writing snippets

there's a drumming noise inside my head (nelle & kingsley)

She pulls at the bow that sits around her neck and clears her throat. "Care to give me your name?" She asks it as sweet as she can without being over the top. She needs some information at least.

"Not really." He hums in response and Nelle stares at him. He doesn't look at her still.

"Well then," She huffs. "I'm Eleanor, but people call me Nelle." She hooks her hands behind her back as she walks. She looks him over and notes the heart shaped case that's clipped to the waist of his pants. Ah, who do we have here? He's dressed way down for someone of his stature, if her guess is right, but who is she to judge.

They make it to one of the many entrances and exits of this place and he shoo's her out. She flashes him a grin over her shoulder as she walks down the steps and waves. "See ya later, viper!"

She can't tell from the distance but he's grinning back.

Nelle has had a lot of bad ideas. Earlier today sneaking into the palace was a bad idea, what could be worse than that? This is what. Sneaking into the room of a prince is the worst idea she's ever had. Also she's not a fan of heights so the way her stomach feels as she scales this wall is not amazing. But she steels herself to not throw up and reaches the window ledge.

She casts a small spell to push open the window and pulls herself up the rest of the way. She sits on the ledge with her back outwards and sets her feet on the seat that's underneath her. The room is dimly lit but empty right now.

She doesn't wait very long before the door opens and the venom eyed boy walks in. He doesn't look surprised to see her and she's glad for that at least.

"You really meant it when you said see you later, huh?" He asks with hints of amusement in his voice and he closes the door behind him. Nelle just grins and hops off the windowsill towards him.

"You're Kingsley, right?" She asks even though she's positive he is. "I noticed the...antique on your hip earlier." She adds tapping her own hip, mirroring the place the Adoration rests on his. He chuckles a bit and she isn't sure what's funny but she notes in the back of her mind that she likes the sound.

"Yeah, that's me," He pauses and very obviously looks her up and down. She resists the urge to cross her arms. "You know, dressed like that you're gonna overheat in the desert." He states it very flatly and moves to his bed to sit down. She eyes him for a moment, she was sure he was going to say something else but changed his mind last minute.

So she laughs. It's fake but well practiced. "It won't be desert heat that kills me." She replies dryly and pointedly straightens out her top coat. He snorts and shrugs. "Anyway...I want to talk with you."

"Thought we were already doing that."

She reaches out like she wants to throttle him and huffs, irritated. "About something other than my wardrobe choices!"

"Ah, okay, is it about the Adoration? Or is it about me? Or both? It's probably both, right?" He's laying down now and Nelle feels like she isn't being taken seriously.

"I'm here to ask for your help." She grits out and internally counts to ten. No reason to get angry over this, you've dealt with more difficult people.

"Ohoho? You want my help? Lil' ol' me?" He cracks an eye open and looks at her.

Nelle walks over to his bed and stands over him. "That's what I said. I've already talked to the other five. You're kind of a pain to find, y'know that?" She asks with a raised eyebrow and he snickers.

"Yeah I do that on purpose."

"Of course you do." She mutters. Kingsley is quiet for a moment and then he sits up, his back against the headboard. Nelle takes a step back.

"What do you need me for?" He looks curious when he asks and she grins.

"I can't say! It's a secret and you're not quite there on my list of people who get to know." She sighs dramatically and shrugs her shoulders. "What can you do?" He looks at her, considering, and nods.

"Okay." It shocks her.

"What?"

"I said okay, I'll help you."

She blinks. "Oh. Sorry I thought this was going to take more convincing on my part."

He raises his eyebrows. "What can I say your shining smile and personality won me over." Nelle narrows her eyes at him. "And if you can get Birdie to agree with you then I'm sure you've gone through enough." He adds with a soft laugh. If she hadn't gotten distracted by the mention of Birdie she'd think his laugh was cute. Birdie, right. She didn't really get their input on this, in fact she'd been avoiding them altogether but the less he knows right now the better.

"I definitely have dealt with a lot," She mutters and rubs her forehead. "Ah, well! If you've agreed already then my work here is done."

"That's a shame I was having a nice time." He sighs and stands up in front of her. "Though if you have to go I won't stop you." He cocks his head to the side and they make eye contact. It makes her heart feel weird again and she wishes she was oblivious to herself. His hand lifts to her cheek and for the second time today she doesn't move to swat him off her.

"You want to stop me, though. Don't you?" She counters, looking up at him through her eyelashes.

He hums but doesn't say anything, dropping his hand. She tuts, quietly disappointed. He looks over her shoulder, probably at the still open window.

"Well, I'll be going for real this time." She smiles and pats his arm. "Very fun meeting you, Kingsley. I'll be in touch." She sighs and spins on her heel, leaving the way she came. As she leaves she thinks repeatedly don't turn around, don't turn around, do not turn around. If she turns and he's looking at her still she'll...she doesn't know what she'll do and she doesn't want to know.

"See you 'round, silver tongue." He calls after her as she descends to the ground with the help of a spell.

He was still looking. She looks up with a grin, "Sure thing, viper." She hits the ground and disappears into the shadows.