Breaking the Rules

[GoblinFae]

Primrose squealed in surprise as her feet left the ground. Janus gave directions to Primrose's chambers before excusing himself to cleaning up the kitchen abandoning Primrose to Harkness' devices.

"Put me down!" she cried beating her open-palmed hands against his back. 'Whoa, this is pretty high up,' she thought as he carried her up a flight of steps. Her body swayed with in time with his steps. 'Now this is an interesting view.'

Smirking she got an idea. She slowed her efforts to escape before holding still and groaning. She raised her hand to her head and groggily informed Harkness that she was not feeling well. On cue, she let her body go completely limp against him. 'This'll teach him to prank against a Dragoslav!'

[Haze]

Harkness grinned at her reaction, stoically allowing her fists to pound his back. It was quite nice though, a bit like a massage. As her struggling started to slow though, he looked a little confused. As her body went limp, he gave a little 'oof' with the change in weight, but rolled his eyes. Oh, so that's how you're going to play. Fine... I can work with that.

"Primrose?" He called, causing his voice to flood with concern. "Oh no, she's fainted!" Carefully he turned at the top step, and slid her back over his shoulder, marvelling just a little at her lightness. Cradling her against his chest, he sat down on the step, and laid her limp form across his knee, watching as her head lolled back. Oh, you are good...

"Primrose, hang on. Stay with me. Can you hear me?" He asked, using his arm around her shoulders to lift her up a little. With a cheeky glint in his eye, he slowly lowered his head to hers, till he was within a fraction of an inch from her lips. "Got to shock you out of it," his whispered, and then kissed her.

[GoblinFae]

'Shock it ou- He's kissing me! What does he think he's doing! You don't just go around kissing people you just met!'

Her eyes flew open in rage. The time for pranks and games was over, he had made sure of that. Her right fist came up give a weakly executed upper cut. As she did this she rolled in his lap reaching for his sword. 'Now my honor is offended.'

[Haze]

Her reaction didn't come as a surprise, in fact, he had been anticipating something of the sort. He dodged away from the uppercut, grinning away at her. It was just like playing with his cousins, though the time for that had passed many decades ago.

"Hey now," he said, making a quick snatch for her wrist as she reached for his sword. His hand easily enveloped it, and he peeled her arm away from the sword, holding it out. "So what, you can dish it out, but you can't take it?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

[GoblinFae]

Primrose was angered. Her face was a mask of stone, impassive and cold. "You go too far," she said to him. 'He's lucky I don't kick him down the stairs and break his neck for that.'

"Janus!" she called. Quickly the boy ran in looking to his mistress curiously. "Please escort Mr. Harkness to the guest quarters and see to it that he has anything he may need." She marched down the stairs, head held high. "No pranks Janus," she reminded him as he headed up.

Brooding she headed to the gardens. 'Time to have a talk with father, I think.'

[Haze]

Harkness watched as Primrose reprimanded him with a guarded look. He'd only been playing along, and the kiss had meant absolutely nothing. It was all just a part of the game, wasn't it? Yes, the kiss had been just a little risqué, but he'd got the impression from her that she was up for anything. Not in a bad way, just... she was fun.

As Primrose gave instructions to Janus, Harkness tried to clear his head and work out exactly what he had done wrong. Of course, he wasn't dense, but as he followed Janus to the guest room, he couldn't help but wonder if things should have been done a little differently.

It was then that he scolded himself. Hark, you got too friendly, too quick. What's the rule? Keep it professional. What did you do? Made it personal. Get a grip. This is not a paid job, I can do what I want! What, so... whenever you're not working you're just going to kiss ladies for the hell of it? No, no, no... that wont do, will it, boyo. You'd better go and apologise. He put a hand out to Janus' shoulder, and asked him quietly where he thought Primrose might be going.

The boy suggested the gardens, and with a squeeze to say thank you he turned and went searching, though he couldn't say whether Janus looked pleased to have helped him, or stricken that he'd betrayed his mistress.

With steps falling as silently as a cats, Harkness tailed Primrose into the gardens, making sure to keep a good distance between them.

[GoblinFae]

Slowly Primrose wove her way through the gardens. In the back of the garden, hidden by vines was a stone wall with a thick oak door. Pulling out a key from around her neck, Primrose opened it and went inside, locking the door behind her.

Inside was a small family cemetery. There were only two graves each marked by a stone statue of the buried individual. The larger of the two was that of a she-dragon. As Primrose walked by it she reached up and trailed her fingers along the stone snout and neck. "Hello Ustskel, I'm here to see father if you don't mind," she said to the dragon.

Moving on she came to the second statue. This was of a man sitting on a rock holding his sword and staring out in front of him. "Hello father. Sorry I've been awhile," she softly whispered. She became to pull moss and vines off the statue as she talked to him about her day, the children she taught, Janus' antics and Jain's care of her. She told the statue about Davis hitting her and Harkness saving her. "I could have done it myself, thank you very much." She continued telling him of Janus' flour prank followed by the wooden spoon duel and the fainting prank.

"He kissed me father. Mother always said my pranks would go too far but," she sighed. "It was just a kiss. Yet, it was more than that. The braggart stole my first kiss!" She sat before the statue pouting slightly. "I miss you father. Things were so simple when you were home. I miss mother as well but..." she let it fade not desiring to talk about things she had already lamented on a thousand times over.

"Tell mother I say hello," she finally said standing up again. "I should probably apologize to my guest. Goodnight father," she whispered leaning up to kiss the stone cheek.

[Haze]

Harkness watched all this silently from the shadows, raising eyebrows and smiling wryly at all the right places of conversations. The inflection in her voice as she spoke about her rescue didn't get past him though, and he shook his head for her bravery and inability to accept that he had helped her. But as the conversation changed, and she recounted the incident just past, Harkness couldn't help but physically flinch. He felt well and truly guilty now, as he listened to Primrose commune with her father's memory, and for more than just the kiss. It was such a private moment, and with a sneer to himself, he realised he was intruding on something nearly sacred.

He had never know the death of a loved one. Both his parents still lived, and would continue to do so for hundreds more years, but for a human girl like Primrose... the loneliness. He felt his heart constrict at the thought. You've intruded enough, Hark. Back to the house.

But his feet were glued to the ground. What are you doing? Go... run away from her... she's going to hurt you!

"Uh, Primrose?" He said softly as he cleared his throat, "I... I'm sorry. For before."

[GoblinFae]

Primrose inhaled sharply, startled by Harkness' presence. She stared at him wide-eyed as it slowly sunk in that he was apologizing to her.

"I am sorry too. I let things go too far and then got worked up over nothing." She looked down staring at her feet, feeling vulnerable. 'Why do I feel like such a child? This is my own home and I am a grown woman. He apologized. I apologized. Let that be the end of it.'

Moving over to Harkness she linked arms with him. "I see you found the gardens. I hope they are to your liking," she said giving him a soft, sad smile. "My father and his dragon are buried here. They died when I was very little," she told him falling silent for a moment. 'Way to make him feel bad, Prim. He probably thinks you're messed up in the head, especially if he heard you talking.'

"I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm telling you this." She made to move away from him. "I think I have disturbed you enough tonight. I will take my leave of you. If you want for food or anything, just let Janus know and he will make sure you are taken care of." Tears welled in her eyes as she tried to wish him a goodnight. 'Oh Kia, don't cry Primrose. Don't cry!'

[Haze]

Yep. He felt like a tool, alright. As she linked arms with him, he blinked a few times, not quite sure of what to make of the diminutive woman. She reminds me of Elody... just... shorter. He smiled at the thought of his sister, and concluded that this unconscious connection to his sister was the reason he'd fallen so easily into the playful mischeif.

"I'm sorry for your loss," he said genuinely, patting her hand, "I can't imagine what it must be like to lose a parent. Hey..." he frowned as he saw tears threatening, and looked a little panicked for a moment. It's okay. It's just tears. You can handle tears... make her laugh. Tell a joke!

"Don't cry. You haven't disturbed me, I've had fun! More fun than I've had in years, in fact. I'm a fool." He stopped and unlinked them before looking down at her, cross eyed.

"I'm just a fool. My father always said I took jokes to far, like the time I told my sister there was a weed monster in the lake. Then I went swimming in it, and pretended the monster got me." He grinned with the memory. "Elody jumped in to save me, even though she couldn't swim, and almost drowned in the process. Man, did I get a thrashing for that." He tilted his head as he looked down, trying to gauge whether or not his anecdote had been successful.

[GoblinFae]

Primrose became instantly distracted by Harkness' crossed eyes. Try as she might she could not really pay attention to his tale. She distractedly chuckled at its end. "It does seem like we both go too far. Now tell me, how do you do that, the thing with your eyes? Is that because of your species or some unfortunate accident?"

'I wonder if I could do that?' She tried doing it herself but only managed to scrunch up her nose and furrow her brow. 'Oh Prim! Must everything turn into a teaching moment?'

"Oh, I'm sorry. It seems I am being rude again. I don't mean to make fun of you. In face I'm not at all. I just find it so fascinating. Not of course that you are something to be watched and poked fun at but, do you think you could teach me to do that?" Primrose looked at him with all the eagerness and curiosity of a child scholar rolled into one. 'As if you need another thing to chase boys away Prim. People already think you're odd, what's one more thing.'

[Haze]

Species? Accident? What is she on about... ooooh... look at her trying to go cross eyed. Don't laugh... don't laugh... He only just managed to keep from breaking out into riotous laughter as he watched her trying to mimic his crossed eyes. As it was, a few snorts left him, and he shook his head.

"No, it's not because I'm an Elf, and no, it's not from some unfortunate accident as you so politely put it..." he grinned down at her with a raised eyebrow. "You mean you never learned how to go cross eyed? You poor deprived child."

He went cross eyed one more time, saying "It's easy... see? All you need to do, it focus on the tip of your nose... don't force it..." He regained his usual look, and tapped a finger on his nose, thoughtfully.

"I'll tell you what, I'll teach you this way... I'm going to hold my finger out, and you just have to watch it..." He held his finger out a little ways from her face, and slowly inched it closer.

"Remember, focus, but don't force it... make your eyes go... kind of lazy..."

[GoblinFae]

"Focus on my nose, got it," Primrose said. Her eyes lowered until she could see her nose. Distracted she began to tilt her head back as if by raising her nose she would be able to see it better. "Just watch your finger? How is that going to help? What am I watching for? Oh right, relax." Primrose took a deep breath and then allowed her eyes to relax at half-mast. "Okay I think I'm ready now,"

'He probably thinks I'm just a silly little girl who doesn't know anything. Prim why do you always do this? Why is learning EVERYTHING so important?' Her mind continued chiding itself as she waited for Harkness to start.

[Haze]

Harkness laughed to himself at her eagerness, and obligingly began to zoom his finger in slowly, until it was touching her nose, and she was still looking straight ahead. Quirking an eyebrow, he tried again. "Just... look at my finger.... follow it with your eyes," he said again, and repeated the process.

"When you watch my finger your eyes should- no... don't pull your head away!" He laughed, shaking his head at her inability to get something so trivial. He dropped his hand to his side, and tilted his head. "Maybe your eyes are tired. We can try again tomorrow?"

[GoblinFae]

Primrose made a disappointed face. "Yes, tomorrow."

'Idiot girl. Even something so simple as that you can't get right.'

Her stomach rumbled loudly, reminding her of her original mission to the kitchen. "Oh my! Are you still hungry? I am sure I could make up for earlier's mess. That is, if you will allow me to make it up to you." The offer had been made, it was up to Harkness to let it be forgotten and put behind them.

[Haze]

Harkness laughed again at her face. "Don't pout," he soothed, "it took me almost a hundred years to work it out." As she had done with him before, he linked arms with her, and started walking back towards the house. "Yes. Food sounds good."

They walked along in companionable silence for a moment, before he looked down, a small frown on his brow. "If your father is there," he jerked his head back towards the gardens, "then where is your mother? If you don't mind me asking."

[GoblinFae]

She smiled at Harkness' kindness. "You are sweet but you do not need to make me feel better. I am not fragile; I will not break," Primrose informed him good-naturally. "Mother is buried at home in Serendipity. My Uncle Engilram didn't want her buried with such "riff-raff" so she is with the rest of her family. He never did take too kindly to them marrying," she said smiling sadly.

When they finally made it back to the kitchen, Primrose checked the door for a prank before opening it. "Janus is well-known for catching the unwary twice. Sit," she offered pointing to a chair. "I wouldn't mind the company while I cook." Primrose grabbed an apron and began to bustle around the kitchen. Despite being a noble's daughter she was well-versed in the art of cooking. "Tell me something about yourself. It will help the cooking go faster," she jested, winking.

[Haze]

"Myself?" Harkness questioned as he took the seat she gestured to, "What does talking have to do with cooking?" He looked confused for a moment, before shrugging and launching into dialogue.

"There's not much to know about me, I guess. Name's Harkness Hoverstone, but you knew that already. I work as a body guard, but again, you knew that too. I don't know what else there is to know about me. I just... wander around, looking for jobs. Had just finished one, actually, when I saw you.

Hey, that reminds me," his brown furrowed, remembering the drunk Davis, and the way he'd treated her, "that man back in town. You said he was one of the parents from the children you teach? How often is he like that? Drunk, and abusive, I mean? Because if you wanted to, I could stick around for a while... he does think you have a guard now, right?"

[GoblinFae]

"Davis?" she said slowly, placing a set of bowls on the table. "He was not always like that. His wife recently passed away. They were very much in love, Davis and Brageeta. He blames me for her death, which in truth is not far from the truth. I made a mistake and Brageeta died."

Primrose poured some stew into both their bowls before starting to cut some bread. "I do not expect him to be a problem but, yes I do think he will view you as my bodyguard now. Davis, seems to drink a lot more each time I see him. Now for a week or so he will be sober and remorseful. That will not last though. Honestly though, I worry about Little Bryant. He should not have to live like that, watching his father struggle like that. It breaks my heart."

She finished making the meal and placed some in front of Harkness and herself. "Is it good?" she asked him breaking some of her bread and dipping it in the soup. "I know it is simple fare but, cook is off tonight," she laughed.

[Haze]

Made a mistake? He pondered curiously, watching as she finished preparing the meal. What kind of a mistake leads to someone's death? He didn't have much time to think about it though, as she carried on talking, and her voice changed as she spoke about Bryant. It wasn't rare to hear a woman speak kindly of a child that wasn't their own, but she spoke with such sorrow, he felt himself getting angry - not for her, and not at the child's father, but for the child.

He swallowed back a hot reply, knowing that nothing he said could really change anything, and instead started slurping away noisily at his dinner. He was so engaged in eating he didn't even acknowledge her until the bowl was almost empty, and he looked up like a little boy, pleading. "Is there more? That was... that was amazing."

He stood, not waiting for her reply and peered into the pot housing the delicious stuff, and then looked back over his shoulder sheepishly. "Sorry. Look at you... you've hardly even started. Some gentleman I am. My mother would tan my hide." He slunk back over and sat at the table, plopping his head into his hands, and staring forlornly at the beckoning food.

"I'll wait till you're done," he sighed, and then managed to tear his gaze away to look at her instead. "So, Primrose... I told you something about me - what's something I don't know about you yet?"