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With Achilleas and Krystos away in Egypt there was no one to assure Evangelina of young Griffen’s care. The boy couldn’t be blamed for his lot in life and for something about him tugged at the heartstrings of Evangelina in the deepest sense. It’d been a couple of months since she’d first seen him but he plagued her mind in those quiet early hours in the morning when she was awake and Gavriil was busy.
Back in the city, Evangelina had found that being wife of the head of the Dimitrou family had significant benefits. The torn piece of parchment crinkled up in her fist was proof enough of that. The address she was supposed to find the boy at was scrawled across it. In her other hand, there was a basket… it wasn’t as full as she would have liked but it was what she could sacrifice after the last couple of days of refugees hounding the city’s resources. There were no honeyed figs to be had, but perhaps the small block of cheese, day old bread, and a couple of small rabbits that Gavriil had managed to kill were tucked way in there.
She moved through the city, occasionally glancing at the directions until she found herself in an almost concealed small home tucked between two slightly larger ones. Pausing her eyes ran over the stucco, it was so small it probably could have fit into the dining room of the grand Leveni manor. A knock on the door was shortly opened by a small woman who couldn’t have been a lot older than herself, pretty but thin. Evangelina offered her explanation and as soon as she mentioned Achilleas and Krystos the door was swung open and she was let inside.
Conversation seemed a bit awkward at first as she offered up the basket to the woman, but quickly enough the awkwardness faded as from somewhere in the back a door burst open and Griffen came rushing through the house like Hade’s hellhounds were after him only to be chided from his mother for almost crashing into their guest.
He raised his bright blue eyes up and looked in awe up at the woman Evangelina was pretty sure he thought he’d never see again. A smudge of dirt across his cheek, she had to check herself from reaching down and wiping it away.
‘Lady Evangelina,’ He gasped but then his eyes caught sight of the basket and he rushed over, no doubt assuming she’d brought him some more honeyed figs. A pang hit her chest and she smiled a little sadly at him.
“I’m sorry, no honeyed figs today. Things are lean even for us but I couldn’t help worrying that you and your mother might not have enough.” She felt Griffen’s mother on her for a few moments and then smiled, ‘Thank you, my lady.’ Evangelina watched the tenderness as the mother reached out and scruffed the top of her son’s head before leaning down and kissing it. ‘This one eats like there is no tomorrow.’ Evangelina smiled at that and thought of her little brother being the same way.
‘I hate to be rude but I must return to my duties of washing some laundry.’ The woman murmured almost expectantly waiting for Evangelina to leave.
Biting her bottom lip, she wasn’t ready to return to the Dimitrou manor, looking from Griffen to his mother she spoke curiously, “Do you mind if I stay with Griffen for a bit? I’d like to hear what mischief he’s been up too since I’ve last seen him?” Griffen looked up at his mother who seemed hesitant but finally nodded, knowing her son could find far worse than Evangelina to keep him company.
Evangelina stepped back as mother and son parted for the morning and wondered why there was such a tenderness there that was sometimes absent in the higher society. After his mother was gone, Evangelina dug into her pocket and grinned as she produced a pair of dice. The boy’s eyes lit up and he all but drugged her outside chattering about how he was prepared to win all of her money from her. Little did he know that was her plan.
So the pair settled on the small stoop on the back of the house, Evie didn’t blink at making herself comfortable on the floor across from Griffen. Her beautiful white chiton, wasn’t going to remain white for very long but it was okay. She was a baroness now and such allowances could be afforded. Her low ponytail was flung over her shoulder as she stretched her legs out and watched as he grabbed a wooden cup so the pair could begin their game. Taking a deep breath, it’d been days since she’d felt this relaxed.
The pair were laughing and Evangelina was making sure to lose enough coins to help the boy and his mother out for at least a month. The sound of a door in the house opening sounded and Evangelina just assumed it was the boy’s mother having returned from her duties, but when the back door opened and she looked up she stilled.
Griffen didn’t seem to notice and kept on chattering but Evangelina stared up at the very familiar face of Nikos of Condos. Her mouth opened to say something but she couldn’t find her voice as she stared up at him.
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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With Achilleas and Krystos away in Egypt there was no one to assure Evangelina of young Griffen’s care. The boy couldn’t be blamed for his lot in life and for something about him tugged at the heartstrings of Evangelina in the deepest sense. It’d been a couple of months since she’d first seen him but he plagued her mind in those quiet early hours in the morning when she was awake and Gavriil was busy.
Back in the city, Evangelina had found that being wife of the head of the Dimitrou family had significant benefits. The torn piece of parchment crinkled up in her fist was proof enough of that. The address she was supposed to find the boy at was scrawled across it. In her other hand, there was a basket… it wasn’t as full as she would have liked but it was what she could sacrifice after the last couple of days of refugees hounding the city’s resources. There were no honeyed figs to be had, but perhaps the small block of cheese, day old bread, and a couple of small rabbits that Gavriil had managed to kill were tucked way in there.
She moved through the city, occasionally glancing at the directions until she found herself in an almost concealed small home tucked between two slightly larger ones. Pausing her eyes ran over the stucco, it was so small it probably could have fit into the dining room of the grand Leveni manor. A knock on the door was shortly opened by a small woman who couldn’t have been a lot older than herself, pretty but thin. Evangelina offered her explanation and as soon as she mentioned Achilleas and Krystos the door was swung open and she was let inside.
Conversation seemed a bit awkward at first as she offered up the basket to the woman, but quickly enough the awkwardness faded as from somewhere in the back a door burst open and Griffen came rushing through the house like Hade’s hellhounds were after him only to be chided from his mother for almost crashing into their guest.
He raised his bright blue eyes up and looked in awe up at the woman Evangelina was pretty sure he thought he’d never see again. A smudge of dirt across his cheek, she had to check herself from reaching down and wiping it away.
‘Lady Evangelina,’ He gasped but then his eyes caught sight of the basket and he rushed over, no doubt assuming she’d brought him some more honeyed figs. A pang hit her chest and she smiled a little sadly at him.
“I’m sorry, no honeyed figs today. Things are lean even for us but I couldn’t help worrying that you and your mother might not have enough.” She felt Griffen’s mother on her for a few moments and then smiled, ‘Thank you, my lady.’ Evangelina watched the tenderness as the mother reached out and scruffed the top of her son’s head before leaning down and kissing it. ‘This one eats like there is no tomorrow.’ Evangelina smiled at that and thought of her little brother being the same way.
‘I hate to be rude but I must return to my duties of washing some laundry.’ The woman murmured almost expectantly waiting for Evangelina to leave.
Biting her bottom lip, she wasn’t ready to return to the Dimitrou manor, looking from Griffen to his mother she spoke curiously, “Do you mind if I stay with Griffen for a bit? I’d like to hear what mischief he’s been up too since I’ve last seen him?” Griffen looked up at his mother who seemed hesitant but finally nodded, knowing her son could find far worse than Evangelina to keep him company.
Evangelina stepped back as mother and son parted for the morning and wondered why there was such a tenderness there that was sometimes absent in the higher society. After his mother was gone, Evangelina dug into her pocket and grinned as she produced a pair of dice. The boy’s eyes lit up and he all but drugged her outside chattering about how he was prepared to win all of her money from her. Little did he know that was her plan.
So the pair settled on the small stoop on the back of the house, Evie didn’t blink at making herself comfortable on the floor across from Griffen. Her beautiful white chiton, wasn’t going to remain white for very long but it was okay. She was a baroness now and such allowances could be afforded. Her low ponytail was flung over her shoulder as she stretched her legs out and watched as he grabbed a wooden cup so the pair could begin their game. Taking a deep breath, it’d been days since she’d felt this relaxed.
The pair were laughing and Evangelina was making sure to lose enough coins to help the boy and his mother out for at least a month. The sound of a door in the house opening sounded and Evangelina just assumed it was the boy’s mother having returned from her duties, but when the back door opened and she looked up she stilled.
Griffen didn’t seem to notice and kept on chattering but Evangelina stared up at the very familiar face of Nikos of Condos. Her mouth opened to say something but she couldn’t find her voice as she stared up at him.
With Achilleas and Krystos away in Egypt there was no one to assure Evangelina of young Griffen’s care. The boy couldn’t be blamed for his lot in life and for something about him tugged at the heartstrings of Evangelina in the deepest sense. It’d been a couple of months since she’d first seen him but he plagued her mind in those quiet early hours in the morning when she was awake and Gavriil was busy.
Back in the city, Evangelina had found that being wife of the head of the Dimitrou family had significant benefits. The torn piece of parchment crinkled up in her fist was proof enough of that. The address she was supposed to find the boy at was scrawled across it. In her other hand, there was a basket… it wasn’t as full as she would have liked but it was what she could sacrifice after the last couple of days of refugees hounding the city’s resources. There were no honeyed figs to be had, but perhaps the small block of cheese, day old bread, and a couple of small rabbits that Gavriil had managed to kill were tucked way in there.
She moved through the city, occasionally glancing at the directions until she found herself in an almost concealed small home tucked between two slightly larger ones. Pausing her eyes ran over the stucco, it was so small it probably could have fit into the dining room of the grand Leveni manor. A knock on the door was shortly opened by a small woman who couldn’t have been a lot older than herself, pretty but thin. Evangelina offered her explanation and as soon as she mentioned Achilleas and Krystos the door was swung open and she was let inside.
Conversation seemed a bit awkward at first as she offered up the basket to the woman, but quickly enough the awkwardness faded as from somewhere in the back a door burst open and Griffen came rushing through the house like Hade’s hellhounds were after him only to be chided from his mother for almost crashing into their guest.
He raised his bright blue eyes up and looked in awe up at the woman Evangelina was pretty sure he thought he’d never see again. A smudge of dirt across his cheek, she had to check herself from reaching down and wiping it away.
‘Lady Evangelina,’ He gasped but then his eyes caught sight of the basket and he rushed over, no doubt assuming she’d brought him some more honeyed figs. A pang hit her chest and she smiled a little sadly at him.
“I’m sorry, no honeyed figs today. Things are lean even for us but I couldn’t help worrying that you and your mother might not have enough.” She felt Griffen’s mother on her for a few moments and then smiled, ‘Thank you, my lady.’ Evangelina watched the tenderness as the mother reached out and scruffed the top of her son’s head before leaning down and kissing it. ‘This one eats like there is no tomorrow.’ Evangelina smiled at that and thought of her little brother being the same way.
‘I hate to be rude but I must return to my duties of washing some laundry.’ The woman murmured almost expectantly waiting for Evangelina to leave.
Biting her bottom lip, she wasn’t ready to return to the Dimitrou manor, looking from Griffen to his mother she spoke curiously, “Do you mind if I stay with Griffen for a bit? I’d like to hear what mischief he’s been up too since I’ve last seen him?” Griffen looked up at his mother who seemed hesitant but finally nodded, knowing her son could find far worse than Evangelina to keep him company.
Evangelina stepped back as mother and son parted for the morning and wondered why there was such a tenderness there that was sometimes absent in the higher society. After his mother was gone, Evangelina dug into her pocket and grinned as she produced a pair of dice. The boy’s eyes lit up and he all but drugged her outside chattering about how he was prepared to win all of her money from her. Little did he know that was her plan.
So the pair settled on the small stoop on the back of the house, Evie didn’t blink at making herself comfortable on the floor across from Griffen. Her beautiful white chiton, wasn’t going to remain white for very long but it was okay. She was a baroness now and such allowances could be afforded. Her low ponytail was flung over her shoulder as she stretched her legs out and watched as he grabbed a wooden cup so the pair could begin their game. Taking a deep breath, it’d been days since she’d felt this relaxed.
The pair were laughing and Evangelina was making sure to lose enough coins to help the boy and his mother out for at least a month. The sound of a door in the house opening sounded and Evangelina just assumed it was the boy’s mother having returned from her duties, but when the back door opened and she looked up she stilled.
Griffen didn’t seem to notice and kept on chattering but Evangelina stared up at the very familiar face of Nikos of Condos. Her mouth opened to say something but she couldn’t find her voice as she stared up at him.
The city was crowded. While the nobles and royals were not being rationed, per se, things were still spread a lot thinner than the higher class was accustomed to. Arete certainly wasn’t happy about the conditions back at the Condos manner, that was for sure. But there was nothing to be done about that until this war was over and the citizens felt safe enough to return to their own homes in the less protected provinces. Hopefully that would be soon. Until then, Nikos had people he felt compelled to check on regularly to make sure they had what they needed. After all, he was the reason these children even existed. The baron had made sure that all of his bastard children and their mothers that lived in the kingdom had made it into the city before the gates had been sealed – even going so far as to send out a soldier from his own barony to fetch the three that lived outside of Vasiliadon.
It’d been a few days since the gates had closed, and things were falling into a rhythm – strained though it was – so Nik was taking the opportunity to slip away from his distressed mistress and go in search of his offspring and their mothers. He wanted to make sure they had all they needed and that they knew to send him a letter if something happened. Nikos wasn’t exactly a hands-on father with any of the children, but he did often send money or supplies to support them, and visited them occasionally. He even provided for a bit of tutoring, for he felt any offspring of his should at least know how to read and write and be able to appreciate the arts their father loved so much.
Young Griffen was the last visit of the day – Nik saved him for last because the seven-year-old boy always wanted to play a game of one sort or another, and the Condos lord tried to oblige him when possible. Nik loved kids, but he was not quite ready to be a fulltime father. Though he wouldn’t be able to put it off much longer; Nikos of Condos was nearly thirty, it was time to start looking for a proper wedding match and have that heir or two that he would be expected to have.
Nikos arrived at the little home that Griffen shared with his mother. They lived in the outer part of the city yet still within the walls. He knocked, but no one answered. Growing impatient, Nikos let himself in the door and called out for Alethea, but the boy’s mother was not to be found. Nik heard voices coming from the back of the home, so he followed the sound. He stood in the threshold, frozen. Evangelina of Leventi – no, she was a Dimitrou now - was sitting on the stoop playing a game with his son. The very boy that Nik had once sent to Achilleas to claim the that crown prince was his father. It had been a prank, of course, for the boy belonged to Nikos. But why was Evangelina here with the child now? Nik swallowed and cleared his throat. The sound finally grabbed the boy’s attention, who looked up with a surprised and beaming look on his cherubic face. ”Hey, Fen. Are you winning?” Nik squatted down and ruffled the boy’s hair, but Nik’s gaze drifted from Griffen to the Dimitrou lady. He opened his mouth to say something to her, but he couldn’t find the words. Their last few encounters had been less than pleasant. He didn’t know why she was here. How she knew Griffen. Or was it his mother that Evangelina knew? But how even would she know the commoner woman that made her living by cooking and selling the food or washing clothes for others? He couldn’t ask the questions with his voice… but his eyes surely reflected his concerns and curiosities.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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The city was crowded. While the nobles and royals were not being rationed, per se, things were still spread a lot thinner than the higher class was accustomed to. Arete certainly wasn’t happy about the conditions back at the Condos manner, that was for sure. But there was nothing to be done about that until this war was over and the citizens felt safe enough to return to their own homes in the less protected provinces. Hopefully that would be soon. Until then, Nikos had people he felt compelled to check on regularly to make sure they had what they needed. After all, he was the reason these children even existed. The baron had made sure that all of his bastard children and their mothers that lived in the kingdom had made it into the city before the gates had been sealed – even going so far as to send out a soldier from his own barony to fetch the three that lived outside of Vasiliadon.
It’d been a few days since the gates had closed, and things were falling into a rhythm – strained though it was – so Nik was taking the opportunity to slip away from his distressed mistress and go in search of his offspring and their mothers. He wanted to make sure they had all they needed and that they knew to send him a letter if something happened. Nikos wasn’t exactly a hands-on father with any of the children, but he did often send money or supplies to support them, and visited them occasionally. He even provided for a bit of tutoring, for he felt any offspring of his should at least know how to read and write and be able to appreciate the arts their father loved so much.
Young Griffen was the last visit of the day – Nik saved him for last because the seven-year-old boy always wanted to play a game of one sort or another, and the Condos lord tried to oblige him when possible. Nik loved kids, but he was not quite ready to be a fulltime father. Though he wouldn’t be able to put it off much longer; Nikos of Condos was nearly thirty, it was time to start looking for a proper wedding match and have that heir or two that he would be expected to have.
Nikos arrived at the little home that Griffen shared with his mother. They lived in the outer part of the city yet still within the walls. He knocked, but no one answered. Growing impatient, Nikos let himself in the door and called out for Alethea, but the boy’s mother was not to be found. Nik heard voices coming from the back of the home, so he followed the sound. He stood in the threshold, frozen. Evangelina of Leventi – no, she was a Dimitrou now - was sitting on the stoop playing a game with his son. The very boy that Nik had once sent to Achilleas to claim the that crown prince was his father. It had been a prank, of course, for the boy belonged to Nikos. But why was Evangelina here with the child now? Nik swallowed and cleared his throat. The sound finally grabbed the boy’s attention, who looked up with a surprised and beaming look on his cherubic face. ”Hey, Fen. Are you winning?” Nik squatted down and ruffled the boy’s hair, but Nik’s gaze drifted from Griffen to the Dimitrou lady. He opened his mouth to say something to her, but he couldn’t find the words. Their last few encounters had been less than pleasant. He didn’t know why she was here. How she knew Griffen. Or was it his mother that Evangelina knew? But how even would she know the commoner woman that made her living by cooking and selling the food or washing clothes for others? He couldn’t ask the questions with his voice… but his eyes surely reflected his concerns and curiosities.
The city was crowded. While the nobles and royals were not being rationed, per se, things were still spread a lot thinner than the higher class was accustomed to. Arete certainly wasn’t happy about the conditions back at the Condos manner, that was for sure. But there was nothing to be done about that until this war was over and the citizens felt safe enough to return to their own homes in the less protected provinces. Hopefully that would be soon. Until then, Nikos had people he felt compelled to check on regularly to make sure they had what they needed. After all, he was the reason these children even existed. The baron had made sure that all of his bastard children and their mothers that lived in the kingdom had made it into the city before the gates had been sealed – even going so far as to send out a soldier from his own barony to fetch the three that lived outside of Vasiliadon.
It’d been a few days since the gates had closed, and things were falling into a rhythm – strained though it was – so Nik was taking the opportunity to slip away from his distressed mistress and go in search of his offspring and their mothers. He wanted to make sure they had all they needed and that they knew to send him a letter if something happened. Nikos wasn’t exactly a hands-on father with any of the children, but he did often send money or supplies to support them, and visited them occasionally. He even provided for a bit of tutoring, for he felt any offspring of his should at least know how to read and write and be able to appreciate the arts their father loved so much.
Young Griffen was the last visit of the day – Nik saved him for last because the seven-year-old boy always wanted to play a game of one sort or another, and the Condos lord tried to oblige him when possible. Nik loved kids, but he was not quite ready to be a fulltime father. Though he wouldn’t be able to put it off much longer; Nikos of Condos was nearly thirty, it was time to start looking for a proper wedding match and have that heir or two that he would be expected to have.
Nikos arrived at the little home that Griffen shared with his mother. They lived in the outer part of the city yet still within the walls. He knocked, but no one answered. Growing impatient, Nikos let himself in the door and called out for Alethea, but the boy’s mother was not to be found. Nik heard voices coming from the back of the home, so he followed the sound. He stood in the threshold, frozen. Evangelina of Leventi – no, she was a Dimitrou now - was sitting on the stoop playing a game with his son. The very boy that Nik had once sent to Achilleas to claim the that crown prince was his father. It had been a prank, of course, for the boy belonged to Nikos. But why was Evangelina here with the child now? Nik swallowed and cleared his throat. The sound finally grabbed the boy’s attention, who looked up with a surprised and beaming look on his cherubic face. ”Hey, Fen. Are you winning?” Nik squatted down and ruffled the boy’s hair, but Nik’s gaze drifted from Griffen to the Dimitrou lady. He opened his mouth to say something to her, but he couldn’t find the words. Their last few encounters had been less than pleasant. He didn’t know why she was here. How she knew Griffen. Or was it his mother that Evangelina knew? But how even would she know the commoner woman that made her living by cooking and selling the food or washing clothes for others? He couldn’t ask the questions with his voice… but his eyes surely reflected his concerns and curiosities.
A thousand variations of what she should have done the instant she saw his face raced through her brain and not a single one of them did she manage to execute in a timely fashion. Her first inclination was to jump up and rush away like some sort of thief in the night caught red handed, but how would that have made Griffen feel? The reminder of him, caused her to slowly look down at the boy and for a moment she couldn’t think of anything other than the raw happiness that spread over his face at the sight of Nikos.
Her breath hitched, Evangelina ached for children. She ached for a family to wrap her arms around and enfold herself into. She missed her family in Acharist. She missed the closeness and the warmth and the way at the end of the day she didn’t feel like everything she did in this world was for nothing. She ached for someone to pour herself into, someone who could love and feel with the same deepness that she did. Her horses loved her but they were not a substitute for what a human could do.
Gavriil had said to her that she would have it all but a month into her marriage it was still too soon to expect such things, wasn’t it?
The voice that cut through the air pulled her back to the reality of the situation. ‘Hey, Fen. Are you winning?’ He’d squatted down on the stoop and she’d waited for that jump or flutter that had always accompanied him drawing closer to her. But, it didn’t jolt her, there was only a sense of something that was missing that had once filled her entirely. A consuming fire that had burned out maybe? They weren’t the same kids they’d been once. Was that why it was missing?
She listened to Griffen regale her former… What was he? He hadn’t been a lover or her betrothed? Almost lover? That was perhaps the most accurate title. He’d been a hopeless dream. Her luckless romance. Griffen excitedly told Nikos about how much he’d already won from Evie. Tilting her head down she focused on the dice they were playing. If Nikos watched her steady, confident hand movements he’d realize she was cheating.
Cheating didn’t always happen to make you a winner though and this was one of those cases. She was steadily losing her coins to the boy who was dramatically exclaiming about girls not being able to gamble. She just smiled to herself and continued to lose, until she finally just tossed the small leather purse down for the final round and carefully let the dice fall from the tips of her fingers and fall with their lowest score yet.
The boy crowed with delight, snatching up his winnings completely oblivious to what had just happened. Settling back onto her hands, she finally let the boy’s father consume her attention while the boy counted out his winnings.
“If I’d know you’d planned to visit I’d never have intruded upon your time with Griffen. But after the events of yesterday… I…” Her words faltered and she glanced back at him, “I wanted to check on him.” She smiled distantly. Her hand rubbed against the white chiton on her thigh as she fought the urge to reach out and ruffle the boy’s floppy dark hair.
Her gaze shifted back to Nikos almost contemplatively, he wanted to know why she was there, she could see the questions in his eyes but other than that she wasn’t ready to just spill everything to him of how she’d come to be friends with the young boy. Tilting her head, she pursed her lips but then offered a decided almost smile, “Griffen indulges me in my small gambling addiction… even if he is a poor winner.” She laughed softly and bumped the boy’s shoulder with her own since he’d scooted a little closer to give room to Nikos to watch the action.
“I’m sure he cheats.” She teased just to watch the boy’s face light up with indignation and he exclaimed that with her being such a ‘poor’ player he didn’t have to cheat. With a resigned sigh, “Well, now that you’ve won all my money I should probably return upon my errands, Griffen.” She moved to stand up slowly not really wanting to leave but not really certain where she fit into the weird little group of father, illegitimate son, and almost lover for that was her title too.
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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A thousand variations of what she should have done the instant she saw his face raced through her brain and not a single one of them did she manage to execute in a timely fashion. Her first inclination was to jump up and rush away like some sort of thief in the night caught red handed, but how would that have made Griffen feel? The reminder of him, caused her to slowly look down at the boy and for a moment she couldn’t think of anything other than the raw happiness that spread over his face at the sight of Nikos.
Her breath hitched, Evangelina ached for children. She ached for a family to wrap her arms around and enfold herself into. She missed her family in Acharist. She missed the closeness and the warmth and the way at the end of the day she didn’t feel like everything she did in this world was for nothing. She ached for someone to pour herself into, someone who could love and feel with the same deepness that she did. Her horses loved her but they were not a substitute for what a human could do.
Gavriil had said to her that she would have it all but a month into her marriage it was still too soon to expect such things, wasn’t it?
The voice that cut through the air pulled her back to the reality of the situation. ‘Hey, Fen. Are you winning?’ He’d squatted down on the stoop and she’d waited for that jump or flutter that had always accompanied him drawing closer to her. But, it didn’t jolt her, there was only a sense of something that was missing that had once filled her entirely. A consuming fire that had burned out maybe? They weren’t the same kids they’d been once. Was that why it was missing?
She listened to Griffen regale her former… What was he? He hadn’t been a lover or her betrothed? Almost lover? That was perhaps the most accurate title. He’d been a hopeless dream. Her luckless romance. Griffen excitedly told Nikos about how much he’d already won from Evie. Tilting her head down she focused on the dice they were playing. If Nikos watched her steady, confident hand movements he’d realize she was cheating.
Cheating didn’t always happen to make you a winner though and this was one of those cases. She was steadily losing her coins to the boy who was dramatically exclaiming about girls not being able to gamble. She just smiled to herself and continued to lose, until she finally just tossed the small leather purse down for the final round and carefully let the dice fall from the tips of her fingers and fall with their lowest score yet.
The boy crowed with delight, snatching up his winnings completely oblivious to what had just happened. Settling back onto her hands, she finally let the boy’s father consume her attention while the boy counted out his winnings.
“If I’d know you’d planned to visit I’d never have intruded upon your time with Griffen. But after the events of yesterday… I…” Her words faltered and she glanced back at him, “I wanted to check on him.” She smiled distantly. Her hand rubbed against the white chiton on her thigh as she fought the urge to reach out and ruffle the boy’s floppy dark hair.
Her gaze shifted back to Nikos almost contemplatively, he wanted to know why she was there, she could see the questions in his eyes but other than that she wasn’t ready to just spill everything to him of how she’d come to be friends with the young boy. Tilting her head, she pursed her lips but then offered a decided almost smile, “Griffen indulges me in my small gambling addiction… even if he is a poor winner.” She laughed softly and bumped the boy’s shoulder with her own since he’d scooted a little closer to give room to Nikos to watch the action.
“I’m sure he cheats.” She teased just to watch the boy’s face light up with indignation and he exclaimed that with her being such a ‘poor’ player he didn’t have to cheat. With a resigned sigh, “Well, now that you’ve won all my money I should probably return upon my errands, Griffen.” She moved to stand up slowly not really wanting to leave but not really certain where she fit into the weird little group of father, illegitimate son, and almost lover for that was her title too.
A thousand variations of what she should have done the instant she saw his face raced through her brain and not a single one of them did she manage to execute in a timely fashion. Her first inclination was to jump up and rush away like some sort of thief in the night caught red handed, but how would that have made Griffen feel? The reminder of him, caused her to slowly look down at the boy and for a moment she couldn’t think of anything other than the raw happiness that spread over his face at the sight of Nikos.
Her breath hitched, Evangelina ached for children. She ached for a family to wrap her arms around and enfold herself into. She missed her family in Acharist. She missed the closeness and the warmth and the way at the end of the day she didn’t feel like everything she did in this world was for nothing. She ached for someone to pour herself into, someone who could love and feel with the same deepness that she did. Her horses loved her but they were not a substitute for what a human could do.
Gavriil had said to her that she would have it all but a month into her marriage it was still too soon to expect such things, wasn’t it?
The voice that cut through the air pulled her back to the reality of the situation. ‘Hey, Fen. Are you winning?’ He’d squatted down on the stoop and she’d waited for that jump or flutter that had always accompanied him drawing closer to her. But, it didn’t jolt her, there was only a sense of something that was missing that had once filled her entirely. A consuming fire that had burned out maybe? They weren’t the same kids they’d been once. Was that why it was missing?
She listened to Griffen regale her former… What was he? He hadn’t been a lover or her betrothed? Almost lover? That was perhaps the most accurate title. He’d been a hopeless dream. Her luckless romance. Griffen excitedly told Nikos about how much he’d already won from Evie. Tilting her head down she focused on the dice they were playing. If Nikos watched her steady, confident hand movements he’d realize she was cheating.
Cheating didn’t always happen to make you a winner though and this was one of those cases. She was steadily losing her coins to the boy who was dramatically exclaiming about girls not being able to gamble. She just smiled to herself and continued to lose, until she finally just tossed the small leather purse down for the final round and carefully let the dice fall from the tips of her fingers and fall with their lowest score yet.
The boy crowed with delight, snatching up his winnings completely oblivious to what had just happened. Settling back onto her hands, she finally let the boy’s father consume her attention while the boy counted out his winnings.
“If I’d know you’d planned to visit I’d never have intruded upon your time with Griffen. But after the events of yesterday… I…” Her words faltered and she glanced back at him, “I wanted to check on him.” She smiled distantly. Her hand rubbed against the white chiton on her thigh as she fought the urge to reach out and ruffle the boy’s floppy dark hair.
Her gaze shifted back to Nikos almost contemplatively, he wanted to know why she was there, she could see the questions in his eyes but other than that she wasn’t ready to just spill everything to him of how she’d come to be friends with the young boy. Tilting her head, she pursed her lips but then offered a decided almost smile, “Griffen indulges me in my small gambling addiction… even if he is a poor winner.” She laughed softly and bumped the boy’s shoulder with her own since he’d scooted a little closer to give room to Nikos to watch the action.
“I’m sure he cheats.” She teased just to watch the boy’s face light up with indignation and he exclaimed that with her being such a ‘poor’ player he didn’t have to cheat. With a resigned sigh, “Well, now that you’ve won all my money I should probably return upon my errands, Griffen.” She moved to stand up slowly not really wanting to leave but not really certain where she fit into the weird little group of father, illegitimate son, and almost lover for that was her title too.
At Nik’s question, his son immediately burst into a tale of his epic wins of his and Evie’s little game. Nik smiled, listening, but his eyes barely left Evangelina. Watching her so intently, he did in fact see the sleight of hand as she dropped the dice in just the right way, making it so she would lose the poll of coins piled on the stoop between her and the boy. He smirked. Clever girl. He did look fully at his son when he cried out in triumph, to witness the delighted excitement on his face as he gathered up his winnings. He laughed, an almost silent laugh, propping his chin on his hand as he remained squatted there.
’If I’d known you’d planned to visit I’d never have intruded upon your time with Griffen. But after the events of yesterday… I… I wanted to check on him.’
Nik shook his head. ”It wasn’t a planned visit. I just wanted to make sure they had what they needed with everything going on.” They was he replied without hesitation, the tone of his voice as he watched his son… it was obviously one of those rare occasions when Nikos let down the image of senator and baron, or the defenses of carefree party boy. He’d always felt he could be himself, his true self, with her. He may not have legally claimed any of the children he was aware he’d fathered, but he did care about them – about their wellbeing and their education. Especially Griffen. Nik saw so much of himself in the boy. It was strange and frightening. Speaking of strange…. Nik looked back to Evangelina again, that question back in his blue gaze. Why was she here? How did she know his son?
’Griffen indulges me in my small gambling addiction… even if he is a poor winner. I’m sure he cheats.’ The boy gasped indignantly and protested the accusation, calling Evie a poor player. The Condos lord couldn’t help but laugh, knowing full well the sort of player Evie was. He’d taught her many of those tricks himself when they’d been practically inseparable those years ago.
…So much had changed since then…
’Well, now that you’ve won all my money I should probably return upon my errands, Griffen.’ Griffen looked disappointed, but his mother had taught him to respect the upper class, and so he didn’t protest. Instead, he thanked her for playing and then set about accosting Nikos with elaborate tales of how he won each coin! Nik’s eyes widened at his son’s enthusiasm and he nearly didn’t notice that Evie had actually left their company.
When he did look around for her, he felt a panic rise up at her absence. No. He needed to catch her. The baron had felt the distance between them, the icy barrier she’d erected since that day at the beach. It was driving him crazy. He missed being able to talk with her. Really talk. Though he would take the barbs and insults she’d given him over the years rather than this formal distance she was determined to maintain of late. ”Fen, son, please let your mother I will come back by later to speak with her? We’ll play a few games then… Promise. Right now I need to go.” He ruffled the boys hair affectionately, reiterating his promise to come back. Then Nik was off, running through the house and calling after the Lady Dimitrou. Using that formal moniker as well. He reached the front door without seeing her. His heart raced at the thought of having lost his chance to stop her. To be able to speak with her without Gavriil around.
Into the street he went. He called her new title again. He raced after her – and the thought occurred to him that this is what he should have done a long time ago… run after her – finally catching up to her just ten feet from the little house. If he’d gone after her when she’d walked out that night… or tried harder to see her after… ”Evangelina. Wait, please. Just hold on.” He reached for her wrist, only barely touching her before quickly pulling his hand back, remembering the last time he’d grabbed her in such a way. He winced, taking a deep breath, and letting his eyes close as he let it out before continuing. ”Evie… can we please just talk? I can’t stand this cold shoulder. I miss – “ - the ways you made me feel alive. The ways I loved you. That thought made him freeze faster than anything in his life. He’d never said those words to anyone, had never really even thought them – though of course he knew he cared about Evie deeply. Cared about Arete so very much that he’d been willing to bring her to the city to live at the Condos manner to keep her safe from possible invasion during this war! Had been eluding to the woman being by his side if he finally managed to have the crown of the kingdom upon his head. But love? Real love? He'd always been too cautious and loved his freedom too much to give in to such fantasies.
Looking at Evie now, though… Nik knew in his heart that he had loved her. He just hadn’t known it. Maybe that was why he’d sabotaged his own chance to petition her uncle for her hand when they’d been together…. He knew she’d felt it back then… What if our love had never went away? What if it’s lost behind words we could never find? …It’s too late. She was married to another and Nikos would never have that chance with her again. But he couldn’t picture his life without her in it. The Condos lord felt like a vice was around his heart at the thought of her never speaking to him again.
All this had gone through his mind in a matter of seconds. And it left him reeling. But he knew he needed to continue speaking or risk Evie walking away.
Nikos backtracked on what he was about to say. ”Look, Evangelina. Hate me if you must – even that is better than nothing - but… please… don’t shut me out like this. I apologized for what I did. I attended your wedding to support your decision. I… What more must I do for you to forgive me?” Like before when talking about checking on Griffen, Nik’s tone was soft and sincere, the look in his eyes begging her to tell him what to do.
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At Nik’s question, his son immediately burst into a tale of his epic wins of his and Evie’s little game. Nik smiled, listening, but his eyes barely left Evangelina. Watching her so intently, he did in fact see the sleight of hand as she dropped the dice in just the right way, making it so she would lose the poll of coins piled on the stoop between her and the boy. He smirked. Clever girl. He did look fully at his son when he cried out in triumph, to witness the delighted excitement on his face as he gathered up his winnings. He laughed, an almost silent laugh, propping his chin on his hand as he remained squatted there.
’If I’d known you’d planned to visit I’d never have intruded upon your time with Griffen. But after the events of yesterday… I… I wanted to check on him.’
Nik shook his head. ”It wasn’t a planned visit. I just wanted to make sure they had what they needed with everything going on.” They was he replied without hesitation, the tone of his voice as he watched his son… it was obviously one of those rare occasions when Nikos let down the image of senator and baron, or the defenses of carefree party boy. He’d always felt he could be himself, his true self, with her. He may not have legally claimed any of the children he was aware he’d fathered, but he did care about them – about their wellbeing and their education. Especially Griffen. Nik saw so much of himself in the boy. It was strange and frightening. Speaking of strange…. Nik looked back to Evangelina again, that question back in his blue gaze. Why was she here? How did she know his son?
’Griffen indulges me in my small gambling addiction… even if he is a poor winner. I’m sure he cheats.’ The boy gasped indignantly and protested the accusation, calling Evie a poor player. The Condos lord couldn’t help but laugh, knowing full well the sort of player Evie was. He’d taught her many of those tricks himself when they’d been practically inseparable those years ago.
…So much had changed since then…
’Well, now that you’ve won all my money I should probably return upon my errands, Griffen.’ Griffen looked disappointed, but his mother had taught him to respect the upper class, and so he didn’t protest. Instead, he thanked her for playing and then set about accosting Nikos with elaborate tales of how he won each coin! Nik’s eyes widened at his son’s enthusiasm and he nearly didn’t notice that Evie had actually left their company.
When he did look around for her, he felt a panic rise up at her absence. No. He needed to catch her. The baron had felt the distance between them, the icy barrier she’d erected since that day at the beach. It was driving him crazy. He missed being able to talk with her. Really talk. Though he would take the barbs and insults she’d given him over the years rather than this formal distance she was determined to maintain of late. ”Fen, son, please let your mother I will come back by later to speak with her? We’ll play a few games then… Promise. Right now I need to go.” He ruffled the boys hair affectionately, reiterating his promise to come back. Then Nik was off, running through the house and calling after the Lady Dimitrou. Using that formal moniker as well. He reached the front door without seeing her. His heart raced at the thought of having lost his chance to stop her. To be able to speak with her without Gavriil around.
Into the street he went. He called her new title again. He raced after her – and the thought occurred to him that this is what he should have done a long time ago… run after her – finally catching up to her just ten feet from the little house. If he’d gone after her when she’d walked out that night… or tried harder to see her after… ”Evangelina. Wait, please. Just hold on.” He reached for her wrist, only barely touching her before quickly pulling his hand back, remembering the last time he’d grabbed her in such a way. He winced, taking a deep breath, and letting his eyes close as he let it out before continuing. ”Evie… can we please just talk? I can’t stand this cold shoulder. I miss – “ - the ways you made me feel alive. The ways I loved you. That thought made him freeze faster than anything in his life. He’d never said those words to anyone, had never really even thought them – though of course he knew he cared about Evie deeply. Cared about Arete so very much that he’d been willing to bring her to the city to live at the Condos manner to keep her safe from possible invasion during this war! Had been eluding to the woman being by his side if he finally managed to have the crown of the kingdom upon his head. But love? Real love? He'd always been too cautious and loved his freedom too much to give in to such fantasies.
Looking at Evie now, though… Nik knew in his heart that he had loved her. He just hadn’t known it. Maybe that was why he’d sabotaged his own chance to petition her uncle for her hand when they’d been together…. He knew she’d felt it back then… What if our love had never went away? What if it’s lost behind words we could never find? …It’s too late. She was married to another and Nikos would never have that chance with her again. But he couldn’t picture his life without her in it. The Condos lord felt like a vice was around his heart at the thought of her never speaking to him again.
All this had gone through his mind in a matter of seconds. And it left him reeling. But he knew he needed to continue speaking or risk Evie walking away.
Nikos backtracked on what he was about to say. ”Look, Evangelina. Hate me if you must – even that is better than nothing - but… please… don’t shut me out like this. I apologized for what I did. I attended your wedding to support your decision. I… What more must I do for you to forgive me?” Like before when talking about checking on Griffen, Nik’s tone was soft and sincere, the look in his eyes begging her to tell him what to do.
At Nik’s question, his son immediately burst into a tale of his epic wins of his and Evie’s little game. Nik smiled, listening, but his eyes barely left Evangelina. Watching her so intently, he did in fact see the sleight of hand as she dropped the dice in just the right way, making it so she would lose the poll of coins piled on the stoop between her and the boy. He smirked. Clever girl. He did look fully at his son when he cried out in triumph, to witness the delighted excitement on his face as he gathered up his winnings. He laughed, an almost silent laugh, propping his chin on his hand as he remained squatted there.
’If I’d known you’d planned to visit I’d never have intruded upon your time with Griffen. But after the events of yesterday… I… I wanted to check on him.’
Nik shook his head. ”It wasn’t a planned visit. I just wanted to make sure they had what they needed with everything going on.” They was he replied without hesitation, the tone of his voice as he watched his son… it was obviously one of those rare occasions when Nikos let down the image of senator and baron, or the defenses of carefree party boy. He’d always felt he could be himself, his true self, with her. He may not have legally claimed any of the children he was aware he’d fathered, but he did care about them – about their wellbeing and their education. Especially Griffen. Nik saw so much of himself in the boy. It was strange and frightening. Speaking of strange…. Nik looked back to Evangelina again, that question back in his blue gaze. Why was she here? How did she know his son?
’Griffen indulges me in my small gambling addiction… even if he is a poor winner. I’m sure he cheats.’ The boy gasped indignantly and protested the accusation, calling Evie a poor player. The Condos lord couldn’t help but laugh, knowing full well the sort of player Evie was. He’d taught her many of those tricks himself when they’d been practically inseparable those years ago.
…So much had changed since then…
’Well, now that you’ve won all my money I should probably return upon my errands, Griffen.’ Griffen looked disappointed, but his mother had taught him to respect the upper class, and so he didn’t protest. Instead, he thanked her for playing and then set about accosting Nikos with elaborate tales of how he won each coin! Nik’s eyes widened at his son’s enthusiasm and he nearly didn’t notice that Evie had actually left their company.
When he did look around for her, he felt a panic rise up at her absence. No. He needed to catch her. The baron had felt the distance between them, the icy barrier she’d erected since that day at the beach. It was driving him crazy. He missed being able to talk with her. Really talk. Though he would take the barbs and insults she’d given him over the years rather than this formal distance she was determined to maintain of late. ”Fen, son, please let your mother I will come back by later to speak with her? We’ll play a few games then… Promise. Right now I need to go.” He ruffled the boys hair affectionately, reiterating his promise to come back. Then Nik was off, running through the house and calling after the Lady Dimitrou. Using that formal moniker as well. He reached the front door without seeing her. His heart raced at the thought of having lost his chance to stop her. To be able to speak with her without Gavriil around.
Into the street he went. He called her new title again. He raced after her – and the thought occurred to him that this is what he should have done a long time ago… run after her – finally catching up to her just ten feet from the little house. If he’d gone after her when she’d walked out that night… or tried harder to see her after… ”Evangelina. Wait, please. Just hold on.” He reached for her wrist, only barely touching her before quickly pulling his hand back, remembering the last time he’d grabbed her in such a way. He winced, taking a deep breath, and letting his eyes close as he let it out before continuing. ”Evie… can we please just talk? I can’t stand this cold shoulder. I miss – “ - the ways you made me feel alive. The ways I loved you. That thought made him freeze faster than anything in his life. He’d never said those words to anyone, had never really even thought them – though of course he knew he cared about Evie deeply. Cared about Arete so very much that he’d been willing to bring her to the city to live at the Condos manner to keep her safe from possible invasion during this war! Had been eluding to the woman being by his side if he finally managed to have the crown of the kingdom upon his head. But love? Real love? He'd always been too cautious and loved his freedom too much to give in to such fantasies.
Looking at Evie now, though… Nik knew in his heart that he had loved her. He just hadn’t known it. Maybe that was why he’d sabotaged his own chance to petition her uncle for her hand when they’d been together…. He knew she’d felt it back then… What if our love had never went away? What if it’s lost behind words we could never find? …It’s too late. She was married to another and Nikos would never have that chance with her again. But he couldn’t picture his life without her in it. The Condos lord felt like a vice was around his heart at the thought of her never speaking to him again.
All this had gone through his mind in a matter of seconds. And it left him reeling. But he knew he needed to continue speaking or risk Evie walking away.
Nikos backtracked on what he was about to say. ”Look, Evangelina. Hate me if you must – even that is better than nothing - but… please… don’t shut me out like this. I apologized for what I did. I attended your wedding to support your decision. I… What more must I do for you to forgive me?” Like before when talking about checking on Griffen, Nik’s tone was soft and sincere, the look in his eyes begging her to tell him what to do.
Her breath hitched as she watched Nikos and Griffen, he’d always had such a way with children. It felt like a weight was settling onto her chest and soon, she had to leave because it was becoming impossible to breath. She’d thought she’d almost made it free and clear too as she’d said her goodbye’s and let herself fade. Fade from the small patio. Fade from Griffen. Fade from Nikos. She needed air.
It seemed like every time she turned around the Gods were there shoving what could have been in her face. Temping and teasing her with a sadistic pleasure. She was just learning to love again and Gavriil was quite honestly the very best, but there was always some dark, quiet little voice in her mind reminding her just how far she’d been from this twisted little fairy tell she’d dreamed up as a child. She didn’t want things to be different. She loved Gavriil… Oh, how stupidly I love that man.
Bursting through the little wooden door to the streets, she looked around and spotted her guards who’d been waiting. Walking a short distance to meet them, Evangelina began discussing what else she wanted to accomplish while she was out. Taking a white scarf from one of them she began to settle onto her head and wrap the loose end over her shoulder. It wouldn’t have been difficult to disappear into the throng of people, her white chiton was simple and didn’t draw much attention, and with her bright chestnut hair covered… She could have easily been just another faceless woman walking through the streets. If it’d been any other day she might have, but after the events of yesterday… she was robbed of that safe feeling. Guards were not normally something she enjoyed but after the Creed attack on their home, she didn’t mind that feeling of having someone with her as much.
She didn’t immediately hear her name. It wasn’t until one of her guards cast a glance over her shoulder that it registered that someone was shouting for Lady Dimitrou. The name still hadn’t quite registered with her, but she knew who was calling her. Taking a deep breath, Evangelina flicked a quick glance to her guards and gave an almost indecipherable wave to them that everything was fine. She felt the touch on her wrist and almost jerked it away from him but as soon as he’d touched her he’d recoiled.
‘Evangelina. Wait, please. Just hold on.’
With a silent sigh, she turned around and met his gaze. She’d been so certain her escape had been clean, if only she’d not lingered for a moment with the guards.
‘Evie… can we please just talk? I can’t stand this cold shoulder. I miss –’
Shifting uncomfortably, she glanced at her guards again and wondered how much of this conversation would make it’s way back to Gavriil.
‘Look, Evangelina. Hate me if you must – even that is better than nothing - but… please… don’t shut me out like this. I apologized for what I did. I attended your wedding to support your decision. I… What more must I do for you to forgive me?’
Darting another look at him, she knew this wasn’t a conversation to have near the guards and add fodder for the gossip mongers that seemed to be everywhere. Blinking, she hissed in a breath and grabbed his forearm to lead him a little ways away, the hold of her fingers anything but gentle.
“My husband had a meeting with Krateros yesterday, and I want to make certain that the orphanage recieved the things I sent with him. Why don’t you walk with me, it is in this neighborhood and not far at all,” Evangelina gave his arm a small pinch to remind him if he wanted to talk to her that it was now her way or no way.
She started down the street leaving the guards to walk a small distance back behind her.
“I do not hate you,” She hissed. “I just don’t like you very much anymore.” Pressing her lips together she looked over at him. “How exactly am I suppose to not shut you out? I’m happily married, and we aren’t children anymore. I hardly think that Gavriil thinks I need some sort of playmate.” Evangelina paused, it was quite possible Gavriil thought she needed a playmate, but if she did… she highly suspected that Gavriil was quite satisfied with that job all on his own. Not that it was any of Nikos business.
With a long sigh, her hand fell away from his arm only to cross her arms under her breasts. Her head dropped and she watched her feet as she walked slowly on the path that’d lead her to the orphanage. After a moment, “What makes you think that I haven’t already forgiven you, Nik?” Stealing a glance sideways at him as she used his nickname. “What is it you want me to say? That I forgive you? Gods almighty, I forgive you Nik.” Her tone went from pleading then to almost exasperated. “You broke me, Nikos…” She looked at her feet and then exaggerated the word, “BROKE ME.”
That was the simplest yet most complex way to describe what he’d done to her. Her fingers shifted and from her crossed arms they went to hug herself. Digging her nails into the white chiton and gently holding her together. Coming to a stop, she pursed her lips and turned to look pointedly at him.
“Why do you think any of this matters now to you? Is it because I’m happy? Is because I married Gavriil and am not something you can play with any more? Why does any of this matter?” She huffed and then pressed her lips a little tigher together, the lines in her fore head crinkling with peturbed agitation.
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Her breath hitched as she watched Nikos and Griffen, he’d always had such a way with children. It felt like a weight was settling onto her chest and soon, she had to leave because it was becoming impossible to breath. She’d thought she’d almost made it free and clear too as she’d said her goodbye’s and let herself fade. Fade from the small patio. Fade from Griffen. Fade from Nikos. She needed air.
It seemed like every time she turned around the Gods were there shoving what could have been in her face. Temping and teasing her with a sadistic pleasure. She was just learning to love again and Gavriil was quite honestly the very best, but there was always some dark, quiet little voice in her mind reminding her just how far she’d been from this twisted little fairy tell she’d dreamed up as a child. She didn’t want things to be different. She loved Gavriil… Oh, how stupidly I love that man.
Bursting through the little wooden door to the streets, she looked around and spotted her guards who’d been waiting. Walking a short distance to meet them, Evangelina began discussing what else she wanted to accomplish while she was out. Taking a white scarf from one of them she began to settle onto her head and wrap the loose end over her shoulder. It wouldn’t have been difficult to disappear into the throng of people, her white chiton was simple and didn’t draw much attention, and with her bright chestnut hair covered… She could have easily been just another faceless woman walking through the streets. If it’d been any other day she might have, but after the events of yesterday… she was robbed of that safe feeling. Guards were not normally something she enjoyed but after the Creed attack on their home, she didn’t mind that feeling of having someone with her as much.
She didn’t immediately hear her name. It wasn’t until one of her guards cast a glance over her shoulder that it registered that someone was shouting for Lady Dimitrou. The name still hadn’t quite registered with her, but she knew who was calling her. Taking a deep breath, Evangelina flicked a quick glance to her guards and gave an almost indecipherable wave to them that everything was fine. She felt the touch on her wrist and almost jerked it away from him but as soon as he’d touched her he’d recoiled.
‘Evangelina. Wait, please. Just hold on.’
With a silent sigh, she turned around and met his gaze. She’d been so certain her escape had been clean, if only she’d not lingered for a moment with the guards.
‘Evie… can we please just talk? I can’t stand this cold shoulder. I miss –’
Shifting uncomfortably, she glanced at her guards again and wondered how much of this conversation would make it’s way back to Gavriil.
‘Look, Evangelina. Hate me if you must – even that is better than nothing - but… please… don’t shut me out like this. I apologized for what I did. I attended your wedding to support your decision. I… What more must I do for you to forgive me?’
Darting another look at him, she knew this wasn’t a conversation to have near the guards and add fodder for the gossip mongers that seemed to be everywhere. Blinking, she hissed in a breath and grabbed his forearm to lead him a little ways away, the hold of her fingers anything but gentle.
“My husband had a meeting with Krateros yesterday, and I want to make certain that the orphanage recieved the things I sent with him. Why don’t you walk with me, it is in this neighborhood and not far at all,” Evangelina gave his arm a small pinch to remind him if he wanted to talk to her that it was now her way or no way.
She started down the street leaving the guards to walk a small distance back behind her.
“I do not hate you,” She hissed. “I just don’t like you very much anymore.” Pressing her lips together she looked over at him. “How exactly am I suppose to not shut you out? I’m happily married, and we aren’t children anymore. I hardly think that Gavriil thinks I need some sort of playmate.” Evangelina paused, it was quite possible Gavriil thought she needed a playmate, but if she did… she highly suspected that Gavriil was quite satisfied with that job all on his own. Not that it was any of Nikos business.
With a long sigh, her hand fell away from his arm only to cross her arms under her breasts. Her head dropped and she watched her feet as she walked slowly on the path that’d lead her to the orphanage. After a moment, “What makes you think that I haven’t already forgiven you, Nik?” Stealing a glance sideways at him as she used his nickname. “What is it you want me to say? That I forgive you? Gods almighty, I forgive you Nik.” Her tone went from pleading then to almost exasperated. “You broke me, Nikos…” She looked at her feet and then exaggerated the word, “BROKE ME.”
That was the simplest yet most complex way to describe what he’d done to her. Her fingers shifted and from her crossed arms they went to hug herself. Digging her nails into the white chiton and gently holding her together. Coming to a stop, she pursed her lips and turned to look pointedly at him.
“Why do you think any of this matters now to you? Is it because I’m happy? Is because I married Gavriil and am not something you can play with any more? Why does any of this matter?” She huffed and then pressed her lips a little tigher together, the lines in her fore head crinkling with peturbed agitation.
Her breath hitched as she watched Nikos and Griffen, he’d always had such a way with children. It felt like a weight was settling onto her chest and soon, she had to leave because it was becoming impossible to breath. She’d thought she’d almost made it free and clear too as she’d said her goodbye’s and let herself fade. Fade from the small patio. Fade from Griffen. Fade from Nikos. She needed air.
It seemed like every time she turned around the Gods were there shoving what could have been in her face. Temping and teasing her with a sadistic pleasure. She was just learning to love again and Gavriil was quite honestly the very best, but there was always some dark, quiet little voice in her mind reminding her just how far she’d been from this twisted little fairy tell she’d dreamed up as a child. She didn’t want things to be different. She loved Gavriil… Oh, how stupidly I love that man.
Bursting through the little wooden door to the streets, she looked around and spotted her guards who’d been waiting. Walking a short distance to meet them, Evangelina began discussing what else she wanted to accomplish while she was out. Taking a white scarf from one of them she began to settle onto her head and wrap the loose end over her shoulder. It wouldn’t have been difficult to disappear into the throng of people, her white chiton was simple and didn’t draw much attention, and with her bright chestnut hair covered… She could have easily been just another faceless woman walking through the streets. If it’d been any other day she might have, but after the events of yesterday… she was robbed of that safe feeling. Guards were not normally something she enjoyed but after the Creed attack on their home, she didn’t mind that feeling of having someone with her as much.
She didn’t immediately hear her name. It wasn’t until one of her guards cast a glance over her shoulder that it registered that someone was shouting for Lady Dimitrou. The name still hadn’t quite registered with her, but she knew who was calling her. Taking a deep breath, Evangelina flicked a quick glance to her guards and gave an almost indecipherable wave to them that everything was fine. She felt the touch on her wrist and almost jerked it away from him but as soon as he’d touched her he’d recoiled.
‘Evangelina. Wait, please. Just hold on.’
With a silent sigh, she turned around and met his gaze. She’d been so certain her escape had been clean, if only she’d not lingered for a moment with the guards.
‘Evie… can we please just talk? I can’t stand this cold shoulder. I miss –’
Shifting uncomfortably, she glanced at her guards again and wondered how much of this conversation would make it’s way back to Gavriil.
‘Look, Evangelina. Hate me if you must – even that is better than nothing - but… please… don’t shut me out like this. I apologized for what I did. I attended your wedding to support your decision. I… What more must I do for you to forgive me?’
Darting another look at him, she knew this wasn’t a conversation to have near the guards and add fodder for the gossip mongers that seemed to be everywhere. Blinking, she hissed in a breath and grabbed his forearm to lead him a little ways away, the hold of her fingers anything but gentle.
“My husband had a meeting with Krateros yesterday, and I want to make certain that the orphanage recieved the things I sent with him. Why don’t you walk with me, it is in this neighborhood and not far at all,” Evangelina gave his arm a small pinch to remind him if he wanted to talk to her that it was now her way or no way.
She started down the street leaving the guards to walk a small distance back behind her.
“I do not hate you,” She hissed. “I just don’t like you very much anymore.” Pressing her lips together she looked over at him. “How exactly am I suppose to not shut you out? I’m happily married, and we aren’t children anymore. I hardly think that Gavriil thinks I need some sort of playmate.” Evangelina paused, it was quite possible Gavriil thought she needed a playmate, but if she did… she highly suspected that Gavriil was quite satisfied with that job all on his own. Not that it was any of Nikos business.
With a long sigh, her hand fell away from his arm only to cross her arms under her breasts. Her head dropped and she watched her feet as she walked slowly on the path that’d lead her to the orphanage. After a moment, “What makes you think that I haven’t already forgiven you, Nik?” Stealing a glance sideways at him as she used his nickname. “What is it you want me to say? That I forgive you? Gods almighty, I forgive you Nik.” Her tone went from pleading then to almost exasperated. “You broke me, Nikos…” She looked at her feet and then exaggerated the word, “BROKE ME.”
That was the simplest yet most complex way to describe what he’d done to her. Her fingers shifted and from her crossed arms they went to hug herself. Digging her nails into the white chiton and gently holding her together. Coming to a stop, she pursed her lips and turned to look pointedly at him.
“Why do you think any of this matters now to you? Is it because I’m happy? Is because I married Gavriil and am not something you can play with any more? Why does any of this matter?” She huffed and then pressed her lips a little tigher together, the lines in her fore head crinkling with peturbed agitation.
’My husband had a meeting with Krateros yesterday, and I want to make certain that the orphanage received the things I sent with him. Why don’t you walk with me, it is in this neighborhood and not far at all.’
Nikos hissed from the pinch she gave his arm – did she had to do that so viciously with those long nails? But he gave no other protest. ”Of course, my lady.” He glanced back at her guards as they fell in step behind them. There was a small distance, making it safer to speak candidly without the possibility of them over hearing. He was grateful they were there, though. Grateful that Evie was traveling with protection after the events yesterday. He’d assigned personal guards to Arete as well. She may not be nobility, but she associated with him and his family; she dressed the part of a noble. The Drowned Ones wouldn’t care if they began attacking the people next. It was why he was carrying his sword on his belt now, something that he didn’t often do. The Creed had shown their hand again, and in massive numbers. It shouldn’t be possible.
’I do not hate you. I just don’t like you very much anymore.’
This brought his gaze back to Evangelina, a frown creasing his features. He couldn’t really blame her for that, but not liking him felt the same as her hating him. Either way it had been tense and awkward between them. Nikos didn’t like it at all.
’How exactly am I suppose to not shut you out? I’m happily married, and we aren’t children anymore…’
”Maybe so, but does that mean we can’t be friends, Evie? I used to be able to count you among my closest of friends. Why can not forgiveness prevail and we go back to that?” He used her nickname, hoping it would spark something… anything besides her animosity.
She disengaged her arm from his then. He sighed, echoing hers. One hand rested on the hilt of his sword, the other went to the back of his neck where he rubbed and scratched at his hairline. Maybe he should have kept his mouth shut. Maybe he shouldn’t have run after her at all.
’What makes you think that I haven’t already forgiven you, Nik? … Gods almighty, I forgive you, Nik.’ He dropped his hands, only to cross his arms defensively over his chest. Nikos sensed a ‘but’ coming at the end of that. ’You broke me, Nikos. BROKE ME.’ And there it was. He lowered his gaze to the ground as they continued to walk slowly. ”I don’t know how many times I can say I’m sorry. I know it doesn’t…” He shook his head and started again. ”It doesn’t take it back, I know. What else can I do?” Now he was beginning to sound exasperated.
’Why do you think any of this matters to you now? Is it because I’m happy? Is it because I married Gavriil and am not something you can play with anymore? Why does any of this matter?’
He had stopped when she did. But her questions made it feel like the ground was moving beneath him. Why does it matter? Why did it matter to him that she’d chosen to marry another man? Why did her anger towards him matter now? What did it matter if she was not his friend? He was still looking at the ground, a crease between his brows. And when he spoke, the tone made it seem like he was only just realizing the truth of it. Which honestly… he sort of was. ”Because I…miss you.”
He lifted his head, his blue eyes seeking her gaze. More confidently now, the dam broken, he spoke again. ”I have missed you. For years. But at least you would still speak to me. Biting and even sometimes hateful words, yes. But at least I had that.” He averted his gaze, his thumb tapping on his bicep as his arms were still crossed over his chest. ”I tried to move on and forget what was once between us. I thought I had succeeded, but… when you told me you were getting married… I don’t know. I saw my chance to win your affections again slipping away. Realized I had been holding onto that all this time. I panicked, and I lost myself. And I’m horribly sorry that there is nothing I can do to undo it.”
Nikos pressed his lips together, clenched his teeth in an effort to shove the memory away. It would still be there to torment him later. But right now, he needed to get through this conversation. He turned his head to meet her gaze again. ”I know you are married, Evie. I am not asking for anything more than a friendship. I will respect that boundary, for your sake.” Something he had never vowed for anyone else.
Nik took a single step towards the woman, his blue eyes pleading for her to understand. He knew there was a good chance she would rebuff him and walk away - in which case he would not pursue her again. But he had to tell her how he felt. He couldn’t let this drop until he did. ”It matters to me because I realize now… that I simply cannot envision my life without you in it.”
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This character is currently a work in progress.
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’My husband had a meeting with Krateros yesterday, and I want to make certain that the orphanage received the things I sent with him. Why don’t you walk with me, it is in this neighborhood and not far at all.’
Nikos hissed from the pinch she gave his arm – did she had to do that so viciously with those long nails? But he gave no other protest. ”Of course, my lady.” He glanced back at her guards as they fell in step behind them. There was a small distance, making it safer to speak candidly without the possibility of them over hearing. He was grateful they were there, though. Grateful that Evie was traveling with protection after the events yesterday. He’d assigned personal guards to Arete as well. She may not be nobility, but she associated with him and his family; she dressed the part of a noble. The Drowned Ones wouldn’t care if they began attacking the people next. It was why he was carrying his sword on his belt now, something that he didn’t often do. The Creed had shown their hand again, and in massive numbers. It shouldn’t be possible.
’I do not hate you. I just don’t like you very much anymore.’
This brought his gaze back to Evangelina, a frown creasing his features. He couldn’t really blame her for that, but not liking him felt the same as her hating him. Either way it had been tense and awkward between them. Nikos didn’t like it at all.
’How exactly am I suppose to not shut you out? I’m happily married, and we aren’t children anymore…’
”Maybe so, but does that mean we can’t be friends, Evie? I used to be able to count you among my closest of friends. Why can not forgiveness prevail and we go back to that?” He used her nickname, hoping it would spark something… anything besides her animosity.
She disengaged her arm from his then. He sighed, echoing hers. One hand rested on the hilt of his sword, the other went to the back of his neck where he rubbed and scratched at his hairline. Maybe he should have kept his mouth shut. Maybe he shouldn’t have run after her at all.
’What makes you think that I haven’t already forgiven you, Nik? … Gods almighty, I forgive you, Nik.’ He dropped his hands, only to cross his arms defensively over his chest. Nikos sensed a ‘but’ coming at the end of that. ’You broke me, Nikos. BROKE ME.’ And there it was. He lowered his gaze to the ground as they continued to walk slowly. ”I don’t know how many times I can say I’m sorry. I know it doesn’t…” He shook his head and started again. ”It doesn’t take it back, I know. What else can I do?” Now he was beginning to sound exasperated.
’Why do you think any of this matters to you now? Is it because I’m happy? Is it because I married Gavriil and am not something you can play with anymore? Why does any of this matter?’
He had stopped when she did. But her questions made it feel like the ground was moving beneath him. Why does it matter? Why did it matter to him that she’d chosen to marry another man? Why did her anger towards him matter now? What did it matter if she was not his friend? He was still looking at the ground, a crease between his brows. And when he spoke, the tone made it seem like he was only just realizing the truth of it. Which honestly… he sort of was. ”Because I…miss you.”
He lifted his head, his blue eyes seeking her gaze. More confidently now, the dam broken, he spoke again. ”I have missed you. For years. But at least you would still speak to me. Biting and even sometimes hateful words, yes. But at least I had that.” He averted his gaze, his thumb tapping on his bicep as his arms were still crossed over his chest. ”I tried to move on and forget what was once between us. I thought I had succeeded, but… when you told me you were getting married… I don’t know. I saw my chance to win your affections again slipping away. Realized I had been holding onto that all this time. I panicked, and I lost myself. And I’m horribly sorry that there is nothing I can do to undo it.”
Nikos pressed his lips together, clenched his teeth in an effort to shove the memory away. It would still be there to torment him later. But right now, he needed to get through this conversation. He turned his head to meet her gaze again. ”I know you are married, Evie. I am not asking for anything more than a friendship. I will respect that boundary, for your sake.” Something he had never vowed for anyone else.
Nik took a single step towards the woman, his blue eyes pleading for her to understand. He knew there was a good chance she would rebuff him and walk away - in which case he would not pursue her again. But he had to tell her how he felt. He couldn’t let this drop until he did. ”It matters to me because I realize now… that I simply cannot envision my life without you in it.”
’My husband had a meeting with Krateros yesterday, and I want to make certain that the orphanage received the things I sent with him. Why don’t you walk with me, it is in this neighborhood and not far at all.’
Nikos hissed from the pinch she gave his arm – did she had to do that so viciously with those long nails? But he gave no other protest. ”Of course, my lady.” He glanced back at her guards as they fell in step behind them. There was a small distance, making it safer to speak candidly without the possibility of them over hearing. He was grateful they were there, though. Grateful that Evie was traveling with protection after the events yesterday. He’d assigned personal guards to Arete as well. She may not be nobility, but she associated with him and his family; she dressed the part of a noble. The Drowned Ones wouldn’t care if they began attacking the people next. It was why he was carrying his sword on his belt now, something that he didn’t often do. The Creed had shown their hand again, and in massive numbers. It shouldn’t be possible.
’I do not hate you. I just don’t like you very much anymore.’
This brought his gaze back to Evangelina, a frown creasing his features. He couldn’t really blame her for that, but not liking him felt the same as her hating him. Either way it had been tense and awkward between them. Nikos didn’t like it at all.
’How exactly am I suppose to not shut you out? I’m happily married, and we aren’t children anymore…’
”Maybe so, but does that mean we can’t be friends, Evie? I used to be able to count you among my closest of friends. Why can not forgiveness prevail and we go back to that?” He used her nickname, hoping it would spark something… anything besides her animosity.
She disengaged her arm from his then. He sighed, echoing hers. One hand rested on the hilt of his sword, the other went to the back of his neck where he rubbed and scratched at his hairline. Maybe he should have kept his mouth shut. Maybe he shouldn’t have run after her at all.
’What makes you think that I haven’t already forgiven you, Nik? … Gods almighty, I forgive you, Nik.’ He dropped his hands, only to cross his arms defensively over his chest. Nikos sensed a ‘but’ coming at the end of that. ’You broke me, Nikos. BROKE ME.’ And there it was. He lowered his gaze to the ground as they continued to walk slowly. ”I don’t know how many times I can say I’m sorry. I know it doesn’t…” He shook his head and started again. ”It doesn’t take it back, I know. What else can I do?” Now he was beginning to sound exasperated.
’Why do you think any of this matters to you now? Is it because I’m happy? Is it because I married Gavriil and am not something you can play with anymore? Why does any of this matter?’
He had stopped when she did. But her questions made it feel like the ground was moving beneath him. Why does it matter? Why did it matter to him that she’d chosen to marry another man? Why did her anger towards him matter now? What did it matter if she was not his friend? He was still looking at the ground, a crease between his brows. And when he spoke, the tone made it seem like he was only just realizing the truth of it. Which honestly… he sort of was. ”Because I…miss you.”
He lifted his head, his blue eyes seeking her gaze. More confidently now, the dam broken, he spoke again. ”I have missed you. For years. But at least you would still speak to me. Biting and even sometimes hateful words, yes. But at least I had that.” He averted his gaze, his thumb tapping on his bicep as his arms were still crossed over his chest. ”I tried to move on and forget what was once between us. I thought I had succeeded, but… when you told me you were getting married… I don’t know. I saw my chance to win your affections again slipping away. Realized I had been holding onto that all this time. I panicked, and I lost myself. And I’m horribly sorry that there is nothing I can do to undo it.”
Nikos pressed his lips together, clenched his teeth in an effort to shove the memory away. It would still be there to torment him later. But right now, he needed to get through this conversation. He turned his head to meet her gaze again. ”I know you are married, Evie. I am not asking for anything more than a friendship. I will respect that boundary, for your sake.” Something he had never vowed for anyone else.
Nik took a single step towards the woman, his blue eyes pleading for her to understand. He knew there was a good chance she would rebuff him and walk away - in which case he would not pursue her again. But he had to tell her how he felt. He couldn’t let this drop until he did. ”It matters to me because I realize now… that I simply cannot envision my life without you in it.”
There wasn’t much in this world that she could claim to be, but after years of experience in it Evangelina could claim to be able to read Nikos. She’d started studying as a young girl, a fascination born from the vivid hatred of their family and had evolved into her first love and then again to court nemesis. Years of experience had left her with a particular skill set, not that it was particularly useful but it was what it was.
She studied him, his head bent and deep creases in his face. My, my… this is serious if his face is wrinkling. Her lips tightened and she wanted to rail against the seriousness of his request because it meant if this was something she was going to have to handle with care. Flaring her nostrils, she jerked her head away and looked from him, until…
‘I have missed you. For years. But at least you would still speak to me. Biting and even sometimes hateful words, yes. But at least I had that,’ He spoke again and her gaze met his, barely disguising the anger that was suddenly rising within her. ‘I tried to move on and forget what was once between us. I thought I had succeeded, but… when you told me you were getting married… I don’t know. I saw my chance to win your affections again slipping away. Realized I had been holding onto that all this time. I panicked, and I lost myself. And I’m horribly sorry that there is nothing I can do to undo it.’
She was tired of hearing that he was sorry. He was always sorry and she was always looking for some redeemable part of him to cling to but she didn’t want to continue clinging to him. Refusing to look at him she focused on everything and nothing further down the street. ‘I know you are married, Evie. I am not asking for anything more than a friendship. I will respect that boundary, for your sake.’ Could he? Could he respect her boundaries? Evangelina wasn’t so certain he could or would or… even wanted to.
He took a step closer and her dark eyes shot him a look but no real menace behind it, ‘It matters to me because I realize now… that I simply cannot envision my life without you in it.’ Her face scrunched up, he was late. He always was late with doing the right thing. Inhaling a deep breath, the anger had dissipated because of that blasted talent of being able to read him like a book. He’d hurt her so deeply at one time, she wasn’t ever certain that she’d be fine again. He’d stolen her joy, her happiness, her will to keep going… he’d taken everything from her.
But staring at him right then, it wasn’t anger or hurt or brokenness she felt, it wasn’t love either but something sad. A sad, faint smile brushed across her lips and she reached out and laid a hand on his arm. “Nik.” His name slipped softly out as she struggled to find the right words in this scenario. She began again, “Nik, this has to stop. You have to stop. We have to live with the decisions we’ve made, when we made them and will probably always have a certain amount of regrets.” She sighed, her hand dropping away from him and her eyes looking back down the street path they’d been on a few moments ago.
Biting her lip for a moment, she wondered if what she was about to say would phase him. Turning to look at him again, “We can’t go backwards, but we can go forwards with a clean slate. A new beginning of sorts. But so help me, this is your last chance… try not to fuck this one up.”
She was silent for a moment, still wagering in her mind of how this would work when she finally decided. If he truly, and simply wanted to be a friend this was her olive branch to him, reaching her hand out. “I’m Lady Dimitrou, but Evangelina to my friends.” She didn’t offer a nickname, as she’d said… nicknames were dangerous territories, and it was easy to cloud the lines of intimacy with them, and that wasn’t something she was ready for, nor was she certain she’d ever be ready for with him. It was a gamble but this was her only path to true forgiveness she could logically see working for them. A new beginning.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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There wasn’t much in this world that she could claim to be, but after years of experience in it Evangelina could claim to be able to read Nikos. She’d started studying as a young girl, a fascination born from the vivid hatred of their family and had evolved into her first love and then again to court nemesis. Years of experience had left her with a particular skill set, not that it was particularly useful but it was what it was.
She studied him, his head bent and deep creases in his face. My, my… this is serious if his face is wrinkling. Her lips tightened and she wanted to rail against the seriousness of his request because it meant if this was something she was going to have to handle with care. Flaring her nostrils, she jerked her head away and looked from him, until…
‘I have missed you. For years. But at least you would still speak to me. Biting and even sometimes hateful words, yes. But at least I had that,’ He spoke again and her gaze met his, barely disguising the anger that was suddenly rising within her. ‘I tried to move on and forget what was once between us. I thought I had succeeded, but… when you told me you were getting married… I don’t know. I saw my chance to win your affections again slipping away. Realized I had been holding onto that all this time. I panicked, and I lost myself. And I’m horribly sorry that there is nothing I can do to undo it.’
She was tired of hearing that he was sorry. He was always sorry and she was always looking for some redeemable part of him to cling to but she didn’t want to continue clinging to him. Refusing to look at him she focused on everything and nothing further down the street. ‘I know you are married, Evie. I am not asking for anything more than a friendship. I will respect that boundary, for your sake.’ Could he? Could he respect her boundaries? Evangelina wasn’t so certain he could or would or… even wanted to.
He took a step closer and her dark eyes shot him a look but no real menace behind it, ‘It matters to me because I realize now… that I simply cannot envision my life without you in it.’ Her face scrunched up, he was late. He always was late with doing the right thing. Inhaling a deep breath, the anger had dissipated because of that blasted talent of being able to read him like a book. He’d hurt her so deeply at one time, she wasn’t ever certain that she’d be fine again. He’d stolen her joy, her happiness, her will to keep going… he’d taken everything from her.
But staring at him right then, it wasn’t anger or hurt or brokenness she felt, it wasn’t love either but something sad. A sad, faint smile brushed across her lips and she reached out and laid a hand on his arm. “Nik.” His name slipped softly out as she struggled to find the right words in this scenario. She began again, “Nik, this has to stop. You have to stop. We have to live with the decisions we’ve made, when we made them and will probably always have a certain amount of regrets.” She sighed, her hand dropping away from him and her eyes looking back down the street path they’d been on a few moments ago.
Biting her lip for a moment, she wondered if what she was about to say would phase him. Turning to look at him again, “We can’t go backwards, but we can go forwards with a clean slate. A new beginning of sorts. But so help me, this is your last chance… try not to fuck this one up.”
She was silent for a moment, still wagering in her mind of how this would work when she finally decided. If he truly, and simply wanted to be a friend this was her olive branch to him, reaching her hand out. “I’m Lady Dimitrou, but Evangelina to my friends.” She didn’t offer a nickname, as she’d said… nicknames were dangerous territories, and it was easy to cloud the lines of intimacy with them, and that wasn’t something she was ready for, nor was she certain she’d ever be ready for with him. It was a gamble but this was her only path to true forgiveness she could logically see working for them. A new beginning.
There wasn’t much in this world that she could claim to be, but after years of experience in it Evangelina could claim to be able to read Nikos. She’d started studying as a young girl, a fascination born from the vivid hatred of their family and had evolved into her first love and then again to court nemesis. Years of experience had left her with a particular skill set, not that it was particularly useful but it was what it was.
She studied him, his head bent and deep creases in his face. My, my… this is serious if his face is wrinkling. Her lips tightened and she wanted to rail against the seriousness of his request because it meant if this was something she was going to have to handle with care. Flaring her nostrils, she jerked her head away and looked from him, until…
‘I have missed you. For years. But at least you would still speak to me. Biting and even sometimes hateful words, yes. But at least I had that,’ He spoke again and her gaze met his, barely disguising the anger that was suddenly rising within her. ‘I tried to move on and forget what was once between us. I thought I had succeeded, but… when you told me you were getting married… I don’t know. I saw my chance to win your affections again slipping away. Realized I had been holding onto that all this time. I panicked, and I lost myself. And I’m horribly sorry that there is nothing I can do to undo it.’
She was tired of hearing that he was sorry. He was always sorry and she was always looking for some redeemable part of him to cling to but she didn’t want to continue clinging to him. Refusing to look at him she focused on everything and nothing further down the street. ‘I know you are married, Evie. I am not asking for anything more than a friendship. I will respect that boundary, for your sake.’ Could he? Could he respect her boundaries? Evangelina wasn’t so certain he could or would or… even wanted to.
He took a step closer and her dark eyes shot him a look but no real menace behind it, ‘It matters to me because I realize now… that I simply cannot envision my life without you in it.’ Her face scrunched up, he was late. He always was late with doing the right thing. Inhaling a deep breath, the anger had dissipated because of that blasted talent of being able to read him like a book. He’d hurt her so deeply at one time, she wasn’t ever certain that she’d be fine again. He’d stolen her joy, her happiness, her will to keep going… he’d taken everything from her.
But staring at him right then, it wasn’t anger or hurt or brokenness she felt, it wasn’t love either but something sad. A sad, faint smile brushed across her lips and she reached out and laid a hand on his arm. “Nik.” His name slipped softly out as she struggled to find the right words in this scenario. She began again, “Nik, this has to stop. You have to stop. We have to live with the decisions we’ve made, when we made them and will probably always have a certain amount of regrets.” She sighed, her hand dropping away from him and her eyes looking back down the street path they’d been on a few moments ago.
Biting her lip for a moment, she wondered if what she was about to say would phase him. Turning to look at him again, “We can’t go backwards, but we can go forwards with a clean slate. A new beginning of sorts. But so help me, this is your last chance… try not to fuck this one up.”
She was silent for a moment, still wagering in her mind of how this would work when she finally decided. If he truly, and simply wanted to be a friend this was her olive branch to him, reaching her hand out. “I’m Lady Dimitrou, but Evangelina to my friends.” She didn’t offer a nickname, as she’d said… nicknames were dangerous territories, and it was easy to cloud the lines of intimacy with them, and that wasn’t something she was ready for, nor was she certain she’d ever be ready for with him. It was a gamble but this was her only path to true forgiveness she could logically see working for them. A new beginning.
Nikos watched the way her face crinkled at his confession of not being able to live without her in his life in some way. She was going to deny him, he could feel it. And his heart sunk low in his stomach. His chest began to feel tight as he prepared to walk away. He would have no choice if she rebuffed him this request. Then her hand was on his arm, and his name slipped past her lips. ’Nik.’ His breath caught in his throat. She looked at him with a sense of sadness in her eyes and in her smile. Evangelina might be able to read him like a book, but he liked to think he’d learned to read her over the years as well. He didn’t dare move to cover her hand with his, although he desperately wished to do so.
’Nik, this has to stop. You have to stop. We have to live with the decisions we’ve made, when we made them and will probably always have a certain amount of regrets.’
”Don’t you think I know that?” His voice was nearly pleading in tone. Her hand dropped away and she focused her attention down the road, probably back towards her guards. His own hand came up to cover the spot she’d been touching on his arm; he could still feel the way her delicate fingers hand felt on his skin.
She looked at him again, biting her lip. He’d always loved the way she chewed her lip when she was thinking. What was she thinking now? ’We can’t go backwards, but we can go forwards with a clean slate. A new beginning of sorts. But so help me, this is your last chance… try not to fuck this one up.’
Nikos felt like the wind had been knocked out of his lungs. She was going to give him another chance? Seriously? She wasn’t telling him to get lost and never seek her out again? He felt like he could be knocked over, he was so taken aback. He had been certain she was going to go sleep with the dead. Evie extended a hand towards him, and he swallowed hard, looking from her hand to her face a few times in rapid succession. ’I’m Lady Dimitrou, but Evangelina to my friends.”
Nikos took a deep breath, his tongue licking her lips. So, this is what she meant by a clean slate. He noted the distinct use of her full name rather than the nickname that he’d grown accustomed to using with her. She wanted to pretend the last six years never even happened. It was this… or she wouldn’t be in his life at all. That invisible hand twisted around his heart again at the thought. Very well. If this is what it would take to have Evie in his life, even as a friend… he would do his best to not fuck it up.
The baron squared his shoulders, smiled politely. His eyes conveyed that he understood what she was doing and he would comply. For her. Anything for her. He took the lady’s hand in greeting. ”It’s a pleasure to meet you, Evangelina. I’m Lord Nikos of Condos. You can just call me Nikos.” He dropped his hand from hers after a moment. ”Might I ask how you and your husband are fairing during the chaos of the last few days?” He wasn’t ready to walk away and leave her just yet. It’d been too long since he’d shared a pleasant conversation with the woman. He wanted to savor it just a bit longer, appreciate that she had not simply sent him away for daring to speak to her after all that had happened the past month. Not to mention, he was genuinely concerned for her safety with the Creed being active again. If they cockroaches had managed to survive after Stephanos had raided their hideout in the Gorge. Who was to say they had managed to chase them out of Taengea any more successfully this time?
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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Nikos watched the way her face crinkled at his confession of not being able to live without her in his life in some way. She was going to deny him, he could feel it. And his heart sunk low in his stomach. His chest began to feel tight as he prepared to walk away. He would have no choice if she rebuffed him this request. Then her hand was on his arm, and his name slipped past her lips. ’Nik.’ His breath caught in his throat. She looked at him with a sense of sadness in her eyes and in her smile. Evangelina might be able to read him like a book, but he liked to think he’d learned to read her over the years as well. He didn’t dare move to cover her hand with his, although he desperately wished to do so.
’Nik, this has to stop. You have to stop. We have to live with the decisions we’ve made, when we made them and will probably always have a certain amount of regrets.’
”Don’t you think I know that?” His voice was nearly pleading in tone. Her hand dropped away and she focused her attention down the road, probably back towards her guards. His own hand came up to cover the spot she’d been touching on his arm; he could still feel the way her delicate fingers hand felt on his skin.
She looked at him again, biting her lip. He’d always loved the way she chewed her lip when she was thinking. What was she thinking now? ’We can’t go backwards, but we can go forwards with a clean slate. A new beginning of sorts. But so help me, this is your last chance… try not to fuck this one up.’
Nikos felt like the wind had been knocked out of his lungs. She was going to give him another chance? Seriously? She wasn’t telling him to get lost and never seek her out again? He felt like he could be knocked over, he was so taken aback. He had been certain she was going to go sleep with the dead. Evie extended a hand towards him, and he swallowed hard, looking from her hand to her face a few times in rapid succession. ’I’m Lady Dimitrou, but Evangelina to my friends.”
Nikos took a deep breath, his tongue licking her lips. So, this is what she meant by a clean slate. He noted the distinct use of her full name rather than the nickname that he’d grown accustomed to using with her. She wanted to pretend the last six years never even happened. It was this… or she wouldn’t be in his life at all. That invisible hand twisted around his heart again at the thought. Very well. If this is what it would take to have Evie in his life, even as a friend… he would do his best to not fuck it up.
The baron squared his shoulders, smiled politely. His eyes conveyed that he understood what she was doing and he would comply. For her. Anything for her. He took the lady’s hand in greeting. ”It’s a pleasure to meet you, Evangelina. I’m Lord Nikos of Condos. You can just call me Nikos.” He dropped his hand from hers after a moment. ”Might I ask how you and your husband are fairing during the chaos of the last few days?” He wasn’t ready to walk away and leave her just yet. It’d been too long since he’d shared a pleasant conversation with the woman. He wanted to savor it just a bit longer, appreciate that she had not simply sent him away for daring to speak to her after all that had happened the past month. Not to mention, he was genuinely concerned for her safety with the Creed being active again. If they cockroaches had managed to survive after Stephanos had raided their hideout in the Gorge. Who was to say they had managed to chase them out of Taengea any more successfully this time?
Nikos watched the way her face crinkled at his confession of not being able to live without her in his life in some way. She was going to deny him, he could feel it. And his heart sunk low in his stomach. His chest began to feel tight as he prepared to walk away. He would have no choice if she rebuffed him this request. Then her hand was on his arm, and his name slipped past her lips. ’Nik.’ His breath caught in his throat. She looked at him with a sense of sadness in her eyes and in her smile. Evangelina might be able to read him like a book, but he liked to think he’d learned to read her over the years as well. He didn’t dare move to cover her hand with his, although he desperately wished to do so.
’Nik, this has to stop. You have to stop. We have to live with the decisions we’ve made, when we made them and will probably always have a certain amount of regrets.’
”Don’t you think I know that?” His voice was nearly pleading in tone. Her hand dropped away and she focused her attention down the road, probably back towards her guards. His own hand came up to cover the spot she’d been touching on his arm; he could still feel the way her delicate fingers hand felt on his skin.
She looked at him again, biting her lip. He’d always loved the way she chewed her lip when she was thinking. What was she thinking now? ’We can’t go backwards, but we can go forwards with a clean slate. A new beginning of sorts. But so help me, this is your last chance… try not to fuck this one up.’
Nikos felt like the wind had been knocked out of his lungs. She was going to give him another chance? Seriously? She wasn’t telling him to get lost and never seek her out again? He felt like he could be knocked over, he was so taken aback. He had been certain she was going to go sleep with the dead. Evie extended a hand towards him, and he swallowed hard, looking from her hand to her face a few times in rapid succession. ’I’m Lady Dimitrou, but Evangelina to my friends.”
Nikos took a deep breath, his tongue licking her lips. So, this is what she meant by a clean slate. He noted the distinct use of her full name rather than the nickname that he’d grown accustomed to using with her. She wanted to pretend the last six years never even happened. It was this… or she wouldn’t be in his life at all. That invisible hand twisted around his heart again at the thought. Very well. If this is what it would take to have Evie in his life, even as a friend… he would do his best to not fuck it up.
The baron squared his shoulders, smiled politely. His eyes conveyed that he understood what she was doing and he would comply. For her. Anything for her. He took the lady’s hand in greeting. ”It’s a pleasure to meet you, Evangelina. I’m Lord Nikos of Condos. You can just call me Nikos.” He dropped his hand from hers after a moment. ”Might I ask how you and your husband are fairing during the chaos of the last few days?” He wasn’t ready to walk away and leave her just yet. It’d been too long since he’d shared a pleasant conversation with the woman. He wanted to savor it just a bit longer, appreciate that she had not simply sent him away for daring to speak to her after all that had happened the past month. Not to mention, he was genuinely concerned for her safety with the Creed being active again. If they cockroaches had managed to survive after Stephanos had raided their hideout in the Gorge. Who was to say they had managed to chase them out of Taengea any more successfully this time?
