Post by Rowena on Apr 3, 2011 6:55:01 GMT 10
Title: Getting to Know You (Love and Necessity VII)
Rating: G
Word Count: 456
Pairing: Kel/Jon
Round/Fight: 1/F
Summary: Jon tries to get Kel to tell him about herself.
“Tell me about yourself,” Jon asked Keladry over their private dinner, reflecting that if she could stop worrying about propriety long enough to look him in the eyes, she could turn out to be interesting.
She cleared her throat with an almost imperceptible noise. “Well, I grew up mostly in the Yamani Islands, because my parents were ambassadors there. When I was ten we came back to Tortall, but then we went back to the Islands. I was educated there until I was 14, when my parents sent me back to Tortall to be educated in the convent. Some aspects of Tortallan manners differ from Yamani manners, you see.”
He nodded. Still no information about who she really was. “Which did you prefer, the Islands or here?” She froze, her eyes going wide, and he hastily added “It doesn’t matter if you prefer the Islands – I’m just curious as to what they’re like. I’ve never been there, you see – sadly, my job allows no time for travelling outside Tortall.”
Keladry nodded delicately. “I’m more comfortable in the Islands,” she said finally. “They feel more like home, because all my childhood memories are there. Even though I’ve been here for three years now, I still miss it. Their culture is very different, though, and even though I knew how to act there, and I still do a little out of habit, it’s nice to know I don’t have to be quite so careful.” At Jon’s questioning look, she continued. “Showing emotion is frowned upon in Yamani culture, so my family and I all got used to keeping our emotions inside. In Tortall it’s not such a faux pas, and it’s nice not to worry about it all the time, although it’s still most natural for me.”
“That’s a good skill to have, though.” Jon responded somewhat hesitantly. “Sometimes I wish my emotions weren’t so visible.”
Keladry nodded in agreement. “It can be helpful, especially among the vipers you find at court-” she stopped abruptly, realizing what she had just said.
To her surprise, Jon laughed loudly.
“I’m – I’m sorry,” Keladry began, but he waved her off.
“I’m not angry, or offended,” he said, still laughing. “I know they’re vipers – everyone does. I bet some of them would even admit it themselves. Most people just don’t have the guts to say it out loud,” he teased.
Keladry looked down, embarrassed, but Jon was relieved. He’d been trying to break the ice for weeks, and she’d done it all on her own, completely by accident. Things between them had to improve from here.
He was right, of course – when he walked her back to her chambers and bid her goodnight, she told him that he could call her Kel.
QC by: journeycat
Rating: G
Word Count: 456
Pairing: Kel/Jon
Round/Fight: 1/F
Summary: Jon tries to get Kel to tell him about herself.
“Tell me about yourself,” Jon asked Keladry over their private dinner, reflecting that if she could stop worrying about propriety long enough to look him in the eyes, she could turn out to be interesting.
She cleared her throat with an almost imperceptible noise. “Well, I grew up mostly in the Yamani Islands, because my parents were ambassadors there. When I was ten we came back to Tortall, but then we went back to the Islands. I was educated there until I was 14, when my parents sent me back to Tortall to be educated in the convent. Some aspects of Tortallan manners differ from Yamani manners, you see.”
He nodded. Still no information about who she really was. “Which did you prefer, the Islands or here?” She froze, her eyes going wide, and he hastily added “It doesn’t matter if you prefer the Islands – I’m just curious as to what they’re like. I’ve never been there, you see – sadly, my job allows no time for travelling outside Tortall.”
Keladry nodded delicately. “I’m more comfortable in the Islands,” she said finally. “They feel more like home, because all my childhood memories are there. Even though I’ve been here for three years now, I still miss it. Their culture is very different, though, and even though I knew how to act there, and I still do a little out of habit, it’s nice to know I don’t have to be quite so careful.” At Jon’s questioning look, she continued. “Showing emotion is frowned upon in Yamani culture, so my family and I all got used to keeping our emotions inside. In Tortall it’s not such a faux pas, and it’s nice not to worry about it all the time, although it’s still most natural for me.”
“That’s a good skill to have, though.” Jon responded somewhat hesitantly. “Sometimes I wish my emotions weren’t so visible.”
Keladry nodded in agreement. “It can be helpful, especially among the vipers you find at court-” she stopped abruptly, realizing what she had just said.
To her surprise, Jon laughed loudly.
“I’m – I’m sorry,” Keladry began, but he waved her off.
“I’m not angry, or offended,” he said, still laughing. “I know they’re vipers – everyone does. I bet some of them would even admit it themselves. Most people just don’t have the guts to say it out loud,” he teased.
Keladry looked down, embarrassed, but Jon was relieved. He’d been trying to break the ice for weeks, and she’d done it all on her own, completely by accident. Things between them had to improve from here.
He was right, of course – when he walked her back to her chambers and bid her goodnight, she told him that he could call her Kel.
QC by: journeycat