angelic_gabe (angelic_gabe) wrote in shadowlands_ic, @ 2017-11-02 11:12:00 |
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Entry tags: | gabriel allen, keira adams |
Who: Gabriel and Keira
What: A talk after the ball
Where: A carriage, the steps of L'Albergo
When:21 October, 1888 [Backdated]
Rating: PG
After dropping Leah off at the house, Gabriel and Keira continued north to L’Albergo -- it was a fair distance away from the center of London, and in the early hours of the morning, Gabriel figured it was only gentlemanly to provide an escort.
It also was the first chance they’d had to really talk since he’d gotten back into town from his ordeal -- oh, she’d stopped by Cas’s on that first day, and he’d visited the tea shop since then, but they hadn’t had enough time nor privacy to process what’d happened with much grace (and, frankly, Gabriel hadn’t been in the mood to be particularly disclosing -- to be honest, he still wasn’t, but time had helped some). Between that, and her continuing challenges with Chiara and Lord Ravensworth, he figured it was warranted.
As the carriage pulled away from Gabriel’s house, he wrapped an arm around Keira’s waist, leaning over to kiss her familiarly on the temple.
“It goes without saying,” he said, quietly, “but I’m glad you could come along this evening.”
Keira had tried to tell Gabriel that she would be fine getting home on her own, not wanting to have him put himself out by escorting her home. Of course, she was secretly happy that he had won the argument. Traveling home in the dark and the Ripper still at large, she felt much safer with Gabriel.
She was also happy to have the moments alone with him, moments she hadn’t quiet had since his terrible ordeal. They had seen each other here and there, but it had been fleeting and not nearly enough. Even at the party she had found herself dancing with others and not taking up all of his time. She relaxed into him when the arm came around her waist and a smile graced her lips at the kiss to her temple.
“I’m glad that you invited me,” she commented back, tilting her head to look at him. “It was a very memorable evening, indeed,” she smiled. She had danced with Lord Ravensworth, something she had not been anticipating nor had the offer he had give her. And she definitely hadn’t been expecting to hear that Chiara had told him she belonged to her and that she owned her business. She knew there had to be reasons, but it still angered her.
“How are you feeling?” She then asked, to focus on him.
He took her slim, gloved hand in his.
“Better,” he admitted. “It’s…” he frowned a little as the carriage bumped along. “It’s endlessly complicated,” he settled on, “but the immediate threat is over and done with, and for that, I’m grateful.” He leaned a little against her. “I’m not…” he frowned. “I’m keeping things to myself because knowing them nearly got me killed,” he said, his voice low. He squeezed her hand. “I’m no longer in danger of that, but I’d hate…” he exhaled quietly. “I’d hate to put you in that position. I’m sorry I haven’t been more forthcoming.”
Keira wrapped her fingers around Gabriel’s and frowned slightly at his words. A part of her wondered if he had told Caspian or any of his other lovers the situation. That part of her was slightly jealous in thinking it and she had to tap it down. It wasn’t fair to think that, not when they had finally opened up to one another and shared all of their secrets.
“It’s alright,” she said momentarily. “As long as you are not in any danger, then I don’t need to know the details,” she offered a small smile. “I know you’ll share if and when the need arises, and until then I have the ring.” She still wore it, even if it had nearly given her a heart attack. “I’ll be the first to your rescue if the need arises,” she teased him gently, lifting her free hand and touching his nose with a gloved finger. “But do know, I’m not afraid of a little danger now and then and I am fabulous at keeping secrets.”
He looked at her, his expression endlessly fond. “Oh, my dearest,” he said, and leaned over to kiss her lightly, his free hand cupping her cheek. “I adore you very nearly beyond measure.” He kissed her again. “You are such a brave soul,” he said, “and I have no doubt you’d challenge a dozen vampire lords to a duel if need be.”
He continued quietly -- it was easier, somehow, to be honest in the darkness of the carriage. “It’s all still rather immediate,” he said, carefully. “You are my confesseur, and I shall do my best to tell you someday. When it’s not quite so... present, and I know the lay of the land better.”
He looked over at her. “Knowing I have your friendship makes it all a good sight easier to bear,” he added.
Keira smiled into the soft kiss, her own hand coming up to brush fingers against his cheek. She wondered if he believed the words he spoke, that she was brave and would fight if the need arose. She would, she was sure of it. As scary as it may be, she would fight for him as much as she would Caspian and even Chiara even when she was upset with her.
“Take your time,” she responded back to him. Her fingers moving from his cheek to his hair as he kissed her again. She would never push him, not unless she knew he was in immediate danger. She knew that when he was ready to talk to her he would and she was sure he knew that she wasn’t going anywhere and would be there when he needed. She would always be there when he needed, regardless of how things went between them.
He swayed back towards her once more, a kiss lingering with promise and gratitude. Kissing Keira never failed to make Gabriel’s blood high -- she was dizzyingly beautiful, and so responsive to every little touch that he lost himself for a little while with the Mer in his arms in the close confines of the swaying carriage, her soft noises of encouragement and her fingers through his hair a welcome balm from the sharp edges of the all too recent past he’d been skirting around.
They broke apart as the carriage rolled to a halt, the lady prettily flushing, and Gabriel kissed her gloved hand. “Here far too soon,” he said, quietly. “I know you must go in eventually, but I should like to linger with you awhile longer, if you’d let me?”
During the ride, it was not difficult at all to be in his arms. She nearly melted into his touches and kisses but soon enough the carriage was coming to a halt and she was needing to compose herself. She took a breath to hopefully remove the flush from her face and smiled when he offered to linger. “Of course,” she nodded. “I’m not really ready to go in yet and some cool air would be nice against this hot skin of mine,” she chuckled with a tease. “Plus, we can talk about Lord Ravensworth and how crazy he makes me,” she chuckled.
Once the driver was paid and sent on his way, the two settled on the back stoop of L’Albergo, out of the sight of too many snooping neighbors and passers-by, Gabriel spreading his cloak over the two of them and wrapping his arm once again around her waist, resting his head against her shoulder.
“Tell me about Cassius,” he said, quietly. “Is it worrisome? You seem more amused about it than frightened, which does my heart good.”
Once the two were settled, Keira wrapped an arm around Gabriel’s lower back and her other hand helped to keep the cloak in place. She let her thoughts drift to Cassius and their recent conversation and she laughed lightly at being amused. “I believe I’m entirely amused,” she returned. “I have to say I’m quite upset with Lady di Paloma however,” she then gave a frown. “I had hoped when I went to her about Lord Ravensworth that she would clear things up with him, instead she only made it much more muggier. She told him that I belong to her, as if I’m some pet she keeps on a leash and he even said as much, and then she told him that Hidden Treasures is half hers, which it is not,” she sighed. “And made it seem as if I were very frightened by him, which I suppose in a way he does frighten me as I now know what he could do to me, to ruin me, but I’m really more intrigued with him,” she went on. “In fact, if I were to be entirely truthful, I was intrigued with him the first time we met on the streets and we sparred.” She knew it would not do her well to be intrigued by Lord Ravensworth, he was an engaged man and his station was high above her, but alas she could not help herself when presented with a challenge.
“As we danced tonight, he offered to have me come to his estate and I suppose work for him. He offered to talk of buying out Lady di Paloma’s part in my shop and that I would have his protection,” she recounted the conversation. “When I asked just what he would have me do for him and his estate, the dance ended and he told me I’d have to find out next time we meet, which the Lady has told him he is to stay clear of me, which I think only makes him more interested in me,” she chuckled. “I believe he likes challenges just as much as I do.”
Gabriel rested his cheek against her head.
“Chiara is very particular about her secrets,” he said. “She’s decided to keep them from nearly everyone, including her own kind, it would seem… and I suppose this is the fiction she thought would establish that you were off-limits, although…” he frowned, and shrugged. “It doesn’t provide adequate explanation for your picking his pocket, so it appears it has raised more questions and interest than it answers.”
He exhaled, appreciating the feel of her slim arm around him, of the weight of her against him.
“I find it deeply ironic, your costume of the evening,” he finally said. “You are no-one’s Echo. You are your own woman, and I admire you endlessly for it. You do have duties and obligations to the Sisters, and Chiara herself, I don’t doubt that -- it is up to you whether you choose to accept the part Chiara wants you to play. And Cassius can be a bit of an arse, but he’s no cad.” He squeezed her a little. “Whatever you wish to do, know you have my support and love.”
Keira snuggled into Gabriel, resting her head on his shoulder as his cheek came to rest atop her head.
“I understand her keeping her secrets,” Keira sighed. “I’m loyal and I keep hers and mine. But it’s to a point...this could be a dangerous game she’s playing and I’m stuck in the middle,” she frowned. “He’s playing her game and he’s going to push and step over all the lines she’s drawn,” she sighed. “I don’t think she realizes that he is very much a formidable adversary and isn’t going to scare so easily.” She paused for a moment and moved her head just a tad to look up at the stars.
“I suppose I was an Echo once,” she said thoughtfully. “And we both know how that worked out for me. It’s made me who I am today, certainly.” She moved enough to brush her nose against his jaw. “I’m definitely in a pickle, aren’t I? I’m not entirely sure what to do,” she sighed.
Gabriel kissed her cheek. “You aren’t alone,” he said, quietly, “so there’s that. It’ll get sorted. And remember, you can always step back and let them hiss and spit at one another and get it out of their respective systems.”
He smiled, sighing. “I know you’re in an uncertain place at the moment, but this…” he gave her waist a light squeeze. “This has been rather lovely, just now. As are you.”
No, she wasn’t alone. That was probably the best thing out of it all. She had been alone for so long, even being a part of the sisterhood she had felt somewhat alone. She knew she had them to back her up, but she really hadn’t stepped out of her comfort zone with anyone until recently. Her world was changing yet again. It was all so very stressful if she let herself dwell on it for too long.