.
.
This is what happened during one of their etiquette lessons, when Jacob and Mebuki weren't a couple.
"This is how you communicate with a fan," Jacob said, showing her. Mebuki watched as he flicked the fan open with his wrist, the fan snapping open like scissors.
"This means, 'come over and speak to me," he said, and he swished the fan up at an angle, hiding his mouth. He moved the fan again, closing it shut, then tapped the tip on his lips. "This means, 'I'm single.'"
Mebuki raised her eyebrows at him. Jacob continued. "This means, 'I am married,'" and he opened the fan and fanned it slowly. "This means, 'I am engaged,'" and he fanned himself quickly.
"This is the shit the noble ladies signal to you."
"That is correct."
"Okay, so what's fan language for, 'I'm down to fuck in the coat room'?"
He lowered the fan, holding it in his left hand, keeping the fan open. "Come talk to me." He snapped it shut, then drew it across his cheek. "I love you." He tapped it to his lips again. "I wish to kiss you." He moved the fan to his right hand, flipping it open. "Come follow me."
"Holy shit," Mebuki said. Jacob handed the fan to her.
"Okay, now for some play acting. Let's say a nobleman is bothering you. What do you do?"
"Smack him on the head with the fan," Mebuki said.
xXx
.
There was another ball. Mebuki hung back in the corner, watching the noblewomen crowd around Jacob. She was pretty sure he was fucking at least half of them. Their eyes met. She grinned and lifted her fan.
She twirled it in a circle. That's a lot of bitches.
She moved it to her left hand. I think they wanna fuck you.
She snapped it shut and tapped her head. Ask them if they're down for a threesome.
Jacob sputtered. He laughed, clutching his head.
"Prince Jacob?" one of the noblewomen said. He swallowed his laughter as he looked across the room at Mebuki, who grinned at him.
She fanned herself slowly, moving the fan to her other hand. I think that chick is showing off her cleavage.
"A moment, ladies. I need to go see about my sister."
xXx
.
"Okay. Let's pretend we're at a ball, and you want to talk to me. When I come over, we'll exchange pleasantries, but I want you to communicate that you're single and you want to kiss me."
"Uh, okay, but I'm pretty sure I'm never gonna need that," Mebuki said.
"It's just for pretend. Just try it," Jacob said.
"Okay." She lowered her fan in her left hand, keeping it open. Come talk to me.
"How do you do, Princess?" Jacob said. Mebuki smirked.
"This is stupid," Mebuki said.
"It's just pretend, just try it." He cleared his throat again. "How is the weather, Princess?"
"Uh, the weather is nice, Jacob." She closed her fan and drew it across her cheek. I love you.
Jacob's eyes widened a fraction. "A-and, how are your roses faring?"
"Uh. They're faring nicely." She tapped the fan against her lips. I want to kiss you.
"Um..."
She moved the fan to her right hand. Come follow me.
Jacob got a hold of himself. "Good," he said. "You just told me you loved me, you want to kiss me, and to follow you so you can embrace me."
"Boom!" Mebuki said. She made an exploding motion with her hand.
"Well, no, you were supposed to tell me you're single, not that you love me."
"Oh, shit. Which gesture means 'I'm single' again?"
"Closed fan to the lips," he said, taking the fan from her. He demonstrated. "This means 'I love you,'" and he drew it across his cheek.
"Ooh," Mebuki said. "Yeah, this shit is confusing."
"Indeed."
"What's the gesture for 'I wanna fuck you' again?"
"There isn't any gesture that's quite so vulgar, usually they signal 'I love you' and 'follow me' if they want to embrace me. Why?" Jacob asked. Mebuki grinned at him.
"I wanna see how many noble women use their fans to flirt with you," Mebuki said.
xXx
.
She watched Jacob talk to the ladies at the ball.
One countess made eyes with Jacob. Come talk to me. Jacob grinned. He walked over.
"And how are you, Countess?" he asked. The countess beamed at him. She fanned herself slowly. I'm married.
"I am doing quite well, Prince Jacob." She closed her fan and slowly dragged it across her cheek. I love you. "My husband is away at the moment-" she tapped it against her lips. I want to kiss you. "-and I was hoping you would keep me company this evening." She lowered her fan. Follow me.
Jacob smiled. "Unfortunately, Countess, I am indisposed at the moment. I am chaperoning my sister, you see."
"Oh. How unfortunate."
He bowed and left her, Mebuki staring at them.
Another noblewoman caught his eye. Come talk to me. Jacob walked over to her.
"Greetings to the Little Moon and Sun, Your Highness," the woman said. She tapped the fan to her lips. I'm single. She flicked it open, covering her mouth. "How are you, this evening?" Let's get some privacy.
"I'm well, my lady," Jacob said. The lady laughed demurely.
"You certainly do look well, Your Highness." She dragged the fan across her cheek. I love you. She tapped her lips. Kiss me. She lowered her hand. Follow me and embrace me.
"I have enjoyed playing with you, my lady, but unfortunately I have to stay by my sister," Jacob said.
"Oh," the lady said, disappointed. Jacob bowed politely.
"Yo, what the fuck are you doing?" Mebuki said, as Jacob came up to her.
"I may be a cad, but it is rude to embrace another woman when one is accompanied."
"Really?"
Another woman caught his eye. She fanned herself quickly, then tapped her lips. I'm engaged, but I want you to kiss me. Jacob ignored her.
"Oh man, I'm sorry," Mebuki said. "I didn't know I was cock-blocking you making you come to the ball with me."
"Wha- no, there's no need to be sorry."
"Just say the word, and I'll totally wingman for you," Mebuki said. Jacob bristled.
"I have no need for 'wingman-ing.' I do fine on my own, thank you."