The good news about this entire affair is that Cecil actually doesn't feel too strange in the costume she's wearing. She knows it is a gown and she understands that she's supposed to be a princess or a queen of some sort, but when a passerby called her 'Cinderella', she couldn't say she really knew what or who that they meant.
Nonetheless, she has been watching others observe this morbid holiday and she thinks she understands the point of what's going on around her now, at least as far as what the traditions consists of. She doesn't understand why people walk up to the rooms and scream something at the residents, who then in turn give them sweets instead of asking them not to shout so loudly, but she's willing to give it a try herself, so she knocks and when the door opens, she hesitates only for a moment before-
Cecil shoots Spain a grateful look while his action seems to discourage anyone else thinking about pulling a similar stunt. The knightess feels guilty that she didn't think to help her new friend out with his hanger-ons, so she attempts to make up for it by smiling at the trick-or-treaters and stepping inside the room a little bit, hooking her arm around the nation's as she does so.
"Happy Halloween," she says to them and it's clearly a sign that they ought to start moving on. Like her green-eyed companion, the aphrodisiac they're all exposed to hasn't hit with full force yet; it's really only helped her loosen up a little around him for the moment because she trusts him.
Spain moves an arm protectively around Cecil as she holds on to him. While he may still be smiling and being friendly, it's obvious by his body language that he will not hesitate to do whatever it takes to protect her from any other unwanted attention.
He stays by her side even after the trick or treaters move on. Once they have all gone past, he gently guides Cecil more into the room and closes the door. Concerned green eyes flash to the knightess once it's just the two of them and he loosens his grip on her a little.
"Are you all right?" He feels a bit guilty. Maybe if he hadn't asked her to stay, she wouldn't have had to deal with what she just went through.
She looks up at him kindly at that and nods, resting one of her hands on his reassuringly. "I'm fine," she says, truthfully, and she gives his fingers a gentle squeeze. "I've been a soldier for many years. It takes more than that to upset me, I promise you. I am thankful for your help and concern though. Thank you. Are you all right?"
He nods at her question, his expression easing into a bit of a smile. "I'm all right. I don't upset that easy either." She squeezes his hands and he squeezes hers back in assurance. "I'm just concerned for you, that's all." Sometimes, he really does forget the kind of people that are in the Hotel with them and what the Hotel encourages them to do.
Cecil laughs quietly at that, but she's touched that he cares so much for someone he just met, as she hasn't quite had the privilege of meeting many people like him, within the Hotel, who are honestly just interested in protecting others. The paladin feels little need to know more about him to be convinced that he's a kind-hearted person and she can't be more glad that she's met him.
"You are a good friend, Antonio," she tells him, and she looks back down at their joined hands. It felt nice to simply stand there close with him, especially after the rougher and less affectionate manner of touches they both experienced just now. "I'd like to see you again."
It's nice to see Cecil smiling, not just because it makes her look more beautiful but also because she looks genuinely happy. Spain likes being able to spread cheer and happiness when he can and he considers it an achievement when he's able to make someone smile.
He nods at her words in agreement, still holding her hands since she doesn't seem to want to let them go just yet. "I'd like that too." It's always good to make new friends.
Indeed, she doesn't seem quite ready to say goodbye yet either. "Would you like me to try helping you again?" she asks, genuinely meaning to, if he doesn't turn her away. In the Hotel, it's hard to keep track of friends, Cecil's found, so while they both may wish to come across one another again, there's no guarantee they will and even Cecil isn't naive enough to think otherwise.
He nods at her offer. "I would like that, if you're sure you want to." Given what just happened, he'll understand if Cecil doesn't want to continue. This place may promote pleasure but not all of its guests actually do enjoy the kind of pleasure it promotes to give.
Cecil nods in assurance. "I'm not afraid," she says, "You'll protect me, won't you? And I you." They did handle the first crowd decently together. If that's how more of the evening is going to go, she prefers to stay with Spain - this way, she won't have to worry about him and she won't have to fight off any more unwanted advances by herself. Just because either of them can take care of themselves alone does not mean they should have to.
As for the encouragement the Hotel gives, whether it's requested or not, under the influence of them as she is now, Cecil is more picky about who she approves of for a lover. The lowering of her inhibitions has happened, but attraction is more than merely physical appeal for her when in possession of a clear mind, which should come as no surprise given the costume that the Hotel chose for her in contrast to what others have.
She seems to be determined about this and he has a feeling that she won't change her mind now that she is so sure. If that's the case, then Spain won't try to dissuade her. He smiles at her then and gives her hands another squeeze.
"All right. Let's just do our best and watch out for each other." It's a novelty for him, someone actually watching out for him. Usually he's more concerned about taking care of others and he'd rather that others don't bother about him. He can take care of himself, but if he could read her mind, he'd see the sense in her idea. There's safety in numbers and mutual care after all.
Cecil takes his hand and she takes the bowl of candy he gave her under her arm while they walk back to the door . She opens it and peers outside, but peopl out there was still whooping and hollering. Some of their guests from earlier have lingered though they're not hanging around Spain's door anymore. Instead, they seem to be amused by seeing the two reappear and Cecil blushes a little, though she smiles congenially at them.
Spain follows after her and after giving her hand another squeeze and an encouraging smile, he moves forward, armed with his plate of cookies.
"Who else wants some treats?" He asks, smiling cheerfully at the crowd as he is greeted with enthusiastic assents from the trick or treaters.
It's the same as before though some of the trick or treaters seem to be more careful now or more aggressive, depending on what they thought of Spain and Cecil's display earlier. Spain took it all in stride, still being polite and cheerful, warding off unwanted attention as gently and yet firmly as he can.
Fff, all the typos in my last tag. D; Sorry!proteuspaladinNovember 8 2011, 15:56:17 UTC
It's easier for Cecil to adapt now that she knows what to expect and, thankfully, the rest of the evening moves on without much event. Though prolonged exposure to the Hotel's airborne aphrodisiac ensured that the lady paladin steadily became less resistant to their visitors, she holds up her end of the 'pact' she made with Spain to look out for each other. Even while fighting arousal, Cecil doesn't have a lot of trouble rejecting the men and women and she manages to cling to her stately composure right until the last cookie and the last piece of candy.
It's okay! I didn't even notice hahasi_espanaNovember 9 2011, 09:10:56 UTC
Spain sighs a bit wearily but still with a bit of a smile as he leans against the door frame, watching the wandering trick or treaters and other Hotel guests. It seems that the night is still young for most everyone. The Iberian Nation himself is used to the sight as he has his party cities and the Spanish are known to stay up until morning to dance and talk and laugh the night away.
He looks to Cecil when she speaks, smiling to her. "I promise you, it's usually not this crazy." A soft chuckle plays over his words. "The touching and the kissing isn't really a part of the festivities."
She flashes a lopsided grin at him as she removes the jeweled hairpins from her loose curls, letting the few locks in the back that she pinned up herself cascade down and over her shoulders. Cecil drops them into her pumpkin pail for safe-keeping, then runs a hand underneath her long hair, straightening it out idly. "I assumed as much," she says, "I thought that if they were, you would have been less determined to decline everyone."
Nonetheless, she has been watching others observe this morbid holiday and she thinks she understands the point of what's going on around her now, at least as far as what the traditions consists of. She doesn't understand why people walk up to the rooms and scream something at the residents, who then in turn give them sweets instead of asking them not to shout so loudly, but she's willing to give it a try herself, so she knocks and when the door opens, she hesitates only for a moment before-
"...Trick or... treat?"
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"Happy Halloween," she says to them and it's clearly a sign that they ought to start moving on. Like her green-eyed companion, the aphrodisiac they're all exposed to hasn't hit with full force yet; it's really only helped her loosen up a little around him for the moment because she trusts him.
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He stays by her side even after the trick or treaters move on. Once they have all gone past, he gently guides Cecil more into the room and closes the door. Concerned green eyes flash to the knightess once it's just the two of them and he loosens his grip on her a little.
"Are you all right?" He feels a bit guilty. Maybe if he hadn't asked her to stay, she wouldn't have had to deal with what she just went through.
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"You are a good friend, Antonio," she tells him, and she looks back down at their joined hands. It felt nice to simply stand there close with him, especially after the rougher and less affectionate manner of touches they both experienced just now. "I'd like to see you again."
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He nods at her words in agreement, still holding her hands since she doesn't seem to want to let them go just yet. "I'd like that too." It's always good to make new friends.
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As for the encouragement the Hotel gives, whether it's requested or not, under the influence of them as she is now, Cecil is more picky about who she approves of for a lover. The lowering of her inhibitions has happened, but attraction is more than merely physical appeal for her when in possession of a clear mind, which should come as no surprise given the costume that the Hotel chose for her in contrast to what others have.
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"All right. Let's just do our best and watch out for each other." It's a novelty for him, someone actually watching out for him. Usually he's more concerned about taking care of others and he'd rather that others don't bother about him. He can take care of himself, but if he could read her mind, he'd see the sense in her idea. There's safety in numbers and mutual care after all.
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"Who else wants some treats?" He asks, smiling cheerfully at the crowd as he is greeted with enthusiastic assents from the trick or treaters.
It's the same as before though some of the trick or treaters seem to be more careful now or more aggressive, depending on what they thought of Spain and Cecil's display earlier. Spain took it all in stride, still being polite and cheerful, warding off unwanted attention as gently and yet firmly as he can.
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"All in all, not bad for a first Halloween."
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He looks to Cecil when she speaks, smiling to her. "I promise you, it's usually not this crazy." A soft chuckle plays over his words. "The touching and the kissing isn't really a part of the festivities."
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