Heaven Forbid || Elias

[Flanna Kelly]

In the shallow heat of the morning, Flanna saw an opportunity to venture to a favourite place of hers, by the sea. She carried in the crook of her arm a leather folder, in which was her latest script and her quill and inkwell. She carried the folder at her side, but made sure it was close enough for her to feel there. It was her security, her livelihood, the only thing she had anymore. Her name, she'd lost. Her cunning, she'd lost. Playwriting was all she had.

Flanna found her way to the beach and took a seat as she felt her red hair blow in the salty wind. But it was more of a breeze off the sea, a nice feeling. The sand she sat upon was nicely damp, just enough to remind her how human she was, and just firm enough to not feel like she was sinking in it.

Taking out her papers, Flanna glanced over the last couple of pages that she had written. This was a nice play, a little romantic one about an Irish peasant girl and an English lord, who had fallen hopelessly in love even though the girl's father had a Marquess in mind for her. But the father was cruel, and the play was bound to become a tragedy in the end, for the only answer for this poor girl was suicide. She would need to drown herself in a river, or at the ocean shore, or something. Nothing horrible. Just enough to make it sad.

She sighed and mulled over what the next scene would have to contain, trying to figure out where each character's place was. When finally she had some feasable plot concept for this scene, Flanna turned to the bag at her side and pulled out her instruments.

And Flanna was about to open the cork on her inkwell when she heard a rustling behind her. She knew someone had to be there, for it was an unnatural sound that no thing of nature could make. And when she turned, there was a man there, and a feeling in her stomach erupted with embarassment and fear. Flanna was far from social, and didn't ever know what to say when around others. Plus, she hated being caught writing.

STATUS complete TAG Elias ATTIRE will be here soon
LYRICS Heaven Forbid; The Fray NOTES no notes (:
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Deleted]

Spring was truly beginning to do just that – spring forward from the ashes of a cruel winter. Or so Elias thought in any case. Even this early morn had brought a warmth to it that no other before it had achieved thus far, and even the tiny little crocuses were beginning to open up in their applause of the oncoming warmer climes. A perfect day for collecting herbs, Elias deemed.

Many saw it as one of the more odious tasks of being a physician, herb-picking. Why bother when it was so easy to buy at the markets? Because it wasn’t fresh, that was why. And overpriced. And second-rate quality. And it was this quiet determination that had seen Elias surpass many a fellow alumni from Oxford; salves could not be produced from dried-out old plants, it was an insult to medicine’s very name, and yet so many young men had done so despite their tutor’s words of warning. Not Elias, however, he had stuck to the book and immortalised every word ever taught to him, and so it was with an agreeable resolve that he set out towards the sea in naught but a thickly-spun shirt and dark breeches; the sun would warm his industrious back in no time.

The smell of the sea was something that Elias just couldn’t deny; a very definite pleasure in life. Alongside the washing and crashing of the waves against the shoreline, he was almost certain that there were few better places to be in such weather. Even in winter it held its charm, but neither love nor money would encourage him to root through thick layers of snow and ice just to gather paltry supplies. Today, however, was an altogether different instance – no snow, no ice, just a pleasant day, so much so that he noticed even a woman had taken to sharing this little haven too. The gentle wind carried her flame-red hair on the breeze and he couldn’t help a little crooked smile working its way to the corners of his lips as he began his work.

Seeing a woman alone – and quite clearly busying herself with some sort of papers – was an intrigue to him, not least because far too few women even knew how to read. It was a shame, there was a lot to be said for a maid of intellect and wit, even though many discouraged such traits. Elias thought little of it as he soon found himself immersed in snipping and pocketing strands of rosemary and sandwort. The plants were only small due to the time of year and he picked carefully, slowly moving across the damp sand with strategic precision. Had it been a military campaign he may have been very successful, successful all bar nearly walking straight into the back of the woman sat upon the sand.

Elias took a step back and cringed to himself, hoping she would not have heard him. As she turned though, it seemed she had.

“I beg your pardon, m’lady,” he addressed her courteously, feeling a prickling at the nape of his neck at the look on her face. She looked as flustered as he felt. Socialising was not Elias’ forte, and he doubted it ever would be with his disciplined nature. “I did not mean to startle you.”

[Flanna Kelly]

The wind played softly upon the ocean and the sand, blowing up little waves and dunes as it drifted slowly by. Flanna looked upon it, the taste of salt on her tongue, and wanted dearly to immerse herself in that beautiful blue ocean. But she knew better. First of all, that was a silly thing to do alone, and secondly, a bad idea in a place that other people knew of. And other people certainly knew of it. Those were lovers' games, anyhow.

With a sigh, Flanna realized how little she would be able to add to her script right now. She had lost all muse and had no desire to keep these characters alive, as they were honestly in the way, and she was getting annoyed by them. Annoyed by her own creations. That was one problem Flanna had been experiencing a lot lately, and she wondered if she did not like herself. Or maybe it was just that she made these characters blatantly imperfect, and couldn't stand their faults. Either way, she wanted this tragedy to end. She wanted another inspiration. She wanted to love and be loved, and finally break out of her prison of tragedies.

So Flanna browsed through her papers, and found a letter from Carson, her oldest brother. She shuffled the papers into a straight stack and read carefully, even though she'd read these lines practically every day for six years and knew them by heart. My dear Flanna, You are above all things you were born into. If you will remember just this, you will fare and flourish anywhere... But Flanna heard the disturbance just then and her thought trailed.

She looked back behind her to see a handsome gentleman, an alluringly alarmed face, and an expression that likely matched her own. He was picking plants, herbs she thought, and she couldnt' for the life in her figure out why. Her intelligence only went as far as writing and human nature. She was devoid of any logical science.

He murmured some words of pardon and Flanna felt the overwhelming urge to flee. His speech was cool and easy, and it did not match his face. He was a gentleman. But if Flanna spoke, she'd only disgrace herself, for she was eloquent only on paper. She stuttered and fumbled over her words otherwise, and the fact that she hated any social situation didn't help the cause. Flanna had always taken to being introverted and quiet, and she listened more than she talked. Once, someone had told her that was an admirable quality, but Flanna didn't understand why she could be any sort of admirable person, after the legacy her father had left her real last name, the one she didn't use.

But she felt all the while obliged to reply. Sheepishly, Flanna half-whispered, her usually sweet Irish accent choked up, "You d-did not startle me, s-sir. Please, continue. D-don't let me bother you." She met his eye and as much as she wanted to go back to the letter and keep reading Carson's words, Flanna could not. The man was captivating in his own right, and she knew that if she turned around, she'd be uncomfortable.

STATUS complete TAG Elias ATTIRE will be here soon
LYRICS Heaven Forbid; The Fray NOTES no notes (:
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Deleted]

It was with a slight sense of trepidation that Elias remained rooted to the spot. He couldn’t move, not even if he wanted to; a very deep part of him was drawn to the silent aura of intrigue that this fiery-haired woman seemed to possess over him. The other part of him was merely too chicken to move.

It wasn’t for lack of wishing to – Elias felt as foolish as he probably looked stood with a twig of rosemary held limply between his fingers – but he had never actually intended on disturbing the clearly anxious girl before him. Now that he had, he was far from sure how exactly to proceed next. He considered that he should just nod and be on his way, but the trouble with that resoundingly wonderful theory was that he was still perpetually trapped upon the same strip of beach whilst he collected what he needed to; his stores were critically low and the plants ran out with the changing soil a few hundred paces along the sand. So, in the meantime, it seemed he was stuck meandering around the same strip feeling rather awkward, primarily because the expression of alarm upon the maiden’s face was all too akin to that of a doe in flight. It rather seemed he had interrupted her.

Elias swallowed – a curiously nervous gesture for himself – and took half a pace backwards. “I may not have startled you, miss, but I fear I have unconsciously intruded upon you. I... I will leave you to your thoughts.”

He wasn’t exactly sure how though. All he knew was that the look of panic written so plainly across the young woman’s face indicated that he ought to get back to collecting herbs before she really did take like a deer and dart off. The trouble was that Elias was afraid he had totally and utterly distracted her from her papers – the exact same thing that would grate on Elias rather deeply if someone had done the equivalent to him.

Eventually he found himself able to move another half pace backwards before beginning to turn to move away. He hesitated though, still feeling as though he were leaving something hanging. “You were not bothering me, by the way. I just thought I should add that.” Elias replied quietly in addition before beginning to walk slowly away across the sand towards the shore line. The low tide mark would yield plenty of what he needed, and, whilst he would still be within the girl’s line of sight, at least she should be able to feel that he wasn’t watching or prying on her from there.

[Flanna Kelly]

Flanna could not recall the last day that the weather had been this way. It was warm but not too much so, and the wind blew, but not hard. The waves crashed with a nice, pleasant sound, and the taste of salt that lingered upon the waves and the breeze was refreshingly delicious. Not many days were this nice.

But be it for any sort of reasons, it was on days like this that Flanna felt most alone and most vulnerable. Pleasant, warm days were normally desolate for her, and she failed to see the joy they brought. Then again, Flanna was good at writing tragedy. She'd never found it in her to write otherwise, perhaps because of her own story. Every time she'd tried a comedy, it would end up with some too-deep meaning that was so profound that the leads all had to relinquish their lives and resign everything they had to death. Something was there inside her, and it could not help but kill the characters, the shadows of herself. Her life was drifting near tragey itself.

And this man behind her, probably one of good nature and calm spirit from what she'd so far seen, wasn't a tragic character. Not that she could spot, anyway. He was handsome and he was, from the looks of it, gentle. And... he was picking plants? That was generally not regarded as a masculine task. But as it were, nor was playwriting for women. Flanna had no grounds to judge.

He backed away from her, and though she felt some relief over her pale face, Flanna wasn't exactly sure he needed to do that. She could only embarass herself so much, and if she had not already, why not keep it up? Something in his visage enchanted her, intrigued her. He was calm, not angry nor cross with her for being there. That was much for any man, as far as she knew. Flanna had always known men-besides Carson-who were so stuck in their pride that, even if they were feigning chivlary, only drove their greed on. (Carson was not like them. Carson was a god. And Carson was brave enough to keep the MacDowell name.)

"I..." she stumbled. "My thoughts are in vain as it were, sir. I--euh... You don't have to leave, sir, if your findings are better here. I've nothing of importance to do, sir." She forced a shy smile and there was a timid glimmer in her eye. Flanna could not, for the life left in her, stand up boldly.

She had not bothered him? Why, that was her main concern. Flanna wanted to stay in the shadows and out of the way. It was a good thing she was a playwright. She giggled very softly, unfortunately sure that he'd heard, and half-whispered, "Good." she tried again to turn back to her script, but once more she was out of muse. And much too curious to let the script buffer her.

STATUS complete TAG Elias ATTIRE HERE!
LYRICS Heaven Forbid; The Fray NOTES no notes (:
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Deleted]

Elias had only taken a couple of slow strides from the young woman when her stumbled words caught him in his tracks. Something about it was endearing, especially in what sounded now like quite the sweet Irish accent; it tugged the corner of his lips into a faint smile at the growing clarity. There was absolutely no doubt now that he had rather surprised her indeed, and, whilst her timidity indicated that he perhaps ought to leave her to her thoughts, there was a certain charm about it that came across as both appropriate and endlessly appealing. He was a fool for shy women.

He glanced over his shoulder, once more catching a glimpse of the girl’s sweet face framed by the red hair that so easily blew on the soft breeze. She was of intrigue to him, not just because of her shyness, but for something else he could not yet place his finger on. Perhaps it was the simple fact that a young lady was enjoying nature at its very best and busying herself with some form of papers, not one of these silly gossiping girls that flocked around marketplace jewels and jesters. He turned slightly, finally pocketing the strand of rosemary as he did so. Elias couldn’t help himself.

“I am sure no thoughts of yours are in vain,” he told her assuredly, confident that the neat little pile of parchment sheaves resting upon her lap were of great significance to herself even if no one else. He returned her small smile with some warmth, amused that she wasn’t quite as flighty as first appearances had suggested. It pleased him – he wasn’t an intimidating man by any means, or at least he hoped that he wasn’t. In all truth, he had no idea how he came across to other people, but Elias hoped that his stark politeness wasn’t all that people could see sometimes. “Besides, you have just as much right as I to be here, miss. As for my, er, findings,” he smiled with a touch of genial embarrassment, “well I can find them across much of the sand.”

Sure, it was a touch twisting the truth, but there was no harm behind his words; Elias merely wished with an innocent genuineness that she didn’t let herself be deterred from whatever she had sought to do on this pleasant morning. Even as he glanced absently across the sea he wondered if now was the time to get back to collecting herbs, but part of him thought he caught the softest of giggles escape from the girl’s lips and he twisted to look at her again. His curiosity was far too great sometimes; perhaps that was the burden of being a scholar and physician – wanting to know everything.

Elias hesitated, silently wondering if speaking any further would fluster the young woman. He wasn’t able to help himself though. Inquisitiveness had most definitely got the better of him. He gently laughed in embarrassment for his forwardness, “You may tell me to mind my own business, m’lady, but I am afraid my curiosity is too strong. I am simply intrigued by your papers and inkwell.”

[Flanna Kelly]

In Flanna's sweet light brown eyes, the world was all one great stage, and though the comic relief came often enough, it was set for a tragedy. Many leads had come and gone and run their course, but none were ever the one. Not one person had yet to end this damn tragedy, and someone needed to. It was all going downhill anyway; why would anyone try to fix it now?

Flanna couldn't find the words to say what she wanted in her work. She had to publish it; it was the only way she could get her money. But her plays were already controversial enough seeing as they came from the hand of a woman, and not a rich one at that, and she could not afford to write on profound or touchy subject. To be honest, if Flanna lived anywhere but here, she could be easily attained and even hanged for treason. In Ireland or England, that could have been Flanna's sentencing.

Flanna watched with intrigued regard as he pocketed his pickings. What a nice looking man he was! She giggled a bit and replied, "Oh, you'd not know. I'm a woman. I could well be arrested for my wiritings; I'm certain all my efforts will end up being in vain." She cast her eyes down in a sort of ashamed timidness, wondering if that might not have been too bold a statement to issue before a man that she didn't even know the name of. She tried not to smile too much. "Then they're just as good over here," she tried.

As he turned away, Flanna could almost feel something in her sinking. He was such a nice man, and nice looking, and it was as if he'd already stolen a couple of her glances and breaths. What a sweet way to steal (unlike her father...). She tried so hard not to let her smile show, but knew she wasn't very good at it. And it was times like this one that Flanna wondered if she should not try and contradict herself and believe in love over tragedy. She wanted someone to love. But she wanted someone to understand her, and respect what she was and how smart she was. Then, maybe she could write romances.

Flanna offered up a soft smile and an invitation. "If you're so inclined, you could join me, mister..." she trailed off at realizing she did not know his name. Mentally, she noted that this may not be a good start. Then, she decided that she may as well go ahead and introduce herself. "I... I'm Flanna, sir." she said softly, humbly. She looked down again, her cheeks feeling like flaming red fires.

STATUS complete TAG Elias ATTIRE HERE!
LYRICS Heaven Forbid; The Fray NOTES no notes (:
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Deleted]

This time the sound of the giggle behind him was unmistakeable and Elias tilted his head curiously to one side, a crooked smile on his lips as he turned. He honestly had no idea what exactly was so amusing to her – not that he objected, the girl didn’t seem to be laughing maliciously at him – but he raised an eyebrow back at her in interest.

“Not know, would I? Presumptuous.” Elias smiled, a teasing note to his tone; he hoped she would take it in the friendly manner he meant it. He then raised both his eyebrows in genuine interest. She wrote? Controversial – for a woman – and even she openly admitted that. “You write? And yet, despite knowing you could be arrested, you tell me, nought but a stranger?”

He was intrigued, not just by the woman’s contentious choice of pastime but also because of her divulging of information to him. It was either reckless or trusting, and from their initial exchanges Elias didn’t place her as the reckless type. Perhaps it was his kindly face that welcomed admissions like that – that’s what his aunt had always said of him, a kindly face. He couldn’t see it, not with his strong profile, but he wasn’t disposed to argue back to his elders.

However, for whatever reason that this fair young maid had chosen to tell him about her writings, Elias was far from about to alert an authority figure. It was admirable that a woman should stand up for herself – even if secretly so – and what she held dear to her. He had always revered women with an intellect for they were one of those strange creatures, the types that seemed to occur once in a blue moon, and likewise the types that seemed to vanish in the blink of an eye; too often outspoken for their own good. The redhead before him though, she was a different matter. By the looks of things, at any rate. Her downcast eyes were discreetly alluring and without thinking Elias found himself paused in the sand, not wishing to draw away just yet. The smile that subsequently graced her visage was equally as appealing and he returned it with ease, drawn in by her sweet demeanour.

His smile grew a little broader, a soft tug pulling at the corner of his lips as the young woman smiled more directly at him. An invitation to join her? He wasn’t sure he could decline such an offer, not when it was proffered so sweetly and, dare he say it, sacrificially. Elias had no wish to interrupt her, but then perhaps he wasn’t when she had initiated it. “That would be pleasant,” he slowly nodded and gradually stepped back over the sand until he was but a pace from her – Flanna, it appeared, a pretty name – before he eased himself down at arm’s length from her. “I'm Elias... would I be right in assuming your name is Irish, as you may be?” He added as an inquisitive afterthought, intrigued by her accent and now her name as he glanced from Flanna to the sea and back again; it was not a name he had heard before.

[Flanna Kelly]

There was something in the man's eyes, perhaps a glint of some sort or a gleaming, that had told Flanna right off to trust him. Though she didn't trust men in general, she was possessed to trust this one. Knowing well that her father was a liar and a fake, Flanna was normally inclined to assume that all men were criminals and murderers and tragic characters, not unlike herself. She was the tragic Ophelia herself, who went crazy from misfortune and drowned herself. Perhaps it wouldn't come to that for Flanna. Perhaps she could find something else.

And this man, Elias apparently, was insanely handsome. Something inside of her wanted to stroke his hair, or to touch his face. He was perfect as a statue, with strong but soft features, and a god-like stature. What a man! If only she could have him act in one of her plays-perhaps she could write a comedy. She tried not to stare, but it was so hard not to. And his voice, it was nice too-oh, stop it, Flanna, lass. You'll never catch anyone like him. The voice in her head stopped her abruptly.

She blushed bright red and said correctingly, "No, sir, I didn't mean that. It's just that-that I hardly know any other writers." She tried to cover her mistake, but that wasn't something she was good at off the paper. "But yessir, I do. And you... You don't seem like the kind of man to mind. You don't seem like a-" she should have stopped there, but no, "-stranger, sir. I'd like to know you." She immediately regretted being so forward, and wished she'd been a little less eager, for she knew that might be an instant put-off for this man that she didn't even think she had a chance with.

She looked up at Elias with eyes full of want, trying so desperately to hide the way she was beginning to feel. Anyway, she knew better. Men played with girls' hearts. They stole things. And all she felt for this man was lust, a feeling that would leave once she was torn from his presence. And torn was how it would feel.

He got closer at her invitation and she smiled for it. But he didn't sit down, and she frowned the while, fingering her quill with no intentions but to occupy her hand while she thought. When he did finally sit, it was a fair distance away, like he was wary of her. Was she something to be scared of? No, no. She was a McDowell and a rebel writer, but that was all. The name was hidden easily, and the writing did no harm. "Hi, Elias," she smiled. "Yes, Irish I am. Flanna Kelly's my whole name. I'm just a simple Irishwoman, really. What of you, Elias? What do you do for a living?" She smiled sweetly and hoped she'd not frightened him away already.

STATUS complete TAG Elias ATTIRE HERE!
LYRICS Heaven Forbid; The Fray NOTES no notes (:
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Deleted]

The way in which Flanna flushed nearly the same shade as her bright red hair in response to Elias caused him to smile. She was so endearing in her mannerisms and a part of him suddenly felt a twang of guilt for his teasing, gentle though it had been. Normally he was such a formal conversationalist, rarely indulging in frivolities of any kind, but with a pretty girl at an arm’s length from him it appeared to be bringing out his youth, something that had long been buried.

And pretty she definitely was. Though he was now sitting alongside Flanna, Elias couldn’t stop glancing at her every time that the soft breeze flew a thick strand of her flame-red hair forwards. Hair of such colour was his weakness, it always had been, but there was almost a glow about her that caught his attention too; perhaps it was the sun on her skin, or maybe just his imagination becoming far too engrossed in the possibility that the girl was just as intrigued by him as he was by her.

“Indeed, I knew of few writers in these parts myself. Academics, yes. Playwrights, no.” He replied evenly, deciding it was better to skim over any awkwardness he may have caused her to feel. He didn’t want to augment it. Elias couldn’t refrain from crooking his eyebrow at her in curiosity though, intrigued to say the least, and a great deal charmed. So used to a professional manner as he was that someone wishing to get to know him was almost beyond Elias’ comprehension; his daily routine was quite literally the same every day, and socialising rarely ever graced it. He knew, however, without even checking to consult his mind what his heart felt, and it was more than certainly tugging towards getting to know Flanna too. “I should like that as well.” He replied with little hesitation, wondering instantly if he had sounded too forward. It was one thing being friendly, another being blatant, “If you are certain.”

He dearly hoped that she had not changed her mind, for something about her had captivated his attention and he was more than ready to listen to the sweet lilt of her Irish voice for the rest of the day if able. A small smile worked its way up onto his lips as the stories that his father had so often told him as a child of kelpies, harpies and sirens jumped forwards into his mind; he had found Flanna on the beach, after all. It would be a pretty way to go, though, he thought to himself, trying to remove the amused smile from his face as she answered him.

“I am a local physician. Hence the, er, herb picking.” Elias grinned slightly, his gaze faltering in slight embarrassment for collecting his own supplies. He knew he could send someone out to do it, if he wished to pay the wage, but there was no guarantee of quality, and nor would he get to enjoy his solitary walks. And upon that reflection, he knew he had all the more reason to get to know Flanna. “Do you manage to make a living from writing? I don’t mean for that to sound offensive, miss,” he added quickly, “but female writers are in very short supply. Or... do you have other means?” Elias posed tentatively, wondering as to if she was in fact just a bored married girl with a hobby. He had been down this route before.

[Flanna Kelly]

Flanna caught Elias's fleeting glances in her peripheral vision, and the corners of her mouth turned up in a small smile. She couldn't help but sneak looks at him as well, for he was a fine, attractive man, clearly well-learned, and as charming as a sweet-talking highwayman (she would know, being a MacDowell). She wanted to tell him that she was falling for him, but that would be silly seeing as they had just met and she hardly knew him. Anyway, as she had deduced earlier, it was only lust and there wasn't going to be such a thing as love between her and a man until she knew and trusted him with everything she was.

Maybe she'd find that man someday. Hell, maybe it was Elias. But she had to test that first, and test him, and test her beliefs. She heard his statement on writers, true it was, but she could only say, "Mhm," while biting her lower lip. She was afraid that if she spoke, she'd say something that would make Elias think less of her, something too forward or lustful. Her mind was not exactly pure. She smiled at how formal and professional Elias spoke, and was almost inspired to pull out her books then and there and create a new character for a better play, centered around the aura of Elias, the object of her desire. She smiled sensually, caught herself, and corrected the smile to a sweet one. "I-euh-of course, I do. You're an intriguing man, Elias." She smiled, her eyes warm.

And oh, was she captivated by that smile of his. Not only was he handsome, he was even more so when he smiled, for his eyes lit up and everything about him radiated benevolence. This was not a normal man, Flanna knew that much. But she also knew that criminals were good at being exceedingly convincing (again, she would know) and kind, at first. She hoped, deep within her heart, that this wasn't so with Elias. She wanted to fall in love, and right now, she wanted to fall in love with him. Crazy? Yes. Dramatic? Sure. Poetic? Definitely.

A physician? Very nice. He was indeed well-learned. Likely much more so than Flanna. She knew the ways of the world; he knew a world of ways. She smiled again. He was so charming. "So if I were to tell you something had been ailing me...?" she asked innocently, all the while making an attempt to be nearer him. But when she realised how she must look-like a loose woman-she stopped and blushed again. Thankfully, he'd said more. Flanna recovered by replying, "Somehow, sire, I do. I've only got myself and my writings, but we've made it alright. Not as well as-nevermind that. Yes. Do you like dramas, Elias?" she smiled, also glad she'd caught herself from speaking of her time in Ireland. She wasn't a MacDowell anymore. She was a Kelly.

STATUS complete TAG Elias ATTIRE HERE!
LYRICS Heaven Forbid; The Fray NOTES no notes (:
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Deleted]

Elias glanced sideways as Flanna paused, biting her lower lip in apparent thought. What those thoughts were he could only guess, but for some reason he hoped they were not too critical of his former words to her. He could not think why they would have caused her any offense – they were all but innocent, stating the obvious – but for once in his life he found himself craving the approval of a stranger. Albeit a pretty stranger, he had to admit that.

As he fleetingly glanced at her again, however, he caught sight of the little smile gracing her lips and instantly shook any doubt from his mind, He was being ridiculous – worrying about the approval from a woman he barely knew like this. It was enough to make him give her a proper look though, enough to take in the very light dusting of freckles upon her pale skin, and it was at that point that Elias noted the shift of her smile from one sense to another. He couldn’t place the true intention of it, but it came to him as warm and sweet in its nature. He smiled back, glad that so far he did not seem to be putting her off.

“I am almost certain that intriguing is the last thing I am, miss.” Elias replied in humble amusement. He was just a simple physician, and an even simpler man. Nevertheless, Flanna’s interest in him was flattering for it was something he didn’t often experience, and the fact that such attention was coming from a girl of near ethereal beauty was altogether rather gratifying. It ensured he couldn’t stop the grin coming to his face at her question.

“If you were to tell me some such thing, then I would be obliged to see to you, to make sure you were okay.” He answered her, sure that the tops of his cheeks were growing warm with slightly less than pure thoughts. He couldn’t say what had prompted them, maybe just his own wording, but he immediately chastised himself for them and quietly cleared his throat. “Oh, that is good. I do like dramas, yes, I must confess. The fight for love or justice betwixt good and evil always captures my attention. Probably because there is a great deal more interest in those than my own life.” Elias chuckled quietly, although secretly rather glad of that. He had witnessed more than enough of his own drama first-hand.

[Flanna Kelly]

Och, and this man was charming! Flanna didn't honestly have much experience with men, besides the ones she grew up around, and, well, those weren't always the greatest (no--Carson was a hero; it was her father and his friends that were to blame for her doubts in men. Her other two brothers had often been with her father, and in her mind, they were no better than he. Only Carson. Just him. He was a god.) Flanna, remembering her dear brother, stole another glance at Elias. Men weren't usually this honest with her--after all, she was but a woman, and women didn't usually attain any sort of respect in the eyes of most men. They were material--tools for heir-making and obediant housewives.

Looking at him, Flanna couldn't help but adore Elias. He was gentle in his manner, and soft in his words. He was vulerable in his facial expressions--in a way, he seemed tender. Almost--och, no, Flanna. Mustn't think those things. Elias. He was observant; he was intelligent; he was honest. That was a rare combination in any sort of person, man or else. And to be paired with a face like his, it was very becoming.

She almost lost herself in his soft stare. He spoke with no confidence, but it was sweet. "I beg to think differently. I think a simple man is the most intriguing, desirable thing there is--you're no court-minded man, I think. Wrong may I be but..." He got the point. He was unlike those who courted women for the challenge of courting them, chasing them, solely for the Arthurian appeal of pride. Anyway, he had to be genuine. Flanna wasn't beautiful, she knew, even though she'd only seen herself in a looking glass a couple of times. But she had some of her father's features--his hair especially--and she could never view that as beautiful, especially on herself, the daughter of one of Ireland's most hated men.

Oh, and he played along. How charming; his cheeks flushed nearly as hers had, and she was drawn in yet more by it. What a man, this Elias. "As would a good medicine man," she smiled gently moving a hand to brush a piece of his hair, "I'd like to--" Caught herself. Again. She was caught up in the sensual rapture of her dramas; she was never like this in public. Trying to drain the unclean thoughts from her mind, Flanna dropped her hand and nearly choked on her words. Good and evil--the description of her family. "I--yes--me too. I don't write comedies nor romances," she admitted quietly, "but histories and tragedies. I can only write what I know." Perhaps she'd said too much, but Flanna wasn't too worried. Something made her want to trust Elias.

STATUS complete TAG Elias ATTIRE HERE!
LYRICS Heaven Forbid; The Fray NOTES no notes (:
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras

[Deleted]

A sense of flattered amusement settled across Elias’ shoulders at Flanna’s contrary words. He couldn’t say he was truly inclined to believe them, not when he considered himself about as intriguing as one of the scalpels that occasionally graced his workroom, but then he had always tried so rigidly to keep both himself and his life simple since his court days.

Yes, life at court had always been turbulent, whether in Sol or neighbouring Tyrian. The degree of deceit had been at an all time high with the continual employment of spies, and Elias suspected that it still was; all in all, he was rather glad to reduce himself to a simple physician again, tending to the courts only when he was called upon. Besides, he would not have found himself sitting upon the soft sand alongside Flanna had he not chosen to take that necessary step back.

“I am no man of the court now, no. And I certainly try not to trouble my mind with such matters – I do not think I was cut out for it.” He replied evenly, neither feeling joy nor remorse at the statement. It had been a fast paced life, and – at times – a very dangerous one at that. It was only as Elias belatedly processed her words in his head that they really registered with him though. Desirable? Surely Flanna could not possibly mean... No. He was not desirable. If such were the case then he was sure he would have been married by now, although, as he had been sagely informed by his sister, he was married to his profession.

Nevertheless, Elias shrugged lightly to himself as he looked out across the beach. Courting in any sense was beyond both his desires and capabilities; his work and studies had kept his rapt attention thus far, although the exceedingly pretty redhead beside him was certainly challenging that. Flanna was very clearly intelligent and knowledgeable in her own right – commendable in Elias’ book – and yet she didn’t let that overpower how soft mannered and shy she was too – even more admirable. For once in his adult life he was sure that he had been utterly captivated by the mere presence of a woman. She was, dare he say it, enchanting. Elias felt foolish at the notion though, he barely knew Flanna, and yet he was so undeniably wishing to draw closer to her.

He momentarily caught the sensation of movement as he looked back at the Irishwoman and, for a brief second, he found himself pondering whether or not he had imagined her slender fingers moving closer to him. Perhaps it was some kind of wishful thinking. He blinked the tiny frown of contemplation from his brow and instead looked at her with curiosity.

“You would like to...?” Elias ventured, intrigued. He was swiftly distracted though, as was so easily possible at times. “Ah, I am both sides of the coin – I very much enjoy tragedies as well as comedies. Romances, however, I do not have the time for either. You... You say you know tragedy though. Please, tell me to mind my own business, by all means, but I do not see the lines of tragedy so etched upon your face as I have others. A young woman such as yourself must surely be in the prime of your life and experiencing at least some joy or romance, no?”

[Flanna Kelly]

It was funny, really. Elias was almost difficult for Flanna to read. Usually, or so she thought, she understood a man's body language, but Elias was puzzling her. Something of either relief or gladness passed over his torso, but she couldn't place where the feeling lay in the range of intensity. His eyes, she tried to read those too, but instead she ended up lost in their complexity, drawn to him. She should probably stop there, but no. She tried to read his hands. But they seemed to be more or less stationary, in his lap, and from there, the rest of his body wasn't exactly pure to think about....

Flanna realized what she was doing and moved her gaze back to his face, his raven hair, his dark eyes... Och, this would never go away, would it? She shook her head slightly to clear her head of whatever thoughts she could. A few strands of fiery locks fell in front of her eyes, and she pushed them back behind her ears, though they naturally fell again. It was of no use, her unruly hair, and sometimes she hated it. Again, she tried to explain what was going on behind his eyes to herself, but she was lost as far as navigating Elias's thoughts. Finally, she realized that she didn't know him. She couldn't do that like she thought she could. He wasn't a shallow man, like oh so many others; he was cryptic and much more profound than just appearances.

She smiled at this complexity, in spite of herself. She almost liked it; Elias was a mystery. It was an alluring asset. "You've too much sense, I think. And beyond that, too much to think about... Please pardon me if I read you wrong, Elias, but you seem so much richer a heart than any man I've met." That might be a stretch, though. Carson was a deep man. Okay, no. Not deep--just strong. Just honest. Just brave. Elias was something more. He was darkly mysterious. And Flanna couldn't help but like that. A fresh flushing of red rose to her cheeks, and she tried to turn to conceal it with the sunlight, but was still certain Elias had seen.

Looking again, she wondered what he was thinking. Was he fighting himself? He looked locked in thought, very deep thought. Flanna was more and more attracted to him, and suddenly, a very scary thought crossed her mind, flashing plain as day across her face in horror. What if Elias was married? The thought bothered her so much that she thought briefly to act on it, but simply couldn't bring her timid self to do anything. It was a terrifying wondering.

Oh, he noticed. Drochrath air! But now that Flanna had wondered about his relationships, she may as well let it out. Mustering her bravery, she replied softly, "I'd like to see if you could heal me." She let her hand go where it had wanted to this time, touching his black hair gingerly; it was soft. With a smile, glad for the aversion, Flanna went on, "I don't mind, Elias. With some men, I would, but--nevermind all that. I think I trust you, Elias. I am no stranger to tragedy. I have no romance, for no man would have me, nor have I joy, for-- well, I will tell you all about it, I will, if you can promise me that I can trust you."

She was so sure that she could, but she had to have his word. And again, that thought passed the brink of her mind, swimming there uneasily. She didn't like the thought of Elias with someone else, though she'd no reason to care.

STATUS complete TAG Elias ATTIRE HERE!
LYRICS Heaven Forbid; The Fray NOTES no notes (:
COPYRIGHT Flik of Roleplaying Extras