On A Night Like This [Kabel/Robyn]

[Adair Noble]

[Continued from Her Shoebox]

“No! Of course I’m not holding you here against your will.” If that had been the case, she’d have kept a far closer eye on Kabel than she had been. Besides, she was quite certain she’d be able to find him even if he did decide to run. That might have been amusing. It would have been a glorified game of cat and mouse.

Kabel was obviously ready to go, as he headed toward the doors and flung them open. Adair grinned and followed, stepping outside and waiting for Kabel to follow. She pulled the doors closed behind them, pulling at one side rather unceremoniously—it had the tendency to get stuck. It was an old house and obviously needed some repairs. She glanced upward at Kabel as she fitted the key to the lock and locked the door; he was male, perhaps he could help fix some of these things?

That was a rather unfair generalization, however, and she refrained from commenting.

“You’re going to love it, Kabel.” She said instead, slipping the key into her purse and stepping down off the front porch and onto the short driveway. The house wasn’t as grand as most, and it was in the middle of the city. It wasn’t far away from anything at all.

And even as she remembered this, gleeful that they didn’t have to walk very far to find some entertainment, she became aware of a ruckus in the distance. It didn’t sound like an awful ruckus. There were voices—lots of them. There was screaming, though they were screams of drunken enjoyment, not otherwise. There was the sound of music, all disjointed like there were several different kinds of music being played in different areas. And as she tried to pinpoint the direction of the festivities (or so she assumed they were) the sky was lit up with sparks of red and gold.

Fireworks.

They boomed like thunder, or like cannon fire. They kept coming, colour after colour, boom after thunderous boom. Adair grinned like a child at a fair.

“Oh, this is perfect for your first night out …” She said as she turned to Kabel. It wasn’t his first night out ever—Adair knew that. But it was his first night out as a vampire. And besides, Adair was devilishly curious. What in the world was going on in the city?

“Come on, I’ll race you.” She said, winking, before taking off down the driveway. She assumed that he’d be faster, now, even though he was only just turned. Maybe it would be a natural talent? She only used a little of her own celerity to propel herself forward, not wanting to leave Kabel behind. And although she wasn’t looking at him, every other sense was trained upon him.

[Kabel]

He was happy with the fact that she wasn't holding him against his will. He really didn't want to make Stephen King's Misery a reality. Still, he wasn't sure whether or not he'd be able to our run her even if he had tried. If this was a true reality of what he was then Adair would be considered of much higher stature than him; skilled and thus would be able to trump him at every turn. He couldn't beat her at a game she played. Maybe he wouldn't even have to play one. Why swim against the current?

He was soon following her outside after she stepped past him and he waits for her to lock the door. He watches her at the task all the while as she soon after sets the key away within her purse. He wasn't going to shoot her down this time as she spoke. Maybe tonight was a time for change albeit he had been forced toward such. His mouth purses for the moment.

"What are we going to do anyway?" He asks of her instead only to find her staring off toward the sky. His blue gaze follows her own to the sight of fireworks. Such reminded him of New Years or even Independence Day; fireworks were coupled with that day. He was staring a bit long even as she was speaking and then...She'd race him? He looks dumbly at her only to watch her off. He was honestly taken off guard by her speed as she propelled forth.

"Hey, wait! Adair!" He calls after her and gives chase. Oh, little did he know of the sudden tear of speed within him that was unknown. He found his body alighting with the need to catch up and soon everything seemed to flow underfoot; the pavement and buildings seeming like things of unimportance. It was a strange few moments then as Kabel caught up at Adair's heels and soon matched her pace at her side with a heavy sigh before his eyes were lifting.

They were there within moments.

It was a strange festival to say the least that reminded him of his time spent within the city of Venice proper. Men and women both were dressed within traditional garbs of a Victorian era; masks adorning their faces to shield a portion of their features but their eyes. Their hair was dressed appropriately so but for those who didn't follow traditional means. Kabel's silent all the while as they step through the closed-off street and blocks for what seemed to be none other than a Masquerade of sorts. It's strange to see such though considering Kabel had never truly been to one.

There were troupes of dancers tumbling and cavorting about dressed like jesters with motley garb and twinkling caps with arms spreading out within every which way. There were heavily swaddled men and women upon stilts carrying torches to alight the way and music was played loudly amongst the din from one corner to the other. There was even music carrying out from open doorways from no doubt showrooms that had been commandeered for whatever celebration was going on.

"What's this all about?" Kabel asks with that sudden contagious merriment taking up his eyes and leaving them warm with curiosity; hopefully that wouldn't kill the cat this time around. Everything seemed a mix from old to new with speakers cleverly hidden alongside men and women both drinking from chalices to simple cups. Then there were the pavilions lining and flanking either side of the streets with simplistic games to play or simply to garner a cup of wine being spilled from aged casks. That wasn't even making mention of the fireworks booming overhead with shrieking whistles that pierce the ears and then explodes with a crackle to alight the festivities. Then there was the shadow-menagerie within the midst of milling folks upon the intersection.

It was a stout pavilion of leather and silks both as lights within twirled and spun to flicker out through layers of cut outs that left flickering shadows of animals sprinting about the open area [and within the menagerie proper]. It was a strange and peculiar working and something that Kabel had seen once before but never at a festival as this. Suddenly Kabel felt under-dressed here without some specialty clothing or even a mask. His hand lifts to touch upon Adair's shoulder only to miss and come to a still; his eyes flitting over the crowd for the moment.

What a strange and peculiar place that had suddenly vaulted forth to become utterly spectacular.

[Robyn]

The sight was certainly something to behold. At least it had been initially. Robyn had been wowed. Those hazel eyes of hers wide with amazement, and wonder. Those near-twenty years of hers were imperceptible in that moment; the small girl could easily pass for a naive seven year old. Hell, her mouth had nearly been hanging ajar in the moment of her arrival. She’d have to be both blind and deaf to not be in awe.

Still, that was quick to wear off, and now the music was simply loud, irritating, even, throbbing within her poor, abused ears. Oh, and the dancing, that had worn off all too quickly. Then again, the young girl had never much been one for clubbing, or dancing in general.

But that hadn’t stopped her from going! Oh, no, Robyn had been looking to make at least one normal friend within this strange town. And, yes, Robyn can appreciate the irony in that thought. Sure, a masquerade wasn’t exactly a place to meet the less-eccentric, but it was at least somewhere to meet someone, whether or not Robyn would actually be interested in keeping friends like that was yet to be seen.

Though it seemed even that small concept was failing. Robyn had noticed a hopeless amount of what appeared to be cliques; groups mingling within themselves, distinctly separated from the others. It left Robyn on her own, and bored as all hell. She truly should have seen this coming. Though in all reality, she’d hoped the clique thing would be done when high school was over. Seemed she was sorely mistaken! And pathetically alone.

Perhaps she should have brought her camera with her. At least that would have given her something to do.

It’s a shame, too, truly! She’d gotten all gussied up in a white cotton dress, and pulled those dark curls of hers back, and upwards with various bedazzled bobby pins, and clips. Her neck bound within loop after loop of thin silver chains, teasing downwards and along thin collar bones. Hell, she’d even pulled her hand-painted high heels. The usually inappropriate ones with cameras and coils of film arching from heel-to-toe. Oh! And let’s not forget about that simplistic pearl-shaded mask strapped about her head. She’d long since peeled it away from her features and settled it upon her hair-line.

And she sits there, simply waiting for heaven knows what. It’s surely an act of intense patience on her part that she simply hasn’t abandoned her post and wandered home. Though she’d told her parents she’d be home around three, and she wasn’t exactly ready for the ridicule that would come if she were home early.

You see, Robyn hasn’t exactly been known for making friends since her parents had up-rooted and began bouncing about the expanse of the country. What was it about college professors that made them feel obligated to up and move themselves without care for their family - or their young daughter. And don’t think her parents hadn’t noticed, because they had! The two didn’t necessarily berate young Miss Robyn for the lack of friends, they simply felt compelled to question over the state of her friend count, what felt like every damn day. And they never seemed to surprise when Robyn simply grunted in reply and turned her attention back to her plate of food.

Perhaps if she stayed out long enough that young mind of hers would concoct some nigh ridiculous tale of how she’d made friends between some fire breathers - which there weren’t - and overhead trapeze artists - also, none to be found. Still, Robyn was almost positive that she could concoct some believable tale.

So she sits, and simply watches people mingle; elbows on her knees and her head rested within those tiny hands of hers.

[Adair Noble]

As they reached the scene of the festival Adair was overwhelmed with wonderment. So far, this city had been a drag. It was dirty, it was culturally challenged, and it made her feel as if she were forever forced to live with a sulking, angsty teenager. This, however, was not something she’d ever experienced in this city.

The colours were vibrant and the people were careless. Instead of being afraid of the city they were enjoying the sinister tones that it forever offered them. They were taking advantage of the supernatural aura of the place and reveling in it, allowing themselves to fall headfirst into it.

It made the vampire in Adair very hungry. Masks, loud music and raucous behaviour? This was the perfect atmosphere for a stalking vampire. It was the perfect place to both hide and flaunt what they were. Anything untoward that happened in this kind of environment could later be blamed on the intoxication of the participants and the general misbehaviour and confusion.

In answer to Kabel’s question, Adair simply shook her head—she had no idea what all this was about, though she assumed that most of the crowd had been informed of this earlier. Most of them were dressed in costume, as if they’d prepared ahead of time. Maybe the advertising for this event happened mainly during the day. Maybe she’d missed it. Maybe she’d just been ignorant. The latter was no doubt the case—she’d been such a recluse before and after Chastity’s death. It would have been very easy for her to miss a detail like this.

She wished she had heard of it beforehand, however. She loved dressing up, especially if costumes and masks were involved. She pouted because of her lack of a mask, though fate seemed to throw the answer right in front of her face.

The crowds parted like the red sea to reveal to her a little kiosk in the distance; it was lit up with dim lights the contrasting colours of all the masks sold made the kiosk stand out like a sore thumb. Adair reached for Kabel’s hand, catching it momentarily and squeezing it, assuming that he would follow her. She was bumped by someone in the crowd and she lost her grip on Kabel’s hand. That didn’t stop her from continuing, however. She continued to assume he’d follow her—her beeline toward the kiosk made her ignorant to the tidal flow of the crowd and its ability to swiftly cut one off from their companions.

She’d weaved her way through the dancers and street performers, finally reaching the kiosk and grasping the edge of the bench for support, like grasping onto a buoy in the middle of an ocean to keep from drowning.

“Oooh. Do you want one, Kabel?” She asked, her odd eyes focused on the variety of masks in front of her. The man in the kiosk frowned at her, and Adair momentarily realised why. She glanced to her side, then behind her. “Kabel?” She called, even though she knew it was in vain.

“Shit…” She mumbled, turning her back on the kiosk to focus on the bobbing heads of the crowd.

She’d not be buying a mask, now. Not if it would keep Kabel from finding her. If he wanted to find her. On the same token, at least he was not wearing a mask. It would make him far easier to find.

And with this in mind, she started to backtrack.

[Kabel]

Kabel heard all the stories from fishermen and others throughout the world. Some people still believed that there were creatures out there that could lure a man to his death out upon the open sea. They were called Sirens; light to a moth. These were beings that could stop any man within their tracks and lure them close to finishing blow. Maybe one could argue that that's what Kabel saw then and there; a pretty young woman wearing some white gown and a pearl-shaped mask upon her head. She looked so pretty there and looked so bored by the festivities all around her.

He could only wonder about whether or not she was apart of the entertainment or simply a passerby; a person who was attempting to detach themselves and become apart of the experience as everyone else was. Either way, there was something about her that drew Kabel. Something that stirs his blood and spurs him forward to cut a swath through the crowd to her side.

"You don't seem to be having much fun," his voice - raising above the din - flits to her ears. He's standing there before her very eyes with a smile plastered to his face and his eyes brightening with curiosity and humor. There was something that no one could deny about him. He was entirely genuine and not flitting away with lies at his heels. Despite that though there was something compelling him to be here.

His blood sings beneath the surface of his flesh and his ears are ringing; roaring with life. His heart stirring and loins aching. His mouth felt dry and throat parched. He knew then that the reason he stood before her now was because he wanted her. As for what? He didn't know. It was simply that feeling.

He needed to have her for himself.

He wasn't sure who to turn to then though. He could have called for Adair but she wouldn't be able to hear him over the festival proper. He'd have to suffer with his inner thoughts. He'd have to suffer and wait this out like some alcoholic attempting to fight off the urge to drink. He...His mind settles then and eyes flit over her face quietly; pretty eyes, soft mouth and well proportioned features. His mind marks every detail beyond what he could ever recall doing with any other woman before.

"Are you waiting for someone?" He questions as his eyes flit from one kiosk and then to a pavillion and then to another kiosk; eyes roaming over the lines quietly before resettling upon her features; upon that mask and her dressed hair. His hands clasp together before him and he offers his smile. He hopes he looks proper enough and that she wouldn't blow him off. Maybe she would?

He prayed she wouldn't.

"I'm Kabel," he says and offers his hand to her; all hard consonants and English accent.

[Robyn]

She’d been thinking. Thinking of that story she could tell her parents the next morning over breakfast. That conversation they were sure to have just before they reminded her that she needed to get a job. No doubt for but a week or two before they were all up-rooted once more.

What would she tell them? Would she tell them she’d some how muster up the lady-balls to approach someone? Would she say some less-bitchy girl had approached her and drug her back towards her own friends. Would she have met someone at the buffet table, over what no-doubt was spiked-punch? There were definitely many possibilities that could occur - in theory. But there was that moment of confusion where Robyn wasn’t sure which would be the most logical.

This was the problem with lying. You have to do some serious thinking in order to pull it off. And Robyn was well-aware of this single stipulation. And god, did she hate it. She was a photographer, not a creative writer, or a fiction author. Robyn paid no more attention to details of things which didn’t exist than the average person. It was like asking how many scales were on a Dragon’s underbelly. Robyn didn’t fuckin’ know, and she’d never think about it, unless she was forced to! And it seemed this was one of those times where everything needed to be thought through. Her father could call out a half-assed lie any time of any day. He was a smart man, after all, you had to be in order to merit a position as a college professor. Even if he was simply a professor of physics.

Though it was soon becoming apparent that Robyn wouldn’t, in fact, need to lie to her parents.

This boy was attractive, like some young, and wayward Brad Pitt. Though there was something different about him, something dirty, and something Robyn couldn’t quite place her finger on. In fact, it was even a slight unsettling. Robyn attempts to register his words. What had been said while her mind was elsewhere? Hell, Robyn didn’t know, “Excuse m--” she’s cut off by his next statement, a question, rather. “No, I’m not,” she assures him thereafter.

Those hazel eyes of hers fall toward a bare wrist as though gauging the time, though she wore no watch, “I’ve a three o’clock curfew, and nothing to do,” she sighs out with a knit to her brows.

It’s then he’s offering his name Kabel. Kabel. “Your parents must hate you,” she teases with a warm sort of smile. Then again, her parents were no different; Robyn Page Warwick wasn’t the most normal of names, either. Page? Page?! What parent spelled Paige like that. Though she couldn’t really complain. She liked her name well-enough. It suited, in a quirky sort of way.

“I’m Robyn,” she counters, touching her hand soft within his own. She even goes as far as to shift from within her seated position, “Why aren’t you wearing a mask?” she questions thereafter, those hazel eyes of hers wide. He was surely the first being she’d seen tonight who hadn’t been sporting some sort of mask.

There’s a pause. A moment of consideration at best before her hands are lifting to draw that shimmering mask from about her head. Fingertips work upon her brow, where the band had bound tight, digging to her flesh. She was sick of wearing it, anyway, why not pass it off towards someone else? Let alone an attractive young man.

It’s then Robyn is drawing close, her breasts near smothering on his own chest, and arms lifted high to draw that band about his scalp. She smells nice; of vanilla, and some form of citrus. She leaves that mask to settle upon his brow easily, despite not knowing him, this Kabel didn’t seem the type to be bouncing about with over embellished accessories, let alone a pearl shaded mask settled upon his eyes. Her body brushes from his own, as she lowers from tip-toes only to eye him critically.

An amused grin spreads across her pretty mouth.

[Adair Noble]

As Adair weaved her way back through the thronging crowd, she kept her eyes peeled, glancing at every face she passed. The masks were everywhere. It was a little unnerving, now. The glamour had slipped and now the masks were just frustrating.

Adair remembered the reason why she’d brought Kabel out to begin with. She’d wanted him to experience what it was like to be a vampire. She knew he’d be getting hungry, and it was her obligation to be there when it happened. And this was definitely a first—she’d never felt such a strong affection for someone. No, she had no interest in claiming Kabel as a boyfriend, or as her other half. Not by any means. The way Adair felt about Kabel now could probably be compared to how she’d always felt about her baby brother.

She’d defended him whenever he was bullied.

She’d helped him with his homework—at least until he outsmarted her.

She missed him terribly.

She’d always been aware of the link she’d had with Chastity and Kabel was a direct consequence of that link having disappeared. She needed something to replace it. And now that she had Kabel, she realised what it was like to be directly responsible for another.

Soon enough she’d reached the spot where the two of them had entered the festivities. She pushed herself up onto her tiptoes and glanced around—she couldn’t see him. Not immediately, anyway.

She huffed a frustrated sigh and clenched her fists at her side. She didn’t bother calling out to Kabel, as the noise would keep him from hearing her. She closed her eyes, then, and tried to focus on that peculiar link she felt to the guy. It was never something she’d tried with Chastity, but it was something she knew was possible.

Beneath her eyelids, her eyes slid from side to side. There was a tugging in the center of her being, like a metaphysical and invisible link. It had her turning, two steps to the right, like a compass re-aligning to its pole.

When next she opened her eyes she still couldn’t see him. At least, she could see that scruffy, maskless head of his. She did see a maskless girl in white amongst a bunch of other masked people. But she was certain he was over there, somewhere! He can’t have gone too far. She took a few steps forward, gaze swiftly moving across the crowd twice, three times.

It was only on the third sweep that she realised the maskless girl was only maskless because she’d placed her mask on someone else. It was only then that Adair took the time to recognise the clothes, the stance of the guy she was with. Kabel.

Adair smirked, relaxing as she did so. It was completely understandable. That boy was going to be irresistible. Any girl who rejected him—well, Adair would assume them crazy.

Instead of interrupting them, Adair sauntered over to a different kiosk and swiftly picked out a mask for herself. The thing was a very pale gold, lace trimming the edges and darker gold, glittering curlicues decorating the front. It was plain compared to some, but it suited her dress.

She handed over the coins and then turned back to the crowd, easily finding Kabel again. She pulled the mask over her eyes and circled around him, trying to keep out of his sight whilst keeping him within hers.

[Kabel]

"Sometimes I think they do," he confesses with an smile that made his amusement all so evident. There's no doubt within those eyes of his; the warmth there. Then her query was answered with quickness. He had no mask simply because of two reasons. One was the fact that he had arrived only moments prior and then the other was the fact that he hadn't brought any. He hadn't even seen a stand that were selling any! That made him wonder of Adair's whereabouts.

"I just got here," he confesses to her before lifting a hand to gesture at hers. "I see you have one though!" He says with enthusiasm and a slight grin. "A three o'clock curfew and you say you have nothing to do?" He asks of her with an expression of bewilderment taking over his face. Had she seen the festivities going on around then? Yet, she was also alone; these things were always much more fun and engaging when you were with someone.

Still, he had her name; Robyn. It's a pretty name to say the least and relatively normal compared to the name he gave her. Mayhap he should have told her his true name. Yet, what would that gain him? It could be a laugh and comparison to the late U.S. President or Odysseus proper; considering that Ulysses was the latin translation. It was a nigh uncommon name for modern society to say the least. His mouth purses for only a brief moment then before she was nearly sending him off balance.

Her warmth felt nigh tenfold with her closeness and her chest crushing upon his own. His chin tucks toward his chest and his eyes widen as he stares down at her. She smells of vanilla and some cirtus; the scent dancing within his nostrils and nearly making him fall back away from her. Yet, he stands firm and eye-to-eye with her as she's settling the mask upon his brow. He blinks for a few moments before his hand lifts to touch gently over the mask.

"Mine?" He asks of her dumbly.

Then before he could speak he felt a pin-prick.

It felt like eyes were upon him and sweat was breaking out upon the line of his spine. He felt drawn to someone and Kabel had to force himself to focus on Robyn. Adair? Her name flits to the forefront of his mind with her face tipping over his own like some child with a new toy.

She's close. He could feel his blood singing out to her because his blood was partly her own. It's strange how things like that work. He felt a connection then though and he couldn't help but flit his gaze past Robyn's own to stare wide-eyed at a woman dressed - Adair! It's her. He damn well knew it! His mouth falls open for the moment before his gaze flits from one to the other and settles upon Robyn's face before he offers a smile.

"Maybe you'd like to walk with me, Robyn?" He asks of her and quietly wonders whether or not Adair could hear them. Maybe she should make herself known instead of circling them like some vulture! It was rather uncomfortable and strange to be watching her as she was like that. Kabel shoots her a glance over Robyn's head and quietly hopes the woman would look back.

All the while he offers Robyn his arm.

[Robyn]

“I suppose so!” Robyn echoes, those cat-like eyes of hers wide. How old was this boy? And he was dumbfounded like some child younger than she! Though to be fair, he didn’t look much older than she, at least not if you cleaned him up some!

Oh, that’s not to say that this Kabel is dirty, or anything of the like. He was just obviously a single man without a woman to snap him into line. Not that Robyn wanted to be the one to give him a bath and press his shirts. Or drag him along shopping so they may find some more suitable attire. Perhaps she liked her boys a little dirty. Though Robyn truly didn’t know what she wanted in a man, throughout her life’s travels she’d yet to find someone who truly tickled her fancy.

Kabel may just be another spot in the pan, like all the other boys before him.

So Robyn was picky. Was there something wrong with that? No, Robyn was young, and she was more than aware how attractive she was. In her opinion she had every right to pick and chose whom she wanted to be with. And she had every right to deem someone unsuitable simply because of how they looked, or because they told too many puns. Or because they bitched about how her hands smelled after photography class. None of that was her fault, nothing ever was. Oh, to be young.

So tonight, maybe, wouldn’t be so bad after all. She had an attractive man at her side, albeit it was almost impossible to trust him. She’d just met him after all! And that made her uncomfortable, to say the least. Though it’s naught that Robyn couldn’t get over, given enough time, and maybe a drink or two. A conversation. Sure, this was a new town, and just because she hadn’t found any friends in other towns, didn’t mean that she couldn’t here, and now!

She remains hopeful.

She’s being offered an arm and Robyn lifts her own hand to press upon the inner curve of his elbow, drawing closed to his side as she links arms, as if some old fashioned southern belle. She clearly wasn’t in her “sun” dress, and ballet flats, though perhaps those soft palpable ringlets could pass for something from that time era, maybe that, and that vague hint of a southern accent upon her tongue. She’d grown up in Georgia, after all, even if she’d not been there for some time.

“So, tell me, Kabel,” his name sounds strange upon her tongue, “Care to dance?” she’s left offering, those pretty hazel eyes of hers lifting to meet his own gaze, “Or do you have a woman of your own lingering somewhere about here, and you just felt bad for little lonely me?” Sure, the question had been put out there, but in all honesty, Robyn was almost afraid of the answer she may receive. He may well have a girlfriend, and even if he didn’t he may have simply felt bad for her. Neither of which Robyn wanted to hear. Almost suspiciously Robyn tosses a quick glance over her shoulder before drawing her attention back towards Kabel.

Those warm lips of hers purse a slight, in almost a coaxing pout.

[Adair Noble]

Adair pouts, more to herself than to anyone else, as Kabel catches sight of her. There was so much more mischief she could wreak if he had not seen her. But she underestimated the bond they had between them. Of course, if she could find him in the crowd, than he could do the same. There was no way she could even think of hiding her presence from him.

The look Kabel threw her over the young human’s head was downright amusing; it had Adair bowing her head and chuckling. She poked her tongue at Kabel, then, as if to tease him. He probably wanted to know what she was doing, and why she was circling him like some vulture circling its prey. She didn’t really know what she was doing. But she assumed Kabel would want to feed, at some point or another, and that he might not be completely aware of it.

Yes, it was true. She should probably make herself known, cling to Kabel’s side in case he should slip up or need her suddenly. Her steps turned in his direction and she took a few steps toward them; she approached from behind the girl, so that she could not see Adair. It was only at the last minute that Adair caught wind of the girl’s question. She’d asked Kabel to dance.

Well, now, Adair had a choice. Keep going, and ruin the girl’s hopes? Or continue to circle? She cocked her head to the side as she glanced at Kabel, wondering exactly what he wanted. Poor guy, was probably being overwhelmed. She’d plucked him out of the calm and had thrown him straight into the whirlwind. Well, he must learn somehow.

She stepped around the girl and planted herself by Kabel’s side. She flashed a smile between the two of them, and though she felt the urged to clip her arm around Kabel’s, she stayed put with her two hands clasped in front of her.

“Oh, go ahead, Kabel. Go dance with...” this delicious morsel of a girl “...your new friend.” It was all she could do to stop herself from taking a blatant whiff of the girl; the wind had suddenly shifted in her direction, and Adair discovered that the girl smelled rather...delicious. Her gaze was fiery and knowing as she glanced back at Kabel, trying to gauge his own thoughts and reactions through the mask that the girl had placed so keenly on his face; did he feel the same? Did he simply just want to...gobble her up?

[Kabel]

Robyn's question was nearly lost on him not becaues he wasn't paying attention but -- wait, yes, he wasn't paying attention! He was distracted by Adair and unsure of what she was doing, truly. It was only then that he was peeling his gaze away from Adair which may not have been the best thing to do, really. He didn't think then though and only looked down at Robyn with knit brows.

"I...What did you -- Oh, wait; no, I don't have any one here with me. Well, no, I have a friend I came here with but she disappeared," he confesses as his gaze flits down to the sight of her hand upon the curve of his arm; that soft touch of hers. She's attractive and young. There were many men who'd give anything for a catch like her. Oh, even him.

"I'd like to --" Then he was being cut off by Adair and practically startled when she was suddenly at his side; planted there with an easy smile upon her eyes and her hunger high within her eyes. It's a frightening sight to say the least! "Adair!" He exclaims with genuine surprise and stares at her even as she looks past him to the young woman on his arm. She's speaking and he swallows. It's then he meets her gaze evenly.

Kabel was unsure what to think. He had only met Robyn but there was something that compelled him to take and keep her. He wasn't what that feeling was exactly though because he had never felt such for his lover prior to all of this albeit that's not to say he hadn't loved her. He had! He wanted her. He wanted to keep her. Yet, he had been a child. It's what she told him. That he couldn't keep traveling like this and had to eventually settle down. She sounded like his father then and now he wondered whether or not he was acting like a child again.

"Adair...Adair." He says her name again and again to find a semblance of balance as he swallows and looks from both Robyn to Adair and then offering a smile of sorts. "This is Robyn. Robyn, this is Adair." He says simply. "My friend," Kabel explains to Robyn before biting his lower lip. He looks back to Adair quietly. "Where did you disappear off to anyway?"

He knew she could ask the same of him, truly.

[Robyn]

Those pretty hazel eyes of hers widen, and that soft mouth of hers falls ajar.

Robyn had never played the part of the mistress before, and it was easy to make the assumption that this beautiful blonde woman was, indeed, Kabel’s Lady. There’s a short pause before Robyn manages to get a hold of herself and cease that silly staring she’d taken quite the liking to. And believe you, me, it was quite the feat in and of itself.

Still, she manages to shut her mouth and wet her lips with an easy sweep of her tongue. It seemed Kabel’s previous words had been lost on her, “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t hitting on him-” lies, all lies, she’d been giving him everything a nineteen year old girl had to offer and maybe then some! After all, it’s not often Robyn took flirting as far as physical touching. She must want this Kabel, and bad. “I was just--I…” she stammers before silencing herself. She was truly digging her own grave in that moment, and it was best she kept quiet instead of babbling on.

“Oh,” she breathes. Robyn is all to relived to hear that this pretty blonde with strange eyes is not, in fact, Kabel’s woman, but simply a friend. Although there always was something a slight shifty about the term friend, especially when there was a pretty woman involved. Exes perhaps? Jilted lovers? Robyn doesn’t question this, though. Friends, they were. Though there was something different about them. Something that spoke of more than friends, Miss Warwick couldn’t quite place her finger upon that strange bond, and it wasn’t an easy thing to push from the forefront of her mind.

She attempts to focus upon the people before her, instead of that inner monologue of hers

“Adair,” Robyn manages. Yet another strange name. This time Robyn keeps quiet over such. Women weren’t exactly known for reciving comments like ‘weird name,’ or ‘your parents must have hated you,’ well, at least not as well as Kabel had. Robyn may have been desperate for human contact, but that by no means meant she was looking for a cat fight.

“I’m Robyn,” Oh, he already said that. Jesus Christ. If only she could manage something half intelligent, “It’s nice to make your acquaintance,“ insert curtsey here. What a fine southern belle she would have made! Maybe then she would have made her parents proud. Still, she glances between the two of them. The choice to dance was truly on Kabel. Despite this Adair having urged the two of them onwards, something seemed… not so genuine about it, well, maybe not exactly that, but once more Robyn couldn’t put her finger on it.

Now, Robyn wouldn’t say she was exactly in tune with other’s feelings, but she was pretty damn sure that she was better at it than this! These two left her almost completely baffled, and over all, uncertain.

“Maybe Adair and I could dance,” Robyn offers in a teasing sort of tone, another warm smile taking her lips.

[Adair Noble]

Poor boy. She was making him uncomfortable. Adair idly wondered whether he’d always been like this or whether it was just tonight, because of what she’d done and what he now was. She wondered what she could do in order to sooth his nerves, but came to the conclusion that she couldn’t really do anything but be herself. He himself had to learn how to be comfortable.

Adair flashed a grin at Robyn as Kabel introduced them. The only thing she could think of, again, was how awkward it must be for Kabel to be introducing two people whom he’d only just met. The way he repeated her name several times before offering it to the human girl was testament to the discomfort he must feel.

Again, she felt the urge to comfort him, but was at a loss as to how she could immediately do so.

In answer to Kabel’s question, Adair lent closer to him and told him in hushed tones; “I went to get us some masks , but you didn’t keep up. And looks as if you found one of your own anyway.” She teased, nudging him playfully before returning her full attention to Robyn.

The girl seemed to be just as nervous as Kabel was—maybe the two of them weren’t really like that. Maybe it was just the effect Adair had on them. Well, she liked that idea! But after Robyn had taken a few moments to regain her composure, Adair flashed her another of her wide grins—the girl seemed to have gathered some nerve, with that last comment of hers!

“Honestly, I don’t care if you were hitting on him. He’s like a...” she couldn’t say ‘son’, because that would just be weird for all of them. “Like a brother.” She admitted. She was curious to see what Kabel thought of the notion, but she didn’t wait to see. Instead, the idea that Robyn had suggested in jest took hold, germinating in Adair’s mind and growing like some kind of virus.

It was a masquerade, wasn’t it? Who really cared about social norms? She had taken a step toward Robyn, about to take her hand and whisk her out onto the dance floor.

But she stopped herself just in time. It was no way to ease Kabel’s discomfort! No, instead she grasped both their hands and tried to join them, nudging them both toward what could be considered the dance floor, though no dance floor was clearly marked.

“No no, you guys go do whatever it is that you were going to do before I showed up. Go on, Kabel, I’ll keep an eye on you from here.” She said, her eyes loaded with sincerity as she looked at him for longer than was necessary. She was trying to let him know that, should he need her or should he get himself into trouble, she’d be nearby to come readily to his aid.

[Kabel]

Kabel hadn't realized that this was something to spoken of within hushed tones. It hadn't seemed that magnificent of a thing to speak of quietly anyway, truly! Masks weren't that spectacular, or were they? He supposed that depended on the person in question than anything else, no? So, she spoke of getting them masks, but then Adair was teasing him whilst Robyn had finished nearly embarassing herself with those quick introductions. Kabel offers a slight smile and reaches up to tap his fingertips to the brim of that mask.

"You can say that, Adair," he says simply with a nod to accentuate his words.

"You're not too shabby for a sister," he confesses suddenly and narrows his eyes at Adair. He wasn't getting at her within any sort of way. If anything, Kabel seemed to be rubbing elbows with her; teasing her, even. Adair was quick upon her feet though with her uttered words. How could they get away with any sort of thing? They hardly knew one another, and part of the reason that he was here was because of her; oh, no, the entirety of the reason was because of her.

Then Kabel thought he'd see Adair whisk off Robyn, and that would mean Adair would win this short chess match and take the woman home, no? Did Adair...well, swing that way? Maybe not. She seemed fascinated with men. If her fascination with him alone meant anything at all. Yet, Adair seemed always full of surprises and that moment alone showed evidently with that.

Adair's hand upon his own was a surprise, but Kabel didn't fight her off. He leaned forward and followed her touch until his hand was over Robyn's. His face tips so he may catch her mis-matched eyes and offer a slight smile. "Will you be staying out of trouble?" He asks of her and attempts to act like the chaperone here, but he was anything but, truly! He's grinning somewhat and soon catching himself whilst finding a semblance of balance within his once uncertain world.

It was about time that Kabel didn't seem so nervous or childish. He was slowing accepting the fact that she would always be there, and that Adair wouldn't be gone for far too long; in fact, she was only a new addition to his life as a whole. So, he has to grow accustomed to her eventually, no? Yes, of course! Still, Kabel didn't want to seem greedy either as he draws Robyn close to the line of his body; his freehand cups over her hip as he peers over the woman's head to Adair.

"I'll bring her back so you can have your turn. Maybe we can have some refreshments soon?" He asks of Adair and his eyes flit from one side to the other. Which pavilion? He wasn't even sure. "I'll meet you there, with Robyn," he says quickly and bites his lower lip to suppress his growing smile. "Behave, Adair. I don't want to come back to see you covered in blood," he tells her; teasing her with a semblance of morbid humor.

[Robyn]

Robyn’s nose wrinkles. The two of these were siblings, and she’d mistaken them for lovers - exes at best. Well, it was truly best she kept quiet instead of simply talking, and talking, and attempting to dig herself out of that hole she’d created for herself with the simple assumption that they were a couple.

Then again, was she so wrong in that assumption? Perhaps not the two of them looked nothing alike, after all. Or at least in her opinion they didn’t. Her gaze shifts from Adair’s face toward Kabel’s, just to be sure she hadn’t made some sort of mistake.

Though this thought was soon falling toward the back of her mind and the young woman was being whisked offwards, hand-in-hand with none other than Adair! She’d only half been expecting this sort of thing, despite having egged it on herself. Still, all is soon being righted as her palm is being settled within Kabel’s - by force, though it truly wasn’t so bad. Kabel was attractive, after all, to say the least of him, and she didn’t so much mind being within his company, even if they were ignoring Adair.

The two of them had come together, after all, shouldn’t Kabel and Adair be spending time together? Perhaps this was some sort of pseudo family reunion, and the two hadn’t seen each other for sometime! Robyn feels terrible for a short-lived moment. Though perhaps she was over thinking things a slight. Teenage girls tended to do that, overanalyze, and Robyn was truly no exception to this rule. She over thought almost everything, and often, at that!

That mouth of hers purses before she draws her attention back toward Adair with a loll to her pretty head, “Thank you,” the small girl mouths, before turning her attention back toward Kabel. Perhaps Adair recalled what it was like to be a young woman, and to be nervous about near-everything that had to do with attractive young men. Sometimes young women such as Robyn needed a good push, and Adair seemed more than willing to give her that much-needed nudge.

Robyn offers up an almost bashful grin in Kabel’s direction before her hand slides from within Kabel’s own so she may more appropriately settle bare palms against the curve of his spine to draw her own petite frame closer to his own, “I don’t dance often,” she warns. But hadn’t she been the one to ask him to dance in the first place? Well, yes, yes, she was, though she wasn’t so certain he would have accepted before Adair made her appearance. Robyn was content with simply eyeing him throughout the expanse of their conversation.

“Your parents were definitely the creative type,” Robyn murmurs. Between Kabel, and Adair, heaven forbid they would have had a third child! She offers a warm and almost teasing smile thereafter.