Greetings all! :)
Welcome back to Kaleidoscope. I was up late last night trying to post this chapter. There was an issue that I unfortunately couldn't get around. I had a cute and sweet girl to keep me company though, and figured out a solution this morning. So without further blabbing on from me, enjoy the chapter. :)
Emily leaned against one of her bedroom's many white walls, intimidated. Kirron's dark lavender eyes gazed back into her startled azure ones with an authoritative glare. He was right in front of her, a hand pressed up on the wall next to her ear. His lips nearly formed a frown. The sense of late morning drifted throughout their dorm sweet. Warm sunlight filtered past the large glass windows, and the enticing smell of Kirron's cooking wafted around. Pandore was likely wandering the house or in her room with Schenn. As much as Emily would love to cuddle Ella and dream about the delicious bacon, scrambled eggs, and thick fluffy pancakes drizzled with syrup to come, she was forced to confront the clearly perturbed Regalia.
"You bought Pandore that ring. Or more so I bought Pandore that ring." Kirron stated solemnly. Emily blushed and stared down at her laced up white boots, interlacing her fingers. She knew she would regret that decision. "She was just so miserable!" She blurted out with closed eyes.
"You think I care?" Kirron spat.
"Well ... maybe you don't, but I do." Emily whined. Kirron looked far from pleased or sated, shaking his head and muttering under his breath. He wanted to find the right words to scold her, but none could come to mind. And he had no intention of giving her a severe punishment either, do to the care she had offered him last night. He woke up with worry that he had lost his work, but was overcome with relief and gratitude to see his work was saved and blankets were tied around his stiff body. Must've been Emily, he had thought. Eventually he briskly strutted to the bathroom, Emily trailing behind. The blond flipped on the light and positioned herself in front of the mirror knowingly as Kirron searched the drawers for a brush. He moved behind her with a selected brush in hand, placing a hand over her temple and beginning to smoothly slide the brush through her sandy blond curls. Emily repressed sighing in contentment as she felt some tangles loosening. She always liked when people brushed her hair, even if those people included Kirron. In fact, he was pretty good at it. The awkward silence that sat around them was fairly uncomfortable. Emily could only gaze at her master's concentrated reflection or watch the magic that was her modest blond locks withdraw from one another like unraveling lace. She looked for something to talk about. "Um, guess you had a lot of work to do last night." She commented. Kirron seemed to grow exhausted just by thinking of it, his shoulders slumping as he dropped the brush on the marble sink counter. He blew a sigh, his eyes closing as he settled his chin down on Emily's head. "Thank you." His voice morphed into a quiet yawn.
"Oh, it was no trouble." Emily chimed, shocked that she was actually being thanked for it. She pondered his sleepy reflection in the mirror, pulling lightly at the sleeves of her white cardigan as she gathered her next stutter of words. Dark eyelashes bristled out against creamy, milk colored skin. His eyes seemed tightly shut, with his well cut bangs teasing his eyelids waveringly.
"Um, I really don't think you should be working yourself like that." Emily muttered finally.
"Someone's gotta get it done." Kirron snorted.
"Where are your parents again?" Emily queried.
"Handling the company in Sweden." Kirron replied.
"I just don't like the idea of you doing so much." Emily huffed.
"Why do you even care?" Kirron snapped. Emily was stiff silent, her chest tightening in discomfort. She racked her brain for an answer, but it was to no avail. In all honesty, she wasn't exactly sure why she cared. Overtime, she supposed this unspoken affection for the prominent Regalia was just growing. Yes; her entire life belonged to him, but it wasn't as though he was particularly cruel to her. And his personality and looks were respectively exhilarating and alluring. At her loss for words and blank stare, Kirron gave a haughty sniff to the air. He exited the bathroom with intent to finish cooking, leaving Emily to her thoughts and a head of blond tresses to resume brushing.
Oliver Reyes was slumped on a bench, for that's where Raven Stanfield had left him. At a park, saying he could do whatever he'd like while she was out with her girlfriends trying to flirt with Drifter Toma Akita and getting some major league shopping done. Drifters, those were indeed the citizens of the town that hovered between Milquetoast, Regalia, and Rebel. Usually they didn't care enough about the state of society to be a Rebel, but still didn't support Regaliation, while at the same time being strong enough to defend themselves. Oliver was a Milque, with Raven being his Regalia. In boredom he lied out on the park bench. His messy black hair fell into his pale face, and his arm dangled freely off the edge as he soaked up the peace and sunny weather.
"Hey there Ollie." A cheerful, familiar, feminine voice greeted. Oliver pealed a set of turquoise eyes open to see a girl standing giddily in front of his bench. She was quite short; no taller than 5'1, but did possess visible hips and chest. Her eyes were quite large. Exquisitely shining a dark blue, they were like inquisitive yet completely piquant cobalts against her pale complexion. Which, had few blemishes or marks. Her most prominent aesthetic was likely her faint lavender curls, cascading down her back, nearly touching at her waist, and rippling out from her shoulders. She was dressed in a white blouse with a pink floral brooch hanging from her collar, and a blue mini skirt rimmed with small frills. She completed her cute and simple ensemble with a pair of white, laced, heeled boots. She impatiently hopped from one foot to another, a bag in her hands.
"Keily." Oliver squeaked, sitting up with new excitement, "How've you been?"
"Great." The girl cheered. She took a seat next to her boyfriend, setting her bag in her lap and moving to place a lingering kiss on his cheek. Oliver's face took to a red hue at the small affection. Keily Anderson; contrary to the impression she gave by sheer appearance, was debatably one of the strongest Rebels in the city. Oliver was surprised that he of all people caught her attention. Well, they both did have a passionate love for humanitarian activities and animals. Oliver met Keily when going riding for the first time at her family's stables, and the two had been together for roughly two years now. Keily was remarkable, in both Rebelism and womanhood. She could do just about anything, and was notorious for collecting and ascertaining substantial information about society, the director of the city, and his nephew.
"How are you?" Keily queried sweetly. She tipped her head questioningly, "You're not with Raven."
"Girls day. No lowly Milques allowed." Oliver chuckled jokingly, scratching the back of his neck.
"So, you free? I would love an attractive riding partner." Keily sang exuberantly with a flirty wink, inclining her head to rest on Oliver's shoulder. The older male had always enjoyed that joie de vivre of hers. It was refreshing to his quieter personality. "I'd love to go horse riding with you Keily." He laughed.
"Great. And if Raven's not hassling you this evening, Lucky and I could use your help at my aunty's spa. The lounge area I mean" Keily beamed, getting to her feet. She extended a hand out with a bright smile.
"Yeah. I'd love to help out, if Ms. Raven doesn't mind." Oliver agreed quietly, shyly taking her hand and jumping to his feet. Keily squeezed his hand before cherubically toeing him along, Oliver wondered about the bag in her hand, but decided to ask later.
The gardens were definitely some of Christopher's favorite places. Well, they were enjoyed by many. Often citizens came to behold and relish in their sublime beauty, but few were regular patrons like Christopher. Somehow, the city's gardens managed to enrapture him every time he offered them his innocent and curious stare. Currently though, rounded blue-gray eyes were focused incisively on the puzzle positioned in his lap. Perched on a wooden bench settled deep into the garden, he had been working at it for hours. The garden was vacant for the most part, discarding himself and the few newcomers that decided to perambulate through it once or twice. One female in specific had stopped to examine a spectacle of an exhibit stationed across from the bench on which Christopher sat. Her eyes peered in splendor at the group of bushes that was the exhibit. Humbly glowing a nearly unsettling verdant green, broad leaves reached out and decorative vines gracefully wove around sturdy stems and through one another. Flowers with a multitude of out-coiling petals were painted vivid pinks and cerulean, brightly waving against their green habitat. Christopher had seen the beautiful bundle of bushes several times, yet they still captivated him. The admiring female rose from her kneeling pose in front of the display, which was what prompted Christopher to look up from his puzzle. The uninterested look he was giving slowly transformed into an intrigued one as he recognized that it was the gymnast he met the day before. He noticed her unmistakable auburn tresses. Still in a messy ponytail as they were last they met, though this time held by a purple ribbon to match the T-shirt she was sporting.
"Good afternoon Vanemy." Christopher greeted immediately in a silken purr as he observed the girl smooth out the unwanted creases in her black tennis skirt, placing his puzzle beside him to casually swing one slim leg over the other. He was first met with a gasp as Vanemy whipped around to face him in surprise. Eyes; smaragdine as they're surroundings, fixed on him accusatorially. Vanemy's face softened once realizing that it was indeed just him, though she had no desire to tear her gaze away from the glorious silvery eyes that watched her in amusement. So she didn't. "Hi Christopher." She was intimidated by the assumed Regalia at first, until it clicked in her mind that he didn't seem to carry a Milque with him. It was a small mystery that she'd have to ask about later.
"Do you come here often?" Christopher queried.
"Nope. Just looking for something to do on a lazy Saturday afternoon." Vanemy brushed off, and she could've sworn she saw disappointment flicker in those blue tinged eyes. Which, there was. Having taken an interest in the girl, he would've hoped that she liked this place. "What do you think of it?" He quizzed.
"It's gorgeous." Vanemy breathed fancifully, plopping down next to him. "How bout you?"
"I adore it. It's refined and peaceful. I visit everyday." Christopher blew. Vanemy hummed a response, uttering something of the garden's popularity which shockingly turned over another conversation.
"You don't have a Milquetoast with you." Vanemy commented once that topic of discussion died.
"I don't really care for them." Christopher replied simply. It thew Vanemy off.
"May I have your political views?" She inquired politely.
"I suppose I'm at a state of indifference with it." Christopher answered, "I don't exactly appreciate the system, but I can not say that I am fervently against it either."
"Aaah, so you're more of a Drifter." Vanemy mused, and was then put to wonder why he didn't proclaim himself as such when they first met.
"A what?" Christopher questioned.
"A Drifter." Vanemy repeated.
"Wha-what's that?"
"You seriously don't know what a Drifter is?" Vanemy's voice was a full on deadpan, coated in disbelief. Christopher's attestation was a gracious tilt of the head and an expression of such pure, unknowing innocence, Vanemy had to resist squealing and ruffling his scarlet hair.
"Well a Drifter is a citizen appearing indifferent on society's politics and ranking system." Vanemy explained, "A popular one is Spandel Phillips."
"Haven't heard of him." Christopher stated absorbingly, folding his hands in his lap.
"Haha, you're kinda oblivious." Vanemy giggled lightheartedly, poking at his side.
"I'm not." Christopher spoke lowly, swiping her hand away.
"It's not a bad thing." Vanemy tried to assure him on a stammer, motioning for him to calm down. Her frantic response lead Christopher to believe that he had overreacted. A rosebud pink flush rose flourishingly to his cheeks, a hand gently coming down in slight confusion on the one Vanemy was spontaneously flailing through the air. They both thought each other cute, Christopher's blushing and Vanemy's atomic flailing respectively. Christopher's blush deepened when the two fell silent. As sheltered as he was, social awkwardness like this was hard to handle.
"So what kind of places attract your attention?" Vanemy asked, changing the subject and coming to his much needed rescue.
'Serene places like this. I like pretty things, as well as those that relax the mind." Christopher said, "How about you?"
"I like any place outdoors, so I'll likely be coming here more often. And places where you can just chill and have fun are cool too." Vanemy said.
Christopher became hopeful as he put out his next question, "Do you like Sophie's Garden of Serenity?"
The exuberant green of Vanemy's eyes were lit up by their new excited gleam and the overly dreamy smile she adopted. "I haven't gone yet!" She exclaimed, and she started incorporating expressive hand motions into her giddy rant. "I really really want too! I've heard soooooooo much about it and my best friend Emily went there with her Regalia once and like totally loved it. I've looked it up on the internet before, it seems so great! I wanna go sooooooooo badly!"
"So why don't you?" Christopher asked, catching the infection of her enthusiasm. "I go there quite often. You should truly try it."
"I know I know." Vanemy whined, "But I can't. That place is super expensive. And though the Rainy Spring pays well, I just can't afford it. I haven't even visited the lounge yet."
"Now that simply won't do." Christopher softly shook his head in a manner once again found irresistibly adorable by Vanemy. He got to his feet, pulling Vanemy along with him. "I can take you." He declared.
"There's no way I could ask you to do that!" Vanemy protested.
"You don't want to go with me?" Christopher asked in pain, eyes widening with his zest fading.
"No no it's just ... that's a lot to offer. I don't want you to waste your money." Vanemy justified.
"That is no problem." Christopher assured confidently, now dangling a small card in the air. "I am pleased to treat someone as sweet as you. And money is easily accessible to me so you needn't worry. You'll come, right?"
"Definitely, sense you're insisting. I would love to go with you. Thanks Christopher!" Vanemy cheered, nodding vigorously. A red hue had painted her cheeks as she grinned beatifically, hopping up and down. Christopher smiled.
Emily watched Kirron's bored and discomfited figure on the examining table. The nurses office was bland as any other, but Emily found it special sense she visited it so often. There were books stacked on a small wooden table in the corner as generosity left to her from the nurse, who was close with Emily and Pandore as well as being Kirron's girlfriend. Pandore was perched on a stool stationed in the corner, her nose buried in a manga as they waited for the nurse to arrive. Emily was rolling around in the rolly chair, keeping a concerned blue eye on Kirron. She hadn't spoken to him sense the scraggly exchange of words they threw at one another that morning. How awkward it was kept in mind, Emily still worried for him. All day she had been scraping and digging through her brain as to why she held the sassy albino dear to her heart, and wondered how long he'd stay angry with her for buying that ring. She looked at him once more. His shoulders were slumped ever so slightly and his chin not as high in the air as usual, hinting at how tired he was. If he were truly functioning correctly, he'd keep his presumptuous posture precisely perfect. He was watching her from the corner of his eye, taking humor in her sliding around in the chair.
"Hello you three." The voice that greeted so kindly was light and warm, tinged with a slight rasp. Kirron and his Milques glanced toward the office door from their current task. In danced Kirron's girlfriend and nurse. She was about Emily's size, 5'5 while being slender and curvy. Her skin was fair with a peach tint to it. Wisps of sleek black tresses poured down her back. She had a set of round brown eyes, and faintly freckled cheeks. The white uniform she wore didn't exactly flatter her figure. "Didn't expect to see you guys here."
"Maria hi!" Kirron chirped jovially. Life seemed to return to him at Maria's presence, "I figured you had no patients at this hour, so I decided to pay you a visit."
"Awwwwww." Maria cried, sweeping over to her boyfriend and loosely draping her arms around him. Her fingers dashed across the glossy fabric of his black blouse, feeling those hard muscles of his contract and weaken under her touch. "Hello Emily, Pandore,"
"Nice to see you again Maria." Emily greeted.
"Hi Maria." Pandore murmured halfheartedly, nodding briefly before repositioning her gaze in her manga. Maria flashed a beaming smile, feeling Kirron pull her in for a hug. His arms constricted around her waist, a hand massaging her back.
"Baby you seem tired." Maria remarked warily.
Kirron said nothing. Maria drew back and turned to face the other two ladies of the room, just in time to see Emily jump to her feet. The blond placed firm hands on her hips, deciding to take initiative. "Yeah Maria, about that." She started, "I'm worried about Kirron, and thought you should know that he's been working himself too much lately. I found him asleep at his computer late into the night about a million times now. However, Mr. Busy Body doesn't wanna talk about a solution." She made her voice low and haughty, "Someone's gotta get the work done, blah blah blah. I'm Kirron and like way too prideful to admit that I can't handle mountains upon mountains of work, hahahahah, ha ha ha." Emily attempted a classy hair flip.
"Is that your impression of me?" Kirron rumbled, an eyebrow raised. He couldn't conceal the mirth driven smirk his lips were curving into. Emily giggled at his reaction but flushed at his tone. It was surprisingly playful. Maria gave the albino a hard flick to the nose, smiling to Emily and skipping to collect her materials. "Let's take a look." She hummed contemplatively.
"Well if I'm being forced into an unwanted examination, then I insist you look at them too." Kirron huffed, crossing his arms and pointing an unforgiving glare at Emily. Emily played with danger by petulantly sticking out her tongue, to be rewarded with a feigning pout from Kirron.
While Maria chatted up a storm with Kirron and examined him, Emily played around with Ella and Neo on the tiled floor. Ella kept climbing all over Neo's bigger body, which resulted in quite the funny scene as the wolf failed numerous times at pawing her away.
"Aw yes Emily, you were right to worry." Maria's confirming draw pulled Emily from the amusing scene before her. She returned her attention to the nurse and the Regalia. Maria lightly tapped Kirron's forehead before leaving her hand to rest on his thigh. A stern look crossed her features. "He needs a break." She stated.
"Thought so." Emily agreed.
"I'm fine." Kirron growled, already hating the idea of being fussed over.
"Obviously not." Maria spat, "You need to relax. In fact, I don't want you to do any work for the rest of the day."
"I gotta text from Vanemy saying that she was finally gonna get to go to Sophie's Garden this evening." Emily informed, modeling her phone for emphasis. "Maybe we should go too. I can pay."
"No!" Kirron argued.
"Great idea Millie.' Maria sang, and she turned to Kirron with a glare that should only be reserved for mothers to their misbehaving children. "And you're gonna do it." She ordered, "And afterwords, you won't do any work for the remainder of the week. Doctors orders."
"You're a nurse." Kirron shot back, delighted by the frown that followed.
"Oh, you wanna be cute huh?" Maria snarled, looking Kirron in the eye. "Do it, or I'll have Helen Scarsheld come and give you a thorough palpating. How's that sound Hot Stuff?"
"All right all right. No need to get ugly." Kirron sighed nonchalantly with a dismissive flick of the wrist. He could hear the click of Emily's boots as she jubilantly hopped up and down, and only sighed.
"Does Pandore get to come too?" Emily asked.
"Sure." Kirron groaned. At that, Pandore spryly glanced up from her book. She could use some relaxing and beautifying.
Ha, and that'll be all for now Darlings! :D
Next chapter we'll be exploring the exciting elegance that is Sophie's Garden of Serenity with a few of my favorite characters. In fact, we'll be slowly exploring every hotspot in this rank-based town. Chapter five or six'll likely be one called The Black Velvet Tavern. But hey, regular readers will no better not to trust my word on anything relevant to future writing. I didn't even introduce Raphael this chapter like I was supposed to teehee! :)
The new character mentioned that doesn't belong to me is Oliver Reyes. This smol bean is SilverSwirls's baby. There are still many characters to come and explore on my, my sister's, SilverSwirls's, and Pandore's part. Note,, most romantic relationships in this story will be a slow burn.
Leave a review dearest readers, and remember that feedback is LOVE! ;)