Briza

What Are You Listening To?

What Are You Listening To?

🎀 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓻 . 𝓨𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓰 . 𝓚𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 . 𝓜𝓪𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓼 . (a steampunk RP of petticoats, poison, and propriety)

L o r d F i n n e g a n O a k 𝓼

A little moment after Evelyn made her a fine curtsy for the Captain, a very fair woman with light brown hair came up to them. Her mask was most intriguing, and she seemed rather familiar with Finnegan in a way that made Evelyn's own less than gentry position feel strangely at ease yet intimidated nonetheless. The young woman thought back to what the lord had confirmed for her twice before engaging with the Captain, and her dolled face smiled charily to the short memories. If this woman was a friend of Finnegan then she ought to make the woman one of her own acquaintances, as well. Her hands slipped together, one folding on top of the other as they rested nicely in front of her lower waist. The movement reminded her of the necklace Finnegan had given her, and she thought it to be very beautiful. There was no room for jealousy in such an ornate and elaborately decorated library. Her smile turned to Lady Alyssana with a shy nod. There was something so lovely about her, but she could not quite understand it. Perhaps, it was the way in which she seemed so confident and simple in her ruffles... or maybe it was her mask and wings.

And, Finnegan, without missing a his usual beat, continued in his line of interests, “My Lady Alyssana Grey,” he spoke with a firm polished fashion by pulling her name longingly towards the last vowel and carefully took hold of Lady Alyssana's hand. He closed his eyes as he bent his waist and leaned to gently kiss the top of her soft glove; the tip of his nose pressed against her lightly. Evelyn was minding with a small blush as she watched him close his eyes. It was a strange pleasure she felt all the times she watched him close his eyes. His lashes drooped and curled nicely over his pale, high cheek bones, and she daydreamed about it so. However, her own attention quickly withdrew from admiring Finnegan and began studying the reaction of Lady Alyssana with a quaint concern. Nonetheless, in so doing, she became admirably distracted by the finer birdlike intricacies that decorated the mask upon the other woman's simple face. The metal work was truly lovely.

And, she thought to herself:
“Everything seems so lovely, today.”

The dazzle woman was unable to let the thoughts of loveliness leave her mind. They had somehow become trapped in her head, and as she drew herself memories of the pearls in Lady Alyssana's hair, she was reminded of her own pearls and looked to Finnegan. The same supple, chary smile that pepped quietly on her lips continued to glow in adoration for the Monsieur. She was unsure of whatever she had done to deserve such a man, and in a slight hint of hesitation, she raised her left hand whimsically through the air to brush the part of her cheek that he had touched just moments prior to the current engagement. This was love. She was sure of it. (And she was right. It was love, but it not longer is, anymore. She would soon be forgotten like the rest of them, yet she had yet to understand this.)

When lifting himself, Finnegan allowed his fingers to gently trail underneath the tenderness of Lady Alyssana's thinly covered palms, he let out a small flair of a breath from his nose,“Your earrings are quite very pretty tonight,” as he realigned himself, his head tilted slightly while he squinted his eyes. The gesture was almost comical in nature as it appeared he was mocking something to Evelyn, but he seemed to poised for her to be sure. Indeed, it was true. He was making light of Alyssana's unorthodox ways of ever letting him successfully flirt with her. Tonight, Finnegan had decided to try to use a little more self-restraint than he usually did when minding his manners around his good friend's twin sister. However, he was not above turning his facial expression in such a way that he made the parties involved in the conversation believe he was about to make another compliment about them but then re-direct the conversation to Evelyn, who was, now — if by a trance — following the very word lovely without any consideration for what lied behind its actual meaning.

“As is your perfume,” he said boyishly. However, Lady Alyssana did not comment as he complimented her nonexistent perfume, though her gaze cooled behind her mask as she reclaimed her hand. She knew he was well aware she rarely used it; it was as much a jibe about her continued refusal as a comment on her lightly scented soaps. Finnegan had really made the over-used, backhanded compliment as a dismissal to indicate his disinterest in acknowledging her metal work. He would create another conversation for such a subject at a later time. The night was sure to be long enough as to not rush every bit of major conversation from the company. He slowly motioned to Evelyn, hesitating slightly as he recollected on the parts of her to which he still found himself unsparingly attracted. The first was her perfume, which she was wearing unlike Lady Alyssana, “This wonderful woman before you is Lady Alyssana Grey.” She nodded politely to Evelyn when introduced, and a smile of serious attitude and consolation rested on Finnegan. He knew Lady Alyssana was well aware of his boyish charades with women, and he found it a deep pleasure to try and persuade her that every new woman he introduced to her truly had the key to his heart this time. It rarely ever worked, but he was unwilling to admit defeat, “She is the cherished sister of a one of my dearest friends,” he paused, feeling for which way he should take the conversation. “Alyssana,” he prepped his words with a need for respect of obedience of importance to which he was about to tell her. In his usual routine, depending on who was escorting him, he may have been more playful with her name. Tonight, he chose a different route, “This is Mademoiselle Evelyn. She is a school teacher's daughter and very well educated. I hope you two will find that you both have more in common than you think.”

Finnegan looked down at the dear, astutely interested in the lines of her outfit that did not dress her skin. He In those brief moments, he studied her blushed cheeks that looked to be yearning for direction, but all he could do was hand her off to Lady Alyssana, “If you do not mind,” the lord looked to both ladies, “I would like to ask a favor of you, Alyssana, dear,” Finnegan nodded his head towards her, expectantly and remembering the second thing he liked about Evelyn was the unbearable childish hope that only a virgin of soft upbringing could accidentally hand a murderer on a silver platter. Finnegan preferred his victims with more gold, which was why he bought her necklace. The metal had a much smoother chemistry with the human condition than silver ever has. He was not going to murder her, however. “I must find Alexander. I heard he was coming,” he smiled, “Please, if you may, my charming and whimsical Evelyn has not been very often to such a party before. If you could at least make her feel cherished and welcome, I will be in your debt,” his eyes looked to both women and softened,“I must find my good man Alexander. We have some business to discuss, and I would be disheartened if I were to bore you, Evelyn. As I have already stated, Lady Alyssana is the sister of a very dear friend. I am ever quite fond of both. She will take very good care of you,” he tried not to make his words sound so overbearing, but in his attempt, he heard himself sounding as if he was in some honestly scared to be depart from the girl. He made the decision not to worry as it would merely make his love for her seem all the more earnest in front of Lady Alyssana, “I am sure you two will make very fine company with each other,” he nodded curtly and assuredly at them.

His request was met with a slight tilt of Lady Assylana's head for a moment of consideration, and then assent. “I'm hardly the best choice to make one feel comfortable at a party, but since you asked it as a favor....” A thin smile crossed her face, a cool expression. Finnegan could recognize it as more deliberate than sincere, but there was a flicker of sharp amusement that followed it in her eyes . “Besides, I'm sure Mademoiselle Evelyn could do with a little time away from you.” She was not sure what he had done to the poor girl, nor completely certain that he had done anything, but something in Evelyn's gaze seemed off, as she turned her young face to look at the Monsieur for reassurance for a last time.

The man made no comment back aside from a willful smile that he was not mistaken. His body made an acknowledging exit to the two women, and he turned, with his chin lifted and his eyes scanning the crowd for the buffoon he just complimented so intimately. His hands tucked behind his back, retaining to themselves as he made his way through the library's patterns. He felt a weight had been lifted from his shoulders by leaving Evelyn with Alyssa. Depending on how the two made together would bring an interesting answer to one of the mysteries of this evening. He was delighted to find out, but he had much more serious things to inquire and learn. The evening was long and had much longer to go, and he was not actually in any rush to find Alexander... But, it appeared, only several passes away from the two ladies, he realized Alexander was right in front of him, now.

“Alexander Damien Amidale,” Finnegan began, “You are around me so much, I cannot even tell when you are sneaking up on me,” he motioned closer to Alexander, “There is a woman whom I would enjoy your pleasure of meeting. Her name is Evelyn, but first —,” the silk cuff fabric underneath his suit showed as he made this gesture with his arm for the two men to move forward and away from the women, “I have spent so much time with her in the past week, I need a refreshing reminder as to why I do not date men. Unfortunately, you've dressed much too dashingly handsome, again, and I am afraid my plan has backfired.” Finnegan drew in a deep breath, slightly annoyed with the situation and then briefly pondered whether to mention another subject on hand, such as why they were here in the first place or if he should stay in line with fashion and make a dramatic comment about Lady Alyssana's wings. He opted for neither, though, “For whatever reason I expected you to dress anything less than how you are, is most obviously beyond me. My deepest apologies, you beautiful man.”

[ C R A W L ]

>Eldress stays put and takes a meditative pass