The Engagement (Inkheart789 & Eyeris)

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Hibiscus moved to sit behind Cara. She took Cara's long inky hair and brushed it over one shoulder and out of the way. Then began to work at the laces. Corsets were unforgiving things, the laces clinging to the grommets. Her long thin fingers worked at them, they unwound one by one. Her fingers were extremely cold, despite having been close to the fire, here and there her cold fingers might touch Cara's warm skin.

"Well, we will have the luxury of flexibility in our wedding plans. Your parents have been struck from the invitation list, and I have neither family nor friend to attend either. If we vary upon the old traditions no one will be there to condemn us." She smiled a bit as she worked on the laces, there was quite a lot of them. "... As women might be different but not... so different..." She was nearly done with the corset now, she felt her cheeks finally warming up from the firelight.

"I was planning for our wedding to be held the next full moon. That is the best time to make promises."
 
Cara nodded as she turned towards Hibiscus. "I like that idea. The full moon has always brought me happiness when I could see it. I will have no one to walk me down the aisle anyway, so maybe we should just both come in from the sides, or both walk down the aisle." She suggested.

When she felt the corset loosen, Cara pulled the darn thing off. "My mother made me wear this today, I dislike the squeeze of it. I would rather just wear a dress."

The wine allowed Cara to feel comfortable without anything covering her top, in the presence of Hibiscus. She felt as if this were normal and something that would happen. "Do you need your fingers warmed? They felt cold." Without waiting for an answer Cara covered her hands with her own.
 
Hibiscus straightened, not moving, not even blinking. Yet, allowing the girl to take possession of her hands. Cara's was as warm as the fire.

Hibiscus felt that heat, heard the pulse of her heart and the sound of the blood swimming through the veins under her skin, and bones beneath that, and marrow beneath that and beyond that...

The last time she had been touched by a human it was a man who was cross with her. He did not want to pay what he had promised, and put his hands on her intending to harm and frighten her. She had felt his fire-hot hands and heard the beating of his heart in her ears like a drum... and she had made it stop.

Most people didn't want to touch her at all, they sensed her wrongness, perhaps there was a sixth sense of self preservation that everyone had on some level. A long time ago, when she was till human, someone had touched her kindly... they must have... though she didn't remember...

Do I miss that? Is that why I wanted this? She had though the company might be... amusing.. but hadn't thought of... or expected...

She and the other woman by the firelight, her torso bare, the firelight illuminating one side of her face, the moon from the window the other. Cara looked as though she were made of silver and gold.

Hibiscus, black and grey, did not know what to say. It would take time to bring warmpth back into thoes fingers.

"We can walk... together..." she finally exhaled. "... that sounds agreeable..."
 
Cara grinned when her fingers seemed to warm up slightly, not much, but a small fraction. "One day your hands will be warm again." She said softly. "I'll make sure of that."

She was unable to stop a yawn from escaping her mouth, which made Cara laugh softly. "I think it is time I sleep. We can talk about the wedding more another day if you want, though I do not have too many requests for it. I simply want to wear the wedding dress that is already made for me."

Cars let go of Hibiscus' hands and attempted to stand up gracefully. She only wobbled once, before being able to stand properly. "Do I need to be up by a certian time tomorrow or anything?"
 
Hibiscus cast her glance at Cara's trunks and luggage. She already had a dress made? Best not pry... they say it's bad luck. It was not uncommon for a bride to wear her mother's dress, though, considering the moter Hbiscus doubted that Cara would have an attachment to such a garment.

"No. Sleep as long as you like." She would let the tottering toppless woman find her way to bed, but offer a hand if it was needed. "Remington will wait upon you... have you enough blankets?"
 
She slowly made her way to the bed, almost tripping a couple of times, but managing to get there herself. "Hmm, yes, I have enough of these soft blankets." Cara told Hisbiscus as she rubbed her face against them.

"See you tomorrow morning sometime then." She murmured before calling asleep on the bed, face first with no sheets over herself.

The wine had caused her to slowly slip into sleep since the last sip she had taken and now she had completed the process.
 
Hibiscus made sure the blankets were sufficiently covering the girl.

That's new... never tucked anyone in to bed before...

She didn't say anything else, after Cara's eyes fluttered and closed for the final time, she would quietly slip out of the room.

She went down a winding flight of stairs and into her 'office'. As she entered candles sprung to life. She sat down at a desk, and opened a ragged looking leather-bound tomb. It's ink was red, some of the letters smeared, the illustrations rough scrawl.

"Master." Remington stepped out from the shadows. "More ink for you." He set down a jar on the desk. "Lovely... don't you think?"

"The ink is sufficient Remington." She opened the jar and dipped a black feather quill.

"Tisk tisk. I mean the girl, and you know that."

"She's alright for a... you know. She won't interfere with my work, she wants no trouble here and to stay out of the way, which is better than I expected."

"You escorted her to her room yourself, you seem to enjoy her company."

"I will be able to tolerate her as it is necessary." Her mouth spoke these words while her mind recalled Cara in the firelight and the moon light, silver and gold. Hibiscus was weary from the day, and not in the mood to banter with her servant. "Leave me."

~~~

The next morning brought a blue sky and puffy white clouds. Shimmering dew covered the grass as the sun rose. The waves were gentler upon the cliffs than they had been the past day.

Remington and Kapera would be making a light breakfast for Cara, and warm tea for when she awoke. Kapera would quietly wait by her door with the tray, listening for signs of consciousness. While Remington readied the horses for their trip into the market.
 
The morning light brought Cara out of her deep sleep. As her eyes fluttered open, she moved her body around until the was lying on her back. A groan left her mouth, slight pain in her head from the wine last night. "I'm not going to drink the whole glass again." She murmured to herself.

As she sat up, memories of last night came to her head and Cara remembered how loose she had acted with Hibiscus. The wine could only be blamed for so much though, the rest was Cara wanting someone to finally like her and want her.

She rubbed her eyes and looked around for her chest of clothes, realizing she would need someone to draw her a bath first. Cara made her way to the door, keeping a blanket wrapped around herself. "Oh!" She said, surprised that a maid was already waiting at the door. "Have you been waiting long? You didn't need to, you could have just woken me."
 
Kapera nodded, and curtsied Kapera had minty green eyes and her lips were drawn into a small line which never parted for words. Anticipating Cara's needs, she would beckon to Cara down to the end of the hall. Into a humid marble room where a hot bath awaited.

Meanwhile, Hibiscus sat at the long table, pouring over a few books she had brought up from her 'office'. She normally would remain there, but she wanted to catch the girl before she left for the village.

"Your up early, Master." Remington was polishing the silverware.

"Hm." Hibiscus didn't look up from her work. Properly balancing a catchers-circle was tedious metaphysical arithmetic.
 
Cara followed her down the hall, making sure to keep the blanket tight around her as they walked. "Thank you." She said, giving the maid a smile. "I can wash myself. If you could bring me a dress from my things that would be great. The red one preferably."

Kapera listened to her second master's request and nodded before closing the door to the bathroom. She decided to bring back the tea and the dress for Cara in order to please her.

Once she was alone, Cara slipped out of her things and into the warm bath. The water relaxed her muscles. Before washing she sat for a few moments and let the stress flow off of her. By the time Kapera had found the dress and came back, Cara had finished washing and was drying herself the best she could.

"I am fine on my own Kapera, you may go back to your other work." She said simply, waning privacy to change. As the door shut once again Cara slipped into the clothes and tied the back of her corset and the dress herself. When she was sober it was an easy task, one that she was used to by now.

It wasnt until after Kapera had left that Cara saw the tea and smiled. It was wonderful and she knew she had to thank Kapera sometime. Once she was finished, Cara sipped her tea and made her way through the hallways, trying to find the kitchen.
 
"Ah there you are." Hibiscus shut her books and set aside her quill. Cara was wearing a red dress today, a bright contrast to her raven hair, shinny, freshly washed.

"I know you are planning on going to town to day. Best not mention that you live here in the castle, or anything about me. The people think this place has been abandoned for years and thankfully stay far afield of it. Not all of them are so stupid though, they say it's haunted." In a way they are correct...

"Remington will escort you, and make sure you acquire what you desire." The servant mentioned was not present, he was still outfitting their transport. Cara and Hibiscus were alone now.

Hibiscus looked back to her books, she was unsure if Cara remembered the night before, and if she had if she would be embarrassed by it. The necromancer thought the safest rout was not to mention it at all.
 
Cara simply nodded, blushing slightly when she remembered their interactions last night. "I will make no mention of it. Though I don't suppose anyone would believe me if I did." She said before sitting at the table, a couple seats from Hibiscus.

As she set the tea down Cara remembered the question she had. "Is there any magic in this tea or the water? I felt relaxed by both and could not help but think it."

Cara had not had a decent cup of tea for years though and had not had as warm of water as was in the bath for a similar amount of time. It could just be that being deprived of them made her experience their effects more strongly.
 
Hibiscus shook her head. "No magic there. Kapera is quite good with teas and brews. It is an herbalists craft, certain leaves and plants affect your mood and body without the aid of magic. Like wine, no magic there but it seems to transform a person completely..."

She looked back down at her book, leafing through some of the early pages, reviewing information.

Remington would enter the room next. "My Lady... Cara." His smile was worth it's weight in gold. "Our transportation has been prepared, I await your word and your company." He bowed deeply.

He's enjoying this far too much, Hibiscus thought.
 
Her blushed deepened as Hibiscus mentioned the wine. "I see, well I hope I can have it every morning" Cara said, reaching out for a bit of fruit that was on the table.

When Remington came in she looked up and tried to finish her drink and fruit quickly. "I'll be right there, as long as I am not needed here?" Cara asked, looking up at Hibiscus. She did not understand the rules here yet and did not want to be punished.

It seemed like Cara was constantly blushing here, constantly embarrassed. At least it was not as bad as the feelings she had at her old home. "Do you need anything while we are out? I can get specific foods if you have certain preferences." She knew that Hibiscus had said that she did not care, but perhaps this morning she had thought of things she would like.
 
Hibiscus furrowed her brow. "I told you before I have no preferences..." She flipped through the pages with a bit more force than was necessary, it was a wonder they didn't rip. "... though." She tapped her finger on the middle of the papyrus page. "Pomegranate, if they are in season." She traced her finger along the strange words written there, in a language Cara would not recognize. "If not, it is no matter." She shrugged, seeking to give the impression that she truly did not care.

I have not had a pomegranate in ages...

Remington bowed, and would leave the room and lead Cara to the cart, then the village.
 
Cara nodded simply. "Of course. I will see you when we get back then. " She stood and glanced at Hibiscus' book. The words looked like they included magic, which made Cara frown.

It put a terrible taste in her mouth, so she hurried out to follow Remington. "How many workers are there Remington? I have not seen many around." Cara said, figuring there were more than just two.

She picked up her dress as she walked down the stairs towards the carriage. Cara sighed softly and wished she had simplier dresses.
 
"Myself and Kapera, most of the time. When needed the Master will summon others." He would help her onto a much smaller carriage, the top was open giving the girl full view of the scenery as they made their way down the steep hill and toward the village. Remington held the reigns loosely, directing the single albino horse along the narrow path.

As they progressed the path became less weeded and rocky, wider, more pleasant. The ground became flat and rolling fields. Farmers worked, plugging earth and herding animals. The farm and field gave way to the village. It was a small quaint place, one main road was the central infrastructure. People would not pay the girl in her carriage much mind. Remington would halt early on before a tavern, and park the cart and horse there.

Once out-of-the-cart people would smile and say 'how-do-you-do-miss' as she passed. Small town manners prevailed here.
 
Cara looked around as they rode to the village. Everything looked so different. Of course she had not been to a market since she was a child, so she did not remember much.

When they were out and people acknowledged her she tried to keep her manners up and reply with what was expected.

"Remington, do you know this market?" She asked softly, since she had no idea where they were going and where anything was. Cara knew what she wanted to get for cooking, but did not know the best places to get such things.
 
"Why of course, Master has sent you forth with a knowledgeable guide. The castle is lonely, but 'no man is an island' as they say, we requires supplies from time-to-time.

He would hold out his elbow for her to take, and he would lead her down the street (Main street), they turned a corner (Market street), and they would see store fronts and street stalls, fruits piled up in their crates, chickens in cages, goats on leashes, meats and herbs hanging, vendors smiling and waving at the girl and her footman. A boy carrying sacs of flour over his back apologized and hurried past.

"Please, examine whatever catches your eye." He was unsure if the girl had a dish in mind already. Or perhaps she would brows, and be inspired by what was available or in season. He watched her, one eyebrow arched in curiosity.
 
She nodded and looked in awe at all of the fresh ingredients. The first food she went for was the fruits. They looked so different from what she was used to. "Do you know the names of these?" Cara asked, pointing to strawberries and then to blueberries. Her area only had apples and oranges most of the year, along with some melons.

As they went along she was drawn towards the different animals that would give them meat. "Would Hibiscus be opposed to keeping a chicken for eggs and then eating when ready? She did not say anything about keeping animals for meat, what do they use now?" Cara asked, hoping someone would be able to kill the animal. That part had always been done for her.
 
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