Well, at least she wasn’t arguing with him any more or calling him an imbecile. That was, what, progress? Did he care that they were making progress? He wasn’t really sure, he still wasn’t sure how he felt about the princess, beyond the fact that she had a way of getting under his skin like no one else he’d ever met. He nodded about everyone pretending and the thing about being the fool or being the tragedy.
He wasn’t sure there was anything he could add to what she’d said, plus he didn’t really want to let go of that nice feeling like for the first time since they’d met they actually weren’t arguing. When she commented about needing his assistance with the annoying flea, he tipped his head. He hadn’t forgotten they were around, but he wasn’t sure how he could help.
Well, if there’s something I can do to help, I figure I owe it to you considering how we met He was quite curious what the request would be. He imagined a few possible scenarios, but they were probably more absurd than what the actual request would be, after all, he did have quite the overactive imagination.
Perhaps not the progress he had in mind, but he’d made an impression that Adaria found difficult to ignore. The fact she had decided in seeking him out again had already rooted itself in her mind even if she wouldn’t freely admit it.
Again he danced around the outskirts of the issue. Her shadow. A short quick exhale left her throat. [color=#9a00b2]“Gods… do stop harking on already.”[/color] Without further prompting, Adaria’s hand snatched out, gripping his shirt and pulling his lips to hers in a hard kiss. Her hold on the fabric refused to relent, and if he floundered with her brazen action her confidence should steady him until the need for air had her pull away.
[color=#9a00b2]“...Not bad, but I’m sure you can do better. They need to be convinced.”[/color] her words came through between pants, brow arching as a smug curl tugged at her lips.
To say what came next took him by surprise and left him utterly and totally speechless would be the understatement of the year. He hadn’t even had time to eye roll at her comment about him ceasing the harking, even though he’d told himself he wasn’t going to eye roll at her any more.
Before he could recover from the shock, she was pulling away, her words hitting him almost as hard as the sudden kiss. She was right though, they did need to be convincing. So, swallowing his surprise, he pulled her back into a second kiss, this time taking the lead and hoping it was enough to convince their shadow.
After a moment, he pulled away, but kept his arm draped around her shoulders. He wasn’t really sure what making out was going to do for the shadow. What if they got off on that sort of thing, he had to assume she must know who it was and that the making out would make them uncomfortable and cause them to back off. At this point he just felt obliged to go along with anything after the embarrassment of how they met.
I have to say, I’ve definitely never met anyone quite like you before. He said, basically meaning someone he both wanted to strangle and kiss in equal measure, it was rather distracting and frustrating.
There was a smugness to her grin as Adaria took command of the kiss. It would almost be adorable how he seemed at a loss, unsure what to do but be caught up in the game alongside her. The shadow would linger, as if purposely lingering to catch a clear view of the young pair's doings.
Understanding her words, Adaria soon found herself pulled under a current she hadn’t anticipated with his return. There was a chemistry, something almost intoxicating enough that she didn’t shirk his arm away, instead she settled feeling suddenly grounded.
Then he ruined it by opening his mouth. This might come back to bite me, but,... [color=#9a00b2]“You really are the most Mama’s Man-boy I have ever met. I make no apology for being difficult, you don’t have to spare my feelings, just be helpful.”[/color] Eyes fell on his lips again, [color=#9a00b2]“Though I’ll admit I am growing curious.. But then again..."[/color] Her eyes dipped lower, returning to his lips and then meeting his gaze finally. [color=#9a00b2]"It could be like most Orlesian things, all flash and no substance.” [/color]
Raph managed to not roll his eyes at her comment, he wasn’t really sure he understood where she was getting a mama’s boy from. Just because he commented about having not met anyone like her before? Perhaps? Then again she was a bit crazy, so maybe she just felt like pointing it out again all because of what he’d said earlier.
I mean, I am a son, who has a mother and appreciates her every day, if that’s wrong, I don’t care to be right, so if that’s supposed to be an insult, you’ve fallen short. He replied, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice.
Yes well, I’m technically Ferelden. At least, my mother was before marrying and my biological father is. He never really fit in properly in Orlais, maybe it was because his parents were Ferelden, but ever since coming to Amaranthine he’d felt right at home, way more so than he ever did in Orlais.
So perhaps that's why I'm not all flash and no substance. I have a bit more than surface charms to offer. He somewhat defensively retorted, struggling to keep the frustration out of his voice. Walk away, just walk away, the problem was as much as his head wanted to walk away, his feet were firmly planted to the floor, not even able to take his eyes off Adaria.
Adaria sighed a curse, luridly in Antivan, and exaggerating the roll of her eyes with his words. [color=#9a00b2]“Maker… I was trying to be subtle, but you really need help learning the Game some more.”[/color] Cradled by his arm, the young princess let hers snake its way around his waist as her hand reached for his free one. Drawing their hands across the fabric of the dress to her hip, Adaria's body turned into him, pausing in the process to cast him an intrigued glance.
[color=#9a00b2]“My, my, no wonder you hated his lordship,”[/color] bastards were a complication when it came to succession, it wouldn’t have been easy.
She was closer now, the scent of soap reached her senses and while he grew more irritated and annoyed with her jabs, Adaria only offered a small knowing smile. Riling him was fun, an amusing game and if he wished to truly silence her, he would need to pick a better form of warfare than with words. [color=#9a00b2]“Well, that certainly could be true, but I’ve yet to see any evidence of that, the very opposite actually. Creeping in hallways? But then that keep kissing me as you did and I might yet be convinced.” [/color]
Raph was frustrated with Adaria, but also intrigued, curious and attracted. It was a mix of feelings he had never felt before, he wondered if this was a common thing people felt. To be so infuriated but at the same time he couldn’t will himself to just walk away.
A shadow crossed his face as she put two and two together about his parental comment, he didn’t like thinking about his step father, he was glad the man was dead. Proof that at least his mother played the game better than he did.
Well, I….. Fuck it, he pulled her close again and resumed kissing her. What could possibly go wrong. Besides, she had said he should keep kissing her as he did. It was like he was determined to convince her that he was more interesting than just some Orlesian noble who didn’t like the game.
The bickering was an amusing distraction, his company a diversion from the celebrations below. While the happy couple had something to celebrate, she had nothing, only carefully and meticulous planning to consider. Yet life couldn’t be completely about death and revenge, some enjoyment had to be had.
Her grin goaded him, finally turning frustration into action and yielding to her request. There was something unusual about the way his lips brushed hers, taking them by force and drawing her close again. Adaria’s hands soon began to journey, one reaching up to thread into the locks of his hair, the other fell against his chest. Her fingers clasped around the lapels of his jacket, tugging him along as she fell against the wall.
[color=#9a00b2]"Stop, and I'll have you flogged."[/color] She broke the kiss to gasp, drawing in a deep breath quickly capture them anew, fighting to assume dominance. He resisted, took command again and the princess falling on the backfoot, finding herself unable to do anything but submit. A novel concept, but increasingly addictive as they continued. Flushed and panting, Adaria found her mind slipping to a haze of euphoria.
Raph moaned lightly as they kissed, his brain was telling him this was insane. He was making out with the Antivan Royal Princess. Nope, he should definitely put a stop to it. Any moment now he was going to step away from the Princess and suggest they go back to the party.
Despite the rational part of him urging him to step away, he found himself irresistibly drawn into the depths of the kiss. It was as if an unseen force was pulling him in, making him sink further into the intoxicating embrace. His mind started to float, as if it was disconnecting from the rest of his body, lost in the overwhelming sensations that the kiss evoked. Caught in this swirl of emotions, he felt his resolve weaken, replaced by a craving to explore this unchartered territory. All he could do was surrender to this all-consuming moment, allowing it to envelop him completely.
As Addy spoke, Raph looked around a moment and realised they were just outside the library. As they resumed kissing, Raph steered Addy over to the door, opened it and backed into the room. The day certainly hadn’t gone as he’d imagined, and at the moment he wasn’t sure if that was a bad thing or a good thing. One thing he did know, as long as Addy wanted to kiss him, he had exactly zero problems with it at the moment. Raph closed the door behind them, her shadow didn’t need to know watch what they were going to get up to.
