[lordofsherwood]

The sound of a groan brought Robin instantly awake. He had not slept deeply, remaining as alert as possible in case Marian found herself in distress, and he was on his feet and beside the bed before he was conscious enough to realize that she did not seem entirely awake, either. Debating whether to see if she was waking or merely try to lay her back down, he decided on the former; if she was queasy, moving her could set her off.

"Marian?" he asked gently.

[lady_fitzwalter]

So much for her brilliant plan. He had apparently moved from the couch to the side of the bed so quickly that simply the thought of it exhausted her. She could tell he was close without opening her eyes because his voice was much, much too loud. Didn't he know that she had consumed vast quantities of wine last night? The smug fool had probably never been badly affected by alcohol in his life.

Very slowly, very cautiously, she opened her eyes, looking in his direction. She could not help but note how unfair it was that he had spent the entire night sleeping on her couch, and still looked so good. She rather liked that outfit with the jacket off. But, that was beside the point. He should look more rumpled. She knew she looked awful, which made his being here even worse.

Still, he had questioned her. "I trust you had a good rest." She could not quite keep the displeasure of his having stayed from her voice.

[lordofsherwood]

Her slight wince when he spoke made him feel a bit guilty; he should have whispered. It was a little amusing, since Robin doubted that she had ever been that drunk before, and knew the sensation. But, as she peered over at him, pity overtook any other reaction. She must feel like death warmed over.

The cranky response furthered that opinion. "Good enough," he said, very quietly. In fact, while it had been light, it had been one of his better night's sleep in awhile, undisturbed by nightmares. However, he doubted that she would want to know that he had slept well, with the mood she was sure to be in. "You?"

((OOC: I am supposed to be in the car right now, but I couldn't resist... XD))

[lady_fitzwalter]

Marian smoothed her hands over her hair, then crossed her arms, then decided that was not the best idea, and pushed herself up higher against the pillows, hands resting in her lap. She had disliked the sensation of being in a reclined position with him standing over her.

"You stayed," she pointed out needlessly, in a much quieter voice than last time. She was, in some small part of her mind, touched by the concern. But right now she had too many other far more unpleasant things to think about. Like that kiss...what had she been thinking? Her hand rose to grasp the end of the chain around her neck, fingers worrying the ring and cross. Then she realised they had not been hidden under her dress, and her gaze shot up to his. "I must have slept well," she spoke quickly, to cover her nerves at the possible discovery, "For I do not remember it."

[lordofsherwood]

When it became clear that she was not in imminent danger of losing her dinner, Robin carefully sat on the edge of the bed-- towards the foot, to give her space. The other thing that was clear was that she was back to her usual self, and that if she remembered anything from last night, it was not with any fondness.

"I did," he replied, equally quietly. She began to seem a little confused, but that was hardly surprising. Would she remember later what had happened, what they had discussed; or would it remain lost? She seemed startled to find the necklace out, which again was not unexpected. He needed to just hope for the best here.

"You did not seem restless, if that helps."

[lady_fitzwalter]

Marian cursed herself, looking down at her hands as she dropped them back in to her lap. She really did not want them to take such a great backward step, after his kindness in organising the dance for her. It really had been an incredible surprise. She had been so moved by his sincerity, and thoughtfulness.

"I am sure the wine had something to do with that," she said with an amused smile, her tone only slightly self pitying. She could remember the kiss, and how wonderful it had been. Did he know that? Had she thanked him for everything?

"Thank you for the dance, Robin," she said as she looked back up at him. She was hit with the realisation that yes, she had said that before, but it needed repeating. She got the impression he thought that she was not pleased. "And for getting me back here." And for the kiss, she added silently.