Locke, In The Library, With The Romance Novel

[Deleted]

The knight chuckled and held Felicia close, nuzzling her neck lovingly, drinking in her scent before gently nibbling the smooth, soft skin.

The redhead moaned softly, tilting her head in a silent plea for more as she began a slow, sensuous massage of his broad shoulders. "Don't you dare make me wait any longer," she begged.

"As you wish," Florian replied, and kissed his beloved with enough passion to make her swoon, collapsing weak-kneed into a chair. The knight kissed a hot line down her neck to her collarbones, placing the flat of his hands against the straps of her white gown to slide them down slowly, fingers never leaving her skin. Her pulse was racing under his lips, evidence of her desire, which only inflamed his own-

Locke gulped, loosening his collar. Okay, it was cheesy, cliche and contrived, but damn! "Florian, Knight Of Spring" had some scenes that were steamy enough to put hair on the chest of a toddler. What by all the Forces had possessed him to pick it up?

Oh. Right. Diamond. She had possessed him to pick up this crazy book and start looking for "tips" on how to be a better sweetheart between errands for King Shadow and Queen Lya.

It was unbelievably embarrassing, even if it would pay off in the long run. Locke wondered why he hadn't fainted yet, considering half his blood was in his cheeks, and the other half was in a place not worth mentioning in polite company.

Suck it up, the Mind told himself, but when he turned the page, he really wished he hadn't told himself that.

"Forces, is that even POSSIBLE?"


(And the mun had to stop here because she was laughing hysterically.)

[Northen Light36]

Flash makes his way quietly into the library and heads right for the books Lya had brought with her. There was some decent, if romantised, myths and legends in the selection there and right now Flash felt like curling up with some well written, if sappy, garbage would be a good idea. It'd probably numb his brain almost as well as a nap.

Seeing, and hearing, Locke, Flash walks up and chuckles at Locke's red face. "Informative read?"

[Deleted]

"GWAAAAA!" The book went flying and Locke tumbled out of the chair he had borrowed, arms flailing; he made a rather impressive THUD on the floor when he landed. "Taed's balls, don't DO that!" he yipped, hastily arranging his mantle around his torso and drawing his knees to his chest. "I-I was.... I-It's a good story and...."

Soahc's blood, his face felt hotter than the fever he'd had as a thirteen year-old; his scars were probably standing out like snow floating on red dye. "Yeah, it's informative," he mumbled, dropping his forehead onto his knees.

Well, he was already screwed, why not go with it?

[Northen Light36]

Flash laughs and holds out a hand to help Locke up. "May I ask why you were reading that?" he asks, good humor shining in his eyes. "You don't seem the type, if you don't mind me saying so."

[Deleted]

Locke wasn't ready to stand up just yet, though the gesture was certainly appreciated. "I'm not. I prefer more.... scholarly reading. I just.... I have a sweetheart," he confessed, hoping the other man would indulge in some kind of male bonding and keep it to himself. Locke wasn't sure how it would be taken if anyone found out he was courting a Clear. A lot of people were still very nervous around them, even though Diamond was as sweet and charming as any other maiden. He didn't want her to be subjected to superstitious bigotry.

[Northen Light36]

"The girl Saph and I saw you with?" Flash asks with a smile. "She's quite pretty." Flash looks knowingly at Locke and smiles more, taking a seat and allowing Locke to get up when he's ready. "First sweetheart, am I right?"

[Deleted]

"Aye," the Mind mumbled, and took a couple of deep breaths. Now he was ready to stand up, although his face was still rather red. "Did you.... um.... see where the book landed?" he asked very sheepishly. "I, er.... wasn't finished."

[Northen Light36]

Flash chuckles, glancing around and picking up the book before handing it to Locke. "I wouldn't rely on that rubbish for an... education," the water/storm comments. "You'd be better to take things slowly until you and the young lady are ready for experience to teach you."

[Deleted]

"I just thought it couldn't hurt," Locke mumbled, ducking his head so his bangs obscured the entire top half of his face. "And that's the problem. How slow is too slow and how fast is too fast? How do we know when the time is right to go beyond holding hands?" He flopped into the chair he had "vacated". "And why am I even talking about this to someone I only know in passing? No offense."

[Northen Light36]

"Because it's easier sometimes to talk to someone you don't know," Flash replies easily. "Since I don't know you, it's less likely I'll judge you. As for the other question, well, arrange a couple of nice dinners - if you talk to Cook in the kitchen he'll help you out there - and just spend time with your sweetheart. And talk to her about how you feel, trust me if she cares about you half as much as you seem to care about her, she'll be touched and understanding." Flash's expresion becomes distaint and wistful for a moment before he focuses on Locke again. "Although I admit, I'm no expert on relationships."

[Deleted]

"You haven't had time for them either?" Locke hazarded, although he was sure Flash had a better reason for than "aimlessly wandering, doing odd jobs and hoping for a blessing". "We must be a real pair here," he remarked.

[Northen Light36]

"Not exactly," Flash replies slowly. "More like the women I've been interrested in haven't had time for me. I seem to be cursed for everyone I truly fall for to be interrested in to be in love with someone else." Flash shakes his head, chuckling weakly. "I've had a couple of rebound relationships, but they never last."

[Deleted]

"I'm sorry to hear that," Locke said quietly. He had always heard how much unrequited love love hurt. "I certainly hope your luck changes for the better," he added sincerely. Flash sounded like his single status was really bothering him.

[Northen Light36]

"Thanks Locke," Flash replies. "I hope things work out between you and your sweetheart. Is there anything you need?"

[Deleted]

"Besides knowledge?" Locke shrugged. "I don't know. I'm really flying by the seat of my pants here. Thank you for asking, though."