Once Upon a Time ... but will she live happily ever after ?

[DeliciousMaiden]

OOC Note:

Playing with a story idea which is a pseudo-fairy-tale.

My thanks to Steiner for agreeing to explore this with me!

DM


Melody:

http://www.threewisheslingerie.com/images/punkprincess.JPG

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Prologue:


Melody sighed as she glanced at the invitation that had been presented to her on a gold platter.

” … so if it is Your Highnesses pleasure … this … is the guest list … we will …”

Melody cut the man short snatching the paper from him.

”THIS is the list …?”

She repeated darkly her eyes scanning the ornate script for familiar names.

”This is supposed to be MY birthday party and … no … I don’t see anyone I want to invite … “

She screwed up the paper and threw it on the floor, striding past the flustered man and out onto the balcony and down the stairs leading to the garden.

How dare they!?!? She had a year of this already!
Ever since she had turned 18 there had been engagements, introductions, every attempt to put “eligible young men” her way.
A year of match making, of gentlemen ranging from her age to an age that surely must be close to that of her father in an effort to elicit any interest from the wayward Princess. And yet it had all been to no avail.

”Melody … what ARE you wearing…!?!?”

The princess turned, brought short by the imperious voice, yet her gaze was unrepentant.

”Mother!”

She strode into the conservatory where the Queen stood eyeing her daughter with disapproval.

”What can you mean by organising this … this fiasco of a birthday party …?”

A voice equally determined responded.

”You are to be 19. It is your duty to attend a ball given in your honour. The people will expect … “

Melody gave a decidedly unladylike snort of derision.

”The people, the kingdom … and what of what I want?!?”

Anger flashed in her eyes as mother and daughter came to the confrontation that had been slowly brewing for months.

”And … what is it that you do want my daughter …?”

Melody turned at the sound of her father’s voice, a voice that was heavy with patience and weariness.

”Father … “

She crossed the room and pressed a kiss to his cheek an action of genuine affection rather than mere duty.
She drew back and faced him squarely, calm once more.

”I … I don’t want to have to parade before people I don’t know, who mean nothing to me … and who only care about me because I’m the Princess …“

Not seeing the flicker of emotion that crossed her father’s face, she continued.

”I don’t want to have to meet “suitable” men … “

Men with status and money and who were locked in etiquette bored her … or perhaps it was merely because that they were considered appropriate that she rebelled and made up her mind not to like them …

” …what is the point in trying to pair me off with one of them … hell I can’t even choose my own friends anymore … “

She ranted, beyond the point of tact and reason.

”Everything I do is wrong these days … the way I dress … what I say … what I do … “

She ran out of steam realising that she was exaggerating, but still reluctant to take back the words and conform yet again.

”But what do you want …?”

Her father repeated, his calm tone spurring her to give a more considered answer.

”I want to be me … whatever that is … “

She stilled responding more thoughtfully.

”I spend all my time doing what you want me to do … or doing things just because they’re not what I should be doing … “

She confessed with a sigh.

”I want to make my own decisions about what I say and do ….”

Her words hung in the air, her frustration finally having been given voice.

”Then that’s what you shall have …”

Her father held her and kissed her before releasing her sadly.

”You will always be a Princess, but it is for you to find your way now … “

So saying he drew away from her.

” Be safe, daughter…”

Those words were the last Melody heard before a mighty flash knocked her sideways, throwing her to the floor.

When she opened her eyes she stared around her in consternation.
Nothing was familiar. Gone were her parent’s apartments, gone was the temperate warmth and peaceful tranquillity of her land.
Abandoned now in another world, another time, she blinked upwards as a strangely dressed individual made his way towards her …



OOC:

Melody is a rebellious soon-to-be 19 year old Princess from a parallel world.
She has magically been banished to the real contemporary world to discover herself.

Unknown to her she is only obliged to spend a week in this land. After this she will have the choice of staying or leaving, either alone or with a companion of her choice. Of course neither she or the character(s) she meets will be aware of that until the time comes.

Melody is dressed as per picture.
She will have no knowledge or understanding of the modern world/technology.
She has been sheltered and is unused to doing anything for herself.
I’m a Brit, but the place she finds herself can be any place in the world, as appropriate to the co-writer

My ideal is that during this week Melody will learn something about friendship and loyalty, about making her own decisions ranging fromher choice of dress to who to trust.
Hopefully the independence will help her grown up and consider what she wants in a relationship.
This will be the first time she has been vulnerable and unprotected in her life:
Perhaps this will help her appreciate that status ie. being secure enough both financially and physically to be safe is important after all.



Thank you for reading thus far …

DM
.

 

[Steiner]

OOC:

Name: Lee Winters
Age: 20
Profession: Medical Student, Guitar maker and Store Clerk.

Height: 5 feet 11 inches
Build: Light to Medium
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Brown

Bio: Medical student on a budget. Unable to get a loan that does anymore than pay for tuition, Lee is forced to work retail in order to pay the rent. To make spending money he makes custom guitars for students and friends of friends - but this really makes little more than spending money. More of a hobby than a business. Lee somehow crams about 30 hours into every day and is slowly turning into a wraith that works and studies and attends lectures to the exclusion of everything else - including sleep.




IC:
Cold rain pelted down through the weakly flickering arc of yellow lamplight. The bicycle lay on its side, where its handlebars had carved a wide swathe through the leaves and papertrash that carpeted the alleyway like a forest floor in autumn.

From the other side of the lamp a dark figure stirred, pulling itself from a dark puddle of rainwater to squish past the bike wreckage back up the alleyway. On the floor lay a huddled lump that was resolving itself into a person. The figure put its hand to its head and swore - had it hit the lump? Had it run her over? What the hell was it going to do now?

Stepping into the streetlight that bathed the recumbent form stripped the dark figure of all its foreboding and unnaturalness. Now it was a young man, dark haired and dark eyed with pale skin - as he moved farther into the light it revealed an old dark raincoat along with black jeans and a dark blue t-shirt.

He knelt next to the girl - for such she was - and began to run hands over her body. Although his hands went places you might expect only a lover to touch, they were professional and impersonal as they checked her neck, her skull and the line of her back. The man grunted "No head injury, no neck injury and no back injury. I don't think you hurt yourself. But WHY the hell did you throw yourself into my way?"

He moved his fingers in front of her eyes - watching her attempts to focus on them.

"Might have taken a bash to the head though. Do you feel okay? Do you feel sick? Can you stand?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Melody stared about her. Gone was the bright cheerfulness of herown land.
Instead the surroundings were dark, grey and wet.
She blinked as her eyes fixed on a dark shape that approached seeming to loom out of the murky haze.

Where was she? What had happened?
Her father’s final words wrung in her eyes … be safe … and yet had he sent her here or … or had she been banished…?

The touch, light, exploratory brought her to her senses.
Hands were moving along her body, intimate yet almost professional.

"No head injury, no neck injury and no back injury. I don't think you hurt yourself.”

A doctor? She was only reassured momentarily.

” But WHY the hell did you throw yourself into my way?"

His voice held an edge, more incredulous than angry.
She blinked to focus on the darkly clad young man at her side.

"Might have taken a bash to the head though.”

She struggled fully upright, aware that she was sat now on the hard wet ground.

”Do you feel okay? Do you feel sick? Can you stand?"

The questions came in rapid succession.
She shook her head trying to make sense of things.

”I … I don’t know … I … “

She allowed him to help her, standing unsteadily her clothes soaked causing her to shiver and look around wide eyed.
She felt dizzy somehow and yet she was sure she hadn’t actually banged her head.
Tentatively she raised her hand her fingers coming into contact with the modest tiara she wore daily as she explored her scalp.

”Where is this …?”

She enquired glancing round uncertainly as she belatedly put distance between herself and the stranger, a stranger she calculated to be only slightly older than herself perhaps ...

”Just who are you …?”

She demanded warily.

 

[Steiner]

Lee put his head on one side as the girl pushed away from him and tottered a few steps in independence.

"Careful! Those boots look tricky at the best of times - it's wet and you've had a shock. Just take things easy, eh?"

In response the girl regarded him suspiciously and muttered the usual "Where am I", "What happened" mantra. Then she asked "Just who are you?" in a tone that suggested he was somehow responsible for everything.

Lee took a step backwards reflexively. "Me? I'm the guy whose bike you dived under? Remember the guy whose neck you just tried to break? I'm called Lee - but that won't help you much as I don't think we've met."

As if he would forget meeting someone like this? Even with the puddle water streaming down her face and the shock from her collision, this girl was beautiful. What the hell she was doing out here in this alley he couldn't imagine. All the night clubs and so forth were across in the town centre - out here was cheap housing, shops and... ...of course, some university dorms.

"Are you a student? We should get you back home - this isn't the best place to spend the night." She really DIDN'T look too good, he realised. Perhaps she HAD been whacked on the head.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Careful! Those boots look tricky at the best of times - it's wet and you've had a shock. Just take things easy, eh?"

Melody glanced down at her footwear and glared. Who did he think he was, her mother …? The memory instantly cut through her. What wouldn’t she give to be back home, to be safe and secure …

"… I'm the guy whose bike you dived under? Remember the guy whose neck you just tried to break? I'm called Lee - but that won't help you much as I don't think we've met."

She eyed the guy with interest. What was he accusing her of?

”I never tried to break your neck … I didn’t dive anywhere … what on earth is a bike anyhow…?”

She responded defensively.

"Are you a student? We should get you back home - this isn't the best place to spend the night."

She looked around and had to agree with him. She didn’t like it round here. She’d never seen such a place.

”I don’t like it out here … “

She shivered visibly.

”Is it always so dark and so wet in your land …?”

She asked him curiously and noticed that he was eyeing her strangely and tried to decide what to tell him about herself.

”Student … you mean … scholar?
No ... I’m not a scholar … though I suppose I must be here to learn … on a visit … I hope … “

She tried to ignore her worries about how long she was to be banished to this dark land or how would she cope with just this one drenched outfit to her name?
This young man … Lee … was her only hope at the moment.
At least he seemed friendly … concerned even.
He must be apprenticed, a scholar destined to be a doctor - physician by trade.
This was an admirable profession in her land and explained his kindness if not his more … shabby … appearance.

”Where can I stay tonight? ”

She assessed him and took the decision.

”I will come home with you …”

She was confident that if this Lee must be part of a rich household and would reside with the family who financed his studies and who would ultimately give him employment to minister to their kin and the peasants living upon their lands.

 

[Steiner]

Lee gaped, for want of a better word. She looked like she had no idea of where she was, or what she was doing. Frankly serious head trauma was looking more and more likely - but he couldn't see any sign of it, and he'd already checked for damage to her skull.

One thing was certain though - she was obviously some sort of foreign student. Probably Australian, as she'd made the crack about the weather - she didn't have an accent though. As for the idea of taking her home... Well maybe she'd been visiting friends from another university city and gotten seperated. This late she'd be lucky to get a bus to the station let alone a train back from there.

He couldn't bear the thought of this pretty and vulnerable (if weird) girl getting hurt because he couldn't be humane enough to offer a place to crash for the night, so he nodded his acceptance - she was bloody pushy though!

"Alright, that seems fair enough. I'll put you up for the night and set you on your way when it's more civilised out here."

He limped back to the bike and pulled it up from the ground, straightening the handlebars and turning off the light. He didn't want to have to buy new batteries AGAIN, the money he made from his shop clerks job barely covered rent and food. His student loan just about managed the cost of tuition and books. He could have had an easier ride at a less prestigious university - but he'd decided to make the investment now and go to the best place he could qualify for - which turned out to be the best in the country. Fine words - but he was getting sick of instant noodles and beans on toast after two years. And only halfway through!

Wheeling the bike back to the woman, whose name he didn't know yet, he motioned with his head towards one end of the alley. "It's this way - not too far from here" he said. The area he was heading to was a poor but quiet neighbourhood - too far from the big estates to be a crime hotbed, but definitely downmarket. That was the reason he'd been able to afford the apartment.

As he walked he tried to make pleasant chat with her. "So, been over here long? Sorry about the crap weather - it's not always this bad though! You said you're not a student - are you travelling or just visiting friends? You must be up from London, I suppose."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Alright, that seems fair enough. I'll put you up for the night and set you on your way when it's more civilised out here."

She nodded, not sure what he meant about setting her on her way, but for now she was just pleased to have a roof over her head.
She watched as he limped towards the contraption that lay on the ground curiosity and amusement vying for precedence on her face as she followed him, finding it a novelty to be with someone who was abrupt and far from courtly manners wise.

"It's this way - not too far from here"

She nodded and walked slowly behind him, glancing around her amazed at the run down nature of the area that she saw around her.

"So, been over here long? Sorry about the crap weather - it's not always this bad though!

She smiled and shook her head.

”Not long … no … you are the first person I’ve met here …“

She told him disarmingly.

”You said you're not a student - are you travelling or just visiting friends? You must be up from London, I suppose."

She considered her reply.

”Just travelling. I have no friends … no one … “

She sighed sadly feeling suddenly very isolated.

”I don’t know this country … or the country London … I come from … from very far away … “

She finished.

”I don’t know how long I’ll be here … perhaps they won’t let me go home again … “

The words tumbled from her mouth before she could stop them.
Tears threatened as she considered the possibility of being trapped there …

 

[Steiner]

As he walked, in silence now, Lee stole a glance at her from the corner of his eye. She was tall, in excellent physical shape with a body that most women would kill for. She looked like she was dressed for a night out clubbing. Her skin was flawless and she was so obviously a European or European descended person. Her accent was British too, if very upper class.

How could she NOT know what London was? Maybe she was trying to feign memory loss in order to play on his sympathies. In which case he knew what she was - she was an actress - because her performance was utterly compelling.

As they reached the apartment block that was his, he wrestled his bike into the secured storage. It wasn't actually much of a guarantee against theft, but it prevented casual thieves, and nobody but a casual thief would take his bike - as usual he put it right next to number 4C's expensive mountain bike. This is was his best anti-theft ploy.

He turned to the girl, gesturing up at the shabby building that squatted like an abandoned dog in the rain.

"Here we are then. I'm on the fifth floor - apartment 5D." Lee smiled at the girl who seemed a little outfaced by the severe and dilapidated building. He walked up to the exterior door and pushed it open, the lock having been broken at least 5 years ago. Trying to disarm her nervousness he smiled at her and beckoned her in - they climbed the stairs in silence. He didn't know what she'd expected, but it obviously hadn't been this.

He reached the fifth floor barely puffing - but it looked like his guest hadn't climbed stairs very often, despite her great physical shape. At Apartment 5D, Lee fumbled the lock open (despite the dilapidation of the building everyone had good locks - bought with their own money if necessary). He beckoned her into the apartment as he moved in himself. She lingered on the threshold seeming nervous for some reason.

The apartment was small and it was crammed full of things - things for his studies or books for reading or tools and materials for making electric guitars. These things were all organised and neatly arranged, but so crammed was the tiny apartment that the first impression was of messiness.

Lee hung up his coat and kicked his shoes off in the hall and turned to where the girl was still peering nervously in.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

The building they approached was strange and rundown. Melody looked around peering into the darkness as Lee put his “bike” aside and pointed towards the looming structure..

"Here we are then. I'm on the fifth floor - apartment 5D."

She glanced around her, wondering just what type of place this was. Surely this couldn’t be where they were headed? Belatedly she speeded up in an effort to catch up with him, then regretted her exertion as stair after stair seemed to open up before her. No shallow, ornate step as she was used to, but rough hewn, deep cut steps that went on endlessly.

The relief she felt when he turned away from the continuing stairway was short lived as she was led to a door that led to some dark cell beyond. She met his smile with trepidation, noting that Lee seemed at ease as he entered and gestured for her to follow.
Tentatively she stepped inside the threshold, tense and holding herself ready to flee should the need arise.
She didn’t like this at all.

”You … live … here ..?”

She uttered incredulously her eyes taking in the mass of items that were crammed and stacked all over the place.
Drawn by curiosity she moved fully into the room and stared around.
She had never seen such a room. It reminded her of a workshop, a library, but as a place to live … ?
She looked around searching.
Where did he sit? … eat? … sleep?
As she turned staring mutely around she was unaware of his scrutiny, but as she turned back to Lee her eyes met his gaze, but rather than commenting further, she found staring into the depths of his dark soulful eyes … leaving it for him to break the silence.

 

[Steiner]

The silence slowly grew, with the girl studying him in without speaking. Finally, his gaze sliding off hers like water off an umbrella, he spoke himself.

"There are some floor cushions around that bookcase - it's more comfortable than it looks. Why don't you sit yourself down?" he tossed her a towel from the pile of recently ironed laundry "Get yourself dried off - I'll bring some tea through.Then we can talk make sure you're really okay."

Lee walked through to the kitchen - equally immaculate, but equally cramped and busy. It was pretty obvious that this wasn't quite what his visitor was used to - she had probably come up here with friends to go shopping or something, had a fight with them and run off. Now she was lost, alone and - well - it was pretty clear that this wasn't the sort of place she usually stayed in.

She didn't have the accent or tan to be an Aussie. She didn't behave American. She might be Eastern European, he wondered - but again, where was the accent? What the hell was going on here.

Waiting in the kitchen whilst the kettle boiled, he gave her enough time to have finished towelling herself off before calling out.

"Miss? Are you decent yet? Can I come in?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"There are some floor cushions around that bookcase - it's more comfortable than it looks. Why don't you sit yourself down?"

Melody eyed the cushions. The floor!?! This was really getting crazy.

She caught the towel by reflex and gaped at him as he continued seemingly oblivious.

"Get yourself dried off - I'll bring some tea through. Then we can talk make sure you're really okay."

She watched as he walked through another doorway and disappeared.

She stood for a moment undecided. She wasn’t used to being told what to do, no matter how well meant. Only her parents bossed her around, usually preaching about “duty” and what was “seemly”, but this young man … he obviously had no idea.
She eyed the towel and rubbed experimentally at her hair, muttering as she remembered the tiara. Taking it from her head and holding it casually in her hand she dabbed uselessly at her long hair turning when he called from the room beyond.

"Miss? Are you decent yet? Can I come in?"

Miss … he meant her! She was so used to being called “Your Highness” or “Melody!” – usually when being scolded that she found the term diverting.

”Errr … yes… of course … “

She told him watching as he emerged then stared at her as she stood, still wet and bedraggled, jewels twinkling from the tiny tiara between her fingers. She followed his gaze to the cushions and back. There was no way … but … still … she thought she’d humour him. She walked towards the book case and tentatively lowered herself downwards. It was better than the floor, but … a giggle poured forth, turning into near uncontrollable laughter.

This was just too much … she was cold, wet and trapped in this world where no one knew who she was, much less how to treat her. Why had she ever mocked the privileges that had been hers?
How could she ever survive in a place like this?
Hysterical laughter, rapidly mixed with tears.
It really was funny … only it wasn’t … she longed for her home … for things to be as they had been and soon she was sobbing softly.

 

[Steiner]

Lee froze in the kitchen doorway, not quite sure how to react. Did he comfort her, laugh with her or just give her the space she needed to get ahold of herself. It was quite clear she hadn't even started to dry off - let alone finished. What the hell had she been doing - playing with that decorative head thing?

She was in shock. Or drugged to the eyeballs and concussed.

He put his money on shock which, luckily, he well knew how to cope with.

Kneeling on the floor with a practiced grace he set the tea tray out of the way to one side. Putting one hand on each of her shoulders he shook her gently to get her attention and then fixed his gaze on hers. No longer in a social situation and firmly onto territory he was comfortable with, all his diffidence melted away into the practical and professional attitude of the doctor he hoped to become.

"Miss... Miss... Can you tell me your name? Do you remember your name?"

As he softly but firmly questioned her, he checked her for visible symptoms. Her skin was clammy and cold to the touch. Her eyes were wild - but the pupils responded normally. She didn't have an odd odour to her breath that suggested alcohol. She didn't display any of the symptoms that would suggest extreme head trauma. She was in shock - maybe something more than a bad spill and abandonment had happened to her today.

She had finally stammered out her first name, so Lee moved onto the next stage.

"Melody, you're very cold and very wet. If you don't get dry and warm, you're going to catch something and get sick. You don't want that - will you let me dry you off? Long hair can be murder to dry can't it?" his own hair was tied back, but would be longer than hers if let down.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Miss... Miss... “

She raised her face to his as he shook her.

”Can you tell me your name? Do you remember your name?"

His voice sounded strangely authoritative and she heard herself responding.

”Pri… Melody .. “

She bit back the title barely noticing that he was assessing her closely.
She took a steadying breath and tried to pull herself together.

"Melody, you're very cold and very wet.”

She nodded turning wide blue eyes to his.

”If you don't get dry and warm, you're going to catch something and get sick. You don't want that - will you let me dry you off?”

She eyed him curiously. That was not a job for a man … her parents certainly wouldn’t have let anyone male lose in her quarters.

”Long hair can be murder to dry can't it?"

She smiled then touched by his kindness.

”Yes … especially when you’re not used to it … she murmured handing him the towel and unthinkingly turning her back towards him to allow him to carry out the task, much as she would with Lisette at home…”

Her fingers toyed absent-mindedly with the tiara as the soft stroking of her hair began, the touch was less skilled, but more powerful than she was used to. She found herself giving a soft sigh and tilting her head back further, her body easing closer as she repressed a shiver.

”I never thought I’d miss … home … so much she murmured sadly … “

 

[Steiner]

Lee concentrated on drying the tumbled blonde locks as he spoke. Hopefully the familiar act of hair being dried would calm her down - in fact it did seem to be working somewhat.

"I understand what you mean, about home. I've been here about a year now - my first year was in Halls of Residence. I never expected that I'd find a smaller nastier place than that to settle in."

He hummed tunefully as he worked the strands through his fingers, feeling her back lean in against his lower chest as he worked. The warmth would do her good, he decided as he towelled his way down from the top of her head - leaving her fluffy and disheveled but dry.

Leaving her hair, he rubbed gently at her neck and shoulders, erasing the worst abuses of rain and puddle as he did so. Enough, hopefully to stimulate her interest in drying herself off.

"Melody... That's a pretty name - French? You don't sound French though..." he then realised that she had avoided the question of where she came from enough times now that she probably didn't want to tell him. He couldn't blame her, actually - she didn't really know him that well. "Doesn't matter. Not as much as getting you out of these clothes." as his brain caught up with his mouth he flushed furiously and stammered on, his composure shattered again. "And, you know, straight into some dry ones. Do you have a change of clothes - oh, no bag. Well my room's through there - it's a bit of a jungle as I've got three projects on the go right now. Just mind the floor patches that are covered with newspaper and you'll be fine. The watdrobe is in the corner it's got t-shirts and things like that..." he finally rambled to a close, the flush still heating his cheeks. Maybe he could dry her with THAT?

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"I understand what you mean, about home. I've been here about a year now - my first year was in Halls of Residence. I never expected that I'd find a smaller nastier place than that to settle in."

Melody eyed the room. It was somewhat … different … but not what she would term “nasty”. Still … she would hate to see the place that was worse than this! Relaxing back enjoying his attentions as her hair and then her neck and shoulders were dried, Melody sighed and relaxed still more quirking a smile as she heard the random humming he made as he went about the task.

"Melody... That's a pretty name - French? You don't sound French though..."

She shook her head non-commitally. It wasn’t that she wanted to keep secrets from him, she just didn’t know how to start telling him the truth…

"Doesn't matter. Not as much as getting you out of these clothes."

Her eyes snapped around to meet his and quirked a grin at his choice of words.

"And, you know, straight into some dry ones.

She smiled demurely trying not to laugh at his sudden embarrassment.

”Do you have a change of clothes - oh, no bag. Well my room's through there - it's a bit of a jungle as I've got three projects on the go right now. Just mind the floor patches that are covered with newspaper and you'll be fine. The wardrobe is in the corner it's got t-shirts and things like that..."

Melody blinked trying to follow that long jumble of words.

”You don’t mind if I borrow some of your clothes..?”

She clarified, glancing towards the bedroom door he had pointed to.
A grin twinkled mischievously wondering just what her parents would say if they knew what was happening to her …

”You’ve been very kind … “

She started seriously realising that his actions had merely been because he cared rather than who she was or any reward he might get from her. She found she liked that … a lot ..

” … I doubt many people would have offered assistance and shelter without knowing just who and what they were dealing with … “

She murmured, her eyes locking with his and then blushing as she moved to stand and cross to his room.

”I’ll mind the floor … be right back …

She picked up the towel, the tiara falling unnoticed as she crossed to the doorway.

”I see the closet in the corner … thank you … “

So saying she ducked out of the room and made her way carefully to the far corner and pulled open the door browsing the strange manner of garments she saw before her. Undecided, she stepped out of her boots and began to peel of her dress … stockings … underwear wrapping the towel around her as she shook out the dress…folded the bra and panties and frowned at the ruined stockings which she rolled up before stashing them in her boots.

It was only 5 minutes later when she emerged wearing a pair of faded blue leggings and a baggy grey marl sweatshirt.
She smiled shyly as she entered the room.

”I hope this is ok … I didn’t know what to choose … “

 

[Steiner]

She was clearly amused by his stumbling and embarassment - still she didn't tease him about it, just smiled at him with an open amusement in her eyes that he found quite easy to bear.

He shrugged at her praise of his motives, self deprecation an acquired artform. "You'd be surprised - I think a lot of people would help someone who was totally lost and not dangerous looking at all"

As she headed into his room (Boy wouldn't he like to have a picture of that for the bragging rights) he noticed the head decoration she'd been wearing tumble onto the floor. Lee was obsessively tidy - in this place he had to be, or it'd be a health hazard in hours - so he walked over and picked it up. He didn't know anything about jewelry, but metal he DID know about and his assessment of the piece jumped up a number of notches. First of all, it was old silver. Not plated, not cheaply molded mexican stuff, but old silver carefully crafted. The welds had been done minutely, and had used the same silver as the rest of the piece, he squinted doubtfully at the gems. These were the real problem - if they were real then this thing was worth more than the building he was sat in, quite possibly the whole ROAD. But if they weren't real - then why the ornate and delicate silver work? Was it more likely that this was an incredibly rare piece of jewelry? Or was it more likely that he simply didn't know enough about it to tell the truth about the silver work? More likely the latter, he concluded, placing it safely on the bookshelf.

He then poured the tea out into the sink and brewed fresh mugs - she needed to be warmer, and hot tea would start the warming on the inside that the change of clothes and towel had started on the outside. He was pretty sure, though, that shock and not exposure was the cause of her problems, and that seemed to be fading.

Sitting back into the corner she'd been occupying he laced his fingers behind his head and pondered, wondering who she really was and what had happened to her. She seemed sweet enough - but then she also seemed bright. Only the fact that few of his possessions were worth money comforted him, until he pondered that this was an odd way to make money. Which led him right back to... ...nothing really. He was making this too complicated.

She walked back in and the change was breathtaking. Instead of the glamour girl on a night out she looked like the utterly adorable girl next door - provided you lived next door to a fashion house or somewhere similar. Aware of the fact that he needed to say something quickly before he looked a complete moron Lee cast about with his somewhat reduced resources before hitting on a safe topic of conversation.

"Tea?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Tea?"

Melody smiled warmly and crossed the room to sit beside him, her descent to the floor cushions much more natural now.

”That would be nice … “

She responded politely running a hand through her mussed up hair to tuck it unselfconsciously behind an ear as she watched him pour the brew.

”Mmmm… this is good … I knew I’d like it … “

She complimented him settling back with a sigh, her body but a breath away from his own as her eyes idly scanned the room, her eye lighting upon the tiara.

”Ohhh… you found my … “

She hesitated unable to believe she’d forgotten about the tiara.

”My parents would kill me if that got lost … “

She commented but made no move to retrieve it as she sipped her tea.

”Do you have parents Lee?”

She asked suddenly looking at him curiously and glanced around.
Either he would share the family home or be apprenticed or …
Then a thought suddenly entered her head.

”… are you betrothed…?”

 

[Steiner]

Aha! "Yeah, I thought that looked expensive. You dropped it heading into my room - it looks old. Odd thing to wear about town."

Again he realised he was quizzing her - cursing himself as an obsessive he resolved that the next thing he said to her was not going to be a question. She rescued him from working out WHAT it was going to be by starting in on questions herself.

"Do I have parents? Well, I lost mine abroad a couple of years ago now - their car was hit by a lorry on the motorway." he realised that her expression had gone from sympathetic to blankly uncomprehending - he supposed that the terms lorry and motorway had thrown her, but she understood the basics.

He had a decent mouthful of tea when her second question landed which caused spluttering and a quick search for tissues as he coughed tea into his lap in surprise.

"Am I BETROTHED? Do people get betrothed any more? Oh - I suppose they get engaged, that's the same thing. I think."

He looked around the flat, wondering what had made her think he was engaged to somebody. No pictures from his last girlfriend, no jewelry that looked like an engagement ring... What an odd question...

"Uh, no Melody. I'm not seeing anyone just yet - let alone marrying. I might meet someone, don't get me wrong, but I'm after my degree I've got four years as a Junior Doctor, and that's not going to leave me much time for relationships."

He gestured at the flat they were sat in.

"See, I've got two more years of this to go through. Then four years residency as a junior doctor - I'm pretty good at the theory of trauma, so there's an A&G in London that's prospectively accepted me if I get my studies right. Four years there, then I can either join a practice as a partner, try for further residency as a member of staff or else I could go back to school - look at surgery."

He realised he was waffling and apologised.

"What about you? What do you do?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Yeah, I thought that looked expensive. You dropped it heading into my room - it looks old. Odd thing to wear about town."

She shrugged, not really thinking.

”Is it? I suppose it is round here …”

Back home she had to wear it all day, every day … well she was supposed to …
That was one of the MANY rules that she grew wary of. She stared at it twinkling from across the room and smiled feeling strangely freer than she had for ages.

"Do I have parents? Well, I lost mine abroad a couple of years ago now - their car was hit by a lorry on the motorway."

She blinked in shock. Dead … both of them …!?
She didn’t understand the details but could tell that something terrible had happened.
Without thinking she put a hand out and rested it on his arm in mute sympathy.
As infuriating as her parents were, she couldn’t imagine being without them …hell … if anything happened to one of them then she would become …
She shuddered pushing the thought far from her mind. She wasn’t ready for either circumstance and wouldn’t be for a long time yet!

His spluttering drew her back to full awareness. She eyed him in concern not sure how serious it was until he rapidly reached for tissues. Her eyes met his as he spoke.

"Am I BETROTHED? Do people get betrothed any more?

She nodded, not knowing the reason for the incredulous tone of his voice.

”Oh - I suppose they get engaged, that's the same thing. I think."

She frowned and repeated … ” … engaged … “ thinking that must be the word they used in his country but not understanding why her question seemed to shock him.

"Uh, no Melody. I'm not seeing anyone just yet - let alone marrying. I might meet someone, don't get me wrong, but I'm after my degree I've got four years as a Junior Doctor, and that's not going to leave me much time for relationships."

She nodded, wondering what he meant by degree and surmising that junior doctor must mean apprentice.

"See, I've got two more years of this to go through. Then four years residency as a junior doctor - I'm pretty good at the theory of trauma, so there's an A&G in London that's prospectively accepted me if I get my studies right. Four years there, then I can either join a practice as a partner, try for further residency as a member of staff or else I could go back to school - look at surgery."

She totally lost the details of what he said as he quoted the years he intended to study.

”But … that’ll be … four .. no six years … !”

She exclaimed not aware that she almost sounded like her own mother.

”How old are you? … 20 … 21 … ? You’ll be at least 25 … “

She shook her head clearly not understanding. She had rebelled and intended to hold off marriage until she was 21, though her parents had other ideas! Even if she did not like any of the suitors who were presented to her, she could not imagine not being betrothed and preferably (in her parents’ opinion) married before her 21st. This expectation was commonplace throughout her Kingdom as far as she knew anyway …

"What about you? What do you do?"

The question caught her unawares.

”Me … I … “

She considered. He was full of ambition and plans, whereas she … all she had was plans to avoid the inevitable, the future that was mapped out for her. For the first time she considered what would she do if she truly were free to do as she wanted?

”I … I live at home … “

That wasn’t a lie, but didn’t quite convey the vastness of her apartments and the fact that she saw her servants more than her parents.

”My parents are … they decide everything for me … “

She sighed.

”They want the best for me … but to them the best is living the way they’ve always done. It was driving me crazy … then after their plans for next Sunday … “

She broke off shaking her head meeting his eyes earnestly.

”You’re so lucky … being able to choose, to make your own decisions … to have something you really want to do … something to work for …
You can’t imagine what it’s like … do this ... do that ... wear this ... eat this ...
I'm surrounded by people all day, every minute and yet ... "

She halted realising for one of the first times just how lonely her life was.
No one listened to her as this man was now and avidly it seemed.
It was as if the flood gates opened and she continued.

"But the worst is that my parents insist on a betrothal within the year from amongst their list of suitors of course. That's what Sunday's about. It’ll be my birthday, there’s to be a ball … supposedly in my honour. It'll be filled with the rich, the influential and worst of all used as an excuse … an excuse for … introductions to be made … "

She blushed hotly staring at the floor as she continued softly.

"It's so ... humilating ... to have man after man pushed at you, knowing that all he’s interested in is the quantity of land and dowry he stands to gain … and of course to assess if you’re likely to be able to give him at least one heir …”

She shuddered and then took a breath barely aware that she eased closer to him as she spoke.

” I couldn’t do that anymore … I told them … I wanted to live my own life ... they just didn't understand ... so ... “

She left the sentence hanging for Lee to assume … assume there’d been a row, that she’d ran away.

" ... and I don't think I'll ever be able to go back now ... "

 

[Steiner]

Lee opened his mouth, but couldn't think of anything sensible to say, so he shut it again.

As Melody's tirade wound down he patted the hand on his arm comfortingly.

"Wow, arranged marriage, huh? That's pretty barbaric - we pretty much got rid of those hundreds of years ago. That really sucks... I can't believe your parents are still doing that to you. And all this dowry stuff too - I guess you come from a pretty old fashioned place. I bet you're from somewhere like Monaco or Liectenstein or something like that. You must have gone to school over here or something, and that's where you got the accent."

He frowned as she continued.

"It does all sound pretty bad. On the other hand I bet you've never had to live in an unheated apartment, because you ran out of cash? I've skipped eating for almost a week when my money ran out at the end of the month, and I often have periods when I'm on Instant noodles. The loss of freewill must be pretty frustrating, though. I don't think I could put up with that. Still - if you moved out, what would you do? Living at home as a profession is pretty much something that only trophy wives can do - and whilst you're certainly pretty enough, wouldn't that just be the same as what you're running from? My independence comes at a fairly stiff price - by the time I actually become a Doctor, I'll probably be pretty deep in debt. If I get the offer to become a surgeon, then that'll mean MORE school and MORE debt. Sure my profession pays quite well, but even so..."

Lee shrugged.

"Actually, I doubt I can imagine your life any better than you can imagine mine."

Then he picked up on something she'd said.

"Oh hey! You said you've been kicked out? What are you going to do? Have you anyone you can stay with? Jeez - how are you going to make a living if you really don't have any skills?"

From the trembling of her full lower lip Lee could tell that Melody had been considering JUST those questions. She clearly hadn't gotten around to any answers yet either judging by the way her eyes glimmered with tears and the hand on his arm tightened.

Full of pity for her, Lee came up on his knees and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a hug, comfortingly patting her back and shoulder.

"Hey, don't worry about it. What kind of bastard do you think I am, you think I was going to boot you out the door tomorrow morning with a cheerful wave and my best wishes? If you need somewhere to sleep until you get a plan together, then of course you can stay, I'll share what food I've got, but that might not be up to what you're used to, I'm afraid..."

Part of him was wondering who the hell he was holding in his arms? Was she delusional? Had this REALLY happened? The tiara sparkled back at him from the bookshelf and he narrowed his eyes at it, wondering what its true provenance was...

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Wow, arranged marriage, huh? That's pretty barbaric - we pretty much got rid of those hundreds of years ago. That really sucks... I can't believe your parents are still doing that to you. And all this dowry stuff too - I guess you come from a pretty old fashioned place. I bet you're from somewhere like Monaco or Liectenstein or something like that. You must have gone to school over here or something, and that's where you got the accent."

Melody was tutored at home, but wherever this Liectenstein or Monaco was it seemed safest to let him believe that was the kind of place she had come from. As for freedom of choice she opened her mouth to say that her parents were only thinking of the good of the Kingdom and that her happiness was secondary, but she closed it again realising that she had been about to offer the very justification that she had been given time and time again. If only she could meet someone “appropriate” that she actually liked and wanted to be with …

"It does all sound pretty bad. On the other hand I bet you've never had to live in an unheated apartment, because you ran out of cash?

She listened with growing horror at his description of the life he led. To go without food, to be so short of money. She had to admit to herself she had never given it a thought.

[I”]…Living at home as a profession is pretty much something that only trophy wives can do - and whilst you're certainly pretty enough, wouldn't that just be the same as what you're running from?[/I]

Trophy wife … that term though new seemed appropriate although she didn’t point out that in most cases it was she in fact who was the one with money, though without a husband that meant very little in her land.

She listened to Lee outline his plans to be a doctor about being in debt, a term she did understand, although it was a rare occurrence back home. Men lived to their means, but looking around Lee’s home, she reflected that her people were better provided for and doctors, even when apprenticed lived a comfortable life. She couldn’t believe a society that would allow people to be so poor. It wasn’t so in her own country … as far as she knew … but just how much DID she know … ?

"Actually, I doubt I can imagine your life any better than you can imagine mine."

She forced a smile.

"Oh hey! You said you've been kicked out? What are you going to do? Have you anyone you can stay with? Jeez - how are you going to make a living if you really don't have any skills?"

Make a living … as far as she knew she was banished here.
Would she be stuck here until she was willing to co-operate?
Would someone be sent to persuade her, or even rescue her from the cold and starvation she was likely to suffer if she truly could not earn her way in this land?
She had had no choice in this. Sure she had her “freedom” … but for what … ?

She hadn’t realised just how much she’d been holding back the tears until Lee wrapped his arms around her. The contact came as a surprise, but she felt herself leaning against him savouring the feeling of being held. How long had it been since someone had offered her the comfort, the companionship that this stranger had? She couldn’t even remember.

"Hey, don't worry about it…”

She forced a laugh. Don’t worry … if only he knew …

”What kind of bastard do you think I am, you think I was going to boot you out the door tomorrow morning with a cheerful wave and my best wishes”

She looked up at him, surprised at his language, but responding to his encouraging smile as he continued.

” … If you need somewhere to sleep until you get a plan together, then of course you can stay, I'll share what food I've got, but that might not be up to what you're used to, I'm afraid..."

Melody stared. This man was offering to share everything with her even though had so little. She was touched beyond measure by his generosity.

”You’re very kind … “

She murmured as she moved back into the welcome embrace of his arms allowing him to comfort her as she considered.

”There … must be something I could do … I know about our society, about clothes and jewels and balls of course … I have the usual education the arts, French, etiquette … “

She sighed. She adored music, she had loved sketching, though she had avoided needlecraft where possible finding it tedious and uncreative.

”I guess you can’t earn a living just by being accomplished huh?”

She lifted her face and smiled at him wistfully.

 

[Steiner]

"Nope it's not what you know, it's who you know. My guess is that you're just finding out what the other side of that equation looks like. Despite your great English, certain concepts are key in even menial jobs."

Lee didn't want to give her a hard time about the life of pampered ease it seemed she'd enjoyed up until now. Instead he focused on the feel of her in his arms and the smell of her hair, and the way that her breathing was slower and easier now, and her skin a little warmer.

Or was that him?

Finally practical matters woke him from the loose hug, which had turned more into a cuddle.

"You must be exhausted - it's really late. I should make up my bed fresh for you so you can get a good nights sleep. Really was lucky you coming on laundry night and all." he grinned raffishly at her and slowly slid his arms from around her, part of him missing the touch of her already.

Sitting back with a slightly embarassed cough he went to the laundry pile and rooted through it, pulling out his "guest" sheets, pillowcases and duvet cover. This stuff was from when he lived at home, so it was good quality. The duvet in particular was soft and warm, and he realised he was going to miss it.

Turning with a smile to Melody he entered his room and began changing the bed - taking many deep breaths to try and recover his equilibrium.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Melody listened to Lee talking about what and who you know and menial jobs, but much of it went way over her head. She sighed reluctantly as he eased away from her and found she missed his closeness instantly.

"You must be exhausted - it's really late. I should make up my bed fresh for you so you can get a good nights sleep. Really was lucky you coming on laundry night and all."

She watched him stand and move to pull out fresh bedding. She hesitated when he disappeared into the bedroom then followed him standing in the doorway watching him pulling off covers.

”.. but … where will you sleep?”

She asked realising that he intended giving up his bed for her.

”Can’t we … “

She halted. There seemed no logical alternative. She really couldn’t see where he would sleep if she took over his bed.
Under normal circumstances uggesting sharing the bed would have been scandalous, but she felt safe with him and had enjoyed feeling close to him besides she was sure she wouldn’t seep at the thought of him laying on the floor whilst she lay in comfort.

”It ... doesn’t seem fair for me to take your bed when there’s nowhere else to sleep … “

She ventured unsure of his reaction.

”I can’t take your bed and have you sleeping on the floor.”

She told him firmly.

 

[Steiner]

Lee looked puzzled at Melody as she firmly stated that she wouldn't take his bed.

"I was going to grab a sheet or something and sleep on the floor cushions. I've done it before - you ever slept on the floor, Mel?"

He gestured in a shrugging motion.

"I agree, it sucks - but what can we do? I can try and scrounge up a campbed or something in the next couple of days..."

As he spoke he wrestled sheets onto bed, duvet into duvet cover and pillows into pillowcases. Finally the job was done and he turned the duvet back about halfway up its length.

He turned to face her, their noses almost touching in the narrow and confined space between the bed and the door.

"Seriously, Melody. Which would you rather do, climb into that and get a good 8 hours - or take a sheet through into the next room and lie on those floor cushions. Alone. In the dark. In a strange house."