tampered | THE "VERY BREATH OF SPRING" PARTY; OPEN

THE "VERY BREATH OF SPRING" PARTY; OPEN

When; Daytime, March 21st
Rating; PG
Characters; EVERYONE~
Summary; Is that ~~love~~Spring I smell in the air~?
Log;

Two tall white curtains cover the entrance to the tent that has been set up in Xanadu. It looked small enough from the outside, but it was unexpectedly light and bright from the inside. The ceiling of the tent has been made to look like a clear blue sky dotted with thin clouds here and there. A myriad of pastel-colored flowers cover certain areas of the tent.

You would be graciously forgiven for thinking you were still outside.

On several curtained stalls were chefs preparing finger foods for anyone to take, while waiters and waitresses circled the place with trays of decadent drinks; forget the 12 PM rule and indulge yourself. Most of the guests have already arrived in bright-colored attires, drinks in hand and chattering away with strangers and friends alike.

In one corner, a group of musicians perform Classical pieces; all happy and celebratory, of course. There were to be no dancing today, but talking was very encouraged --as well as appreciating the beauty of nature.

It was hard work organizing everything in record time after the unexpected curse day yesterday, and Blair thought to herself that she would love some hard drinks after this.

She has had less than four hours of sleep last night, but it surely did not show; such was the miracle of under-eye cream. Meticulous hair, polished make up, and a checklist in hand, she was dressed like a mannequin with her Christopher Kane, Louboutins with a Judith Leiber piece. Nothing overly glamorous today, but she did not stop herself from adding a little something.

Pour te prouver mon amour, que veux-tu que je te donne?

She ticked off the final item and made a sigh of relief; Finally. There was a reason why Blair Waldorf always had a back-up plan, after all. Nonchalantly, she handed the checklist to a passing waiter then screened the crowd for the highly-anticipated guests of the day.

[ooc; and party it out, y'all~ ♥]

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Blair twitched a smile at that but kept her cool facade.

She would make the first move, but then she didn't know how he would react; she did not like surprises that much. She dropped her eyes, realizing that it was probably not a good move to be cornering him. Letting her hands fall, she just stood there an inch away from him, fingering the lapels of his suit.

"I'm tired." Bravo, Blair, whining would totally earn you points.

"Then why don't we find you a place to sit down," he said, reaching up to her hands and taking them in his. He held them there for just a moment before letting go of one of them. He held on to the other and started to lead her over to a chair.

"You've got a long night ahead of you and I know for a fact those shoes are incredibly uncomfortable," he said with a smile.

Now here is someone she would love to love; someone who could and would actually take care of her. Blair may be a control-freak for most of the day but she always welcomed the opportunity to lie back and watch how things unfold --granted they do not stray from her plans too much.

She let him hold her hand, shifting it to intertwine their fingers, sending him a covert smile.

"I don't mind the shoes," Blair replied. "But I'm glad I don't have to put up a front for you; I could just be myself." That was not entirely true, but it was not entirely false. She seated herself on a chair, dragging a nearby one closer and gesturing for him to sit. "Tell me how you've been."

Edited 2009-03-21 12:04 (UTC)

"Good, because I rather like yourself," he told her as he sat down next to her, close enough that he was touching her and could hod her hand.

Arthur felt a similar way towards her and towards the City in general. While a part of him resented being a bit of a nobody here another part of him enjoyed the reduced responsibilities and the freedom to explore opportunities he normally wouldn't.

Blair smiled in return, shyly casting her eyes down. He has that effect on her.

She happily let him hold her hand, fiddling with his fingers. There were guests to greet and staffs to check on, but surely five more minutes would not hurt. It was the worst thing about being the host, she thought, that the party became all work and no play. She hoped she could get Serena to throw the party next time.

"I told Serena about you," she looked at him coyly. "She said she approves."

It was amusing to watch Blair suddenly become a bit shy, although Arthur wasn't entirely aware that he was the one that was making her have that reaction. He liked how she fiddling with his fingers though and how her skin felt against his.

"She did?" Arthur asked, somewhat surprised. "But she hardly seems to know me."

He really made her feel like she was some Medieval princess that he was courting; all subtle gestures and propriety on the surface. Not that she minded, it made her feel, for lack of a better word, precious.

"She knew enough about you to know you're better than anyone I've ever been with." Which was very true indeed. Nate was not so bad, but he was so brooding and self-absorbed. Arthur was so much more interesting, if it was even a fair comparison.

Arthur didn't miss the fact that she had been with other guys, but that was hardly surprising. Courting amongst the nobles and the wealthy was common enough, it was really just the royal line that had very little need for anything like that. It was all political.

"I'll have to be sure to thank her for her blessing then," he said. "And without requiring me to slay a dragon or anything like that."

"Would you if she hadn't?"

That was a trick question, but not tricky enough, of course. The idea of someone slaying a dragon for her was so romantic, but it never occurred to her to even entertain it. First of all, there were no dragons in Manhattan, and second of all, getting a Chopard necklace was definitely preferable than getting a wrapped bloody heart for her birthday.

"I think that depends on if the dragon did anything," Arthur said, turning the question over in his head. To some people it might have been a hypothetical one but to someone like Arthur, it was a bit more real.

"But if you're asking if I would go to great lengths to prove my worth for you, then yes I would," he said, which was only partially true. He would probably be horribly offended at first that someone would insult him by insisting he wasn't good enough and then he would do what they asked just to prove that he could.

The answer was not exactly the enthusiastic 'yes!' that she was expecting, but it was definitely not a fail, and Arthur seemed very sincere. A pass it was.

"Don't worry, you'll never have to slay a dragon and bring its heart back to me or anything." Although the gesture would be very romantic indeed, and Blair was one of the few who would genuinely be flattered, instead of horrified, by such displays of affection. Except if said gesture happened to ruin the perfection of her outfit, that is.

"After all~ what use would I have for a heart if it isn't yours?"

Arthur hadn't thought Blair would be the type to want him to slay a dragon. Even Anne, with all her ridiculous ideas about romance and love, was unlikely to want him to kill something for her.

When she mentioned having his heart, Arthur's faced flushed a bit and he glanced away, not sure how to take such an open comment. Not that being so open was wrong, it just took him aback a bit.

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind," he finally said in reply.

His response worried her a little, well not a little, but she attempted to brush it off to her insecurities. He liked her, didn't he? He was probably just shy at the forward comment, or he was having second thoughts, but he did seem to like her alright just a moment ago. The worry might have shown on her face, but she did try to keep a straight face.

When he finally replied, Blair gave him a meek smile then looked down at their hands. With her other one, she fixed the ruby ring on the hand he was holding. Looking back up, she caught a glance of Blue in the crowd.

"Oh, there's someone I have to see," she told him. "Why don't you enjoy yourself while I just take care of this one thing?"

Arthur did catch the worried look on her face but he wasn't entirely sure what it was related to, although he guessed it was something he did. He mostly guessed that since there wasn't anyone else to be at fault.

When she mentioned that she had to go see someone he nodded and gave her had a squeeze. "Just don't be gone too long," he said with a smile. "I don't think I can enjoy myself much without you near."

Blair returned the squeeze with both her hands, then stood up effortlessly. "It's a friend; he's been feeling down lately so I just want to check up on him," she threw a glance to Blue, in case Arthur was wondering who it was she wanted to talk to. Blair may not exactly fit the criteria of good, but she was very strict about loyalty, especially her own. She would not even bat an eye on another when she has committed herself to one.

"I won't be long," she gave him a sweet smile. "I'd be wasting very precious time if I were." She fixed his barely askew tie and brushed over a crease on his shirt. With a final approving grin, she walked away, her heels sounding like a quick staccato on the floor.

Arthur glanced over and saw who it was. He hadn't spoken much to Blue since he arrived and the young man had loaned him a sword. He wasn't even aware that he and Blair were friends.

"I hope you can cheer him up," Arthur said with a nod. "Maybe I'll go find Serena and thank her for her approval."

Blair only had brief moments of free time during the party. These she mostly gave to checking up on Arthur as well as Serena. The rest of the time, she was ordering the staff around and making her presence known to the rest of the guests --as well as soaking up praises, of course. It was a job well done, all in all, but she was still dissatisfied. The next one, she thought to herself, will be ten times better than this.

Just outside the tent, near the back entrance, was a little hidden garden with a small fountain at its center. All around were heathers of different varieties. They were still budding at this time of year, but the colors were already emerging. Blair had told Arthur to wait there for her.

Wearing a white matching coat (http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/39799) over her dress, Blair made her way through the narrow pathways cut through Xanadu, still in her stilettos. She basically lived in them, after all. Finding the archway that opens to the garden, she put on her best smile before stepping through.

"Arthur?"

Arthur retired from the party early, as soon as Blair started to make her final rounds he ducked out of the affair to go sit by the small fountain. As much as he enjoyed the party he couldn't help but think he would have enjoyed it more if Merlin had been around. Not that he would have admitted it to anyone but he could admit it to himself on occasion.

As soon as he saw Blair though, most thoughts of his absent friend vanished as he smiled broadly at her and stood up from where he was sitting.

"There you are," he said, stepping towards her.

Blair's smile bloomed into a grin at the sight of him.

She returned to him readily, almost instinctively brushing a stray strand out of his eyes. She really liked his eyes, not that she didn't like his smile, or the way he held her hand, or anything. Onlookers may think that Blair Waldorf was capable only of using people as steps to achieve her goal of social heights. But those who looked past the act she put on may see otherwise. She gives away her heart easily enough, though if asked, she would admit to it being only for show. She wouldn't like anyone thinking that she was getting soft.

Blair took each of his hands in each of hers. They felt callous to her, not soft and unmarked like all the rest before him. They made her feel safe. "I like knowing where to find you."

Arthur liked holding her hands as well. They were soft without being weak, which he felt was indicative of Blair herself. Arthur knew from a few of the curses that she had some insecurities, but as far as he could tell they were unfounded.

"I like it when you find me," he replied, pulling her just a bit closer. There had been something he had wanted to do for a day or so and now seemed like the perfect opportunity. His stomach felt uneasy and Arthur was more nervous about this than he had been about facing the gryphon.

"You really did amazing tonight, Blair."

She giggled in reply. It was hard not to like how he came up with all the perfect replies to her banter, too.

Now Blair was far from oblivious, even if she might act the part for simplicity's sake. She took a quick breath and held it when he pulled her closer, looking up at him and trying to bore into his soul with her eyes. After a few seconds, a trace of a smile came to her lips and she started breathing again.

Oh, Arthur, she knew it would come to this. In all honesty, she wanted to laugh, but doing so would destroy whatever was left of the courage he mustered up. Still not letting his eyes go, a mischievous smile danced on her lips. "Shut up and kiss me already."

The knowing smile threw Arthur off a bit, only because there was only one thing on his mind and it seemed like she knew exactly what it was.

When she finally spoke though, he felt relieved. That simplified things a lot. He was grateful for it. Arthur pulled her close and kissed her. It wasn't forceful but it wasn't chaste either. Her lips reminded him of her hands, soft but not weak, definitely pleasant and intoxicating.

She placed one hand on his chest when he pulled her in, clinging to his suit. She let him take the lead, returning his initiative with a little less. He was not bad at all, and coming from Blair, that ought to mean something.

It was only after a few seconds that she remembered she forgot to breathe.

Blair broke the kiss to take a breath, grinning sheepishly at the faux pas, but she was not embarrassed really. She placed a brief kiss on his lips with a smile before turning her head to place another on his jawline.

Arthur gasped a soft "ahhh" as she kissed along his jaw. His hands almost instinctively wrapped around her waist and moved down to her lower back. He felt goosebumps run down his body and wondered why he had waited until now to kiss her.

Blair bit back a chuckle at his response; she must be pushing all the right buttons. She put both her arms around him, standing on the tiptoes to kiss him behind his ear. She left a trail of kisses down his jawline on the way back to his lips. There was mischief in her eyes as she opened her eyes and looked back at him. She did not let their lips touch, but left them barely a breath apart.

She really did like playing her games.

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AFTER THE PARTY;

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