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[theartofruling]

“But I don’t even know what this is called. I just know a woman who practices knife throwing with balloons on the canvas and she hits the balloons, paint comes out and whatever it makes it makes.” Skai looked around their surroundings. “Sit me in your lap I can cuddle you like that.” Even though it was more so hugging, she didn’t care. She just wanted to wrap her arms around him for a long period of time, savoring this feeling rather than how he felt previous. “I hope so. I really do. But That also depends on how parenting goes. I don’t want to fuck them up.  One false move and suddenly I’m the reason my kid is on a path that paints me as their villain origin story.” She had a lot of worst case scenarios. They were in every thought she had about pregnancy.

Viggo smiled and shrugged, "art is subjective. Who knows more people might enjoy what you do, so I'd love to see what and who you pick." He held her hands tight and laughed, "I don't know if there is anywhere we could cuddle right now, but I'll take a hug. I'm sorry I worried you though. I worried myself then too." He laughed at her and nodded, "I'm sure whatever they are whether it is cute or scary they will be amazing, like you." Viggo smiled and shook his head, "it is scary, but you're gonna do great. I know not many people see it like I do but you are kind and caring and I know you're going to be an amazing parent."

[theartofruling]

“I’m not going to ask you another thing about that attack, because you spent thirty years away, and you didn’t even think maybe I should figure out why they turned me?” Skai headed to the living room. The one they actually used, past the one that was more for show. She plopped down on the plush couch. Glad to be home where any of the fake personality she put on for political favor could slip away. “Then stop worrying about how long you’ll live and actually get busy living. Death is uncertain for everyone.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know why it’s such a new concept that people die, even with long lifespans nymphs can die early a new day is guaranteed to no one. This isn’t a new concept. You’re just obsessing over it instead of trying to enjoy every day you’re lucky enough to get.” She nodded when he said he was making sure to see his parents once a week. “While you were away, were you keeping tabs on us all? Or do I need to give you the rundown of what you missed in my life?”

Torben shrugged, "I don''t know. I guess they could tell I was a good candidate or something? I didn't ask." Torben sighed and gave a nod, "thank you." He followed her with his head a little dropped one person that could make him feel small besides Evren was Skai. They had kept him straight more times than not when they were younger. "Working, laying low. I don't, I have no clue how long I'll live." He shrugged, "Whose to say I won't drop dead tomorrow though? I hope not but.. I don't know maybe that's what I was waiting on all that time." He continued to follow her before plopping down on a chair and shaking his head, "apology tour. Started with dad, I couldn't face mom yet." He sighed, "still hard to look at her but I've been trying to see them once a week."

[theartofruling]

“It might take a while to get back to us. But I want to make those steps. I miss that girl that tried to act like she had no interest in me, when everyone and their moms knew she wanted me.” He kissed her cheek. His hand still on her bottom, giving it a squeeze. “Depends, do you want your gifts before or after dinner?” He asked, giving her the option. Adrik closed the distance between them once more, giving her a soft, lingering kiss. “You’re always my favorite choice of dessert. Don’t get me started, I’m trying hard not to get revved up.” He smirked, kissing her once more. 

Adrik headed back to the bedroom, smiling as he took in the dinner and bed set up. She tried at romantic and he loved the effort. “We had a similar idea.” He sat the bags down momentarily to walk over and gather her in his arms for a tender kiss. His hands roamed into her robe, appreciating every inch of her. He massaged her breasts, his hand roaming over her stomach, and around to grip her her ass before giving it a smack. He had to stop himself from getting carried away. He forced himself to pull away. “I don’t want to get carried away yet. I have an idea, because I feel like you and I have been getting lost in the shuffle. I want us to reconnect. Just talk, no sex, no orgasms, just reconnecting for a while before we get to the sex. I don't know if you've been feeling it too, but I don't want us to look up and time has passed that we just don't feel this anymore. I miss my girl. Yes I see you every day, and all the time sometimes at work too. But I miss you. Not leader of the Valkyrie, not mom Svala. I miss Svala the person. I want to meet her again. What do you say?” he placed another soft kiss on her lips. His hands were itching to roam more, but he denied them and himself he gratification.

[theartofruling]

Rik laughed. “He did take after me. Yes. He was raised to always take off his folks. Whether it be a one night stand or something serious. I taught him not to be an asshole.”  His brow rose and he cocked his head to the side, studying her. “Might be a good idea to change things up a little, huh? Can’t always stay the same and fall back on the same things. Tell me, Kat, when was that last time?” Rik shook his head. “You might be refusing to give in, but don’t you see that means you’re letting that shit win? You’re not going to move forward b/c you’re stuck in denial. You don’t grow from hiding from your feelings you stay stagnant. Trust me, one of my relationships is stagnant because we’re stuck avoiding something that would make us both vulnerable and we have been for the past five ish years now. You get lost in monotony hiding from the feelings. That promise you made yourself has you living half a life because you've spent your time hiding parts of yourself away from everyone, even yourself."

“Oh it definitely did, but I’m very tame now compared to my single days. It’s good to know he’s being the man I raised.” Adrik knew that Kat wasn’t dealing as well as she let on. “You know using your words doesn't make you a victim, talking about it helps you get through it. Keeping it in and fighting through it alone doesn’t make you stronger or help you in the long run. It just makes you seem like an emotionless robot who keeps the people closest to you at arm’s length. Why did it bother you, Kat?”

[theartofruling]

Who: Alden + Jakovan @gvldntrbl

Where: Westland Palace

Alden had made this trek and had meetings with Jakovan quite regularly when he thought that he was a witch and first discovered he was immortalem. Although he didn't have much information for what he did provide helped him much more than Jakovan knew. Now he was here to ask of him something else. This time though, it was in his wheelhouse. This time it was actually about magic.

He smiled when he was led to where Jakovan would be conducting the meeting with him. "Hey, thank you so much for meeting with me. How are you?" he asked, not wanting to jump right into business. "This time I'm coming to you with some actual magic questions. I also have a non magic question as well, or rather an invite to give you."

[theartofruling]

Who: Alden + Evren @gvldntrbl

Where: Haven Palace

Alden had to get some more information on his family tree, and since his grandfather was no longer available to help him. He hoped that maybe he had some things like a journal or had left him a letter or really anything to help him to find out who great grandfather might be. It would help him to narrow it down to be able to locate one of the immortalem originals to at least speak to him. He didn't know if he would be able to get any information out of him, but he at least hoped that maybe an appeal to him would help.

When he was let into the palace and led to the meeting room where Evren was, he bowed to show respect for her. "Thanks for meeting with me. How are you? I hope you're adjusting well to the position. What I want to talk to you about is...sensitive, and if possible less people as possible knowing about what I have to inform you of and ask of you, the better."

[theartofruling]

“You’ve never heard of if at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again?” He asked, his eyebrow lifted. “So you’d want to just be able to forget everything in your life including the people who care about and love you. Watch them recognize you while you don’t know them at all? You act like you don’t have family.” Alden snorted. “I think if you want to be a good dad, you can search out that stuff and actually try. Some people don’t have the want to be a good dad in the slightest. So watching my content wouldn’t help. Besides, I didn't even have a dad in my life so who knows if I'm doing any of this right?” 

"Definitely two completely different things." She shrugged, "because everything I ever tried to do just crashed. That's the hard part, turning it into something else." She smiled and shook her head at him, "is it wrong to say that actually doesn't sound so bad? Not from my perspective anyway. I get it with you. The family. The kids. Leaving them behind and stuff all things you wouldn't wanna do." She sighed, "you're a good dad. Too bad we can't make like tutorials with you for other dad's or something."

[theartofruling]

It wasn’t the way he planned on proposing, but it was a uniquely them moment. They met and connected through reckless intimacy and wild moments, conceived one of their children the same way. What better way than to complete the circle by getting engaged while spontaneously having sex. “You’re already mine forever,” he said, as he continued to drive her over into bliss. “You always have been mine, since the moment we met.” Her climax, took his breath away as she grew tighter around him. “Fuck,” he groaned out, hips rocking with more force as his muscles tensed. He thrust deeper into her, chasing that warmth of her tight center as he came undone. “We definitely got to go to this reservation baby. You think we can get there, or do you think we need just one more time before we’re ready?”

His hips rocked in a steady rhythm as she begged him to stay like that. He weighed the options of if it was worth the risk, and knew that although this was incredible with her right now, she still deserved her moment. At this point. she would get two moments. He lifted her gaze to his, ignoring how good she felt wrapped around him in the moment. “I’m going to do this again the right way, but will you marry me, Vada? Tell me you want to be Mrs. Michael’s.” He buried his face into the crook of her neck as his pace quickened, waiting for her answer.

[theartofruling]

“I think it might hurt too much. My life has been defined by losing people. I’ve had other parents. Twice. None as great as our parents. But I think it would kill me to know they’re out there and they just don’t remember. I’ve seen that look and dealt with it with Zinnia’s bio dad. I can’t deal with it again. Finding you was enough for me too.” Beau’s want to be a vampire had long passed. But the gesture was sweet. “I detest what I am at times, but I’ve grown to be one of the most vital people to helping others with this. Like an immortalem encyclopedia of sorts. I don’t think I could give it up and still be able to help the same way.” 

Beau burst into laughter. “I can’t promise I won’t forget who I’m talking to. Because there’s a big chance that I might forget again. You’re too easy to talk to now that we’re both adults,” she teased. Beau shrugged. “You can ask her. I’m not afraid. Besides I think she knows him well.” A smile touched her features. “But have you ever thought that maybe if worrying is the problem you should maybe stop worrying? Just a thought. And I doubt you’ll have to live without her. Fate gave me the losing hand in love, so at least one of us can keep their mates. I hope it works that way.” 

Markus gave a nod, a part of him not wanting that but wondering. "I'd rather not, I have gained more than enough family for the moment. If you ever want to we can, but I think having you is more than enough." He sighed, "I have yet to turn anyone, but." He shook his head realizing just how much he would break that vow for his sister, "I remember how much you wanted this and how it seemed so odd to me. I would do it for you."

Markus' brow rose at his sister, "whatever was running through your head just now, don't ever let that come out again." He smiled and gave a laugh, "Fine, you can pick them. A guy? From the Emergent in the Forest? I'm gonna ask Iris about him you know that right?" Markus shrunk in her grasp but nodded, "That's the thing, she won't complain because she knows I'm already worried. I'm even more worried because I know she won't complain." He held her hands and smiled, "I am more than in love with her. I couldn't live without her."

[theartofruling]

Beau rolled her eyes, “That must be for Jacen to believe because I had you in may mouth when we met and I barely knew your name,” she pointed out with a smirk.  With Torben behind her, leaning over her to kiss Jacen, she couldn’t fight the way her hips ground against Jacen and her ass against Torben. “That was fucking hot,” she admitted, gathering some paint to trace along Jacen’s abs before her paint covered fingers trailed along Torben’s jawline, pulling him into a searing kiss. Beau took one of Torben’s paint covered hands and one of Jacen’s guiding them up her torso and under her top. She reached behind her to untie it and toss it aside. “I’m okay with being the brains of the operation. Fantasies are running wild right now, if you couldn’t tell.” But she knew they could. Both wolves with extra sensory everything could definitely hear her racing pulse and smell her arousal. “You two can try to overthrow me. In fact, go ahead, do it. I dare you,” she said, challenge and excitement in her gaze. 

Jacen laughed at their back and forth banter, and interjected, “The first time we officially hung out you also stripped before dinner so…are you telling us after this you want dinner?” He asked in jest. Just one kiss wasn’t nearly enough as he caught Torben’s chin between his fingers pulling him in for a deeper kiss. He practically moaned into his mouth as Beau started grinding against him.   His paint covered hand, gripped her ass, leaving a hand print just before she took one of each of their hands and guided them to her breasts. “She does have some incredible fucking plans. But if you want to orchestrate a not so hostile takeover, does that make you our new leader if we succeed? I think we can do that.” He bit his lip, his free hand gliding along Torben’s side while the two kissed and his other hand massaged Beau’s breast, lips trailing along her neck. Other parts of him had forgotten the painting goal with the sound of racing pulses and heartbeats and the scent of arousal in the room. The lust was heavy within the three of them.  

Beau looked from one to the other, momentarily wondering if she was about to enjoy the hell out of her night the way she thought she would. She tried to tamp down on her excitement but she was in the presence of two wolves who could hear her heart racing and could most definitely use their heightened sense of smell to know that her mind went to more than just painting. “Well, he is already shirtless,” she pointed to Jacen. “I feel overdressed.” She rid herself of her shirt and her shorts. She was wearing a bikini she didn’t mind getting paint on. “Benny, strip!” She joked before going over to grab the paint, trying to decide what she wanted to draw on these two mighty fine canvases. She chose Jacen, “I need you to sit down for this.” When he did she straddled him, drawing a full moon on his chest. When she looked up to see Torben shirtless and ready, she beckoned him over and behind her, taking his hand with her non painted one. She guided his hand to her upper thigh. “Benny, you think you can draw me something pretty here?” She leaned back against him to capture his lips in a lingering kiss.  “I didn’t forget you, let’s see how well I can multitask.” She leaned in to kiss Jacen as she drew half moons around the full moon she drew.” When she pulled away, she looked from one to the other, “Your turn,” she  gestured to the two of them. 

Jacen chuckled when the woman straddled him. His hands instinctively went to her hips to steady her. He could tell without looking what she was drawing and even chuckled when she drew the full moon. He had to bite his lip when she invited Torben over to join them. He grabbed a thin paint brush. “Mind if I add to this canvas, while she adds to mine?” He asked Torben. He drew a half sun peaking out of Torben’s waistband when she directed them that it was their turn to kiss. “Did we agree that she was the boss?” He asked, chuckling. Though her lips went to his neck and she guided his hand to her ass over her very cheeky bottoms and he was ready to do whatever she said. “I think, we should do whatever she says,” he said, changing his stance, beckoning Torben over.  

[theartofruling]

Beau reached out and tugged on his shirt, teasingly. “How could you possibly be the one that’s worried about getting messy when you have a toddler to get you and her messy with ease?” She chuckled. “I almost made a dirty joke about you having an aversion to getting down and dirty, but I refrained.” She shrugged, her brow raising. “You might have and just never knew. Aside from a few ability differences, we appear no different than humans.” Now that was something she could understand. “Considering I only have one child, I can relate to that. I gave Z all my love. You sure though? Isn’t a part of being the prince helping to extend your family’s line?” Beau’s curiosity got the better of her in asking that. “I’m glad she does love me. I’d be heartbroken if she didn’t like me.” She looked at Scarlett. “What do you want to do, pretty girl? Something that will keep you two clean I assume?” She said, that more toward Viggo. “I am. My version of partying is a lot more wild than this, but it’s a nice relaxing time. Can’t go wrong on the beach. Or well maybe you two can since these outfits might get dirty. What can we do that will eliminate all of that worry?” 

"She's not the concern really. It's me," he laughed. "I won't be shocked if she gets messy though." Viggo's brow rose and he nodded, understanding now why Scarlett was so attached to Beau, "Now it makes since." He smiled, "I don't think I've met an immortalem before, but I'm glad to know that Scarlett here has one that loves her so." Viggo smiled and ran a finger over Scarlett's cheek, "she's probably the only one for me. I don't think I could love another as much as I love her. I can see how she would change your mind though." He chuckled at Scarlett's laughter and continued walking. "Well, as long as she loves you I will enjoy anytime we have with you. Are you enjoying everything, by the way?"

[theartofruling]

She writhed at the hypothetical prospect of constant opportunities for sex. “Fuck don’t tempt me with the prospect of  nonstop fucking you.” If there was one thing she enjoyed it was sex. In her new, no worries, caution to the wind, lifestyle she enjoyed every last minute of no strings attached physical intimacy with another person. If she thought the pressure building before was something,  when he started teasing her clit, she was barely holding on. Her nails raked against his back and her center gripped him even tighter. Her muscles tensed for the eventual release. She tried to hold back, to give him that satisfaction of hearing her beg for it. She knew he liked his ego stroked about as much as he enjoyed having his dick stroked. “Please, Benny, I want to come all over your big dick. Please tell me I can show you how good you make me feel.” She moaned into his kiss, nipping at his bottom lip, knowing that even without his permission, she was going to come for him, because the asshole was purposely making it increasingly hard to hold it. She buried her face into the crook of his neck and her nails dug into the flesh of his back as she tried to suppress screams of pleasure as she came undone. Her orgasm washed over her in waves. She captured his lips in a hungry kiss as she rode out her orgasm. “I’m definitely taking you home with me tonight,” she said after recovering the ability to speak coherently. 

Beau bit her lip at his words. “You couldn’t handle me wet like this for you all the time. You’d never get anything done but me.” Even though the moment she saw him her body reacted and arousal was almost instant. She moaned as he pressed against her. Beau was more than eager to feel him filling her. “We need to talk about that later because I would say yes to anything when you’re inside me.” When he teased her, she groaned. “Fucking tease,” she said as she captured his lips in a searing kiss. She moaned into the kiss as he entered her. “Fuck yes, you more than earned that fucking name Big Dick Ben.” Her center welcomed him by tightening around him. The pace he set made all the teasing worthwhile. “Yes,” she moaned, not even sure if she was agreeing to the punchcard being just for her of just how good he felt pounding into her. Beau knew the pace he set would have her coming faster than she anticipated, but she wasn’t in the slightest ashamed of the incredible way he made her body feel. “Don’t stop. Don’t you dare stop, Benny,” she moaned out her request, her nails digging lightly into his back as her moans grew louder with each thrust. 

[theartofruling]

Who: Isabeau + Kat @ocean-eyeslnrp

Where: Secret Garden in Northland Falls

Beau had completed the inventory list after working diligently and not allowing herself to get distracted at all. She saved the bar's inventory for last considering that they were still open and wanted to disturb the least amount of people as possible. After they were done with the usual duties for the night, she sat on the corner of the bar farthest from the patrons of their establishment. Kat was sitting in front of her. "We made quick work of everything tonight! That has to be a first." She put the checklist up so she could enjoy some of the free time they had. "It's rare that we have time to just enjoy being here. Plus, I've missed you, Kitty Kat." Beau caressed her cheek and leaned in to kiss her. "How have you been?" This week their schedules had been very separate. Though they communicated daily, it was different to seeing her just as often.

[theartofruling]

“I’m assuming you mean staying over in the most innocent sense possible?” she clarified to make sure she had the full scope of the matter. “What would be your worst case scenario?” Her brow rose. “I’m sorry for your loss, but your parents aren’t here to make choices for you now. Looks like you’re free to make your own choices?” 

Aila slowly nodded, "a little. With Eli coming by a lot and staying over. Well Seb asks questions." Aila shook her head at the thought of revealing it. "I don't want it to change things for the worst. The best wouldn't be so bad, its the worst I worry about." She shrugged, "when mom and dad were looking for suitors, I hated it. I didn't get to make a choice. I hated that. I wanted a choice. I want that future but not like that."

[theartofruling]

“I promise, it will be softball things that paint you out as a family man, but doesn’t completely erase the image of your sternness or strength.” Her favorite thing was to play around with different options in giving him a softer image while maintaining that touch exterior. “That could be the first time you’re seen together? Do you think maybe the offer to remain allies is in your speech and you two can shake hands? Maybe she offers to think about it? The romantic in me envisions after your speech you ask her to dance and it’s this beautiful symbolism of change in the air without saying a word post speech and without her making that final decision yet. That one would get people talking and really do more than a handshake would. It would garner trust. Her body language would signal relaxation and trust. Yours would signal no intent to harm and no malice. The nymphs wouldn’t feel any fear from her nor anger from you. It would be a beautiful start to your new era.”

She nodded, remembering his initial stance on hybrids. “Welcome to the right side of history. We can definitely work on that, and work stay on that unity message by not just saying it but showing it as well.” Roxy nodded, agreeing that the heights could definitely be their way to work towards going public eventually. “I think once we work on that message of wanting her to remain allied with the heights, we can get you two seen working together regularly without issue. And eventually this message of who you were and where you stood when the decisions about taking a nymph were made will help your optics. And it could even work toward your acceptance by the nymphs, but you two have a long road ahead, and I need you to keep it cordial and professional, no eye fucking or sly caresses until the public is ready for that.”

Markus nodded, "I will give you whatever good press you want. It tends to come easy with Rowan and the girls, the good look anyway." He smiled, and then began listening to her. He nodded once he had listened and smiled, "I also need assistance when we take the Heights." His brow raised, "Iris has been warned but uh... Forest and the Heights are allies. Perhaps we can work that into the celebration to unite our realm?" He raised a hand, "I also want your opinion, as a hybrid not as my public relations person. How should I go about the Heights and what needs to happen there to make Hybrids feel appreciated?" He shrugged and smiled at her, "when we met, I thought it was they deserved they own space. Now I realize I have more to worry about and that was selfish. I'd like for the people around that are hybrids to feel connection. I'd like my daughter who will be a hybrid to have that connection to a community that Rowan and I may not be able to give her." He sighed, "I'm serious when I want unity. I just have not been the best at it in the past." He shook his head, "back to Iris and I, I would assume with the taking of The Heights we can work on merging our allies. This could be the moment for me and Iris to appear to make amends." His brows pulled together, "I was very much just a soldier, I worked my way into nobility with that. I had nothing to do with nymphs being taken though. I hated it, even before our bond was awakened, I hated what happened to Iris, but I hated what she did more."

[theartofruling]

Roxy grinned. “That depends on if you want to see me around more. Especially since a soon to be fiancée should see her spouse to be regularly.” She chuckled along with him. Their farce of an engagement would be fun to play out, and them hanging out would only fuel and fan the rumor mill. 

“Are you afraid of heights?” She wondered. “We should. But, are you truly a party person, or was that not really your scene? The body shots only are enjoyable if you’re comfortable in a clubbing setting. Otherwise, we can do body shots at one of our homes.” While she enjoyed clubs, partying and dancing, she knew that it wasn’t necessarily everyone's scene. “Okay, I’m trusting you. Let’s do it. No touching underneath. Okay. I’m following your lead.” They were just fish, she didn’t know why she was slightly scared but she calmed down once Viggo promised they would touch the sting ray together. The fish was seemingly harmless, and she was a hybrid, she could move faster than the fish regardless. Her nerves were fully calmed with that reasoning in her head.

Viggo smiled, "so I should expect to see you around more?" He leaned in with a smile and whispered, "guess it's fitting since you're my soon to be fiancee." He laughed straightening himself.

Viggo nodded, "I can see that. I don't think I would ever think sky diving is romantic though." He laughed at her snort but smiled, holding her hand a little tighter. "We'll have to try them again then, the not sad version." His brows rose and he shook his head as they made their way over to the tank and he pointed at the kids doing it. "no you'll be fine, I promise." He said taking her hand, "I'll give you some hugs anyway, I might need them too but I liked doing it when I was a kid." He smiled before easing her closer to the water and a sting ray, "just don't touch the underneath and we should be fine. We'll do it together."

[theartofruling]

“I was indecisive honestly. I hadn’t been eating much before and my body is definitely making up for it now. So I was caught between wanting pizza with extra o negative sauce or some AB Positive wings.” Roxy’s stomach growled just thinking about it. “I’m just getting back into the swing of life.” She nodded at the mention of two of her favorite people. “It was. Her quick thinking gave me a reason to at least live and put one foot in front of the other, and keep trying. She stayed with me after everything. Made sure I was eating enough to survive since my appetite wasn’t the best.”  When she asked how she had been adjusting, she didn’t know if adjust had been the best word for what she was doing.  “I think I’m doing okay. I’m trying to enjoy life and find some positives in it. And not think of what happened. Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but now throwing myself back into work. I’m trying to take more advantage of life and relationships and appreciate it, I guess. Life that is. I don’t really know I’m saying all these optimistic things and there are still days when I’m afraid to leave my house.” 

“I guess it is harder when you have something to lose.” She could only empathize, because she didn’t really have a way to relate to that. Roxy didn’t have as much at stake as Daphne did. She couldn’t imagine the feelings that came with knowing that you could have in an instant been taken away from everything you love.  When she mentioned the wedding she was helping to plan, Roxy asked, “What’s it feel like? For someone to love you back in the same way you love them?” She shook her head. “I’m sorry if that’s an invasive question. I’ve never…had that. Romantically and only friend wise with Geneva. It just seems like it would be nice. To have that kind of feeling.” She bit the inside of her cheek to remind herself to get a grip. “Enlightening how?” She asked when Daphne mentioned that their time and Roxy’s morbid mental state wasn’t depressing. 

She breathed a sigh of relief. “With the exception of Iris, not a single first meeting of any of you have been exactly great first impressions. “Not at all. Drunken one night stand where overhearing a phone conversation gave them impressions that they hated hybrids. I met Viggo in a club, we did body shots and he was the saddest man I had ever met. And then you while we were kidnapped.” Roxy shook her head no. “No. No. I’m fine. The one blind date was great. I had fun. Second impressions? Viggo is very sweet and fun to be around. Not as sad really. I think this time Iris's meddling was good because I probably wouldn’t have reached out considering our first meeting. But I guess that teaches me that second impressions could be much better than first impressions.” 

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"C'mon," Daphne steered the younger brunette towards the kitchens. Food, then maybe a more in-depth chat in the gardens afterwards. "Let's get you something to eat. We have a ton of hybrid friendly and infused options." With a literal hybrid Prince, the Palace always made sure to accommodate both him and any other vampiric species that visited. "What did you plan to grab on the way home? We have it made for you instead." She offered, opening the door to the kitchens and following Roxy inside. The earth nymph asked for a small snack and drink herself. At least to hold her over until dinner. "You suppose?" She asked, dark eyes looking Roxy over. "I heard that it was Geneva who asked Evren to rescue you." Daphne was relieved when the other nymph appeared alongside Iris after they were taken. She was truly concerned for the hybrid's welfare. Daphne still was. Although, she thought it was best to give Roxy some space since her rescue and recovery. So as to not remind her of the harsh reality of their kidnapping and its resulting impacts. "How've you been adjusting? Returning to your life afterwards?"

She hummed and a smile upturned Daphne's cheeks when Roxy interpreted her emotion correctly. "I am happy, yes. But I still have my moments. My days where I'm reminded that all of this-" Daphne glanced around the kitchen, indicating more than just the room they were in. "-that everything I love can be taken away. Like that." Even though she wouldn't release said life and those she loved without a fight. The nymph knew that there were those that were stronger, more powerful, than she. While everything was not exactly temporary, they weren't exactly permanent as well. Life, and all those in it, were in flux. No matter the stage of said fluctuations. Dark brown eyes landed on her hands, attention on her wedding ring and its matching band. "It's why, well, you're helping me and Iris plan our wedding." She continued, her right hand going to fiddle with the marriage rings on her left hand. Daphne's fingers fell away from her other hand with a small laugh at Roxy's question. "No, it's not. We'd been kidnapped and you were certain that no one would come for you. Of course talking about wanting to die would happen. It, sadly, was the perfect time to talk about it then. So no, I don't think it was depressing. It was more enlightening than anything."

Daphne chuckled again when Roxy's blind date was mentioned. "Hale?" She shook her head, glad for her snack to arrive and began to tuck in. "No, they seem quite attached with the person they're with, right now. So no. Plus, I don't meddle in their life like that. That's an Iris trait." She paused. "Which? Meeting them didn't go well?" A thought came to her. "Well, shit. Wasn't our first introduction our kidnapping?" Daphne asked, realization in her tone as she looked to Roxy. She hummed. "Maybe it does run in the family." Daphne mused in an interesting tone. "And why? Do you want me to set you up on another blind date? With a non-child of me and Iris's?"