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Mod
Angelique was a lovely an averagely lovely girl. He hair was not the softest, her skin not the smoothest, etc., but to Sorrel, she was the essence of beauty itself. They'd known each other since they were young and too childish to understand class discrimination.
"Soooooorrrrreeeeellllllll!" Her voice called. She panted and he could tell she had been running. He looked up from the puppy he had been playing with to find a muddy girl of about five years clutching something in her skirts. Her hair was twisted and tangled, but she had this mischievous grin on her face that intrigued him. "Are you Sorrel?" She asked blatantly. He nodded silently in response, still very confused as to what was happening and who this creature was.
"I'm Angelique. I heard you were the prince."
"Well, my brother is the first prince since he's older." He clarified.
"That's ok. I just needed any prince."
"Oh... what for?" He asked, still confused as to why she was here.
"Well, you see, last night, my mom was telling me about this princess that kissed a toad and turned it into a prince." She began, "So I spent all day looking by the river for a toad and found one! Since there aren't any princesses around here, I figured that if I got a prince to kiss it, then it would turn into a prince or a princess!" She explained excitedly, as though her logic were sound.
Sorrel grimaced. "Ew! I don't want to kiss a muddy frog. That's gross."
"But it wouldn't be muddy for long because it's going to turn into royalty!" She insisted, revealing the captured amphibian in her dress.
"No!"
"Please! It will only take a minute." She pleaded. Her face looked at him earnestly. Sorrel watched her cautiously for a moment, considering her request.
"Ok..." He conceded with a sigh.
"Really?" Her face lit up as though it were her birthday. "Thank you! Ok, now stick out your lips like this." She puckered her own lips in example. Sorrel did as she instructed, very nervous because he didn't want to kiss a frog.
Angelique held out the slippery creature, bringing it closer and closer to Sorrel's face.
"Children!" A voice shrieked. The kids turned to look at a frantic maid running towards them. She ran up to the kids, grabbed the toad and threw it with great force away from them.
"Mom! I looked all morn-"
"Angelique this is very bad behavior. You do not shove frogs into the young prince's face. I'm very disappointed in you."
"But we wanted to see if the frog would turn into a princess." Sorrel interjected, not understanding what was wrong, though he was glad he wasn't going to kiss a toad anymore. The woman looked surprised, then understanding.
"Oh my stars. That's what you were doing? Honey, that was just a story. Toads don't really turn into people." She sighed and turned to Sorrel. "My prince, I am so sorry about my daughter. This won't happen again. We're leaving now. Angelique. Curtsy and apologize to the prince." The young girl's face looked like it was about to burst into tears. She did as her mother said and was soon dragged away without another word. The young prince watched them leave, hoping he'd see her again so he could tell her she didn't have to cry.
Mod
Lora sighed, tapping the charcoal pencil to her chin as she gazed upon the male's naked form before her.
"If it's possible, could you please stop breathing for just a moment? Your chest keeps moving and I just can't seem to capture both the inhalation and exhalation. And stop trying to fix your hair, it's not helping." She instructed. The man before her became red in the face and tried to comply to her wishes.
"Thank you!" She piped up and took charcoal to paper once again. Her assignment was to do a nude sketch of someone. The man she had enlisted for help was someone who was in a couple of her classes. He seemed open-minded enough for the job, which is why she had asked him. He had been surprised, though she assumed it was because he wasn't aware of her existence until recently. She was apparently somewhat of a ghostly presence. She had him pose in a comfortable, lounged position because an action pose would have made him tire easily. She wanted to take her time, so she had him do something he could stay a while in. She worked meticulously and silently, giving instruction here and there as needed. When she had finished, she packed up her things, gave a quick thank you and made to leave.
"Hey, w-wait!" He called after her and ran up with his pants just thrown on in a hurry.
"Oh, did you need something?" She asked, her eyes watching him inquisitively. He was still red in the face, apparently trying to piece his words together.
"Well do I at least get to see it?" He asked, though his face looked somewhat lost.
Lora raised a brow in slight surprise, but went to her bag to acquiesce his request. "Oh, if you'd like to. Sure." She took out the sketchbook and handed it to him. When he flipped to his page, his face became even more red. Lora was unsure how to address his silence.
"Do you not like it?" She asked flatly. "If you want, I can redo it to something you are more comfortable with. Though, I would like to turn this assignment in as soon as I can." She explained plainly.
"N-no it's fine... I-uh- I mean you're turning this in. To be viewed by people."
"Well, yes, we are being graded. Should I find someone else?" She asked. His uneasiness was apparent and she needed the person's consent to turn in the piece.
"Right, I mean, I've got nothing to be ashamed of right? In comparison to the other people who have modeled... you picked me, after all." He smiled, albeit a bit nervously. Lora thought he might have been showing a bit of insecurity about his body.
"I haven't seen the other models, just a few sketches other students have done." She shrugged. "But, personally, your body appears to be in excellent health. your body fat percentage is low enough that your muscles are relatively visible to the naked eye, but high enough that you shouldn't be concerned about certain diseases. You have a good body for practicing anatomy." She offered a polite encouraging smile.
"Y-yeah? You think so? I mean, I think you would be a good model, yourself." He rubbed at the back of his neck.
"I was asked to, actually, for a classmate, but when I discussed it with my mother, she thought it would be 'wildly inappropriate.' So I asked Peter to find someone else. I think he went with Stephen." She explained obliviously.
"W-well, um, I was kind of wondering if maybe you would like to go get some tea with me? Once I get my clothes back on, that is."
"Sorry? You want to get tea?" She was confused. "Why?"
"Oh, god, do you have a boyfriend? Are you engaged?"
"No. Is that important?"
He just stared at her a moment, marveling at how oblivious she apparently was. Perhaps she had no interest for him at all. So there was no reason for him to get all worked up.
"You know what? No. You're right. I'll just go find a girl that likes me to go on this date." He sighed, shaking his head and walking off.
I wonder what has him all fussy... Lora thought to herself. She picked up the boy's shirt and gave it to a nearby butler to have it cleaned and returned to the young man. She went on about her day as normal.
Mod
Patricia found Zane a frustrated and grieving boy. She had been on her way back to her private quarters when, quite suddenly, he was before her, drunk and dazed. He looked confused and lost with a hint of crippling sadness in his eyes. Patricia was intrigued. Confused? Sure. Scared or startled? Hardly. He locked eyes with her and nearly tripped. She steadied him with a readily calm and polite smile.
"And who might you be, Sweetheart?" She asked with all the poise a princess would be expected to possess and a secret enthusiasm in locating her next prey. "Antonio, Reginald, would you excuse us? I should like to help him and I would so be grateful if you could prepare me a nice bath for later." She smiled and escorted the young man to a hallway with less traffic. She leaned Zane against the wall for stability and swept his hair out of his face with one hand and lifted his chin with the other so that she could meet his eyes.
"You poor thing, what has you drinking and about at this hour?" She tilted her head to the side as she spoke softly but clearly.
"It just hurts..." He mumbled, trying to look down. Patricia was not the least bit deterred.
"What hurts, darling?" She stroked his cheek with her thumb.
"M'heart. 'Cus Sorrel and... he... mmm..." His eyes met hers again, becoming shiny with tears.
"Oh, sweetheart, I understand. I can help you forget about him if you'd like..." She grinned, their lips drawing nearer.
"I... uhmmm..." Zane appeared conflicted at first, but before she could do anything else, the boy was suddenly kissing her. He grabbed her face and pulled her close to him in a sudden passion that she was-frankly-unopposed to.
Many of the students had begun to call her the Queen of Hearts. She liked the ring it held on the tongue, so she didn't correct them. Personally, she just saw herself as the queen of seizing opportunities. Sure, she wasn't in love. But he was a good kisser and she could afford to give him some of her time.
Mod
"Please, get away from me." The congested prince insisted, leaning away from the soup spoon being held out before him. Unfortunately, study plans had been canceled today on account of Alaric being far too sick to focus on anything they had intended to cover that day. The prince had called his partner, Della, with the news, rectifying their problem by assuring her he would send her his notes from class for her convenience.
The shivering royal was surprised when his butler addressed his bundled form that the tropical princess had arrived. And with soup. At first, he was concerned that he had hallucinated the entire phone conversation and had forgotten to actually alert her of his condition. Soon enough, though, it became clear that she had every intention of seeing him today and offering her company and services. It was embarrassing, looking like death and cocooned in blankets like a first class mess. Not to mention her being there was putting her at risk for illness as well.
"Not a chance, Alaric. Now open up. This soup is supposed to be really good for colds." She winked daringly, again motioning for him to drink. Too tired to even flinch at her platonic flirtations, Al complied and sipped the hot liquid from the spoon. The soup felt good running down his rough throat and he was grateful for Della's kind nature. How did she always seem to help him more than he could ever help her?
"Than-" The prince attempted to show his gratitude, but was interrupted by a coughing fit. "Thank you." He croaked afterwards. Eyeing her bashfully. He didn't know why it felt odd being so flimsy in front of his friend. He didn't like that he must have seemed weak and pitiful in front of her. He wanted to be someone that she could rely on too, though it always seemed to be the other way around, much to his regret.
"It really is no trouble. Here, have some more. Your butler told me you've hardly touched your food all day, so you can bet I'm going to have you finish this container of soup before we have you rest, alright?" She smiled, offering another spoonful of the concoction. "I made this myself, you know. Well, with a little help from my attendants... but my feelings were in it. I hope you didn't expect me to just leave you alone when you were like this. That would be very unlike me. And do try not to talk to much. I don't want you to waste your voice. Oh! I know, let's watch a movie? I think there's usually something good playing at this time of day." The princess rambled. The prince merely nodded at her words, drinking the soup when it was offered, shaking his head when she offered to get him another pillow or blanket, nodding when he thought she might like a certain show playing on the screen, smiling at her nurturing, laughing until she scolded him to stop, all in all letting her take charge in his care. His attendants seemed to understand that the two were comfortable in their space, merely bring waters for the pair and offering to bring snacks and comforts for the princess should she require them (to which she often insisted that she was just fine and let them take their leave).
Della was amazing, he couldn't stop thinking throughout the day. Alaric often found himself dozing off, only to wake up on her lap or her shoulder. Once he woke up to her stroking her fingers through his hair while watching a program on the television. The prince was so comfortable, he did his best not to move so that she wouldn't stop, eventually falling asleep again.
The next time he awoke, she was studying for one of her classes. The look of complete concentration on her face was... well, it was completely adorable and charming. He eventually said so, something along the lines of "You have a very nice concentrated look," To which she blushed and thanked him before telling him, once again, to save his voice and get some rest. She began explaining to him the plot of the show that was playing in the background when he fell asleep again.
The third time he awoke, Della had fallen asleep. Her body was slouched against the couch, her chest rising and falling slowly with her breath. Her mouth was just slightly open in an uncomfortable pout. Smiling at her sweet, unconscious state, Alaric knew it was time for him to return the favor. Gently, he removed himself from the princess's lap and lay her down on the couch. He had the attendants grab fresh, warmed blankets and lay them over her. He hovered momentarily, making sure he had placed her comfortably. He had the nagging urge to kiss her forehead and wish her sweet dreams, though he knew that wouldn't be smart if he wanted her to avoid this illness. Instead, he whispered, "Sleep well, Della." and headed off to his bed for the night. One day, he would make it up to her. He really hoped he would get the opportunity to keep her around for that long. The prince disliked being sick, but today he was grateful for the happiness that it had brought him.
Leo makes an offhand comment somehow implying that Aya wouldn't make a good mother and she, already upset from earlier meeting with Pak, goes off on Leo, screaming and making a fuss until she puts a vividly mean image in his head and he shoves her away from him. She becomes quiet and shakes uncontrollably, getting caught up in a flashback in her head. Leo snaps her out of it and she tries to run away. Leo is surprised, but let's her go. Eventually he tries to come up with a way to apologize, but ends up doing it very awkwardly and it is the start of a beautiful platonic friendship.