Preparing for Yule

[Kaiden Dellario]

Kaiden was more or less certain the Queen would not be able to become regent. But that should have little bearing on her ability to mother her sons. At least, in his opinion. Eleesa would be stupid to think that she needed regency to raise her children. And if the council or the future regent forbid her from such a thing...well, they would be equally stupid. Generally, however, he had faith neither party was stupid. One was just a little limited in their understanding. And sexist.

He had heard of the deGrey's. "And what does one need to do to become regent?" He asked, politely curious. Being a good man was only half the battle. Being a man was more. And being good...well... Good wasn't a requirement for rulers. He did think Triston could handle such a position. But Kaiden assumed there would be competition, considering the fate of a kingdom was at stake. Edward's old council didn't seem to care about the same things Triston or Eleesa might.

Kaiden wasn't exactly sure. At the moment, he was not stationed anywhere, considering he had been away. He wasn't sure who to report to on the matter, considering the king was dead and there was no regent. Still, there were other generals. One of them, he supposed. It wasn't a conversation he was looking forward to.

He was a bit of an explorer and adventurer at heart. Even being a soldier was a bit limiting and smothering. Perhaps, with his delayed return and the king's death making a mess of the kingdom, now might be the time to change things. But until then, he did have a responsibility to his position and it was bad enough that he was a foreigner who had supposedly shirked his duty.

He nodded and then stopped himself. "Well, perhaps not plans, per say, but I certainly enjoy traveling. Visiting new isles. I wouldn't want to stop." He had for the time to settle here, but he still wasn't about to sit still. Well...being engaged changed that a lot, he supposed. She seemed...curious, but not so driven. "Sea sick?" he asked. He hazarded a fear of water, but he didn't wish to suggest as much and be incorrect and offend her. "I've quite enjoyed sailing...but it's the land that I'm after. Perhaps we can travel somewhere together? Eventually." Kaiden spoke a bit more easily then, only at the end realizing he was perhaps being a bit too familiar. "Apologies, that was forward of me."

[Elyscia Demarais]

Elyscia looked up at Kaiden, a bit perplexed by his question. She honestly had no clue what was needed to become regent. "I... uh... I'm guessing you need to be in the council and be elected by them." She lightly shrugged her shoulders. Her being a woman, she wasn't exactly privy to that information.

Her gaze fell to the floor as they walked, but she listened as he spoke of his joy of traveling and wanting to visit new places. She understood and felt she would enjoy seeing new places--especially with how Cassandra had described Aralore. Elyscia imagined all the places were much different than they were in Tresteria. Only, she felt a bit... Trapped where she was, perhaps. At his question of her being subject to seasickness, she glanced back at him and forced a small smile, nodding in response. "Something like that..." She laughed softly. It was a little embarrassing to admit she feared the water, so she just left it at that, not wanting to really admit her fears.

Perhaps we can travel somewhere together? Eventually. Elyscia looked at him with her green eyes and forced another smile. It was perhaps forward of him to say something, but she took no offense to it. He was looking to the future and including her in it. She responded with a gentle nod. "That would be nice... So long as you can deal with my company on a ship...And protect me from falling overboard." She laughed lightly. Perhaps her words would be enough to excuse his apology.
But it made her feel awkward again.

Thankfully, they came to the palace library and sitting room, and Elyscia lightly tugged his arm, motioning to the door, "have you seen the library yet? We can sit in here if you would like?"
She led him into the room before he answered, and found a small area out of the way of others who were in there studying or reading and she let go of his arm and sat on the couch.  

[Kaiden Dellario]

Kaiden wasn't certain how interested she was, considering she kept her eyes on the ground while he spoke. Maybe she wasn't so interested in travel. Or maybe it was just him sje wasn't interested in. Still...he tried not to worry about it. She had suggested they talk and continue so he would try his best to ignore the uncertainy and insecurity.

So..not sea sick? Either way he didn't press the noblewoman. The smile at his offer to travel with him seemed slightly more genuine and less nervous. But still nervous. And then she mentioned falling overboard. Not sea sick. Just...water? The ocean? That would explain it. Kaiden smiled and nodded firmly. "I would happily take your company anywhere, milady. And no falling overboard," he confirmed, chuckling faintly.

The laugh made him realize maybe he was being the problem. She seemed not to mind him being more personal.

He shook his head, and would have confirmed an interest to see it and sit down when Elyscia took the lead for him. Now who was being forward? It only confirmed he needed to relax. His gaze quickly took in the shelves and the alcoves and the number of people studying on a holiday and the sheer vastness of the space that still felt comfortable. Je followed her to a slightly more private space and settled greatly onto the couch next to her. Kaiden groaned unconsciously. He'd been on his feet or on a ship for the last long while.

"Were you raised in the palace?" He asked curiously. She seemed to know her way around. And then it occured to him to be a bit more adventurous in his questions. "What do you like to do for fun, milady?"

[Elyscia Demarais]

She couldn't help but smile as he told her he would take her anywhere and that he would not allow her to fall overboard. Well, that was a relief. She laughed along with him. "That would be much appreciated."

Even though he sat next to her on the couch, she turned and positioned herself so that she was somewhat facing him. She folded her hands together and set them down on her knees. Elyscia watched as he settled and groaned and imagined he felt relieved to be sitting now. She suddenly felt guilty for making him walk in the first place, where they could have easily just sat in the ballroom. Then again, he could have spoken up and suggested they stayed. He had left it up to her.

She looked at him as he began to question her, and she laughed softly, first at his stuffy question, and then at his formalities in addressing her. She smiled and reached over to him, placing a gentle hand on his arm briefly, if to just get his attention. "Please call me Elyscia... Or Ely." She removed her hand and sat up straighter. "And yes, I was raised in the palace." She fell silent for a moment as she thought of what she liked to do for fun. Could she be honest with him and tell him these things? Or would he be like most of the other men in Tresteria and discourage her from pursuing the things she enjoyed. Sometimes it was just easier stating that she enjoyed the things she was taught to do. Be a proper lady, sit and drink tea with other ladies, sing and dance and recite poetry or something. And while she did like a good cup of tea and enjoyed singing and dancing--they were not her passions.

Elyscia let her gaze drop down to her hands as she nervously fumbled with the rings on her fingers, specifically the one he had given her. It was new and felt foreign on her hand--something she would need to get used to. "I... Umm... I like art. I like drawing and painting." She quietly admitted before she glanced back at him. "What about you? Other than traveling..." She smiled gently but continued to fumble nervously with her fingers.

[Kaiden Dellario]

He watched her sit a lot more properly than he was but at the moment he was too tired to care. Kaiden did shift a little to mirror her facing hin, returning the suggestion of attention and interest.
They hadn’t walked all that far and really he couldn’t complain, relieved to be sitting though he was.

The casual brush against his arm was surprising, but welcome. Much like walking arm in arm had been. He nodded. “Elyscia,” he said, confirming her name on his lips softly. “Kaiden, then.” He wasn’t so sure about calling the woman ‘Ely’ even when she asked. Perhaps, if she liked it, maybe once he felt he knew her better.

Clearly one question was easier than the other, for whatever reason. One was more formal and the other more personal and it felt almost...awkwardly telling that she hesitated to answer the more personal one. He had asked because he wanted to know and whatever she answered, he could only assume was something she honestly liked doing. Certainly he understood there were proper activities a Tresterian woman was expected to partake in in her free time, but he wasn’t asking about that. Maybe she enjoyed those things, maybe she didn’t. He wouldn’t judge. She did seem a bit nervous, fiddling with her jewelry but he didn’t press her.

Kaiden smiled. “Drawing and painting. What subject matter? And you must have a favorite color, then,” he said, tone clearly interested and a bit lighter. Of course she had a favorite color, most people did, artists or not. His smirk communicated the joke.

“I can sketch a little, but I wouldn’t consider myself much of an artist.” And as much as he was a soldier, he didn’t like weapons or fighting much, at least not as a fun hobby. “Boring stuff like foreign languages and culture. Sounds better when I say I like exploring and making friends. And also cooking,” he added with another smile. He wasn’t sure he was any good at it, but he did enjoy it.

[Elyscia Demarais]

She nodded in response as he told her to call him by his own first name. Kaiden. She had not even said his name to anyone, or to him. and she wondered how it would sound coming from her own lips. She did not repeat it out loud though, as he had. Not yet.

Elyscia didn't know why she felt so nervous at the moment. Perhaps it was because she barely knew him and did not know what type of man he was. If he would accept her as she was, or if he would think like a lot of the Tresterian men did. She could have easily told him she liked to needlepoint and the typical things ladies were trained to do in life, but she had decided to be honest with him. To test the waters.

As he smiled and joked, showing an interest, she felt a little more at ease, that the tension in her shoulders released a bit. She smiled back at him and thought for a moment. "Hmmm. Anything, really. Mostly nature..." She laughed softly and nodded, "I like greens and violets, mostly. And you?" Color was an important thing to know, perhaps.

A small grin formed on her lips as he answered her question about what he enjoyed doing. "Do you speak a lot of languages, then?" She asked curiously. "And cooking? What types of things do you enjoy cooking?" It wasn't often she heard a male noble admit to like cooking--typically they had servants to do that and did not know how to cook. Elyscia, on the other hand, probably would light a kitchen up in flames if she tried to cook--she had never been allowed to do such a thing, especially with growing up in the palace.

[Kaiden Dellario]

Kaiden nodded. "Landscapes? Or more like still lifes?" He asked. He had a passing understanding of art and painting. He preferred his landscapes to floral studies but nature was beautiful either way.

Greens and violets. Cool colors, but playful ones. Very natural. "Orange," he said after a moment. It was a warm color. And a rather happy one.

"A few," he said modestly. He didn't get specific. But...they were speaking Tresterian, had been this whole time. It wasn't the language he grew up with, but since visitors were common, most learned one of the major islands languages. He had visited Teronna a few times and worked to learn the langiage there. Even Aralore, with all the war and turmoil the kingdom faced, he had fought there and met a lot of refugees and travellers so while he wouldn't say he was fluent, he knew a lot. So he knew at least three and a half.

He blushed a little. He was well aware it was not the most...classic of hobbies in Tresteria. Even in Ithias it wasn't a common thing for men to admit to. "Anything. Fish, meat, vegetables, soups, roasts..." Kaiden smiled. "Anything you like. Except baking," he added. "I always underbake or burn cake and cookies and the like." He chuckled. He still tried sometimes but really it was rather impressive how consistently he failed at it.

It wasn't so.ething he had been taught either but he hadn't be discouraged too much. Recently he hadn't had a chance. There was something to be said for being able to enjoy something he made himself. It was also just relaxing.

[Elyscia Demarais]

Elyscia smiled softly at Kaiden's question, "both, actually. Whatever seems to inspire me, I suppose." She paused for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. "I'm not always able to get out... So a lot of times I just pain things from my mind... Or things around the castle." She breathed a small laugh out her nose.

Orange was a rather bright and loud color, and she never would have guessed it was his favorite, though she wasn't sure why. He seemed so quiet and maybe reserved. Ely smirked, "like the color of a pumpkin? Or a sunset? Or something else?" She asked playfully, but curious.

She knew one other language, herself, though she could only read and write and was horrible at speaking it. It was hardly worth mentioning. "That's a little more impressive than you are letting on." She laughed softly.

"You will have to cook me dinner sometime then." She suggested with another playful grin, though she felt a bit hesitant and awkward saying such a thing. After tonight, she was not sure how things would go between them--or if either of them would put in an effort. She, herself, wasn't sure what she would do, not wanting to appear desperate, pushy, needy, or bothersome. And in all honesty, she wasn't sure if she was making quite the impression on him to make him wish to continue to see or pursue her, either.

"It's a good thing you do not bake... I have a weakness for sweets." She laughed as she cautiously admitted to him. It was probably not a good idea to admit such a thing, as she didn't want people to think they'd win her over by throwing sweet treats at her (although they probably would), it just wouldn't be good for her waistline. "Do you have a weakness?" She laughed, "I told you mine... It's only fair I know yours, right?"

[Kaiden Dellario]

"I imagine you have a lot of stone backdrops then," he teased lightly, suddenly more determined to get the woman before him out of the castle. Even just a little. "Perhaps you can show me a few paintings something?" Or better yet, he could show her somewhere that might inspire her to paint.

Kaiden was a rather bright person (and sometimes loud but not that loud) when he felt more at ease. He was getting there. The man smiled and laughed slightly. Everyone always went with a pumpkin first. "Pumpkin or a squash, certainly. Sunset is a little bit better. Or tigers. Tiger lilies..." he liked just about anything in that shade.

He shrugged and smiled faintly. "Three and working on a fourth makes me sound a little bit full of myself." He was much better at the spoken portions. Still, he did enjoy reading different texts. People were just...more the point.

"I would love to, Elyscia. Let me know what you would like and I will make it. After Yule," he added, matching her grin. He could tell she was just as uncertain as he was but he felt both of them were allowed to be a little forward. And both of them needed to be a little forward. Relationships worked both ways, in his opinion. Kaiden smiled. He had seen her shove a whole cookie in her mouth a short while ago after all."Oh, I can still try. You just might not have the same weakness for my baking as you do for others," he joked. He did like sweets. It was a shame really.

Her question caught him off guard, blinking at her a moment whike he thought. Kaiden doubted sweets were a serious weakness. But he wasn't sure if she wanted a serious answer of something more along the lines of her proclivity to eat anything sweet. Seriously, he was afraid of thunderstorms. Even as a grown man it reminded him of when he lost his father. But as for a weakness like sweets...Kaiden wasn't sure. He hummed for a moment. "I think I have a few more than one. Thunderstorms for one. And I need to be busy. And I can't handle alcohol so I don't drink much." He held up a hand. "Which is normally a good thing," he said. Until he ended up drinking.

[Elyscia Demarais]

She laughed at his teasing about the stone backdrops, "Oh no... I usually don't..." She trailed off, realizing that he was probably kidding, but she finished her thought anyway, though a little quieter, as if embarrassed, "sometimes I just make up the background, or paint a solid color..." And when he asked her if she could show him her work sometimes, she glanced down at her hands and fumbled with her rings again, "I suppose I could...They're nothing special though... and maybe not even that good, really...I just do it for fun."

Ely smiled at his explanation of the color orange and she nodded in agreement. "Tiger lilies...That is a pretty shade of orange." She caught herself wondering if she owned any dresses in the shade as if to maybe impress him or catch his attention--but she doubted that she did. The closest thing to orange she owned, was probably the golden Champaign dress she was wearing at the moment--but that was hardly orange. The thought sort of surprised her and she wasn't sure why she had randomly decided to think that.

As he admitted to working on learning a fourth language and that if he had mentioned it (even though he just did), it would make him sound full of himself. Elyscia laughed out loud, "and we wouldn't want that now, would we?" Maybe she appreciated his modesty, but still, it was rather impressive and he should be proud of his accomplishments. There was a difference between being proud and bragging. She was rather modest herself, though, so she understood.

I would love to, Elyscia, he said, and strangely, hearing him say her name stirred a small little butterfly to flutter within her stomach. Unlike her, who thought there would be no effort placed into whatever this relationship was or was supposed to be-- Kaiden was already thinking of wanting to spend more time with her. She felt her cheeks burn as she blushed and she nodded, agreeing with his suggestion. After Yule. "I will let you surprise me, then." She offered him a light smile. "Just... nothing with bananas in it." Her nose scrunched in obvious distaste of the fruit. It was really the only thing she disliked eating.

Another genuine laugh escaped her and she shook her head, holding her hands up defensively, "no no... If you are that bad at baking, I would rather not have my weakness for baked goods ruined." She grinned at him playfully.

She quietly listened to him admit some of his vulnerabilities and she smiled but raised a brow in curiosity. "Thunderstorms, hmm?" It wasn't often that she heard of grown men being scared of storms, but she gathered there was a reason behind it, and she wouldn't press him on it. "I am not very fond of thunderstorms either..." In truth, Elyscia did not like any kind of loud noises for some reason.

At his mention of not being able to handle alcohol, she gave him a curious glance again, "as in...it makes you sick? Or you get drunk easily? Quickly? Violent?" Her last question sort of tapered off, as if nervous to hear the answer. She had seen quite a few violent drunks in her lifetime her cousin, the King, included.  It was something she was not very fond of to say the least. 

[Kaiden Dellario]

Kaiden enjoyed hesring her laugh. He enjoyed hearing people laugh in general. When he made her mildly uncomfortable (the rings were quite the tell) he backed off. He was curious, but not about to force her into something else. The engagement was enough. "I cook for fun, so don't judge me too harshly if it's not all that good," he said instead. He meant to extend her the same sentiment but didn't want to be too direct if that made her uncomfortable. He'd rather take the heat himself.

"We would not," he agreed, grinning. He knew exactly what he had said. Calling attention to himself was something he struggled with. His older proud had always been the prideful sort. Showing off and bragging and boasting and putting down others to make himself look good. Kaiden had been on the receiving end a lot. Kaiden also equated pride with stupidity. Or at least considered them related. He tried to avoid them. Except with humor or when asked. Even he couldn't help it as an honest joke.

Inviting her to travel, inviting her to dinner...he thought it just made sense to try. Even if nothing came of it, he was still in this to form a relationship. And any relationship required effort. Kaiden was willing to put that work in, but he could only speak for himself.

He nodded affirmative. "No banana. On that note," he realized he should have asked this but it wasn't too late. "Are you allergic to anything?" Mostly he meant food. But maybe in general it was good to know. There was a little curiosity as to why she disliked bananas, but he wasn't about to judge. Luckily, he didn't know many recipes that called for bananas that weren't, well, baking.

Kaiden blushed as she repeated the bit about storms, and opened his mouth in a half hearted explanations he didn't want to provide. But she followed through with a catch all note that made him feel better. He could sleep through thunderstorms alright, plus or minus a few nightmares. It was when they were during the day he had to employ other coping methods.

Elyscia threw a lot of questions at him at once when it came to drinking and he gathered thay was a sore point. He knew the late King had...dark tendencies with the stuff. He was quick to reassure her, sort of, his tone as easy going as ever. "As in easily. And it makes me ill. I get sleepy, so as you can imagine, those last two are not a good combination..."

[Elyscia Demarais]

It wasn't so much that Kaiden made her uncomfortable or nervous--(well, maybe a little nervous), but it was more that she hardly showed others her work because she was too much afraid of being judged or criticized more or less. Elyscia was quite selfconscious and modest about her own work and didn't feel she was worthy enough of being called an artist.

She smirked and nodded. "I won't judge. Too much," she teased. "Just as long as your cooking doesn't kill me." At his question, she shook her head. "No, I am not allergic to anything. Not that I am aware of, anyway." She honestly just hated the way bananas tasted and the texture of them--especially when they were mushy.

Elyscia hated everything about storms. She disliked rain, the thunder always startled her when she wasn't expecting it, and lightning was scary, even though it looked really cool. She couldn't help but imagining them together trying to wait a storm out and she wondered how badly he was affected by them.

As he explained what alcohol did to him, she tilted her head slightly and looked at him curiously, but she nodded in understanding. "No, I suppose those aren't a good combination..." It had been a while since Elyscia had gotten drunk. She typically only did so with her sister or brother, and neither one of them had been around as of late, so there wasn't much of a point to it. She did not get sick or sleepy, but quite the opposite. She was a silly and laughing mess when she got drunk. Until she crashed hard.

A moment of awkward silence lingered between them again until Elyscia laughed again, not really sure what to say. "Was there anything specific you wished to speak about, or just to talk?" She was referring back to when he had asked her if they could sit down and talk, but he had never really specified why he wanted to. They had gotten off on the wrong foot at their initial meeting, and maybe it was just to try and remedy from that, but she did not want to just assume so.

[Kaiden Dellario]

Kaiden rolled his eyes with a grin and a small laugh. "I can cook you know. I will prove it." His tone was more playful than annoyed. No allergies and an aversion to bananas made that simple at least.

He didn't imagine the two of then waiting out a storm together because he was serious opposed to the idea. Not that Elyscia was necedsarily terrible to wait out a thunderstorm with, Kaiden was just opposed to spending anymore thought on things that scared him than he had to.

The man was aware his relationship with drink was...not ideal. And kind of awkward. And also mildly hilarious. He did drink, often, in fact. But he never went more than one or two drinks deep at a time because he liked to stay awake and liked to keep the contents of his stomach to himself. Sometimes he wondered if he was allergic to alcohol. He didn't exactly make a habit of exploring different drinks.

The silence was a nice moment to breath and to back track away from his more serious conversation change. "Just to talk," he admitted. To get to be people with each other just a little and not quite so stiff. The objective had been to present himself to her and the rest had all been a hopeful direction. Elyscia seemed quite charming if still a little hesitant. Kaiden couldn't blame her. He imagined he was a little distant still too. But at least the lady had laughed quite a bit more this go around.

"There is supposed to be a party soon, yes? Do you think we should return to the hall?" He wasn't so tired he couldn't walk and dance and sit and eat. But the time off his feet had been appreciated.

[Elyscia Demarais]

Elyscia giggled slightly and nodded, "okay, okay...I will trust that you can cook." It wasn't that she didn't trust him, really... But more so that he was telling her not to judge him if it was bad. Then again, was he teasing her for playing down her artwork, too?

Her smile remained, even as that silence lingered between them. She felt somewhat happy and a little more relaxed or relieved that they had a better interaction than the first time. Kaiden seemed sweet and thoughtful and if it did not end up working out between them, she at least imagined he would be a good friend to have.

She nodded at his questions, "yes...people may be starting to arrive. Perhaps we should return." She waited a few moments before she slowly stood up and stretched. "I hope you are hungry... There will be quite a banquet!" She exclaimed softly. Elyscia had gotten to pick out some of the food, and she was excited about it. She was starving, to say the least, as she had held off eating for most of the day, not wanting to be bloated and unable to fit in her fancy dress, and wanting to quite literally, stuff her face with all the delicious food.

"Shall we?" She smiled at him again, waiting for him to take the lead on leaving the library to head back.

[Kaiden Dellario]

He smiled. There, not so hard. He didn't seriously think she doubted him that much either, but he enjoyed the teasing. And maybe if he let her enjoy that with his cooking, she might feel more comfortable about what she enjoyed doing in her spare time.

Considering Elyscia had had some hand in organizing the ball, Kaiden figured it was only fitting they be some of the first to arrive. And not only that, but she was properly and newly engaged. Well, sort of. As properly as really mattered, anyway, since this time her fiancee was actually present. He stood when she did, watching her stretch her figure in silence.

"Very," he admitted with a smile. He hadn't been counting on attending the holiday ball considering her had nearly forgotten and he certainly wouldn't have subjected the lady to his continued presence. But this was much better. Not only did they both get to enjoy the banquet, but, hopefully, they could continue to enjoy each other company. So far so good, at least.

Kaiden offered Elyscia his arm with a small bow. "We shall," he replied, and would lead them out of the library and back to the hall.

[End]