The Park [late afternoon]

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis was curled up on the ground (in a relatively ladylike way, despite the obvious lack of care for her gown) beside the pond, and putting entirely too much thought into skipping rocks across it.

She had to do it perfectly, of course, or it was entirely a wasted effort.

[Aravis is here for a couple people in particular, and their threads are locked, but park is open for parky needs.]

Comments

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely hadn't actually known Aravis was going to be at the Park when he decided to go jogging there, but since she was, and since there was a perfectly good patch of daisies going to waste right over there...

"Hey."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis looked up and grinned. "Hello. Didn't expect to see you here. Are those for me?"

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Grinning, Seely sat down beside her, holding out the daisies. "I don't see anyone else here who deserves them."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"They're lovely, thank you," Aravis said as she took them.

"And you might've gotten them just because you thought they were pretty, to decorate your alcove," she added, not snickering at all. Really.

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely's grin broadened and he wriggled his eyebrows. "If I wanted to take something from around here to decorate my alcove, what makes you think I'd take the flowers?"

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis arched a brow. "Flowers will never tell you when you're being stupid," she pointed out. "There's an advantage."

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"But that just means they can't hold a conversation with you," Seely countered.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"And therefore can't talk back," she replied.

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"That just means you can't find fun ways to convince them not to talk back."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"I've yet to find an effective way to get people to really shut up."

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"Pity," Seely said. "Because I have."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis smiled. "And what might tha --"

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Show rather than tell, it was a dramatic technique that Seely fully approved of.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis didn't even mind that she hadn't been able to finish her sentence.

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Just in case she did though, Seely put extra effort into making sure she didn't have an opportunity to mention it.

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

Peter had been going for a run through the rain and finally heading back up to the cabins when he saw Booth kissing some girl by the pond. It took a second for him to realise that 'some girl' was Aravis.

Without thinking, he strode over. "Get your hands off her, Booth."

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely? Was currently a bit too focused on Aravis to pay any attention to Peter right now.

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis, however, cracked an eyelid and subsequently broke the kiss when she heard a voice. "Good afternoon, your ma...Peter," she said slowly, coloring slightly and bowing her head out of habit.

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

"You don't need to associate with him, Aravis," Peter said, striving for calmness.

He turned to Seely. "And you ought not force your attentions on a lady."

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely's voice dropped to glacial tones. "The only person who's forcing any sort of attentions here is you."

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

"Is that what you would have said if someone interrupted you with Willow before she had to threaten to curse you?" Peter asked, eyes narrowing. "Forgive me if I doubt your intentions are pure."

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"Considering Willow was the one who came into my room and started going on about what she was going to do with me the minute she met me?" Seely asked. "And I really don't like your implication there, Petey."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Nor do I," Aravis said in a low voice, clearly trying to keep a hold on her temper. "With due respect, I don't believe anyone asked for your comment or intrusion. No one has forced themselves upon anyone, and honestly, do you think I'd put up with it if he had?"

[once-a-king.livejournal.com]

Peter considered her carefully. "I beg your pardon, Tarkheena," he said icily. "But I realise you are new here and may not realise some that are less than gentlemen no matter how charming they seem."

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"And I beg your pardon, good sir," Aravis returned just as coldly, "but I refuse to listen and abide this slander. I have made my choice, and I neither asked for nor welcome your disapproval. It is none of your concern, and though I thank you for your effort, forgive me if I do not heed, as you are not in any position to tell me what I should or should not do with myself, and I do not take kindly to being ordered about like some dumb and hapless female."