Stars and Passion

[Lord Alejandro Cerevotos]

The meeting with the various heads of duchies and state went as smoothly as it could, though there were some ruffled feathers by the end of it. Alejandro, internally, amused at the sight of such. Oh, to be certain, the feathers should definitely have been ruffled, but it was both relieving and amused to see that they had just as much pride as Alejandro himself did. The thought of smugglers and brigands using their own lands as well as the vassals associated with them to run their operations was offensive at the very least! The same blood was flowing through all their veins.

Watching Julia handle herself had been enjoyable, too. She was an apt noblewoman, which was a refreshment compared to some of the more vapid ladies of his own Court. He could easily see Lady Julia handling herself against the dark haired sharks and wolves of his home, particularly Dona Maricela. Maricela was the jewel of the Court, but a heartless manipulator to the core. For too long had she gotten away with her schemes. The thought of Julia ending them was a delicious one.

Then again, Alejandro had had plenty of delicious thoughts about the blonde beauty.

The evening had settled in at the Castle, bringing the end to a minor Court session in which various nobles had met for whatever reason. Alejandro had attended to better familiarize himself with the Demerian Court. He noticed Julia had made her escape to get a breath of fresh air... and Alejandro moved after to her. When he reached the terrace, he had to take a moment to admire her in the evening light.

Lady Julia St. Claire

[Lady Julia St. Claire]

Court was at times stimulating, challenging and exciting; at others, tedious, dull and exhausting. Tonight proved the latter, in which Julia gladly made her escape in search of cooler air, darkness and solitude. The court was due to begin the Summer Festival down at the lake soon, a happening she welcomed for the simple distraction it would prove for many of those who sought to toady to gain her father's friendship via proximity to his daughters, and those who needled her when her father refused to acknowledge them. It was tiresome, and her native wit was all the more well-honed as a consequence. She had little patience for such people.

Reaching the safety of the terrace, Julia stood at the stone rail and drank in the lightly scented night air, welcoming the breeze that stirred the darkness and lifted the wisping curls of burnished gold from her nape. The press of bodies in conjunction with the candles rendered the gallery in which they gathered almost unbearable despite opened doors and windows. A wry smile curled her lips, aware that the hot air issuing from lips hadn't helped matters in the slightest.

Unaware of Don Alejandro's shadow falling over her, she closed her eyes and lifted her face, content in the silence. It was soothing to the jagged edges of temper, mind and soul.

[Lord Alejandro Cerevotos]

It was easy to tell she was decompressing and resuming the persona that was Julia St. Claire. One often put on a mask when in Court. Lady Julia's mask was well honed, an impeccable feature developed over many years of dealing the Demerian Court and, in part, her father, no doubt. The few encounters had with Daven St. Claire had been most illuminating. That man didn't see the need for masks and somehow, it worked out for him in the end. Still, Alejandro knew to be careful around the man. He spoke of ripping off heads and somehow, Alejandro didn't doubt he was being literal.

The man gave the woman several more moments to simply relax and enjoy the solace. The Duq made his approach, but purposefully scuffed his shoe along the stone of the terrace so as to announce his arrival and not startle her. Sometimes it was fun to start a pretty lady since they did the most interesting things when caught off guard, but now was not quite one of those times. "I have to wonder if this is why the Court in my home becomes so very heated; we do not have nearly as many terraces. There is no escape from arguments and hot air." The smile was a bemused one.

[Lady Julia St. Claire]

The night air worked its magic on her as it often did, calming her frayed temper and cooling her flushed features while the silence lulled her into a semblance of serenity. She needed to return and herd two of her three sisters towards their chambers, preferring to retire knowing that Lynesse and Cecelia were safe from any harm before she succumbed to sleep; Rosalie was under Princess Emma's care and had already quit the gallery for the night with the Princess, alleviating one worry from her mind. The knowledge just reminded her that she really needed to speak with Lynesse soon.

First the scuff, then the accented voice told her she was no longer alone, that her 'guest' had opted to join her. Shifting slightly to observe the Lintenese duke draw closer, she mustered a faint smile for his sake. "A pity. Perhaps we should loan you one of our architects to better allow for escapes from hot air, tedium and intense discussions?"

[Lord Alejandro Cerevotos]

"Actually, I do not know if that will be a very good idea. I believe it would simply encourage my colleagues to ... mm... take advantage of the available height, if you understand my meaning? I believe you Demerians have an especial word for throwing one from a window, as well, but I cannot remember for the life of me what it is." The smile on his lips grew as he came to a stop next to her. He took a moment to enjoy the scenery.

"You did very well during our meeting. I don't know if I've seen anyone direct nobles like you have. Perhaps I should entice you to join me at my Court, bring them in line, as well." Though, that was hardly the only reason that he would want to bring her along.

[Lady Julia St. Claire]

The smile bloomed on her own lips before she could stop it as she supplied the word he sought. "Defenestration is the word you're looking for, I believe. While I'm not so cold as to encourage such a practice, there is a part of me that has to wonder if the threat would suffice in curbing some of our more long-winded colleagues. You might consider the same if you should decide to invest in more windows and terraces in your land." The very topic of conversation made her chuckle lightly, all too easily able to picture her father pitching courtiers out when they irritated him.

Glancing back to him, Julia shrugged deprecatingly. "I've learned to cull the herd, you might say. My father is a very good man, if somewhat gruff, blunt and short-tempered. I've found it's both easier and smarter to direct the nobles to myself first; that way, he has less cause for irritation, more gets accomplished, and I can handle the tedium. But I am sure you are more than skilled in the same manners, Don Alejandro."

[Lord Alejandro Cerevotos]

"I have had to temper myself in your Court, my lady," he replied smoothly while assuming a more relaxed stance by leaning lightly against the rail. "It is very easy for me to become excitable when the moment calls for it, but like I said, I do not think your nobles would appreciate such displays." The smile turned sly, "You see, we enjoy putting our passions on display, so to speak. It leaves very few people questioning exactly where you, ah, stand on a matter."

Alejandro's head tilted as he considered another point. "Would you allow yourself to put on such a display should the circumstances call for it? It can't be easy to keep passion all bottled up." He could easily imagine the woman letting loose with her innate passion, especially given that she was probably not that dissimilar from her father.

[Lady Julia St. Claire]

"Then your court must be a rather volatile one, if you are a fair example of your people." Julia's observation was delivered in a light tone, though there was the weight of truth behind it. He did well in checking his native passion and natural tendency towards emotional displays; the thought of the Demerian court erupting in such a manner was horrific to her. "I fear you are too correct; we are a rather restrained people. Some might say too restrained, in fact."

She lifted a brow at his question, considering it a fair one as she considered her response. There was no question that Julia was a thoroughgoing St. Claire, possessed of the blood of the Dragon and very much her father's daughter. But would she ever behave in a similar manner to her sire when the time called for it? A pensive frown marred her brow prior to her answer. "I believe I am capable of it. Everyone is, but I think for me to put on that kind of display, it would need to be something of great importance to me. It isn't easy to restrain myself when I encounter what annoys me, but I've learned both personally and indirectly that such passion has a stronger impact if it isn't used often."

[Lord Alejandro Cerevotos]

As an outside observer, Alejandro would no doubt have been amused and in his element. Seeing these tightly reserved people letting their passions loose would be quite the sight, indeed. "I would imagine that your passion is a beautiful one, as bright and powerful as the flames that would erupt from your sigil." The smile was still a small one. "I must confess, my lady, that I would probably enjoy such a display."

He raised his hand, "Though, admittedly, I would rather not see the passion of your anger directed at me, of course." Other types of passion, well... that was another matter, entirely. "Yet, I have a feeling it would have gotten most passionate on the beach were it not for the interference of others." Was that fortunate or unfortunate? That remained to be seen.

[Lady Julia St. Claire]

Julia altered her stance to better observe him, finding the topic a rather unusual and intimate one for those barely acquainted. Despite that, the refreshing honesty was welcome after an evening of diplomatic phrasing and verbal mumbletypeg. "You might, but I find myself compelled to ask - are all Lintenese as outspoken and direct as you?" If so, perhaps a visit to Linten might be the change of scene for which she found herself longing.

Amused at his hasty addition, she permitted herself to laugh softly. "I have my father's formidable temper, I shall not deny that, though I believe I hold superior control over my anger than he does. And I am very protective of my home, my family and my name. Were our positions reversed, Your Grace, I daresay you would have shared my anger in that moment."

[Lord Alejandro Cerevotos]

"Oh, si," he promised her, and then realized that he should attempt to showcase himself a bit better. "Though, I might argue that no one is more passionate than myself," he pressed a hand to his chest and gave a playful smile. Whether he was merely playing or being serious was difficult to tell. It was likely a mixture of both! "Most are, yes. We do have a few sneaky devils, but we tend to avoid them." Maricela, once again, immediately came to mind.

"I think I would have been quite red faced!" He countered with a laugh, "Steam coming out of my ears and nose. I may have even scuffed the ground with my non-existent hoof, but I would spare you my horns. I would so truly hate to mar a beauty such as yours."

[Lady Julia St. Claire]

The longer they spoke, the less Julia knew what to make of the Lintenese man - in one moment, he was somber, serious, every inch the powerful Duke, but in the next, he was playful, open, capricious. She was uncertain which was the real man or if he was facile enough to display both faces as merely two aspects of a rather diverse personality. Were all Lintenese like this? If so, Julia St. Claire might be in genuine distress - she was in no way prepared to deal with such people, being of serious nature herself.

"Ah," she fumbled for a moment, then laughed weakly, all too capable of picturing him as that enraged bull, stamping and snorting prior to the aggressive charge. "Thank you for that restraint, Your Grace. But would you be the sort to have a ring through your nose?" She had seen bulls in Fairfield that bore rings in their nostrils, presumably for control and leading.

[Lord Alejandro Cerevotos]

He was a Duke and he was a man. Were the people of Demeria not the same? Despite the nature of the title, Alejandro would never deny what kind of man he wanted to be. The people of Linten were prone to giving into their passions. Passion was not something to be confined or constrained, but allowed to fly free. It was beautiful and wild. Even if Julia was of a rather serious nature, he was still convinced she possessed a strong passion.

His eyebrows rose when she went on with a bull analogy, amused at the prospect of having a ring through his nose. "Oooh, one that slipped the ring through the nose and grasped must be quite a one, indeed. Staring me down, never backing away or relenting," Alejandro locked his eyes with hers, curious to her reaction.

[Lady Julia St. Claire]

"And waving a red cloth? Such a one would be the epitome of bravery, as you say. No wonder you bear no such ring." Julia took on the spirit of the analogy, smiling once more up at him, her eyes meeting his intense gaze without blinking or flinching. Given the merest provocation or challenge, she harboured no question that he would charge forward aggressively to show dominance. The fanciful thought startled her briefly; when had she become prone to hyperbolic flights of fancy?

[Lord Alejandro Cerevotos]

If he were a bull, he might very be scraping his hoof against the ground. Alejandro suddenly leaned closer to her, moving as though he were going to kiss her, but the lips did not end upon hers. Instead, the distance was closed so that his lips might get close to her ear. "And just how brave do you feel this night?" The conversation was proving interesting, certainly, but Alejandro was not a man of strictly words. Words could be as empty as their through which they traveled, after all.