[ P ] I miss the green in your eyes

When he woke this morning, he knew it was going to be an impossibly long day. Adeline's parents were hosting a celebratory party. Something about celebrating the Royalists victory in the first battle. It irked him, to know that others would use such a feat to their own advantage. But he was used to this way of life, he knew the game. This party that required their attendance and that they not act like total strangers. At least he wouldn't have work tomorrow. Work... He wasn't even suppose to be back at work, he had been given time off upon his return and he had intended to take it. But after the complete disaster of a night when he'd come home, he found it easier. Even if it did nothing to improve his mood. With an impossibly short fuse, he found himself snapping at those around him. When he had time to indulge the training pits, he pulled no punches, bringing his partner down with a heavy thud each time.

Today was no different. Except a familiar face would pop into his office. He hadn't seen the man since before he left. The smaller wolf had been hired to shadow Adeline, a job he was still employed with. They had not gotten a chance to speak when he returned home. Initially the mans presence caused alarm, but if his calm expression was to be judged, nothing was happening that was urgent. He would fill the silence with his report, assuring Kenzo that everything had been quiet in his absence. But it wasn't just quiet. Surprise would lift his brows when the man mentioned Adeline's sobriety, something she had evidently been taking seriously. Surely it had been a massive undertaking, especially to do on her own. But she had been successful thus far.

He was caught off guard by her effort. Her willingness to change with so little coaxing on his end. The man was dismissed before the uncertainty could be seen on his face. She was still making this difficult. He should be appreciating the distance she created. But in reality, it was anything but easy. Everyday he missed her. Everyday he longed to see her, to breath her in. And now she was sober. She had been sober when she said those three little words.

Hours later, the work day completed, he had washed up at the barracks before heading home. He knew the routine of one of these parties, it was not his first even with the nobles. He bathed, ridding himself of any scent beyond his natural sandalwood cologne. Thankfully the summer heat had helped dry his fur faster. So in the fading afternoon sun, his charcoal coat was glossy, his ivory tendrils were pristine and it all hugged each contour of a war time physique. Stopping by home, he would collect Adeline before heading to the redwood. Pushing open the front door, he called her name. "Adeline?" Deep baritones still caressed each syllable of her name, he spoke it with the same slow burn of bourbon he always had.

He waited then, ears perking to catch any sound of her approach. They would need to leave soon or they would wind up late. Not that he was truly worried about being late, he tended to arrive late to these things anyways, if only so he could keep the small talk short. But tonight was a bit different, he would be seeing her parents for the first time since the wedding and it wasn't like he had seen them all that much before. His in laws were still strangers. He knew it was expected of him to make a good appearance especially when in the public eye.

art + code: clae

There was no excitement in her bones as she made herself pristine, proper as a noble should be, a woman to be adorn rather than anything else. The finest jewels to the prettiest dress, not a single smug of her make up out of place though her figure had thinned. Her curves are not nearly as voluptuous as they normally were, fromlack of eating, and basically living off tea the last few days to ease the headaches and weak inhibitions. Despite being lighter, she felt heavier than ever, each little step weighted down by a mourning she didn’t wish to understand today and she was far from ready to pretend like it wasn’t there, looming and pulling at her limbs to suck her down into the void. She could already hear their voices, the snide remarks she would have to endure into the evening but to not show was to be cut off, not that her hunger for money was as strong as it once was.

Her heart ached for something else, something with meaning.

Don’t deserve his loyalty? Nalik’s words were poison on her ears, taunting her despite half of what he said making no real sense when these had been his own choices. She nipped her lip, had she a necklace she might have yanked upon the chain until it cut sharply into the back of her neck to bring her back to her senses, out of a mind of anxiousness she wasn’t used to having anymore. She wanted to drown herself, numb it all down and wear that smile that was calm with her doll face she often wore to events. This time it wouldn’t be so easy. It would be the hardest thing she ever did and not because of where it was. She could put up with the abuse, the vile tongues of others, she had done it all her life.

Adeline. Her name was buzzing in that shockingly warm honey as if nothing had ever been said, as if her heart hadn’t been shattered repeatedly ever since. There was a clear jitter in her limbs, a tremor that made it look like she was cold and perhaps she was. She felt very cold and very hot. She wanted to believe she had just woken up from a bad nightmare and everything was back to how it was before the war truly started. Gulping down the lump in her throat, she shook her head free of the heat behind her eyes and the sting tears starting to form, not about to let her eyes swell once again or tear stains paint her coat a darker hue.

After a moment of gathering herself, pushing all of her emotions into a hole, she would finally leave the comfort of her isolation for the first time since his return home. Closing her eyes, she took one last final breath before going to leave the house and face her demons, sitting up on her hinds to gently tap her own cheeks as if splashing cold water onto her face. After an arduous journey to the front door, she would see him there perfectly cleaned up with expectation. Her lip trembled as her heart knocked her chest, fighting back those tears all over again as she cast her gaze away from him and brushed past him, noticeably shivering at the warmth of his body chasing away the ice of her frame for those milliseconds they touched, her body pining for it to continue. Her tail out of habit brushed against his chest, wanting so badly to sink into him, to be two sparks of fire forming together to make a beautiful flame.

Against her thoughts and judgment, her form would pause for a few long moments, nearly succumbing to such urges to entwine herself with him. To just accept that love wasn’t important like every other marriage in her family. Tolerance was enough.

But…it wasn’t.

Drawing in a breath, she would glance back toward him trying to put on an okay face. “Let’s go… husband,” pain to say his name caused her to deviate to something else. Her tone was more chipper, but it was obvious she was coating her agony in sugar. “We are already running later than we should, she’s going to be furious,” she sighed, knowing how extra cold her mother would be if they showed up anything but early. With hesitation, she would start to walk toward the land she grew up in, feeling more and more dread with each step.

She wanted to just turn around and crawl back into bed.

table ; bunny

When she stepped into the entry way, she’d find him waiting patiently - adjusting his cuff links and tugging at the sleeves of his tux that was tailored made for him. He already knew she could clean up well, but it still floored him. All he could do was stare. Dressed in the finest of gowns, not a hair was out of place and the fabric hugged each curve deliciously. Jewels glittered in the dying light of the day as the delicate pieces wrapped around her wrists and the slender column of her throat. The war he waged with himself to resist the urged to rub the pad of his thumb over the sensitive skin under precious metals and stones was harder than the battle he’d come home from. He had no doubts she had carefully tended to each detail to meet her impossibly high standards. His fluorite eyes would darken, the purple in them seeming to glow as an overwhelming wave of desire washed over him. His mouth watered with the lust that was injected into his veins. He was no less attracted to her now than he was before the war. Soaking in her appearance, unabashed in the way his eyes explored her body, his eyes swept across curves he was intimately familiar with.

But while she looked absolutely stunning, he immediately noticed the weight she had lost. Not that she had much to lose to begin with. Her curves were less prominent, her dress didn’t hug her as tightly. It pained him. He could only assume that was his fault, that he had driven her to this point. Especially when he saw the hollowness in her stare, the tremble that shook her shoulders. She looked away but not before he caught a glimpse of the tears in her eyes. It was enough to have him stepping towards her, wanting to comfort her. But he was reminded he no longer had the right to. Brushing past him, he expected nothing more from her, though the shiver that raced up her spine was a pleasant surprise. Did she miss him too, despite having shut him out? Her tail would brush against his chest as she passed and her touch was scalding, he leaned into it without thinking. He wasn’t the only one as he found her lingering, even if only for moments, she still lingered. Unable to help himself, he reached out. A hand would have intimately pressed to the small of her back, the light touch both comforting and guiding her forward. Instead he lightly pressed his nose to her hip.

Let’s go…husband.” It was only slightly better than being referred to as soldier. It was a bit shocking though, to realize that he had been waiting to hear his name on her lips. She looked at him over her shoulder, her expression faltering as she struggled to keep her mask in place. ”We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” He wouldn’t be upset about missing one of many parties. There was a sweetness to her voice that didn’t match her expression as she ushered them out the door, admitting her mother would be furious if they were late. He’d nod vaguely, knowing all to well how much these parties meant to the hostesses that threw them.

Stepping onto the street, he’d fall into step beside her. He let her lead the way to the redwood, through the trees to her childhood home. The streets were busy as some headed home and others were on their way out to enjoy the night. Though it was cumbersome navigating, it did provide the perfect excuse to occasionally bump into her, to press into her side as they moved around others. He greedily took every moment, every opportunity while glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

art + code: clae

The touch of her hips would make them nearly jump from a familiar longing that she couldn’t play into this time, no matter how hard it was to deny it. Her ears flicked, trying to keep her face from setting on him, not wanting him to see what he did to her but her scent perhaps betrayed her desire and the way her hips swayed with a seductive cadence she pulled fully away from him. Her lips parted to speak but she would second guess herself for a moment on doing so before swallowing and taking in a very long breath to tame her anxiousness. “Must you tease me?” The words were a hair on the angry side but equally lighthearted as she tried her hardest to not give him a cold shoulder as much as she was trying to keep him at a distance, a subtle reminder of what was in his grasp if he just loved her.

An offer to remain home would make her glance at him, looking at him from over her delicate shoulder as he started to fall into step with her, close yet not. There was a jump in her gut to take it, to escape from the hell she was about to endure and had so quickly ran away from. To move out of her childhood home had been one of her incentives to accept the marriage initially without argument, to get away from her mother’s aggression and insults that she heard every second they shared a room. “You don’t want to witness the result of that, Kenzo. Any benefit you have with having my hand would be void, she would be so quick to disown me from the family for making her look bad or worse. Father wouldn't care either way, though,” she stated calmly. Just another notch for him to hate her over, being absolutely useless even as something to tote around.

Getting into the thick of the town, the constant bumping of their bodies would make this trip harder and harder, her lips in a tight line but at least his presence was keeping others away. Not many were stupid enough to start anything in front of a man both his size and his position, especially so close to the barracks as they were. It wouldn’t be long till they entered the realm of red flora, a world her coat blended into beautifully. She looked as if she was a dryad that came right out of the trees and bushes, just as most of her family appeared with their ember coats. It was like the forest was made for them.

As they turned onto a slightly sparser street, she couldn’t stop her tongue from the question that was on her mind for a little while now. “Did you send your father to yell at me…to tell me how shit of a wife I am and threaten me or was that all of Nalik’s own volition?” the words were brittle as if she was stepping on slivers of glass. She wanted to believe Kenzo had no part in it by how Nalik spoke as if he didn’t know the whole story but with how fast Ryker flapped her jaws, she never knew what to think.

table ; bunny

How easy it was, to give in to the pull of her, especially when her floral perfume sweetened with her desire. Nostrils flared as he inhaled, pupils dilating reactively. The sway of her hips became from prominent, all meant to entice him, even as she pulled away. Must you tease me? There was a bite to her words, a hint of displeasure but it was nothing he had experienced before. It wasn't enough to truly chase him off. "As I recall, you enjoy it." His voice grew huskier, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. Pressing his luck, when he turned from closing the door behind them, he'd accidentally bump his chest into her hips.

Looking over her shoulder at him, she offered a peek into her childhood, into what her mother was like. Where her father didn't care, her mother cared in all the wrong ways. Brows pulled together. "I won't let anything happen to you." The subtle growl in his voice was possessive. Her mother would learn quickly how heavy the Verlice name could be.

They would walk in relative quiet as the busy city slowly disappeared, making way for a more sparsely populated neighborhood. Green yielded to various shades of red and Adeline blended in seamlessly. The red of the trees made her appear an even richer shade of auburn. She repeatedly drew his stare, something he didn't bother to hide.

Adeline would break the silence and her words had him abruptly halting in his tracks. At first, he looked confused, trying to piece together exactly what she meant. His father? Threatening her? She wanted to know if he had had a hand in it. "Excuse me?" The tone of his voice was low, deceptively so. "My father came by?" Suddenly, he was seething. "And threatened you?" Hackled lifted across his nape and down his spine. Pools of emerald and amethyst blazed as his temper flared and clashed with the possessiveness he felt over her. Everything Merrin had told him came rushing to the surface and it had a shadow crossing his features. Stepping closer to her, he was looking at her hard now, searching for the faint of bruises, the slightest of scrapes. He hadn't excepted this. His mind reeled from what she just told him. "What happened?!" He demanded, tugging her off the well worn path and against him.

art + code: clae

She expected him to back off, to give her space after her little complaint. She wasn’t sure how she should feel about him treating her like this, as if everything was fine between them. Was it wrong to want an apology, to have a conversation like adults instead of frolicking like hormonal teenagers? That husk in his voice made her stumble, her heart racing all the more at the close proximity, feeling like her ribs might pop when his chest brushed into her narrow hips. A toxic mixture of emotions swirled, making her dizzy. There would be an attempt to get away from him, to form that space but she would fail in movement when her legs so rudely trembled at the sensation of him possibly taking her right then and there. “I… do…” she couldn’t deny as her eyes closed and she took in a shaky breath. She needed to get it back together. “In privacy,” she added, in an attempt to get him to stop without outright chiding him like he was a frustrating child she wanted to throw away.

She didn’t know what she wanted.

No.

She knew she wanted him; she knew she loved him as much as she had tried to stop. She knew the way their bodies formed into one was more intoxicating than any liquor she could press against her lips, and he knew how much pull he had over her. To weaponize it, she feared it, but she had used it against him first. Taking it away as punishment as much as to feel worth more than just a bed maid, refusing to subject herself to such shame. Earn her touch and her heart.

That possessive growl would draw her attention away from her own anguish about her parents, confused by his response and how quick he was to make yet another promise to her wellbeing. She had accused him of lying, that every sweet lyric had been tainted in fallacy and yet there he was again, so ready to put on his armor just for her no matter the enemy on the other end. “You are making it difficult to believe you can’t…” love me she started in a whisper to herself before fading to nothing, realizing she was speaking aloud.

Had her mind not been constantly in thought she might have found the silence suffocating, but it was in a way peaceful, taking in the land around her she hadn’t touched in a while. It wasn’t home but it was her past, it held so many memories. She could sense his eyes on her, catching his stare from time to time before her own gaze would sheepishly look away, not even attempting to seduce him like she might have in the past. It was like all her confidence had been pulled out of her bones.

Surprise would overshadow everything she had said as her husband got more and more irate by the second with each prodding question about his father. She would nod calmly at first to confirm he had indeed visited. Throat tightened with each push toward her, her gaze slowly shifting to him when he had grown closer, taking in her every inch, looking her over as if he expected something far worse on a physical level. Confusion would reflect in her eyes for a moment, her gaze trained on him, thinking he wouldn’t believe a word she said about his father being aggressive toward her.

“He didn’t injur-” she started but then he had suddenly pulled her away from the road, causing her to stagger into him. Had he been anyone else, she would have shoved him away from her but she caved, sinking into him to relish in the furs she missed. She didn’t want to repeat any of what he had to say, feeling almost sick at the thought. “He walked into the house uninvited then accused me of something I hadn’t even done, escalating arguments to berate me. He got in my space to try to scare me while threatening to ruin me…over you,” she breathed, avoiding mimicking anything that was actually said because none of it had been kind on either side. She wouldn’t hold shame in anything that was said on her end even though she knew it might hurt others even more.

Her gaze would shift up to meet his eyes, hesitant in how she wanted to say the next part. “Has he hurt you before or another family member?” she asked softly. His reaction made her concerned, her thoughts from her interactions with Nalik starting to have more weight. Had he hurt his first wife? Was her life really in danger? The very last thing Nalik had said before he left also held even more meaning. Was Kenzo’s protection the only reason why Nalik hadn’t reacted? “Would he…kill me?”

table ; bunny

I…do… in privacy. The shaky breath that followed those words would linger in his thoughts. Pale lips twisted in a knowing smile and approval hummed in this throat. He knew exactly what she liked. He had already memorized the way she looked up at him bashfully from beneath her lashes when she laid in a tangled mess of sheets. After she spoke, he’d give her the space she wanted, even if her body disagreed. There was too much still unsaid between them. But oh how easy it would be, to play her body like an instrument and bend her to his will. She was delightfully responsive, like putty in his hands whenever he touched her. It seemed that part of their relationship hadn’t changed.

Whispered words broke the silence and would draw his ears back before she could stop herself. He would look away from her briefly. A quiet sigh would blow past his lips before he spoke”I never said I was incapable of loving you.” Jaws clenched. This was neither the time or place to have this conversation. He wasn’t even entirely sure what all he wanted to say, what details of his past he was willing to reveal. He knew anything he said would let her that much closer.

Her confusion was evident on her face. She seemed surprised by his reaction. Her claim of being uninjured was interrupted as she fell into him. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he relished in the feeling of having her against him and the way she practically melted into him. It was distracting. But nothing could truly shake his focus, not in this moment. She skimmed over the details of what had transpired and each word only fanned his anger. His mind raced, trying to come with a reason for his fathers behavior.

Has he hurt you before or another family member? Immediately he words made him still. His features cooled as he collected himself. She dragged such visceral reactions from him. "Thats a conversation for another day." He was about to pull away from her, to return them to the path and continue on their way. But her question stopped in his tracks. He met her stare and held it. "No. There was complete certainty in the singular word. Whether his father actually tried or not didn't matter because he would never get the chance.

"Lets go." They needed to get moving and he needed to walk off the energy that now buzzed in his veins, leaving him feeling jittery.

art + code: clae

She partially expected him to ignore her wishes but it wasn’t out of misplace in distrust toward him, rather all men had her on edge lately to a point that she felt immensely vulnerable. Her snarls and threats never seemed to work anymore and she felt constantly wired in a way. The other part of her had an unspoken trust toward her husband that he wouldn’t ever push her boundaries beyond what she was comfortable with else she would not be anywhere near him now, never seeking solace in his arms after the attack. Each time her neck twisted a little too much she could feel where her skin was forever blemished, not nearly as elastic as it once was now that scars decorated it. His absence after that confrontation made her feel made of ice, having thought she’d be greeted with that sense of safety again yet that distance she created, they both created, proved that hope false. Where she didn’t feel safe from the chemistry that never seemed to fade, she still felt safe at his side as they moved along the streets.

No matter what their relationship was on any given day, they still belonged to one another, tied by a name and a ring of unity they couldn’t crawl so easily away from. Her lips pressed, her ears twitched, undeniably wanting him to continue despite how quick she was to reject it verbally.

To hold onto her pride she constantly reminded herself. She couldn’t cave to desire’s hold just for a touch she missed.

The fur along her nape would prickle, messing up her pristine appearance as it was made clear he had heard the whisper that escaped past her lips and she suddenly felt the energy of a thousand suns blossom in her legs in a desire to flee. Though what he had to say would keep them locked in place, her heart jumped into her ears and her cheeks became warm while her mind went muddy. “Does can’t not have the same meaning to you?” the words were hesitant but sharp, even more confused now than ever as she nearly cut him off mid stride to have this conversation right in the middle of the street. She wouldn’t of course, not about to make an even bigger scene for others to potentially gawk at than should they eavesdrop in passing. “So which is it, Kenny, can you or can’t you love me?” The words were quiet, as if not wanting an answer this second.

She didn’t expect one immediately that night either, having just wanted him to feel at home beside her while taking in her words. Now she only expected rejection at the twitch of a trigger.

The whirlwind of emotions that rippled over them both at talks of his father would be far too evident to ignore and yet Kenzo tried to pass the rage, the tension in his shoulders she could feel against her frame. Lashes batted as she looked up at him within their veil, feeling something she hadn’t felt in a while but was all too familiar. That protective dominance that took over his every hair, each wrinkle that gnarled his features with anger and to think his own family would be the cause of it, making her almost feel bad for bringing it up. Almost. The swift dismissiveness toward her words would make her brow scrunch all the more, her heart racing as she couldn’t help take it as confirmation that Nalik indeed hurt someone close.

The firm no would make her hold his gaze before it fell to his ushering to move with a nod of understanding. It was the same promise he made before but far less words.

She wanted the answers now as much as she would rather stay naive to the hell within the Verlice closet, those demons now her own with her name tied to it. Gently she pressed her lips to his cheek if he allowed before drifting away to continue guiding him toward the abode her parents dwelled. Even from this distance she could see it was already cluttered with guests, meaning she was late even though they were far from it, having not come early enough to greet each guest herself as they entered. Cold feet were becoming more prominent with each stride toward the festivities of food and macabre banter that could even be heard from this distance. She nearly fell back to seek comfort in him again, knowing what would await her once they got there as her demeanor became more and more subdued with each reluctant step.

"Are you ready?" she asked with a faint shake to her voice, wishing she had a bourbon in her hand to drink the nerves away like she usually did when dealing with her folks.

table ; bunny

She bristled beside him, presumably surprised that he had heard her softly spoken question. The air suddenly crackled with the energy between them. Mentally he prepared for the barrage of demands and questions from his red headed wife. He had learned fast and hard that telling her ‘no’ often came with a series of punishments and interrogations. Unfortunately for her, he had formal training to resist both. So when she spoke, her words sharp though still laced with hesitancy, he wasn’t surprised. While she pressed for answers, wanting clarity, her voice lacked its usual fire. It grew his gaze, it had him looking at her a little closer. Her eyes didn't blaze with outrage, her voice wasn't high with indignation. There was a subtle hunch to her posture, where she once stood tall and proud. He couldn’t help but wonder if he had done this to her, if she was already crumbling beneath the weight of being a Verlice wife. Or was it a longer side effect of her attack? The scarred assailant hadn’t been forgotten, even if he still walked free. It was only logical that she still worry about it, especially in his absence.

He wouldn’t answer either of her questions, his eyes pensive. He’d offer her the assurance of later. On the side of the public road was not the place. On the way to her parents house wasn’t the time. They already had a long evening ahead of them.

His father occupied his thoughts until she pressed her lips to his cheek. Pausing, surprise flickered across his features. It was the first time she had initiated physical contact since his return home. A smile toyed with the corners of his lips. They approached a house that was already crawling with wolves. The chatter of party goers could be heard even at a distance. Glancing at Adeline, he would notice her reluctance, the way her feet dragged and her pace was slow. Are you ready? She would ask, her words trembling ever so slightly. Stepping closer to her, large hands would have cupped either side of her jaw, tipping her face up to his. ”Are you?” He would counter, staring into her eyes. In clear view of the house and its guests, he would press a light kiss to her lips, public branding her as his. Unable to help him, his tongue would flick against her mouth before he withdrew.

Turning, he would approach the party, keeping her tucked into his side, like an arm wrapped around her so his hand could splay across her hip possessively. Like stepping into a different pair of shoes, there was a subtle shift in his demeanor. He stood a little taller, his expression a little more stoic, his eyes a little sharper. An aura of authority oozed from him, intimidating weaker individuals around him. Fluorite eyes landed on his mother in law and a charming smile would spread across his features as they approached. Stepping forward, he casually injected himself between Adeline and her mother, immediately taking control of the interaction. "Penny," He said by way of greeting, his voice a low rumble like distant thunder. "Its a pleasure to see you again. You look marvelous this evening." He had learned just how to play the game years ago, he knew each type of player and just how to get them to swoon. "My apologies for our tardiness. I got held up at work." Grasping her delicate hand in his and bringing it his lips for a polite kiss was second nature. He would relent just enough for Adeline to step forward if she so chose, but the Lieutenant Major in him continued to dominate the space.

art + code: clae

A public image was a cruel thing that was very double edged. She basked in others knowing who she was just by her name alone, enjoying the lavish lifestyle she had grown up with as even her own coat was woven in luxury but there came a consequence to it all. To dampen one's own image was to ruin it all and to speak of marital woes in public would only bring forth more and more gossip to that name, such a thought reflected in her weakened gaze as she peered up at him as he expectedly said nothing. Tears wanted to brim her eyes but she would swiftly bat them away as he would move on as if the question hadn’t been posed at all in those unbearable moments. Not answering felt like an answer, a repeat of what had already been said, how quickly he wouldn’t correct any miscommunication further if there had been any in the first place. Her gaze would only fall, her fingers delicately playing with a necklace had she had any hands in a fashion of discomfort.

That bit of assurance for later did nothing to ebb it all away. She already knew she was unloveable and she wasn’t excited to hear that confirmation again.

The kiss she placed upon him hadn’t been one of conscious choice, only that of old habit. It wasn’t until the twitching of his lips and a gaze that was far from soft or angry but rather baffled, that she even realized she had done it at all. She didn’t attempt to take it back, though a bit of surprise lined her own features in response as they started to move past it to get to the house.

As they stood some yard away from the next chapter of the evening, he would draw her attention to him, feeling each little caress in those familiar palms, the worn fingers of someone that used their hands for work. Faintly chapped and callused from the blade he carried to war. A hand would have placed over her, succumbing to the warmth and safety they brought her even more now than ever as she hesitantly met his gaze as he guided her attention to him, unsure if the question was meant to tease her or held genuine concern. Her brows would pinch as she looked at him with a mixture of glass and intensity, tempted to shove him away before she could melt and forget everything she was depressed about. Before any muscles could even contract to try, he drew her into a tender kiss, chasing away any attempt to flee from his hold.

She wanted to be angry but as she felt the eyes on her back, she leaned into it, pulling him in deeper with a desire to entangle herself messily into his ebony furs. The kiss wouldn’t last long enough, feeling a drunken tinge on her sense as she breathed him in, a hunger in her eyes as she met his gaze once more. Tasting her lips would make her ears tilt back, finding that particularly unnecessary as she let out a soft huff.

He never let his touch go, keeping her close and nearly concealed from all the eyes that would slowly but surely flicker to them as they entered a domain that was not their own. A false smile wore on her lips as they passed by guests, greeting each in turn as some pined to get her attention but an assortment of those that normally tried to cozy up with her in these parties hadn’t even stepped near. It seemed Kenzo’s presence alone were making them unnerved, taking in a few completely avoiding eye contact with them as if they might die if they tried. That same reaction wouldn’t be true of the host, however, seeing her mother quickly whirl around at the sound of a nickname that had even Adeline blinking at his familiarity toward the dame.

It was like a stick had snapped as she heard Penny, turning on a heel with a swift grace as she faced the man that had spoken it, that anger only slightly tapped down at the sight of her son in law’s flattering smile followed by flattering words. A sigh escaped her lips only for a moment as she dreamed a fantasy that would never be true before a merry smile of her own blossomed in greeting. “Kenzo, darling! Mother is fine, you are family now,” she chimed with a sickly-sweet tone, already won over by his charm.

That smile would quickly dull at the sight of her own daughter, a storm brewing in her eyes as she took in the girl, followed with a sharp look of disgust. “Is it too much to ask for you to fix yourself before coming here? You look absolutely drab, child, an embarrassment. Seems your only bit of worth has dried up,” she hissed at the thinned figure and the traces of endless crying that Adeline failed to fully hide away from her. It was repulsive to look at. Her beauty used to be the only thing worth selling and now she even failed to do that. Her ears swiveled with agitation when watching the girl clammer up immediately and timidly, as she let out a weak: “Sorry Mother.” It appeared Adeline wasn’t drunk for a change. What a surprise.

A scoff was the only response she would offer her before her attention returned to Kenzo with a mild puzzlement at his apologies. A laugh sounded for a moment before she waved it off. “Of course, of course. You are an important member of our station after all, the very ones we are celebrating this evening. You are keeping our homes free of those parasites, and our throne whole; a little dilatoriness is forgivable. I hope your father has been doing splendidly. Do enjoy yourself and make merry with the other guests until the feast,” she winked at him before giving her daughter the faintest look of further disapproval before attempting to leave them to their own devices.

She could feel her own heart sink into her chest at the harshness of her mother's stare to the way her voice threatened an unspoken hostility. Submitting and retreating slowly into Kenzo's side with hope that would be all they would have to deal with for the next hour or so.


OOC: Adeline's Mother Penolope is in italics for easier reading, while her dialog is in this color.

table ; bunny