Yet another social party held by her guardians. As always she goes about greeting all the distinguished guests and their sons. As handsome as they all were, she can't help smiling to herself at the thought of how they compare to her beloved. Her guardians would flip to find out Death was in love with her, exclaiming how they'd spent months, years trying to find her a suitable husband. They might even look over his occupation while asking if he made nearly as much income as some banker's son or doctor's nephew.
After making rounds and playfully flirting with each young man present, (for her role's sake), she is exhausted and decides to sit down in one of the chairs for wallflowers. Usually she wasn't one. If no one would ask her to dance, she would hunt down a shy handsome fellow to waltz with. None were as good as Death was, but she decided she should keep in practice for the next midnight masquarade.
Lifting her eyes from the sparkling juice glass in her hands, she gazes in the direction of some jolly laughter. It was her guardian. Typically he wasn't so open to laugh. Who was entertaining him this night with a witty comment or observation? she wondered. At that moment the crowd shifts from her line of vision and she sees...HIM.
She immediately springs to her feet and tries to continue look graceful as she moves toward her guardian's group.
Upon seeing her, her guardian says "Splendid, splendid, here she is now. Dear, this young gentleman here has just as permission to court you formally. Do you accept?" During the pause she stares. Those green eyes, the dark brown curls, that one-sided smile. It is either him or a living copy. Nudging her, her guardian adds a hushed "he's rather charming, and quite a wit about him." Smiling, she dismisses his whispers with an "Alright, I shall talk with him."
Bowing her head she addresses him, "Sir?" Upon returning the bow, he offers her his arm, and after she'd accepted, began to walk toward the door to the balcony.
"The stars are quite lovely tonight, aren't they?" he says once they are outside.
"They certainly are, sir" she replies catiously.
He chuckled and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Are you always on guard like this?"
"Only when boys from my dreams appear out in the waking world."
He pouts, "You mean you dream about other boys than I?"
"No silly, only you," she takes him by the wrists and pulls him to the side of the terrace out of sight of the main room.
"Oh? What are we doing that no one else can see?" he asked with a hint of mischieveous hope.
"Nothing of that sort...much. First of all I simply want to know why you're here. But we can cuddle while we talk can't we?" she finishs with a smile.
Wrapping his arms around her he says "Of course we can. As to why I'm here, I missed you. So," he nods, "I decided to visit you" said with a very charming and boyishly proud smile.
"And the courting me?"
"Yes, I believed it might be rude to just grab you off and marry you
"Marry me?
"No, of course not, I'll do much better than that when I do ask. Why? Do you not like the idea?"
"No, no, I love the idea. I think it's wonderful. It's just how it was casually said. Also I wonder how it's possible."
"Oh, you mean due to my being an ethereal being and all?"
She nods.
"I -do- have powers. And this body is my own. I made it myself." A grin.
"How long before it decays or disappears or isn't usable?"
"Whatever are you talking about? You've read too many books. It will stay intact as long as I desire to use it. Now, anymore silly questions?"
"Yes, when do you expect to pick me up tomorrow?"
"For what?"
"Well, you -are- courting me, so I thought you'd take me out someplace."
He kisses her forehead. "Silly girl. Cute too."
She grins as they walk back in to announce their courtship.
6/17/04 4:38 P.M.
(c) Meghann Pardee