fairy tale au } { of sneaking out of balls and stolen moments

[impetere]

Cora: [while people congratulated the newly appointed baron and her brother on his engagement, Cora takes Stiles' hand and tugs him out towards the gardens, wanting to get away from the crowds for a little while. While the ball is lovely and everything is so exciting, it's also a little overwhelming and she needs some space where it could be just the two of them for a little while]

Stiles: [and he will get it. He may enjoy attention, but there is a level of too much attention. So he's fine being pulled away to the gardens and walking at her side] Soooo...

Cora: Soooo ... [she repeats, a bit teasing before she turns to face him more] Are all balls that eventful?

Stiles: No. Some can be downright boring.

Cora: Oh. [she exhales as they walk] Maybe we'll get to go to a boring one one day. I think I might like those better. When I'm less ... new.

Stiles: Just let one of your older siblings have a baby and you'll be invisible again.

Cora: At least until I get married. [it's said offhandedly, and she's very careful to say "I" not "we" because she isn't sure if he wants to marry her. He loves her, she doesn't doubt that, but marrying her may mean things he might not want]

Stiles: Okay so one, maybe two balls that will be all about you. But otherwise Derek can have them all.

Cora: Good. He's probably better at them.

Stiles: If not, I'm sure his fiancée will help him learn.

Cora: She does seem spirited.

Stiles: Hope he can keep up with her.

Cora: I don't think he would be marrying her if he didn't think he could.

Stiles: I think he's in over his head, myself.

Cora: Do you? What do you know about her that he doesn't?

Stiles: I've sat down and had dinner with her. She's feisty. Your brother is learning how to people.

Cora: What's wrong with feisty?

Stiles: Nothing.

Cora: Then what's wrong with learning how to people while being married to someone who's feisty?

Stiles: He just might get overwhelmed. You know what it's like to be overwhelmed, right?

Cora: [and she nods, because she does, but ...] It's different when it's only one person though.

Stiles: [rubs his neck] I don't know. You sometimes overwhelm me.

Cora: [and she glances over at him curiously] I do?

Scott: Oh yeah. You're so bubbly and adorable that I just can't keep up.

Cora: [she blushes, her head ducking] Well, I'm not trying to out run you.

Stiles: Except for that time in the woods where you actually did try to outrun me for awhile.

Cora: Well, that was different. [she takes a step closer] This time I want you with me.

Stiles: Lucky for you I have the same wants.

Cora: Yeah? [she is glad to hear it] Because I want you with me for a really long time.

Stiles: I hope so. I mean, I don't plan on going away anytime soon.

Cora: Good. [and that's good enough for now, and she'll take his hand to pull him towards the small lake in the middle of the gardens]

Stiles: [and he will thread his fingers with hers, staying close and letting her lead]

Cora: [eventually they find their way to one of the benches and she sits with a small smile] I still can't believe I get to live here sometimes.

Stiles: Your dream come true, literally.

Cora: I also still can't believe I'm allowed to just ... go outside and be part of the world.

Stiles: It's your world. You can do what you want to do.

Cora: If I ... wanted to go further than the kingdom, would you go with me?

Stiles: Of course. We're a team.

Cora: There's so much I want to see, but I don't want to do it alone.

Stiles: Depends - are we bringing Max?

Cora: Only if we need a horse.

Stiles: Okay. Because I'm pretty sure he doesn't like me still.

Cora: I think he'll get used to you, now that he knows who's side you're on.

Stiles: I dunno. I think he likes kicking me.

Cora: Then maybe you should stay away from his feet.

Stiles: The horse is a freaking ninja.

Cora: [she laughs] Then stick by me and I will protect you.

Stiles: My heroine.

Cora: [she grins, before leaning in to kiss him softly]

Stiles: [kisses her back, smiling against her lips]

Cora: [and she's pretty content to just do that for a while, given that there's no one there to make disapproving faces]

Stiles: [he's good with that]

Cora: [also what is propriety, she was not trained in any way for this whatsoever, so she just ... really likes kissing Stiles, and she trusts him, so ... enjoy that responsibility, Stiles]

Stiles: [and he is a very respectful, and actually virginal no matter what he says, so he doesn't know how to try for more]

Cora: [good boy. and eventually one of the servants will come by and gently clear their throat]

Stiles: [and he will pull himself back gently, trying not to look embarrassed]

Cora: [swallows, as she pulls away] Yes?

Servant: Your parents wanted me to inform you that the ball is winding down, and that it was safe to come inside.

Cora: Thank you.

Stiles: Yes, thank you. I'll see that she gets back safely.

Cora: [the servant nods and disappears and Cora looks downs at their hands again] Guess we better go inside.

Stiles: I guess so. [he stands up and holds his hand out for her]

Cora: [and she takes it, letting him lead the way back to the castle]

Stiles: [and he will take her back into the ballroom where people are starting to depart] You may want to say goodbye to the guests.

Cora: [she nods as her mother gestures for her to come closer] I'll be right back.

Stiles: Of course. [and he will just hang back, finding a corner to hide and observe in]

Cora: [and she will make her way over to her mother, who will put an arm around her shoulders to keep her there as the guests say their goodbyes. And there are definitely some parents that are shoving their young princes and lords at her and she's ... very uncomfortable with it]

Stiles: [yeah and he's very uncomfortable with that too, his eyes stabbing daggers into all of their backs]

Cora: [but eventually she will be freed and make her way back over to his side] All done.

Stiles: Good. Because I was running out of scorecards to rate your potential suitors

Cora: [she would say "what potential suitors" but she's not that naïve] You were rating them?

Stiles: Of course. The kid with the swirly hair for instance, pretty good marks until I noticed his shirt was tucked into his underwear from the back.

Cora: [she snorts, her hand coming up to hide the laugh] It was not.

Stiles: Oh, it was. There was a fine line of it peaking over his belt under the vest.

Cora: [shakes her head as she pulls him back away from the ballroom] Are you sure you weren't just jealous?

Stiles: Me, jealous? Why do I have to be jealous?

Cora: Because they're "potential suitors"?

Stiles: Yeah, but they aren't the ones kissing you in the garden.

Cora: No they are not. And if I have any say in the matter, they're never going to be.

Stiles: And if you don't get a say... I could always steal you.

Cora: Would you? [the question is more wistful than doubtful]

Stiles: In a heartbeat.

Cora: [she smiles, before leaning in to kiss him softly]

Stiles: [kisses her back for a moment] I should probably go before your father finds a reason to lock me up for the night.

Cora: [sighs] I'll see you tomorrow, then?

Stiles: See you tomorrow, princess. [and he will bow, a hint of a smirk on his lips]

Cora: [she smiles, and off she goes to get out of the ridiculous dress]