[Open] Looking For Trouble In All The Right Places

[legallygreen]

Characters:  Jennifer Walters, Open!
Content:  Enjoying herself at the festival, but tired of crowds of people, Jennifer escapes to more quiet avenues only to find she might still have company. 
Setting:  The festival, just out past the town
Time:  Afternoon
Warnings:  None as of right now

Comments

[anonymousryuuki]

It was Ryuuki's first festival, and he looked at everything with wide eyes. Every sound, every sight was new and exciting. It would be incorrect to say that being here made Ryuuki felt like a child again, since his childhood was filled with dark rooms and lonely gardens, but he was certainly acting like a child now.

He had just finished a game at some stall (he lost) when he caught sight of Jennifer leaving.

Curious, he pushed through the crowd and followed her.

Why would she want to leave?

"Jenny!" He called with a wave when he was closer to the tree she was sitting under.

[legallygreen]

"Ryuuki!"

She smiled as she saw him approaching, busily reaching up and removing her hat. Jennifer waved at him in return, and beckoned him forward as she collected some of the blossoms that had been falling around her.

"Come join me. I have a picnic lunch, and plenty to share. Wait with me while I collect flowers. I need a few of the right color for the eventual gala that will be coming."

[anonymousryuuki]

"Which colours do you need?" He asked as he dropped down beside her, "And there's a gala tonight?" Because he's bad at keeping up with these sort of things. He tone was a bit cautious though. He never did like these sort of functions at home.

[legallygreen]

"I believe it may be tomorrow. I need the lavender colored blossoms." She replied, showing him the few the right color she had collected to one side. The others she had in her lap were being woven together and she made a coronet of blossoms.

Reaching up, she released her hair from the pins, and let it fall down around her shoulders. Jennifer put the flower crown on her head and smiled. "I bought a new gown, and I want to accent my hair with the real flowers falling from the sky as a little homage to the festival."

[anonymousryuuki]

He sifted through the flowers, looking for the colours she showed him. "Like these?"

He held up a few that seemed to him to be the same colour.

When she placed the ring of flowers on her head, Ryuuki couldn't help but remember when they played in the gardens as children.

He smiled wistfully, "We always got in trouble for doing that." No, the gardeners never appreciated them turning all their oftentimes exotic but mostly just expensive blooms being made into crowns.

[legallygreen]

"I know. And I always promised myself that when I had my own gardens, any children who wanted to make crowns out of my flowers would be welcome." She said with a smile.

Jennifer nodded. "Yes, those are the right colors. Though why I am bothering is beyond me right now. I suppose I am going to mingle, but I rarely enjoy going to parties alone. At home, I was always able to find a military man who was gunning for a promotion that wanted to take me. I guess I simply want to know that someone could walk into the room with me proudly on their arm. Even with..."

She broke it off there, blushing slightly. Being with Ryukki had made her too bold. She would end up telling him her secret if she was not careful. "Have you had any of the festival food? I got several pastries to try."

[anonymousryuuki]

In fact, he had tried almost everything he saw until he couldn't afford to. For a while after this festival, Ryuuki would be learning the importance of not splurging. But that was later. Right now, there was a cute little pastry that he hadn't had a chance to try earlier...

"Is that why you're all the way out here?" He asked with a few crumbs still stuck to his face.

Yeah, like Jenn would let him starve. She's so his sugar momma

[legallygreen]

"I came out here for some peace." She said, smiling as he shoved the pastry into his mouth at one go. Jennifer placed another in his hands with gentle fingers.

"Too many strangers, and so many staring eyes. It is as if they had never seen a properly dressed lady before." Jennifer continued, frowning a bit. "I did not think it was so unusual for a lady to dress as a lady. Even this far away from the cities. But I also wished for a moment to just be myself. I am glad you have come though, Ryuuki."

Stop spoiling him! -n-

[anonymousryuuki]

Being told that his presence was appreciated, that hardly happened. So Ryuuki responded to it by smiling goofily. The kind that, in fiction, would have sparkles and flowers in the background.

And he was only too happy to take the pastry.

"I'm sure they only stared because you looked so pretty." He said sagely before biting into the pastry.

But that's what a big sister is for!

[legallygreen]

The slender woman resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him. "I doubt that very much, Ryuuki. I might be wearing satin and brocade, but that does not hide frumpy features. Now, what have you been doing with yourself all day at the festival? I have been busy shopping, as I am wont to do."

[anonymousryuuki]

Ryuuki paused.

True, Jennifer certainly wasn't the same kind of beautiful that most noble women wore, but frumpy...

He swallowed the food in his mouth and reached for another, "I don't think you're frumpy. And I've mostly been trying the food and some of the games." And belatedly he realized...

"I still haven't found you a thank you gift..."

[legallygreen]

Her frown softened into a smile as he said something about a thank you gift. Jennifer shook her head. "No, Ryuuki, do not worry about it. I do not need a thank you gift."

She put a few more lavender blossoms into her basket and tucked one into his hair, smiling as she did so. "I have not tried the games. Perhaps tomorrow though. But I am not very good at games of hand eye coordination."

He's going to get fat if he keeps eating all these pastries...

[anonymousryuuki]

He made a non-commital sound, knowing better than to keep arguing, but he was still going to get her something. Maybe he could win her something? Except he didn't have any money left for games...

"Well, the games are just for fun, right? It's all right if you're not good at it." He said as he reached for another pastry.

She's so going to give him an allowance now

[legallygreen]

Jennifer smiled as he took another pastry and she moved the box closer to him so that he could have as many as he liked. She enjoyed seeing him so happy, she was aware of his unhappy childhood when she was a child, and felt for him very much.

"Maybe we can play some together." She offered after a moment. "You can show me how to play, I can then try and fail, and then you can try and succeed."

Smiling, she played with a blossom as a child would, plucking away the petals one by one.

Sigh~ there's no stopping her is there?

[anonymousryuuki]

Ryuuki certainly wouldn't mind finishing the rest of the pastries.

"That would be great!" Then deflated, "But, um, I think I've used up all the money I brought with me already..."

Not that he had taken much to begin with. Mostly it was because Ryuuki didn't have an inkling as to how much money someone needed for a living,

Nope!

[legallygreen]

This made Jennifer's smile fade, and she began scolding him soundly.

"Ryuuki, you have not changed a particle since we were children. I cannot believe you would not come to me for help. It was very wrong of you and I will never forgive you if you ever do so again."

She opened her little bag, and counted out a nearly obscene amount of money. "It's time for you to learn how to budget. Now, this should last you the rest of the festival. I will not take no for an answer, and if you spend it all, you will just have to eat on the ship from here on out."

Jennifer pressed the money into his hand, and held it gently, her expression softening. "Nobody I care for shall ever want. I want you to promise me that you will always come to me if you are in need."