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Post by YukiTen on Feb 3, 2012 16:36:28 GMT -7
Sophia continued down the wide staircase, stepping calmly and carefully, her expression blank. She set her thin hand on the rail, walking slowly, every thought in the world rolling around in her blond head.
The day her father told her about her mother's rape and death was the only thought that stuck out.
After seeing the urn for the first time throughout the week, it was Friday, Sophie couldn't help but remember the day. Weiss Blackfeld summoned her to his room on the night before the war with Japan started, Saturday the twelfth of October, and she went, wondering what the Duke might want. She obediently went up to his room where he proceeded to gently lift her up and set her on his knee, a hand curled around her protectively.
Father looked down at me through the fringes of his almost-white blond hair, his blue eyes stained with some feeling I've never seen him express before. A sad smile curved at the edges of his thin lips and I swear I might've seen his eyes water. His mouth opened a little and all that came out was a choked gasp. He shut his eyes and held me tighter, burying his head into my own.
I didn't know what his problem was. I didn't know why he was sad. All I could do was sit there and throw my tiny arms around his neck and hug him like I usually did when I'd see him sad. I couldn't understand... I wanted to know.
"Daddy, what's wrong?" I asked softly, feeling his grip loosen. When he pulled away from me, he gave me a look of defeat and his smile grew smaller with whatever sadness he'd been experiencing.
"Sophia li Blackfeld..." he began, combing his big fingers through my curled blond hair. It was a gesture of affection, one he usually used when he had something very important to say.
All I wanted to know was why he was sad. And all I get is him giving me affectionate hugs and saddened smiles. I don't understand him. I didn't understand that look on his face. I just do not understand.
"Daddy, tell--"
"I made a mistake, Sophia," he mumbled gently, his tone so soft.
What was he talking about? Did he fund the wrong program? Did he invest in stock and have the stock market crash? Did he lose a bet and have to give everything up? What did he do?
I frowned slightly, my brows crinkling from frustration at my confusion. "What happened, daddy?"
He paused, his face contorting with his failed efforts to keep himself from crying like a baby, his face flushing to a deep red. Whatever it was that bothered him, bothered him a lot. I wrapped my arms around him again in afford to soothe and comfort my father. I was confused but I wasn't about to let my father go without knowing he was cared for.
I do love my father. He's taken care of me for so long and even though I'd rather play outside or read than listen to my borish tutors lecture me over my duties as a future duchess. He'd get mad at me whenever I'd blow off my tutors and go play. I smiled inwardly. Daddy was a good man. He wouldn't ever lay a hand on me no matter how much trouble I got into. He would always just scold me and be done with it, never grounding me or anything.
"Sophia... The reason you are here and your mother is not is because your mother died giving birth to you."
"Daddy, I already know th-"
"But that's not the whole story," he snapped somberly, frowning deeply at himself.
"I don't understand. What happened?" I asked softly, looking down. I didn't like it when he yelled at me. It hurt - a lot. Moreso than any physical pain that I've ever had to endure.
He took in a shaky breath. "I raped your mother ten years ago and you were conceived of it."
"A-Ah, right." Blake's stammer rang in Sophia's ears and she looked at the nervouse brunette, watching her cheeks turn pink a little. Her cousin's activity had switched from dazedly hopping on the carpet pattern to spinning every few steps. Her eyes were on the ceiling as she turned in her small circles, her face pointed at the ceiling. "So what do you think Ashford'll be like? You don't think it'll be a total cram-time academy, do you? I don't know if I could take it," she said with a groan.
Blake's distraction was well timed.
"I think it'll be interesting, seeing as how you and I have never been to a traditional school before," Sophie blurted absently, a soft and pensive smile curvin the corners of her lips. 'Blake, I don't know how I'd survive if you hadn't come along.'
[Cousin appreciation!]
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Post by Gracie-kun on Feb 4, 2012 9:31:03 GMT -7
"Mm. Maybe." Blake wasn't sure Sophie's definition of 'interesting' was the same as hers. Interesting in Blake's eyes was that the school would have a multitude of outdoor sport classes that she'd never tried before, or that they had a swimming pool inside and out so she could swim all year, or-- well, just anything that didn't involve desk-classes.
The duke's doorway loomed before them now and Blake stopped spinning to march the rest of the way up to it, arms sticking out as if balancing on a tightrope. Sixteen years old and still acting like a kindergartener when it came to doing anything. No wonder her mother got irritated.
"Mom's probably in there with Uncle Weiss." Then Blake stopped and whirled around, blue eyes wide. "Hey, I haven't seen Cyfon since I got here! Where is he? He's usually attached to your hip," she observed amicably.
There were three things that Blake always looked forward to when she visited Blackfeld Court - Sophia, the massive yard, and Cyfon. The dark haired man was the sweetest boy Blake had ever met, but he was also one of the most active. To be both kind and athletic had made Sophia's half brother an instant favorite person of Blake's. Even if he did finish third behind his little sister and a large yard.
[Blake's priorities - Soph', a big patch of grass, and Cyfon. I think she needs to switch them around some. XD]
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Post by YukiTen on Feb 4, 2012 10:06:37 GMT -7
Cyfon?
Her brother. Right. Sophia took a moment to let out a cool, calm breath, stepping up the long staircase to her father's area of the estate. The doors loomed over her and Blake in an intimidating manner, what with their mahogany panels being so tall. Intricate designs were carved into the wood, outlined in gold. Naturally.
She closed her eyes. Cyfon. What was he doing again?
Oh, right. Guarding her father.
"Cyfon's been doing a lot of...guard duty lately. Now he and the Duke are attached at the hip," she explained, pressing her thin hand against the split in the doors. "He might freak out if we walk in there unannounced." The mere thought brought a silly going to Sophia's face and she chuckled soothingly, having to cover her mouth to keep quiet.
Cyfon was a very jumpy person when it came to his half-sister. Even at the most obvious of times, even whe he saw the blond, he'd jump and almost lose his cool. If permitted, he'd chase her around the ballroom and even down the empty hallways of the Blackfeld estate, eventually catching up to her and gently grabbing her arm. Then he'd give her a stern talking to.
Although, this was almost never the case.
While the black-haired teen may have been Sophia's brother, he still had duties that far outweighed his kinship to the Blackfeld family. His duty was to the Britannian Empire, to Duke Weiss Blackfeld, to Duke Roger Addison, to Duchess Holly Blackfeld, to Duchess Liesel Addison, and, however unfortunate, to Lady Cornelia li Britannia herself. He wasn't typically allowed to pay attention to anyone else unless Duke Blackfeld permitted him to, which wasn't too often. He was always needed for something. Didn't matter what it was.
What's worse, he obeyed without question.
Sophia gave a mild shake of her head, feeling as if she's thought too much, and shoved the doors of the Duke's room wide open. Shameless. So she thought, Weiss was leaning on his desk, arms crossed, with Liesel and Roger Addison seated comfortably on a leather couch in front of a marble fireplace, their eyes fixated on Sophia and Blake. Cyfon was beside her father in his usual guard position, looking like he was about to melt from the shock of his sister's sudden intrusion.
"Hello, So-" Weiss started, a small smile etched on his face and then a frown when his daughter cut him off.
Without allowing for anyone else to finish speaking or even a regret for interrupting, she opened her mouth and let the words fly. "Aunt Liesel, Uncle Roger, your daughter Imogen decided to enroll Blake into a private school without consoling you." Her lips twitched slightly at Liesel's visible disappointment and Roger's frown. "However, if you wouldn't mind, would you still allow her to attend Ashford Academy with me?"
[Mushy brain... Sophia laughs! Lol. Blake is amusing]
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Post by Gracie-kun on Feb 4, 2012 13:10:04 GMT -7
The room stilled as Sophia tossed her words into her aunt's and uncle's lap, lightly and with quiet enthusiasm. Liesel's eyes took on both surprise and - of course - disbelief. Roger, on the other hand, was frowning. It looked as if he wanted to get up and find Imogen to reprimand her immediately. He looked to Blake, but his eldest daughter wouldn't look at him.
With her lack of attention growing up, the brunette was now increasingly unnerved whenever she was the topic of conversation. It made her extremely nervous. She was suddenly fascinated with the ceiling and playing with her hands. Her two damning traits that announced her discomfort.
"However," Sophia said, making Blake grateful that eyes were away from her once more, "if you wouldn't mind, would you still allow her to attend Ashford Academy with me?"
"Of course," Liesel said before Roger could put in his opinion. "It's such a good school, and prestigious. You should be happy your baby sister would think so highly as to attend you there, Blake. It was probably a surprise. You should thank Immy." Not even a glance in Blake's direction.
The brown haired girl's blue eyes were pointed upward. "Yes, mother."
"No 'yes, Mother'," Roger interjected. He frowned at his wife. "You know very well that it wasn't a surprise, Liesel. At least not a nice one. Bee (Blake) wouldn't be able to breathe in that kind of school," he reasoned.
Blake was messing with her hands again.
"It'd do her some good to have more of a leash. She's almost seventeen and she's acting like a wild child. Going there might teach her propriety," Liesel explained in a way she must have thought was with maternal affection. Instead it sounded distant, like advice given about a friend's daughter.
Roger stared at his wife with familiar exasperation. He was upset with her, again. He even dropped his arm from where it'd been draped behind Liesel on the couch and left her there. Instead, he came over to Blake and tousled her flyaway hair.
"You don't have to go to that stuck up school no matter what your mother or Imogen say, Bee," he said gently, green eyes gleaming as he smiled reassuringly.
Blake beamed warmly - she practically glowed at the fatherly attention. "Actually, I was considering attending it anyway. Soph's going, and she said it might be fun if we went together. Besides, I saw the pictures - with all those fields there's got to be sports programs or something."
Duke Addison's smile dimmed but didn't go away. He only ever frowned at his wife or at Imogen, but not Blake. "...If you're sure." Then he leaned down and whispered, "Don't worry; the little snot won't get away with tricking you. I'll deal with her." A conspiratorial wink.
She grinned in response, but inside she hoped he wouldn't.
[Just...just a whole bunch of crap. =A=']
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Post by YukiTen on Feb 4, 2012 15:16:44 GMT -7
Sophia watched the entire Addison Family interaction with a small and gentle smile, leaning back against the solid mahogany doorframe, arms crossed over her chest. It was interesting, to her, that Liesel was so unkind and Roger was doting. Complete opposites as parents. Liesel adored Imogen and shunned Blake, whereas Roger adored Blake and basically shunned Imogen.
The two disagreed on everything when it came to their daughters.
Blake deserved the kindness she received, Imogen did not. Blake was kinder and, really, more gentle and patient with everything and everybody, even though she never really spoke out against anybody. She was more of a peacekeeper. Imogen was a snot-nosed brat with no manners and zero respect for anybody. She treated everyone like they were worthless for no reason at all.
Only Blake should be allowed the kindness of others, Sophia thought bitterly. It wasn't fair at all that Imogen got all the motherly affections. It just wasn't fair.
She blinked and looked over at her half-brother, whom was staring right back at her with his usual knowing look. There was a calm smile in his honey brown eyes and a smirk tilting up the corners of his thin lips. If it wasn't seen as rude or inappropriate, he would have waved his big hands and said hello by now.
However, Cyfon was her brother and rules didn't matter. <3
Sophia pushed herself right off the doorframe and worked her way over to her brother, setting a confident sway to her hips. Why be ashamed? Even though there were only two other people that knew he was her half-brother, it was perfectly acceptable to speak to him. Wasn't it? He was family, have no shame. So she didn't.
"Hello, Cyfon," she chirped kindly above the idle chatter between the Addison family, shoving her hands into her pockets. "How's your day?"
He hesitated. Not a good sign.
Still haven't gotten used to this, hm? Sophia shook her was inwardly, wishing her brother would lighten up. Rules didn't matter so long as you were in the company of family. Rules didn't matter so long as you weren't breaking any. If he would talk, it wouldn't exactly break the rules set in place for guards. In fact, guards were allowed to speak because they had to keep whoever they were guarding out of trouble.
So, he should talk.
But he didn't.
With a small sigh, Sophia whipped around, eyeing her father Weiss with a mischievous glint in her blue eyes. "Hey, pops."
Immediately, the blond duke's head spun around and a smile creeped across his face. He seemed happy that she was talking to him. She smiled in return. "Yeeees, Sophia?"
"Can Cyfon talk? I wanna talk to hiiiiiiiim."
Weiss nodded cheerily, a hand shooting up to give a thumbs-up. "Oh! By the way, when you go to Area Eleven and start attending Ashford, he'll be going with you. I'd feel safer if he was."
Sophia blinked. "Why? Shouldn't he be here, guarding you?"
"Well...no. He needs to get outta the house and visit home, y'know? Besides, I'm sure he'll enjoy it more if he went along with you," the duke explained, using odd hand gestures and mannerisms to help get his point across.
Unnecessary.
"Oh. I understand." She turned to the quietly blushing boy, a grin smeared across her face. "Now, talk to-"
"Sophia~" Weiss sang shamelessly. So very shamelessly. This simple act made the mentioned girl shudder with obvious disdain. Her father was such a weirdo sometimes. "You might want to start packing up because your flight out of Versailles is at six p.m."
Great.
[._.]
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Post by Gracie-kun on Feb 4, 2012 15:38:36 GMT -7
[Now that I know Weiss knows he made a mistake by violating Sophia's mother, I'm officially allowed to say this: I love Weiss Blackfeld. XD "Sophiaaa~" *dies laughing*] If Blake had animal ears, they would have perked up. If she had an animal tail, it would have been wagging. He blue eyes were bright. "Cy's coming with? Really?" She looked over at the embarrassed Eleven standing at attention in the corner. "That's it; I'm totally going now." If two of her favorite people were going to Ashford Academy, she had no choice but to attend. Liesel made a quiet noise of disgust. To react in such a way towards an Eleven.... Roger blinked at Weiss. "Six? That's only a few hours. Bee doesn't have any of her things ready." "Just let her go with Sophia and send her belongings later," Liesel suggested as she continued to not spare Blake a glance. "I want to fly with Soph' and Cy anyway," Blake piped up before Roger could say anything about Liesel's indifference. She was almost bouncing in place. "I've never been to Area Eleven before; I wonder what it'll be like?" She halted. "I should learn Japanese." Turned to Cyfon again. "You should teach me." Then to Sophia. "Let's get your stuff packed! " [Somebody gave this girl too much sugar. XD]
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Post by YukiTen on Feb 4, 2012 16:13:51 GMT -7
[Hes a good person by nature. :3]
Was he out of his mind? Six? That was in three hours. He waited until there was THREE hours left before the flight to tell her that she had to pack. THREE hours.
Well, considering it came from Weiss, it wasn't that bit of a shocker. In fact, it didn't shock Sophia at all. Rather, the speedy enrollment and sudden plane trip was.
Not only that, but the way Liesel talked in such a rude tone towards Blake pissed Sophia off. She frowned visibly and faced Liesel, disappointment clear in her face. Strange. She'd never acted so quickly and thoughtlessly before.
"Listen, Aunt Liesel," she started flatly just to get the woman's attention. When the duchess acknowledged her, she crossed her arms tightly over her chest and continued. "I grow tired of your disapproval of Blake. I don't give a damn if you like her or not. That's purely your choice. But stop treatin her like she's a black stain to your name! She is your daughter, you--"
"Soph'."
Cyfon's and Weiss' warning call sounded in the blond's ears and she instantly shut her mouth, blue eyes downcast, brows furrowed. She was angry at her aunt. She had the right to be.
All that blasted woman thought about was her affections for Imogen. For Imogen. Not for Blake. Imogen didn't deserve her mother's love. Blake did. Only Blake. Blake deserved it all but she still never got to have it. This stupid fact was so...stupid and cruel. But it was still a fact. One that Sophia didn't have the right to barge into.
She realized her little outburst was rude, but if no one else was goin to point out certain flaws in Liesel's awful parenting, who would? Nobody, that's who.
"Father, how much is in my account?" she asked somberly, glaring at the floor.
He sighed quietly and gently laid his warm, big hand on her small shoulder. "About three-hundred."
"Thousand?"
Weiss shook his head. "Three-hundred million."
Sophia didn't budge at the number. Rather, she only blinked and shrugged her father's hand away. "Big number."
"Well, you never buy anything. At least you'll live comfortably for the rest of your life. You're so loved~" the man chimed, stars in his intense blue eyes.
He was an idiot. But a kind one.
"I suppose so." Sophia let out a cool breath and lifted her head. "Uncle Roger, Aunt Liesel, I will be buying all that Blake asks of me. Don't worry about her clothes."
Problem. Solved. Dammit.
Cyfon smiled approvingly, resisting the urge to reach out and hug his little sister, quickly realizing it would be bad-news-bears if he did. He wished he could. Well, he would be able to once they left Versailles and flew out to Area Eleven - no, Japan.
"That's my baby girl~" Weiss sang lovingly and joyfully, his hands clapped together and bent by his blond head.
She rolled her eyes.
Stupid dad...damn...Liesel...lotsa money... Stupid... she pouted inwardly.
"You're so kind, Lady Sophia," Cyfon complimented sweetly, bowing to the appropriate degree.
Hmph. Stupid Cyfon...
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Post by Gracie-kun on Feb 4, 2012 16:51:21 GMT -7
Blake had shrunken when Sophia had snapped at Liesel, reaching up a hand as if to stop her, but Roger had taken that hand and squeezed it gently. She looked up into his green eyes and understood: Roger thought the same as Sophia. This didn't make her feel any better. "Papa...."
"Uncle Roger, Aunt Liesel," Sophia spoke up, making the man and his daughter turn to her, "I will be buying all that Blake asks of me. Don't worry about her clothes."
It was a moment right out of an anime - Blake's face went from curious to puking blood.
"No way!" she squeaked, cerulean eyes huge with alarm. She hadn't needed to hear the amount of Sophia's money - Blake knew she was loaded beyond reasoning. The girl never bought anything for herself. Yet the amount still dwarfed the allowance Blake would have gotten if she'd saved every penny for twenty years.
And while the Addison family weren't the richest of dukes, there was one trait Blake had gotten from this bloodline: She did NOT like other people spending money on her. It was a chore for her even to accept the allowance Roger sent her every two weeks or so.
Blake shook her head, still looking comically flustered. "I have my own money; I can take care of that!" Three million was just too big of a number for her to handle.
Roger smiled fondly at his daughter's panic and tousled her messy hair affectionately. "If she wants to ride with you then we'll go with your aunt's plan, Sophia. Thank you for taking care of Bee, even if she's only a year younger than you," he said politely.
The brunette hurried up to Sophia and took her hands, determined. "Anyway, we're wasting time here. Let's go get your stuff packed. And on the way I want Japanese lessons from the both of you," she said decidedly, looking from Sophia to Cyfon with a grin.
Liesel, meanwhile, stared into the fireplace with quiet irritation etched into her features. What a troublesome niece, that Sophia was. She needed to mind her own business. It was bad enough that Roger lectured her on being a better mother to Blake. It was hard when the girl was a ditzy tomboy who loved Elevens. A pointed glare at Cyfon. Failure of a daughter or not, Liesel didn't like the idea of Blake being around Cyfon. Not one bit.
[Angsty Liesel is angsty. -.-'']
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Post by YukiTen on Feb 4, 2012 17:50:58 GMT -7
Sophia blinked awkwardly at the cousin she so defended, a simple smile slipping into her features. She gently held Blake's hands and lead her out of Weiss's room in a quick fashion, motioning with her eyes for Cyfon to follow. Once out of the room, she let go of Blake and reached for the mahogany doors to close them. She swirled around on her heels to face her cousin and half-brother.
"Well, come along then. Let's et me packed up. I'll be buying you a fresh and normal wardrobe when we reach Japan, big bro," Sophia chimed, a bright smile replacing her earlier simple one.
"T-that's not necessary, Sophia. Honest. I have clothes already!" Cyfon squeaked defensively, waving his hands nervously out in front of him.
"Too late. I'm replacing it."
"Why? T^T"
"Because I love you. ❤" Sophia smiled very warmly and skipped of down the stairs that lead into the ballroom, taking the steps one by one then two by two and so on slowly, careful not to fall.
Truthfully, she did love her brother. He could be an Eleven all day long. She would still love him. Everyone deserves love - to a point. Not everyone deserves ALL the love in the world just because someone treated them like they did. It wasn't fair to anyone else. At all. In fact, it was downright rude.
"Maa, Blake. I don't care if you won't accept what I buy for you because you will take it. ^^"
Sophia was in a kind mood today. Well, to her brother and cousin. Only them.
"But, Sophia... It's rude to force someone to do something they don't want to do," Cyfon chided softly, like a mother would a child that did something only slightly rude. He was a motherly boy.
She smiled. "I know. <3"
"Ne, Sophia-chan, ganbatte, baka," the boy mumbled, a sweet pout on his pristine and gentle face.
I don't know why he told me that I had an older brother. I didn't know why my older brother lived with us until he told me. I don't understand. There's so much he tells me that I never knew, that I never understood, that I can never understand. Why was he telling me such things?
I tilted my head at the black-haired boy standing before me, his honey eyes cast at our mahogany flooring. He was a very shy boy, from the looks of him. Whenever I'd look at him, he'd look away from me. It was like he was afraid of me.
"Sophia, this is Cyfon," my father told me, leaning over my shoulder and warmly nuzzling my ear. "He's your only brother."
"Daddy, how old is he?" I asked him, staring at the black-haired-- staring at Cyfon the whole time.
"He's twelve."
"Oh."
He nodded - the both of them and Cyfon looked down at me with a touch of kindness in his honey eyes, smiling very shyly. His face was slightly rounded, his eyes typical for that of a Japanese person, and his lips were thin. His face was kind and smiling even when he frowned or looked nervous. He was strange.
"He's here to serve both you and I the best he can. It's all he wants to do," Weiss, my father, blathered on.
"Is that true?" I inquired gently, looking at my brother carefully.
He only blushed and nodded lightly, scratching the back of his head bashfully. I smiled.
"Maa, onegaidakara!" Sophia howled excitedly, leaping down the last five steps of the stairwell, ignoring her brother's playful comment.
The flight was in a little less than three hours now, so packing was more of a priority. It usually took about an hour to get to the airport and half an hour to get through security and work your way through airport security. They were more pressed for time than Sophia realized. She frowned slightly and turned to face Cyfon and Blake.
"You guys, we gotta hurry!" she yelled almost imaptiently, spinning around on her toes and taking off to the foyer.
[._.• Maa...lol]
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Post by Gracie-kun on Feb 4, 2012 18:21:38 GMT -7
Blake looked at Sophia was destitude. "But I don't want it! QAQ"
"But, Sophia... It's rude to force someone to do something they don't want to do," Cyfon said in his soft-spoken tone.
"I know. <3"
"Ne, Sophia-chan, ganbatte, baka."
"Maa, onegaidakara!" Sophia interjected as she jumped the last five stairs, waving them on.
"..." Blake avoided looking at Cyfon, cheeks tinged pink, and leaped down the steps in only a few strides like the expert mover that she was. She scurried next to Sophia and kept her voice low so Cyfon couldn't hear her. "Soph', you've got to teach me Japanese. I have no idea what either of you are saying!" she said with embarrassment.
Blake had been fascinated with the language of Elevens ever since she'd met Sophia and Cyfon. They were both fluent in it, and it was almost like their very own secret code. Blake would have respected that - they were brother and sister, and Sophia was the only blood relative Cyfon had - but lately Blake simply got more and more embarrassed when Sophia would yip a bit of Japanese or Cyfon would murmur a phrase of moon-speak, and the brown haired girl would have NO CLUE what they'd said.
She jogged next to Sophia now, who had acquired more energy because of their tight time limit. "Also - I've kinda..." She stopped and sped up. "Never mind, let's go!"
Cyfon was not a cousin of Blake's by blood. If it wasn't for Sophia's relation with him, Blake would not be related to him at all. After initializing these simple facts, she decided that having a teensy little crush on her cousin's half-brother was sort of okay. Kind of. Maybe it wasn't? She didn't know, but she assured herself that it was only because Cyfon was so sweet and shy and capable and handsome--
STOP.
Blake had a childish crush on her best friend's big brother. It was nothing - just a flight of adolescent fancy. That's what Liesel would say. Still...it would be nice to have a conversation with Cyfon in his native language. His voice was nice when he spoke English - it was infinitely more alluring in that mysterious Eleven tongue.
[Blake has an innocent crush. I'm not sure if it would amount to anything. .__.]
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