Aedan Cousland
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Post by Aedan Cousland on Feb 7, 2011 12:03:08 GMT -5
Jenna looked at the gloves with…was that sadness tinging her expression? Just a bit of sorrow, as though she really wanted something but was torn. "They're wonderful really," she said as she pulled off the hat, looking at the bright wool with longing. But then she shook her head and told the vendor that she didn't need gloves, seeing as she had the ones already covering her hands. "He does though," she stated. "Man's been running about all this time with nothing on his ears or his fingers."
She wandered off a few steps, perusing the colors on display with a look of concentration. Practicality at war with want, that was Jenna…or, at least, that was what Aedan was beginning to learn about her. She pushed aside all of her own desires for the smallest of reasons. It wasn't proper, or it wasn't practical, or…whatever.
Well, sod practicality. He didn't survive a year of hell and make the deal he had to survive and do nothing but deny himself or the people he cared about what they wanted. If she wanted a frivolous pair of orange mitts to go with a ridiculous orange hat, then why the Fade not?
"Ser?" the vendor asked as Aedan continued to watch Jenna as she moved down the table. The young lady held the hat and mitts Jenna had discarded.
"Please package those," he instructed quietly, his voice low enough that Jenna wouldn't hear. Speaking a little louder, he continued. "As the lady said, I will need a hat and mitts as well. But not blue or grey. Do you have any suggestions?"
The vendor quickly stowed the orange set, then turned her attention back to Aedan. "Dark hair," she murmured, "light eyes…." She looked over her table, tapping a finger against her lips.
Before the vendor could make a selection, Aedan spotted one he had to try. "A ha!" Grinning, he pounced on a hat in a shade of lemon yellow with a rather large pom-pom at the crown. It was absolutely ridiculous, which is why he'd chosen it. Just to make Jenna laugh, because he hadn't seen her eyes sparkle enough lately.
"This one! Don't you think, Jenna? The darkspawn will all keel over laughing, and it will make it easy to kill them. I think it's an excellent plan."
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Post by Guest on Feb 7, 2011 12:45:11 GMT -5
Jenna listened with half an ear as Aedan confirmed he needed a hat and gloves with the girl. She was trying to think of what colors worked on him. She wanted to say the same ones that would work on her but could almost hear Chrissy going on about differing hair color, eyes, and complexions. Jenna would have loved a bit of such wisdom from Chrissy or Leliana about now.
"A ha!"
The black haired noble woman looked up and giggled as Aedan pulled on lemon yellow hat with a pom on the top. Some people managed to look cute with poms. Olivia likely would have, even Evie, with their small builds. On someone of Aedan's size it was comical.
"This one! Don't you think, Jenna? The darkspawn will all keel over laughing, and it will make it easy to kill them. I think it's an excellent plan."
Jenna could only shake her head as she chuckled, moving back to Aedan and the merchant. "A grand plan indeed. No better weapons than a smile and a laugh," she said as like before she reacted up and pulled the hat off before looking over the table to find it's matching mittens.
She spotted a set then that made here pause. Not to gaily bright but not quite dark either. It was more green than blue though the undertones or blue were there. It was a little difficult to name it a particular color. Jenna wanted to call it a sea green or blue but it was to dark for that. Either way it was definitely unique, visible without being obvious, and the set even had a scarf with it.
She set the yell hat down and picked up the one she'd found. She put it on Aedan's head, tugging it down to make sure it covered his ears well enough. It certainly fit without being to tight or loose for worry of it falling off.
It pulled the darker blues out of his eyes, making her stomach do that slow rolling flip again.
"That one, I think. What do you say Aedan?"
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Aedan Cousland
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Post by Aedan Cousland on Feb 7, 2011 16:28:48 GMT -5
Mission accomplished. Jenna giggled, just as he'd intended, though he hadn't quite expected the flush of happiness the light sound brought to him. He'd always enjoyed joking around, but making Jenna smile and chuckle made poking fun at himself even more worthwhile.
"A grand plan indeed. No better weapons than a smile and a laugh." She reached up to pull the hat off and Aedan feigned a look of disappointment.
"Don't underestimate the power of laughter when it comes to disabling darkspawn," he advised. His smile strengthened as he remembered a particular story. "When Alistair and I received our orders at Ostagar from Duncan, the Warden Commander, Alistair was none too happy about not being in the battle. We were assigned to light the signal fire at the top of a tower, did I ever tell you that? I wasn't in the actual battle at Ostagar, but we saw enough darkspawn in the tower…" And he'd survived only because Morrigan's mother had shapechanged into an enormous bird and plucked the two of them from the top of the Tower of Ishal, before the darkspawn could overwhelm them.
Whether or not that was true, Aedan didn't know. He'd never asked Flemeth, nor pressed Alistair for details on it. In the grand scheme of things, it didn't really matter how they'd gotten down from the tower, only that they had.
"At any rate, the orders were King Cailan's—who, of course, was Alistair's brother, though I didn't know that at the time. Alistair was none-too-pleased at our task, even when Duncan said that we would do it because the King requested Wardens be the ones to light the beacon." Aedan's smile turned a bit crooked then, at the memory of Alistair's snippy words. "I'll never forget how Alistair looked at Duncan and stated, 'Just so you know, if the king ever asks me to put on a dress and dance the Remigold, I'm drawing the line. Darkspawn or no.'"
His grin widened. "Of course I had to respond that I thought that was a fine plan, that I'd like to see him in a dress, and we had a good laugh over the image of Alistair dancing down the darkspawn line, all dolled up."
He looked over as the vendor giggled, and he knew that story would be making the rounds very shortly. A chuckle left his lips as he wondered if it would eventually reach Alistair's ears, and, oh, the reaction from the King. Actually, he'd probably laugh. Alistair was a good sport, and always had been, one of the reasons they'd gotten on so well.
Jenna examined the woollen items and then turned back, a prize in her hands. It was a hat of navy and forest green yarn, and it appealed to him immediately. He'd always liked blue…and the green reminded him of her eyes, though it was a little darker. She tugged it onto his head, making sure it covered his ears entirely, and he couldn't help but just watch her the whole time. Her cheeks were rosy from the chill, and her eyes sparkled with humor, and she was…just so beautiful.
He held those words in, though, knowing they weren't what she needed to hear. She needed a friend, someone to support her, and no additional pressure as she tried to figure out her life now that she'd had all of these new paths opened up before her.
So a friend he'd be. Even if he did want to kiss those lovely lips.
"That one, I think. What do you say Aedan?"
"Perfect," he murmured, then blinked. "The hat. It's great. Perfect color, yes." He turned back to the vendor. "I'll take the matching gloves and scarf, miss. You may add it to the other purchase as well." He paused as the young woman reached for the matching mitts and scarf. "I don't suppose you know a Winifred, do you? She used to have a booth like this every Cladan as well. It was something of a tradition, for me to purchase a new hat and mitts from her, every year, but she…doesn't seem to be here this year."
"I'm her granddaughter, ser." The vendor smiled. "Masie. It sounds as though you have fond memories of Grams. I'll be sure to let her know!"
"She's alive then?" Aedan couldn't help the bit of a smile that bloomed at the news.
"She is, ser, and likely wrapped in blankets in front of the fire back at our freehold. The cold makes her bones ache, which is why she stopped travelling for Cladan the year of…well, a couple of years back." Masie offered an apologetic smile, and he was sure she'd been about to refer to the Fall. He shrugged off the reference with more ease than he'd done so in some time.
"Thank you for the news, Masie, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Aedan sketched a quick bow. "I'm Aedan Cousland…which you probably already know…and this is Lady Jennavieve Kincade. We'll be sure to wear our new winter gear with pride."
Masie handed over the package and he exchanged some coins with her, then pulled out the orange hat and plopped it into Jenna's head. "There. Oh, and the matching gloves. The brown is entirely too sensible to go with that hat."
His eyes twinkled with merriment as he dragged Jenna along with him toward the centre of the market, where he could hear music playing. It was time for some dancing, he thought, and perhaps a snack.
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Post by Guest on Feb 7, 2011 20:59:06 GMT -5
Jenna had to laugh at Aedan's tale. It was just funny and exactly the kind of thing Jenna was sure helped cut the tension of an immediate battle. The joke surely had been needed then for Aedan likely. It would have been his first big battle really, unless one counted the Fall of Highever. Personally from the accounts it was more a slaughter and a sneaky backstabbing, not a battle.
She frowned when Aedan told the girl to add the set to his other purchases. She hadn't seen him pick anything out after all. Jenna was distracted though by Aedan asking about a Winifred. That he'd remember a little old lady that had done nothing more than sell him a hat and gloves was just...it was so sweet...
She was glad when the girl who had been helping then proved to be this Winifred's grand daughter, and that the old one was still alive, just suffering the usual ailments of age. Aedan needed a happy ending for once somewhere other than on a battlefield, even if it was just knowing someone was alive and happy somewhere.
"Thank you for the news, Masie, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Aedan said giving a quick bow. "I'm Aedan Cousland…which you probably already know…and this is Lady Jennavieve Kincade. We'll be sure to wear our new winter gear with pride."
Wait...
"We? What are you..."
Aedan pulled out the orange hat and plopped it into Jenna's head. For a moment Jenna couldn't see through her own bangs. It might have been a good thing though since she was in a bit of surprise with her jaw having open.
"There. Oh, and the matching gloves. The brown is entirely too sensible to go with that hat."
Aedan's comment snapped her out of stupor. She barely got the first syllable of his name out before he was dragging her along after him. One hand clamped in his and the other settled over her new hat to keep it on her head. The matching gloves held between them. His eyes brighter than she'd ever seen them since that night before Satinalia.
Dear Maker she felt like someone had tossed her into a whirlwind. She couldn't for the life of her seem to find her feet, physically or metaphorically. It took a moment but she heard music and people. She did her best to dig in her heels as she tugged Aedan's arm. She wasn't sure he would hear here after all as they approached the edge of the crowd gathered in the square for things.
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Aedan Cousland
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Post by Aedan Cousland on Feb 7, 2011 22:34:07 GMT -5
Jenna resisted heading toward the market, but he just tugged her along without paying much attention to how she dug in her heels. He didn't particularly care why she was protesting wordlessly; if it was because of the hat purchase or a fear of music or some other unfathomable reason. Regardless, they were going to enjoy the dancing. It was part of Cladan. Tradition.
Aedan was discovering he rather liked revisiting tradition. He'd been too long without.
The music was going strong in the center of the market once they arrived, with a number of couples dancing heartily to the rhythm. Laughter mixed with the drums, flutes, and strings, shouts of encouragement twining through the rest of it, like a descant in one of the Chantry's songs. Men and women twirled on the floor, and Aedan's feet itched to join them.
A familiar bark stayed his step, though, and he spun around to see Nu come running up, a trio of children chasing him. Aedan groaned. "Maker, Nu, not again!"
The mabari wagged his stump of a tail and crouched in an invitation Aedan recognized very well. The dog wanted him to come play with his new "puppies".
"I wouldn't let you keep one in Denerim. Do you honestly think I'd let you adopt three?"
Nu rose from his bow, cocking his head to the side as he whined.
"Don't you try that with me. If you want puppies, you'll have to go about it the old-fashioned way."
The mabari cocked his head the other way, as if considering that idea. His tongue lolled out of his mouth, a large canine smile firmly in place.
Aedan felt a little tug on his cloak, and looked down to see a little blonde girl with missing teeth regarding him shyly. "Ser, can we play with your puppy?"
He crouched, giving her a smile. "You can. I'd appreciate it if you could keep him out of trouble." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the little sack of lemon drops he always carried, offering it to her, then to her two friends. "And if he tries to take you home with him, tell him Aedan said no, all right?"
She giggled, then popped the candy into her mouth. "Okay."
Aedan ruffed a hand over her head, then stood again, turning a firm look on the mabari. "Be good, Nuallan. And put them back where you found them when you're done!"
The mabari huffed at him, as if to say, of course, then trotted off with the children running in circles around him. Aedan shook his head at the sight, then stowed the lemon drops back in his pocket. He glanced at Jenna, feeling a little embarrassed for some reason he couldn't quite pin down.
"Sorry," he said with a shrug. "Nu likes kids and he has this habit of trying to...acquire them. He keeps trying to convince me to let him adopt one. Somehow I don't think their parents would understand." He held out his elbow for her. "Well, my lady. Shall we have a dance?"
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Post by Guest on Feb 8, 2011 6:07:09 GMT -5
Jenna was grateful when Aedan stopped. She didn't get a chance to really start in on him like she wanted to for dragging her around like a sack of laundry. Nu came dashing up with children in his wake. Green eyes watching the lot of them with a confused look. Heart constricting watching Aedan talk to the little girl. Part of her expecting him to tell the lot to bugger off or something, even thought she knew he would never do that.
"Are you sure it's that he doesn't want a family?"
It was far to easy to imagine Aedan with a family. He would be a great father and the thought had Jenna holding her stomach for a completely different reason ffor once. She was already regretting telling him no on the courting. Much as she wished she couldn't turn back time and change her mind. He wouldn't want someone who had refused him before, it would have been a matter of pride.
Er....wouldn't he?
She held up on hand, clenching a pair of delicate orange gloves in it. Her other hand rising to tug at a curl nervously. The armor could be explained but not the hat and gloves. She'd had a hood and gloves and didn't need them for anything other than to make her smile...
"Sorry," Aedan said sheepishly as the children ran off with Nu. "Nu likes kids and he has this habit of trying to...acquire them. He keeps trying to convince me to let him adopt one. Somehow I don't think their parents would understand." He held out his elbow for her. "Well, my lady. Shall we have a dance?"
Wasn't that suppose to ruffled her feathers. She hated being called his lady before after all. Why didn't it bother her now? Everyone was calling her his as it was and he hadn't corrected them...neither had she though...
She had to order herself to let go of her hair. Her hands though were like her thoughts and restless. For lack of anything else for them to do Jenna started pulling at her gloves. Subconsciously switching the brown for the orange before stuffing the brown ones away in a belt pouch.
"A-Aedan I don't dance. Surely you remember that. I was so sure I crushed your toes that one time I did dance with you. I'm fairly certain I broke Fergus's. I don't want to ruin your Cladan by mangling your feet." Jenna's voice was full of nerves, and it wasn't just about the dancing. Though....it did look fun... No, no, she was going to sit this out damn it. She did not dance and it was for a good reason.
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Aedan Cousland
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Post by Aedan Cousland on Feb 8, 2011 9:53:47 GMT -5
Aedan watched with amusement as Jenna tugged on her new gloves, her movements a bit jerky, as though she were using them to cover up nervousness. And that was exactly it, he realized as she began speaking. Her voice was filled with uncertainty.
"A-Aedan I don't dance. Surely you remember that. I was so sure I crushed your toes that one time I did dance with you. I'm fairly certain I broke Fergus's. I don't want to ruin your Cladan by mangling your feet."
His grin just widened. Fergus's wedding reception, right. He'd been so pissed of that night—at Fergus and his new wife, at their parents, and at Jenna, too, after she'd tromped all over his feet. She hadn't quite crushed his toes; she didn't have enough weight to her at the time to do much damage at all.
His mind ranged forward in time from the reception, to the gathering on the beach with Markham, Sera, and Iain, made fuzzy by time and too much liquor. He felt a pang for lost friends—Finny, he'd found again, but Markham and Iain…
His more somber thoughts were derailed as he suddenly remembered very clearly that tiny, breathy whimper right in his ear…he'd dared her to pretend she was, well, with someone, and she had. Maker, she had….
Wait. He'd just heard the same noise not too long ago…
Stunned laughter burst out of him. "You were pretending to eat a honeybun, weren't you? That night, on the beach, when I dared you. Sweet Maker, Jenna."
He chortled some more, shaking his head in disbelief as he pulled on his new gloves and wrapped the scarf around his neck. Next, he placed the bag of honeybuns on a nearby bench. He didn't really expect they'd be there when they were done, and that was all right. He'd be happy to visit another food merchant in a bit, and pay this time.
He grabbed her gloved hand and tugged her into the dancing crowd. "It will be fun, I promise," he said loudly over the music and the joviality. "Don't think of it as dancing. Think of it as spinning and laughing in time to the music!"
With that, he pulled her into the dance, spinning her around as they entered the reel, and not giving her a chance to protest further.
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Post by Guest on Feb 8, 2011 11:34:21 GMT -5
Andraste preserve her was she ever going to be able to keep up with his train of thought someday? Jenna doubted it but she couldn't help but wonder how Aedan jumped from them dancing to that incident of truth or dare. No wait that made sense the only time she had danced had been Fergus's wedding reception. She hadn't been old enough at Manny's after all.
"You were pretending to eat a honeybun, weren't you? That night, on the beach, when I dared you. Sweet Maker, Jenna."
"Yes and I don't see how me imagining eating a honey bun that long ago has anything to do with matters," she said as she crossed her arms and looked at him like he was an arch demon short of a Blight.
He just kept chuckling as he put the bag with the few honey buns left down. One of his newly gloved hands reching out to grab hers and yanking her into the dancing crowd. "It will be fun, I promise," he said loudly over the music and the joviality. "Don't think of it as dancing. Think of it as spinning and laughing in time to the music!"
"No, no, no...Wait-" Jenna stammed out in a vain attempt to stall the inevitable. Aedan went spinning her into the twirling people. Jenna closed her eyes, sure she was going to go crashing into someone. The hand in hers though pulled her back, and somehow she managed not to go flattening Aedan to the ground.
She opened her eyes then but only to watch her feet, trying to make sure she don't step on anyone. One hand held onto Aedan's like a life line while the other was on his shoulder, as they should be but Jenna was worried he'd go spinning her off again. Nerves had her stomach in knots while she did here best to keep up with the dancing, though it really didn't seem to have any logical steps. It was rather like Aedan said, spinning about with the music.
The inevitable did happen though and she caught the tip of Aedan boot. Not enough to trip him or hurt him but enough to leave her mortified. "Sorry..."
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Aedan Cousland
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Post by Aedan Cousland on Feb 8, 2011 11:46:33 GMT -5
Jenna protested, but not enough to make him stop. He simply smiled at her, hoping that by being at ease, she would be, too. He should have known better, though—Jenna excelled at being ill-at-ease.
She stared at her feet, and sure enough, she stepped on his boot. "Sorry..." She sounded so embarrassed, like she would prefer to just give up at such a small thing than risk further mortification.
Aedan moved his hand from her hip to nudge her chin upward. "Look at me, not our feet," he said, catching her eyes with his. "This is a fun, happy dance. The steps aren't as important as just feeling the music and moving with it." He smiled understandingly at her. "Let go, Jenna. Stop worrying about doing it right, and just do it."
He let his gloved thumb run over her chin, just a quick brush, but he wished it was his skin on hers. He thought for a moment about leaning down, now that she was looking up at him, tasting her again…there would be even more honey on her lips, now…
He dropped his hand back to her waist and, instead, encouraged Jenna to continue moving with him in the dance. "Don't look down," he said. "Watch me. And, for the Maker's sake, don't worry!"
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Post by Guest on Feb 8, 2011 13:24:52 GMT -5
Stop worrying he said. That was easy for him to say, he actually had an idea of what he was doing. Everyone thought he was the greatest thing since someone thought up slicing bread. He could have said the sky was purple with pink cotton clumps for clouds, and people would have believed him.
Letting go like that though, it required Jenna effectively putting herself completely in Aedan's hands. She just...didn't trust him like that? No that wasn't right, she trusted him. Trusted him to never hurt her, to do his duties like he was taught, to be there if Edgewater or Ferelden needed him.
Did she trust him to be there when she needed him though? To catch her if she tripped and fell?
A gloved thumb ran over her chin then. She didn't know why it made her want to shiver like a plucked string. She'd been staring at him though and for a split second thought she saw those eyes flick to her mouth. A familiar spark jumping in them before it was tucked away.
He didn't still...did he?
His hand was at her waist, a burning brand as he reminded her to not look down, watch him, and not to worry. Jenna didn't know if it was because she was focused on him right that second in an effort to figure things out or not. The world seemed to shrink to just them and a happy tune singing through the air. It had her hands tightening as nerves and a very different feeling warred in her stomach.
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Aedan Cousland
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Post by Aedan Cousland on Feb 8, 2011 15:08:21 GMT -5
Jenna did as he asked. She kept her eyes on his, as much as she could, anyway, as Aedan glanced about to make sure that they weren't about to plow into anyone. But whenever he looked back, she was gazing up at him. He tried to read her eyes, but couldn't, not really. The fact that she followed his instructions spoke of trust, though, something they'd never really had between them.
He didn't question why it hadn't been; that was obvious. He also didn't question why it was building, since that, too, was obvious. They were getting to know each other. Forging a relationship—of some kind—from memories of when the world was so much simpler. When he was just Aedan, the annoying Cousland, and she was just Jenna, the know-it-all Twig.
His grin widened at that thought. She certainly wasn't Twig-like anymore. Slender still, yes, but not stick-skinny as she'd once been. Nicely filled out, with curves in all the right places, and hips…
He missed a step and stumbled, then shot her an apologetic grin. "Sorry, sorry," he said as he righted them. "That was my fault. Got distracted." She didn't need to know what by.
Just as he was about to swing them back into the steps, the music changed to something more sedate. Romantic. He paused and glanced around, spotting his brother and Rae nearby. Fergus held her close, and while the difference in height could have been comical, it wasn't. Aedan found himself watching…and wishing…and wondering.
Finally, he shook himself from his reverie and met Jenna's gaze. He almost suggested joining the slower dance—he wanted to, to dance closely with her, but that would encourage pressure when he wanted there to be none. So he smiled instead, a grin full of mischief.
"That's enough dancing for me," he said. "Ready for another kind of fun?"
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Post by Guest on Feb 8, 2011 21:44:38 GMT -5
Aedan's missed step interrupted Jenna's winding thoughts. She was partly glad for that really, they had been...a bit worrisome. She simply gave a reassuring smile as he apologized for apparently being distracted. Except he'd been looking at her...at least she thought so. Maybe he had just been thinking of something else while looking in her...or...something about her had distracted him.
Oh that latter of the two thoughts appealed far more than it should have.
She heard the music change and looked about curiously. Couples gathering up to dance slowly and it made her wonder if Aedan would want them to stay and do the same or not. She shot him a glance and realized he was watching someone, Fergus who was easily picked out. Jenna grinned a little watching the Teyrn with Rae. Fergus and herself might have something of a rough patch in their friendship but she was glad he found someone to be happy with, if only for now.
She felt Aedan shake himself and glanced over to meet his gaze. For a moment there was a flick of want in his eyes. Not as hot as she was use to seeing but there before he seemed to catch himself and smile instead, the kind of grin she use to fear but started to enjoy seeing on his face.
"That's enough dancing for me," he said. "Ready for another kind of fun?"
Jenna gave a smile at the question. "Sure, I certainly could use a drink though before we dive back into insanity here." she suggested as she looped an arm through his. The pair getting out of the way of the other dancers as she pondered for a moment. He wanted to dance like that with her, she didn't doubt that. Why didn't he ask? Why did she keep getting this feeling like he was holding back? She would see the little flicks of light in his eyes but he wasn't doing anything with them like he had before when he got them.
Maybe...if she-
They were just on the edges of the people milling around the dancing. People going to the square and from it. Someone knocked rather forcefully into Jenna. If she wasn't so use to catching herself she would have ended up face first into the dirt.
"Oh I'm sorry there. I don't think I saw you."
Jenna managed to wave a hand as she looked at her...well while attacker did not seem the correct word it was the best one for the situation she though. The red head in front of her was very...endowed was likely the polite term for it. Frankly Jenna preferred just saying the woman had huge tracts of land!
Apparently she had all the manners of one to. After such a shoddy apology the "lady" (and Jenna used that term loosely) look at Aedan and batted long lashes. The black haired noble woman wrinkled her nose in distaste, her offender being fashionably dolled up from head to toe. How she wasn't blue and shaking was beyond Jenna's ability to understand. Sure the woman had everything covered, but it was also all tighter then Jenna would ever dare have a tailor cut her clothes.
"Maker's blessings I didn't believe it when they said Aedan Cousland was making rounds here. It has been far to long Danny." Each word was practically purred out and it Jenna wanting to ask the woman if she needed a fan to get her air back from how low it was.
Calling Aedan Danny though had Jenna holding her tongue and raising a brow at him. Why did she have a feeling she was meeting one of the hoard of girls that had gotten a little further than most?
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Post by Aedan Cousland on Feb 8, 2011 22:52:52 GMT -5
"A drink sounds like an excellent idea, my lady," Aedan agreed. "Cider, or would you prefer—"
His words were cut off by another form barrelling into Jenna, pulling her hand from his. He was left holding only her glove and wondering who in the Fade could be so damn clumsy...
"Oh I'm sorry there. I don't think I saw you."
Red hair cascaded from beneath a tight felt hat, a riotous mass of curls that could have looked messy but never, ever did. Hazel eyes sparkled up at him, with that glint of confidence that always seemed to dare him—dare him to act, dare him to walk away, just prodded him, always, into some kind of action.
Felicity Brewer.
Fuck.
"Maker's blessings I didn't believe it when they said Aedan Cousland was making rounds here. It has been far to long Danny." Oh, she still knew what she was doing, with that come-hither timbre to her voice.
Aedan cleared his throat and pasted a pleasant smile on his face. "Felicity, how wonderful to see you again." Bloody awkward was more like it, but the manners his mother had taught him insisted he share a bit of small talk with the woman he'd once shared a bed with.
He tugged off one of his new gloves, then deliberately reached over and reclaimed Jenna's hand. He knew his skin would keep her hand warm enough until they had a chance to put her glove back on, but it served another purpose. He intertwined his fingers with Jenna's, and noted how Felicity's eyes flicked downward, taking it in. Good. She got the message—he hoped—and maybe Jenna had too, but he didn't look at her.
Felicity's smile widened. "And who is this lovely girl with you, Danny?"
Girl, hm? That had to rankle. He squeezed Jenna's hand. "Felicity, this is Lady Jennavieve Kincade of Edgewater. Jenna, Felicity Brewer, an old friend of mine."
"Oh, Danny, old friend, is it?" Felicity giggled, resting one hand on Aedan's upper arm.
"Yes." He gritted his teeth. Maker, the "Danny" business had been rather annoying at the time he'd dated her, and now it was positively grating.
Felicity turned glittering eyes on Jenna and giggled. "And here I thought we'd all but been a few steps from the Chantry!"
Aedan blinked at her, dumbfounded. Is that what she thought? Really? He thought it had been pretty damn clear that the Chantry had been nowhere in fucking sight when she'd made her ultimatum of ring or no more sex, and he'd happily decided to try out celibacy.
"Right. Nice to see you, Felicity." Aedan made to turn away from the woman, wondering by Andraste what he'd ever seen in her.
She darted forward, though, and grabbed his arm. "Come on, Danny, a dance for old times?" Her smile was bright, her eyes half-lidded, that potent mix of naughtiness and innocence that had once driven him mad.
No more. He'd outgrown games like that.
"I'd prefer 'Aedan', Felicity," he said, his voice turning rather cold. His Commander voice. "I won't insist on a title, since we're old friends. Enjoy Cladan."
With that, he turned away, hoping that Felicity got the Maker-damned message and disappeared.
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Post by Guest on Feb 9, 2011 0:15:37 GMT -5
Jenna was doing her best to tame her normal reaction to this...Felicity girl. She couldn't help but feel a bit inferior due to...well being less endowed and not nearly as...er...fashionable? Though really if wearing such clothes was fashionable Jenna would rather but as unfashionable as she ever was. She was going to tell that to Chrissy to if her maid ever thought to try and put her into anything like what this woman had on.
Still...apparently the woman knew Aedan well enough to have a nick name. While it made hackles rise in Jenna just to be around a woman that knew she looked gorgeous and knew how to use it. She had no claims on who Aedan socialized or...did anything else with. She'd...find a spot to sit politely and wait for them to catch up. After all that was what old friends did after so long apart...including friends. She supposed it was hard to remember the plain girl you were walking about with next to a woman built like Felicity here.
Instead Jenna found herself surprised as Aedan caught her hand. Fingers entwining with hers and she swore she felt him tug a little, as if to pull her just a bit closer. Even more so, Jenna saw those hazel eyes of the red head's narrow at their hands, as if offended.
Felicity's smile widened as she looked at Jenna again. "And who is this lovely girl with you, Danny?"
Girl!? Was Jenna's thought even as she fixed a polite and completely impersonal smile on her face. Aedan squeezing her hand helped a little but Jenna had hated that. The number of times she'd had to brow beat merchants into taking her seriously coming back to haunt her in that one word as all they all insisted she run along like a good girl.
"Felicity, this is Lady Jennavieve Kincade of Edgewater. Jenna, Felicity Brewer, an old friend of mine."
"Oh, Danny, old friend, is it?" Felicity giggled, resting one hand on Aedan's upper arm.
Where was Nu when you needed him? Jenna was willing to best the mabari would have snapped at this Felicity's heels and had her get herself out of Aedan's personal space. Jenna was only there by invitation only after all.
"Yes." She heard Aedan said in a tone that sounded as if he was grinding his teeth.
Felicity turned glittering eyes on Jenna and giggled. "And here I thought we'd all but been a few steps from the Chantry!"
Jenna's smile turned just the slightest bit nasty at the Chantry comment. The little details that Felicity surely meant to push Jenna away instead telling the noble woman exactly what she wanted to know. No one knew gossip like nobility after all and Felicity was a novice trying to play in a world of masters.
"Ah, well you know what they say. Why buy the cow when you can just get the milk."
Oh Miss Brewer did not like that comment one bit. Jenna could see the anger flash in those hazel eyes and was sure if they'd been alone Felicity likely would have tried slapping, or clawing, or hair pulling. Maker what a girl, at least Jenna would have illustrated how to properly punch someone in the face.
"Right. Nice to see you, Felicity." Aedan said then, turning away and likely hoping to escape before the woman tried some new tactic. Jenna was sure the shallow girl had mentally plotted it all out. If Aedan had shown any interest in cooperating with the commoner Jenna would have been graceful enough to bow out and go amuse herself. Since it seemed the opposite, she had no problem helping to keep Aedan out of the clutches of a gold hunting harlot.
It seemed Felicity was not ready to admit defeat though as she grabbed his arm. "Come on, Danny, a dance for old times?" Her smile was bright, her eyes half-lidded in what Jenna supposed some would find alluring. She rather thought it pathetically fake and pitied any fool that fell for such a stupid ploy. It was understandable in the young perhaps but not in those who had matured like Aedan and herself.
"I'd prefer 'Aedan', Felicity," Jenna heard him say. She had to resist the urge to point and laugh. It would have been horribly childish though. She was glad though not to be on the receiving end of that icy tone in Aedan's voice. Once had been quite enough.
"I won't insist on a title, since we're old friends. Enjoy Cladan."
Jenna gave a polite nod to Felicity as she and Aedan moved past her. A small smile on her lips as they walked. She could see the anger of dismissal in the woman's eyes but there was nothing more she could do. Aedan being so highly respected was for once being helpful. Any insult Felicity threw at him would have equated into a kind of social suicide.
Jenna however had forgotten that in supporting Aedan she had made herself a very viable target.
"Kincade was it? So you would be the first one Gilmore had? He was so busy that next summer I recall hearing. Escorting another Kincade around."
It was far to smooth a delivery to be an obvious insult but it was there, cutting Jenna's legs right out from under her and bringing her to a halt. Her fingers clamping in a death grip on Aedan's as she tried not to react.
Not react hell, no body called her or any of her sisters whores, even between the lines! However if Jenna reacted badly that would ruin the good name of...a dead man...
She sent a glare over her shoulder, eying Felicity like she was a particularly ugly bug on the ground. "I should hope Miss Brewer that you are not being so foolish as to even try smearing the good name of a man that died defending the ruling family of this area. You would be lucky to get even a single customer at the Hat."
"I don't work at the Hat."
"Then perhaps you should think about working on have some decorum. No man wants a whore for a wife outside of the bedroom."
Felicity's eyes were wide as Jenna sniffed and looked at Aedan.
"Shall we? I think I need a spot of cider and some fresh air away from the smell of idiocy."
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Aedan Cousland
Inactive
Hero of Ferelden
Goat impersonator
Posts: 1,898
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Post by Aedan Cousland on Feb 9, 2011 9:34:33 GMT -5
At Felicity's barbed comment, Jenna's fingers clenched around his, tight enough that it wasn't comfortable. It was as though that she was using him as an anchor, something to ground her. He leaned down to whisper something in her ear, some reassurance, when Jenna took matters into her own hands.
A haughty glare cast over her shoulder, some biting words, and Felicity was left blinking, stunned, in their wake. Having been on the receiving end of one of those looks, and those well-delivered words...well, Aedan didn't have much sympathy for his ex-girlfriend. He thought about adding his own comment about the lack of grace Felicity had displayed, but didn't. Jenna had taken care of Miss Brewer quite succinctly, he thought.
Jenna turned and looked up at Aedan. "Shall we? I think I need a spot of cider and some fresh air away from the smell of idiocy."
"As you wish, my lady." He escorted her forward, not sparing Felicity another look. He didn't say anything more until they'd found a vendor selling hot cider and acquired a couple of mugs for the two of them.
He regarded her as they sipped the tart, steaming liquid. "Are you all right?" He grimaced a little. "I'm sorry about that. I don't remember Felicity being quite so...direct. Manipulative, yes, but...I don't know, maybe I just never saw that side of her."
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