Just like yesterday

[Christopher Montjoy]

The world was wide, Kit hadn’t realised just how far the ocean stretched until he set out on it. A purse full of coins in his pockets and a trademark grin on his lips. The man hadn’t told anyone he was going, not his parents, not his friends, not even his sister- hell, Kate had only found out when she used that grammyre of her’s to appear in his dreams, all eyerolls and sarcasm, saying how they’d just assumed he died and she was disappointed to find him dreaming. He knew her too well though, even in the domain of dreams, in Kate’s world, Kit knew she had been worried about him- not that it bothered him for more than a second or two. Afterall, he was having such a wonderful time out on the open ocean and en-route to wherever it was- he forgot. Either way, the opportunity had been too good to pass up. And besides, he wasn’t much good at trading silk and it had been dull anyway.

    It hadn’t just been his family and his business Kit had left in the lurch, it had also been Naomi. Not that he’d given her a second thought, or much of a first thought in honesty. Kit had left no note, sent her no letters, he hadn’t even asked Kate to check in on her. Even when he had returned to Tresteria a few weeks ago, he hadn’t reached out to contact her.

    The man couldn’t say what had changed, how Naomi had somehow returned to his thoughts that night. But, he missed her in a way, at least he missed the way he had felt with her. It had been fun. She had been fun. Before Kit knew it, he was at her door- a grin plastered across his lips and stories of his adventures on the tip of his tongue as he knocked on the door of her room at the boarding house to which he had once been a frequent visitor. ”Naomi! The man shouted between knocks. ”Let me in!”

[Naomi Durand]

Kit was lucky--or maybe unlucky--that Naomi was in her room; when her brother was in town, she typically stayed at home with her parents, pretending to be a model daughter. She was practically counting down the days until he left again, and she could go back to her independent life. She loved Marcel, sure, but she also loved being able to breathe. Her family suffocated her, most days.

She'd only stopped in at the boarding house to grab a few things after meeting up with one of her apprentices. She'd have to make a quick drop off at the Dove next, to pass on her earnings. She was just finishing a quick sweep of the room for any last forgotten items when there came a knock at the door, and a familiar voice came through. She froze. Kit? Why that little--! He had disappeared off the face of the planet without a word, left her without a date to a ball she was supposed to be attending, and made her look and feel like an absolute fool, and he thought he was just going to waltz back in here like nothing ever happened? How dare he?

Had Naomi had better impulse control, she would have pretended not to be home and just let him go on his merry way so that she wouldn't have to deal with him. But Naomi had little to no impulse control, when her life wasn't in immediate danger. She couldn't resist confrontation, and she needed to vent her emotions somewhere. This was the one place where she could let fly as she wished. She dropped her bag back down on the bed and crossed to the door with quick, hard steps, not quite stomping but almost there. She yanked the door open sharply and gave Kit a smile he might not realize was murderous.

"Well, if it isn't Kit, back from who knows where after vanishing mysteriously in the night! Here to see the woman who thought he might be dead," Her smile began to twist, and her full anger was now evident as she clenched her fists at her sides and glared at him. "In a dark alley somewhere, because obviously that's the only good reason he would have to just disappear without a word to the woman he was seeing, or to his own sister, for god's sake."

"What in the ever living fuck makes you think I'm going to let you back in here, Christopher?" She hissed at him, blocking the doorway with her hands on her hips. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

[Christopher Montjoy]

He had so much to tell her, he had been so many places and seen so much over the last six months. Did Naomi know about the clans in Aldsage? Had she ever smelled a perfume from Aralore? Had she ever tasted whisky from Teronna? Kit had done all of that an more on his travels and he could not wait to tell Naomi about all of it. He continued to bang on the door and shout out her name until the door was wrenched open- and the man tumbled across the threshold with the force of it.

"Nao- Kit started brightly at the sight of her smile, the grin widening as he steadied himself against the doorframe. Warm brown eyes found her, and confusion took a hold of his face as she began to scold him. She was mad? But why? What had he done? Kit knew better than to interrupt a woman on the warpath, he'd made the mistake of trying to talk over Kate on more than one occasion- the lesson had been hard learned, but he knew it now. So Christopher Montjoy stood there, struck dumb and wide eyed as Naomi got everything off her chest.

"My ship left with the morning tide... I didn't leave you in the middle of the night." Kit pointed out, innocence colouring his tone as he took a step back away from the door- just out of reach should Naomi decide to throw a punch his way. "But why would I be dead in an alley? What would I even be doing in an alley to die there? You had nothing to worry about, I was okay! Look, see?" Holding up his arms, the man turned slowly as though to show her he really was just fine. "Not a scratch! Oh Naomi! You should go to Teronna! I tried to make whisky- I wasn't much good at it and then they don't like mystics there! Not even a little bit, I can't wait to tell Kate about it, she won't be happy about it at all. You know how much she loves studying grammyre and how it works and Naomi I went to Aldsage too and they have clans and it's very confusing as they're all different and you can say one thing and one clan will think you're great but say the same thing to another and-" He paused for breath then, the confusion on his face had long been replaced by another happy-go-lucky grin as though he'd already forgotten her scolding. "-and it was just amazing, they even let me help out on the ship! I'm basically a sailor now. How was the ball? Was it a ball? There was something you were going to wasn't there?"

[Naomi Durand]

Naomi managed to hold her glare through the beginning of his ramble, even rolling her eyes and grumbling about 'semantics' when he argued that he hadn't left in the middle of the night, technically. And she didn't mean necessarily literally an alley where he'd be dead, she meant that he was an idiot, and he did things without thinking, and that one day his luck was going to run out. Apparently it had lasted for the last six months, though, seeing as he'd managed to visit several countries and insult people without getting stabbed in his pretty face. How did he do it? She couldn't tell. But if she ever needed someone to run off and do something for her and it was a suicide mission, she was going to choose Kit for it, because somehow he'd come back with a grin and wonderful stories to tell instead of being gruesomely murdered. If she didn't know better, she'd think he was the one with magic, not his sister.

The more he said, the more his grin grew, and the more Naomi deflated, all her anger replaced with exasperation. She should have known better. Of course it didn't even occur to him that it might be a problem for anyone else if he vanished without a word. He was like a child, hardly aware of anything outside himself. She seemed to remember his sister Kate saying something in a fit of frustration...the emotional maturity of a teaspoon? That sounded about right. She looked up to the ceiling as if pleading with some higher power to give her patience, then turned back to him and sighed as she gestured into the room.

"Alright, you win. Get in here, you idiot. But you owe me chocolate or something. I really was worried," she pouted,"Can't you at least tell your sister and your friends before you run off? We happen to like you, even if you are an airhead."

[Christopher Montjoy]

Kit hadn’t heard her mumbled grumbles about semantics, and even if he had- there was a very high chance he wouldn’t have stopped to take note anyway. He barely even stopped to breathe let alone take any account of anything that was going on around him. Once Kit got started, it was almost impossible to get him stopped and quiet again. Few could manage it once, very few had managed it twice, and only his sister could get him to quieten down with any consistent success. So he did not notice the glare that was fading from her face, he didn’t see her turn her eyes to the ceiling as though in hopes of deliverance. He just kept talking away until he seemed to reach a natural stopping point when he paused and gave her chance to speak.

    This time, Naomi didn’t scold him, didn’t chastise him for disappearing- at least not quite the way she had a moment ago. Of course, Kit took that to mean he was completely and utterly forgiven for whatever it was he had done, for whatever reason she had been mad. It was over, it was done, and that meant it was time to move on. When the woman invited him in, he didn’t need telling twice (and didn’t give her the chance to change her mind), and practically barrelled into the room and threw himself onto the bed.

    ”Chocolate? I didn’t know you liked chocolate.” She might have told him, she might have not- Kit wasn’t sure. Settling into the cushions, Kit placed interlocked fingers behind his head and gave her the most charming smile he could muster. ”Kate found me pretty quickly, she knew I was fine- she seemed disappointed actually.” Of course she hadn’t been, Kate had been relieved to find her idiot brother alive and well- she was just a much better actor. ”She didn’t even to come and meet me at the docks when I got home- and I know she knew I’d be getting back. I would be upset, but maybe she was busy, I mean she left for Windport Village the next day saying she had gotten used to the quiet and ‘did not appreciate my chattering’-” He made the air quotes around his words as he spoke. ”That was a couple of weeks ago, maybe three? She must be bored of the quiet by now… surely?”

[Naomi Durand]

She took it back, he wasn't a child, he was a puppy dog. A child might have a longer attention span. "I don't know anyone who doesn't like chocolate," she replied offhand, knowing he wouldn't really stop talking, but maybe that would make it to his brain.

He'd thrown himself comfortably on the bed as if he belonged there, and she supposed that was close enough to the truth. It was probably why he was here, anyway: to talk her ear off and then take her to bed. She didn't entirely mind. She perched on the edge of the bed near him, but just far enough out of his arm's reach that it would at least require him to sit up if he wanted to pull her any closer.

That was the thing with Naomi--she never expected any of her partners to be exclusive with her, or to treat it as a serious romantic relationship, but she did want some effort put in. She wanted to be wanted, for people to treat her like she was worth the effort. And Kit had a habit of making her an afterthought that she found extremely frustrating. He was sweet, though, in his way, and she knew he didn't mean any harm. Even if she wanted to throttle him sometimes she w---

"I'm sorry, what?!" she exclaimed when she heard how long ago he'd gotten home, and turned on him with a new glare. "Three weeks?" She leaned over and punched him in the arm--not as hard as she could, but enough to sting. "You shit! It took you three extra weeks to miss me?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "That's no way to treat a lady, Kit."

[Christopher Montjoy]

”That’s true, I’ll get you some chocolate. Promise.” Kit smirked, tracing an ‘x’ over his chest with his fingertip. He still wasn’t exactly sure why he now owed Naomi a gift, but if she wanted chocolate- then he would get it for her. At least, he would if it didn’t slip his mind. ”But anyway- what was I saying? Oh yeah! So I went to Teronna and well, the mystics- its awful, but the whisky is amazing. So much better than Tresterian whisky but they make something called blended whisky which is when they take different single malts and, well, k’now-“ The man paused for breath, still leaning back into the pillows and looking up at the ceiling rather than at Naomi. For a second, he wondered why she had perched herself on the edge rather than joining him. That wasn’t like her at all. It didn’t faze him though, so he continued talking. ”-Blend it. So I tried that and it is not as easy as it sounds. Oh Naomi it was awful.”

    ”Ow!” The man pouted as her fist connected with his arm, ”What was that for?” Pulling himself upright into a sitting position. Kit looked over at her with wide brown eyes and rubbed the spot where she had hit him. ”What? I was busy! And I didn’t know where you would be anyway, sometimes you’re here, sometimes not and it wasn’t as though you came to see me either!” Had he missed her? Not really. Perhaps he should have, after all before his little adventure they had spent quite a lot of time together. But if it was out of his sight, it was out of his mind. And Naomi was unfortunately included. ”I’m here now, and look-“ He smiled, taking her hand and gently guiding it to his chest (should she allow it). ”-I’m not dead.”

[Naomi Durand]

"How am I going to come to see you if I don't even know you're back in the country, huh?" she protested half-heartedly, "And you could just ask about me at Queen's Side, they always know where I'll be." She stuck out her tongue at him, although she was still having trouble maintaining her frustration. Stupid boy, making it too hard to be mad at him. She just couldn't keep it up, she never could. If he'd been malicious about it, maybe, or if he'd known she would be hurt and purposefully made the decision that would hurt her, but she got the feeling it never even occurred to him that his choices would cause trouble for others. Maybe she just needed to accept that Kit was Kit, and just have fun while he was around. That was probably smarter, even if it was a little disappointing. What was it her mother said? Don't go to the butcher for bread?

She sighed as he took her hand and placed it over his heartbeat, rolled her eyes, then finally smiled at him. "I just like to be wanted, Kit. It gets lonely when you forget about me." She used the hand on his chest to support herself as she leaned down to give him a soft kiss. "I know you don't mean to do it, but it is sad." She shrugged. "I'll get over it, I just have to be dramatic first. It's my god-given right to be a diva, okay?"

[Christopher Montjoy]

”You just turn up and hope for the best. That’s what I do when I’m looking for you.” He shrugged, voice bright and eyes brighter as he looked over at her. Grin only widening as she stuck out her tongue at him. Even if he hadn’t quite realised she was actually mad at him and not just acting- Kit would have known it wouldn’t last long. He seemed to have that effect on people after all. Plus, she had kept him around this long- it did not seem likely the woman was about to kick him out now. ”I could, I guess I hadn’t thought of that but then I would have to stay and catch up with people and before long it would be morning and I would have missed wherever you had been anyway- so when you really think about it, this was the best way to do it… just turning up. Like this.” He hadn’t meant to worry her, and he certainly hadn’t meant to hurt her either- and Kit didn’t even stop to consider that he may have in the first place.

    His hand held hers there for a moment. Maybe Kit had missed her more than he had first thought. Missed how soft her skin was, and how warm her little hand felt against his. His chest rumbled with laughter as she rolled her eyes at him- frustration melting away to a smile at last. ”You are wanted, and don’t pretend you were lonely while I was gone- I was half surprised to not find a line of admirers waiting at your door today.” They had never been exclusive after all, and Kit hadn’t spared Naomi a second thought when he had left- let alone stopped to consider she might not have brought anyone else to her bed while he had been away. When her lips found his, he kissed her back lightly- the hand on hers squeezing gently. ”You’re adorable when you’re being dramatic- you know that right? You’re not nearly as scary as you think you are.”

[Naomi Durand]

"Okay fine," Naomi admitted with a sly smile, "I wasn't completely alone. But you're actually my friend, it's different." She meant it, too-- she wouldn't have been mad if she didn't like Kit in the first place. He was a good person, even if he could be frustrating, and they always did wind up having fun when they were together. That wasn't the case for most of her "suitors;" the others were in and out as soon as they got what they needed. Innuendo most definitely intended.

At his comment about her not being scary she gasped dramatically and her free hand flew to her heart. It was obvious she was playing, now, all traces of her flash fire temper vanished save for some purposefully bad acting.

"How dare you? I'm ab-so-fucking-lute-ly--" With each syllable she poked him lightly in the stomach, trying to find a ticklish spot. "Terrifying."[/i] She burst into laughter as she finished.

[Christopher Montjoy]

Kit did not know how he felt about Naomi’s other lovers, there was that pang in his chest that he knew to be jealousy- but like many things with Christopher Montjoy , it was gone as soon as it came. And tonight was no different, that quick pang, that half a second where his smile wobbled for just a moment. He had hardly been faithful in the months he had been away, but that was how they had always been- Naomi and him. They just had fun, both in and out of the bedroom. ”I can’t be your only friend either, that’s no way to live Naomi.” He leaned forwards a little, reaching out as though to pull her closer to him.

    It seemed as though she was too busy play-acting though, badly too- as she pretended his words had hurt her. ”Hey! Sto-ahp!” Kit chuckled, several of her light jabs finding the ticklish spots they had been hoping to find. Strong fingers wrapped around her wrists after the fourth jab, gently trying to keep another prod from landing. ”You’re about as terrifying as a kitten Naomi, I’m sorry, its just the way it is, you can’t help it!”

[Naomi Durand]

He wasn't her only friend, exactly, but he was one of the few she felt were real. Most people she knew were casual acquaintances. Few people besides her brother cared about her wellbeing.

Naomi wasn't sure if she'd seen a flicker of something on his face, but she didn't need it to feel a teeny bit guilty about what she'd been up to while Kit was gone. It was part of why she hadn't mentioned it on her own (although as a general rule, she didn't mention her gentleman callers to each other). The guilt was chased by an indignant little reminder from the back of her mind: you've never been exclusive, and he vanished without a word! You don't owe him a single thing!

She pushed both emotions out of the picture though, as they play-fought on the bed. She was going to have fun, dammit. That was the reason she and Kit spent time together.

Naomi only raised her eyebrows when he caught her; she didn't pull away. She'd actually been hoping he would take the opportunity to. He hadn't reeled her in closer, though, so she'd just have to do that herself. She swung their hands up higher as if in a gesture of surrender, then leaned in so close their noses almost touched to flash him a devilish grin.

"Oh yeah? and what does that make you, hmm?" she teased, "You're not much scarier than me, just 'cause you're bigger."

[Christopher Montjoy]

Perhaps it was his own fault, perhaps he should have found her before he left. There hadn’t been time, hells, Kit hadn’t even packed a bag when he had left. One moment he had been chatting away down at the docks and the next thing he knew he was getting ready to board a ship at dawn. The whole thing had been arranged in less than a few hours- that was hardly time to seek out Naomi and explain, to seek her out at ask her to wait. Maybe there was time, Kate had always said people find time if they want to… had he not wanted to find the time for her? Deep down. Or had he just been distracted and not thought? The man wasn’t certain, and he did not dwell upon his reflections to find out. Besides, he wasn’t sure he wanted her to wait for him, he certainly didn’t want to hear her say no if she didn’t want to. It was just easier not to ask. No answer was better than the wrong one.

    ”I’ve never pretended to be scary.” The man protested, pulling his best innocent face. She was so close, he could smell the perfume of her skin, see all the flecks of colour in her irises- maybe, just maybe, he had missed her more than he had let himself admit. But Kit was enjoying the moment too much to tell her that. Fingers curled around her wrists just a little tighter, barely noticeable, but it would stop her wriggling away too easily- Naomi’s face was so closed to his, so close, so tempting. And then he licked her nose.

[Naomi Durand]

Hm, true. Kit had always just been kit--unlike some others in and out of the Court, Kit wasn't really one for posturing and 'pissing contest' behavior. She liked that about him. His relaxed nature made it easier for her to relax, too, and just do whatever came naturally. Sometimes it was a little difficult to switch off her calculating nature, but Kit seemed to defuse that just by existing. Naomi raised her brows in challenge, fully expecting to be kissed. What she had not expected, however, was for it to be a puppy kiss. Kit's tongue was warm and slightly spitty on the tip of her nose.

What a child! And yet...she didn't mind as much as she thought she would. He was just too sweet to be angry with, damn him.

"Ew!" she squealed and bust into a fit of giggles as she tried to pull away and found that he had her held tight. "Ooh, you!" she whined, or she tried to whine, anyway, but she was still giggling. She couldn't get farther away...but she could get closer! She nuzzled her face in close to his neck, where he wouldn't be able to lick her face again. Hm, he smelled kind of nice. She toyed with the idea of licking him back, now, but decided to wait and see what he did.

[Christopher Montjoy]

The opportunity had been too much to pass up, he hadn’t been able to help himself- not that he even really tried to. Act first, think second… or don’t think at all, sometimes that worked out better and that was what Kit usually did. She looked so cute, teasing him like she knew she had the upper-hand, as though she was challenging him to bring her back down to earth. And the lick had done just that, bringing a fit of giggles bubbling from her lips.

    The man was still being gentle, holding her wrists firmly but nowhere near firm enough to hurt- they both knew he would let her go the moment she asked him to. Naomi always had the upper-hand and they probably both knew that. Kit still hand both of the woman’s wrists as she nuzzled into him, protecting her face in the nape of his neck. This was nice. Fingers loosened of their own accord, arms wrapping around her and pulling her just that little bit closer.

    Okay, maybe he had missed her.

        A little bit.

            Okay, a lot.

    Being with Naomi was easier than a one-night stand, easier than a casual fling, he never had to worry about what she was thinking or what she wanted- if he didn’t know, she would tell him. Easy. The moments like these, when they could fool around and have fun like teenagers were just an added bonus. The moments where he could hold her close, both of them unusually quiet, he wondered if this was what peace felt like. ”So-“ Kit said, never one for letting the quiet stretch out for too long, ”How was that ball we were supposed to go to?”