3rd Card

[legacydeck]

...For the record, you are an excellent kisser. However, I realize the castle may have put you in a position you would have... preferred not to be in, in which case I apologize for any embarrassment I may have caused.

Comments

[peacockherald]

_{[Personally, Vanyel had really wanting to avoid this. He had always been careful about revealing his preferences to people, and even more so when pursuing potential... well, lovers was the only word for it, though bed partners worked too. Not that he had that in well over a year either.]}

Ah, thank you. I could not find fault in your skill either, Clow.

And now, there was no embarrassment. I only hope it did not cause you discomfort. I am well aware few sport the same tastes I do, and I am only sorry the Castle forced such a relationship on you.

[legacydeck]

No - for all of the castle's rather forceful matchmaking, it was quite enjoyable. It has been a number of years since I had a lover of either sex.

[peacockherald]

_{[There is a quiet on the other end, in which Vanyel is both taken aback and resisting the urge to flush. You would think, for a man of his experience, it would not be so, but he has no thad a lover in so long or even often..]}

I... the same for myself. I have never been in a place long enough to really take one.

_{[Yfandes thought he should, but they were constantly moving, and he had always been a target, a danger. He could never risk it, even if his heart was finally able to let him lie with another.]}

[legacydeck]

[He can understand that]

Mmm. I had... other preoccupations. And it was still illegal, in England, which meant sometimes it wasn't worth the bother.

[peacockherald]

Illegal?

_{[That took him by surprise, knocking him out of the more awkward notes of the conversation - though they would come back, assuredly.]}

Ah, I am... sorry for your difficulties then. And again, I am sorry the Castle forced us into such a relationship. It seems not to care if we actually liked each other or not.

[legacydeck]

It's... complicated. And utter nonsense, but weighed down in a lot of history.

And your company is quite enjoyable - though that is not the best start to a courtship.

[peacockherald]

_{[On his side, the word courtship brought a faint pink to his cheeks, and he glanced Kero, chuckling.]}

No, I suppose not, though it is a good foundation. No use courting if you do not like a person - believe me.

I still have Kero, by the by. He seemed to come through the change well. I... I had memories of him, of you giving him to me on a 'date'.

_{[It seemed easier to talk about it, now that he knew Clow was not terribly upset with him over it.]}

[legacydeck]

[Clow laughs a little at that]

Well, I suppose standing around discussing magical theory is very nearly 'date' territory for mages.

[peacockherald]

I... I suppose so. I am not sure if I am one to judge. I have never been on a 'date' before.

_{[How was it possible he might be blushing more? Maybe it was because no one had come close to... well, was this flirting? Perhaps. It had been a long while. He was out of practice, and frankly his court manners never translated well to this sort of thing.]}

He has point of pride by my windowsill, if you care to know.

[legacydeck]

Well, I suspect dinner would be more traditional. Or an evening engagement at a gala, but I doubt there's many of those would be fine.

And Kero would approve of that. Does tomorrow night work for you? [Ah, non-sequitors]

[peacockherald]

Tomorrow night?

_{[He's a bit nonplussed, since his world does not have them, and even with the memories the concept of being asked out still eludes him slightly.]}

[legacydeck]

Yes - I'm not sure I can fit that much cooking in today~

[peacockherald]

Cooking? For me?

_{[There's a brief pause and then it all seems to correlate.]}

You're asking me out on a date?

[legacydeck]

I believe I am, yes.

[peacockherald]

_{[Inside there's a host of different things going on, but the loudest is the amusement and encouragement of his Companion. He shushes her inwardly, licking his lips.]}

All right. I accept. Where shall we meet?

_{[He seems to be treating it as a formal sort of thing, but it's the only way he knows how.]}

[legacydeck]

Hmm. Do you think we'd be disturbed on that section of roof by your work room? The weather's still decent, and my rooms are small.

[And he hasn't gotten rid of that baby grand piano yet]

[peacockherald]

No, I don't think we will. I can meet you there at sunset?

_{[Concept of traditional time? Nope. He worked with candle-marks and positions of the sun still.]}

[legacydeck]

That would work nicely.

For food - would you prefer something familiar, or something new?

[Because given the way Van acts and dresses, he can make a reasonable assumption as what 'familiar' entails. Ah, good old English cooking.]

[peacockherald]

I think.... something new. I would like to try something from your world, if you don't mind.

_{[The prospect actually excited him, and he found himself smiling on his side of the journal, ignoring Yfandes' teasing.]}

[legacydeck]

If I minded, I wouldn't have asked~ I can certainly fulfill that request.

[peacockherald]

All right then. Tomorrow at sunset....

_{[One might be able to pick out the quiet excitement in his voice.]}

I'll have to remember to block Yfandes, the she-devil.

[legacydeck]

[And there's an arched eyebrow on Clow's side of the journal at that]

Yfandes?

[peacockherald]

Ah, my Companion. Do you have memories of me with a white mare at that 'resort'? That is her.

[legacydeck]

Ah, yes. I take it she is more than 'just' a mare?

[peacockherald]

Quite. She looks like a mare, but she is as smart as any human, and she and I can speak between minds. She is also magical, in her own right.

[legacydeck]

I see - I would quite like to meet her, I think, though dinner isn't really the time.

[peacockherald]

No. She has a bit of trouble, getting so high, but yes, I think she would like to meet you too.

[legacydeck]

Another day, then. I'll look forward to it.

[peacockherald]

Believe me, she is looking forward to that too.

[legacydeck]

[He chuckles a little] I rather feel I'm meeting the family sooner rather than later.

[peacockherald]

You might not be wrong. She is family, to me. I do not think I could manage without her.

[legacydeck]

More like family than some of mine, for certain.

[peacockherald]

Mine too. I'll give you one way to make sure you don't get on her bad side right off - never refer to her as a horse.

[legacydeck]

Aah, I had a suspicion that might be the case. A common mistake, I assume?

[peacockherald]

Very. My family is particularly bad at it - well, my father and brothers are, thankfully my sister and the stable hands are not.

[legacydeck]

Well, I'll endeavor to avoid it myself.

[peacockherald]

Yes, well.... I hope you do. But I think she likes you already, if it helps.

[legacydeck]

Well, it's good to have a starting advantage.

[peacockherald]

Let us hope you keep it then.

_{[He laughs, finding himself enjoying conversation with this man, more than his has with others over the years.]}

[legacydeck]

I'll do my utmost to preserve it - though most people get fed up with me eventually.

[The note of self-deprecating humor there is rather clear]

[peacockherald]

We shall see then. I have been known to be quite stubborn though.

[legacydeck]

We will, then. Starting with dinner.

[peacockherald]

Yes, dinner. I find myself looking forward to it. Sundown, then.

_{[He was stumbling over himself, stop that!]}

[legacydeck]

I'll do my best to make it memorable.

[peacockherald]

_{[He might be blushing over here, he just might. It's been so long since he has flirted our courted or anything of the like...]}

Well, then I will be sure not to miss it.

Good night, Clow.

[legacydeck]

[And Clow has far, far too much experience at this little game.]

Good night, Vanyel. I'll see you tomorrow.