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Tonight was a night, not the night, for that had been a couple of weeks back, even if he had yet to make a proper move. Although he was of age and his eligibility for courtship had long since arrived, James had yet to choose a lady to court. Despite his father’s wishes, James had yet to seek a relationship beyond friends and acquaintances. Now, for his station, as a man of higher status, and with a family line that had a tendency to pick up on that sort of thing younger rather than later, that was quite unusual. By his father’s age, he had courted many a lady and entered at least one other prospect of marriage, and his grandfather had courted many a lady as well, before meeting his grandmother. Even his looks left him with no excuse, with red hair from his father's side paired with eyes matching his mother's hazel brown, shoulders broad from working on his machines, and despite his mishaps as a child, no outer blemishes, even with his father’s shorter stature and far too many freckles from the sun, he would still be considered fair. James, the outlier to his family's disappointment, had yet to even seek any sort of advances in a relationship.
His father had coerced him to this party, one among many, and James had yet to go out and mingle amongst the crowd, even for the mildest of conversations. The party was funded by a merchant who had utilized the Silk Road while America was brushing off its new coat of freedom, and, from the helpful nudge James had been given as they arrived, was a coming-of-age celebration for his niece. The merchant's trade in the exotic was what inspired the masquerade theme and decor. Truth to be told, he was rather content with his status, he had more time for his work, and he did not have to put time aside to focus on women and their issues. Much simpler and to his tastes. Though the pressure was gaining, so it would be best for him to do something about it soon, with the stares and rumors gaining ground, and it would keep up appearances at the very least. If only to keep his father off of his back and his experiments running. Besides, there was a club for those who dabbled in science that would only let in couples. He had been trying to gain access for a while now, maybe he could do it the proper way, instead of trying to impress his way in.
Impressing his way in was not helped by the fact that his kind of experimentations and sciences was frowned upon in the common circles, for he tended to deal with the grimmer side of things. And that did nothing to help lessen the stares and rumors, for it was his duty to not let his mishaps mingle with his family status.
Over the sea of nobles that were milling around the ballroom, the elders properly mingling with each other on the rim, decorated with pillars draped in exotic prints, and young people dancing in the geometric stylized center, James looked for a lady. He looked for a lady that would not be of bad company, one that would not cling to his side or dote too much, but there was only so much one could tell at a glance. His experience of ladies and their habits was limited, to say the least, he had not had a proper chat with one in a long while.
Given his talents and knowledge, finding a lady that would listen was difficult, for their eyes tended to glaze over at the mere mention of numbers and had a habit of gasping in overdramatic horror when he attempted to guide them through his workshop. Disappointedly, people's minds tended to jump to Frankenstein or the devil when he mentioned science, and what he did could not disprove those points.
There was a lady that stood out, a stranger amongst a crowd of familiars, at the edge of the dancefloor. A statue still figures amongst the swishing skirts and twirling tailcoats. Many of the women were at ease, seeing as it was well into the night, enjoying themselves and close with each other, whereas this lady stood alone as she peered out into the crowd through her cloth ivory mask. Her dress with vivid emerald detailing looked the wrong size for her, for the waistline was not cinched, and the hem was too short, showing an inch or two above her ankles. Her hair was done in looped braids that were pinned back to her head, more suited for a young girl than a lady, and her skin was far too dark for one of noble birth on this side of the world, no matter how booming the trade was. Not to mention the mask that adorned her face, for while the soiree had been a masquerade of sorts, it had been taken incredibly lightly, and most of the masks had been forgone as the night drew on.
With a start, James realized who the mysterious lady was.
Rin, the street thief who had taken a liking to hanging around him while he worked. In the metallic stink of his workshop, she would appear from the rafters to watch and interact. He knew next to nothing about her, though her future as a current annoyance seemed sure, with her constant questions and persistent presence, and the way she seemed to occupy his mind when she was not physically present. Despite her secretive exterior, Rin understood his sciences and could keep up a steady conversation far better than any man or woman he had ever met. She had tried to be a part of many of his experiments and had butted her way into his research like a goat, refusing to be shooed away. It did not help that due to her mishaps she had gotten tied up in them more than once, resulting in outcomes that could be considered unfortunate to some, but fortunate to James' research. And now she was here, at the soiree.
His friends were not here with him tonight, declining his polite invitation and stating that they had to tend to his family business or other such flimsy excuses. For, while some of them had families far larger than James’, many of them were either self-sustaining or nowhere near the level of family entanglement James had, nothing that would require an excuse to be at a soiree. And, it did not hurt to mention that they were all on board with the idea that James should become more friendly with the ladies, far more onboard than most of them had the right to, given their own unaccompanied status, so they were co-conspirators with James’ father in some sort of way. With his friends off elsewhere, James would have to confront Rin alone, for he could not risk her staying at the soiree and having their too-close connection found out.
So, like the gentleman he was, he went up to Rin. Up close, he could see her in more detail, and despite the shortcomings, he could tell that she had put much work into her disguise. Perhaps she could even be considered beautiful to the rest of those around him, a jewel dug out and polished from underneath a mountain of dung. From behind her mask, kohl lining brought out the glittering green of her eyes, and the faux pearl earring in her right ear, which, at a second glance, given her thieving tendencies, was real. Her dress was a dark green, with gold patterned detailing of flowers and vines along the bodice and body of the hoop skirt, with a matching shoulder shawl like one those from the east might wear, that had gold trim. The color matched her eyes and made them seem to glow . In her dark hair were ribbons of the same color, braided throughout. For whatever reason she had come, she had put much of an effort into her appearance.
“Ser James,” she said in a mocking tone as he drew nearer, drawing into an improper curtsey with a nod of her head and a clasping of her hands, “what do I owe the pleasure?”
“From my knowledge, Lady Rin, it is considered more proper to let the man speak first,” James said with a sweeping bow, one that was more excess than called for, though given her splendor and glowing look perhaps it was befitting, in his thoughts of her, at the very least. “And to answer your question, I thought you looked forlorn over here by yourself.”
“Oh, is that all?” She stifled a giggle with her left hand. “Are you sure, Ser James, that you did not come over to ask me for a dance, to simply forget it as you gazed upon me?”
“I assure you, Lady Rin, I do my best to keep my wits about me when near the other sex. But, at your suggestion, would you like a dance?” He held out a gloved hand for her to take, and she took it, linking their arms together, and James could feel his heart pick up, for whatever particular reason, as he led them towards the center of the room, where a new number was starting. “Do you know the dance to this one?”
“Of course, despite your ideals of me, Ser James, I am educated,” she said, in a mock offended tone, one gloved hand pushing away a loose curl that had caught itself on the wires of her masquerade mask, and his gaze was caught on the way it moved. “One does not have to understand the entirety of your sciences to be considered intelligent.”
“Well,” he started to say, as they began to dance. She was nowhere near as talented as the other ladies in the room, but with her upbringing, she was doing surprisingly well, perhaps where she was from she had attended a reforming school at one point, and he was impressed. There was a grace to her movements, one that came from leaping across buildings and sliding under fences, that made her limbs flow splendidly together like the boughs of a willow tree. The way, even with her skirts and flowing sleeves, every part of her moved together like perfectly coiled cogs in a machine, a mesmerizing synch. The other ladies in the room were stiff and akin to a sideshow’s puppets when dancing next to her. “There was more to my hypothesis than your lack of knowledge because you have proven yourself to be well-versed in my walks of science.”
“Oh, is that a compliment I hear?” Rin smiled, as they pressed close together in a tight turn of the dance and James could see a faint shine of the scar that curved itself up around her jawline, right along where her teeth were, from a near misstep in which she had butted her way into, as it glittered under the electric light.
“Simply an observation,” he brushed off, as it was true, though it was more than good merit in his mind. “Women are not expected to be well versed in them, for the field is rather limited when it comes to those of the other sex. Though I have heard of a club that only accepts those in pairs, one man and one woman, to make the playing field more level.”
“Do you need a partner to get in? I could help you with that, pyaar ,” she teased with a nickname in her native tongue, her skirts flying upwards with a rather momentous spin and a bright grin, and James could see that her cheeks were flushed, even if she had done far more strenuous efforts before, “I am, after all, a member of the ‘other sex’, as you so call us.”
“No, I do not require your assistance in that task, if I so wish, I could go whenever I so please.” At that, she raised her eyebrows, as if to question his bluff. “But, I do require your assistance in something else.”
“Really, what’s that?” Rin asked, her face lighting up. She looked so different dressed up in that disguise, beautiful, in a way, though calling her that in range of anyone with good sense ears would call for a disaster or scorn. It surprised James how much she improved. The emerald color complimented her quite well, and while the style stood out from the other women at the soiree, it looked wonderful on her. She looked so light and happy, nowhere near as guarded and distant as he so more often saw her when she, sometimes literally, dropped in on him. If not for their separation in class, and her lack of manners at times, she would be on the incredibly small list of women he could bear to court.
“Why are you here?” He asked her, the words coming quick, sharp off of his tongue, leaning close so if by chance, another one of the members of the festivities were to listen in, they would not hear his words. James knew that his words were blunt and unbecoming of him, too harsh for such a setting and occasion, but her presence here, however delightful, was a concern.
“What do you mean by that, Ser James?” She laughed off his question with ease. “What is the harm in me being here? I have heard how you find these gatherings tedious, so I thought I would help to lighten the mood for you,” Rin spoke openly, making no effort to hide her words, and James could not help but wince at the word in her mouth, reminding him of a certain stormy night that had nearly ended in disaster.
“You cannot be here,” he said, as they did another spin around, linking their hands. “Despite your apparent nonchalant and ease, even you should see that you stand out. Not only are you unfamiliar, but your whole appearance is off .” Her grip grew tight at his words, and her happy expression faded as he went on, and he ignored the sinking in his own heart as well. “Your hair is outdated, the ribbons entwined in it are more common for a girl of a younger age than a young lady at a social gathering, your dress, perhaps it is stylish among your people, but not here, and despite the length of the soiree, you still have on your mask.” he finished with a breath. He had spoken fast, quietly and quick, to be sure that he would not alert anyone else around that she did not belong. No matter how obvious it seemed, unless someone pointed it out, others would ignore it for the sake of ease. Even with her silver scars and glowing eyes. He did not mention how, no matter how much she tried or no matter how much he wanted, she could never properly be a part of his world.
“So you’re saying that I don’t belong?” She said, her manner statute stiff once again, hands cold as they held him tight. “Can a lady not see her priya without being outed as an imposter, Ser James?” She spat out his name, clearly for his reveal of the numerous errors in her now shoddy disguise, the glamor of her beauty worn off as his bitterness and ire looked beneath. “I only wished to have a pleasant time with you, and you seem to only wish to ruin my attempt to make this night more enjoyable for you.” They were on the edge of the dance floor now, nearing the pillars and doors which opened up to the outside, and if this bicker continued, they should best leave the crowd, lest someone overhear and interpret their conversation
“I only wish the best for you,” he said, as he led her outside, then continuing this inside would not end well for him nor her, “and there are many more ways to spend time with me other than tricking your way into a place where you do not belong, chauve souris .” They were in the gardens now, a large expanse of ground which, in the daylight, was magnificent, but at such a late hour of the night, was resembling something more out of a child’s nightmare with its twisted shadows of otherwise beautiful flowers, the statues casting in a more sinister appearance under the guise of night. The light and laughter coming faintly from the manor behind the two of them, the flame-lit lanterns gilding the stoned walkways, did little ease the atmosphere. But, as he had explored these grounds many a time before as a child and up into his current years, under many different skies and weathers, there was naught a trickle of fear. The clouds were few and the sky was clear, the stars shining brightly down, and the moon was on the first half of its cycle, all details which did little to distract him from the matter in front of him.
“But why must you react so strongly? I did no harm.” She said, her face falling slightly, sitting on one of the stone benches in the garden, her arms crossed in the chill of the night, gloves and short sleeves of her dress did little to ward off the scant chill of the night breeze, causing gooseflesh to spring upon her arms, though he knew she could feel no cold, and the bushes and branches to scratch against each other, creating a background sound, making it harder for James to hear of others who may intrude upon their talk.
“Tonight was to be the night that I started courting, a small stepping stone on the road to my future. I cannot go back in there and ask another lady for a dance and then make attempts to court her after focusing my attention and leaving the manor with you; it would be more than improper, it would be considered almost scandalous .” James paced, alternating between pushing his hair behind his ears and pinching his nose. “Unlike you, mort-vivant caché , I have a reputation to secure and a family to uphold.” James paced faster, speaking to himself. This would not do at all . If his father found out about Rin’s arrival, or worse, her involvement with him, all that he had done could be revealed. “I promised my father I would improve , and now, I shall have lied .”
Rin sat on the bench, still, her face was expressionless, as James waited for a response. Anger perhaps, or a joke, both of which were likely responses she was kin to give. A part of him wished for anger so that she would spit fire such as he had, and perhaps getting him drawn up into a quarrel would lessen the dread in his chest. “Perhaps you need not go so quick to decisions, for the night is not at an end yet.”
“And what do you suggest?” He asked, turning to her briskly, his now mused hair brushing the tops of his eyes. “What do you have in mind that could possibly change what you have done already?”
He was a worker in the impossible, the woman who sat before him now was a perfect example, but even something such as this would prove to be a difficult task. James worked not in matters of the living, their chatter and poise were constantly confounding, and nothing he could do could turn nor mold their actions.
“Perhaps you need not lie, for I am still an option to court, am I not?” She peered up at him from her seat on the stone bench, eyes staring plainly up at him, still far too glowing of green for James to pretend that she felt little more than dust to him or that she was made up of the same compositions which he was. Stardust and meteorites and flesh and metal. “A foreigner from the south, bringing in more trade deals with the connections my family has, and further growing your reach and status. Far better than a tittering bird to perch on your shoulder, am I right?”
A pause.
A moment in time suspended, where the two of them stared at each other, emerald and ruby, high and low, proper and impropriety, alive and not, two different pages from two very different books, and James was the one to first break eye contact, stepping back far too quick to hide any surprise, and his face growing to be as bright as his hair.
“I—I could not dare to even—”
“No one would be able to counter the tale, and, before you go to counter my claims, remember how little you know of me.” Rin stood, the fabric of her dress ruffling, and James noticed that one of her hair ribbons had caught itself on the stem of a flower bush. She plucked the flower from its place and wrapped the ribbon more securely around it, tying it into place. “Here you go,” she said tenderly, pressing it into his chest, and there was no hope or ignorance he could feign his reaction. “My offer?”
There was no pause.
“Yes.”
There was a titter worthy of the ladies inside, and she smiled, bright and glittering, a beam of sunlight in the evening, glowing as her eyes did, a source of light that was not from the flickering flames.
“Then you shall let them speak, and tell your father of a woman you met, one who captured your attention in such a way you were entranced by her beauty,” an uptilt of her voice at that, a joke even the densest could catch, “and finally fell in love.”
“I think,” James said, taking a step closer and holding her hands in his, gloved hand in gloved hand, and even that made his ever-racing mind stall and slow to stop and wonder in amazement to how he could have pushed what was right in front of him away for so long, “that I fell in love far before this.”
“You and your preparedness then,” she said with a shake of her head, and leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek. “I hope the rest of your night goes well, Ser James.”
“And I to you, mon amour, ” James said, an automatic response, his grin bright and racing as Rin disappeared into the garden, weaving her way this and that on a path known only to her, on a path that he would soon follow after. James' heart had somehow settled, at ease with what he knew was true, and Rin’s heart, as always since that night in the storm, was silent.
Fin.