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Tweak says, "What is six times nine?"

Armand St. Just, friend of the Scarlet Pimpernel (iwanttohelp) wrote in wariscoming,
@ 2013-09-23 16:28:00

Entry tags:

armand st.just

Who: Armand & Lydia
What: Taking things to another level in their relationship (no, not that)
Where: Armand's apartment in the complex
When: September 23, sometime around six
Status: Open/Incomplete
Rating: Let's go with medium just to be on the safe side, shall we?

He was almost as nervous for tonight as he was for their first date. That should say something, he thought to himself. He had not told her all about his past, and he was not sure what she already knew from the countless versions of his life that were floating around. So there was a good chance she did not know about St. Cyr and all of that. He resolved to tell her tonight, so she could understand his reticence better. He liked her, more than he had actually liked St. Cyr's daughter, and he did not want her to think any less of him. If she thought more of him he would be content.

He let them into his apartment after they had walked for some time. He had been to hers but she had not been to his yet. He was thankful he was a neat person and liked having his home tidy. He had been making some money tutoring in French and math to students at the high school and university levels, and it had been enough to buy a few nice things. But mostly his apartment was simple and still furnished with the things that were there when he had moved in. "This is my home," he said, waiting until she had come in to lock the door behind them. "Please, make yourself comfortable."

He waited as she did so and he went into the kitchen. He had done some cooking in his youth, but not much. He had been watching many cooking shows on the television, and had talked to Eponine extensively about how to use modern cooking equipment. He was getting quite proficient if he did say so himself. At least he wasn't starving, at any rate. Eponine had shown him how to make an excellent chicken dish and he thought that might be worth making for Lydia. He began to get the ingredients out and waited for her to speak.

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knewtoomuch
2013-09-23 08:47 pm UTC (link)

Any nerves that Lydia would have had were almost completely shot by this point. Between trying to keep the peace between Derek and Allison/Scott (seriously, when had that happened?) and being singled out by Lucifer, Lydia was exhausted. She hadn't told any of her friends that the fallen angel had bothered with her because she kept trying to convince herself that it had meant nothing. He was trying to agitate everyone; she was no different. But there was a difference between convincing and bekieving and even Lydia did not believe it.

So instead of focusing on thoughts of possession, Peter Hale and Lucifer, she turned to kept her attentions turned elsewhere; namely Armand St. Just. She liked him so much that it almost scared her. He didn't expect anything of her, which was new territory in itself. She certainly had never told anyone that she wanted to kiss them before, she generally just went for it. In some ways, he was like a baby bird that didn't want to leave the nest. It was intimidating and adorable at once.

Their fingers had been laced together as they walked through Lawrence, and they both agreed that it was prudent to get back home before dark. It didn't really matter what time of day it was, there was always the chance of being attacked, but the comfort was there regardless.

She trailed in after him, pressing herself against the door after he locked it, giving the knob a good twist before grinning mischievously at him. "I like your place." Whereas her own apartment was covered in pictures and posters from various places, Armand's was a great contrast to it. Lydia followed him into the kitchen and pulled a chair up slightly closer to watch him work, tucking her knees underneath her chin with ease.

"What are you thinking about?"

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iwanttohelp
2013-09-23 08:55 pm UTC (link)

He looked at her intently. He had not lied when he said he liked to look at her. She was very beautiful, moreso than any other woman he had fancied. St. Cyr's daughter had been a mistake, and the women in the English ton were too busy trying to secure a husband or play their own games that he had ignored them. He might be naive in a lot of ways, but he knew when someone was going to hurt him, or at least he did now. Lydia was not going to hurt him. He knew that now.

Yes, this was a strange thing, to like someone this much and not expect to get hurt over it. He almost didn't want to reveal his past. He didn't want to ruin what had been a good day. It was not a pleasant topic for conversation, but he needed to tell her. She needed to know so if there was hesitation tonight, if things did not go the way either of them wanted, that she would not hate him. "I have been thinking about my past. About a woman I cared about, who I thought cared about me, and about how horribly it turned out. I have been debating whether I should tell you, but you deserve to know. Maybe then you will know why I have been so reticent about things."

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knewtoomuch
2013-09-23 09:53 pm UTC (link)

Lydia knew that she was beautiful; her popularity at Beacon Hills High wasn't because of her personable presence seeing as she generally was a callous bitch to those she disliked. She didn't feel the need to pretend on behalf of others, but Lawrence was different. There were her friends, both those from home and here and those who actually knew her track record for her attitude. It was disconcerting at the absolute least. But there was something different in the way that Armand looked at her. It was never an objectifying look, but more one that held a certain amount of awe and reverence. Getting used to it would be pretty nice and potentially catastrophic later on.

"You don't have to tell me anything you're uncomfortable sharing," she said immediately, standing to join him near the stove. "Whatever happened doesn't change the way I feel about you. You know that, right?" For a fleeting moment, Lydia panicked. What if he didn't know that?

"But I'm listening," she told him sincerely, hopping on the counter to look in his eyes. "Tell me about it. Don't leave a single detail out."

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iwanttohelp
2013-09-23 10:08 pm UTC (link)

He relaxed. He could tell her and she wouldn't leave. He paused in what he was doing and reached over to touch her hand for a moment. "There was a woman, the daughter of the Marquis de St. Cyr. She was above my station, because I was an orphan and my sister and I had no title or money. I was attracted to her, and I thought she was to me. I showed her favor in the mistaken belief that I would be accepted. But I was not. Her father found out and had me whipped for it and left for dead. If it had not been for my sister I would have died."

He lifted her hand off the counter and held it slightly. There was more to the tale, and this was the part he did not want to share, his sister's role in the death of the family. He took a deep breath. "Years later my sister was asked for a name of someone. She gave them St. Cyr's because while I had let the incident go she had not. Hatred burned in her heart for what the Marquis had had done to me. She had extracted a promise from the man she gave St. Cyr's name to that he would be safe, but he and his family were murdered. She carried that guilt with her. I did not know until much later. I will admit that so much was going on when I was initially informed so I did not understand the importance of it at the time, but when my sister did the musical version of our life story a few weeks ago I went to the dress rehearsal against her wishes. So I know the whole story now."

He looked at her intently. "I have not shown favor to any woman since St. Cyr's daughter. I was always worried someone would hurt me again, that I would be whipped and not survive, or worse be beheaded. And there were also morning duels. I feared I would be challenged to pistols at dawn. Courtship in my time had many rules, as I said before. I broke those rules and I nearly paid for it with my life. I have been hesitant to act upon any attractions I may have had. And then I met you, and I know no one will hurt me for wanting to be with you. But still, I took things slowly. I do not want you to be disappointed if things do not go according to what we hope for tonight." He looked down slightly. "I do not want you to leave me alone again."

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knewtoomuch
2013-09-24 11:20 am UTC (link)

She was horrified. Whatever she had been expecting to hear, it was certainly not that. Lydia couldn't imagine being almost killed because of her own feelings. Then again, it just heightened her relief that she wasn't from that time, because the story she had just been told was horrible. Her hand moved up to touch his face gently, tracing his jaw line as she shook her head slightly. "I'm so sorry, Armand. I had no idea."

And yet, this still hadn't changed how she felt. He was unsure and a little broken, but he was still whole in some ways. Though there was a chance that he wasn't ready for anything beyond what they currently had, Lydia could put her reservations aside just in order to make sure that he was comfortable. That was, she supposed, a sign of maturity and caring for someone more than herself.

Reaching behind her blindly, Lydia turned off the burner and pulled Armand closer to her by his hand, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. "I won't leave. I would never leave because of that."

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iwanttohelp
2013-09-24 01:22 pm UTC (link)

He held her close. This felt nice, this felt right. This was a good step to move past the instances in his past. He had always been a romantic at heart, even after St. Cyr's daughter, but he had always been afraid of retaliation. Knowing that here, with Lydia, he could be safe and still pursue a relationship with her...it was a gift. Something he was immeasurably glad he had.

He pulled away after a few moments and moved his hands. He used one of his knuckles to tilt her face up slightly so she was looking at him. "Thank you," he said simply, giving her a smile. He looked at her for a moment, hoping to see some sign on her own face that she understood he really was thankful, and that his smile was genuine and heartfelt. As he looked at her he thought that, perhaps, now would not be a bad time for that kiss. Because the urge to kiss her had come on with a force he had not expected, even stronger than it usually was.

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knewtoomuch
2013-09-24 03:36 pm UTC (link)

Strange as it was, Lydia already missed his warmth when he moved away. It felt as if she was outside of her own body, looking from the outside in. She could feel her heart begin to hammer steadily in her chest as his knuckles brushed against her jaw, and she felt herself swallow hard as she looked at him. "Of course," she said, a bit more breathlessly than she intended. "I'm glad you told me."

For a few moments, they just stayed where they were, seemingly suspended in time. Lydia was still on the counter, where they were able to be at eye level. And he was so close now that all Lydia would have to do was lean forward slightly to press her lips to his. It was what she wanted, but she wasn't sure if it was something that he really was ready for. So instead of just going for it, she placed her hand on the side of his face, letting his fingers play along his jawline, letting the choice become his. "You can kiss me if you want to," she told him softly, feeling a blush light her cheeks slightly. "I want you to."

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iwanttohelp
2013-09-24 03:43 pm UTC (link)

He nodded slowly. It had been a very long time since he had kissed a woman. He didn't even know if he would be very good at it by her standards. He moved his hand slightly, moving his fingers along her cheek for a moment, and then he leaned in more. If he did this then he hoped he did it well. He did not want this to be the only kiss they shared.

He pressed his lips against hers softly, moving his hand just a little more until his fingers brushed her hair. He moved his other hand towards her waist to help him keep his balance, because right now he felt as though he might go weak in the knees. She didn't pull away, and so he increased the pressure of the kiss slightly as he moved closer to her, waiting to see what she did next.

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knewtoomuch
2013-09-24 10:49 pm UTC (link)

Her hand clenched instinctively at her side. It had been so long since someone had been patient with her and had actually wanted to get to know her instead of diving right into something and it was a little scary to have the feelings she was currently experiencing. Her left hand moved from his jaw to the back of his head, her nails scratching gently at the base of his scalp as their lips moved together.

Eventually the tension in her body left slightly and she felt her spine ease as her other hand moved to grasp his arm slightly. Lydia normally wouldn't fear deepening a kiss, but it was clear that it had been a while since Armand had done anything remotely physical like this and she didn't want to scare him off by coming off as overeager. Despite that though, she pressed her lips against his a bit more insistently, her body moving up closer to his on habit. "Sorry," she breathed as she broke the kiss to breathe. "Was that okay?"

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iwanttohelp
2013-09-24 11:12 pm UTC (link)

He rested his forehead against hers, taking a deep breath. This kiss had been better than the few she had shared with St. Cyr's daughter. He had not felt so...alive...in such a long time. He grinned the widest grin he had grinned in a long time. "That was more than okay," he said quietly.

He tangled his fingers in her hair slightly. To be honest he wanted to kiss her again. He was pretty sure if he started again, though, he wouldn't want to stop. "I would like very much to kiss you again," he said after a moment of keeping her close. "But I am afraid once I start I will not want to stop."

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knewtoomuch
2013-09-24 11:22 pm UTC (link)

"Good," Lydia smiled, her hands idly playing with his arm and the soft strands of hair at the nape of his neck. "I think it was much more than okay."

Glancing down at his fingers, Lydia giggled slightly, turning her head to kiss his wrist. "That's how it should feel. Exhilarating and a little terrifying and like you're losing yourself. That's how you know you're kissing who you should be kissing." She kissed him gently once more, before becoming slightly braver, brushing her lips up his jaw and stopping once she reached his ear. "You don't have to stop right now. This feels right."

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iwanttohelp
2013-09-24 11:38 pm UTC (link)

He shut his eyes and kept her close. The sensations he felt were like nothing he had felt before. He was not as experienced so he let her take the lead for a bit. After a few more moments he pulled away and framed her face in his hands. "You are exquisite," he murmured. "I should have told you earlier."

He leaned in and kissed her again, deepening it after a moment. He moved as close to her as he could, savoring the moment. He hoped he did not lose control tonight. He did not want to move so quickly than he should. He did not want to ruin anything even if she said he did not need to stop.

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knewtoomuch
2013-09-25 12:10 am UTC (link)

Lydia let herself guide it along, increasing and decreasing the pressure periodically before opening her mouth the tiniest bit to trace his lips with her tongue. There was an underlying urgency that she could feel pulsating from the inside out, but she managed to calm her own racing heart to take it slow. "Vous êtes envoûtante," she whispered, flushing at his words.

She could feel the length of his torso pressing against hers, and it set another fire burning at the pit of her stomach. It wouldn't have been the first time that she'd let things move quickly, but that was something she wanted to change. It was wonderful and she felt all the right butterflies in their appropriate tingly places, but this could easily go somewhere that neither of them were ready for. "Armand," she managed to get out hoarsely as they broke apart. "We should probably eat dinner." She was hopeful that reminding him of what they had originally come into his apartment for would re-focus them without seeming like she wasn't interested. Because she more than definitely was.

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iwanttohelp
2013-09-25 01:08 am UTC (link)

He nodded and reluctantly pulled away from her. Yes. Dinner. That was why they had come to his home. He was glad they had stopped because at the rate they had been going it may have gone much further than either of them had intended. He moved away from her more and went back to cooking.

"I will admit, it was best that we stopped," he said as he concentrated on the food. "It probably would have led to something we are not ready for." He gave her a small smile, though, so she knew that he was still pleased with how things had turned out. "We should probably change the subject of our talk. Is there anything you would like to talk about?"

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knewtoomuch
2013-09-25 11:30 am UTC (link)

"Probably, yeah," she agreed, grinning up at him from her very comfortable position on the counter top. Lydia pivoted slightly to face him, twisting her hands in her lap at his questions.

It wasn't that she was reluctant to tell anyone about what Lucifer had said to her, but at the same time, she really didn't want to worry anyone. Lydia hadn't even told Allison about how he had singled her out. Allison had enough on her plate as it was. "Oh, you know, there's lots of things. School and trying to maintain composure through the apocalypse. It makes me miss some friends from home, actually. At least they were all used to the crazy, but I wouldn't want them here for anything. It's way too dangerous." Yes, it would be nice to have Stiles or Danny, and especially Erica and Boyd. They died way too young in Beacon Hills. "My friend Stiles used to be here, before it really started heating up. He would be planning everything out."

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iwanttohelp
2013-09-25 04:33 pm UTC (link)

Her comment about missing her friends made him pause for a moment. he was incredibly lucky to have Percy and Marguerite here. He was luckier than quite a few others, and he was most thankful for that. He had friends where he was from, yes, but he did not miss them much because his family was here. He had also made new friends, and had developed a relationship with Lydia that pleased him greatly. He was very lucky and he knew it. It had been foolish to possibly throw it all away by volunteering to be Death. He knew now how much he had to lose.

"I did not know you had friends who used to be here," he said, beginning to pull out the other ingredients he needed. "What are your friends like? Both those here who I have not met, and those who are at home. I admit I know bits and pieces from talking to you and Allison, but I do not know them personally yet." He started to cut the vegetables as soon as he got a knife. Learning more about Lydia could only be a good thing.

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