#touchoffomicry

@touch-of-fomicry from here

Natalia thrashed weakly in Jade’s arms as the building and its inhabitants burned around them. The flames only made her feel as if her fever had intensified and was consuming her. The air was putrid with the smell of burning flesh, smoke threatening to overwhelm her already weakened lungs, and when she coughed or retched her raw throat was only abraded more. Her first gasp of fresh air made her head spin with relief, but the sunlight made her wail.

After a week in darkness, the bright light outside felt like knives stabbing into her eyes, and Natalia squeezed her eyes tightly shut against the blinding glare.

In the light of day, the princess hardly resembled the happy, carefree child she’d been only eight days before. Her skin, where it wasn’t bleeding, bruised, or blistered, was pale and clammy- save for the feverish flush on her cheeks. She was covered in dirt and old blood, dried sweat, vomit, and soot. Her nightgown- the same one she’d been wearing when she’d been taken- was torn and soiled beyond repair, ill-fitting after its wearer had dropped weight so quickly. The tiny fingers that clutched at Jade’s jacket were slicked with blood- flayed from where they’d clawed for mercy so many times.

Here lies Jade Balfour Curtiss.

Brenda didn’t really know what to do with the gifts. She had never had a suitor in her life, and Valentine’s was more of a quiet day to celebrate friendship and whatnot. But when the messenger came, bearing fresh flowers and such fine chocolates-- that her sister emphatically asked to be tested for poison before being delivered to the princess-- she really didn’t know what to do. Should she thank him as a friend? Not responding to such a kind gesture would be seen as incredibly rude. She read over the Prince’s letter, over and over again, before deciding that she wanted to give him at least a little something before the day was over. 

She took out pen and paper and began to write:

Hello Prince Jade, we do, indeed, celebrate Valentine's. However I'm ashamed to admit I lost track of time.--

She pursed her lips. No, no that wouldn’t do... She didn’t want to just admit that she had forgotten to send him a token of friendship on this day. She began to write another letter.

Dear Prince Jade, I wish you a very Happy Valentine’s Day. I am very grateful for all your many thoughtful gifts and attentions. I am quite happy that you thought of me on this special day. I have sent with your messenger my own gifts.

Yes. This was good... Now she just had to think of what sort of gift to give. She could give him chocolates. Or-- how about something that will give the Prince’s court something to gossip about? A peevish smile came to Brenda’s lips, when the opened a drawer and picked out one of her ribbons and a locket. Brenda tied up a small bit of her hair with the ribbon, and snipped it off.  She had heard about this in a story: about how a knight carried around a piece of his lady’s hair as a good luck charm. And once the messenger would arrive with this, she wondered just how would he react? He’d probably be worried. But all the ladies of the court would start gossiping away. And the thought of that was strangely satisfying.

I do hope that you don’t mind the gesture in this letter. I wanted to offer you something quite special, since unfortunately this gift might arrive a few hours later. You know how my father usually lets guests stay over the night before going on their way! I will enjoy making pressed flower bookmarks from the beautiful bouquet you gave me. 

With kindest regards, Princess Brenda Emily Stanford.

“If it’s something you can’t clearly remember, it probably didn’t go so well.” [ The Colonel admitted, sipping the rest of his tea. ] “…I’ve actually used that excuse to get out of work, once. Didn’t go over so well when a friend of mine found me out.”

20. “I feigned illness.”

[She explained, playing around with the rim of her teacup now that there wasn’t anymore tea left to drink.]

Get to know me!

16. Favourite movie?

[[Gingersnaps is the only one I can say for certain.]]

24. Baths or showers?

14. “Oh god, who did you knock up?”

It had been two years since their wedding and despite the fact that they had been blessed with a child, there were... unsavory rumors circulating the city. About how a certain member of the royal family didn’t truly care much for his wife and how she was so distant with him; that he had no choice but to seek to the companionship of ‘a warm-blooded women’ instead.

At first, she had tried to deny the rumor, thinking that it was just a silly and stupid idea started by the common folk without any true motivation other than boredom. Then, she tried telling herself that this royal individual could’ve simply been one of her husband’s uncles-- or maybe even Jade’s own father! 

However... What if it was true? What if Jade truly felt that she wasn’t nearly as engaging or as interesting as he hoped for? What if he had taken up a mistress-- what if he had a child with her? What if the one child they had wasn’t enough for him?