Kayan rolled his eyes. Man, she was a tough one to break. Actually… he didn’t think he ever could. Which made him want to even more.
“It’s a shame, really,” he began. “That you doubt me.”
He let her lead him, but once in the ballroom he tugged slightly on her hand, twirling her back to him. He gave a humorous smile, as he began to lead in a light step dance, like those around them. His form and rhythm was close to perfect, him rocking and occasionally spinning Evers, all the while wearing that same smile.
She smiled challengingly and shook her head. “Maybe so, but a lady must keep an open mind, there has to be some flaw to you.” Her eyes held his gaze as they swayed back and forth, only breaking their eye contact when he spun her. She rested her hand on his shoulder, not bold enough to rest on his chest. She glanced around the room to make sure they were in time with the others and caught a few of them looking at her and Kayan. She noticed their stares weren’t friendly, most scowling at her and then returning to their partners to whisper in their ear. She looked away slightly confused when she finally realised what she’s had forgotten to wear. Still sitting on her work desk was a nearly complete crown of flowers. She didn’t want to rush finishing it so she had left it home. Only now did she’s realize what a mistake that was. They all thought she’s was married. And a married woman was not supposed to dance with another man. She was sure most had seen she came with Tory and not another man, was sure she’d get called out for her scandal. She turned to Kai to tell him but saw the smile on his face and couldn’t bear to have it disappear so she remained quiet
“Are you implying that, as of now, I am flawless?” he asked, his grin remaining. “If so, I thank you.”
His tone held a bit of sarcasm, like even he knew he was anything but perfect. Which he did, but certainly acted otherwise.
Suddenly, he noted her change in expression. The tensing, darting of the eyes and change of attention.
Slowly he pulled her closer, however his own expression had changed. It was difficult to see through his mask, but in his eyes resided a different emotion. From playful to a slight bit concerned. His smile grew more like a mask, to keep others occupied but letting down his guard only for Evers.
“You okay?” he whispered, close enough for only her to realize.
Knowing him, Kayan was paranoid. What if she had seen the guy he was looking for? Or something else along those lines?
“What’s wrong?” he continued shortly after. He kept his eyes locked on the room around, expertly surveying the room, but remaining as calm as possible. Not looking concerned or suspicious whatsoever— a trait he had mastered.
She pressed closer to Kai, feeling safer with him closer and shook her head "I forgot it at home. Now they think I'm unfaithful." she whispered, pointing to her head, before returning her gaze to the people on the ballroom floor, meeting each of their gaze with one of her own. "I'll be fine, just….paranoid….what if the Queen hears of this? You know how strict she is when enforcing rules…." her chest tightened slightly at the thought of meeting the ruler of the land, she didn't want to, ever since the king died, the young ruler was never the same…
Kayan had to hold in a laugh as his face twisted in to a sort of bewildered grin. He rolled his eyes, his entire body relaxing as he swayed with the music looser, if not better than before.
“That gadabout?” he chuckled, not even caring to watch his insults when regarding the Queen, something some others would go so far as to shoot him for. For that, he kept his voice still low, but it held a certain joy. “Don’t worry about what she has to say.”
Kai followed her eyes, pausing for a moment. “Actually, don’t worry about whatever these royal quidnuncs have to say.”
His face kept the same expression, however he spoke the insults with loathness.
She held in a small laugh and looked up at Kyan. “Tell us how you really feel, Kai.” She managed with a small laugh, slightly relaxing in his presence.
She looked around once more before smiling embarrassingly and shaking her head “you’re right. I’m sorry I worried you. I just….got worried.” She blushed softly before looking back up at him. “You don’t like her, do you?” She asked quietly
“Has she done something to you?”
Kayan’s heart leapt slightly at the question. He hadn’t wanted to relay anything that the Queen did to him.
“Nothing,” he lied with a shake of his head. His words seemed genuine, yet every part of him was lying through and through. “I just don’t agree with some methods of hers.”
In reality, Kayan was much closer to the Queen than he let off. Not by his account— gods no. He wouldn’t be even associated with her if he had the choice.
A while back he had been on a mission to investigate the Queen’s guards. The Queen, just recently widowed, had seen him as a potential… suitor, of sorts. Just because he came from the Fey Court. The highest end royal court of his species.
So, Kai had avoided her “seduction” for a while, until he had to play into it for information. He worked under his court, so he’d do whatever he could to maintain his visage. Before absolutely disappearing soon after. Which was why he was worried to show his face here again.
He shook his head, dismissing her question once more and shaking from his thoughts.
(let me know if this concept works. I don’t know how we would want to write the Queen’s character but I had this idea for a little bit)
(Yeah it works! I like it!)
Ever’s narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “She does have some…questionable…ways of getting information from people, yes. Especially now that she doesn’t have a partner to be faithful to. Think that’d change if she did find someone else to rule along side with?” She asked, searching his eyes for any hidden emotions.
“You can tell me if anything has happened.” She said quietly, only for him to hear before pulling away gently and curtsying as the song ended
Kayan was surprised at the woman’s accuracy. Still, he let nothing show as he stepped back, giving a bow. A hand tucked behind his back, and one across his stomach. He stood back upright, waiting for the woman’s cue, if she wanted to keep dancing or retire from the floor.
“No, no. It’s really nothing,” he said as he bowed. “But I am curious about your experience. Tell me, what did she do to you?”
He nodded his head in her direction as he spoke, gently raising a gloved hand for her to take, so she could lead him off or keep him put. He looked up to her for instruction, meeting her eyes and giving an inquisitive smile.
Evers went slightly pale at the question, managing to keep her composure as she stood from the curtsy and took his hand for one more dance. This time, a slower song played, one she recognized as a string version of the one she hummed while working though with a minor scale than the typical major. "she did nothing to me." she croaked out simply, her eyes filling with far away pain, forcing herself to look away from Kayan in an effort to hide it. "My family has been…effected…by her choices but that was a while ago….." then why does it only seem like yesterday?
Kayan raised an eyebrow, knowing clearly there was more to her story. Though, he wasn’t a stranger to reading people, so he could tell she wanted to say no more.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, his voice softer. He kept his eyes on her face as she looked away, wondering exactly what the Queen had done.
He hated her more, now, if that was even possible.
Kayan began to lead once more, swaying elegantly in time to the rhythm of the new song. He glanced over Evers’ shoulder, taking cues from the rest of the dancers and changing up his pace every so often.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” he asked, turning his attention back to the woman in front of him. “I’m not sure there’s much I can do in this case, but I’ll help in any way I can.”
She followed in his lead with a small smile, more for the sake of appearance than for her own genuine enjoyment “No, you don’t have to do anything for me, Kai. You’ve done enough for me already. For that I will always be grateful.” She offered a true genuine smile, eyes shining slightly with the beginning of tears. They were quickly dispelled as the song caught on to a faster pace. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll live.” She’s winked and moved to the music, trying to further herself from her past memories
“Yeah, you will,” he agreed. “I wouldn’t let you do anything otherwise.”
He returned one of his own smiles, it still holding that bit of charm, but more real than past ones. It was less of a mask grin, now.
Despite Kalyan’s greatest efforts, his heart gave a slight skip at her wink. He was never one to overthink anything, he had convinced himself of that. However, he was something he called an analyzer. He had to look into clues. That was his job.
Then why was he so confused?
He couldn’t even tell what his heart was doing as it held her gaze. As she winked. Moved. He’d never really felt this feeling before. And certainly didn’t know what to do about it.
So he kept his breathing steady. His movements lose. His smile on. And kept dancing.
"oh? and how will you make sure of that?" Evers challenged for the sake of poking fun at him, never to ever consider ending her life early. "i can take care of myself Kai, I've been doing it for a while now. You don't have to burden yourself with looking out for me." She broke away once more as the song ended, curtsying one last time before she made her way to the table that held refreshments and food.
Kayan replied with just a bow, watching as she walked off. He shook himself from the daze, following closely after.
“Just saying I’ll offer some help, is all,” he explained, gesturing with a hand. He adjusted his mask, the cloak still billowing elegantly behind him, covering his wings. It was extremely uncomfortable, but Kayan showed none of the pain, still holding that sort of goofy smile.
He propped himself on the side of the table, his arms behind him and his legs crossed, looking at Evers from over his shoulder.
“You have more important things to do that protect me. But thank you anyways for the offer.” She offered a small smile and took a sip of water. She glanced over at him, feeling his stare and tilted her head “something wrong?” She asked, looking around to make sure it wasn’t something near her.
His expression quickly turned from the cocky glance to a sort of disheveled embarrassment.
“W-what? No— no,” he stuttered, suddenly aware of his staring. He adverted his eyes, having them wander the lengths of the room instead.
He wasn’t normally this off-guard. It was a new feeling for him. Like a baby penguin learning to walk. At least that’s what he felt like.
She found it extremely amusing that Kayan got so easily embarrassed and found it hard to hide a laugh. She patted his arm with a small smile “don’t worry yourself too much, no one saw.” She shook her head with a small laugh and walked back over to the balcony, head bent down so as to avoid eye contact. She started humming her usual song softly, he hands fighting with the cards stashed away in her sleeve
Kayan grabbed another glass of champagne, watching as she brushed his arm. His eyes followed as she walked away, and he followed loosely behind.
He lifted the glass to his lips, taking a small sip as he walked. Their footsteps could barely be heard over the sound of the city, mixed with the muffled music. He took up a post beside her, leaning his elbows on the balcony railing and looking out over the city.
“You don’t have to stay with me if you don’t want to.” Evers said, keeping her gaze locked in the city surrounding the castle “I’m fine here if you want to go back in there.” She fanned and unfanned out three cards from her deck, simotaniously twirling them around in her hand. Death, the lovers and the magician.
“Does any one know about you?” She asked after a few moments of silence where the only sound was the party going on inside and a bird flying over head
Kayan watched as she twirled the cards, only recognizing one. It had been a while, so his memory of the cards he drew was vague. Or the ones she had drawn for him.
Except the one that reminded him of what had happened.
He shook his head, snapping himself back to the present. His face held a much more melancholic expression, and he swirled his champagne glass.
He perked as she spoke, lifting his head to meet her gaze.
“Know about me how?” he asked, his tone softer. “Like…”
He gestured to his cloak, a slight bit of almost glowing light reflecting off of the midnight black cloth.
“Or…,” he trailed off, waiting for her to explain. “Just in general?”
She shrugged "both, mostly the first part but now that you mention it, do any of them know what you do?" She asked, now intrigued. Se tilted her head, her eyes catching the light of the moon, turning her eyes a deep green. Her hand continued to twirl the card, the pictures switching from the three she had to others that were supposedly in the deck. "Why hide it? The queen herself is Fae. And those usually far are well respected here, or at least in the village."
Kayan shook his head.
“That’s just it. It bugs me,” he muttered. “With being the same species, I often am… associated with her, at least. And those in this town that don’t like the queen… well, let’s just say, in their eyes I’m worse than a demon.”
He looked back out to the twinkling lights of the town, taking a long, deep sigh. He felt the chilled air fill his lungs, seeping in and out slowly as he closed his eyes.
“And yes, they know what I do,” he replied. “Doesn’t make them like or hate me any less, but I get some… looks. Especially since this city is laden with crooks.”
He glanced from the balcony back to the ballroom, remembering his job. So far, no luck. But he was on high alert always. And not just because of the criminal.
He figured the Queen would show up in just a matter of time.
She shook her head in disbelief "you're far from a demon, considering what you've done for these people." she said, glaring around before focusing on the design of her cards "as for being associated with Her majesty, I get why you'd want to hide that, considering that you two don't seen to have the best of relationships at the moment." She glanced over and flinched "sorry, I shouldn't ask questions like that. I can't help it though. It intrigues me, fav culture and other species. Not in a sick way, just a fascinating way." she shrugged "at this point, I think I have too many hobbies to be considered sane." she half joked, thinking back to all the books that were destroyed on the history of the land and fae culture.
“Oh, so you did your research, eh?” he asked jokingly, stifling a laugh. “I’m curious as to what you know. And if it’s right. I wonder how accurate those books really are.”
He turned around, facing the ballroom but still leaning back on the railing.
“Unless the books were written by Fae, I wouldn’t trust them. Humans can have some preconceived ideas, and miss the truth.”
Kayan looked down at his champange glass, draining the last few drops. He brought the glass back down, twirling it in his fingers.
“I mean, not that I’m biased or anything,” he laughed. “Just take it from the source. And hey, I wouldn’t say I’m an expert, but I think I may know a little more about our being than a human. For example, what it’s like to fly.”
He looked up to the stars as he spoke, giving a smile.
