Just a Little Bit of Fun (4/5)

[Lady Selena Lancaster]

Not certain what to say in regards to that dour comment, Selena opted to retain the valorous discretion of silence. The man had been taught a lesson lately, by the sound of it, a lesson that was not going down easily or well in his mind. Obviously, said lesson left a significant impression on the Crown Prince. Interesting indeed; she would remember to relay that tidbit to her father when next they spoke.

Being praised for what was only a decent behavior made her slightly uncomfortable, however. Selena frowned at him. "I thought modesty and humility were considered virtues amongst the nobility. Have I been misled all this time, Your Highness? I do not think arrogance or conceit would suit me, unfortunately, but I must disagree with your asssessment. Virtue, I find," she commented dryly, "rarely figures into the reasoning behind the giving of the gift. Attractiveness, certainly, but being what they are does not always coincide with virtue."

[Prince Riordan Carlisle]

"Modesty and humility is a quality that I've found lacking in several nobles," and then he realized that he was beginning to sound as cynical as his aunt and father. A sigh escaped him and he forced himself to smile. "I apologize, my lady." His free hand briefly came up to touch the forearm that was resting lightly upon his. "Here I am, but a relatively young man and already I sound like that cynical old man that sits in the back of the Court and gripes at everyone." In other words, he was turning into Daven St. Claire?

"You do make a good point, however. In thinking about it, it is attraction that draws people together initially, whether it to be physical or emotional," a thoughtful nod followed the statement. "Yet, I've not always been a cynical man, and I have no wish to be a cynical man. It's not who I am. Tell me," wanting to bring cheer back to the conversation, "What are some simple pleasures that you find in life?"

[Lady Selena Lancaster]

She took his apparent cynicism in stride, but did not laugh it off. If anything, Selena considered it symptomatic of the path of seeming destruction the Crown Prince reeled away from with greater disdain. A quiet smile acknowledged his apology, not dismissing it as he continued to speak, then replied, "I think, Your Highness, since I have already spoken boldly to you, I will not flinch away from it again. You can be the man whom you wish to be, if you decide to be that man. It may not be an easy road to walk, but I believe there is the making of a good man in you."

Dark eyes looked at him directly, hoping his would meet hers. "Attraction isn't always simple to define, any more than goodness is, I believe. What one deems attractive in a specific person may not be found as attractive in another." She nodded to his change of subject, neither offended nor relieved by it, only accepting. "Simple pleasures? I enjoy sailing very much, or walking on the beach. There is something about the crash of the waves on the shore that I find soothing. I also like music a great deal."

[Prince Riordan Carlisle]

The makings of a good man. That was something he knew his sister had been so desperately trying to get into his thick head. She knew he was a good man, he just had to act like one. However, Selena had hit the head of the nail on the issue. It was hard to be a good man, especially in light of what his family was like. Riordan had strove to be exactly the man that Sedrick was not... but perhaps he had gone too far with such an idea.

His eyes met her own, and he strove not look away. Never had he seen such dark eyes, except for those of his sister. The words were more poignant, however. Why did he feel so ashamed all of the sudden? A bold question came forth, but he tamped it down. It wasn't his place to ask just what she found attractive. That and it was simply rude. "A walk along the beach," he echoed, "It's a pity that the shore of the Lake is not more engaging. And music, you say? Do you play an instrument?"

[Lady Selena Lancaster]

She met those eyes calmly, letting him look his fill. Unlike so many of the court, Selena saw no reason to be other than who she was and hid nothing about herself. If he deemed that attractive, so much the better. Perhaps the novelty of her would wear off, but the impression she was making on him would last. The Crown Prince might find that food for thought in the weeks and months to come. Already, she could see the wheels turning her words over in his mind.

Once he posed his question, Selena unbent enough to laugh softly. "The lakeshore is not like the sea, that's true, but it has a certain charm to it that you may be missing. Have you enjoyed it by moonlight, Your Highness? Or on a windy day? The beauty of it is a little more tame, but it is still enjoyable all the same." She smiled, thinking of it, tuning back in to hear his question of music. "Yes, I do. I play the harp. What of yourself?"

[Prince Riordan Carlisle]

A sense of novelty was common with any new person met, but he had a feeling that Selena was not the type to settle for being a mere novelty. On the other hand, she also didn't seem to impress herself on others too firmly. It was becoming clear to Riordan that she relied on her own actions to convey all the information needed. It was then that Riordan realized he'd be watching this woman during the court session. There was something beyond her gentle beauty, dark gaze and wise words.

"Ah, you make a good point and it brings me to one of my own simple pleasures; I love nights on the full moon. There is something so," he searched for an appropriate word, "captivating about seeing the world and its inhabitants bathed in pale moonlight. To me, it makes everything far more beautiful." At the question of music, he chuckled and held up his free hand, "Oh no. You would not want to entrust these hands to music." That didn't mean he couldn't sing, though...

[Lady Selena Lancaster]

Her eyes lit carefully when he spoke of nights where the moon waxed full and blanketed the world in a silver haze. "If I were prone to believing in magic, surely it comes to life on nights when the moon is full. There is something... almost fey about the way it is nearly as bright as day, yet the shadows are longer and more mischievious. I enjoy walking in the gardens on those nights; there is always something new to discover then."

Seeing his hands, she laughed softly. Selena wasn't so predisposed to take Riordan's dismissive words as gospel. "Perhaps not your hands, but there is always singing. If my ear is any judge of your speaking voice, I daresay you have some talent for singing or speaking in a manner to compel or capture an audience. A useful skill for a Prince, I imagine."

[Prince Riordan Carlisle]

The comparison of a moonlit night to the fey was an amusing, but interesting point, poignant even. Riordan found himself nodding in agreement with her assessment, and he couldn't help but add, "But, ah, is it safe to venture into the realm of the fey? They can be beautiful, but quite treacherous as you say. Then again, what is life without living with a little bit of danger?"

At the mention of potential musical talent, he couldn't help but chuckle. A blush might have formed on his cheeks if he hadn't better control over his sensibilities. "I could say the very same of you, my Lady. Your voice has a rich quality to it that I find very appealing. Perhaps we could surprise the entire Court in a duet?"

[Lady Selena Lancaster]

Selena shrugged lightly, not overly concerned with the potential danger involved in what did not truly exist. "As you say, Your Highness, what is life without its occasional pitfalls, dangers and risks? A truly safe existence is a dull one, wouldn't you agree?" Risks, she knew, came in many forms, some more innocuous than others. Their stroll through the garden could be construed as one of those risks if the mind chose to view it so.

"A duet? Perhaps. If by duet you mean that I shall play while you sing, you will find me agreeable." She was not ready to stand before the entire court and display her vocal talents, at least not yet. Not without some practice together first; Selena refused to give the court gossips any more fodder than was strictly necessary.

[Prince Riordan Carlisle]

"That does lead me to perhaps another rather bold question, my Lady. What is the most fearsome thing you have done? What set your heart racing and that surge of power through you?" Riordan remembered the last time he had felt such a thing; when he went tearing after that boar during a hunt several months ago. He had been successful, mostly, much to Darton's chagrin. Granted, there had been a very strong element of luck that day, but Riordan was not going to admit to such. That took away from the story!

"I had thought about it," he admitted, realizing that she was not going to confess to any particular vocal talent. It was possible that she was either being very modest, or perhaps, she was shy about them. Either would not have surprised Riordan. "But would they take a performer of a royal seriously? Do the people want a royal to display artistic talents?" It was a genuine question, rather than a sardonic or cynical one.

[Lady Selena Lancaster]

The conversation was certainly proving interesting, and revealing. Selena found the questions not especially bold, but expected from the Prince. He had a mind that could, to her perceptive, see through nonsense and the silliness prominent in so many of her contemporaries. Thinking on the answer, she smiled a little to herself. "I was terribly afraid the first time I sailed by myself. I felt as if I'd forgotten everything I learned and couldn't handle the lines or the rudder at the same time, then when I raised the sail, the boat leaped forward, keeling to the side sharply as if it was going to capsize." Sheepish with the memory, Selena laughed. "Fortunately, I was able to remember, right the boat and keep dry."

The walk continued, turning a corner into a row of hedges as the discussion reverted back to the notion of a duet. His question made her pause, turning to regard him calmly. "Why wouldn't they? Perhaps your rank would compel their attention at the start, but by the time you are a few measures in, your talent will be what holds them. It might even grant them some new insight into you. That you are more than your father's heir, or the Crown Prince, but a person with interests, talents and skills."

[Prince Riordan Carlisle]

The story she shared was a rather interesting one, finding it easy to envision just what she was going through, how she felt and what expression she might have worn. However, to Riordan, she struck him as the type to not really show fear on her face, but rather determination to overcome the challenge that has been put before her. "Determination overcame adversity," he nodded knowingly, "I had a similar experience during my first hunt. I was 14, eager and full of vinegar. I was going to prove myself a man. So, when I spotted a boar, I went tearing after into the forest, completely forgetting the true danger of facing a male boar alone. I was knocked off my horse," he remembered it as though it were yesterday. "The boar was bearing down on me as I got to my feet, but I stumbled over some rocks. That's when I realized the lock the spear against the rocks, and ... " Well, Selena could fill in the rest of the gaps. "I remember getting lambasted by a certain square after that." A fond grin cracked on his face, then.

At the mention of the singing, he had to pause himself, and seriously consider her wise words. A small smile formed, then. "I shall follow your advice. I'll wait until just the right moment, and surprise them all. It will only surprise them once, but sometimes just once is enough to send a message."

[Lady Selena Lancaster]

She could all too easily picture the young boy he'd been, eager for adventure and danger in equal parts. A faint smile crossed her features to picture the scene as he described it, mixed with excitement, terror, panic, much as she had been in her struggle with the sailboat. Perhaps they were not so different after all, a thought that granted her some measure of comfort.

Glancing to him as he spoke of surprise, Selena found herself laughing softly. "Never underestimate the power of surprise, Your Highness. It can provide you such an advantage, one you ought never to hesitate to seize. People will look at you differently once you wield the power of surprise, some with more respect than they might have had elsewise."

[Prince Riordan Carlisle]

"Ah, true," he waggled a finger in her direction, "Very true. Because if I surprise them once, they may wonder if I could surprise them again." The conversation had proven to be a rather delightful one, but he knew that the time was at hand for them to venture forth and join the crush at court. "My Lady, it has been a true pleasure speaking with you, and ... I should like to do it again."

At that, he lifted her hand and gently pressed a courtly kiss to the knuckles, his eyes not leaving hers as he did so.