07.06.3013: A Debt Paid
Summary: Reena meets Kaedin for a Picnic to pay the wager she lost in a game of Solo.
Date: 6 July 2013
Related: None
Reena Kaedin 


Gardens of Erkwin: Landing, Imperius
While the Arborenin may like their greenery wild and lush, the Gardens of Erkwin are carefully and precisely manicured, even if they are no less green for all the attention they have received at the clippers of gardening drones. Broad expanses of grass are trimmed to exactly the same height, grown to exactly the same verdant shade. Hedges are neatly clipped back into exacting shapes. Some form mythical creatures, others living statues of famous historical figures, and one section even rises in geometric patterns to create a hedge maze. Between the hedges and lining paths of crushed gravel are beds full of flowers from all over Imperius — and before that, from all over Old Earth.

As beautiful as the gardens are, however, all of the paths lead through them toward the stadium on the water's edge. A final parade of flags draws the attention of most onlookers up toward the bulbous blue shape of the stadium's half-roof, which is lit from within by the glow of the lights when a tournament is taking place or a soccer game being played.

July 6th, 3013: Afternoon

Reena had a message sent to Kaedin, apologizing for rushing out of her own card party the night before. She asked if she could make it up to him, with a picnic in the Gardens of Erkwin. There she waits, near the edge of the water, on a blanket of Khourni red, with a basket set on it. She's dressed in a gown of silver brocade with gold and pearl accents, the insides of the silk sleeves lined in red. Her hair is down and loose, curling at the ends. She begins setting out plates and untensils with the grace and care of someone who has had lessons in every form of social interaction.

Kaedin at first thought it would be a nice picnic, he haden;t been to one in a while, and sitting around a campfire after a hunt with hunting partners probibly didn't count. The Orelle spent about five minutes picking out an outfit, that is, until one of his mother's fashion experts dressed him instead, that lasted another five minutes and said expert was tossed out of his quarters. Strolling through the Gardens, he wears a pair of expensive looking sunglasses, his hair having been freashly trimmed at the edges. His usual black shirt and black slacks combo is wor, but of a higher quallity, and over this, an expensive leather coat that shows off his strong shoulders more. Moving over to her, he smiles and offers her a formal bow. "Lady Reena, I was delighted to get you invitation for a picnic." he says, unstrapping his sword and setting it down, all six foot of sharp deadly steel wrapped into a embossed leather sheathe, the ease at witch his handles the weapon shows his strength.

"It was the least I could do, Lord Kaedin. A Khourni always pays their debts, and I lost that hand of Solo quite thoroughly," Reena replies with a soft chuckle. "Please, sit. I've made some lovely things for us to eat." She can apparently cook. All part of the training to make her as desireable a political match for suitors as possible. She begins laying out the spread, including cheeses, sausages, fruits, and small meat pies. A bottle of wine and two glasses is also liberated from her basket. "Would you be so kind as to open this?" she asks the Knight, handing bottle and opener to him.

Kaedin blinks as he is handed the bottle, and to show how much like the Orelle he is -not-, he smiles and takes out a pocket knife, flicking it with a easy motion of his wrist and gently works the court out just abit, putting his knife away, he then presses his thumb to the side of the cork until it pops off the bottle, showing his arm strength yet again as the leather that covers his bicept actualy shows the muscle, sending the cork into the air, handing her the bottle, with a grin, he extends his other hand and deftly catches the cork. "One opend bottle of wine, and reguardless of the reason for this Picnic, I gather that it will be enjoyable, mostly because of present company."

"You are much too kind, Lord Kaedin," Reena says with a smile. She pours the wine, settling comfortably on the blanket to sip it. "What brought you to Landings the last few days?" she asks, sparking up the conversation by making it about him.

"I'm always about, usualy going out to hunt, or comming back in from a hunt, I also visit my father's side of the family from time to time." he says with a smile. "It IS hard to let loose a beast on the Ring, and then try and track it… some of the people there don;t take to kindly to a Huge Knight with a bow tracking things in their pristine space station."

That gets a light, musical laugh from Reena as she chooses a grape from a bunch and rolls it in her fingers. "I imagine your family would have a conniption in that case. The botanical garden there is very lovely though. I spent some time on the Ring doing triage after the first Hostile assault, and tended some of the orchids there in my downtime." She tilts her head to the side, her hair cascading over her shoulder in a tumble. "Have you gone drake hunting at all? Most of my family adores it." She pops the grape into her mouth.

Kaedin chuckles. "I haven't actualy, most of my time recently has been devoted to the war, and before that it was training." He says with a smile. "I hope to one day be the best sword master in the universe." he says as he looks at her, turning the conversation over to her as the topic. "The gardens at Summit are wonderful, if you have ever had the chance to see them, if not, I could take you, lady Arianna gave me and my cousin a tour of them." He says with a smile, biting back another compliment.

"If you show me those gardens, I'll happily accost my family to take you on the next drake hunt," Reena promises with a grin. "Maybe they'll let me tag along. I'm not much of a combatant, but I walked the aftermath of the volcanic eruption on the crescent, treating the injured." She sips her wine and studies him thoughtfully. "You're well into the age of marriage, Lord Kaedin. How does a Knight and Lord of a paramount reach such an age unwed?" she asks.

"I might enjoy that, though I also might end up drunk and trying to ride said drake." Kaedin then blinks at the question and takes a sip of his wine. "Avoidance, most of the women who would marry me don't have the spark, or are simply dull and uninteresting. a simpering woman who is a pushover isn't the woman I want as a wife, nor do I want my children getting those genetic traits from her." He says with a half smile. "Besides, I take high risks, during this war i could end up paralized, a vegietable, dead, I'm not the type of person to bring that problem onto someone else to burden." he says as he looks at her with a raised eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"

"To be honest, my father has partially sent me to serve Princess Ophila so I can suss out marriage prospects," Reena says with a shrug. "I am at least getting a chance to learn personalities before such comes up. And war is more of a reason to find a wife, Sir Kaedin. Someone to have a legacy with should you fall on the field, children to repopulate with after we lose many to the Hostile threat."

Kaedin shakes his head as he looks at her. "A logical way of seeing things, but as a warrior, I can't let somthing like that hinder my actions, one split second of hesitation and I could end up at my own funeral, and haven needs every blade it can get, the needs of the many Lady Reena." he says with a smile. "That doesn't mean I'm celibate." he says, making sure THATS clear, he isn;t as pure of a knight to go all templar.

Reena laughs. "I didn't expect you would be. I, however, am not so casual as say, my dearest friend Johana about such things. You two seemed quite comfortable together. It would not be a bad match, and your wife would be there on the field with you," she points out. "She's been mooning over some Cindravale who wants to take things slow."

Kaedin chuckles. "Johana is a person I would enjoy fighting along side of, it would be a true honor. As a match, maybe, I havent thought about her that way, mostly because of the war looming over us all." he says as he tilts his head. "She did say somthing about him, though, for some reason I don't see her with someone that would be slow at anything, or gentle, for that matter." he says. "In my expiriance, the Ibrahm's deal with their problems with ther firsts, and if they need to use their heads, it's probibly best to duck the incomming head butt." he says with a smile, and to him, that's a compliment and show of respect for that family. "My father was a Saimhann, I was trained by his brother, so that might explain a few things to you lady Reena."
Taryn has connected.

"Indeed. That does make a great deal of sense, Sir Kaedin. I'd rather see my friend with someone matching her temperament, to be honest," Reena admits. "Not just because when she's angry I feel an urge to lock my door and hide until Hurricane Johana passes." She grins.

Kaedin smiles. "I prefer someone who shows their emotions, not in a overly public setting, that could raise a few brows, but someone who feels they must constantly hide themselves is infuriating. I'm glad she is one to show her temper, and me being a person who loves danger, I might be the one to be daft enough to poke her with a stick, and the not try and run."

"May be something you should look into? I do warn you though, Young Lady Johana's mother expects great things for her. Don't expect too much unless to can prove yourself worthy of her family," Reena cautions.

Kaedin chuckles. "All parents expect much from their children, it's a way of life, and besides, i don't see myself chasing young ladies for a hand in marriage, I see myself chasing hostiles for their head on a pike. If Johana is interested, she will tell me, or make a clear sign of her interest, but as their house heir, and with a stuffy cindercale to deal with, I'm not going to add pressure to that, I owe her that much in respect." He says as he moves to take a grabe and pop it into his mouth, swallowing before looking at her. "I'm not here to make myself 'worthy' of anything, I'm here to defend haven."

"That is very noble of you," Reena notes, nibbling at one of the meat pies. "I wasn't bred to do that. My father had me for the purpose of marriage alliances and such." She shrugs, not seeming too perturbed about it. "The longer it takes me to find a husband, hopefully the more he'll let me have some say in the matter."

Kaedin chuckles. "And, if I may ask, what do YOU look for in a husband?" He says as he tilts his head at her, neatly getting a meat pie for himself, a show on his face that he likes what she prepaired.

"Well, per the House I grew up in, I prefer a man who can fight. But also one who doesn't mince words over deeds. One who understands family and duty, and who will give me lots of big, strong, little knights as my legacy," Reena quips, though she might just be teasing. "And won't embarrass me in noble circles. I wouldn't mind wedding an heir either. That would be delicious." Power, ah power.

Kaedin chuckles. "Political power, as far as politics go, i agree with your father, wipe the hostiles out, hell, I'll sign up and go to fifth world." he says with a smirk, yes, crazy. "Just, when you end up running the whole system, remember lil ol' me and my fight against the hostiles."

"I promise to remember, Sir Kaedin," Reena notes with a small smile. "Now, about that kiss I owe you, is it something you still want?" she asks, arching a brow.

Kaedin raises an eyebrow and removes his sunglasses, showing his deep blue eyes that could at once be soft and inviting, and in another second could be cold and predatory, depending on the situation. "It is your kiss to give, and I'll look on you no different should you give it or not." he says, well, if the kiss is good he might have a small crush, though, it could work the other way… probably not in his mind.

"As I said, I pay my debts, Sir Kaedin," Reena says sincerely. She leans across the blanket to settle her plush lips against his mouth in a warm kiss, not entirely one that's innocent, but not one that is wanton either.

Kaedin kisses back, pressing his lips to her, a strong kiss, but not forceful, with only a hint of a rather, animal like persona hidden under the trappings of a noble knight, though, on accident or out of habit, one of his hands moves over to rest atop her's.

Reena lets the kiss linger for a long moment, before she draws back, not pulling away her hand. "I hope that was a sufficient prize for your win?" she asks with a sly smile.

Kaedin clears his throat as he looks at her, slightly flustered that he almost forgot what the reason for the kiss was. "Calling it a prize would diminish it's worth." he says with a smile as he looks back into her eyes. "Well, if you ever aim for the newphew of a High lord, look me up, I can;t promise political power, but i can promise…. power." he says with a sly smirk of his own, that and his family isn't just rich, they are loaded.

Reene chuckles. "I will try to remember that, Lord Kaedin. But I do have to go tend to the Princess. I was able to slip away for this little bit by offering to run errands for her." She grins, and gestures to the basket and the food and utensils. "The food is for you. The basket and items are for you to bring to your dear cousin Talayla, who I am more than passing fond of."

Kaedin nods. "It IS her birthday, I do have to go and pick up her present." he says as he stands, holding her hand to help her up as well before kissing the back of it. "Be safe, and if you want to see the gardens at Summit, send me a vid call, I'll be more then happy to escort you around the grounds."

"I'll do that. Thank you for your company, Lord Kaedin. And be safe in the war," Reena says, smiling sweetly before she gathers up her blanket and heads back to the Palace for her duties to the Princess.

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