"Awwww."
She cooed, and giggled, when he spoke of his first tutor. Shay could see the small boy sitting at a table, his eyes wide with concern, until he became more familiar with her. Once he had the old 'hag's' number, Shay imagined Alexi would have given the woman no peace. She hoped his mother had been the type to hold the small Alexi, when he needed it.
"But you didn't answer...did you have lots of girlfriends?"
Whether it was true or not, Shay could see an Alexi of seventeen, or eighteen...and her vision was not of a gawky young man, but one of confidence, and strength.
"And what did young men and women of your time do for fun?"
Obviously they didn't go to the movies...or out to dinner...bowling...
"Did you dance...go to parties?"
Her questions weren't of great importance in the giant scope of things, but she was trying to put his life into some kind of perspective that she could relate to. She knew eventually she would get to the time in his life when everything changed, and he started on the path that led him here, to the present. But what he was telling her now was enabling her to see that journey better.
Welcome home
Mathias puttered around the condo. Shay would be home soon from New York and he wanted it all to be perfect. Of course his millenium of existence had not given him much experience in the field of party planning,even a small intimate one.
If anyone who knew Mathias had seen him watching FoodTV or Martha Stewart would have laughed themselves silly. But it made perfect sense to Mathias - he wanted Shay to understand how much he missed her, even briefly. Besides,that MArtha Stewart had said it was a 'good thing'.
He heard the car pull into the drive as he lit the candles and awaited his beloved's return.
Shay
18 years ago
Mathias
18 years ago
Mathias blushed. He had not been..unfamiliar with the girls of the court - however they usually seemed more interested in his parent's position than him.
"I wouldn't say a lot,however as a member of the court I was expected to socialize and attend state functions. The time I spent fostered in Kiev was no different."
What an odd memory to pop up. Kiev...where he learned to be a knight,and where he learned about man's ability to debase himself. a series of highs and lows,Kiev was still fondly remembered. It had been a long time since he visited last,perhaps he and Shay could go sometime.
"When I was young I played and wandered and had a tutor,but when I was 10 I was fostered - sent to Kiev,to learn how to be a knight and a noble. there I learned to ride and fight. There were balls and other social events,which we attended of course. "
"I wouldn't say a lot,however as a member of the court I was expected to socialize and attend state functions. The time I spent fostered in Kiev was no different."
What an odd memory to pop up. Kiev...where he learned to be a knight,and where he learned about man's ability to debase himself. a series of highs and lows,Kiev was still fondly remembered. It had been a long time since he visited last,perhaps he and Shay could go sometime.
"When I was young I played and wandered and had a tutor,but when I was 10 I was fostered - sent to Kiev,to learn how to be a knight and a noble. there I learned to ride and fight. There were balls and other social events,which we attended of course. "
Shay
18 years ago
"Of course...because it was expected of you, hardship or no, you did your duty...managing to fit in a teeny bit of fun at the balls and other social events..."
She smirked up at him, as she teased in a mock seriousness, and again envisioned the young man Alexi. It was so good to know his teen years were pleasurable as well.
She sighed a bit, somewhat saddened to know she'd never see even a facsimile of him, in their child. Somehow, now that she was unable to participate in that process of perpetuating the future, it seemed an even bigger reason they made a good couple...surely fate did have a hand in their joining.
But ten years old...to be removed from your home and sent away...much too young, in Shay's opinion.
"Were you scared when you were sent away...such a young age to leave one's home and be thrust into the unknown?"
At least it was to learn...and not serve as a servant, or slave. Learning to ride would have been great fun, she hoped. The fighting part, at that age too, would have probably been great entertainment. Maybe it was like when her brothers had been that age, and played Star Wars, fighting with their fake light sabers. Though Alexi would have been using real swords. The thought made her shudder.
She smirked up at him, as she teased in a mock seriousness, and again envisioned the young man Alexi. It was so good to know his teen years were pleasurable as well.
She sighed a bit, somewhat saddened to know she'd never see even a facsimile of him, in their child. Somehow, now that she was unable to participate in that process of perpetuating the future, it seemed an even bigger reason they made a good couple...surely fate did have a hand in their joining.
But ten years old...to be removed from your home and sent away...much too young, in Shay's opinion.
"Were you scared when you were sent away...such a young age to leave one's home and be thrust into the unknown?"
At least it was to learn...and not serve as a servant, or slave. Learning to ride would have been great fun, she hoped. The fighting part, at that age too, would have probably been great entertainment. Maybe it was like when her brothers had been that age, and played Star Wars, fighting with their fake light sabers. Though Alexi would have been using real swords. The thought made her shudder.
Mathias
18 years ago
" Any fear I felt was tempered by the duty I had to my family. It wasn't a option,fostering was the standard back then."
Mathias was sure his parents missed him,but they also knew the importance of what he was doing.
"And it was,initially at least,less than idyllic. I was a page,one step above the common servants. While being tutored it was expected to attend the lord and lady of the manor and obey any commands from pages above me in station and experience. The idea was to create an understanding of ones place and how noblesse oblige worked - but in practice the older larger children bullied the smaller weaker ones. Which,I suppose,was an apt analogy for how the world works."
Perhaps not how it should,nor how Mathias wanted it to...but it wasn't about his wants or desires.
But that was the past,and Mathias preferred to focus on the future in his arms now. concentrating on Shay,her warmth and how she felt,he almost didn't notice the blinking lights on his phone.
Damn,what now? he thought
Mathias was sure his parents missed him,but they also knew the importance of what he was doing.
"And it was,initially at least,less than idyllic. I was a page,one step above the common servants. While being tutored it was expected to attend the lord and lady of the manor and obey any commands from pages above me in station and experience. The idea was to create an understanding of ones place and how noblesse oblige worked - but in practice the older larger children bullied the smaller weaker ones. Which,I suppose,was an apt analogy for how the world works."
Perhaps not how it should,nor how Mathias wanted it to...but it wasn't about his wants or desires.
But that was the past,and Mathias preferred to focus on the future in his arms now. concentrating on Shay,her warmth and how she felt,he almost didn't notice the blinking lights on his phone.
Damn,what now? he thought
Shay
18 years ago
The mention of having no option bristled the hairs on the back of Shay's neck. Anyone being forced to do anything, legal issues not withstanding, did not set well with her.
But she was not of that era, and was not in a position to judge. She could only be glad that she had been born when she had.
"For the day, I can see why things were done in the manner the majority held to...for your survival it was obligatory. Though I must say, all things under consideration, you turned out marvelously. I'll allow more than those few years went into making you the man you are today, but I will always believe the first few years of a person's life are what help set the foundation for that person, and have direct bearing in the path they will ultimately follow.
Your parents must have been good people."
Her fingers had now traveled down his chest,and were brushing lightly over the fine hairs that ran down the center.
"I guess somethings will never change. There will always be those who are stronger...richer...smarter. And there will always be those who use their advantages for good, and those who do not. Am I deluding myself though, to think it's not quite as obvious or concentrated as it was in your day then? Am I just used to the way of the world now...and don't really see that things are still the same?"
She hoped not, but now that she thought about it, maybe she had been living in some fog, and was just now seeing there was more to things on the other side.
As a cop she knew there were bad people in the world, and always would be, but she still believed that those people comprised a very small percentage of the populace. Was that wrong?
In the dark room, the blinking lights of his phone seemed to stand out.
"I think someone is sending you the bat signal."
She clung to him a bit tighter, while understanding he might be receiving a call to attend to something Ellis deemed necessary. For while it was night, these were his working hours.
But she was not of that era, and was not in a position to judge. She could only be glad that she had been born when she had.
"For the day, I can see why things were done in the manner the majority held to...for your survival it was obligatory. Though I must say, all things under consideration, you turned out marvelously. I'll allow more than those few years went into making you the man you are today, but I will always believe the first few years of a person's life are what help set the foundation for that person, and have direct bearing in the path they will ultimately follow.
Your parents must have been good people."
Her fingers had now traveled down his chest,and were brushing lightly over the fine hairs that ran down the center.
"I guess somethings will never change. There will always be those who are stronger...richer...smarter. And there will always be those who use their advantages for good, and those who do not. Am I deluding myself though, to think it's not quite as obvious or concentrated as it was in your day then? Am I just used to the way of the world now...and don't really see that things are still the same?"
She hoped not, but now that she thought about it, maybe she had been living in some fog, and was just now seeing there was more to things on the other side.
As a cop she knew there were bad people in the world, and always would be, but she still believed that those people comprised a very small percentage of the populace. Was that wrong?
In the dark room, the blinking lights of his phone seemed to stand out.
"I think someone is sending you the bat signal."
She clung to him a bit tighter, while understanding he might be receiving a call to attend to something Ellis deemed necessary. For while it was night, these were his working hours.
Mathias
18 years ago
Mathias smiled at the memories of his parents this talk had conjured forth.
"They were good people, and loved me in their way. They knew,perhaps better than most, the importance of duty and honor. I am sure my parents did not want to leave Kiev for Constantinople,but it was not something they had a voice in really. Same as with my fostering - they and I understood what had to be done. It is not like today with one's feelings entering into the debate. Though...I oft wonder if ours was the better way."
He chuckled slightly,Shay's faith in this world both amusing and wonderful.
" Perhaps I am too jaded and cynical love - mayhap the villians of this time are a far more subtle breed of evil. Although, I vastly prefer an enemy who faces me."
Sighing deeply, he reached over and grabbed the phone, holding onto Shay with his other arm. If he did have to go, Mathias at least wanted to hold her as long as possible. Glancing at the screen he saw it was an incoming text message. The raid at the Hillman compound was a go and Tacharan was to assemble at The Domicile ASAP.
Damn
Slowly Mathias disengaged himself from Shay. This was not an easy conversation but one best handled quickly.
"I have to go love - I am needed for Clan business. We are assaulting an enemy of Tacharan and recovering something stolen."
"They were good people, and loved me in their way. They knew,perhaps better than most, the importance of duty and honor. I am sure my parents did not want to leave Kiev for Constantinople,but it was not something they had a voice in really. Same as with my fostering - they and I understood what had to be done. It is not like today with one's feelings entering into the debate. Though...I oft wonder if ours was the better way."
He chuckled slightly,Shay's faith in this world both amusing and wonderful.
" Perhaps I am too jaded and cynical love - mayhap the villians of this time are a far more subtle breed of evil. Although, I vastly prefer an enemy who faces me."
Sighing deeply, he reached over and grabbed the phone, holding onto Shay with his other arm. If he did have to go, Mathias at least wanted to hold her as long as possible. Glancing at the screen he saw it was an incoming text message. The raid at the Hillman compound was a go and Tacharan was to assemble at The Domicile ASAP.
Damn
Slowly Mathias disengaged himself from Shay. This was not an easy conversation but one best handled quickly.
"I have to go love - I am needed for Clan business. We are assaulting an enemy of Tacharan and recovering something stolen."
Shay
18 years ago
"I guess its natural we both deal better with what we are familiar with. And I guess we're both a bit cynical, but how can a person not be in this day and age."
She pulled the afghan close, as he left her side. She knew it was only a matter of time before he would be called away from her. That he was going to do something dangerous, was a given, and was what made his parting the harder to accept.
Watching as he dressed, Shay waited until he was almost clothed, before standing herself. Had she stood, and gone to him as he stood nude before her, it would have made it even more difficult to let him go. He looked less vulnerable with his faux armor of clothing.
Holding the sides of the afghan open, she enveloped them both within it's folds, and hugged him tightly. Her face pressed into his side, she inhaled his scent, trying to impress it into her memory.
"Just make sure you come back to me with all the parts you are taking with you now...and that they're all in working order."
She grinned up at him, and wrinkled her nose, before standing on tiptoes to kiss him. It was a 'good luck' kiss, and when she finished, she moved away to the kitchen, to let him complete his dress.
Pouring a cup of coffee from the pot, she heated it up in the microwave, and then watched him as she sipped the hot liquid.
"Can I get you anything before you leave?"
She pulled the afghan close, as he left her side. She knew it was only a matter of time before he would be called away from her. That he was going to do something dangerous, was a given, and was what made his parting the harder to accept.
Watching as he dressed, Shay waited until he was almost clothed, before standing herself. Had she stood, and gone to him as he stood nude before her, it would have made it even more difficult to let him go. He looked less vulnerable with his faux armor of clothing.
Holding the sides of the afghan open, she enveloped them both within it's folds, and hugged him tightly. Her face pressed into his side, she inhaled his scent, trying to impress it into her memory.
"Just make sure you come back to me with all the parts you are taking with you now...and that they're all in working order."
She grinned up at him, and wrinkled her nose, before standing on tiptoes to kiss him. It was a 'good luck' kiss, and when she finished, she moved away to the kitchen, to let him complete his dress.
Pouring a cup of coffee from the pot, she heated it up in the microwave, and then watched him as she sipped the hot liquid.
"Can I get you anything before you leave?"
Mathias
18 years ago
He thought a moment,had he become too cynical and jaded? Perhaps,and yet Shay had awakened in him something unrembered for centuries. While Ellis had given him a purpose,something to do...Shay had given him hope and something to believe in.
"Faith,my love. that is how we can avoid that pit. And hope..."
Mathias let her warmth wash over him - his destination was a cold place,both physically and otherwise. And best gotten to, he thought,moving slowly away from Shay.
He took her admonishments in stride,smiling and returning her kiss with equal ardor.
"This is what I do,dearest. This is what I do. "
Mathias gave Shay a small bow as he stood in the doorway.
" I have your love, no knight was ever granted better favor from his lady. It will be my armor."
He turned and headed out,to his car and the battle that lay ahead.
"I love you Shay"
((ooc - Mathias out ))
"I guess its natural we both deal better with what we are familiar with. And I guess we're both a bit cynical, but how can a person not be in this day and age."
He thought a moment,had he become too cynical and jaded? Perhaps,and yet Shay had awakened in him something unrembered for centuries. While Ellis had given him a purpose,something to do...Shay had given him hope and something to believe in.
"Faith,my love. that is how we can avoid that pit. And hope..."
Mathias let her warmth wash over him - his destination was a cold place,both physically and otherwise. And best gotten to, he thought,moving slowly away from Shay.
He took her admonishments in stride,smiling and returning her kiss with equal ardor.
"This is what I do,dearest. This is what I do. "
"Can I get you anything before you leave?"
Mathias gave Shay a small bow as he stood in the doorway.
" I have your love, no knight was ever granted better favor from his lady. It will be my armor."
He turned and headed out,to his car and the battle that lay ahead.
"I love you Shay"
((ooc - Mathias out ))
Shay
18 years ago
Faith...and hope...words she believed and spouted herself not that awfully long ago. But now for him she would hold them close, and if they failed her...
Shay knew he was good at his job, otherwise he would have never been around this long, and now, to have met her. That thought didn't change her feelings though...she was still scared. She hoped her love would protect him, and had faith that he would be smarter than anyone he came up against. There...see...faith and hope were still part of her being, even if not for herself.
When he turned to leave, she ran after him for one last kiss, and returned his declaration.
"And I love you, Alexi...don't forget that...I love you with my heart, body, and soul..."
Without thinking, she had followed him out onto the stoop, and stood there for several minutes after watching him drive off. As she returned to the warmth of her livingroom, and shut the door behind her, she decided she was glad she hadn't laid her troubles at his feet. He needed to keep his mind clear, and concentrate on his duties. Worrying about her would only cloud things.
Yes...she had done the right thing. When he came back to her, safe and sound...then maybe she would tell him.
Lying down on the couch, Shay snuggled under the blanket she still had around herself, and smelled his scent in the leather. It gave her tremendous peace to know even that little bit of him remained behind.
Soon she was asleep, and dreaming of better and brighter things between them.
(ooc - Shay out.) Lock Please!
Shay knew he was good at his job, otherwise he would have never been around this long, and now, to have met her. That thought didn't change her feelings though...she was still scared. She hoped her love would protect him, and had faith that he would be smarter than anyone he came up against. There...see...faith and hope were still part of her being, even if not for herself.
When he turned to leave, she ran after him for one last kiss, and returned his declaration.
"And I love you, Alexi...don't forget that...I love you with my heart, body, and soul..."
Without thinking, she had followed him out onto the stoop, and stood there for several minutes after watching him drive off. As she returned to the warmth of her livingroom, and shut the door behind her, she decided she was glad she hadn't laid her troubles at his feet. He needed to keep his mind clear, and concentrate on his duties. Worrying about her would only cloud things.
Yes...she had done the right thing. When he came back to her, safe and sound...then maybe she would tell him.
Lying down on the couch, Shay snuggled under the blanket she still had around herself, and smelled his scent in the leather. It gave her tremendous peace to know even that little bit of him remained behind.
Soon she was asleep, and dreaming of better and brighter things between them.
(ooc - Shay out.) Lock Please!