regency au } { of warnings and frustrations

[wildkingdom]

Theo: [and one time when he lets her go and stays behind, he goes to spend time with the men and talk about Lady Malia's fine features and Liam hates hearing Theo's boasting and will go into the gardens to find Malia]

Malia: [and she will be there, just taking in some fresh air and seeming much more relaxed than she used to be]

Liam: [and he will approach, his eyes making sure they are alone] M'lady, can I have a word with you?

Malia: [she glances over to him but a new friend has relaxed her a bit, so she nods] You can.

Liam: [he licks his lips, nervous because he doesn't want to upset her but] I think you should know that Lord Theo isn't a good person like he pretends to be.

Malia: [her brow furrows] How do you mean?

Liam: I think he is wanting something from you and trying to be too nice of a person to make you trust him.

Malia: [her brow furrows more] I don't understand.

Liam: He's being nice to you because he wants something from you.

Malia: What could he want from me?

Liam: I don't know, but he isn't as nice as he is to you. You're too far away to hear that he's bragging to his friends about you.

Malia: Maybe he's nice to me because he likes me. Because he's my friend.

Liam: And maybe not.

Malia: [grits her teeth] Why do you care?

Liam: Because I'm your friend and I don't want to see you hurt.

Malia: Well, I'm not. I actually feel happy for the first time in a very long time.

Liam: [sighs] And that's why I want you to know, because you'll be hurt.

Malia: Like you hurt me? [pot, kettle, Liam]

Liam: Yes. Because you don't deserve to go through that again. [and if he can keep it from happening, maybe he can forgive himself a bit]

Malia: [she sets her jaw before shaking her head] I don't believe you.

Liam: Even if you don't... just be careful.

Malia: [she tips her chin up a bit, all steel resolve] I can take care of myself.

Liam: I know. But Malia...

Malia: What, Liam?

Liam: Taking care of yourself and someone giving you warning are two different things.

Malia: Maybe, but I can choose whether to accept the other.

Liam: Just promise me you won't just dismiss it because you hate me.

Malia: [she grits her teeth] I won't dismiss it if you can prove there is merit to it. So far you have not.

Liam: You want proof? Listen to him when he thinks you're out of earshot.

Malia: [she rolls her eyes] Knights say ridiculous things all the time.

Liam: But he's a lord and your friend. He shouldn't go along with them.

Malia: If they were that terrible, my brother's knights would have told me themselves.

Liam: He does it when they aren't around. Isaac is busy courting lady Allison that he doesn't listen.

Malia: How convenient.

Liam: [frustrated] Because he doesn't want you to know, and he's good at it.

Malia: Bragging does not mean that his intentions are to do me harm.

Liam: But if he just wants to be your friend, why brag?

Malia: Because men are slaves to their egos. You should know that well enough.

Liam: You know what, I'm just trying to look out for you.

Malia: And yet you have given me nothing that is truly wrong or harmful to me or my family.

Liam: Seeing that you don't wish to believe me, I'll take my leave of you. [he will just bow, angry, and storm off]

Malia: [and she is also angry so she is going to try and sneak past the party to her room, despite her deal with her father, because she is done with being social for the evening]

Liam: [and he is just going to growl from afar at Theo who is confused as to why his friend has disappeared]

Malia: [well, in order to get past the party she has to pass by some very ornate windows, so if he wants to try and catch her he can]

Theo: [he's human. sadly, he can't. but he will figure it out eventually]

Malia: [sorry, Theo. but if no one stops her, she's going to her room]

Peter: [he won't, but someone else will notice and go to check on her] Malia, sweetheart?

Malia: [hands come up to brush her cheeks as she comes up with a lie for why she broke their agreement] I'm not feeling well.

Peter: [he can smell the salt from her tears] Would you like me to get you some tea then?

Malia: [she shakes her head] I'm fine. I just want to go to bed.

Peter: [he debates on if he will leave her or not, and then he just sighs] Alright, but I will check on you in the morning.

Malia: [she nods and doesn't look like she's going to say anything else but before her father can escape she blurts out, apropos of nothing] Do you like Lord Raeken? [she knows that Theo may be putting on the same act for Peter - if there is such an act in the first place - but she also knows that her father has a good sense of people and a nose for betrayal. His is a word she'll believe]

Peter: [he pauses, thinking a moment.] I am a bit biased, as I will always worry about the intentions of a young man to my only daughter.

Malia: I trust you. [because she's allowed him to be friends with her for this long]

Peter: He is human, and he has a strange smell to him. But he makes you happy and has done nothing to make you upset, so I have no reason so far not to like him.

Malia: [she nods once, then tips her head to the side] Strange smell?

Peter: I can't place it. He may have just been a sickly child and it influenced his scent. He wears a heavy cologne but you can smell it if you focus beyond it.

Malia: [she nods. she will take that into consideration, but that's not reason to be guarded around him]

Peter: Just remember that young men will be young men. You are smart young lady and you will know when a man is being a knave. Just trust your instincts.

Malia: [she takes a deep breath and nods again] Thank you.

Peter: You're welcome, sweetheart. Sleep well.

Malia: [she nods and she will get herself into bed to sleep away her bad feelings and try to catch Theo in the morning to apologize for abandoning him]

Theo: [will see her at breakfast and smile] No, it's okay. It was a very crowded party.

Malia: [she nods with a smile] It was, and I'm afraid I was feeling under the weather. Still, I should have let you know I was leaving before I did.

Theo: Then I have no reason not to accept your apology. Are you at least feeling better?

Malia: I am. Much better, actually.

Theo: Would you care to join me for breakfast?

Malia: I would love to.

Theo: [and he will pull out the chair next to him out] Please, sit.

Malia: [and she will, settling next to him as she does] Did I miss anything ... eventful?

Theo: No, just dancing and gossiping. The usual.

Malia: Good. Then at least I am no worse off than I was before.

Theo: No, in fact you are probably better off than the rest of them. [smiles] What would you like to eat?

Malia: [she shrugs] I usually like fruit in the morning.

Theo: Then let's get you some. [and he will wave over a servant to tell Malia all the fruits available and asking if she wants anything with it like creme or custard or spices]

Malia: [and she'll say no, because she just likes the fruit]

Theo: [and he has eggs and sausages and sweet cakes]

Malia: [she'll have her protein later. She's not that hungry right now, anyway]

Theo: Did you have fun though before you became ill?

Malia: I did. It was a lovely evening.

Theo: Good. I uh... I was hoping perhaps we could go to the next party together again?

Malia: [glances over with a small smile] I would like that.

Theo: [grins] Me too.

Malia: [her smile widens] I enjoy your company a great deal.

Theo: Oh good. I worried I was getting too boring for you.

Malia: Why would you think that?

Theo: Sometimes I'm not sure if the things that matter to me are important to you.

Malia: Like what?

Theo: Mythologies and fictional stories.

Malia: [her eyebrows rise] I've done some studies in the classics. [making the assumption of Greek mythology rather than something else]

Theo: You have? [smiles] Greek or Norse?

Malia: Both. Lady Caroline favored the Greek stories but my father used to tell me the Norse ones.

Theo: Then we should compare our stories next time and see where our families may alter the tales.

Malia: [she nods] I would like that.

Theo: Then it shall be something to look forward to.

Malia: [she nods] Are you going to be traveling to Norway in the future?

Theo: I'm not sure, but if you would like I could I am sure.

Malia: [she gives a small shrug] I will probably be spending most of the winter with my family. We don't go to many tournaments when it snows.

Theo: The snow doesn't scare me. Could I write to you during the winter though? Perhaps see if your lord father will let me call on you and visit during the long winter?

Malia: [she smiles and nods] I would like that.

Theo: Good. [and he's very happy at that. So happy]

Malia: [so is she. It would be nice to have a way to communicate with him, even when he isn't with her]

Theo: [and he will go back to eating]

Malia: [as will she, and maybe eventually get some protein while they're sitting and talking]

Peter: [and he will eventually come to check on them]

Malia: [glances up when she sees him with a smile] Good morning.

Peter: Good morning sweetheart. [leaning down to kiss her cheek] Young Lord Theo.

Malia: Lord Raeken wanted to know if he could write me over the winter.

Peter: [thinks a moment] I think that will be acceptable.

Malia: [and she brightens because she is very pleased]

Peter: [smiles at that face] I just wanted to tell you that we are going to depart for home before lunch. Make sure you dress for the ride today.

Malia: [she nods in agreement] I will.

Peter: [and he will give Theo a look] I will speak with your father on the subject of the writing so he is aware of my permission. Good day. [and off he goes]

Malia: [she turns back with a smile before starting to get to her feet] I should go make sure I'm ready to leave. But I will see you at the next tournament.

Theo: I will see you next tournament then. [he stands as well, and then bows to her] Safe travels, m'lady.

Malia: [nods] You as well. [before she scampers off to pack to leave]

Theo: [and he will watch her go, and his grin smirks a bit when he sees Liam glaring at him from across the room]