After a few quiet moments, Lucien pulls me into an embrace and sinks into the cushions.
"Ahh, I should get the script," I remember, and try to get up, but he won't let me out.
Instead he squeezes tighter. "I know the lines," he murmurs. "Just tell me how you plan to make this character work for me."
"Alright." I wiggle up until I can see his face from my place on his chest. "Well, it's quite easy to change the character if we just show that he's a liar."
Lucien raises his eyebrows skeptically. Is that really it? I can almost hear him say.
"I mean, in a more complex way," I add. "The princess is a true royal, and doesn't know how common bars work. It would be easy for him to manipulate the situation to put her under his control. He can get her drunk while staying mostly sober, he can 'protect her' from fights he helped start, and use her innocence to cheat at games."
"Well, that's not too different from how it's intended," he replies.
"Right," I nod. "But that leads into his changed character. Instead of being a hedonist for his own pleasure, he gets his pleasure from watching drunken fools carouse about. Just like you."
"So the 'Flippant Prince' is just an image?" he asks, nodding. "Yes, I like that much better."
"Plus," I giggle, "You barely have to act at all, this way."
Lucien raises an eyebrow. "You think so?"
"Sure!" I put my hands on his chest to push myself up. "I'll show you. You said you know the lines, right? Just act like you normally would." I stand and pull him to his feet as well.
He helps me clear away his cushions. "We'll start with the bar montage, then. Your table is short, so I suppose we'll pretend the bed is the bartop," I say, placing cushions along it like stools. "And the table will be for the games."
Lucien lounges against the bed as though he's leaning on the bar. "I do hope you make this interesting, then," he says, eyes sharp with challenge.
"Hmph," I turn around and saunter into the other room. After a moment of thought, I grab a book and a pair of candles to act as our "drinks".
I reenter the room, weaving through invisible patrons to reach the bar. I set down my 'tray' and pull at Lucien's arm, looking exasperated.
"I haven't had a single drink tonight," replies Lucien, and grabs my hand instead to place one of the 'drinks' in it. "I'm not going home until I'm satisfied." He grins, and passes his drink to someone else while I begrudgingly drink mine down. He passes me a few more until I drunkenly slip off the bar and lean into him.
When he slips his arms around me, I wonder vaguely what he plans to do, until he hoists me easily onto his shoulder and saunters back out of the room.
As soon as he sets me down, he turns around to go out again. I follow him through the door and grab onto his arm. This time, when he looks down at me skeptically, I smile and walk with him into the 'bar'.
Lucien sits down at the table, grinning behind steepled fingers in anticipation. I just slouch over the table next to him as he 'plays', until I start getting fidgety and pull at his arm.
This time he stands and leans over me. "I haven't won a single game tonight," he smiles, and picks up an invisible hand of cards to show me how to play. "I'm not going home until I'm satisfied." After gathering up his winnings, he leads me back to the bar, calling for drinks. He turns around to face the patrons, and I follow suit, begrudgingly drinking everything he passes me.
I sigh, stand up, and try to guide him out the door again. Lucien stands, but instead of following me out, he takes my hands and pulls me into the middle of the floor. "I haven't danced all night," he says with a grin, and hoists me into the air with a spin. "I'm not going home until I'm satisfied." I take his hands, and with a little smile, draw back to give myself enough space to dance out the steps he had shown me the other day.
Lucien loses his character for a moment to let out a gentle smile. Then he suddenly pulls me towards his chest, crouching on the ground. Right, next is a barfight.
I crawl around and hide behind the table, desperately tugging on his sleeve to follow me outside. Instead, he lifts the damn table and puts in behind us like a wall, looking over the top edge with a grin. "I haven't been in a fight all week," he says gleefully. "I'm not going home until I'm satisfied." But when he stands up, he pulls me up with him and hides me behind his back. He paces in a wide arc with his arms tensed, until he reaches the bar and flops lazily back down onto the stool. Bored yet again, I pull on his hand to go home.
Lucien grips my hand and pulls me close with his arm around my lower back. "Why, I haven't had a woman's company all month," he purrs. "I'm not going home until I'm satisfied," he adds, leaning in even closer.
With an embarrassed pout, I avoid his lips, but I sigh in resignation and climb into his lap, wrapping my arms hesitantly around his back.
Lucien squeezes me back and lets out a sigh of his own. "I suppose it should be obvious that the missing element was actually having you here," he says. "That was quite enjoyable."
I pull away a little to smile at him. "Good! Then we-mmmf!" He'd kissed me before I could even finish speaking. "I, uh," I stutter.
"Yes?" he asks, tilting his head to the side with an innocent smile.
I thump him on the chest. "You said you enjoyed it, but it really seems like you don't want to rehearse anymore."
"I don't mind rehearsing," he replies. "I just have a preference." He leans in to kiss me again, but I stop him with my hand.
"Not til we practice some more," I tell him, and his mischievous grin turns a little sour.
"Alright, fine," he relents, "but I won't always be this accommodating." He stands and offers his hand.
"Oh, I know," I reply wryly, taking his hand to stand as well. "But I'll take it while I can."
We work on our other scenes together until my stomach reminds me that I need to eat.
"Ah. I never did my laundry," I remember, looking down at what I'm wearing. Lucien's clothes, of course, as ill-fitting as ever.
Lucien shrugs nonchalantly. "You might have time tomorrow."
"Doubtful," I sigh. "Tomorrow is Adrian."
I see a grin spread across his face from the corner of my eye, and turn my blushing cheeks away. It's a good thing it's the end of his day, or I have a feeling he would pressure me with questions right now. "Come on, I need to eat," I tell him, pulling him out the door.
I smell the food before I see it. Adrian must have made food again. Indeed, as soon as I walk in, his blond head turns from the sofa to beam at me.
"Ahh, you're too sweet." I wrap my arms around him from behind, and he nuzzles happily into my cheek. "You don't have to keep cooking, you know. Isn't it difficult?"
Virgil giggles. "She means your cooking is bad."
"I'm getting better," he replies defensively.
I sit next to him and give him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm happy that you even cook at all." I pull a plate towards me. "Plus," I add, "this smells amazing today."
"Don't flatter him," giggles Virgil, laying his head on my lap.
"I'm not," I reply simply, and take a bite. This time, it's cooked just right, and seasoned just right. Adrian leans forward in anticipation. "It's delicious," I smile. "Like, actually good. Thank you, Adrian…" He looks so sweet as he smiles back that I almost feel guilty.
For once, it's a normal meal. I tell Virgil all about how we adjusted the flippant prince for Lucien, and he nods along with sparkling eyes. I can already tell he's burning to go over everything with me as soon as he can.
I finish eating faster than I expected to. For the first time in a long time, I wish I had dessert. Well, we have fruit, sugar, and bread ingredients for basic tarts, at least… "We should-" I begin, then remember what my housemates are. "Ah. Never mind."
Adrian tilts his head. "What did you want to say?"
I giggle sheepishly. "I was gonna suggest we try to make sweets, but that wouldn't do anyone but me any good."
"Was my food so good you wanted dessert?" teases Adrian.
"Yes, actually," I admit, and giggle as his eyebrows raise in surprise. "Too bad there's no vampire dessert."
"Actually…" Dante cuts in. "There is."
I stare at him in utter confusion.
"Of a sort," he adds. "But we're not given any out here."
"Ahhhh," Lucien nods with understanding. "I've missed it too."
Adrian's also nodding along. Is there some kind of secret weird vampire thing I'm hearing about for the first time? Virgil, however, also looks confused. Not a vampire thing, then.
"What are you talking about?" he asks.
Dante smiles. "Alcohol."
"Ohhhhhhh." Now I understand. "But we can't exactly make that…"
Lucien speaks up. "I know how to make wine."
"Don't we need more than what we have?" I ask doubtfully.
He shakes his head. "No, we could make simple wine in just two weeks. It wouldn't be good wine, though."
"Ohh, don't get my hopes up, Lucien," pouts Adrian. "I'm not so desperate I'd drink something like that. Come on, dear," he adds, pulling me up. He places his hand on the small of my back to guide me out.
"Well, aren't you just the perfect gentleman," I tease.
He gives me an innocent smile in return. "Aren't I? Why the sarcasm?"
"You know why, lover boy," I reply, and his smile turns mischievous.
"I haven't been called 'boy' in a while," he chuckles, closing the door behind us. But he stays turned around, face hidden. "But about the 'lover' part…" His voice is still light, but I know he's facing away for a reason.
I sigh and wrap my arms around him from behind. "I suppose I've failed at what I was trying to prove, haven't I?" I sigh quietly.
"Not yet, you haven't," he replies, squeezing my hand. "Though I want you to, badly."
I shake my head, feeling myself blush before I've even said anything. "No, I've definitely failed."
Adrian finally turns around, and guides me to the bed. "I'm not pressuring you anymore, Adelaide. I'm trying to be good." His eyes burn into mine, telling me how hard it is for him to stop himself.
I feel my cheeks grow hotter. "No, it, it wasn't about resisting. The idea was that you could be close without 'that' existing at all. But…" I bury my face in my hands, too embarrassed to face him. "But I do...want you too…" I say in a tiny voice.
"Oh, sweet Adelaide," he croons, "You say that like it's a bad thing." He pulls my hands away from my face, and I can see fear underneath his worry.
I shake my head vehemently. "No, no, I don't mean that it's bad. I just…" I look away with a small pout. "I'm just embarrassed that everyone was right," I huff.
Adrian chuckles lightly. "Well, I am very good at what I do," he says slyly. "I've had a lot of practice."
"I know, I know," I sigh. "That's the problem."
"Adelaide," he says gently, cupping my cheeks in his hands, "you're not just some conquest to me."
"I...know that."
"It doesn't sound like you do," he replies, peering worriedly into my eyes.
"My heart wants to believe you, but my head is telling me to be more careful," I reply, avoiding his gaze. "My head is also telling me that there's no way you'd actually be interested in me because…" My voice falters, but I try to plow through. "Because of..who I….am…." My voice shrinks with every word, and I bury my face again.
"Ohhh, Adelaide…" He pulls me into his chest and murmurs into my ear. "That's why I want so badly for you to let me show you. I speak better through touch." He rubs my back soothingly. "Lucien said you do too. What are you afraid of?"
"I just don't want to be used," I reply quietly. His fingers squeeze into me. "But I do want to be with you..."
"Adelaide." Adrian's voice is gentle, and I let him pull my hands down, though I still can't look him in the face. "Adelaide, Adelaide," He pulls me into a soft kiss, drawing me close. Slowly I let myself relax. "Just let me love you," he murmurs, covering my lips in soft kisses. "With all of me," he adds, and pulls me in deeper.
I finally surrender to his embrace and squeeze him tightly back. I'd noticed how thin his blouse was before, but finally I can let myself trace him through it. I draw my hands down his back as we explore each other. Adrian shivers under my touch, and slips his hands under my shirt, roaming over my bare skin with fingers that feel strangely hot.
I put my hand into his blouse, as well, following his spine from his neck all the way down. The loose neckline slips open and down one shoulder. His skin is ridiculously soft…. I feel him unclasp my bra, and I pull it away. Immediately he starts massaging my breasts, and I let out a sound at the sweet sensation.
I pull his blouse down over his shoulders. As soon as his arms are free, he whisks my shirt off and pushes me down onto the mattress. The feeling of his bare skin on mine is electrifying and soothing at the same time, and despite myself, I let out a soft moan.
Adrian moans in response, but much louder, and starts pulling down my waistline, moving his mouth hungrily down the side of my neck.
"Ah, w- Adrian," I manage.
"You don't want it?" he murmurs, still pulling the loose pants off of me. I shudder as his fingers dance over my hips. "Didn't you just say you wanted me too?" He sucks on my neck, pulling a gasp from my throat.
"It's not that," I stutter. "I, I'm too loud..."
I feel him smile into my neck. "Don't worry about that." Suddenly I realize he's pulled my pants all the way off. "I have sound wards on the walls. You can be as loud as you like~" He moves back up to my face level, and grins down at me. "You'll let it out for me, won't you, dear?" His hands continue massaging me as he watches my face with delight. It feels so good, even though he hasn't even touched me there yet…
I squirm in embarrassment and arousal, squeezing my eyes shut. "A-Adrian," I whimper.
"Yes~?" I can feel his grin, even though I can't see it. I feel my face grow hotter.
"I can't...with you looking at me like that…"
"Ohhh, dear Adelaide," he purrs, leaning in just close enough to brush his lips against mine. "Just surrender. Forget all that."
I pull his head closer to consume him with a kiss. He groans, but pulls away too soon. I open my eyes to give him a pleading look, and his smile turns into a heavy-lidded look of desire. "Are you afraid?" he asks in a husky voice. But underneath I can see his worry.
I shake my head. "Just embarrassed...at myself…"
"Well then," he smiles, "I suppose I'll just have to make you feel so good you won't be able to think about that."