[Goodness, this is a fair deal more awkward than the other messages she sent out. How does she explain her situation and reasoning to someone who's a knight and openly spoke with her about politics?]
Forgive me for seeking you out again so soon after our initial meeting - but I'm afraid there is a matter I must speak with you about....
[Elza smiles, curious, though he himself looks as though he's had quite the lack of sleep the last couple of days. Which he has... why is it he's been standing by while others in his house go crazy??]
[ . . . . well, his exhaustion doesn't escape her. He does seem rather fatigued and so she can't help but feel a bit guilty still calling upon him but....]
Natalia. [She gently reminds him-] Just Natalia.
Thank you for being understanding. I imagine it very rude of me to ask something of you already, but I have a request.
[Elza breathes a low laugh.] Just Natalia... All right, if you insist.
[He won't call her princess or lady or anything, but even a miss... He's used to being polite. Besides that, when he uses a title it almost ends up sounding like a pet name whoops it's the flirty thing.]
If it was a request like asking me out to tea, I don't think it'd be rude at all. [Teasing aside...] But I suppose it's something else, hm?
Though Natalia blinks at that before humming thoughtfully, a hand coming up to her cheek. Tea? Oh, she could use a good cup of tea. She was hopeless in making her own, after all. Perhaps she could endure a quick trip outside.]
... very well then.
Perhaps we shall discuss this something else over tea?
Elza actually pauses (his ears give a couple of twitches atop his head), but only for a moment. He laughs, as though he's been surprised and pleased by an unexpected turn of events.]
That sounds good. Do you have a cafe that you like?
In truth, she was too busy being curious about his ears to be ruffled about the laugh. Would his ears be as soft as Zara's were? Is that rude to ask? How does someone bring that up in polite conversation?
the struggle]
Oh -- ah yes, I do! It's at the corner of [insert location here], if you're familiar with it. It's very quaint.
[but don't believe her when she says 'quaint', she thinks her entire apartment to herself is small]
Oblivious to her attention to his ears as of yet, he just smiles and inclines his head slightly.]
I've passed by it, I've never been inside. [He's not sure if he'd consider that quaint, but hey, this young lady is a princess after all.] Then, let's meet up there in a little while.
That sounds lovely. [tea!!!! tea..... before she becomes a recluse for a few days, yes she thinks she can deserve this. and she nods in acknowledgement] Thank you for taking the time to heed my request.
[he did look tired - maybe the tea would be good for him too, at least]
You're welcome, but... it really is my pleasure. [He doesn't seem to be lying, either, though he's also not talking about being tired in the least. But hey, this will be nice.
His tea-making skills at home still leave something to be desired so it doesn't hurt to go out for a cup now and then either.]
[She just looks faintly amused at that, reflecting on their conversation before-]
Then for what it's worth, I do still consider you as kind as when we first met. I shall see you soon then, Elza.
[And with that, she ends the call!!
And when Elza does make it to the cafe, Natalia is waiting properly outside.... though she managed to find a scarf and has now proceeded to wrap it around her neck and partially over the bottom half of her face as if it'll keep people from recognizing her as the troublemaker from days past-
[She leaves Elza surprised and definitely flattered, and he makes his way to the cafe with all haste. He even leaves his armour at home, dressed in plainclothes that are thankfully not a fashion disaster.
Plain but hey you don't need to stick out when you have lion ears and a tail. He slows his pace when he spies a suspicious-looking woman milling outsi oh no it's just Natalia.
[It is indeed just Natalia and she doesn't seem all too embarrassed when he comes up to her, instead rather proud.... of her apparently ingenious disguise??
So she pulls down the scarf to beneath her chin - you know, like a proper scarf - and answers perhaps a little too honestly.]
You didn't recognize me for a moment, yes? Then it served its purpose.
[Well. Only for an instant. He figures that, on a second glance, anyone would immediately know it were her. But, somehow, telling her this feels like taking air out of her sails...]
I hope you don't have to wear it inside. It'll make it awfully hard to drink tea.
But she smiles graciously when he pulls out her chair and she moves to sit. Manners!! Listen, she can really appreciate manners.
As for the flattery-]
Well, I can at least promise I'll be better company today than I was yesterday. [ . . . . ] Though after the madness, I do admit the cup of tea is very nice.
[Elza sits as well, his ears lightly flicking forward, all the world a good, attentive lion.]
I still thought you were good company then. [But, hm. So she was affected after all. While he thought some of her behaviour unusual, he couldn't say for certain since they'd only just met.]
Maybe something to have with the tea as well. [He doesn't have too much of a sweet tooth, but something mild and light...]
[Shameless flirt.... At least she continues to just be amused. Well, he's harmless.
So she nods in agreement to that and when someone comes to take her order, she points out which biscuits she would like and also orders some tea. Excellent.
Then she turns back to Elza and well-]
I suppose I really ought to explain to you why I contacted you again in the first place...
[That much she appreciates and so she nods her head in gratitude. Then, once she's certain that there aren't any servers or patrons walking too close to their table, she explains rather easily and all at once:]
I introduced myself to you as Princess Natalia.
Now, much as I hate to shed an integral part of my identity.... I was hoping you would be willing to understand if I ask you to keep my heritage a secret.
I couldn't refuse a request made with such seriousness.
[That Elza doesn't hesitate to say, not a whit.] It should be up to ourselves whether or not to disclose our ranks or heritage, right? [But that being said.]
Can I ask why you want to keep it a secret? Maa, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, though.
[ . . . . . hm. She takes a moment to consider her words seriously, though in the end they just come out in a sigh.]
Well, it's a bit too late for me to avoid being kidnapped. [She says it with a smile.] But such things have happened before - and I would rather err on the side of caution than be used to bargain against my country again.
[Though it seems she has more to say. She hesitates for a fraction of a second before she just continues on-]
.... and people treat me differently. I know they probably don't mean to, but... it's nice being treated as Natalia for once and judged on my own merit than my birth.
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video, backdated to day after the event!
Date: 2015-01-31 12:49 am (UTC)[Goodness, this is a fair deal more awkward than the other messages she sent out. How does she explain her situation and reasoning to someone who's a knight and openly spoke with her about politics?]
Forgive me for seeking you out again so soon after our initial meeting - but I'm afraid there is a matter I must speak with you about....
video
Date: 2015-01-31 03:32 pm (UTC)[Elza smiles, curious, though he himself looks as though he's had quite the lack of sleep the last couple of days. Which he has... why is it he's been standing by while others in his house go crazy??]
Of course. At your convenience.
video
Date: 2015-01-31 10:51 pm (UTC)Natalia. [She gently reminds him-] Just Natalia.
Thank you for being understanding. I imagine it very rude of me to ask something of you already, but I have a request.
video
Date: 2015-02-02 02:49 pm (UTC)[He won't call her princess or lady or anything, but even a miss... He's used to being polite. Besides that, when he uses a title it almost ends up sounding like a pet name whoops it's the flirty thing.]
If it was a request like asking me out to tea, I don't think it'd be rude at all. [Teasing aside...] But I suppose it's something else, hm?
video i swear i know where to comment
Date: 2015-02-05 02:41 pm (UTC)Though Natalia blinks at that before humming thoughtfully, a hand coming up to her cheek. Tea? Oh, she could use a good cup of tea. She was hopeless in making her own, after all. Perhaps she could endure a quick trip outside.]
... very well then.
Perhaps we shall discuss this something else over tea?
video
Date: 2015-02-05 10:41 pm (UTC)Elza actually pauses (his ears give a couple of twitches atop his head), but only for a moment. He laughs, as though he's been surprised and pleased by an unexpected turn of events.]
That sounds good. Do you have a cafe that you like?
video
Date: 2015-02-06 01:48 am (UTC)In truth, she was too busy being curious about his ears to be ruffled about the laugh. Would his ears be as soft as Zara's were? Is that rude to ask? How does someone bring that up in polite conversation?
the struggle]
Oh -- ah yes, I do! It's at the corner of [insert location here], if you're familiar with it. It's very quaint.
[but don't believe her when she says 'quaint', she thinks her entire apartment to herself is small]
video
Date: 2015-02-06 02:51 pm (UTC)Oblivious to her attention to his ears as of yet, he just smiles and inclines his head slightly.]
I've passed by it, I've never been inside. [He's not sure if he'd consider that quaint, but hey, this young lady is a princess after all.] Then, let's meet up there in a little while.
video
Date: 2015-02-06 03:26 pm (UTC)That sounds lovely. [tea!!!! tea..... before she becomes a recluse for a few days, yes she thinks she can deserve this. and she nods in acknowledgement] Thank you for taking the time to heed my request.
[he did look tired - maybe the tea would be good for him too, at least]
video
Date: 2015-02-08 03:53 pm (UTC)His tea-making skills at home still leave something to be desired so it doesn't hurt to go out for a cup now and then either.]
video -> action
Date: 2015-02-08 10:38 pm (UTC)Then for what it's worth, I do still consider you as kind as when we first met. I shall see you soon then, Elza.
[And with that, she ends the call!!
And when Elza does make it to the cafe, Natalia is waiting properly outside.... though she managed to find a scarf and has now proceeded to wrap it around her neck and partially over the bottom half of her face as if it'll keep people from recognizing her as the troublemaker from days past-
Listen, there was a distinct effort made here.]
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Date: 2015-02-09 10:21 pm (UTC)Plain but hey you don't need to stick out when you have lion ears and a tail. He slows his pace when he spies a suspicious-looking woman milling outsi oh no it's just Natalia.
Stopping in front of her, he grins.]
Cold? [And, teasing...]
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Date: 2015-02-10 03:22 pm (UTC)So she pulls down the scarf to beneath her chin - you know, like a proper scarf - and answers perhaps a little too honestly.]
You didn't recognize me for a moment, yes? Then it served its purpose.
[ok, natalia]
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Date: 2015-02-10 07:52 pm (UTC)I hope you don't have to wear it inside. It'll make it awfully hard to drink tea.
[He moves to open up the door for her.]
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Date: 2015-02-11 04:07 pm (UTC)So she happily walks through the door even as she unbundles herself from the scarf, humming thoughtfully.]
Ideally I won't have to. After all, we're here for tea and good company, are we not?
[and also the Thing she still has to tell him
but whatever that can wait until they're sitting down at least]
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Date: 2015-02-12 04:25 pm (UTC)That's right.
[Even though he knows she has something she wants to Discuss...
Also don't mind him he'll step forward and pull out her chair for her.]
Even if there weren't any tea, I think I'd be happy just with the company alone.
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Date: 2015-02-12 04:45 pm (UTC)But she smiles graciously when he pulls out her chair and she moves to sit. Manners!! Listen, she can really appreciate manners.
As for the flattery-]
Well, I can at least promise I'll be better company today than I was yesterday. [ . . . . ] Though after the madness, I do admit the cup of tea is very nice.
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Date: 2015-02-12 05:03 pm (UTC)I still thought you were good company then. [But, hm. So she was affected after all. While he thought some of her behaviour unusual, he couldn't say for certain since they'd only just met.]
Maybe something to have with the tea as well. [He doesn't have too much of a sweet tooth, but something mild and light...]
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Date: 2015-02-12 05:24 pm (UTC)So Elza likes people who are overly complimentary and physical. Ah. So that's how it is.
. . . . anyway.
She merely smiles softly after, vaguely amused as she now surveys the menu.]
Biscuits perhaps?
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Date: 2015-02-14 05:52 pm (UTC)He's only being honest! (And he is, in a way.)]
Certainly. I'm all right with any kind, so I'll leave choosing up to you.
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Date: 2015-02-16 07:00 pm (UTC)So she nods in agreement to that and when someone comes to take her order, she points out which biscuits she would like and also orders some tea. Excellent.
Then she turns back to Elza and well-]
I suppose I really ought to explain to you why I contacted you again in the first place...
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Date: 2015-02-18 02:44 pm (UTC)I am curious about that.
[But he hasn't been pressing, letting her get to it on her own time and lightening up the atmosphere.]
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Date: 2015-02-20 03:28 pm (UTC)I introduced myself to you as Princess Natalia.
Now, much as I hate to shed an integral part of my identity.... I was hoping you would be willing to understand if I ask you to keep my heritage a secret.
[undercover princess trope activated]
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Date: 2015-02-20 07:20 pm (UTC)[That Elza doesn't hesitate to say, not a whit.] It should be up to ourselves whether or not to disclose our ranks or heritage, right? [But that being said.]
Can I ask why you want to keep it a secret? Maa, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, though.
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Date: 2015-02-21 03:39 am (UTC)Well, it's a bit too late for me to avoid being kidnapped. [She says it with a smile.] But such things have happened before - and I would rather err on the side of caution than be used to bargain against my country again.
[Though it seems she has more to say. She hesitates for a fraction of a second before she just continues on-]
.... and people treat me differently. I know they probably don't mean to, but... it's nice being treated as Natalia for once and judged on my own merit than my birth.
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