Valentine's Day Ball: The Grounds

[ringmoresuites]

The grounds of Ringmore Suites extend quite far, for all that it is centered in Tamarind. The gardens are seperated by low box hedges, carefully trimmed into perfect rectangular shapes. The closest garden to the hotel is a formal affair, an English garden with perfect geometic shapes bordered by perfect stone paths. In the chill of late winter,

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[master_of_fear]

After his odegra responds to her, Jonathan and Phoebe move somewhere more private, to discuss what's going on.

Not knowing that she would be with Crowley in this same place at some other point in the night, Jonathan leads her to the Japanese Garden.

[temptingvisions]

Phoebe follows Jonathan into the gardens, making a note to come back and sit here when this conversation was over.

After she's sure that they are indeed quite alone and no one can sneak up on them, she turns confused eyes to her companion.

"Jonathan... what just happened in there?"

[master_of_fear]

He watches her face, checking to make sure she didn't do this, he doesn't remember her being particularly manipulative back in school, but things change and this? would be the perfect way to fuck with hsi head.

"I have a mark, I suppose you could say it's magical in origin," he tells her, "thing is, the mark reacts to only very particular things and seeing as you aren't an Angel or the person who put the mark on me, and we most certainly aren't having sex, I'm left wondering what exactly you did to cause that reaction. Any thoughts?"

[temptingvisions]

Phoebe is definitely perplexed as to what happened in there and her head is pounding from the emotions of Jonathan's suspicion of her and his general upset about whatever that had been.

"Jonathan," she says softly. "I honestly don't know what just happened. I haven't felt like that since I was staying with a man named Crowley."

[master_of_fear]

"You know Mr. Crowley?" he asks, surprised. It quickly gives in to suspicion, "how?"

Because Crowley wouldn't share something that's supposed to be special with just anyone. At least, Jonathan hopes so. Who is this girl that she would be close to Crowley like that?

[temptingvisions]

"I signed a contract with him in high school. His touch would make me feel... different." She sighs. "Some things happened in Fandom and I became his to protect someone and he protected... I guess yu'd call it that... me..." She looks at him in curiosity. "You're the first person not to express anger or disgust that I'm friends with him. Why is that? Almost everyone else that knows about it act like I've lost my mind or that I'm naive. Hell, Cole HATES him and hates that there is an arrangement between us and it's been six or seven years now."

[master_of_fear]

"You... belong to him?" he asks, sitting down. That hurts because he didn't think Crowley kept many, but here she was and if the way she made him feel was any indication, she was still Crowley's, "I belong to Crowley. What you felt was his mark, reacting to you. I've never met anyone else that was his."

He looks away, "People just don't understand him. He's really... he's really wonderful when you get to know him."

[temptingvisions]

Phoebe reaches out to touch his arm, but then draws back. She doesn't know him well enough to touch him or even if he would welcme such contact.

"I belong to him and he's a very dear friend," she says softly. "Do you...would it help to know that I sought him out?"

[master_of_fear]

He turns back to her, hurt gone from his features in the blink of an eye, if Crowley decided to keep her then that's his decision, and who was he to question it?

"Everyone seeks him out, that's the only way to ever get to know him. It's always a choice, it wouldn't be fun for him otherwise... right?" he asks.

It's strange, talking about Crowley with some one that knows exactly what he's capable of, and doesn't let it bother them. Even stranger she's a white hat.

[temptingvisions]

Phoebe would be amused if she knew he thinks of her as a white hat.

"Exactly," she nods. "He offers you the choice and it's up to you what you do with it or how you handle it. Everyone else is so quick to point out that he's evil and a demon... but that's not all there is to him."

[master_of_fear]

He smiles, "He's an evil demon, no doubt, but it's up to everyone else whether they fall for his temptations. Easy to blame Crowley if you don't want to look inside and see what caused you to say 'yes' in the first place.

It's... it's kind of weird to be talking about him with some one," he reaches up, as if to run his hand through his hair but remembers it's geled down and shoots a sheepish grin to Phoebe, "You know, and not have them looking at me like I'm a monster or something."

[temptingvisions]

"They shouldn't blame Crowley when it's their choice," she says quietly. "Everyone has the choice whether they make the arrangement or not."

She smiles. "I understand that feeling, Jonathan," she nods. "You're not a monster or something. You're Jonathan, and you just happen to know someone as remarkable as Crowley."

[master_of_fear]

"Exactly," he says watching her with a smile, "Talking to him... he, everything he says is so interesting. He has so much experience and he's more than happy to share it with you. But no one else gets it, what they're missing by just dismissing him like that. Not that I mind, just means he has more time for me. Which is an awful thing to say I guess, but you get it right? Just wanting him to spend time with you?"

[temptingvisions]

Phoebe nods at him and smiles back. "Yeah, I totally get that. He's great to talk to and you can learn so much from him. I enjoy spending time with him and others don't know what they're missing out on." She plays with a strand of hair. "I'm glad I came to the party tonight. It's nice to know that there's someone el;se gets that."

[master_of_fear]

"Me too," he replies and it's weird, that he's talking to her and... actually kind of likes her. But he is glad, "If you ever want to talk or anything... I wouldn't mind it," he smiles, "and that's totally not me trying to hit on you."

[temptingvisions]

Phoebe smiles and nods. "I'd like that, and I know," she says honestly. She takes a card out of her bag and flips it over to write on it. "Same goes for you, Jonathan," she says as she hands him the card. "That's got my home number and my cell. I live in Della Rosa."

Phoebe is relaxed again. She likes Jonathan, but not in a sexual kind of way. He doesn't strike that cord in her, buy he does pluck the personal ones. It's a nice change to not be on her guard and tense about her friendship and arrangements with Crowley.

"When was the last time you saw him?" she asks sincerely. "It's been a bit for me and I know he's going to be a bit put out with me for not calling for help when I had to start running and hiding from attackers."