My World of 1x1s discussion
Fantasy
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Pyry (Ji Mei and DD)
((I was thinking it could have something to do with forgetting that dixon has the power to heal him as well as secretly feeling guilty about his sister, wishing for his father's approval, and him kind of becoming this destructive force that deep, deep down he doesn't want to be but thinks he does. Just kind of a very abstract version of that lolok that works! I'm thinking Niel wants to be on the road to Errebist ASAP, so should we have them try and shove off the next day? or what do you think?))
((Hm, yeah. I would say rather than Dixon can heal, it's more like he can undo what he has done. But those details don't matter much right now. Anyhoo, I think it depends on how weak Niel is. If he really was that rattled up from the illness Dixon created, then it wouldn't make sense if he could travel so soon. But perhaps the effects of fake poisoning were lessened because not only Dixon didn't finish, but also maybe the greater distance between them lessens the strength of it?))
((Agreed. So, in the meantime, what should we do? I can have Ivy go to the the market looking for ingredients and Una can tag along, but otherwise, I don't know what exactly to do with her other than have her taking care of him. Unless we want to take this moment to just explore the relationship between the three of them?))
((Sure that works! If you want we could have the two have a bonding moment or something before she falls asleep? Also I was debating where they are going to sleep because a) I could have una take her back to the room and put her in the bed with Niel but that could be really cliche and cheesy b) let her sleep there and have una watch over her for the night but then I think she would be a. It nervous about not staying with niel either c) steal some supplies from another room and have a makeshift bed on the floor?))
((Ahaha, oh my gosh, I think Ivy would instinctively slap Niel if she woke up next to him. A bonding moment would work for me. :D I was thinking what their sleeping arrangements would be as well. But I think Ivy is okay with not sleeping on her bed. If they could make a makeshift bed, that's fine, I think. Or just let Ivy sleep in a chair in her room instead with a blanket over her too.
Just out of nowhere, I think it would be kind of an interesting trait of Ivy's if she could sleep anywhere. It might be something she's used to since she became homeless.))
Groggy, Ivy blinked slowly a couple times while looking at... Shell, was it? Nodding as she rose to her feet, her mind only processed the word sleep and automatically she began to go back to her room. She paused and smiled sheepishly to Shell as she almost dropped the book in her hands and she woke up enough to tuck it safely under her arm before she proceeded up the stairs. Ivy paused and she looked back to Shell, curiosity burning in her eyes. "If I may ask, you are the Shell that Niel mentioned, right?"
It had only occurred to her that she just made an assumption the woman was named Shell and had never asked for her name. Perhaps Ivy was more exhausted than she thought since it was rare for her to forget such manners.
Thankfully, Ivy continued to be compliant. It was a wonder she seemed blissfully unaware of the danger that could quickly be inflicted into her life is Niel decided to so much as say so. That was the thing about royals. They were given powers of god but were just as mortal as the common folk."If I may ask, you are the Shell that Niel mentioned, right?" The fading woman asked.
Una nodded shortly, "It is one of his most common names for me." She had thought the observation to be obvious, but perhaps her perspective had been too biased since she is used to being called by that name.
"His names for you? Does that mean Shell isn't your real name?" Ivy's brow furrowed in confusion, since she saw no need for one to be called something other than their own name. Unless she was interpreting the woman's words wrongly. After all, she was always a little slow when drowsiness hit her. It was something her grandmother had always complained about when she was a child, saying she had to pretty much drag Ivy to bed when she didn't register the orders to go to bed fast enough.
"It's not the name my parents gave me if that's what you're asking." She amended. "Shell is what he likes to call the bodyguards." Surprisingly, Ivy's reasoning was visibly impaired by her sleep deprivation. She'd definitely need her sleep if they wanted her to perform optimally.
Truthfully, Una had been a bit surprised by the healer's observation. She barely remembered the last time anyone said anything or asked about her name. It must have been a year or two ago when she overheard one of the palace servers whispering mentioning it to the chef while they were in passing.
Tilting her head, she blinked and smiled. "Oh, well, then, what is the name your parents gave you?" Then her eyes widened slightly as she quickly added, "That is, if you want to tell me. I don't mean to pry."Then again, if Ivy thought about it, she only gave her first name and not her full name, so what right did she to ask for someone's real name? Of course, she had left her family name behind mostly because it was a source of pain to her as a child. But over the years, just using her first name became part of her performance as a fortune teller and so it began to stick. It had been years since Ivy shared her family name with others.
Ivy wanted to know... her name? Now Una felt like the slow one. It had been a while since anyone bothered or cared to know that fact. It took the bodyguard for a bit of a loop."O-oh! Um... it's Una. Awanata." She answered, then immediately wondered if it was alright that she give her name. Was she having a conversation? "You can call me whichever you are more comfortable with." Would Niel be mad? It wasn't as though he'd ever asked for her name. For all Ivy knew, she could be making it up. Then again, Ivy might have been a made up name to protect her actual identity.
"And Ivy is your real name?"
Well of course it was her real name. If it wasn't, then that didn't mean she was going to suddenly tell the truth now either.
"Not to pry, of course."
There was a reason Niel did all of the talking.
A kind smile spread across Ivy's face. "That's a really pretty name, Una," she commented, her voice sincere. Ivy thought the name was quite exotic. But perhaps everyone that came from Errebist had some exotic flare to them. At the returning question, Ivy hummed and nodded. "Yes, it is. My first name at least. My family name is Dubois," she replied. It felt oddly refreshing to say her last name, and after all the years and the confession she made earlier that week, Ivy didn't feel the usual pang. Rather, in telling her last name, it was as if she felt a warm cloak rest on her shoulders that bore happy memories of her grandmother.
The bodyguard's lips twitched to mirror the smile briefly. The comment and expression reminded Una of her younger sister, Omi. She'd only been about six years old at the time and playing make believe was still one of her favorite pastimes."Una, you be the princess. I'll be the angel, and Achak can be the monster." Little Omi instructed confidently.
Twelve year old Una laughed at her sister's antics and gave her a funny look.
"Why an I a princess? I could be the warrior and you could be the princess."
Ominotago pouted momentarily at the questioning of her plans. "No! You can't be the warrior. Princess Una fits your name better. It's pretty."
"You think I have a pretty name?"
"I think you have a really pretty name, Una." Her innocent, wide smile made any opposition impossible at that point and the eldest daughter complied to the youngest's wishes. Such happy times...
"...My first name at least..." Ivy's words brought her further out of her reverie. Una felt her cheeks warm slightly with the comparison in her head of this woman to her sister. It wouldn't be good if she started developing a relationship with her. Especially if her days were limited.
"Miss Ivy Dubois, then." Una clarified. The palm reader's sleepy, innocent expression did little to set the bodyguard's concerns at ease. Thankfully, they had made it back to the room and Niel was resting peacefully.
"I can go retrieve some more blankets and supplies from the front desk if you want to pick an appropriate spot to sleep. I'll be back shortly." She declared before quickly leaving the woman.
Upon her return, she found Miss Dubois already slumbering deeply in one of the spare chairs. Una bit the inside of her cheek, telling herself that she was nothing like the family she held dear. She was just needed for her skills and one day she might have to kill her. It didn't matter that she knew Una's name or that Una knew hers. Steeling her resolve, she decidedly tossed one of the blankets over to Ivy's lap and set herself up against the doorway, closed her eyes, and tried to get at least a couple hours of rest for the night.
***END OF SCENE***
The first thing Ivy noticed as sleep began to withdraw and her consciousness arose was light falling upon her face. It made her scrunch up her eyes as she thought to herself slowly, Did I forget to close the curtains again? And soon as this thought bubbled up to the surface, her body moved to get up out of her bed to close the curtains. But then her hands touched something other than the blankets of her bed and suddenly her eyes opened. It seemed that she fell asleep on the chair instead of her bed and before her mind began to ask why things were different, her gaze landed on the man on her bed, sleeping peacefully. Then the events of last night came back to her and Ivy sat back in her chair, slouching slightly. She had no idea what to do from here, but she supposed she couldn't give up on something that involved medicine.
She looked around to see if Una was awake. When her gaze landed on her, Ivy smiled. "Did you managed to rest well?" she asked, slowly rising to her feet and wrapping the blanket, that she suddenly realized was there, around her shoulders.
Una had awoken a couple hours prior to Ivy. Prince Niel was still asleep. She simply been keeping watch as usual until the fortune teller arose."Did you manage to rest well?"
"Enough." Was her terse response. Regardless of whatever kind of moment they shared, Una wasn't going to start treating her differently or making exceptions. "I'm going to head to the market to get some food and supplies. Is there anything you need for your medicines that you need me to grab?" She stood from her perch by the door and stretched a bit.
Una didn't like just leaving the two of them alone, but she couldn't always keep an eye on both of them, though. They needed supplies and it certainly wouldn't be the best idea to bring them along with her.
She looked thoughtful a moment as she mentally ran over the ingredients she had looked through the night before and the list that came with the recipe. "Well, I'm low on mint, ginger, and marjoram as well." Unfortunately, she doubted Una could find the ingredients for the recipe, but she listed them to the woman anyway, just in case. Smiling slightly, Ivy gave a slight nod to Una as she headed towards the door. "I appreciate your help. In the meantime, I'll look to see if I can do anything for Niel. Or look for more information in my grandmother's book," she said in reassurance.
The bodyguard nodded before heading out. She didn't know what she would be able to find, but she'd get what she could identify. She nodded and left.The prince didn't awaken for another half hour. He was still groggy and weak, but he certainly didn't feel like he was going to die at any given moment. His eyes searched the quiet room and came to rest on the blonde woman sitting in a chair and reading her book in the corner. His shield was nowhere in sight.
"Where's Shell?" He groaned, sitting up in the bed.
Unconsciously, Ivy gave a little start at the voice breaking the silence that filled her room since Una left and immediate her gaze went over to Niel. A small tsk of irritation escaped her before she noticed as she set her book aside and rose to her feet. Going to her bedside, she reached out and pressed a stern, but surprisingly gentle hand on the man's shoulder, trying to redirect him back to a laying position. "Una is helping to get some food and ingredients I need. She left not too long ago, so it might be an hour until she comes back," Ivy replied as she withdrew her hand and folded her arms across her chest as she looked down at Niel. Her gaze remained steady as if she could make him stay down with her eyes alone.
"Una?" He raised a brow. He didn't recall his bodyguard ever properly introducing herself to the fortune teller, but it would appear that they had exchanged names now. Niel wondered if he himself had ever asked for the woman's name. Usually, it was more of a "She will be your bodyguard now since the last five were not to your liking" proceeded by a lot of pestering on his part and a lack of any sort of reaction on her part. Either way, he called her what he called the others, "Shell.""I see you two are becoming more well acquainted." He smirked at his bossy healer. He couldn't put up much a fight, so he did lay back down much to his disproval. "If I spend the rest of the day staring at the ceiling I'm going to go mad." He grunted. "Grab me some extra pillows so I can at least sit up a little."
She shrugged, ignoring the man's smirk. What did he expect Una and herself to do when he wasn't awake? It was only natural to talk. Unless he thought the world stopped in the time he was asleep. That little thought made her want to laugh, but that was quickly diminished at his demanding words. Ivy was pretty sure that the inn didn't have extra pillows to spare. Looking down at the blanket around her shoulders, she frowned. If she wanted to be generous, she could let him use it. Pursing her lips, her gaze went back up to him. "Sorry, this inn isn't like a luxurious palace. It barely manages to stay clean, so extra things like pillows would be something to get for yourself. Which I never needed to do."
"How can I get them myself if you won't let me so much as sit up, let alone leave this room?" He countered. "Besides, you didn't grow up having some degree of luxury at your disposal. I hardly think you understand the importance of comfort when in recovery." He combed his fingers through his curls lightly as he glared up at the ceiling."Do you expect me to get used to this?" He supposed he would have to at some point or other. He was in no shape to travel and even if they did, there is no way that he could freely spend his funds like he was used to. If only he'd just died...
She stared at him for a moment, recalling the times she saw children throwing a tantrum in the market. It was a similar experience. Then, on a spontaneous whim or maybe in a fit of irritation, she took the blanket around her shoulders, balled it up, and threw it in the direction of Niel's face. Folding her arms, Ivy lifted her chin in a defiant manner, somewhat pleased that she could look down on him since he was bedridden at the moment. She might have felt guilty, maybe, if her patient was someone else, but then, she wouldn't have reacted this way if it really was someone else. "I've seen men recover in the poorest farming villages quite fine and they never complained if they had to be laid out on a table to be operated on. Be grateful that you have the luxury of my bed. If you want luxury, go back to the palace. They have healers there as well, ones much better than I. They even might be talented enough with demon magic."
He liked making her angry, though for the life of him he couldn't understand why. He supposed it was entertaining enough, though he'd always had many other ways to entertain himself without having to resort to such mannerisms. Lighthearted teasing was much more his style typically.Out of nowhere a bundle of fabric smothered his face. Had she... had she actually just thrown that at him? Someone with his status?
She was insufferable!
Really? Spouting off nonsense about returning to the palace? He wasn't which was crazier, that or the idea that the palace hired anyone insane enough to believe in demon magic.
"Yes, seeing as an attempt was made on my life at the palace, that would be a perfect place to stay. You're a sharp one." He threw the balled up blanket back at the woman, instantly regretting the action and cursing loudly in pain.
Who was he kidding? There was no way he would make it back to Errebist like this. No way they could collect these impossible ingredients in time. Surely, the Shell would be faster on her own, consequences and trust be damned. It would better than waiting, staring at the ceiling and constantly regretting his life as a failure.
"Just let me do something. Anything. Let me look at one of your medicine bottles. Maybe one of Shell's daggers so I can at least pretend I can defend myself." His voice came softer, more pleading. If she suspected him, he had a feeling she might stop him.
She caught it smoothly. Unfazed, Ivy countered, "Then you shouldn't haven't any complaints about staying here. Having your life, despite the less than luxurious room, is better than being dead." A smirk had quirked up the corners of her lips but her face fell into a concerned frown at his shout of pain. Instinctively, she took a step forward to see if he was all right. When she determined that he wasn't worse off, she relaxed. Trying to study his face and determine why the sudden change of tone, Ivy wondered if she should just pretend the man was any other patient that was kind, polite, and humble. If she let herself soften like she would with those kind of patients, she would have caved in immediately and try to find a way to appease them. But with Niel, she found it hard not to be a little snarky towards him. She even had to resist the urge to throw the blanket at him again.
Sighing and looking up to the sky, praying for patience, she folded the blanket and came towards his side. Gesturing to his back, she said firmly, "Here's the only luxury I have left. It'll help you sit upright, okay?"
The prince felt himself scoff slightly at her words. "...better than being dead." Oh how wrong she was. She didn't know it was for the good of an entire country of people. She refused his request much to his dismay and instead offered to give him her blanket, or her "last luxury" apparently. At first, he thought she had been exaggerating, but he'd remembered the little he'd seen of the room and it wasn't much. The bed and the chair was likely provided by the inn and little else. The woman had her blanket and her book for the most part. And that locket she was constantly fiddling with. What was the deal with that? Why not sell it for a bit of coin if she was so desperate for money?
She probably thought she was going to be paid handsomely for this, too... He recalled their last meeting at the cobbler's shop. He'd lost control. It certainly hadn't been his finest moment. How else could she have so little pride that she'd agree to help him.
"Keep it. If you have so little, you should hold onto what's left, everyone else be damned. I'll try and go back to sleep." If he was lucky, she'd get busy or distracted with something or other and he could try smothering himself with the pillow. He grimaced and moved to adjust himself back to his original position.
Ivy was at a loss for words. She couldn't tell if she wanted to be angry at his refusal or be--she didn't want to admit it-- touched. Mostly she expected him to accept the extra comfort and continue with his pleading asking for something to do. The fact that he said "everyone else be damned" made her wonder if he was included in this everyone else. Then does that mean she should just stop giving a damn about the particulars and just help the man and get it over with? Maybe he'd be out of her life forever if she managed to get him enough medicine to be able to go on his way. Another sigh wanted to escape from her lips and again, she placed her hand on his shoulder and with a arched brow, she glanced over at him. "In any case, a patient's comfort should take priority over mine. And didn't you say you wanted to do something? Trying to read flat on your back or doing other things isn't really comfortable, right?"
"...didn't you say you wanted to do something?" Yes. Kill himself preferably. He just needed her to leave for a little while. Her tone had changed to be less angry, but more compliant, insisting on giving him her blanket despite her claim that it was her "last luxury." And why? Did she feel mightier thinking he was at her mercy? Did she get anything from being selfless to a high-maintenance man like himself? That frail blanket wasn't likely to help much anyways. She hadn't mentioned anything about payment, but she must be assuming it was coming eventually.His gaze turned to the hand on his shoulder. "Are you... attempting to comfort me?" But he didn't want to hear her answer. He just wanted to die like he was supposed to. "You're not doing yourself any favors. Keep the blanket, go grab some water or something. Let me sleep." Let me die...
Her lips pressed into a line at his stubbornness. Shaking her head, Ivy let out a soft laugh in amusement and with some pressure, she pushed him up a bit so that she could shove the blanket behind his back. "I was attempting to do that," Ivy said with a smile before she left his side to return to her chair, plucking up her grandmother's book as she sat down. Flipping open to the last page she remembered looking at, she turned her gaze away from Niel. "I would be a poor healer if I was completely set on myself than paying attention to my patient. My grandmother would have probably scolded me."
Despite his recalling of his demand, Ivy forcibly helped him sit up, stuffing the blanket behind his back. The act irritated his chest and caught him off guard. His eyes glued to her as she moved closer to him. "W-wha-" But before he'd even comprehended it, the woman was already going back to her chair and leafing through the pages.
An odd feeling, something akin to embarrassment squeezed at his stomach. He tried looking away from her, letting his eyes trail around the rest of the room to find the few contents: a chair, a chest, a window that actually didn't provide a view of much of anything. And yet with every flip of a page, his eyes landed back on Ivy. It wasn't his fault. There was nothing else to entertain him. Not to mention, Shell had taken all of her daggers and there was nothing sharp or dangerous to lunge for.
Instead, all he had was Ivy, so he had little else to do than study the woman. He'd never admit it, but she was a very classically attractive woman. Her skin was pale and smooth aside from her scar, which somehow only added to her intrigue, and her eyes were a unique shade of gray that somehow seemed to suit her. Her hair-
The prince bit his cheek, instead moving his focus to her book.
"Then shall I scold you instead?" He tried to fall back into his teasing persona as the opportunity presented itself. That's what he would normally say in such circumstances, right?
As silence fell, Ivy remained oblivious to the man's stare. Her forehead would crinkle as she looked hard at a few diagrams, wondering how exactly she could find the ingredients that was listed in that recipe. It made her fingers itch, as if she just wanted to bolt out the door and head to every apothecary out there to see if they possessed such ingredients. What was taking Una so long? Shouldn't she be back right now?Niel's words broke through her thoughts. Her fingers paused as Ivy had to resist the urge to laugh. Instead, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she raised her gaze to the man lying in her bed. Tilting her head, she used a finger to bookmark the page she was examining as she folded her arms across her chest. It was hard to hide the glint of amusement in her eyes as she asked, "And why would you do that?"
((Haha, I love Niel's reaction. :P ))
"Well you said it yourself. You don't have anyone around to scold you anymore. Meaning, you've probably got quite a big head on you." A smirk, "That and I've been sitting here for the past thirty minutes or so watching you read and you haven't bothered to check on your patient once. Not very good bedside manner if you ask me." He needed to entertain himself somehow and he had to repay her for throwing him off a few moments ago.Her lips futilely fought a small smile at his address. Perhaps she had moved past their prior incident at the cobbler's shop?
((i love the idea of ivy just totally blindsiding him and leaving him a hopeless mess of a dork.also what do you think of this: when they finally do catch up to dixon, what if taking away Niel's symptoms means taking away everyone's symptoms? Since it was like he cast the spell on everyone at the same time? and then niel's kind of at a crossroads because on one hand he still wants to go ahead with his plan, but then later he changes his mind and asks dixon to undo what's been done to everyone and it's kind of a symbol of his change in direction and then once he is better, he technically doesn't need ivy anymore and says she is welcome to leave if she wants but hopes she'll stand by him anyways?))
((I wonder what his dorky side is like in the first place. :) Anyhoo, I think that is a very interesting outcome. So that would mean that the royals right now are fighting a poisoning/illness for the time they find Dixon. It still would cause the chaos Niel seeks, but I guess for the moment, his own health takes priority. But yeah, at the end, Ivy wouldn't be needed and I think somewhere along the way, they might just forget the threatening/blackmailing that happens to coerce her into helping? I do think, though, if she discovers that Niel was responsible for the chaos, she will not be willing to go along, but maybe by the time they find Dixon, she would change her mind.))
So, he was staring at her? For what reason? Ivy found it surprising that he admitted to staring at her. She figured his pride as a man and nobility would have prevented him from that, especially since staring is considered rude. It made her curious. Her lips curved into a cheeky expression, her tone having an exaggerated sweetness and innocence to it. "Oh, really? And during that time you stared at me, did you try to indicate you needed any assistance, my dear patient? Did you want me to hover by your bedside every second like a a wife or lover would do?"
(( i imagine it as a guy who doesn't know how to be very genuine or kind to people, but gets flustered easily and tries to be better when Ivy tells him he's being a jerkyeah, right now his priority is getting word back to Errebist that it's time to mobilize the troops since that was his purpose when he came to Pyry in the first place.
I think he might tell her the truth or maybe dixon tells her? I'm trying to think about the timing for all that. Maybe dixon reveals it to her by accident or something after niel changes his mind and switches directions. either way, ivy would probably be angry and leave and niel would be sad, but too stubborn to admit it and still resolute in his plans. but when they're that far out, would they go after ivy or just let her go and reunite with her later?))
((Ah, ^^ sounds cute! I look forward to it. I think she has her suspicions for sure about Dixon being the same demon, so if Dixon tells the truth, I think that she'll definitely be angry and feel betrayed as well (even if she isn't that close with Niel). I can see Dixon just being a a**hole about it and just telling her nonchalantly. In any case,I don't know if they would go after her or not. I think we shall see how their relationship develops throughout this and if it would feel better to let her go or not. What I wonder, however, is what to do with Dixon and how to make him Risen. So far, it looks like he won't change, even if he saw Niel's change of heart. I guess I'll just have to brood more over that.))
((hmm... that is a toughie >.< I mean you know him best, I can only think of my characters really. I think Niel would be really angry with dixon if he told ivy the truth, probably call him out for not ever caring about anyone or anything other than himself that old chestnut...or he could threaten not to grant him access in errebist since he didn't complete his job before so he has to help him again...
let me know how the brooding goes! I'm trying to think of things that turn bad guys good: pets, random people they see all the time, love, family, realizing one's own mortality, connection...hm...
anything una can do? Or niel? or... idk we could throw in an angel or something?))
"...Did you want me to hover by your bedside every second like a wife or lover would do?"She retorted with a mischievous grin. Did she think she had risen above him? He didn't mind playing along. It certainly was more entertaining than sitting in silence.
"I held my breath for a couple minutes and you neglected to notice. You wound me." He pouted. "And what else am I supposed to look at? There's not much in the room and you make interesting faces while you read." He mocked her furrowed brow look and even throwing in a lip bite for fun. "If having you pretend to be my wife is the only way to get you to take care of me, would you prefer I call you Darling?" He chuckled, finally having something to do with his time, even if it was only a bit of teasing.
((To be honest, I don't know him that well. ^^ He doesn't speak to me that much or relate to me, so I find it hard to see what would motivate him. In the center of him, though, I think part of how he came to be, seeing a person suffer, he knows what humans go through and I think him wanting to pretend to be an angel shows that he does have interest in not being a demon. It's just trying to figure out what would lead him to that change. Definitely he needs a connection or an outside force to change him.Though, I think it would be interesting if Niel is the one to get angry at Dixon and maybe that spurs Dixon into self-reflection as well as him pointing out to Niel that he was being a hypocrite with his words which might him change as well. ))
((ah yes, well that's not so bad if you don't relate to a demon with an immortality complex and a knack for cruelty and killing people.Maybe Niel mouths off that he may be a hypocrite, but at least he's capable of change or something like that. And if dixon never tries to change, then he'll live forever as a miserable, bored, buttface))
"I understand. I'm quite a breathtaking beauty, so holding your breath should be a normal symptom around me," Ivy replied smoothly, though it was hard to tell if she was being sarcastic about her scar or whether she was talking about her more striking features. Still, her tone was in all lightness. Inwardly, she almost wanted to say the teasing between them was becoming a fun, pleasant banter. The man always seemed a rather stiff, incredibly polite man that it was hard to pinpoint what his motives were. And also, was his last words meant to be a way of flirting? She couldn't tell. Tapping her chin, pretending to think, she added, "I've never had a patient so desperate for attention. It'd be nice to be called darling once in a while, but pretending to be your wife? I pity the woman to marry you. Already you eavesdrop and you complain about living in luxury. She'd have to baby you the whole time." Ivy had a soft smile, though, to make sure to show that her words were more in jest than as insult.
DragonDreamer wrote: "((ah yes, well that's not so bad if you don't relate to a demon with an immortality complex and a knack for cruelty and killing people.Maybe Niel mouths off that he may be a hypocrite, but at lea..."
((Well, usually I have something in my characters I can relate to, but sometimes they go off on their own where it's hard for me to follow.
And I think if Dixon and Niel are kind of similar, then Niel pointing out that he can change can bring Dixon to start looking for a new light. Perhaps he goes along with them out of curiosity at first, or maybe to see Errebist, but something happens and he changes.))
So she was aware of her beauty, then? He supposed there were more surprising things in this world than that, but a smile came either way."Desperate for attention? Desparate for quality care is more like it. I'm quite used to having doctors and maids hover and comfort me while I'm ill." He was amused by the way she'd play innocent with him. "Pity?" He exclaimed, "Before today, Darling, I thought I would never get the chance to marry." Realization struck at the morbidity of his words. Had he dampened the fun at all? He tried to recover himself, "Saying such pet names feels odd on my tongue. Though, I still see no crime in wanting to be pampered. It's the life I'm destined for, after all."
Rolling her eyes, she expected as much. Either as a royal or noble, it seemed that Niel was certainly spoiled. Ivy wondered what it must be like to never hunger, to have shelter and warmth all the time as well as want for nothing. Ivy never really dreamed about the luxuries nobles enjoyed. Perhaps as a child she might have wished to be a princess or at least wear a beautiful gown and dance away, but since then, she hadn't even thought of those things. Until meeting Niel, that is. A questioning look entered her eyes at his strange words, the pet name escaping her notice for the moment. Wouldn't it be the other way around? Shouldn't he have thought of marriage before his illness and been scared that he'd never have a chance then after? It was peculiar, but Niel didn't give Ivy a chance to mull more over his words as he interrupted her thoughts.
"Well, a pet name doesn't sound odd unless you love someone. Then you can't find enough pet names," Ivy pointed out. Then she shrugged and she shifted so that her free arm rested on the table next to her and her chin perched on her hand. "Destined to be pampered? So are you a prince, or something?" She pretended to be naive, while hoping his answer would bring some clarity.
Ivy rolled her eyes at Niel as though he was being ridiculous. Of course, in most royal circles his words were perfectly accurate and acceptable. She could hardly accept that anyone viewed such luxury as normal. He wondered what other parts of his world she surprised by.Thankfully, she hadn't brought anything up regarding his statement, so he continued with the light mood.
"You seem to speak from experience." He noted briefly before she continued to tease him over his cushioned lifestyle. At her last question, Niel raised a brow, "Why, yes. First Crown Prince of Errebist." He hadn't needed to tell her. Truthfully, he could have lied and claimed a counsel or military position and she wouldn't have known the difference. Something, though, made him want to see her reaction, if any. Would she think he was joking?
She scoffed, shaking her head. "Well, not experience with loving a companion. Mostly my grandmother used to call me all kinds of pet names. Some of them used to make me so mad." Her shoulders lifted in a small shrug, her mouth in a fond smile, though she was a little sheepish as well. One of the names her grandmother called her was "my changeling" since she used to joke that Ivy was found in a bed of ivy in a forest where fairies lived. It embarrassed Ivy a lot since other children in their village began to joke that Ivy was a fairy herself. "Why, yes. First Crown Prince of Errebist."
Niel's words echoed in her mind; and while Ivy had guessed he was of higher status, it still shocked her to see that the man in her bed was not only a prince, but the crown prince of Errebist. There was a mixture of shock and disbelief on her face that probably was amusing and for a few moments, she was speechless. Then her brows crinkled as she looked at him in puzzlement. "Prince Niel, then? Of course of all people in this city to be laying in my bed is the crown prince of Errebist. Can't I just meet normal people in my life?" She sighed.
Niel was surprised when Ivy brought up her grandmother having pet names for her. He'd assumed a woman such as her might have stories from past lovers and such, rather than the old woman. The smile that broke across her face was a bit guilty. She'd said "used to" meaning that the names don't bother her any more. He supposed that if she cared so much for the woman, then her perspective might have changed after her death in the fire. Niel himself was not privy to nicknames. He'd been referred to as "Chogan," after a blackbird native to her homeland, a lot more frequently in his youth. His mother had given it to him as his first name, but that didn't necessarily qualify him to have experienced it as a nickname. She'd called him "little bird" once when he was barely old enough to remember. As soon as he'd turned ten, his father insisted everyone call him Niel, a "warriors name" as he had put it. The silence that followed his declaration brought a smirk to the royal's lips. Would she be impressed by that? It wouldn't be unwelcome...
After she sighed in exasperation, Niel started laughing hysterically, tears welling in his eyes and his stomach hurting from all the contraction.
He hadn't expected such a blunt, unfiltered, and offensive response. "You-" he gasped in between fits of laughter, "you'd be dead - so fast if you said that in public."
For a moment, Ivy stared as the man began to laugh, and then laugh in earnest. In that moment, it seemed years dropped from his appearance; Niel didn't seem like a man to laugh often in her opinion. It suited him, she thought. Making merry is much better than the stoic, polite facade he had. And before Ivy knew it, his laughter made a few chuckles escape her as well. Pressing her hand into her mouth in an attempt to stop the chuckles, Ivy looked at him with a raised brow. "I'd be dead because you're in my bed or because I wish a prince was a normal person?"
Also, I think I have an idea of where Dixon would go. I had named a city in the other group that is a town of thieves basically. They could head there first? At least they would probably find a lead from there because Dixon frequently visits that city.))