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Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 31, 2016 15:51:13 GMT -5
Lyra was still avoiding Julian. She'd since gotten over her anger at him for not going after Mason and talking things through, but she was embarrassed. The scene at the art gallery itself was awkward but it highlighted a bigger problem that Lyra wasn't even aware of.
She didn't know Julian.
She thought she knew him. She thought he was finally showing his true self by admitting to his attempt to end his life many years ago and sharing more of the raw, vulnerable, and hurt Julian than just the charming knight she'd originally fallen for. But she had been certain that Julian would fight for her happiness and that clearly wasn't going to be the case. Looking back on it, it was obvious, but she'd been blinded by her affections.
Everyone else could see it. Mason and Nicolas both insisted that Julian was the type of man who would only deal with things on his time table, and until then he would avoid the situation altogether. Perhaps for forever. It was so clear now to Lyra that Julian had done the exact same thing to her. He had no intentions of talking things out and making things right - he hid in his mansion and if they saw each other they attacked each other with fiery passion before he turned cold again and shut her out.
She wasn't even angry at him for avoiding her. Maybe a little but she was working through that with her therapist. No, Lyra was angry at herself for falling for a man she didn't know. And now that she had fallen, she wasn't sure she could do anything to make it right. Would Julian ever let her see the real him?
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Post by Julian Faust on Dec 31, 2016 15:55:51 GMT -5
Julian was a flawed man. Deeply flawed. He knew this about himself and most of the people who cared about him knew his flaws as well, except for the foolish woman who had given him her heart. The foolish woman he had given his own heart too as well. It was easy to be another kind of man in front of her, she made him want to be that man, be a better man. But when backed into a corner he retreated into himself and he still hadn't worked out how to be the man she needed. He wondered if he ever would work it out.
He knew he had to stop avoiding his problems, avoiding her, eventually avoiding Mason, and avoiding the grief he had experienced when Belle died. But none of that was easy. Still patching things up with Lyra would be the easiest task. With that in mind he stopped by the florist to pick up orchids then headed toward Lyra's apartment.
With a quick knock he waited for her to open the door.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 31, 2016 20:15:26 GMT -5
Mimsy had been purposely keeping a low profile when her mistress was with master Julian. Lyra had commanded as much initially and Mimsy was none too happy about complying. She tried her hardest to talk mistress Lyra out of seeing the evil dark haired man who had broken her heart several times over, but Mimsy was a good elf and did as her mistress told her. But mistress wasn't here now.
Mimsy opened the door and her sweet smile stiffened. "Mistress is not at home," she said curtly and proceeded to shut the door.
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Post by Julian Faust on Dec 31, 2016 20:17:46 GMT -5
Julian sighed. Mimsy. Great. Sometimes he regretted getting the house elf for Lyra, but other times he was glad the pest was so protective.
He held the door open, "Now now Mimsy," he scolded gently, "Do you know where she went?"
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 31, 2016 20:32:20 GMT -5
"I do indeed, sir," the elf answered. Her forced, polite smile turned into a grin. "Mistress Lyra is out for the evening with Master Nicolas. Such a nice man, he is. Master Nicolas takes good care of Mistress and makes her happy."
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Post by Julian Faust on Dec 31, 2016 20:34:14 GMT -5
Julian rolled his eyes, then furrowed his brows in confusion, "She's with Nik?"
Why on earth were they always together these days? Sam had convinced him not to worry about it, but they were spending an inordinate amount of time together.
"Does she often go out with Nicolas?"
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 31, 2016 20:53:18 GMT -5
"Every week, sir. Mistress is quite fond of Master Nicolas. But as I said, sir, they are not here tonight." Mimsy attempted again to shut the door on Julian.
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Post by Julian Faust on Dec 31, 2016 20:57:38 GMT -5
Julian let that sink in for a moment as something tight wound it's way in his chest and a nerve was struck.
His attention was caught again as the door shut on his foot and he yelped, "Damn it Mimsy!" he cursed, not necessarily at the small creature, but more or less out of pain, he took a deep breath.
"Where did they go?"
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 31, 2016 21:06:13 GMT -5
Mimsy shrunk as Julian yelled. She had not meant to hurt him and was certain her mistress would tell her off when she found out. But she didn't apologize.
"I was not instructed to tell you, sir. So I think it would not be proper of me to do so without my mistress' instruction." Mimsy knew where the couple had gone, but she didn't want Julian running off and ruining Lyra's good time. He did that enough on his own.
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Post by Julian Faust on Dec 31, 2016 21:13:23 GMT -5
"Mimsy," Julian began with more patience than he felt, "who instructed you to serve Mistress Lyra?" he asked but then moved forward without waiting for the elf to answer, "Which household do you originally hail from?" he asked reminding her that she still in point of fact served Julian's household even though he had instructed her to take care of Lyra.
"I do not wish for this antagonism between us, but since you are determined then I too shall be determined. Do not test me further! Now, Where. Did. She. Go? " Julian asked in a controlled voice.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 31, 2016 21:18:26 GMT -5
Mimsy's already large eyes grew wide at the forced control in Julian's voice. She had served him long enough to know what hid behind that control and she did not wish to see it again. It wouldn't benefit her mistress.
"Master Nicolas took her to his home, sir."
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Post by Julian Faust on Dec 31, 2016 21:22:35 GMT -5
"Thank you Mimsy." He said and was gone within the next moment. He had regretted growing stern with the elf, but his patience had left him.
He moved with an urgent speed as though hell were at his heels. He was anxious to confirm his suspicions one way or another.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 31, 2016 21:29:28 GMT -5
Nicolas had been helping Lyra with dueling. Not the proper dueling she had done in school which she was, once upon a time, so clearly talented with. Nik was teaching her how to actually fend for herself in a real battle, and it was working. When they started Lyra could do little more than scream and turn away in terror as Nicolas' hexes hit her. Slowly but surely she was getting better. She still felt the rush of terror as she saw a bolt of light coming at her, but she could now consistently block and deflect the curses. She had a long ways to go, but she had come so far.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 31, 2016 21:33:44 GMT -5
Nik reached for the bottle of water he kept handy during their sparing matches.
"Alright, let's take a break." he said taking off the dueling jacket he wore.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 31, 2016 21:43:25 GMT -5
Lyra was tired but determined not to show it. She smirked as Nik called for a break. "Can't keep up with a girl?" she taunted him. Lyra set her dueling jacket on a contraption of some sort and reached for her own water.
Lyra had grown accustomed to the dueling attire the room enchanted her with as she entered each time they had a session, but she argued that the basically flat shoes the room tried to force her into were unrealistic. If she was ever in a situation where she needed to defend herself, she would most definitely be wearing heels at least four inches high so she demanded to practice in something similar. Nik reminded her that she'd twisted her ankle running from him in heels and she made a snappy retort about the slim chances of having such a disgusting creature chase after her twice. Eventually he relented and Lyra practiced in heels that she still felt were a bit pathetic, but three inches was better than one.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 31, 2016 21:57:29 GMT -5
"Let's try something different." he said after a long sip of water.
"I'd say you'd fair well enough when it comes to defense with a wand. But if you are disarmed you need to know what to do."
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 31, 2016 22:05:39 GMT -5
Lyra wanted to argue. She didn't think her dueling skills were anywhere near where they needed to be, but she couldn't argue that were she completely wandless she'd be more than easy to overcome. Even with her wand strapped to her thigh, the serial killer had managed to not only pull her from the carriage, but also get quite far across the field with her before Nicolas had saved her.
She nodded. "Alright. But don't think I'm not aware that this is all some grande plan to get to touch me." She smirked at him before laughing. The idea of Nicolas touching her in any romantic or lustful manner was beyond hysterical.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 31, 2016 22:10:31 GMT -5
"Don't pretend like you don't like it." he shot back at her. Their strange relationship had moved further along to where they were comfortable teasing each other about their relationship as well as what others might consider romantic between them. The idea was too preposterous for Nik or Lyra to even support without breaking out in fits of laughter.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Dec 31, 2016 22:27:38 GMT -5
Lyra's laughter turned into a shudder. She made a disgusted face. "Bleh, that's not even funny," she said with a smile.
"Let's get on with it then."
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Dec 31, 2016 22:35:52 GMT -5
Nik resisted the urge to tease her again, and began walking her through some initial defensive maneuvers.
"Alright, let's start with the basics. Everything begins and ends with stance." Nik looked down at Lyra's shoes and groaned, "Alright stand shoulder width apart...good, now I'm going to push you lightly, take a small step back to gain balance. Ready?"
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