|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 21, 2016 2:15:58 GMT -5
She had most of the evening to think on it before her dinner meeting with the new designer, and as Julian was still painting, Lyra had spent the night alone which led to still more thinking. Nicolas' accusations were completely founded, he had been there for Lyra more than either Julian or Sam had. He'd saved her from the serial killer. Brought her down from two panic attacks. Shook her out of a depressive episode. Given her security and comfort she could have with her always. Encouraged her in healing her tremendously scarred mind in several different ways.
Merlin, the list grew longer almost every day.
Lyra felt wretched as she realized that Nik was as much a friend to her as Samantha was. And although he clearly enjoyed taking the mickey out of her as much as she did him, Lyra had crossed the line and she needed for him to know that she was sorry. She considered sending him an owl and asking him to meet her somewhere, but she knew she'd likely end up sitting alone so she decided she'd have to drag him out herself.
She knocked on the door and waited, uncharacteristically, for him to invite her in. It helped that he didn't know it was her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 21, 2016 2:46:34 GMT -5
Nik had been frustrated with the way he handled Lyra's behavior. He usually had more patience than he had showed her, but he was often grouchy this time of year. Sam tried to help at first, but she knew that Nik would rather simply be alone.
Still, he refused to be at his own estates with his father who even in his dementia, could manage to exhibit a surprising amount of vitriol and grief in equal amounts. So he often secured his apartments at the Montgomery estates and the rest of the family gave him a wide berth. They knew him well enough to do so, Lyra did not.
He was surprised by the knock on the door, and his expression was positively dark as he opened it to find Lyra on the other side, "What do you want?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 21, 2016 3:13:55 GMT -5
"You're in a good mood," she said sarcastically as he glared at her. She smiled in return for his expression, hoping either that her mood would rub off on him or that his dark expression would be overtaken by one of simple annoyance.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 21, 2016 3:28:08 GMT -5
"Actually no. I'm not. So if you've come here to berate me for my behavior, the other day, let's just skip to the part where I don't apologize and you storm away in a huff." he said crossing his arms.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 21, 2016 3:35:42 GMT -5
"Would that be the part where you let me throw hexes at you for an hour or when you finally got me to make a shield charm? Either way, I don't see what good an apology would do and I've only just got here so it'd be silly of me to leave so quickly." She smiled again at him.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 21, 2016 3:39:49 GMT -5
He narrowed his eyes at her words, "Your insults need a bit of work darling, that sounded suspiciously like gratitude." he said with a raised brow.
He was still cautious and he did not want to suffer through Lyra's company, but the gentleman in him grudgingly opened the door for her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 21, 2016 4:00:11 GMT -5
Lyra stepped over the threshold and walked past Nicolas into the room, ignoring his comment with nothing more a wink. She crossed the room to a comfy looking arm chair and was about to sit when she stopped herself and looked up at him. "You haven't hexed it to make my hair fall out or anything, have you?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 21, 2016 16:55:34 GMT -5
"Depends on how long it takes you to get to the point." he said testily, though if anything Lyra's constant aggravating nature was second nature to him so he would be able to tolerate it even if he wasn't in the mood.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 21, 2016 17:29:01 GMT -5
Lyra frowned at him. He really was in a mood, was this all because of her? Lyra sighed as she sat in the chair, crossing her legs and pulling down the skirt of her dress as it hiked itself up her thigh.
"You're actually going to make me say it, aren't you?" she groaned in a defeated manner. She rolled her eyes half way and sighed heavily before speaking again. "I don't fancy my life a fairy tale by any stretch of the imagination but even if it were, you are far from the villain. I shouldn't have said those things yesterday. Please stop making that grumpy face at me, its terribly unattractive."
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 21, 2016 17:42:01 GMT -5
His grumpy face remained, but flickers of confusion filtered through until he was just frowning.
"Let me get this straight, you came to me, to apologize?"
The world really was ending, or...
"Lyra if this is some sort of attempt to pay me back, I really don't have the energy or the wherewithal to go through it today okay? Just not today." he said pinching the bridge of his nose to weary to entertain what new scheme the vixen had up her sleeve.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 21, 2016 18:08:38 GMT -5
Her expression lightened as he began to suspect her of foul play. "Really, Nicolas, do you think so little of me that you would assume I would plot against you by apologizing first? If I wanted to pay you back for your mean little trick I certainly wouldn't admit to any fault of my own and I definitely would have come up with something much more clever than knocking on your door."
She looked at him, then shifted slightly in her seat. "And why would tomorrow be any better than today? What's so special about today that's got you all flustered?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 21, 2016 18:22:24 GMT -5
Her logic was sound, and yet Lyra had defied logic time and again.
Still he chose to accept what she said at face value; he really didn't have the energy to deal with the alternative.
Without bothering to answer her he moved to the drink he had been consuming before Lyra appeared-a stunning sight since he had only ever been the soberest and staunchest of moralists since Lyra had met him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 21, 2016 18:36:14 GMT -5
She frowned again as he moved for his drink. "Something really is wrong, then," she commented more to herself than to him.
"Would you like to tell me what it is, or should we play a guessing game? I know how much you adore my questions." She was sorry she had crossed the line with her remarks yesterday, but she did still enjoy the funny angles and colors his face took on when she pestered him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 21, 2016 21:48:18 GMT -5
He took a deep drink before dropping the glass to the bar and filling it once more, "No need. It's my sister's birthday." he said darkly taking another drink.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 21, 2016 22:00:11 GMT -5
Initially the idea of birthdays is a happy thought and Lyra couldn't possibly see what it was about a sibling's birthday that would cause him to look so thoroughly miserable. Aubrielle's birthday was always a joyous occasion for the sisters and in addition to cake and presents Lyra and her sister would spend the night sitting up in one of their bedrooms, talking about all of the wonderful things that were going to happen now that one of them had grown another year older.
But Lyra could easily guess that this was not how Nicolas would be spending his sister's birthday. Hell, Lyra didn't even know Nicolas had a sister.
"Did she...pass on?" Lyra asked as respectfully as she could manage while still prying into his personal life.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 21, 2016 22:05:36 GMT -5
Nik closed his eyes at Lyra's question. He didn't think so. He prayed she was somewhere safe, happy, loved, but the sad truth was he didn't know. She had disappeared several years ago and it had been his fault. He had never forgiven himself, nor would he ever forgive himself for the callous way he had treated her.
But thinking about Vanessa only made Nik ache deep inside and he grew angry, "You have a penchant for asking stupid questions."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 21, 2016 22:36:59 GMT -5
"So you tell me," Lyra said, purposefully ignoring the anger in Nik's voice. She took his response as a confirmation of her query and decided not to press the matter further.
Her amends was not going well. After all of the times her plans to make the people around her happy had failed, you would think Lyra would have expected such a conclusion, but it still threw her off. She chewed on her lip for a moment, thinking of what she could do to possibly cheer Nicolas up even a teensy bit.
"Have you ever played Never Have I Ever?" she asked, seemingly out of nowhere. "Sorry, that's another question. But have you?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 21, 2016 22:50:39 GMT -5
Nik turned an incredulous expression on her, wondering what on earth he possibly could have done so wrong in a past life that Lyra was his penance. When he saw she was absolutely serious he released a long sigh.
"I know you may not think so, but yes, upon occasion I too, have played my share of pointless games for the purpose of indulging in life's folly why on earth do you wish to know?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 21, 2016 23:08:59 GMT -5
Lyra exaggerated her look of bewilderment at Nik's long response to a short question. "My Godric, Nik, just say 'yes' next time."
She rose from the chair she had claimed and moved to the bar where she quickly mixed herself a drink. When she returned she set her glass on the table between them and sat at the edge of her seat.
"Never have I ever given an unreasonably long answer when the response should have been a single word." Lyra looked expectantly at Nicolas. "You have to drink now. You do that all the time!"
|
|
|
|
Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 21, 2016 23:11:42 GMT -5
"I'm not doing this with you." he said in an aggravated tone turning away from her. Still Lyra's presence was like a thorn in his side. She was like a thorn in his side, and he couldn't get away from her.
On the other hand drinking himself silly and having a mite sized demon hounding him may have been better than the demons in his mind that haunted him.
|
|
