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Post by Miss Jack on May 4, 2008 2:05:25 GMT -5
"I'm sorry," he murmured against her lips. Distance, his mind said. He tried. Very hard. He got about an inch. His eyes fluttered back open. "I just really like kissing you," he concluded, rather stupidly.
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Post by Maestro on May 4, 2008 2:12:20 GMT -5
At his apology, Iseabail opened her eyes. She almost laughed, but instead, she just smiled. "Dinna be sorry, Armand," she murmured back, glad that he hadn't gotten very far from her. "I didna exactly protest. In fact," she added, smile broadening, "I eally like kising ye, as well." Which was absolutely the truth.
Her hand was still behind his head, in his hair. He hadn't pulled more than an inch away from her, so she very gently brought his lips back to hers. She was probably tempting fate, but, at the moment, all she cared about was Armand.
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Post by Miss Jack on May 4, 2008 2:23:27 GMT -5
If Iseabail was tempting fate, then Armand had to be baiting it with an irresistable prize and goading it with a sharpened knife. He smiled against her lips, glad he wasn't the only one that enjoyed this so much. With one hand against her lower back, he pressed her to him, suspending her on her toes. Even with one hand, her weight was effortless to support. A couple passed by them and coughed loudly, obviously offended by such a display in front of a church no less. Armand pulled away, chuckling, but not sparing the prudish couple a second glance.
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Post by Maestro on May 4, 2008 3:01:52 GMT -5
Iseabail wrapped both her arms around Armand's neck, quite happy to just keep kissing him. It was over all too soon as she heard a cough and Armand pulled away. Smiling, Iseabail didn't move away from Armand; she would be more than happy to stay in his arms for as long as possible.
There was a suggestion that Iseabail had been meaning to make, for a time, but she hadn't found the right time to bring it up. Perhaps it was now. "Armand," she murmured, brushing a lock of hair behind his ear, "would ye like to go for dinner sometime?" She blushed a bit and plunged on, "We have been kissing quite a bit; maybe it would be good to talk some, too?" It was a bit of a leap, but Iseabail had had to take it.
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Post by Miss Jack on May 4, 2008 3:11:12 GMT -5
The words took him by surprise, and for a moment he said nothing. He could feel himself tensing, going perfectly still--- it was a habitual reaction to stress. Fight or flight, his body said. He didn't want to face this so soon, but he was never the type to run from a problem. And he owed Iseabail dinner; a real date. He owed her more, but at the very least this.
"Alright," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "Dinner."
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Post by Maestro on May 4, 2008 3:39:18 GMT -5
She could feel him tensing. Oh, no. It was too soon, wasn't it? "I'm sorry," she whispered, not pulling away even though she wasn't looking at Armand any more. "I didna mean to rush anything," she murmured. What would she do now if he rejected her? She'd be strong and move on; she'd have to. It would take time, if she could do it at all.
His words helped a little bit, though. With a smile, she laughed a bit, trying to lighten the mood. "Weel, it'll get us--me," she corrected herself, "out of the Opera House, at least," she said quietly.
She looked up at Armand again, smiling a bit. There were so many things that she wanted to say to him--HAD to say to him, but now was not the right time.
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Post by Miss Jack on May 4, 2008 3:53:42 GMT -5
In one way that Zizzy and Iseabail were significantly different, he realized, was in that he knew Iseabail. He had rehearsed with her for years, was her friend, before he'd ever felt this way about her.
"You misunderstand," he said softly. "It's not, and it will never be, that I don't want to." He sighed, touched her chin. "You kiss a coward."
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Post by Maestro on May 4, 2008 4:09:51 GMT -5
Iseabail laughed at that. Armand, a coward? "Armand, ye may be many things, but a coward is not one of them," she told him, hand on his cheek. "'Gentle pilgrim, you do wrong yourself too much," she murmured, smiling. Granted, she had modified the quote a bit, but hopefully he would know what she was referencing. Although, if things went THAT way, that would be decidedly Not Good.
She hadn't quite realized just how much she had missed Armand at rehearsals. "I asked them to postpone the show until ye are feeling better," she said. "If ye mind, I can talk to them again, but," she hesitated a moment, then smiled and continued, "I just realized how much I missed ye," she whispered. "And your understudy is not nearly as ... Scarpia as you are." She laughed a bit, knowing that that was a strange compliment, but it was true. Add the fact that he kind of creeped her out and it was almost impossible to work with him. Besides, it was hard to imagine (and rehearse!) performing ... that scene with anyone but Armand.
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Post by Miss Jack on May 4, 2008 4:30:26 GMT -5
He smirked. "I am an impressive villian," he said, lowering his voice wickedly. He paused, the humor ebbing. "Perhaps they should switch operas, then. I'm not sure how long I'll need until I can mentally handle the stress of production hours."
It felt almost sacreligious to speak of his condition as if it were nothing more than a common cold. Something they dealt with together all the time. Too comfortable, he decided with a stab of pain, and inwardly began to distance himself again. "Tomorrow?" he asked softly, raising a brow. "Anywhere you'd like."
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Post by Maestro on May 5, 2008 21:29:35 GMT -5
"Aye, ye are an impressive villain," she told him, laughing. "One of these days, I'd like to see what ye can do in a different sort of role." Since Julien had been there longer, he tended to get most of the romantic leads, but Armand could do quite well in anything he took on, Iseabail was certain of that.
"Aye," she told him, remembering what had been suggested. "I think that they are considering a comic opera, instead. Tosca's a brilliant opera, but it needs to have the perfect cast," she trailed off, smiling slightly. Armand had helped to make it the perfect cast, in Iseabail's mind.
She nodded, small smile on her face. "Aye, dinner," she murmured, going through her mind for the perfect place. "How does The Acheron sound?" she asked quietly. It was a good restaurant, easily afforded by either of them, but still quite nice. Iseabail had known Armand for years; she could tell when he was pulling away in his mind by the slight change in his eyes. She couldn't always tell, but she could now. She hoped that he was not pulling back from her, but from whatever it was inside him.
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Post by Miss Jack on May 5, 2008 22:05:20 GMT -5
He couldn't put into words why this dinner felt so weighted. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn't the typical, casual first date. He lifted a brow. "The Acheron?" he said, a bit of the family arrogance seeping into his tone. He smiled, slightly amused. "I was thinking Hades Palace, actually. I can afford it."
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Post by Maestro on May 6, 2008 1:54:03 GMT -5
Hades Palace? Oh, goodness, Iseabail was definitely going to have to make sure she looked even more extra special than she had planned on. A new gown was probably in order, too.
None of the thoughts whirling through her head showed on her face; she had been a leading lady of the Opera much too long for that. With a smile, she nodded, "Och, Hades Palace it is, then." She hadn't wanted to suggest the ritziest place in Chimera, even though she knew Armand could have afforded it, but now that he had mentioned it, she wouldn't protest. All told, Iseabail had been there once, so far, and that was with the some of the Opera's patrons. She had a feeling that this night was going to be far more enjoyable, though.
"What time?" she asked, a hand straying to Armand's cheek. Even though she was still in his arms, each little connection made her feel closer to him.
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Post by Miss Jack on May 6, 2008 2:09:24 GMT -5
"Whenever," he admitted thoughtfully. "I don't have a curfew, do you?"
Ah, wait. He hadn't meant to say that. That sort of risque flirting was much more his brother's style than his own. But still, it had slipped, and getting embarrassed over it now would only make it worse.
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Post by Maestro on May 7, 2008 1:58:23 GMT -5
Iseabail laughed, smiling. "No, I dinna suppose that I do have a curfew," she blushed. Armand was flirting with her; this was something new. It was interesting and she found it to be new and quite lovely.
"All right, then," she murmured, smile on her face. "How does nine sound?" she asked. Armand knew where she lived so she didn't need to worry about telling him where she lived. After all, that rehearsal that had sparked a lot of this kissing had occurred there. Remembering that night, she smiled, leaning forward to give Armand another quick kiss. And then she blushed; she couldn't seem to help it, around Armand.
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Post by Miss Jack on May 7, 2008 22:11:53 GMT -5
Armand smiled, unsure if he was more pleased about the kiss, or the pretty shade of pink that rinsed over her cheeks. And to prove that he didn't mind, he caught her chin and pressed a slower kiss to her lips. "I'll count the hours," he murmured.
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