The Spell will Break

[Felicity Mason]

He let go of her, but she didn't step away, even when she let her hands fall away from his body. She was still feeling him against her lips, still trying to pinpoint that taste.

"N-next date?"

There would be a next date? But he hadn't said it yet. He hadn't asked her to be his girlfriend. So what was she then? She was too afraid to ask, so she just kept quiet. No. She just wanted to preserve his night in her memory as best she could. No disappointment tonight. She could ask later, before he left Naboo. When ever that was.

"Um... we should go home now. I think I've had a little too much to drink."

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

He looked at her expectantly, then just closed his eyes and nodded, still smiling. No need to rush indeed. "Right, poor little Songbird is up way past her bedtime," Owain said, offering his arm to Felicity. "Shall we then?" he asked as they began to head back to the palace. By now, the shindig would surely be winding down, so the princess would be able to sneak back in without too much fuss.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Felicity took his arm, smiling in return. This night had changed, well, everything. Nothing was different, not really, and yet somehow she felt like someone new. Like that kiss had broken a spell and turned her back into a normal girl. Or as close to normal as she could get after the invasion.

"Well, I wouldn't be up past my bedtime if the crow wasn't keeping me awake."

She took his arm, giving him a playful shove. He was right. Already she could see that some of the lights were off in the castle. The party was winding down. It might even be over for all she knew. She searched her mothers bedroom window, but the light there was on. That could mean two things- Mother and father were still entertaining at the party below and the maids were preparing it for her when she did come up. Or... Mother was aware she was gone and was waiting up for her.

She sincerely hoped she had not been missed.

"Let's get in through the garden. We can hop the wall."

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

He laughed at that observation. "True true, still, it was your choice to go out, you bad girl," he pointed out with a wink. "We? My my, inviting me into your room already? I don't think I'm ready..." he teased, playing the part of the bashful suitor, rubbing the back of his neck as they neared the palace. The streets were emptier now, most people having retired to their homes for the night. There would be more celebrations the next day, but for now everyone sought their rest.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

"You've already been in my room, remember?" she reminded him, "Back on Imerria. It wouldn't make any difference now."

She had completely missed his implication... at first. It took a moment for it to sink in and when it did, she turned every shade of pink. She was so slow tonight.

"O-oh. You mean... Oh." Her eyes flickered to watch him through her curtain of hair. Inviting him into her room would be different now. Their status as 'friendly rivals' had changed completely. Rivals. She managed a little smile. She knew what to say next to really tease him back.

"I've decided," she announced suddenly as they approached the palace wall, "I want you to be my first, Owain."

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

Nearer the wall now, the evening coming to a close. Only a few more hours left before dawn. The noise from the palace had died down. It had been...a pleasant evening all in all. Certainly up there with some of his better dates. Then she spoke and he missed a step and stumbled. "W-what?" he asked, dumbfounded, before his eyes narrowed. "No wait, wrong question. I mean, right question, too little context: First what? I'm already your first kiss and date," the youth asked for clarification.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Yes. This was what she expected. He looked so shocked. It was perfect. She couldn't help but smile.

"Don't play dumb," she replied right away, "You know exactly what I mean."

Well, she hoped he knew anyway. She wasn't even joking with him this time. She was entirely serious. She leaned against the wall, hands hidden behind her back staring up at him with her big blue eyes.

"Come on. Don't make me say it!"

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

His eyes narrowed into dangerous slits as he pondered the issue before grinning. "Ah of course, your first boyfriend," he said with a smirk. He remembered Felicity being quite flustered on the subject of relationships before, on Immeria. She wasn't used to...intimacy. Simple enough really. Besides, she wasn't one to rush into things. Heh. He'd sidestepped her little trap perfectly. "I hope you understand that your parents won't accept that all," he added with a rakish grin as they reached the wall. He cupped his hands together, forming a step for the girl.

"Ladies first!"

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Of course she hadn't meant now. Like, right now. She'd been talking about when she was at least sixteen or so. But it didn't matter what she actually meant. He dodged her little trap like an expert. Felicity sighed, hiked up the layers of skirt and stepped into his palm, hoping that her sharp heels hurt him. Once she was up on the wall, she looked down at him, offering a hand.

"No I guess you're right," she replied, "Well! Good thing I planned on dating my body guard instead of you."

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

"Hey now! Just because they don't approve doesn't mean you shouldn't do it!" he called up, reaching to grab her hand. He was proud, but he knew his limits. He wasn't some space wizard able to leap the wall. "This whole evening comes to mind and you certainly seemed to enjoy it," Owain continued as he clambered up next to her. Oh she was playing mean now. He glanced down the other side and began to lower himself to the ground. He felt a stab of jealousy at her so casually dismissing him, but then again, shew as so young. "Then again, you did mention first loves not working out. Guess I expected our bliss to last a little longer though," he sighed in disappointment, arms out to help her down.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

She couldn't help but smile. Yes. She was being very mean. Served him right for playing so incredibly dumb. But he was right. She had enjoyed this evening, more than anything she could remember. It was fun, wild, well... more wild than anything she'd done before. Except for what she did during the invasion. Nothing could top that.

"We'll see," she replied, accepting his help to the ground, "Who knows? Maybe I'll find true love with him after all."

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

He gave the girl a slight twirl before setting her on the ground, clasping his hands together in mock wonder. "Awww twu wuv! You'll just have to invite me to the wedding! But make sure it's an open bar alright? Oh and a buffet! It ain't a party until everyone's drunk and overfed!" he whispered excitedly in a slightly high pitched voice before shaking his head and letting his hands drop to his sides. "Have fun with that," he said in much more neutral tones, walking around Felicity. Exactly why had he come onto the grounds anyway? Surely she could make her way back to her room? A slightly evil smirk formed on his face as he stood behind the blonde, leaning in to whisper into her ear.

"Have fun with your nice, safe, and boring guard," he said slowly. "I'm sure your parents will be so thrilled at your choice. But remember, you chose him," Owain continued, before lightly leaning down to plant a small kiss on her neck and pulling back, turning away to clamber back up the wall.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

He twirled her. Mocked her. Then he seemed to almost give up? No. Not give up. He was letting her have her choice. What would mom do? Mom didn't make the safe choice when she married her father. She didn't choose boring.
But mom wanted boring for her. Boring was what mom thought was best for her. Mom would love Glyph, and she would absolutely hate Owain. And dad? Who could say what dad would prefer. Probably nobody if he could help it.

But Felicity could honestly say that she'd had just about enough of boring. She was tired of nice.
And safe was a lie. She knew that now.

The kiss to her neck sent a shiver through her entire body. She almost couldn't react in time. Almost.
Before he could climb back up the wall though, she turned around to hug him from behind.

"What's wrong with nice, safe and boring?" she asked stubbornly. Her words said that she had already chosen her guard, but her body said something quite different. "W-who needs fun anyway?"

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

Owain rolled his eyes as she hugged him from behind, and yet countered him with her words. Ah, the indecision. He had been like that, before training had knocked it out of him. It's what led to his no-regrets lifestyle. He looked over his shoulder at her, stammering again. It was strangely endearing. Daresay adorable even. Well, if she wanted to play a bit longer...

He gently loosened her hands so he could turn around, embracing her and speaking softly into her ear again, her hair tickling his face. "Nothing's wrong with it. But how long before you're so bored you begin to wonder? Begin to regret?" he asked her innocently, before lightly kissing her cheek, then kissing her jaw, and then her neck again, harder this time. Enough it would leave a mark in the morning. He wondered if she knew about that. He almost smirked. Probably not, but it would leave her with quite the explanation to give.

And yes, he knew he was being somewhat childish, as if laying claim to her by leaving such an obvious mark...

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Regret. She knew about regret. Well, she knew that regret was a thing, at least. Sometimes Owain could make her feel like such a child. He had so much experience with the Galaxy already and she had almost none. Like, how did he know to kiss her like that? How did he know that it would stir such... feeling in her? How did he know to manipulate her this way?
She let out a sigh, clutching him like he might disappear if she let go.

"So, you're saying I should be with you instead?"

It was better to be blunt. She couldn't say what she would do, but she wanted to hear it from him. She wanted to know what he was feeling, plain and simple.

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

The Sith believed in passion, and that translated to much looser regulations when off duty during training. Something Owain had taken full advantage of back on Korriban. It had been a...pleasant way to pass the time. He continued to kiss her, leaving little trails across her neck, one hand stroking her back as his other arm held her close again, almost possessively.

"Hmmm," he mused. "That's for you to decide. I know I'd enjoy that. Which is why I'm making sure you can make a...thoroughly informed decision," the youth said, kissing her on the lips again before reluctantly pulling back and letting her go. Things were getting a tad too intimate. He wanted to tease her yes, but not cross any lines. He did practically live in her family's home on Immeria after all.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Felicity didn't have any way to know what lines there were to be crossed. In her small world, there were no lines. She knew very little about the ways of romance and intimacy. All that she knew, she knew from books and from tonight. She knew pain and she knew pleasure. How could anything pleasurable possibly be bad?

So she let him kiss her. She let him hold her. She would have let him do a lot more than that too. Felicity was a girl with the highest scores in her class. She was a genius at memorizing history, science, poetry... Facts. But when it came down to human interactions, when it came to understanding people, she was incredibly naive.

"I will... keep that mind mind," she replied, letting him pull away from her at last. Her body felt so strange. Everything felt strange. She went to turn away and run to her room before she was caught out here, but something stopped her.

"You know... I meant what I said earlier."

She didn't explain what it was exactly that she was referring to, but she knew he would get it. He wasn't stupid. And she wasn't just playing around anymore.

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

He nodded as he watched her turn away. Tonight was over. And what a night it had been. "You let the crow rattle your cage, Songbird. Now run along before I ruffle your feathers too," he laughed with a wink, turning to resume his attempt at scaling the wall. Seriously, this security was somewhat worrying. "Well, we'll be seeing a lot of each other yet my dear," he added as he clambered up. "If you want me, you know how to contact me," the youth said, glancing down at her. "Sweet dreams," he added, blowing her a quick kiss before dropping out of sight.

He'd send her a message later, asking about that second date. Something told him she may just agree to it now, guard or no guard.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Felicity found herself waving like an idiot for almost a whole thirty seconds after he was already out of sight. She was smiling. Still. It was pathetic and she didn't mind it at all. She didn't even mind him calling her 'dear', or what he said before. Something abut cages and feathers.
She didn't even mind the fact that he'd won this night. His prize for this victory?
Her. No matter what decision she made, he was going to be the one on her mind.

"...Miss Mason? who are you waving to?"

Felicity jumped, and whirled around to face the guard that was standing behind her giving her the strangest look.

"The... err... birds. Don't they look like they're waving?"

She didn't wait for a response. She was already moving past him to go inside. Nobody noticed that she was missing it seemed. For all this guard knew, she was simply taking a nice early morning stroll.... in a ballgown. And full makeup.
Nothing strange about it.

[member="Owain"]

 

[Feena]

There was no rest for the Queen of Naboo. By the time to ball actually started to wind down and the Queen could take her leave, it was about five in the morning and Feena had to be dressed for the day and present in the throne room at seven. After changing from the ballgown to more appropriate robes for the day and putting on the heavy white makeup of her position, she was in the throne room.
Thankfully, she had experience with going without sleep. A lot of experience.

Her daughter on the other hand did not. Not that Feena was aware of her daughters escapades the night before.

"Have my daughter sent down to me at once," she ordered, "I have a task for her today."

One of her handmaidens bowed low and went ahead to do as she was asked.