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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 14, 2016 17:13:44 GMT -5
Lyra had made it through the rest of the formalities at the ball with the help of her vanity charm and Samantha's supportive hand. Lyra had avoided speaking to anyone she didn't absolutely have to, and while she noticed Julian watching her from the edge of the room she kept her distance. She also avoided Nicolas, not wanting to thank him for his help in the matter as she knew an admonishing rant about her character and ill intentions would follow shortly. The second Samantha said she could disappear, Lyra was gone. And she had stayed in her flat ever since.
It had been three days since the ball and three days since she'd stepped foot outside her apartment building. Mimsy took care of her as always but even Lyra could see the elf's expression of concern grow as Lyra insisted on sitting about the house in a shirt of Julian's she had nicked from their last evening together. His smell had gone but it still reminded her of him and she would inhale the scent of his sleeve as she stared at a book on her lap. She wasn't reading it. She had started to read it but forgot to pay attention to the words as her eyes scanned the text and her fingers turned the pages.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 14, 2016 17:22:39 GMT -5
Nik didn't have time for Lyra's missishness, the damage was done and frankly it could have gone a lot worse. Mason was keeping his mouth shut, and Julian was, well Nik hadn't seen Julian in a while, but he wasn't talking so essentially Lyra's - and therefore Sam's - reputation was still clean.
But it was highly irregular that a girl would have such a successful coming out, then hole away and keep to herself. And Lyra had been a success, the invitations were piling up, as was work at the Magazine.
Sam was worried, and when Sam worried Nik had to worry or at least be annoyed, which was how he found himself outside her door and ringing the doorbell.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 14, 2016 17:35:07 GMT -5
The doorbell snapped Lyra out of her daze, as did the shuffling of Mimsy as she hurried to answer the door. Mimsy was grateful for whatever disruption the company would bring for Lyra's depression. The elf opened the door and looked up at the tall man standing in the doorway. She was instantly delighted at the prospect of a new suitor to lift Lyra's spirits.
"Hello, sir." Mimsy said to the handsome man.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 14, 2016 18:52:47 GMT -5
"Well this is morbidly depressing." Nik said stepping inside. He patted Mimsy on the head then came to step in front of Lyra.
"You look like hell."
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 14, 2016 22:49:52 GMT -5
Lyra looked to the door and was either pleasantly surprised or disappointed to see it was Nicolas. She wasn't sure which.
"I wasn't exactly expecting company," she admonished as she stood from her place on the sofa and pulled Julian's shirt down to cover herself. She hadn't bothered to put any real clothes on, seeing as how she intended to hole herself away without guests for the foreseeable future. She rolled her eyes and shook her head slightly as if his presence was a huge hassle then walked into her room, tugging at the hem of the shirt to maintain some level of modesty. When she emerged a few moments later she wore a pair a jeans and had slipped a bra on under Julian's shirt which she had no intentions of removing anytime soon.
"Did Sam send you? You can tell her whatever you'd like so long as it makes her not worry." She moved a small stack of books off the sofa in case Nicolas decided to stay, though judging by his initial comments it would be unlikely. She returned to her own place on the sofa and looked at him waiting for the lecture or warning, possibly both, that she had come to expect with his presence.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 14, 2016 23:39:33 GMT -5
Nik frowned. She really was a mess.
"Yeah well Sam's the worrying type." he sat next to her, "Control issues." he explained.
He picked the book up that she had failed to read, "Drivel." he discarded it.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 15, 2016 0:08:27 GMT -5
Lyra lifted her feet onto the cushion and curled herself into a ball, her back resting against the arm of the sofa so that she could look at Nicolas with as little effort as possible.
She watched as Nicolas evaluated her reading habits which, truth be told, weren't the most respectable at the moment. Mostly romance novels covered in tear stains from where her emotions ran over as she yelled vehemently at the young heroines that they should just be happy because their princes and soldiers loved them.
"Did you just come to insult me? Because I can assure you I'm doing enough of it myself."
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 15, 2016 0:25:44 GMT -5
"You're right, this was probably a waste of time." he agreed, "Have you even showered since the ball?" he asked with a slight sneer.
He was being provoking, it was his natural state with her.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 15, 2016 0:47:19 GMT -5
"I'd like to see how well you take it when Sam finally decides she's had enough of your f*ckery and finds someone better! A mountain troll would be a huge improvement!" she retorted loudly.
Clearly he just wanted to rub salt in the wound and she didn't have to put up with it in her own home. She stood angrily from the sofa and glared at him, looking about as intimidating as one could when they were only 5'5".
"If you've got nothing important to tell me then get out!"
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 15, 2016 0:56:43 GMT -5
Nik grinned, "There she is." he said smugly, "I was beginning to worry with all the moping."
His grin melted into a lazy smirk, "When are you going back to work?"
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 15, 2016 1:19:22 GMT -5
An expression of angry realization came over her as Nicolas grinned. He was baiting her. She picked one of her books up from the coffee table and threw it at him. "You're such a wanker!"
She sat back down in a huff, pulling her feet up under her again and wrapping her arms around her knees. She inhaled the ghosted scent of Julian's sleeve before answering Nik in an annoyed tone. "Sam's fine without me. She only gave me the job as sympathy."
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 15, 2016 1:27:04 GMT -5
Nik laughed and put his hands up to defend himself against Lyra's deplorable throwing skills.
"A job is a job love, it should be done well." he scoffed, "Besides your work at the magazine was perhaps the only thing I found useful about you at first." he baited her again with the backwards compliment.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 15, 2016 1:43:11 GMT -5
"I'll let you know when I discover something you do well, then we'll be even," she sneered. Lyra was acutely aware that this was their new normal, Nicolas baited her and she responded in kind. She still didn't like him and he probably still didn't trust her but as they were apparently stuck together until the M debacle was over they would have to make due. At least insulting Nicolas took her mind off of Julian for a time.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 15, 2016 1:54:02 GMT -5
Nik wanted to laugh, she really was quite witty. He hadn't entertained a verbal sparring partner in a long time and Lyra was more than a match for him.
"You'd have to come out of hiding in order to do that." he challenged back.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 15, 2016 2:03:23 GMT -5
"Well that's a shame. I guess we won't find out your gift then."
Lyra had no intentions of leaving her flat. Mimsy took care of her well enough and if she ran out of books to read she could always have more sent over from the shop. Besides, what was out there for her anyway? Samantha was perfectly fine on her own. Julian didn't want to see her. And leaving her flat only increased her chances of running into Nicolas' insults more frequently.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 15, 2016 2:16:20 GMT -5
Nik sighed, "Well I wouldn't say that. First of all I think you've discovered one of my many talents." he said smiling at her, "I seem to be rather adept at getting under your skin. I'll let you in on another talent..."
He stood this time and put his hands in his pockets as he faced her, "I can be unbearably stubborn..."
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 15, 2016 2:25:43 GMT -5
She followed his movements with her eyes and smelled the sleeve of Julian's shirt again as Nicolas stood in front of her. "Perfect. Didn't even need to leave the house and you're already one up on me."
Nicolas could be a lot of unbearable things, but she wasn't budging on her stance of self-imprisonment. She'd end up hurting someone else, or hurting the same people further. She was cursed and brought misery to those she loved. It was best to steer clear of them.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 15, 2016 2:50:29 GMT -5
"Alright then. Well since I can't seem to convince you, I suppose I could bring Sam here. We could take turns nagging you. Only she'd be far more concerned, where as I would probably just threaten to buy the building and have the landlord evict you."
It wasn't beyond his capabilities nor was it something he wouldn't do. It just would depend on how far Lyra wanted to take her misery.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 15, 2016 2:56:55 GMT -5
Lyra groaned and threw her head back in frustration. "What is it you want from me, Nicolas? What do you expect me to do? Everything I touch turns to sh*t. You don't want that for Sam so why are you pushing me?"
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 15, 2016 3:12:48 GMT -5
"Because you're better than this Lyra. There I said it. Are you happy?" he asked almost disgusted.
"I was wrong about you, and yes that did taste bitter. I believe you when you say that you care about Sam, that you care about Julian and Mason." he heaved a great sigh.
"You mucked things up, but you weren't alone. Julian played his part, Sam played hers, Mason, and even I had a hand in this mess in some ways. But laying there refusing to groom yourself and sniffing an old shirt is beneath you. And a little creepy to be honest."
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