Playing Catch-Up In A Dark Alley

[oranje_windmill]

Who: Willem and Emi.
When: Wednesday evening, June 22
Where: Outside Emi’s restaurant
What: A merchant is walking along when he runs into someone from his past.

Comments

[salylimon]

A quick glance of her pocket watch and out the large windows of her restaurant told Emi that she still had a good half hour or so before the lingering bits of twilight would soon vanish. Surely that would be enough time for her to run a quick errand. She needed a few more yards of fabric to make new tablecloths for her apartment. And, considering the small number of people currently eating, the petite woman figured she could leave them in the capable hands of her assistance-slash-waiter

[salylimon]

"Willem then," Emiliana replied with a soft smile as they neared the center of the garden. She looked away, taking in the rather impressive garden and its various flowers, foliage, and extravagant maze before focusing her attention back to the blonde and his newest inquiry.

"They are just acquaintances of my family. I would normally be le-ah, allowed to remain at home, but my family supposed it would be proper to have me out and about amongst the rest of the Nobility. Rubbing elbows and charming other families," she said with a bemused grin. "But, at the end of it, I do not know the family personally, no."

Here, she paused to shyly brush her fingers against the top of his palm. "But I doubt I will make such interesting company for you, Sir-ah, Willem. Are you quite alright with staying here longer? I am not sure how you know the family, but I am going to suppose that your presence there is much more important than my own."

[oranje_windmill]

"You'll probably provide a more interesting company then most of the other people here." he assured her. "The family are good people, but most of those attending tonight are either air heads or arrogant and I'm tired of them."

And if she turned out to be either of those, he could simply make his excuses and leave. Although if the brush of her fingers against his hand was any indication she would be be very interesting indeed. He shifted his hand on her arm, dragging his fingertips as he went.

[salylimon]

"Is that so?" Emiliana teased lightly, shifting the slightest bit closer to the blonde as she moved to avoid bumping into a statue as they walked. It was this sudden movement, however, that caused her to suddenly take in just how different they were in terms of height. He was taller, not incredibly lanky but still retained a youthful appearance that silently told Emi that he wasn't all that older than her. But standing next to him, her small stature seemed all the more prevalent as she continued to walk alongside him, their arms still interlocked

[oranje_windmill]

He noticed the flush on her cheeks,as well as the fact that she didn't pull away. He turned his smile up a few notches, kept his attention solely on her as they walked. Not a hardship really, considering how nice she was to look at.

"I too suffer from that fate," he told her. "Although thankfully I know enough interesting people to make up for it."

At that point they came across a large puddle in the walkway, left over from rain earlier in the day. Rather then let her wade across it and possibly ruin her shoes, he used his longer legs to jump across. Then he turned back to her.

"I can lift you across, if that won't make you too uncomfortable.

[salylimon]

"Do you now?" Her smile softened, though a shy but teasing quirk remained on her lips as she glanced up at him. "I would say that I know but few interesting people, however, I feel as though such an opinion may change after tonight."

There was a subtle yet intentional bump of their arms as they walked, only to find themselves pausing in front of the aforementioned puddle.

Normally, Emiliana was one to purposely walk through water and mud just to irk her family, as she cared little about getting her shoes and skirts dirtied. And she informed Willem of this, though she hesitated for a moment. The sudden thought to come to her made her want to blush once again, but she refrained from doing so as best as she could as she tilted her head to the side innocently.

"I would not be uncomfortable. So long as you promise not to drop me, of course."

[oranje_windmill]

He couldn't help but chuckle at her words. Interesting company, indeed.

"Well for today, I should probably help you," he told her. "Save you a carriage ride home later with wet shoes."

Leaning over, he put his hands on her waist. One he knew his grips was secure, he looked up at her to give her warning, then lifted her up over the puddle and towards him.

[salylimon]

"It would be uncomfortable," Emiliana said with a small nod, "But the expression on my family's faces would be quite amusing. Though, after making them wear such expressions for so long, perhaps I should give them a small break. Just for tonight," she finished with a playful grin before her eyes widened slightly at the feel of his hands on her waist.

It wasn't particularly uncomfortable, but if someone were to walk into the garden and spot them-

Emiliana attempted to shake off that distracting thought once again, face flushing. As soon as she was set back down, however, the young girl tried to fight back the blush from darkening as she cast Willem a grateful smile, her hand reaching up to touch his arm. "Why, thank you," she murmured, pulling her hand back after a moment.

[oranje_windmill]

He caught the hand as it made to move away, Keeping his eyes on her face, he bent slightly and placed a quick, chaste kiss to the back of it.

"My pleasure."

It was a rather bold move, but he wanted his intentions to be made clear. And if he was reading the signs right, she wouldn't be adverse to it.

[salylimon]

Whether or not her face had been alight before no longer mattered, as Emiliana was now absolutely sure that her face was burning red at the kiss placed against her hand. She made no move to draw away, however. Instead, she her smile slowly widened, eyes half lidded as she bashfully (or seemingly so) glanced away.

"That was quite bold of you, Willem," Emiliana said lightly, glancing up at him from beneath her lashes after a brief moment of silence. "Someone could have gotten the wrong idea if they were to have come across us. Perhaps a more secluded area would have worked for such a, ah, sign of affection, no?"

[oranje_windmill]

"You are right, Ms. Emiliana. I apologize."

He let go of her hand, but offered her his arm back as he gave her his most innocent smile.

"Do you know of such a place. Or should I endeavor to find us one?"

[salylimon]

Emiliana had to suppress an amused grin at that remark as she gave a faux but seemingly teasing flutter of her eyelashes as she pretended to think the matter over.

"Perhaps there is a more secluded area here in the garden. Or perhaps somewhere back inside the estate." Anywhere where there was at least a slight chance of getting caught, came the absent thought. "Whichever you so please. I am not so fickle as to mind either choice, really."

[oranje_windmill]

His smile took on a wicked, smug edge.

"Outside would probably be best. Less chance of my ruining your reputation that way."

One again linking arms with her, they walked together until he spied a bench nearly hidden in among some tall rosebushes. He gestured to it.

"Will this meet your approval?"

[salylimon]

"Likewise," Emiliana said, even as she fought to keep from laughing at the irony of that remark. Instead, her smile remained the same as they walked toward the aforementioned bench.

"I believe so," she said lightly, settling down on top of the bench, skirts ruffling with every movement before she gestured for the taller blonde to sit down beside her. "But, Willem, would you be so kind as to remind as to what we were going on about earlier?" Emiliana asked, a teasing glint in her eyes even as she hid her apprehension perfectly.

[oranje_windmill]

He smiled, and seated himself next to her.

"Gladly."

Leaning in, he pressed his lips to her. He kept the kiss extreme brief, extremely chaste, and didn't touch her other then that. She could easily push him away, escape if she wanted to.

Somehow, he didn't think she did.

[salylimon]

There was a brief moment of tension that Emiliana was sure was quite evident in the way her body briefly froze at the initial brush of his lips against hers. Though she was more than expecting the less-than-innocent contact, their reputations considered, it was still different. Much different than the kisses she was forced to endure when having schemed with Francis and Gilbert.

Less uncomfortable and more-

Enjoyable, really.

Slowly, the tension eased away as she hesitantly placed her hands against his chest, not quite pushing away but more of a way to properly ground herself as they both pulled apart. Her cheeks still tinted pink as she stared at him, Emiliana inhaled softly before leaning into to press her lips against his own once more, the pressure much more firm as her eyes slowly fluttered close.