: Regency AU :

[zauberdecke]

[ Essek Thelyss was used to being primped and petted.

He was a Lord and the Heir, but not an ideal one, after all Dynasty protocol favored women over men and always had. He had no real power and he would never have minded too terribly much if not for the fact that he was ultimately treated like a pawn by the Duchess Thelyss-- and with Essek desiring his studies more than society, he knew how to play the game albeit that he did not enjoy it and wished for the moments where he was left to his own devices.

There was a betrothal being brooked between himself and Lord Tasithar, handled by his mother.

It was not one that he particularly desired, but he had little say in the matter-- he merely had to be seen allowing the Lord to woo him, whereas the idea of it appeared distasteful to him. But as he stood there underneath the glimmering lights of the ballroom, holding his mask to his face, he found that there was a strange hollowness to this evening.

All of these people, they all meant very little to him.

Not that he did not have his share of dance partners, he would dance with them. But this was not something that he was well versed in, he did not enjoy the frivolous empty flirtations that was expected of him; cool politeness was the only thing that he could give and even that was as sparse as snow in the marquesian desert. And so he stood there in the corner, waiting for those to sign his dance card and ultimately realizing that he was nothing more than chattel for them.

He raised a glass of wine to his lips, and then ducked behind a potted plant once he saw Adeen approach. ]

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[ausgebrannt]

[Caleb Widogast, as he was calling himself these days, had been passing his time so far surveying the party. Jester had been kind enough to give him a general run down of the major players, and so many were names that he had known before. Of course Trent Ikithon was still around, though thankfully the old man had not deigned to attend this particular soiree. It was a younger population that swirled about in their fineries, like so many pretty cake toppers, all sugar and color to mask all the political machinations going on just below the surface. Caleb knew them too well.

He was watching still, a drink in one hand entirely as a prop, untouched and untried, when he saw the admittedly beautiful drow suddenly duck behind a plant. It didn't take long for his gaze to track to the reason for it. Tasithar. Just a grasping, boorish man from what Caleb knew of him, so it wasn't as if he would blame the man currently trying to hide himself away.

A faint flicker of a smile over his lips and he headed to where Essek was half concealed behind the fern.]

This is not a bad hiding spot, but he is still headed in this direction.

[The voice was softly accented, the Zemnian tinge to the words unmistakable. He was dressed well enough, but there was nothing extravagant about it, simple but well kept. He was very clearly not one of the usual members of high society here, but he did not stick out. A mask covered his face, red hair tied back at the base of his neck.

This was Caleb Widogast, a guest of Marion and Jester Lavorre, a traveling scholar of the arcane]

May I have this dance? He will not be able to catch you on the dancefloor.

[zauberdecke]

[ The beautiful drow was garbed in rather ostenatious attire which was not in keeping with how he wanted to dress (elegant but far more simply) but he was here to attract a titled husband, and if his mother had her way it would be Lord Tasithar. At the masked man's words, he shifted behind the pillared pot a bit more, a glance upward-- the mask one of silvered swan with plumage, those curls peeking out from the side a well kept curling.

He rose up to his full height which was arguably not much, but if he used a float it would've put him in viewing distance.

Ah, a dance. He rumbled with the dance card at his side and then presented it, there happened to be a blank spot for this waltz, he had been hiding so the card was not as full as it 'ought' to be. ] Ah yes, here.. I.

[ he offered it out then, though his card lacked little in terms of a name due to the masked nature of this ball-- but some people like Lord Tasithar seemed to want to announce his identity as if it was a gateway to clout ]

It is important that you sign, my mother likes to ah, peruse it the morning after. [ likely to see if she could enact a bidding war on her eldest son ]

[ausgebrannt]

I'm afraid I do not have a name that will be a very interesting one for perusal, but of course.

[And he took the card to write in careful script so as to be legible. Caleb Widogast. Not likely something that Duchess Thelyss would approve of. At all. But alas.

His own mask was rather plain, save for the fact that it had cat ears. ...he'd picked it out himself. Hush. He handed the card back to Essek before dropping a bow, hand to his chest before he extended it to the drow.]

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[ Essek bit back the statement that came to mind, that everything was of interest to his mother and that she could not go for a moment without meddling in the affairs of everyone around her. He looked down at the name, not one that he recognized but then he was not allowed to talk to people that his mother deemed 'fast' so his acquaintance with Miss Lavorre was surface at best.

He took the card back and then he tucked it back into the belt just underneath his waistcoat and then he placed his hand right against the forearm and then an incline of his head. ]

If you would lead me out, Mister Widogast.

[ Now Tasithar was in viewpoint but stopped visibly as he caught sight of the two of them. ]

~My Lord, I was just coming in to sign your dance card.~

[ An imperious incline of that head, far different than the one that was given to Caleb. ] You may find me after my dance with Mister Widogast.

[ As if he didn't fully intend on not being found by Lord Tasithar at any point during the evening. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[Caleb straightened up and offered the other man a smile. He had never been particularly good at parties, when he was young, better at books and lessons than the social politics game he knew that someone of his birthright out to be good at. But oh he had always loved dancing.

All these years later, that part of him had survived at least.

He started to turn towards the dancefloor to lead Essek out, though he paused as the other man's approach and offered him a -- mostly -- polite smile.]

My apologies, Lord Tasithar. It seems you weren't quite quick enough.

[And with that he led Essek off. He'd help him make his escape when their dancing was over, because even not knowing Essek at all, the other's reaction to Adeen was impossible to mistake.]

[zauberdecke]

[ A smile of relief lightly touched his lips, a softness that broke up the line of his mouth, though once on the dancefloor he did not pay any attention to Lord Tasithar, rather he assumed the position out there on the dance floor. From how this stranger with the cat mask had come into his life, he was rather certain there would be small talk, but as the man was his erstwhile savior, he would not mind it so much. ]

Thank you for rescuing me; he is not someone that I particularly want to dance with.

[ But nothing more than that. ] There are other more interesting subjects to focus on other than him.

[ausgebrannt]

I have heard about him from Lady Lavorre, so I cannot blame you.

[Jester had some very colorful things to say about how rude and lame Adeen Tasithar was. Caleb settled into the dance posture as well, picture of propriety, hand exactly where it ought to he, fingers holding Essek's loosely. For a penniless scholar, he did at least know the form it seemed.]

I am happy to play rescuer. I am admittedly very new here, and perhaps lucky to find my way onto anyone's dance card. And I am very fond of dancing.

[But now he was curious.] What subjects would those be, Lord Thelyss? What subjects have captured your interest?

[zauberdecke]

[ For a moment, he found himself stiffening slightly at his name-- Lord Thelyss. So this man knew him and yet he did not know him in the slightest. That felt only a little uneven, however he assumed the proper position with his hand lightly resting on Caleb's shoulder, an unpadded shoulder mind you and while the man was lithe and slender, he was not without a pleasing silhouette though it was not something that Essek would outwardly admit.

His preference was known (although his mother had yet to find anyone that could make his heart beat with anything faster than it's regular staccato beat, measured and paced) which was why the potential suitors had all been men.

But he would've taken a woman over Adeen Tasithar. ]

I suppose the usual, science and histories along with a bit of the arcane. [ A lot of the arcane actually, his mother allowed him enough of his studies, just enough that he would be allowed to do what he wanted within the scope that he must do what his mother told him to. ] And you, Mister Widogast? It is only fair that you are prepared to answer any questions that you ask myself.

[ausgebrannt]

[Jester was far too nosy not to point out the people she found most interesting at the party. Lord Thelyss was, as she put it, extremely eligible this season and seemingly annoyed by that fact. That had been enough to catch Caleb's curiosity. He could understand being less than thrilled by the whole pageantry of it all. He remembered his mother laughing about her own courtship with his father, that Leofric Ermendrud had nearly created a scandal by making a proposal to her at the first event of the season so, in his mother's words, 'No one else got any ideas.' Marriage was seldom for love in his parents' world, and their union was something of an anomaly and a miracle.

He couldn't help the spark of interest in his eyes at Essek's answer to his question.]

Of course, my Lord. It is only fair. The arcane is my greatest interest, and my specialty. I'm a scholar of it, to some extent.

[He was being humble about it, really. He'd studied intently, built his ability and his knowledge, and in certain areas of magic in particular he was impressively skilled. But there was no hiding the passion in his voice as he spoke of it.]

History and science are also interests, though perhaps with just a bit less... obsession. [Yes, that was the right word.]

[zauberdecke]

If I am being honest, the arcane is a bit of an obsession of mine own as well.

[ He had noticed the light just underneath that mask, it was in the spark of-- was it blue eyes that he had detected? Made even more cerulean by the stark simplicity and black velvet of the mask being worn. He hummed underneath a breath in an answering response.

The fact that this man was a scholar of it? Well this dance got infinitely more interesting because of the tidbit revealed. ] Most dance partners of the male variety do not appreciate intelligence in their dance partner so I have learned to generally profess a 'dabbling' interest.

[ Lord Tasithar being one who hated it that the man he was actively courting was far more well-read than he could even hope of being. ] Dabbling is far tame of a word for such a sentiment.

[ausgebrannt]

Then most of those dance partners are fools.

[...and okay so he was not the most tactful. Oh well. It was true. Besides, he could feel the truth of that mirroring obsession in Essek's tone, thought he could see a clear and keen intelligence in those fathomless eyes that he couldn't pinpoint the color of -- violet, perhaps, but was that a glint of gold when the light caught them? He'd always had a weakness for such clearly magical transmutation.]

And what sort of arcana has your interest so captured? For me it is transmutation, though I also find myself drawn to tapping into the more primal elemental forces as well.

[zauberdecke]

In the Dynasty, there is something called Dunamancy which is the length and breadth of time, gravity and the very essence of possibility. I have read every book that has been afforded on the subject and I've mastered the spells that I know, but there is still so much for me to learn and thus I desire in a manner that may be labeled obscene.

[ He knew he was talking quite a bit. ] And Transmutation is the study of change and how it affects the spatial area around it, correct? That is very much an Empire form of magic, one that I find fascinating though I have not focused on it to any great length?

[ and as they danced, a question came to Essek. ] Do you happen to have a favorite spell?

[ausgebrannt]

I have read of Dunamancy, though only in the broadest sense of the theory. It is a prized proprietary sort of magic of the Dynasty. What I know it is fascinating. I would be very interested to talk to someone who has mastered elements of it.

[Please, Essek, speak on the obscenities if that's what they are. Caleb was so intrigued by this man -- a pleasant surprise really. He had hoped for an enjoyable dance with a partner who he could at least help avoid more unpleasant company. And here he was, his heart beating faster at this unexpected intellectual connection he seemed to have found. That shared passion for knowledge.

It did not hurt that the drow was elegant and graceful and utterly lovely in his arms.]

I do. Several. Earthen Grasp. A personal spell of mine I call Cat's Ire and... ah well. [He curled his fingers against Essek's hand, fingertips tracing a somatic spell before several amber orbs of light sprang up around them to accompany them through the rest of the dance.]

I find this cantrip one I use more than most others.

[zauberdecke]

[ They managed stolen and cladestined moments after the households went bed, times where they could talk about their dreams and aspirations, could imagine sweet dreams in realities that felt impossible and yes, bring each other to brinks by the power of imagination painted with honeyed words that thrummed with magic.

That they still continued this way despite the hopelessness of their situation? It was hubris at it's core.

Though it was with trepidition one afternoon that his mother told him exactly what to wear at the ball at the height of the Season-- instructions were given and then he was decked out in finery fitting of a Thelyss-- all was given a once over to make sure he was presentable and he had a sick low feeling at the pit of his stomach that he could not define.

His dance card was filled though he was not allowed to see it, his eyes would scan for Caleb though not for two long as he did not want his mother's ire drawn-- but she was almost too busy with something else?

He found out just before the Supper Dance when his mother cleared the floor for an announcement, and that was to announce the engagement of her eldest son to Lord Tasithar; immediately a hand slid under his elbow and he stiffened-- and thereby he tried to put up a shielding of emotion, adopting the guise of someone who did not care overmuch, a dismissive haughty guise that was a mask for the inward panic he felt. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[Caleb lived for those moments, for words traded via sending stone in the late hours of the night. He still wrote letters as well, and Frumpkin still came to visit Essek -- sometimes as a small owl, sometimes as a cat who had to do a bit of climbing up to the drow's window but was more than capable of it, especially sine he would linger and soak up the attention from Essek that his own wizard was denied.

Caleb still attended the balls as well. Of course he did. He would do anything to catch a glimpse of his love, even if it only added to the torture of being kept away from him.

Tonight though, there had been a strange tension in the air, something brewing, ready to boil over. Caleb did not know what to make of it, did not know why his anxiety -- an ever present companion, really -- was heightened. Until that announcement.

He had known it was inevitable, that Essek would be engaged to someone. He'd known so clearly and certainly. So why did it hurt. Why did it feel like the ground beneath his feet shattered, like ice had closed itself around his heart and strangled it with each beat it tried to force itself through.

Part of him wanted to turn and go, but he did not. He stayed where he was, watching Essek and that flawless mask, stoic and aloof and above all such paltry matters as the opinion of those around him. But Caleb knew better, and the urge to steal the drow away grew even stronger.]

[zauberdecke]

[ A wine glass was pressed into Essek's hand-- a toast that he was supposed to give? He looked down at it with little concealed disgust until Adeen took the matter out of his hands. The prick wanted the attention, he'd let him have it.. he wanted no part of this; he searched the crowd as best as he could while feigning disinterest in the general proceedings. Easy enough as Dierta had schooled him quite well in not appearing too excited about anything while moving through society, it was 'bad taste' she had said, in true matriarchal fashion.

He caught sight of Caleb toward the edge, the other man was watching him with such ocean blue eyes. Did Caleb think he wanted this, that he wanted to be married to Adeen, most importantly; that he had even 'agreed' to this to begin with. If not Caleb than anyone but Adeen-- but that was not to be.

For a moment their eyes met and Essek's defenses faltered, the ginger could see the helplessness at this situation. But it was a split second and then his mask was back in place and he indolently raised his glass to the toast but only halfheartedly-- some would call it an affectation, other would applaud him for his poise and grace.

Speeches were called, well wishes shouted, and undulations at what was considered the match of the season.. and then he was hurried through the rest of his evening by his mother, and then by his dance partners of which he was whirrled around and feted.

There was no chance to slip away.

In the Carriage Ride, his mother told him that he would be married within two months, and that he would be going to the country while she made arrangements, and then he would be brought back up to Town for the final month so that he could take party in the betrothal and nuptial events that would likely be thrown in his honour. He was rather sure this was because she did not want him underfoot to attempt to take charge of the preparations himself.

He did not complain nor did he fight it, it was after all useless in arguing with his mother-- he was rather sure that it was the main reason why his brother had joined the military. Once he got home, he did not even wait for everyone to go to sleep-- once he was alone in his rooms he pulled out the sending stone and spoke. ]

My mother is sending me to the Country for the next month, I suppose I cannot complain too much because one it has a bigger library and two I do not have to see Adeen's stupidly smug face for thirty whole days.

[ausgebrannt]

[Caleb saw that hopelessness in those eyes, longed to soothe it away, but could ultimately do nothing. Essek was swept up in the celebration and pomp and circumstance that accompanied the announcement. And no status, no title, no money Mr. Widogast who was on the periphery of this world at its best, stayed at the edge and watched the man he loved traded like some bauble rather than the brilliant, vibrant creature that he was.

By the time he made it home, he was in a full on sulk. Adeen Tasithar. It was as if the worst possible choice had been selected. Not that he would have been pleased to see his Essek promised to anyone, but that boor of a man in particular.

He nearly dropped the sending stone when it awoke to announce Essek calling him.]

The country? That is a small reprieve at least.

[Out in the country, away from the Ton and all the eyes of society.

And wasn't the Thelyss country estate adjacent to the Lavorre's country retreat?

The wheels in Caleb Widogast's head were turning.]

[zauberdecke]

She insists that I will be underfoot while she enacts her grand machinations.. [ That was spoken with absolutely no small amount of derision on his part, he was already taking off his clothing, throwing them over his chair and then finding his own night garments. In the morning there would be packing to do and then he would be shuffled into a carriage as soon as that was done. ]

I am not happy about this but there is little I can do about it.

[ Aside from retroactively making Adeen miserable for the rest of their lives. Conversely, it would work both ways because Essek would be driven slowly mad. And that would linger through his own drow longevity.. long past when Caleb would pass.. due to his own unconsecuted self. ] I knew nothing about this.. I only found out about it the moment that my mother announced it.

[ He started to pull his trunk out, deciding that he was just going to pack now, so that he could leave this forsaken town as soon as possible come the morning. ]

[ausgebrannt]

Not a pleasant surprise, I imagine. Lord Tasithar is...

[A thoroughly useless and shallow man all about prestige and being perceived as above everyone around him. That was the opinion that Caleb had formed of the other man, though he was admittedly biased against him simply from the way Essek seemed to wilt when he was near, to lose some of that vibrant spark in him.

Still, he hummed softly. Perhaps a sweeter diversion of the topic.]

Jester, that is, Miss Lavorre has been trying to convince me that a trip to the country would be good for my nerves. She's offered to house me at her family's estate...

[zauberdecke]

[ He was throwing his garments in his trunk, saying to himself that was surely why clothes presses existed when his mind focused on Caleb's words and then he stopped short. Caleb would be in the country? And the Lavorre estate was not that far-- in addition, his mother would not be around to monitor who he spent time with.

Suddenly he was very interested in this subject, and his voice pitched a little bit lower in response of the subterfuge alluded to. ] Lady Thelyss shall be staying in town it is true, and there will be no orders left for me-- when I am at the country estate, I may do whatever I wish.

[ usually he was holed up in a library but.. ] It is usually fairly nice.. for horseback riding.

[ausgebrannt]

I imagine I'd take an interest in riding through the countryside. It seems a pleasant past time, and a good way to take in the best sights that it has to offer.

[Sights like Essek Thelyss, without the distance forced between them. His heart was racing at the thought, beating hard in his chest in barely contained excitement. The idea of not only seeing him again, but of folding Essek into his arms and refusing to let go.]

Ja, I think some fresh air is exactly what I need to improve my disposition.

[zauberdecke]

[ Suddenly, Essek Thelyss was very interested in the outdoors. He'd always been the 'stay inside' sort though he knew how to ride roses and hunt like the best of them, but he'd always gravitationally pulled toward any library within a 2000 square feet radius, it was a sad but true fact-- but he would go outdoors if it meant that Caleb Widogast was there, if it meant that he could pass afternoons in his presence, if it meant perhaps, just perhaps kissing him.. a little bit.

This time he was taking a bit more care to put his garments in the trunk; as if the very thought of seeing Caleb again instilled in him a warm tender fondness. ]

If there is anything that I may do to assist in improving your disposition further, you must tell me Herr Widogast, I would be more than accommodating, especially if you were to join me on my rides.

[ He could easily forget about Adeen, forget about his engagement if he were faced with the promise of meeting the handsome scholar on one of his rides. They could picnic, could read books under trees in orchards, they could talk and discuss and perhaps kiss.. so much kissing. ]

[ausgebrannt]

I cannot imagine anything that would brighten my mood more than joining you on your rides. Or anywhere or anything else you should like.

[Picnics, yes. Reading in the shade. Strolling through gardens. Kissing. So so so much kissing.

More than kissing. Caleb could all too easily picture laying Essek out on the soft green grass and making a picnic of the drow. So far rom appropriate, but to hell with propriety. They were forbidden from what they wanted most, so to hell with the rules that bound them. Let them be broken.]

I have been longing for you, Lord Thelyss/

[zauberdecke]

[ With the words that they have exchanged and the times they've heard each other fall into orgasm, they were a little past propriety; for now Essek knew exactly how Caleb sounded when he came, the huffs and pants and the way that his voice would adopt something between a whimper and a growl as if he was attempting to be terribly good. Just as Caleb knew the breathy soft way that his own words came, so soft and delicate until the slightest of keens that would break the silence-- as if he was an instrument to be plucked.

And the thought of perhaps having more there, face to face?

That caused his heartbeat to quicken ever so slightly. He was thinking about how he wanted a proper man for his first time, that he wanted Caleb. Why should Adeen get the reward when he did absolutely nothing to deserve it.

The drow sat down on his bed and then spoke softly, barely a whisper. ] I am thinking of doing much more with you, Herr Widogast.. where eyes will not be on me very closely at all.

[ausgebrannt]

No eyes but mine, at least.

[Caleb had a hard time ever tearing his eyes off Essek when they were in the same space. The drow's beauty was not even a question. He was stunning, but Caleb had learned what lay beneath that pretty, proper -- if somewhat icy -- exterior, had learned how deep the waters of Essek Thelyss ran, and how swiftly, nothing frozen about him at all beneath that surface. He was a spring flaw, an oncoming flood.

He ran his thumb over the sending stone, smiling to himself.]

I am thinking of a great deal more too, things that your mother would certainly not approve of.