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Post by Niklaus Constantinides on May 10, 2010 1:10:12 GMT
Shirt now removed and tossed aside, Niklaus tossed the small racket anxiously from one hand to the other, his bright eyes fixed on his opponent across the court. A grin crossed his pouty lips as his brother returned his attention to the court, his eyes widening at the sight of Nik shirtless. “Have you no manners?” he shouted gripping the tennis ball tightly in his hand. Judging by the look on his face, Nik’s younger brother was anxious. If there was anything he hated, it was negative attention. Nik on the other hand adored it. Whether it was negative or positive didn’t matter. Just the fact that anyone had their eyes on him thrilled the young Constantinides. “There are young woman out here who I’m sure wouldn’t appreciate the site of that! You and your indecency.”
Standing up straighter, Niklaus let out a jazzy snicker as his arms were outstretched to his sides. He held the racket tightly in his left hand and flashed a brilliant smile over to his brother.“Indecency?” he shook his head as if in disbelief. “And who are you to say that women don’t appreciate this?” Using the racket, he waved it before him as if putting himself out on display. Another laugh slipped past his lips as his brother sighed in annoyance. “Don’t be jealous young brother. You’ll soon be in the spotlight just like me someday.
[/color]” As much as Nik would wish for one of his younger brothers to follow him in his footsteps, he knew for a fact that it would never happen. They were far more mature than he was despite their age and were too prude for their own good. They worried too much of making their parents proud, something Niklaus had been failing to do since he was asked to find a bride on his own. He had made attempts to teach the second oldest Constantinides prince how to lure women into his chambers but his attempts proved to be fruitless, his younger brother finding the act pointless and ridiculous. “ Are you just going to stand there staring at me like the beautiful women behind you or are you going to serve the ball?[/color]” he called out, his sea blue eyes wandering over the various faces of the young girls who were from a safe distance. Few giggled while others simply smirked, their eyes fixed more so on his body than on his face. He shot the group a dashing grin and reluctantly returned his attention to his opponent whose face was now painted with annoyance. “ Would you please just dress yourself. It’s… distracting.” Of all the excuses his brother could have given, he had possibly dished out the worst one. Unable to help himself Nik burst out into laughter nearly dropping his racket altogether. “ Enough with the excuses.[/color]” Holding out his free hand, he motioned for his brother to serve the ball. “ Don’t worry ladies. After this game I will devote my attentions strictly to you.[/color]” Eyes narrowing, he took a quick glance back at the giggling group. “ And I promise it will end quickly.[/color]” The infamous, charming grin tugged at his full lips as he shot a wink to the group of women, aiming it at no one in particular and quickly returned his focus to the game as it was started. His brother grunted in frustration as he served the ball, sending it over the net onto Nik’s side where it collided with the grass roughly before bouncing back up into the air again. Nik moved quickly, dashing towards the ball, reacting swiftly and fast enough to send the ball back over the tall net towards his awaiting opponent. The two Constantinides boys scurried over the court, moving somewhat clumsily over the lawn as they fought to send the ball to and fro. Soon enough the game came to an end, the ball whipping past Niklaus’s brother and out into the gardens where it bounced over the bright green grass and rolled towards one of the girl’s feet. Triumphant, Nik threw his arms up over his head in victory before letting the racket fall to the ground beside him. “ Once again victory is mine little brother.[/color]” he declared. His brother scoffed loudly and tossed the racket onto the ground, clearly irritated by his loss. “ Oh don’t be a poor sport.[/color]” Lazily, he collected his shirt from off the ground and used it to dab his face free of sweat. “ Now,[/color] he began, his eyes drifting back to the group of women. “ Anyone daring enough to join me for a dip in the channel?[/color]” Part of him knew none of the girls would agree to it but a small, very small part hoped that one of them would be adventurous enough to do so. He doubted they’d make it into the water anyways. It was more likely they’d end up tangled together over one of the lavishing, large beds in the palace.[/blockquote][/blockquote] JEANNE | COMPLETE [/b] [/size][/font][/color] |
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Post by Jeanne Bonaparte on May 10, 2010 1:37:40 GMT
   how can you jubilate sitting in cages,[/i][/color][/font] ---------------- never taking wing? -------------------------------------- [/color][/font][/center] She didn't have an interest in lawn tennis, and she certainly didn't have an interest in either of the Greek princes, and so quite how Jeanne found herself watching the match she didn't know. Still, it was better than doing nothing, or being badgered into meeting yet more foreign nobility and royalty. Jeanne didn't mind making new acquaintances, but it got a little tedious. Just how much more could her father, King of France, expect her to smile and curtsey? She was sure she was saying 'a pleasure to meet you' in her sleep. It wasn't that she hated having to do it, but it had become tedious now.
It was a moderately warm day.. not spectacularly warm for May, but not cold either. It was temperate, and at least the rain had held off so far, though the sky was not completely clear. It seemed a little colder here than in France, but Jeanne was unsure whether that was the climate or the atmosphere as she watched the match. It made her frown how all the other girls gathered were marvelling at the eldest Greek prince.. or rather, his naked torso. She, herself, found it indecent and quite pathetic. Why would a man need to strip himself of his shirt, unless it was for chauvanistic purposes. Niklaus Constantinides reputation had preceeded him, and the whispers Jeanne had heard about the handsome prince had proved to be true.
She had first met him yesterday, introduced by her father. He had been polite enough, but Jeanne could tell his pleasentries were even more forced than hers. Not only that, but he had smelled of stronger perfume than she had.. and she highly doubted it was because he preferred it to a more masculine cologne. It made her quite angry. As a prince, and a man, he was allowed to get away with promiscuity, but if it were a woman who was doing such a thing, she would be hailed as a whore.
There were certain things Jeanne just didn't understand.
The match finished and the ball rolled along the green grass, settling just in front of her feet. The glares she got for that were priceless and numerous, and it didn't take a genius to work out that were they lower-class women, they more than likely would have fought between themselves to see who got to hand the ball back to Niklaus.. not that he looked interested in having it back. No, he was much more interested in nonsense about taking a dip, and that comment certainly set the girl's around her murmuring. Jeanne couldn't help but scoff.
If it were in her nature, she would have walked away then and there, but people like the eldest Greek prince vexed her. His arrogance and surety in his own importance. Yes, she possessed the same.. the slight upwards tilt in her chin at all times showed it.. but she hated when other people had such qualities. Besides, his was based on a sexual prowess, where as she had worked for hers, by proving her worth as a princess, both intellectually and socially. And she had not had to lie on her back to do it. It was, however, not in her nature, and so she bent her legs slightly to allow her to elegantly retrieve the ball, ever the lady. With it in her hands, she looked to Niklaus.
"I believe you dropped your ball, your Highness," she called. Her voice was soft, delicious, her thick French accent dripping off it like warm honey.. so befitting with her milky skin. She looked radiant, and even she knew it. The top half of her blonde curls were pulled back and secured with a jewelled pin, while the bottom half floated gently about her shoulders, framing her elegant, thin neck.. it was often compared to a swans, teamed with her feminine jawline. Unlike most of the girls around her, she wore no make up, save a little rouge on her cheeks to detract a little from her porcelain complexion. Her ice-blue eyes fixed upon him, and within them was an almost goading expression, a flicker of micheviousness that was designed to not work in his favour. "Then again, perhaps it was about time, non?"
She had been unable to resist the second comment, no matter how unladylike it was. Jeanne was well known for her sarcasm and wit, and now it seemed Niklaus would bear the brunt of it. Without giving him time to reply, the ball was tossed towards him. It was a good throw, and one he could easily catch, and as soon as it had left her hand, she had turned on her heel and begun making her way away from the gathering, a wry smirk on her lips. She could hear the murmurs of disapproval from the other ladies, but she cared not. If they were willing to spread their legs for an arrogant asshole such as that, then their opinions could not have mattered less to Jeanne.
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Post by Niklaus Constantinides on May 10, 2010 2:27:39 GMT
No response. That was no surprise. Instead, there were whispers and murmurs swirling between the women. They debated and gossiped as if the Greek Prince were far away rather than standing just a few paces away from them now and for some reason this irritated him. Had there been no one daring enough to simply step forward and declare him as their prize? How much thought did one really have to put into such a simple act? Alright, so it may not have been that simple to the women but to Nik, it was nothing but a fun suggestion; something they could have done besides standing out in the sun or doing something boring within the palace walls such as lounging and reading in the library or playing board games in one of the oversized, extravagant rooms. It seemed as if the palace offered no kind of entertainment other than the beautiful women. But then again, merely spreading a girl’s legs and taking what he wanted was beginning to get dull. Nik yearned for something different. He needed a challenge.
At his side, Niklaus’s younger brother waited anxiously as well, his arms folded impatiently over his chest. This only annoyed the prince more as he caught a glimpse of his brother’s pathetic smirk crossing his thin lips. He knew that the other Constantinides prince was conjuring up a smart remark, one that would perhaps set off Nik’s already short temper. However, before either of them could mutter a single vowel, a voice finally rose over the whispers, catching both the Greek brothers’ attention. It was soft, sweet, and undoubtedly familiar. Had it not been for the accent, Niklaus was sure he wouldn’t have recognized who the voice belonged to. Arching a fine brow, he searched for the young French princess only to find her with the tennis ball in hand and a smirk plastered over her angelic features.
Taken aback by her beauty, he stood silently, staring as if he hadn’t understood a single word that was said. For a moment, he glanced over to his brother, who seemed to be caught under the same bewitching spell, his darker blue eyes widened as if in surprise. Why was he acting this way? It was only another woman. Regaining his composure, he looked back over to Jeanne and rolled his eyes playfully while he gave a shrug of his shoulders, clearly disinterested now in the ball in her hand. The game was now over and there was no use for it now but rather than offering a rude and smart retort, he gave a nod of his head and held his hand out to take the ball from her. Just as he was about to take a step forward and retrieve the tennis ball from her, she let out another remark, catching him completely off guard.
Again he was hit with a wave of shock and surprise, his bright blue eyes widening in disbelief. His brother on the other hand enjoyed the quip, bursting into sudden laughter and giving Niklaus a quick smack on the back. Lips pressed tightly together in a fine line, he glared slightly at the girl, ignoring the ball that was tossed towards him and allowing it to fall at his feet. Although he wanted to come back at her with a snide retort, he bit his tongue and instead forced a devious grin to cross his features. Instead of sparking an argument with the young princess by being malicious, he decided to be playful with her in hopes to somehow win the attention he was lacking from her. Though he wouldn’t admit it, he wanted her and he wanted her bad. Out of all the other princesses that were packed into the palace, Jeanna was perhaps the most stunning.
Leaving his chuckling brother and the whispering women behind, Niklaus started after the French princess all the while slipping back into his shirt. Though he didn’t mind being shirtless before the princesses and other younger women, he didn’t wish to risk the chance of running into his mother only to be scolded for being so ‘indecent’. “Would you like to find out?
[/i]” he muttered softly and playfully into her ear in Latin as he caught up to her. Generally, when he acted this way women swooned and it didn’t take much talking or effort to get them to do as Niklaus wished. “ I must say.[/color]” he interjected quickly before she could give him a response to his remark. “ You look marvelous today.[/color]” Politely he moved his hands behind his back and held them together there as he walked beside her in an attempt to make himself appear innocent. He knew though, everyone else knew better than to think of him in such a way. “ Mind if I join you in whatever you are about to do?[/color]” He almost regretted not suggesting another “fun adventure” such as swimming in the large channel but judging by how she reacted by the lawn tennis court, it wasn’t the best of his ideas. “ I promise to behave myself.[/color]” It was a lie of course but a feeble attempt to keep her from denying his company. He wanted to spend more time with Jeanne to see what it would take and how long it would take him to get her into his bed chambers. [/blockquote][/blockquote] JEANNE | COMPLETE [/b] [/size][/font][/color] |
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Post by Jeanne Bonaparte on May 10, 2010 3:14:52 GMT
how can you jubilate sitting in cages, [/i][/color][/font] ---------------- never taking wing? -------------------------------------- [/color][/font][/center] Judging by the discontented murmurs from the crowd behind her, Jeanne guessed the Greek prince was following her. That was, however, not her scheme, nor her intentions. She had walked away because she had tired of his immature antics. Yes, she was a man, six years older than she was, but it was nothing more than a masquerade. He was a boy, pretending to be a man, stuck in that awful teenage phase where the male of her species found it impossible to think with their brain. Jeanne didn't find it attractive, and nor did she find the idea of being another of his conquests attractive.
She had always been a good girl socially. Yes, she had a temper and the potential to be quite mouthy, as she had shown moments before, but where politics were concerned, she always behaved. She had a beautiful habit of being able to guage the desired reaction of whomever she spoke with. If they would prefer her to listen silently, she would smile and nod. If they wanted to engage in a conversation, Jeanne was highly educated and could make intellectual inputs that would oftentimes leave people admiring her even more than they had when they had first met her. But the thing she prided herself on was not being a common slut like so many around her. She was pure. Not of mind, of course not. She had had improper thoughts like any other red blooded female, but she controlled herself, and had abstained from all bedroom matters.
He caught up to her, his long strides easily keeping pace with her shorter ones, and Niklaus whispered in Latin in her ear. She could only scoff. Was he utterly stupid? Yes of course she wanted to find out, which was why she was throwing herself at him.. He spoke again, compliments that from his lips were meaningless and she continued walking. She neither increased her speed, nor slowed it down. She had no desire to run away from him.. he did not scare her.. but she had no desire to stop and speak with him either.
He asked to join her in whatever she was about to do, and the truth was, Jeanne had no idea what she was going to do now. Perhaps a quiet few hours in the library with a good book, or sitting in the gardens and taking in the sun? Still, whatever it was, she would be doing it alone. His promise made her actually laugh, and she shot him a glare over her shoulder, showing her utter disbelief for his statement.
"The concept of behaving is lost on you, monsieur. You know that as well as I do," she shot, as she continued walking still. She was making her way no where in particular, simply walking. "Why don't you run on back to that gaggle of girls, hmm? I'm sure one of them will gladly let you get your tarse under their petticoats."
Her voice was cold, and yet there was a fire behind it that almost seemed to negate the icy tone. It was not a friendly fire.. It was harsh, her words quite venomous, but her tonge was one laced with the due respect. He was, after all, a prince, even if he did fail to act as such. With that simple statement, she had called him out. She knew what he was doing. He wasn't following her out of desire for her company.. he was following her out of desire to position himself between her thighs. Unfortunately for him, Jeanne would be among one of the very few women to refuse his advances, and she was quite excited to see him slump away with his tail between his legs.
"Your reputation precedes you.. I have heard all about you, your Highness."
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Post by Niklaus Constantinides on May 10, 2010 3:50:50 GMT
Niklaus was half expecting the French princess to kindly accept his company and allow him to follow her about the castle like a lap dog but instead he was left with disappointment, her denial a hard slap to the face. Unconsciously, the corners of his lips dipped downward into a frown, his blue eyes scanning the beautiful scenery before them as they headed back towards the palace. For the first time, Niklaus took the time to look over the front of the Peterhof palace and was astonished by its beauty. It appeared much larger than it truly was and he wondered thoughtfully to himself how many rooms he had already visited and how many more were to come. Though his arrival was just a few days before, it felt as if he’d been residing in Russia for quite some time. He had already lost count of the number of beds he’d fallen onto. This thought made his devious smirk return.
However, the smile was swiftly sent away as quickly as it came as Jeanne sent another blow his way, yanking him back into reality. His eyes narrowed in her direction as they continued to walk, another disappointed pout threatening to cross his full lips. Why, like so many other women, was the French princess not falling for his charm? It was a bit unnerving to know that his playfulness was doing the exact opposite of what he wanted it to. Typically, he won women over quickly. A few compliments here and there then a witty or sometimes naughty remark to close the deal was all it took. Jeanne on the other hand was making this little game he was so used to playing much harder than he anticipated.
He debated whether or not to ignore her comment on the gaggle of girls he had now regrettably left behind and soon decided it was best to leave the situation be. Had he chose to argue with her on the matter, it would more than likely ruin his chances of getting on her good side if it were at all possible. At the moment it seemed hopeless. He needed to recover and fast before she had another chance to wish him away.
“I…” He had spoken too soon, his voice moving much faster than his mind thought. For the first time a woman had left Niklaus speechless. Not once had a young girl he was attempting to bed bring up his reputation and use it against him and not once did any woman in her right mind deny his advances. Quietly he began criticizing himself, going over the previous occurrences that had gone on before this very moment. Yes, he had to admit there were a few things which he could and should have kept to himself but other than that fact, he knew he had done nothing wrong. Nothing that was directed towards Jeanne for that matter.
His mind drew a blank and he was unable to conjure up anything to say to her. That is until she spoke again, admitting that she had heard rumors about him. Well, they couldn’t have been rumors since most of the gossip that circulated the palace about him were true. He all but smiled softly to himself and managed to keep his composure after being speechless for a moment. “I can assure you, what you have heard about me are nothing but… fables.
[/color]” He turned his head then to face her and offered an apologetic smile. It was difficult to walk at her pace. To him it was much too slow. “ Are you not going to attempt to get to know me yourself? Or do you prefer to draw conclusions based on other’s opinions?[/color]” Other than being an infamous womanizer, Niklaus was a con artist and a rather good one at that. His lies and faux innocence had gotten him away with many things in the past. Now he was depending on it to give him an opportunity to prove himself to Jeanne if it were at all possible. Anxious, he kept his eyes locked on her delicate, angelic face as he waited for her response. He knew better now than to expect anything positive. It was clear now that the princess was stubborn and it was certain she would be just the challenge he’d been seeking however, he wasn’t anticipating the challenge to be this difficult. At that moment as his gaze traced and memorized her features, he swore to himself that he wouldn’t give up and unbeknownst to him, he was slowly falling for the quick-witted French woman. [/blockquote][/blockquote] JEANNE | COMPLETE [/b] [/size][/font][/color] |
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Post by Jeanne Bonaparte on May 10, 2010 14:59:31 GMT
how can you jubilate sitting in cages, [/i][/color][/font] ---------------- never taking wing? -------------------------------------- [/color][/font][/center] He appeared speechless for a moment, and Jeanne couldn't hide the smirk that crept onto her rose-hued lips. She wondered momentarilly how many women had been able to rob him of words entirely. After a few moments, he found his tongue again and he gave her an assurance.. one that was entirely wasted on her. She knew they weren't fables. And then! Oh, and then, he all but accused her of favouring the gossip-mongers.
They could be found in every Royal Court.. the women, and men, who took great delight in spreading malicious whispers, watching them get changed and evolve as they left each lips to fall upon a new ear. It was pathetic, and though Jeanne often heard a good deal of the gossip, she ignored it.
Her message was not getting through. The fact that she had no interest in him in the slightest was lost on him, and she stopped stock-still, turning her body slightly towards him as she crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes, ice-blue and deeper than the oceans, fixed his. Her gaze was not cold, but it was not warm. In her almond shaped eyes was reflected her distaste for his behaviour and her disbelief of his words.
"I have seen your indecency with my own eyes. Heard your flirtations with my own ears. Smelled the woman's perfume on your skin with my own nose. So, pray, tell me how I have not drawn my own conclusions, monsieur?" she said. Her voice was soft, but it was not kind. One thing Jeanne could not stand was liars and dishonesty. "What you choose to do for your.. sport.. is your business, Your Highness, but do not try and fool me that you are innocent. We both know you are not."
It was true -- whatever he chose to do with his time was not hers to judge. Yes, it bothered her that he treated women with such disrespect, seeing them as simplt a way to extract his own satisfaction, but it bothered her more that he was trying to fool her that he did no such thing. And for what reason? More than likely so that she would become just another notch on his bedpost. Well, no, she would not.
Before her mother had died, the Queen had spent hours talking with her daughter, telling her how she was expected to behave, and how she needed to act. She was a princess, and there were certain things expected of her. One of those things was not to act like a slut around the Court, or any Court. Her innocence and integrity would have to be genuine for her to find a good marriage. Jeanne's father had yet to mention her marriage, but she was nineteen, and she doubted it would be long now before he found her a husband.. possibly even while they were here...
The thought did not thrill her all that much.
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Post by Niklaus Constantinides on May 10, 2010 19:11:00 GMT
The girl was far more stubborn than Niklaus could stand but it was her beauty that drew him to her. Well for the most part anyways. Unknowingly though, it was in fact her bullheadedness that was attracting him. Never had a woman been so quick to turn him down especially when his advances were so polite. All he had offered was to accompany her in whatever it was she was off to do next and even promised to behave himself, something the Greek prince hardly ever did. Hell, he behaved more when he was a child than he did as an adult. It was a fact his mother nitpicked at more than anything, constantly nagging at him about how immature he’s grown and how quickly his siblings were beginning to outshine him. In his eyes they were mundane; living their lives the way they thought was the ‘right way’. So dull… Niklaus thought with a roll of his eyes before the princess came to a stop.
He did the same, stopping abruptly at her side, a fine brow arching in surprise and suspicion. He braced himself for the worst, expecting to have her dainty hand sent swiftly across his cheek but instead she locked her icy eyes with his causing him to shudder slightly with desire. She was so much shorter than he was and compared to him, she was overall tiny. Oh the things he could and would do once he had her within the walls of his room or hers or whatever room he could manage to drag her into. Not literally of course. If there was one thing Niklaus wouldn’t do despite his anger and reputation was to force a woman to do what she did not wish. He had more dignity than most thought of him.
When she spoke, he listened intently as if receiving directions for some important task. Each word felt like a jab to his gut. If she had been attempting to corner him like a child who had been unruly, she was succeeding. Like a dog with its tail between his legs, he stood there, eyes now narrowed away from her face and out towards the gardens where they had come from, a blank expression now plastered over his face. There was nothing he could say and there was no way he could have denied anything now that she had apparently witnessed his acts herself. Or had she? Again he returned his gaze to her face and let out a soft sigh.
“Darling…
[/i][/color]” he whispered softly in Latin however, before he could even get a word in to defend himself she began again, now accusing him of being far from innocent which of course was the truth. This time though, thankfully, he was not at a loss for words. “ I will not attempt to claim innocence because you are right, I know that I am not as angelic as I… attempt to put myself out to be.[/color]” His hands which had been locked together behind his back now fell to his sides as if in defeat. The frown that had been adorning his face continued to do so as his eyes searched hers for any clues as to what might be the right or wrong thing to say. Unlike the other women he had encountered, Jeanne was rather difficult to read. It was both frustrating and fascinating. Before continuing, he took a deep breath and let out a soft sigh. “ But I promise you I have no..[/color]” he paused to search for the right word to use. “ disgraceful intentions..[/color]” It wasn’t the right word but he continued anyways. “ towards you. Had that been the case I would have given up already and gone back to the ‘group of gaggling girls’ to accompany one who is willing to give no arguments like you do. I simply… want to get to know you.[/color]” This time, he was indeed being honest. He did want to get to know the princess but of course, being the little snake that he was, wanted to see for himself how long it would take before she gave in and was nothing but another notch under his belt. He would play her game even if it meant doing things that were out of character for him. He would give up flirting with any other woman (temporarily) to prove her wrong and anything else that would help in cracking the French princess’s shell. “ But since it is apparent you do not wish to have my company today, I will respect your request and leave you to it.[/color]” Gently he took one of her small hands into his and lifted it to his lips, pressing them softly against the tops of her knuckles. All the while, his eyes remained locked with hers and a smile softly crept back onto his face. “ I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.[/color]” With that he released her dainty hand and began retreating back towards the palace, walking in the opposite direction of the group of women who were following at a safe distance behind them.[/blockquote][/blockquote]
*FIN*
[/i] JEANNE | COMPLETE[/center][/b] [/size][/font][/color] |
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