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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Jan 20, 2011 1:33:55 GMT -5
Nicki easily bypassed the dragon-ladies, by this time charmed into nothing more threatening than housecats. As long as he kept the door open, now he was allowed to visit Nattie in her room.
He was glad for it. Against expectation, he had found himself wanting to spend more and more time with her, and in the unconventional tradition of his family, he felt uncomfortable carrying out a relationship under the scrutiny of chaperones. He was openly courting her, and most people expected a proposal sometime soon. He'd been spotted looking at rings when he went to get his niece's birthday present (an emerald necklace for which, he promised her, he'd buy a matching pair of earrings when she had her ears pierced). Unbeknownst to everyone, he'd already picked one out.
But timing was key.
He knocked on the doorjamb, leaning on it and smiling.
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Post by Nattie Petrova on Jan 20, 2011 1:53:04 GMT -5
Jumping up a bit, Nattie held her chest "Don't do-" she spoke as she turned only to be greeted with a smile she longed every day to see more and more.
"I am wishing you would stop surprising me like this you know, I am not even properly dressed" she knew he didn't care, and would never care. It was something she'd learned over the course of the last year and something she found eternally endearing. It was no longer a secret that they were seeing each other and she felt no shame in it.
Everyday she heard rumors of a proposal, and of course those of a secret engagement, but she ignored them as she'd always done.
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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Jan 20, 2011 2:02:27 GMT -5
Ruffling her feathers just that little bit was one of his favorite things to do. Not fight, no, just goad her into giving him that you-are-ridiculous look.
Of course he'd heard the rumors. Since it wasn't polite to ask outright, he avoided direct confrontation, and deflected the obnoxious, simpering, indirect inquiries.
"I don't have much time," he began. Normally, of course, he began their meetings much more pleasantly--it was an automatic sign he was nervous about something. He went to sit at her desk, turning the chair so he could face her. "Meetings with the accountants. But I wanted to see you."
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Post by Nattie Petrova on Jan 20, 2011 17:55:08 GMT -5
She raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms across her chest "Oh? And what for?"
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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Jan 20, 2011 22:42:40 GMT -5
"The simple pleasure of your company. Is a reason required?"
A pause.
"Though truthfully, I had something I wanted to ask."
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Post by Nattie Petrova on Jan 23, 2011 17:00:27 GMT -5
She allowed her arms to fall to her lap and turned a listening ear toward him "What is it you are needing to ask me?"
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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Jan 23, 2011 19:03:30 GMT -5
"Is-- this-- that is, are you going home for Christmas?"
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Post by Nattie Petrova on Jan 23, 2011 19:30:46 GMT -5
She couldn't help but smile at his nervousness, it wasn't like him, which made it more than endearing.
"Well, I was going to but I got a letter from Maxim yesterday telling me that family was going out of town for Christmas to great Aunt Alessa's, he asked if I would be coming home. It would be taking me too long to get there and I'd miss out of too much school, so I am declining."
She smiled wider "So the answer is no."
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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Jan 23, 2011 20:09:45 GMT -5
"In that case, Adrienne Bass would like to extend an invitation to spend your Christmas holiday at the Chateau Enjolras." He grinned. The invitation was technically from his sister, since it would be improper for him to invite her, but an older woman was acceptable in the eyes of society. "She'll be there with her husband and children, it'll all be perfectly respectable," he assured her. "But I think there's plenty of time to write your parents. If you, er, want to."
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Post by Nattie Petrova on Jan 23, 2011 20:27:17 GMT -5
She give him a shy smile and looked away "I am all ready writing them to tell them I am staying here. There is no need to be writing them about a Christmas party." It was improper yes, but she knew her parents would understand either way, time was of the essence these days and she had little of it left.
"So be telling your sister that I am honored and would love to attend."
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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Jan 23, 2011 20:35:21 GMT -5
He positively beamed, making his cheeks go all dimply.
"Brilliant. We can have a carriage waiting as soon as you're out of classes. Pack warm... although, considering you're used to Russian weather, this is probably practically summer," he teased.
If he had any less self-restraint, he'd be bouncing on the balls of his feet.
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Post by Nattie Petrova on Jan 23, 2011 20:40:27 GMT -5
"Practically yes" she laughed "oh and if you would, please be telling the driver to meet me outside of the dorm, usually when the girls are being picked up they head to the foyer, I'd rather not walk such a way in the snow."
She felt her stomach flutter and she blushed "I must be admitting, I am excited."
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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Jan 23, 2011 20:42:50 GMT -5
"I can do that."
He looked at his feet. "Me too." Was it possible for that smile to get wider?
"Oh! Right then." He stood. "Meetings. I'll see you... soon."
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Post by Nattie Petrova on Jan 23, 2011 20:45:41 GMT -5
She nodded "Yes."
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Post by Nicolas d'Enjolras on Jan 23, 2011 20:46:44 GMT -5
On impulse, he stepped forward, leaned down, and kissed her on the lips, only pausing to grin mischievously before turning to go.
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