Rock Of Ages (05/08, Morning, Aiden/Narcisse, CLOSED)

[Aiden Faerald]

The ball had been absolutely spectacular. Every minute of it still reverberated in his soul. It would have been good fun even if Melari hadn't been there, but the girl he had shared his first kiss with had made it a night of dreams. The dancing, the masks, the food...all of it had been perfect. What was strange was, he still felt as great as he did last night. It was a peculiar sensation for the young man, who was always too eager to dampen his spirits, but he liked it. He really liked it.

The strangest thing of all was, it made him want to try something daring. He enjoyed his music, but usually kept it under wraps just how well he could play, but he was missing a trick here. He had heard that of all the families assembled here it was the Fleurants that were the greatest appreciators of art. So he had taken up position in the gardens outside their rooms, sat upon a large rock, playing away on his lute.

It wasn't really a new style, but he was simply playing the lute as daringly as he could, playing note after note with slides from one to the next. It was doubtful the noise sounded good as a song, though it might have if it had some appropriate vocals and a steady beat in the background...Still, it wasn't there to be classed as brilliant on it's own. It was to catch someone's attention - A Fleurant's attention. He wanted to get a good judgement on how talented he really was.

So he continued playing, the occasional word slipping out of his mouth as part of his imaginary song, while he sat upon the rock for what felt like ages...

[Narcisse Fleurant]

Narcisse was not usually someone to lie abed into the morning, but for some reason this morning she saw no reason to rise early. She'd been awake for some time, but for whatever reason, be it being tired from the ball or just feeling particularly lazy, she had elected to stay in bed with a good book. And since nobody had come seeking her attention or company, she was content to stay as she was for the foreseeable future.

That was, until she heard the music.

The weather being pleasant, she'd left her window open at night, but now it seemed like there was someone sitting just below her window playing...was that a lute? Some stringed instrument, at least. With a sigh, she threw her covers off, wrapping herself in a robe before crossing to her window to see what on earth was going on.

Below there was a man, or was it a boy?, she had not seen before, sitting upon a rock in the gardens, playing a lute in a very unconventional way. It was...interesting, to say the least, but she would reserve any further judgment for now, lest her opinion be clouded by the fact that he'd interrupted her rest. For a moment she entertained the idea of shouting down at him to stop, but her curiosity got the better of her. She dressed fairly quickly, her dress more cut in the style of home, and in a strange move for her she left her hair down. A few minutes' walk had her down in the gardens, and she clasped her hands behind her back as she walked, her pace slow as she approached him.

She stopped a little distance away, giving him space while she waited for him to acknowledge her. After all, it would be rude to interrupt a performance.

[Aiden Faerald]

The young man continued to play just that little bit longer, a gentle hum coming from him as he strummed the lute and tapped his foot to the tune. It was clear just how much music meant to him, by how he lost himself in the entirety of it. Even though he was out here purely to attract attention, when it was finally on him he didn't even realise at first.

Which was his first mistake.

His eyes fell upon his audience at the most exuberant part of the song, but he hadn't expected it to be a very attractive girl of his own age. Normally, he would have turned shy and slunk away, but all it caused him to do in his current mood was become a clutz. Surprise evident on his expression, he stopped playing and actually lost his grip on the lute. It fell from his hands and he wasn't quite quick enough to catch it, wincing as it fell to the floor, making a peculiar sound. All he could do was wince and say "That...isn't how it usually finishes. Honest."

He hopped down from the rock and fetched his lute, dropping into a gentle bow. "Thank you for deigning me with your presence, milady. I presume you are of House Fleurant?" It was taking a fair bit of self control to keep his eyes away from her. She wasn't as pretty as Melari, of course, but he was a shy young boy who had been graced with the presence of a young lady of the Fleurant's - A family renowned for their good looks. Of course he would be a little starstruck. "I um...heard your family like music...so I...came by." It sounded so much more pathetic in his head.

Good start, Aiden.

[Narcisse Fleurant]

Well, she was impressed with his obvious passion, at least. It was clear that for some time, he didn't even realize she was there. And yes, she knew she moved fairly quietly, but it wasn't like she'd tried to sneak up on him. But even if he wasn't the most talented musician she'd ever seen perform, he got points for spirit, at least. The last thing she'd expected was for him to be surprised enough that he would drop his instrument. She winced as he fell from his hands, but she made no move to save it; she knew she couldn't make it there in time, as much as she hated seeing damage done to a musical instrument. "I should hope not," she said simply. "I would think you'd go through a good many lutes if it were."

The way he spoke to her amused her greatly. This boy was obviously noble, although she wasn't sure who he was just yet, and yet he spoke to her as if she were above him. Perhaps she was, but it was still strange for someone to act like that straight away. "You presume correctly, and thus have me at a disadvantage." She wasn't about to divulge her name until he did, though. She brushed her hair from one shoulder, which was almost entirely exposed due to the cut of her dress. Being of a style from home, her dress was strapless, the fine dark blue fabric wrapping around her torso and reaching the ground. It was fitted, but not tight, made of light layers that would let the breeze pass through more easily than the heavy brocades favored in the cooler climates. She had wrapped in a simple white shawl to cover her arms and stave off the morning chill, but even though the dress was modestly cut, there was still more of her skin showing than perhaps people would be used to. And that was fine by her.

She smirked, although not unkindly, at his explanation. "And so you came by? To show off your skill? Or simply to make sure we were awake?" Perhaps she shouldn't have teased him, given how shaken he already seemed, but the opportunity was there so plainly that she could not leave it. And besides, he said himself that he came by because they liked music. Obviously he had wanted their attention. He was simply lucky that it had been she who had come down, and not any of her other siblings. Gods help him if it had been Musetta.

[Aiden Faerald]

Maybe it hadn't been a good idea. There was something terrifying about having to explain what he was doing here. His mind was convincing him he had done wrong by disturbing them and that he should just go away at the same time it was telling him it was salvageable and everything was fine because she was talking to him pleasantly. He tried a little joke, thinking that is what his well loved father would do in this situation, but was nervous all the while which made it seem that little bit more deadpan. "It's...not always a lute at least. Sometimes it's an organ."

The cut of her dress was not, however, fine by him. It wasn't that he begrudged her it, or that he felt she should dress more modestly, but that he really wasn't used to seeing even the slightest hint of skin on any girls his age. She was really, really pretty and seemed to have no real concerns about the fact that he would have caught a glimpse of her bare shoulder or the like. What was little shy Aiden going to do but blush? His cheeks flushed a little red when she tossed her hair and he inwardly cursed himself. It wasn't that he wanted to look, but the action drew his attention there and thanks to his encounter with Melari, he had started to notice girls. Why had it been a pretty girl? She reminded him, too, of his complete lack of manners. Immediately, he bowed as gracefully as he could manage. "Um...I'm so sorry, I'm Aiden Faerald, heir of Caelain, Lady Fleurant."

"N..no. I didn't mean to wake you, I just...Well, that is, I thought that..." He swallowed heavily. Maybe it hadn't been the best idea to try and come here before he was truly confident. But there was another voice telling him to try harder. That it might be worth the risk. Taking a deep breath, he spoke again. "I...just heard your family were aficionados when it came to celebrating the arts." Once he'd started, the words came easier, but gushed out like water from a broken dam. "I just mean that if anyone is going to be a good judge of musical ability, it would be the Fleurants, so I wanted to see if you would be kind enough to give me an idea how I compare to some of the better musicians out there. If you'd be so kind as to, I mean...it's no matter if not and of course I'm sorry to disturb you, so I would be more than honoured if you did but if not I would not mind..." He was babbling. That was again, not a good start from a boy who mere moments ago had been confident enough to sit on a rock playing a lute "...You know, if you had time. Or wanted to."

[Narcisse Fleurant]

Oh, this poor man. Narcisse smiled, trying to hold back a laugh. He was so obviously flustered, and she hadn't made it any easier on him. Still, she couldn't help herself. "At least an organ is quite a bit more difficult to drop." Her expression held only amusement, though, and she hoped he knew she was only teasing.

She caught his blush as she moved her hair, and in the back of her mind she was elated. His expression spoke more of him than perhaps he would have liked, and if she were a cruel woman she would have taken advantage of it. It would be a lie, however, if she were to say she didn't take the unsaid compliment. That sort of unguarded reaction rarely happened, and she was incredibly pleased it had been so easy to get. Still, he was already out of sorts enough; she pretended she hadn't noticed his expression and slid her shawl up her shoulders a little higher.

This boy was an heir? Oh by the gods, someone needed to get him out into the world a little more before he became lord, if something as small as a bare shoulder got him blushing. "Please, call me Narcisse," she said, curtseying just as deeply as he'd bowed.

She listened to him babble, wondering if it would be a relief or more of an embarrassment if she interrupted him. Her smile took on a kinder turn and she held up her hand as he seemed to come to a stop, keeping him from continuing. "Please, please, you did not disturb me. I certainly don't mind hearing you play; from what I heard from my window," she looked up at the one directly above him, to give him context, "it seemed quite good." Compliments would help him be less unsure, right? She hoped so...she wasn't used to dealing with people like him. "Come, let's go somewhere where I may sit and then you can play for me, if you wish." Somewhere she could sit, and also away from the windows so nobody else came down. If Etienne were to see someone like this poor lad, he would pounce on every little insecurity, just because he could.

She waited for him to catch up to her before she started walking, leading away from the windows and into the gardens. She had seen a sitting area from her window, one not far away but hopefully just far enough that they wouldn't disturb anyone else. "It's true that we do try to be patrons of the arts," she said conversationally as they walked. "Musicians and artists of all sorts endeavor to bring their crafts to our attention, and so the city is always filled with colour and music. If you enjoy your music, you would love my home." She smiled at him, and about then they arrived at the sitting area she'd seen. Two benches sat adjacent to one another, and she sat on the farther one, tugging her shawl around her shoulders once more and crossing her ankles out in front of her.

"Please, play," she said, gesturing to the bench near to her. "Or just sit and talk. It's wonderful to meet someone who loves music as I do."

[Aiden Faerald]

The younger boy fidgeted with his shirt. "Um...Well, yes. It'd have been more difficult to get on top of the rock too...I guess it was a silly thing to say. I'm sorry." It was strange the way it was both easier and less easy to flow the conversation since she had responded well. On the one hand, it made the conversation easier, but on the other he hadn't exactly expected it to be friendly and...he didn't really know what to say.

Biting his lip as she spoke back to him, he tried to think of what the best way to respond would be. She was quite pretty, but he didn't really like her in that way, it just disarmed him a little. How did one respond to a pretty girl being nice without seeming interested? Infact, why was she even talking to him? Pretty girls liked talking to handsome men. "Would you...prefer me to call you Narcisse or Lady Fleurant? I don't mind either way."

It made him smile that she so readily said his playing was good. It wasn't like she had to say that and coming from a Fleurant, it was high praise indeed. "I'm glad you liked it. It's um...kind of why I came down here." He followed her with little pomp or ceremony, just pleased that this was starting to go quite well. Who better to play to than a Fleurant who would be critical, yet honest and supportive. It would definitely help his abilities.

As he sat, a familiar shuffle in his pocket made his eyes widen in horror. He hadn't realised he had brought Rascal with him and he had no idea how a family as proper as the Fleurants would respond to something as silly as that. A small mew confirmed his concerns and he sat with the lute next to him, before plucking the little cat from his pocket and looking at Rascal a little wearily. "Rascal...When exactly did you hop in there?" He looked to Narcisse, apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't realise he was there. He won't be a problem, I promise."

[Narcisse Fleurant]

"No need to apologize," Narcisse said, wondering just how much encouragement this boy was going to need before he could converse like a normal person. Still, she must remember to be kind and...well, not scary. If this boy fancied himself an artist, they were usually both sensitive and eccentric in some fashion. Even with her efforts, though, it seemed as if this wasn't going how he expected. Was she supposed to be mean, she wondered?

Narcisse lifted her shoulders a little, dropping them as if to say it didn't much matter. "You may call me whichever you prefer. You have my permission to call me by my first name, but you needn't use it." Would giving him an option make him a little more at ease? "And what of you? Lord Faerald, as your father, or simply Aiden?"

His smile at her meager praise surprised her; it reminded her of giving a small child something he's wanted from a shop window. She felt a little strange, truth to be told, with her opinion held in such high regard. And while she wanted to encourage him, she also didn't want to inflate his ego more than necessary; she would have to remember to be honest, as much as she enjoyed having the power to make him smile so easily.

Normally a lady's eyes did not stray to the pockets of her companion, especially when said at such an early stage of acquaintance. However, when something in his attire began to meow like a kitten, Narcisse could not help but knit her brows and look at him apprehensively. However, once it was ascertained that it was indeed a kitten that had stowed away with him, Narcisse couldn't help but smile. "What an adorable little stow away you have! Would you mind if I held him while you play?"

[Aiden Faerald]

He managed a bit of a confident front when saying his name, but to anyone with actual confidence it would have been a see through attempt. "Aiden, I prefer." It didn't help that she'd phrased it almost in a way to make him become his own father, or be his own person. To be his own person was always his way.

"No, by all means! He'd only try and scramble up me if you didn't and it would distract me from my playing." There was something different in his voice. It was almost as if, by accepting this small but strange turn of events, she had accepted him. He was that little bit more confident when he passed Rascal across with a smile. "He's a good kitten. I call him Rascal because he's a bit mischievous, but kittens always are. He's actually very well behaved, or he wouldn't sit so calmly in my pocket." He'd started gushing a little bit as he looked at the little cat in her hands. "He likes his ears stroked. And his chin to his neck."

Playing the tune seemed gone from his mind now he was talking about animals.

[Narcisse Fleurant]

Narcisse took the kitten with both her hands, placing him on her lap gently as she listened to Aiden talk. It was clear to her where his passions lay just from speaking to him for a few minutes; such transparency was both refreshing and a little worrying, as it made him an easier target for the vultures of court. "He seems a lovely little gentleman," she said, running her fingers through his fur. Anyone with an image of Narcisse being cold and aloof would have been hard pressed to keep such a notion in their mind if they were to see her now; her smile was actually genuine, creasing the corners of her eyes and putting the smallest of wrinkles in her nose. Although she felt like she needed to stay proper and poised, it sure was difficult when there was an adorable kitten batting at her fingers.

"I wish the cats at home had fur such as this," she said, her nails lightly scratching under the purring kitten's chin. "Since they're built for desert, they've all got very thin coats. They're very sleek, all long legs and tails and large ears." She had always been fond of cats, and she had been interested to find such a difference temperature made in how they looked. It was nonsense, but she couldn't help feeling like the cooler weather cats were a little more silly, when contrasted with the sleek, orderly cats from Enos.

[Aiden Faerald]

He beamed with pride when she spoke so well and fondly of little Rascal. The kitten had been a bit hit with anyone who had seen him, except the woman who had kicked him originally, which made Aiden smile. Little Rascal was important to him, just as Rascal being liked was. His eyes were almost shining with eagerness, which was unmatched even when he was playing. "Isn't he just? He's so rarely troublesome. I can never understand why the lady who took offense to him did so - He was just hungry and in the kitchens. She seemed to mistake him for a rat but he's cleaner than that." He wrinkled his nose in disgust, as if to suggest that was clearly such an easy error to avoid.

Then she started talking about cats of their homeland and he almost jumped in delight, so excited he was. "I've read about those! They have thinner and more pointed ears, don't they? And more patterned fur to warn people off, because they are predators? I'd love to see them...are they the same size when they are kittens, or are they like Rascal?" Aiden would have given anything to see them, just a little. Cats were what he was all about and he wanted to see all the cats the world had to offer. He was sat forward on the bench, as if drinking in what she said.

[Narcisse Fleurant]

Narcisse shrugged, as if to say that it wasn't anything surprising to her. "Some people just can't be bothered to care much for anyone but themselves," she said, rubbing behind the kitten's ears. He had settled into her lap, curled up and half asleep. As with any kitten, he would be awake and causing chaos in just a little bit, but for now she was content to listen to him purr.

"Well, technically all cats are predators. The pattern on their fur is originally to help them blend in with their surroundings, although with the more common cats up here that seems to have been foiled a bit." She couldn't imagine what a ginger tabby would possibly be blending into. "But yes, their ears are larger, the skin thinner, and usually they've got tufts of fur off the top. I read somewhere it was for heat regulation, so they aren't always panting." His eagerness was kind of endearing, but it also made Narcisse wonder what kind of a life he lived if he was this excited about cats. "I haven't seen enough other kittens to know if they're bigger or smaller at the same age," she said, contemplating Rascal for a moment. "I would say they seem bigger, and they're certainly a little taller when they're full grown."

Ever the diplomat, Narcisse got an idea. "You should come visit our home, when all this is over. We love having visitors, and you could see our cats for yourself, as well as all of the other wonderful things Enos has to offer."

[Aiden Faerald]

His features set to being a little resigned, a little sad. There were few things that upset Aiden more than people mistreating animals, but people not even realising just how strong a bond they formed with animals was up there with it too. "I think you might be right. I don't think people understand that pets can be just as important a part of a family as people." He smiled down to Rascal, peacefully sleeping, before he settled back onto his bench.

As she spoke, his fingers nimbly flew across the strings of his lute, trying each note to make sure it was tuned correctly. His focus was clearly not even on the instrument too, so second nature it was to him. "Yes, I didn't think pet cats were any less meat eaters, I just mean...you know...wild predators. Ones that take down things bigger than mice. Bigger than themselves." Most of what she was saying, he already knew, being booksmart on animals to a ridiculous degree, but he let her talk because it was nice to have a bit of company to share his thoughts with. Especially since she seemed interested in animals! "That makes sense...I didn't think they'd grow so quickly and suddenly. I've just never seen one."

Once again, his hands played over the lute in a more complicated way, but he nodded carefully to Narcisse. "That would be lovely, though I think you'd have to hear me play first. Which I seem to have forgotten to do." Readying his hands on the instrument, he grimaced. "Do...do you still want to hear it?"

[Narcisse Fleurant]

He was so sensitive. Narcisse couldn't help but remark again at it, and it was noted with some admiration and also some pity. Such people rarely lasted long in court with their ideals intact, and if he was heir...well, there was even less hope for him. Still, some kept their childhood ideals. Perhaps he would be a lucky one. She thought for a moment of commenting on the nature of families, how each dynamic was different, but she refrained. She didn't need to bore him with such things, and if she said that the cats that lived in their castle would likely do just as well without them, and largely likewise, he wouldn't take it well at all.

As he was ignoring the lute, even while he was playing it, Narcisse continued to focus on him and the conversation at hand. She hardly heard of small cats taking down prey larger than themselves, but again, she stayed silent. The way he spoke, he probably had read every book his library had contained on the subject of cats. He hardly needed her pointing things out to him, and in fact he might even take it poorly. There was no way to tell just yet. "I wish they stayed as cute as long as these kitties do," she said, looking down at Rascal in her lap. "They seem to go straight from newborn to small cat, without any stage in between."

She nodded toward him when he asked if she still wanted to hear him play. "Of course, by all means."

[Aiden Faerald]

He looked up at her as she spoke again and decided that he liked Narcisse Fleurant. He didn't have many female friends, or even really know many females, but she was extremely demure and understanding. And friendly too! She was no Melari, of course, but she was pleasant company and seemed to like him for who he was. That and she was quite happy to talk about animals. There was a lot of people who thought he would be thick in the head for talking about animals.

Though, they seemed to be less common these days. People seemed to be coping with his attitude a lot better than he expected. Was it because he was his father's heir? Or because they actually like him as a person? "No, they tend to start off quite big anyway don't they? They start bigger than a grown cat and end up bigger than a person...or...so I hear anyway." He had faltered a little at the last second. He didn't want to look like a know it all...she might dislike him if he did.

When she approved, he began to play his lute in earnest. It was a lilting melody, one meant simply for a solitary lute and that seemed to have a quick pace to it. It started dark and gradually grew lighter until at the end it hit a peak and ended. Aiden immediately looked down at his feet. "I...I'm sorry, there is meant to be words with it but, I...I wasn't sure if you would like them..."

[Narcisse Fleurant]

It was obvious that he didn't believe the words that he just said, and it disappointed Narcisse a little. This boy had yet to learn the proper art of conversation, and she hoped someone taught him before he became lord. Lies had their place, but they weren't a fix for sounding overeager. "Not quite so big," was all she said, and her face held the same quality that an affectionate tutor's might, when a child has said something wrong on purpose.

The change that fell over this boy when he played was quite pronounced, and it for a moment distracted Narcisse from the actual tune he was playing. It was a nice piece, and the skill with which he played was admirable, but there seemed to be something missing. It all made sense, however, when he spoke afterward.

"Ah, then let that be my first piece of advice for you. It is a dangerous practice to presume what your audience does and does not like. An artist who does that is never truly his own, and can never fully use his talent." Her words were delivered with a kindness in her tone; another might not have gotten the same consideration, but the last thing Narcisse wanted to do was to hurt this boy's confidence. He didn't seem to have enough as it is. "I would like it if you'd play for me again, but this time, as the song finishes..." how did she say this delicately... "sustain the feeling that the song gives you for a moment afterwards. It will help lend more power to the music, and it is more enjoyable for your audience if you do not immediately lose all confidence once your fingers still."

[Aiden Faerald]

The little Faerald looked down, face flushing crimson and clearly ashamed. "O...oh. I must have read wrong then. Please f...forgive me." She had spoken to him in such a way that suggested he had known his mistake, but he had not. He was book smart on the animals, but had never seen them. Was it that he had spoken when he thought it was right but it wasn't?

Once he had played though, a strength seemed to have come back to him and he sat to take the criticism relatively well, his ears only going slightly pink at the idea of not presuming his audiences want. Otherwise, he nodded and set his lute in place, looking at her quizzically. "Would it suit you for me to try that again then, my lady?"

[Narcisse Fleurant]

Narcisse noted Aiden's shame, and for a moment she felt compelled to reassure him. However, he wasn't a child, and there was no need to coddle him like one. If he was truly to be his father's heir, he would run across far more difficult people than she. "There is no need for forgiveness," she said with a kind smile, her voice a little softer. "Perhaps you'll just have to come see them for yourself. Books are wonderful, but they're no substitute for one's own eyes."

She idly pet the kitten who was purring contentedly, nested in the folds of her skirt. For as flustered as he'd gotten when she'd corrected his knowledge on something he'd never seen, he seemed to take criticism of his music far better. There was another good point in his direction, then; she had run across far too many artists who couldn't handle that sort of thing, even if they'd asked for it. "It would suit me very well. I'm curious to hear the song in its complete form."