Post by nathanrenquest on Feb 7, 2009 20:29:19 GMT -6
Nathan : Contrary to his own fears and opinions, Nathan at least managed to survive the day relatively intact, though he spent the rest of the day continuing his work from the storeroom, and vowed to spend the remainder of his time in the Lily there 'lest he end up without a job. This, while the safe route, was essentially the very boring route; for the past few days, his only real company was numbers. This lead, to a fashion, to a degree of creative thinking. Concocting little stories in his head about the people he read about, based on averages spent and the like. Plus there were the matter of discrepancies: For starters, one particular mark (with the rather bizarre name 'Alendral', to which he could place no nationality or history behind, save a vaguely Eastern European last name) paid an inordinate amount for the services of one Ursula Darling, currently in charge. Granted, given the amount of clientele it seemed she was a bit in demand, but he was paying a fair amount more than the others--odd story there. Than there was another client of hers--there were some discrepancies in the numbers he'd point out later. Of course, as of so far he hadn't found much of relevance for his other employer, but that was to be expected--he had just gotten in after all! Still, eventually boredom and the inability to deal with the scent of boiled cabbage wafting from the kitchen close by drove the Book-keeper out of Gerda's accommodation for him, looking faintly miserable. Really, he was just stepping out for fresh air more than anything. Lord, I'm going to start smelling like it by the end of the day he lamented.
Mary: "Like what " a soft voice came from behind the raised pages of a book as she nimbly sidestepped the door opening from the storage room, the book slowly lowering until huge warm whiskey colored eyes that were intent.. yet far to big for the partial bit of face, from nose up.. that was revealed above the leather bound tome.. dark brows and hair of deep chestnut framed the features as the book was slowly lowered to examine him.. how odd.. the once striking eyes.. when held in solitary confinement above the pages.. now when the rest of her face was revealed all moved rather boringly into a common face.. certainly nothing Lily worthy, though her clothes were fine and elegant there was nothing flamboyant or special about her it seemed.. she could have been a milkmaid, or a cobblers daughter.. earthy and.. well.. plain... It was then a odd look was cast at him by the quizzical eyes... " Smell like what?" she reiterated her question, carefully sliding a ribbon to mark her place, closing the book and holding it against her chest, as if it were a treasure...
Nathan: His reaction to the sound of a feminine voice over his shoulder started with a strange set of drives. The first was the immediate assumption that it was another Courtesan--not unreasonable in the circumstances. The second was remembering that the last one vaguely offered him to go to bed with her, and the third was simply a super-imposed image of Gerda's angry face promptly before he was tossed out onto his ass for so much as thinking about. This all was betrayed by a slight start, with the young lad whipping around and... staring almost blankly. Whatever he was expecting to wheel around someone that looked more at home in a library than an opulent courtesan house. This sort of pleasantly disarming quality--that of meeting someone who didn't seemed to embody temptation in a 'house of sin' as some overzealous Priests might call it, was tempered by the fact she actually caught him muttering. His mind raced for an excuse. "Huh...? Oh.. uh.. I just.." He pointed vaguely to the store-room before giving up. "A.. uh, nothing. Uh.. can I help you?" he cokeed a brow and tilted his head, still plainly believing that she had little business in a place like this. Maybe she was lost? or looking for her husband--the thought crossed his mind.
Mary: "I doubt it.. I quite know where I am.. it is you who seem lost " she smiled then with a small curtsy and a dip of her dark hair.. Chloe and the others referred to her as Mousy..Ursula even wondered aloud why Mary was a Lily... all against her until they heard her play... while all the Lily's were gifted... Mary was a prodigy.. never let it be said that Shaden was not an astute business woman... for she had picked a rare bloom in Mary... In Mary's hands any instrument became symphony, seduction... she could pull tears from the hardest battle worn solider ... or laughter from the most pious priest... " I'm Marianna Bentonshire... I'm one of the Lily's and you are?"
Nathan : "Oh... Oh.. you're Marianna Bentonshire..." he was unable to keep the disbelief out of his sentence, lowering his finger to point at her while the realization hit him. He'd seen her on the books, as one of the Courtesans, no doubt, but... well, really? what little comfort he had in meeting an 'everyday normal' girl in the Lily was quickly withdrawing and leaving him slightly more nervous. It just begged the question, to him, of what exactly she did to earn a place in a such a thing, and any possibility he could think of forced him to stop thinking about it quite as quickly. "Ohhh. dear me, I am sorry. " He smiled apologetically and bowed his head slightly. "Ah...-I uh, it's not what you think." He wouldn't stop saying that since he got here. "I was hired on temporarily. Nathanial. Nathanial Renquest, I'm serving as the Lily's book-keeper for a time." he shuffled for a moment, seeming to waver between a handshake and a bow before settling--loads of nervous energy, this one. Still, he was at least momentarily distracted from the realization that he was breaking Gerda's rule again by trying to peek at the book's spine, suddenly grown curious. "What is that you're...?"
Mary: "Reading.. ? Yes women read.. although it's not a much known fact that there are us that do " she smiled and lifted the book with a delicate hand toward him.. it was a technical book on the crafting of Harps and Lutes... "It's very dry reading but there is fine information in there on turning and proper maintenance and setting of the strings... " she smiled.. and then he might see a glimpse of why she was a Lily.. it was a generous sincere smile.. that moved about her face like.. stardust falling in reverse.. first in a shy lift of the corners of her lips.. across her cheek.. to wrinkle her nose slightly then crinkled the corners of her eyes... once thought to be mud puddle brown..but on closer inspection they were actually a mossy green molted with whiskey colored fleck.. much like their owner... they were a hidden treasure.. " A bookeeper.. hmmmm and Gerda put you in the store room.. you poor thing.. how unfortunate.. I'm sure that when the Mistress gets home you will be... afforded something better.." of course she held out hope the Mistress would return and do so quickly.. if it were up to the rest of the Lily's she would be back in the seamstress shop where Shaden Found her.
Nathan : "Ah, well, I'm only supposed to be keeping track of all this 'till she gets back. From the looks of it she got on fine without one so far... " though at the book, however dry, diverted a good deal of his interest. He had no real idea on the designs of lutes and Harps, and like everything else, found that intensely interesting. "Oh, you play than?" Nathan himself had was unfortunately useless when it came to any kind of instrument, and so found the whole art something of a mysticism. "Ah, may I...?" and assuming she did he'd idly flip through a few of the pages, mostly technical details--he was pretty much curious about how everything works. "Well, at least her books or organized anyway. Didn't have much trouble adapting to her system, so to speak. "But.. I don't know mind. I'm actually just here on research, and there believe me, there could be worse jobs for making a living while you're out, you know?" He passed her a strangely charming smile, belying the kind of congenial personality that was hidden behind a bulk of nervous energy before quickly remembering his place--no flirting with the ladies, Nathan!
Mary: "Yes I play... and Yes the Mistress has a knack with numbers.. I've never seen a woman so... business oriented.. I swear.. she could rule the world from that desk of hers " she chuckled as she watched him peruse the book with no little amount of respect growing for him.. she indeed liked a learned man.. " Some women think a lady need not be educated to read or write.. and do ciphering.. but the mistress puts great stock in it.. before a Lily can begin work she has to be able to read and write on some level.. and know all the social graces . I was lucky I could read and write perfectly before I became a Lily.. but I admit figurers give me fits.. " she chuckled and took the book back when he was done.. once again holding it to her meager chest.. no she was not a normal lily... no exposed bosom, no blatant attempts to flirt with him.. in fact that in itself made her oddly charming..almost innocent.. Her nose wrinkled softly " I swear Gerda thinks that cabbage makes ones complexion bright.. but the smell of it is enough to turn me green... I think I shall go out in the garden for a bit.." she waved at the invisible yet nausea inducing fumes... with her hand playfully " Care to join me ?"
Nathan: "Mm. Well, you know, most educated types tend to be insufferable egotists. A lot more comforting to run around thinking you're smarter than everyone else. " He barely stopped himself from giving a full opinion--a full-on-speech on socio-political reasons for withholding knowledge and the subtle differences in other cultures regarding the education of its women. He did however had a job to do. "Really? I was just fairly sure she was doing it to torture me. Get the impression she doesn't... much care for me working about here." Which was more likely not being used to it. Then came the request--and lord he very much wanted to. His expression brightened at the very thought of it--she was the first approachable woman he'd met here, after all, and a clever one, he was willing to bet--she was being modest of course, but the book was more technical than it initially belied. Despite it, he suspected she had no real problem with figures at all... but there was.. still, the risk that she was an employee. He was, again very strictly told not to fraternize. "Yes... Yes! I'd love to... ah... but.. I... I really shouldn't. I mean, I am on the job,after all, and I... I promised I'd have the books balanced by the end of the day... You know, sort ouf the.. ah, employees payments for the week,k your--payments... well, I mean... not that... I... thought.. " He sighed as he managed to trip up again. "I should get back to... work, before Gerda catches me."
Mary: "Oh live a little Nathan " she chided him with a soft laugh.. it was a musical thing a trill of notes that seemed plucked from the wind " Come on..plenty of time for numbers later after the sun has gone down and there is nothing but dark and cold outside.. no one can fault you for a little break " it was the slight lift of her brow.. that gave him the challenge.. before she turned and walked away a few steps the stopped to see if he would indeed rise to the challenge " Welll?"(d)
Nathan: Nathan weighed his options at her errant challenge. The prospect of slacking off and spending time in a garden with the only person who hadn't made him so red-faced that the store room became a welcome respite, to though it risked a certain amount of Gerda's wrath and quite possibly got him fired. At the end of the day, it was the boiled cabbage that made the decision. one whiff of the disgusting aroma inside basically sealed the deal--after all, it would be hard to balance the books in between gags. So it was he fell into step beside her, folding his arms behind him as he smiled sheepishly. "Well... well I suppose I could finish it by tonight..." it wasn't like they were absconding away on a secret tryst, was it? It was a walk in the garden, certainly nothing too terrible. Even if the name was in his books, he just couldn't imagine the woman as lascivious in the slightest--seemed completely harmless. Feeling the need for small talk, he'd ask. "So... uh... how long have you been playing?"
Mary: "I've always seemed to have a knack at things musical.. my ma " she crossed herself " god bless her soul.. said I was always finding way's to make music out of everything thing pots pans glasses filled with water.. " she chuckled.. " I've been playing the harp since I was a wee lass in short skirts.. and recently acquired my on bow and violin.. " she smiled.. then as she spoke of the violin.. and he would know it was her treasure... slipping on her cloak she headed for the veranda doors.. and slipped out into the afternoon sun.. it glistened on the snow covered garden that once kissed by spring would become a riot of color and lushness.. now it lay in barren stasis.. awaiting that kiss... " What do you do for fun?" no doubt he found her curious.. the Lily.. without the Lily attitude.
Nathan: Nathan smiled subtly. "Oh... so you're... ah, sorry to hear that. My parents, too... ah.. I actually sort of fell into my profession because of it. I was sent up to study at a monastery, some idea to groom me for possible nobility, but now I'm something of a scholar..." To be honest, he didn't know them enough to feel very terrible. He hardly considered them family after such time. Deciding to shift the subject away, he'd switch onto his dubious hobbies, though the flush of embarassment suggested he was embarassed to admit it. "Well, you know, this and that... ah.. I... read, quite a bit. I actually have a collection.. ah, a little book.. where I wrote a few passages, bits I liked from the collections I've perused. And... ah, well... I actually dabble a little, in the art of fencing." Which sounded better than 'I create stories in my head and run around with a Sabre' though he was at least competent in the actual act. "Though I haven't exaclty much practice with that lately. Ah.. mostly stories. Adventure, heros.... a touch of romance." His face flushed crimson when he remembered who he was talking to about it before he dismissed it. "That sort of thing. Sorry, I'm sure this all sounds a little droll..."
Mary: She laughed at the flush as she moved thru the garden to the pathway lined with a small stone wall about three feet high.. up onto it she bounded balancing perfectly " Not at all.. droll.. I used to play with my brother.. back before he got to grown up to play.. he was always a pirate and I was a sea captain.. we would fence with fathers old swords... dull as tree limbs mind you.. but in our minds.. quite.. the fearfull weapons.. " with a grin to him.. she suddenly took a fenceing stance with imaginary sword in hand " Enguard you Blackheart.. I be sent to collect a bounty on you dead... or alive " her best British Captains voice was quite comical actually... might even make him surrender outta laughter.
Nathan: "Really?" well that was comforting. His initial games were always grand affairs. but as others moved on he was forced to mostly contribute alone. To punctuate her grand game of course, she gave a demonstration.that left him staring at her in complete bafflement before the great nervous energy cracked and he laughed delightfully at the image. The idea of her as an imposing bounty hunter, the tiny little slip of a girl was just too comical, and yet it suited her perfectly. "That.. that was good! That was good. I can see it... ah, let's see..." he seemed to give it some thought, though largely for show, and tried to twist his face into a comical caricture of a Pirate Captain, cokeing one eye and twisting his young face into a hard expression---suficced to say, he was about as threatening as a small cat. "Ah... Avast..ya be collectin' no bounty on my head today, ya lout. I'll see ya at the bottom of the sea." unable to keep it up any later, he smiled, utterly sheepish at the woman. "Oh lord, my mentors never approved."
Mary: Peals of laughter left her lips as he twisted his face about.. she coulnt help it.. " Yes well you need to work on that a bit " she winked and offered him a hand up onto the small stone fence she was walking on with the grace and lightness of a cat.. " You'll be walkin the plank if that's the best pirate you can do " she called over her shoulder.. jaunting almost skipping down the stone fence.. ahead of him... suddenly she bent.. and scooped up a handfull of snow quickly forming it into a ball.. and lobbing it at him... " Heads up!"
Nathan: "I'm used to being the Navy Captain, I was always the Navy Captain!" Unable to contain himself now, fits of laughter cut his sentence up, his face red at her scathing critque of Pirate Captain. "Come on...! It wasn't that bad..." by now he wasn't even aware of where they were going, hopping right up, stepping carefully after her, all smiles and pleasantness. "Alright, it wasn't very good, true, but.." and right when he was about to respond, came the 'heads up!' and he got a face full of snow, sending him almost off the fence. Well that tore it, he hopped off a moment after her. "Oh now you've done it!" and so he'd respond, scooping up handfuls of snow and lobbing them at her with wild reckless abandon. She started it now, and he'd launch several in rapid succession, apparently completely forgetting himself for the time being, save that he had to repay the young girl for what she did.
Mary: Squeals of playful laughter.. as they lobbed snow grenades at one another ducking behind trees, running about the garden in delight.. a flurry of skirts, and cold reddened cheeks.. " Ohhhh your aim is as bad as your Pirate voice !" she challenged as she ducked behind a tree to avoid another lob of snowball.. then cast a quick volley back at him.. " I belive I'm winning here.. 5 to 3 !" she grinned and took off darting across the path to the safty of the evergreen maze... " Catch me if you can.. Pirate!
Nathan: "I haven't abandoned ship yet!" riotous laughter followed as the two excahnged volleys, finally landing another, though he had to take another shot to make it. "Hah! Victory!" and gave chase to the maze. At no point did it ever occur to him that two grown human beings were chasing each other and speaking in silly pirate voices. It was a genuine respite, and in some ways the first connection he'd made with anyone since arriving here. She'd be full in the maze by the time he'd gotten in, ducking and turning after flickers he saw of her. She had the benefit of experience though, he was learning as he went. Finally, he briefly lost her, laughing as he called out. "Where did you go!? You have to come out sooner or later!" he took another turn or two, deadly snowball in hand.
Mary: As he rounded the corner.. bam! planted right in the kisser.. a massive snowball , riotouse laughter and she was gone again in a flash of persimmon and camel brocade.. until she took a wrong turn and reached a dead end.. she whirled about.. thinking to make it past him but in her haste ran right into him as she turned the corner... " ohhhhh ohhhhh " smack into him bowling him over no doubt.
Nathan: Pfft! he was spitting out snow as he chased after her, chucking a snowball uselessly after her as he gae pursuit. But no sooner did he round the corner that the girl had apparently doubled back, and poor lad was bowled right over, a flurry of green jacket and frilly clothing, letting out several starts and exclamations in between bits of laughter as he scattered back in the snow. Forced to laugh deliriously as he ended up on his back. Truthfully, he was enjoying himself so much he scarcely minded. it took him a good minute before he was back in 'reality' and started looking for her again. chances were she wasn't far, the last dying laughs still on his lips as he was ablet o catch his breath again.
Mary: In fact for just a brief moment she landed atop him... smothered in persimmon brocade, before she hopped up and bounded off.. into the maze her laughter giving away her posistion.. as she headed for the center of it.. " First one to the center wins.. and claims their boon!" she yelled out to him.. as she raced headlong into the maze.
Nathan: He'd scarcely have time to blush, given her challenge. "Oh, is that so!?" and so he was up and racing off afer her, plying his particular talents to do so. Judging the maze's center should be a simple enough affair, but she did have experience. He'd follow her to a point, but she'd probably try to throw him off, of course. He'd take off racing after her, ducking and turning, rarely having to double back. Really, he had a good memory for this kind of thing--but she lived here, after all. The few times he had to double back cost him, and by the time he finally made it, he was out of breath, smiling delightfuly and resting hands on his knees as he struggled to catch his breath.
Mary: Actually she had a terrible memory for that sort of thing.. and was always the last Lily to find the center.. though she had counted on him being new being an aid to her.. but no.. she failed again miserably.. when she finally made it to the center he was there.. breathing deeply hands on his knees.. he had beaten her... breathless she laughed... " you win Pirate.. what shall be your boon ?" all this in jest and laughter... as she flopped on the ground exahusted by thier romp... not to mention the confines of a tightly laced corset.
Nathan: "Oh... I don't know.. " Triumph! That was unexpected. He all but strutted and made a great amount of show of showing off his victory, stepping over to her with a great deal. Of course, having no belief that he was going to win (a general rule of thumb) he hadn't really thought of a prize. "Well there is the measure of that bounty on my head, after all. " Of course, there was one answer that brought a bit of crimson to his face, but it was quickly dismissed. He still refused to really see her that way, despite knowing better and besides, he had another idea. "So many choices here... now I know...! Three days hence. by the river. Bring your best sword captain, and we might find ourselves on the field of battle again. What do you say?" his eyes danced mirthfully down at her, strangely at ease despite the fowardness of his request.
Mary: " Deal... Three days and you shall meet my blade you blackhearted Pirate scum " again she chuckled as she looked up at him from her place on her cloak on the ground... " Nathanial.. you are perhaps the most fun I've had in months "... a winsome smile was cast up at him, nothing guilfull or fake as was often so with some of the other Lily's .. she was almost childlike in this light... her head tilted to the side.. quizzically... " So how are you finding life at the Lily?"(d)
Nathan: "Ah.. considerably better than I thought a few days ago." He blushed at the confession and rubbed at the back of his head, moving to crouch down after her. Expecting to find someone of a like mind was probably the last thing he expected, and he was already looking forward to the meeting. Curiousity finally took a better hold of him, offering a hand up to help the young lady to her feet. "So ah.. if you won, what prize were you thinking of claiming?" Though it could have been miconstrued, he honestly had no idea. A lesson in figures or something he figured, but he was going to be spending hours wondering about it otherwise.
Mary: SHe took his hand as he helped her up with a bouncing jump up that was playfull and girlish.. her nose wrinkled slighlty in though and then she smiled.. " you will find out when I win the sword fight.. same rules apply.. winner gets a boon " her shoulders shook with mirth.. and her eyes with challenge.. she too was already looking forward to three days hence... it was wonderful to just be... and not be scrutinized or held accountable for a little bit.. looking up at the darkening sky.. she sighed dramatically... " It's getting late.. we should go back... you have your ledgers to finish.. and I have.. to.... work tonight " her cheeks flamed red.. as she dipped her head.. and moved past him... Awkwardly.
Nathan: And there was the bucket of cold water on the whole thing. His own face flushed at the thought, and he stepped aside. "Right... absolutely right.. ah.. I'll see you in three days than! It was... nice.. meeting... you." and she was gone, leaving him to sigh lightly. He didn't want to make any judgement, he really didn't, but it begged the question--what was she doing in a place like this. He just couldn't put words to it. He'd watch the woman disappear around a corner, before finally making his way back through the maze, though it wasn't particularly difficult--by now he had memorized each path and walkway, and he began the slow, almost funeral trudge back to his store room, running fingers through his hair and sighing. Well.. back to work...
Mary: "Like what " a soft voice came from behind the raised pages of a book as she nimbly sidestepped the door opening from the storage room, the book slowly lowering until huge warm whiskey colored eyes that were intent.. yet far to big for the partial bit of face, from nose up.. that was revealed above the leather bound tome.. dark brows and hair of deep chestnut framed the features as the book was slowly lowered to examine him.. how odd.. the once striking eyes.. when held in solitary confinement above the pages.. now when the rest of her face was revealed all moved rather boringly into a common face.. certainly nothing Lily worthy, though her clothes were fine and elegant there was nothing flamboyant or special about her it seemed.. she could have been a milkmaid, or a cobblers daughter.. earthy and.. well.. plain... It was then a odd look was cast at him by the quizzical eyes... " Smell like what?" she reiterated her question, carefully sliding a ribbon to mark her place, closing the book and holding it against her chest, as if it were a treasure...
Nathan: His reaction to the sound of a feminine voice over his shoulder started with a strange set of drives. The first was the immediate assumption that it was another Courtesan--not unreasonable in the circumstances. The second was remembering that the last one vaguely offered him to go to bed with her, and the third was simply a super-imposed image of Gerda's angry face promptly before he was tossed out onto his ass for so much as thinking about. This all was betrayed by a slight start, with the young lad whipping around and... staring almost blankly. Whatever he was expecting to wheel around someone that looked more at home in a library than an opulent courtesan house. This sort of pleasantly disarming quality--that of meeting someone who didn't seemed to embody temptation in a 'house of sin' as some overzealous Priests might call it, was tempered by the fact she actually caught him muttering. His mind raced for an excuse. "Huh...? Oh.. uh.. I just.." He pointed vaguely to the store-room before giving up. "A.. uh, nothing. Uh.. can I help you?" he cokeed a brow and tilted his head, still plainly believing that she had little business in a place like this. Maybe she was lost? or looking for her husband--the thought crossed his mind.
Mary: "I doubt it.. I quite know where I am.. it is you who seem lost " she smiled then with a small curtsy and a dip of her dark hair.. Chloe and the others referred to her as Mousy..Ursula even wondered aloud why Mary was a Lily... all against her until they heard her play... while all the Lily's were gifted... Mary was a prodigy.. never let it be said that Shaden was not an astute business woman... for she had picked a rare bloom in Mary... In Mary's hands any instrument became symphony, seduction... she could pull tears from the hardest battle worn solider ... or laughter from the most pious priest... " I'm Marianna Bentonshire... I'm one of the Lily's and you are?"
Nathan : "Oh... Oh.. you're Marianna Bentonshire..." he was unable to keep the disbelief out of his sentence, lowering his finger to point at her while the realization hit him. He'd seen her on the books, as one of the Courtesans, no doubt, but... well, really? what little comfort he had in meeting an 'everyday normal' girl in the Lily was quickly withdrawing and leaving him slightly more nervous. It just begged the question, to him, of what exactly she did to earn a place in a such a thing, and any possibility he could think of forced him to stop thinking about it quite as quickly. "Ohhh. dear me, I am sorry. " He smiled apologetically and bowed his head slightly. "Ah...-I uh, it's not what you think." He wouldn't stop saying that since he got here. "I was hired on temporarily. Nathanial. Nathanial Renquest, I'm serving as the Lily's book-keeper for a time." he shuffled for a moment, seeming to waver between a handshake and a bow before settling--loads of nervous energy, this one. Still, he was at least momentarily distracted from the realization that he was breaking Gerda's rule again by trying to peek at the book's spine, suddenly grown curious. "What is that you're...?"
Mary: "Reading.. ? Yes women read.. although it's not a much known fact that there are us that do " she smiled and lifted the book with a delicate hand toward him.. it was a technical book on the crafting of Harps and Lutes... "It's very dry reading but there is fine information in there on turning and proper maintenance and setting of the strings... " she smiled.. and then he might see a glimpse of why she was a Lily.. it was a generous sincere smile.. that moved about her face like.. stardust falling in reverse.. first in a shy lift of the corners of her lips.. across her cheek.. to wrinkle her nose slightly then crinkled the corners of her eyes... once thought to be mud puddle brown..but on closer inspection they were actually a mossy green molted with whiskey colored fleck.. much like their owner... they were a hidden treasure.. " A bookeeper.. hmmmm and Gerda put you in the store room.. you poor thing.. how unfortunate.. I'm sure that when the Mistress gets home you will be... afforded something better.." of course she held out hope the Mistress would return and do so quickly.. if it were up to the rest of the Lily's she would be back in the seamstress shop where Shaden Found her.
Nathan : "Ah, well, I'm only supposed to be keeping track of all this 'till she gets back. From the looks of it she got on fine without one so far... " though at the book, however dry, diverted a good deal of his interest. He had no real idea on the designs of lutes and Harps, and like everything else, found that intensely interesting. "Oh, you play than?" Nathan himself had was unfortunately useless when it came to any kind of instrument, and so found the whole art something of a mysticism. "Ah, may I...?" and assuming she did he'd idly flip through a few of the pages, mostly technical details--he was pretty much curious about how everything works. "Well, at least her books or organized anyway. Didn't have much trouble adapting to her system, so to speak. "But.. I don't know mind. I'm actually just here on research, and there believe me, there could be worse jobs for making a living while you're out, you know?" He passed her a strangely charming smile, belying the kind of congenial personality that was hidden behind a bulk of nervous energy before quickly remembering his place--no flirting with the ladies, Nathan!
Mary: "Yes I play... and Yes the Mistress has a knack with numbers.. I've never seen a woman so... business oriented.. I swear.. she could rule the world from that desk of hers " she chuckled as she watched him peruse the book with no little amount of respect growing for him.. she indeed liked a learned man.. " Some women think a lady need not be educated to read or write.. and do ciphering.. but the mistress puts great stock in it.. before a Lily can begin work she has to be able to read and write on some level.. and know all the social graces . I was lucky I could read and write perfectly before I became a Lily.. but I admit figurers give me fits.. " she chuckled and took the book back when he was done.. once again holding it to her meager chest.. no she was not a normal lily... no exposed bosom, no blatant attempts to flirt with him.. in fact that in itself made her oddly charming..almost innocent.. Her nose wrinkled softly " I swear Gerda thinks that cabbage makes ones complexion bright.. but the smell of it is enough to turn me green... I think I shall go out in the garden for a bit.." she waved at the invisible yet nausea inducing fumes... with her hand playfully " Care to join me ?"
Nathan: "Mm. Well, you know, most educated types tend to be insufferable egotists. A lot more comforting to run around thinking you're smarter than everyone else. " He barely stopped himself from giving a full opinion--a full-on-speech on socio-political reasons for withholding knowledge and the subtle differences in other cultures regarding the education of its women. He did however had a job to do. "Really? I was just fairly sure she was doing it to torture me. Get the impression she doesn't... much care for me working about here." Which was more likely not being used to it. Then came the request--and lord he very much wanted to. His expression brightened at the very thought of it--she was the first approachable woman he'd met here, after all, and a clever one, he was willing to bet--she was being modest of course, but the book was more technical than it initially belied. Despite it, he suspected she had no real problem with figures at all... but there was.. still, the risk that she was an employee. He was, again very strictly told not to fraternize. "Yes... Yes! I'd love to... ah... but.. I... I really shouldn't. I mean, I am on the job,after all, and I... I promised I'd have the books balanced by the end of the day... You know, sort ouf the.. ah, employees payments for the week,k your--payments... well, I mean... not that... I... thought.. " He sighed as he managed to trip up again. "I should get back to... work, before Gerda catches me."
Mary: "Oh live a little Nathan " she chided him with a soft laugh.. it was a musical thing a trill of notes that seemed plucked from the wind " Come on..plenty of time for numbers later after the sun has gone down and there is nothing but dark and cold outside.. no one can fault you for a little break " it was the slight lift of her brow.. that gave him the challenge.. before she turned and walked away a few steps the stopped to see if he would indeed rise to the challenge " Welll?"(d)
Nathan: Nathan weighed his options at her errant challenge. The prospect of slacking off and spending time in a garden with the only person who hadn't made him so red-faced that the store room became a welcome respite, to though it risked a certain amount of Gerda's wrath and quite possibly got him fired. At the end of the day, it was the boiled cabbage that made the decision. one whiff of the disgusting aroma inside basically sealed the deal--after all, it would be hard to balance the books in between gags. So it was he fell into step beside her, folding his arms behind him as he smiled sheepishly. "Well... well I suppose I could finish it by tonight..." it wasn't like they were absconding away on a secret tryst, was it? It was a walk in the garden, certainly nothing too terrible. Even if the name was in his books, he just couldn't imagine the woman as lascivious in the slightest--seemed completely harmless. Feeling the need for small talk, he'd ask. "So... uh... how long have you been playing?"
Mary: "I've always seemed to have a knack at things musical.. my ma " she crossed herself " god bless her soul.. said I was always finding way's to make music out of everything thing pots pans glasses filled with water.. " she chuckled.. " I've been playing the harp since I was a wee lass in short skirts.. and recently acquired my on bow and violin.. " she smiled.. then as she spoke of the violin.. and he would know it was her treasure... slipping on her cloak she headed for the veranda doors.. and slipped out into the afternoon sun.. it glistened on the snow covered garden that once kissed by spring would become a riot of color and lushness.. now it lay in barren stasis.. awaiting that kiss... " What do you do for fun?" no doubt he found her curious.. the Lily.. without the Lily attitude.
Nathan: Nathan smiled subtly. "Oh... so you're... ah, sorry to hear that. My parents, too... ah.. I actually sort of fell into my profession because of it. I was sent up to study at a monastery, some idea to groom me for possible nobility, but now I'm something of a scholar..." To be honest, he didn't know them enough to feel very terrible. He hardly considered them family after such time. Deciding to shift the subject away, he'd switch onto his dubious hobbies, though the flush of embarassment suggested he was embarassed to admit it. "Well, you know, this and that... ah.. I... read, quite a bit. I actually have a collection.. ah, a little book.. where I wrote a few passages, bits I liked from the collections I've perused. And... ah, well... I actually dabble a little, in the art of fencing." Which sounded better than 'I create stories in my head and run around with a Sabre' though he was at least competent in the actual act. "Though I haven't exaclty much practice with that lately. Ah.. mostly stories. Adventure, heros.... a touch of romance." His face flushed crimson when he remembered who he was talking to about it before he dismissed it. "That sort of thing. Sorry, I'm sure this all sounds a little droll..."
Mary: She laughed at the flush as she moved thru the garden to the pathway lined with a small stone wall about three feet high.. up onto it she bounded balancing perfectly " Not at all.. droll.. I used to play with my brother.. back before he got to grown up to play.. he was always a pirate and I was a sea captain.. we would fence with fathers old swords... dull as tree limbs mind you.. but in our minds.. quite.. the fearfull weapons.. " with a grin to him.. she suddenly took a fenceing stance with imaginary sword in hand " Enguard you Blackheart.. I be sent to collect a bounty on you dead... or alive " her best British Captains voice was quite comical actually... might even make him surrender outta laughter.
Nathan: "Really?" well that was comforting. His initial games were always grand affairs. but as others moved on he was forced to mostly contribute alone. To punctuate her grand game of course, she gave a demonstration.that left him staring at her in complete bafflement before the great nervous energy cracked and he laughed delightfully at the image. The idea of her as an imposing bounty hunter, the tiny little slip of a girl was just too comical, and yet it suited her perfectly. "That.. that was good! That was good. I can see it... ah, let's see..." he seemed to give it some thought, though largely for show, and tried to twist his face into a comical caricture of a Pirate Captain, cokeing one eye and twisting his young face into a hard expression---suficced to say, he was about as threatening as a small cat. "Ah... Avast..ya be collectin' no bounty on my head today, ya lout. I'll see ya at the bottom of the sea." unable to keep it up any later, he smiled, utterly sheepish at the woman. "Oh lord, my mentors never approved."
Mary: Peals of laughter left her lips as he twisted his face about.. she coulnt help it.. " Yes well you need to work on that a bit " she winked and offered him a hand up onto the small stone fence she was walking on with the grace and lightness of a cat.. " You'll be walkin the plank if that's the best pirate you can do " she called over her shoulder.. jaunting almost skipping down the stone fence.. ahead of him... suddenly she bent.. and scooped up a handfull of snow quickly forming it into a ball.. and lobbing it at him... " Heads up!"
Nathan: "I'm used to being the Navy Captain, I was always the Navy Captain!" Unable to contain himself now, fits of laughter cut his sentence up, his face red at her scathing critque of Pirate Captain. "Come on...! It wasn't that bad..." by now he wasn't even aware of where they were going, hopping right up, stepping carefully after her, all smiles and pleasantness. "Alright, it wasn't very good, true, but.." and right when he was about to respond, came the 'heads up!' and he got a face full of snow, sending him almost off the fence. Well that tore it, he hopped off a moment after her. "Oh now you've done it!" and so he'd respond, scooping up handfuls of snow and lobbing them at her with wild reckless abandon. She started it now, and he'd launch several in rapid succession, apparently completely forgetting himself for the time being, save that he had to repay the young girl for what she did.
Mary: Squeals of playful laughter.. as they lobbed snow grenades at one another ducking behind trees, running about the garden in delight.. a flurry of skirts, and cold reddened cheeks.. " Ohhhh your aim is as bad as your Pirate voice !" she challenged as she ducked behind a tree to avoid another lob of snowball.. then cast a quick volley back at him.. " I belive I'm winning here.. 5 to 3 !" she grinned and took off darting across the path to the safty of the evergreen maze... " Catch me if you can.. Pirate!
Nathan: "I haven't abandoned ship yet!" riotous laughter followed as the two excahnged volleys, finally landing another, though he had to take another shot to make it. "Hah! Victory!" and gave chase to the maze. At no point did it ever occur to him that two grown human beings were chasing each other and speaking in silly pirate voices. It was a genuine respite, and in some ways the first connection he'd made with anyone since arriving here. She'd be full in the maze by the time he'd gotten in, ducking and turning after flickers he saw of her. She had the benefit of experience though, he was learning as he went. Finally, he briefly lost her, laughing as he called out. "Where did you go!? You have to come out sooner or later!" he took another turn or two, deadly snowball in hand.
Mary: As he rounded the corner.. bam! planted right in the kisser.. a massive snowball , riotouse laughter and she was gone again in a flash of persimmon and camel brocade.. until she took a wrong turn and reached a dead end.. she whirled about.. thinking to make it past him but in her haste ran right into him as she turned the corner... " ohhhhh ohhhhh " smack into him bowling him over no doubt.
Nathan: Pfft! he was spitting out snow as he chased after her, chucking a snowball uselessly after her as he gae pursuit. But no sooner did he round the corner that the girl had apparently doubled back, and poor lad was bowled right over, a flurry of green jacket and frilly clothing, letting out several starts and exclamations in between bits of laughter as he scattered back in the snow. Forced to laugh deliriously as he ended up on his back. Truthfully, he was enjoying himself so much he scarcely minded. it took him a good minute before he was back in 'reality' and started looking for her again. chances were she wasn't far, the last dying laughs still on his lips as he was ablet o catch his breath again.
Mary: In fact for just a brief moment she landed atop him... smothered in persimmon brocade, before she hopped up and bounded off.. into the maze her laughter giving away her posistion.. as she headed for the center of it.. " First one to the center wins.. and claims their boon!" she yelled out to him.. as she raced headlong into the maze.
Nathan: He'd scarcely have time to blush, given her challenge. "Oh, is that so!?" and so he was up and racing off afer her, plying his particular talents to do so. Judging the maze's center should be a simple enough affair, but she did have experience. He'd follow her to a point, but she'd probably try to throw him off, of course. He'd take off racing after her, ducking and turning, rarely having to double back. Really, he had a good memory for this kind of thing--but she lived here, after all. The few times he had to double back cost him, and by the time he finally made it, he was out of breath, smiling delightfuly and resting hands on his knees as he struggled to catch his breath.
Mary: Actually she had a terrible memory for that sort of thing.. and was always the last Lily to find the center.. though she had counted on him being new being an aid to her.. but no.. she failed again miserably.. when she finally made it to the center he was there.. breathing deeply hands on his knees.. he had beaten her... breathless she laughed... " you win Pirate.. what shall be your boon ?" all this in jest and laughter... as she flopped on the ground exahusted by thier romp... not to mention the confines of a tightly laced corset.
Nathan: "Oh... I don't know.. " Triumph! That was unexpected. He all but strutted and made a great amount of show of showing off his victory, stepping over to her with a great deal. Of course, having no belief that he was going to win (a general rule of thumb) he hadn't really thought of a prize. "Well there is the measure of that bounty on my head, after all. " Of course, there was one answer that brought a bit of crimson to his face, but it was quickly dismissed. He still refused to really see her that way, despite knowing better and besides, he had another idea. "So many choices here... now I know...! Three days hence. by the river. Bring your best sword captain, and we might find ourselves on the field of battle again. What do you say?" his eyes danced mirthfully down at her, strangely at ease despite the fowardness of his request.
Mary: " Deal... Three days and you shall meet my blade you blackhearted Pirate scum " again she chuckled as she looked up at him from her place on her cloak on the ground... " Nathanial.. you are perhaps the most fun I've had in months "... a winsome smile was cast up at him, nothing guilfull or fake as was often so with some of the other Lily's .. she was almost childlike in this light... her head tilted to the side.. quizzically... " So how are you finding life at the Lily?"(d)
Nathan: "Ah.. considerably better than I thought a few days ago." He blushed at the confession and rubbed at the back of his head, moving to crouch down after her. Expecting to find someone of a like mind was probably the last thing he expected, and he was already looking forward to the meeting. Curiousity finally took a better hold of him, offering a hand up to help the young lady to her feet. "So ah.. if you won, what prize were you thinking of claiming?" Though it could have been miconstrued, he honestly had no idea. A lesson in figures or something he figured, but he was going to be spending hours wondering about it otherwise.
Mary: SHe took his hand as he helped her up with a bouncing jump up that was playfull and girlish.. her nose wrinkled slighlty in though and then she smiled.. " you will find out when I win the sword fight.. same rules apply.. winner gets a boon " her shoulders shook with mirth.. and her eyes with challenge.. she too was already looking forward to three days hence... it was wonderful to just be... and not be scrutinized or held accountable for a little bit.. looking up at the darkening sky.. she sighed dramatically... " It's getting late.. we should go back... you have your ledgers to finish.. and I have.. to.... work tonight " her cheeks flamed red.. as she dipped her head.. and moved past him... Awkwardly.
Nathan: And there was the bucket of cold water on the whole thing. His own face flushed at the thought, and he stepped aside. "Right... absolutely right.. ah.. I'll see you in three days than! It was... nice.. meeting... you." and she was gone, leaving him to sigh lightly. He didn't want to make any judgement, he really didn't, but it begged the question--what was she doing in a place like this. He just couldn't put words to it. He'd watch the woman disappear around a corner, before finally making his way back through the maze, though it wasn't particularly difficult--by now he had memorized each path and walkway, and he began the slow, almost funeral trudge back to his store room, running fingers through his hair and sighing. Well.. back to work...