End of the Beginning (Emilian/Adara/Artemisios)

[Adara Snow]

Adara was undeniably nervous. The past days with Emilian had been wonderful, and some small part of her had almost wanted his convalescence to continue, just so they wouldn't have to do this. So she wouldn't have to admit to herself that it was time to return to the school and her lonely bed.

"Are you certain you are well enough?" Adara asked, not for the first time. She glanced over her shoulder at her father's shop, then looked back up at Emilian, shifting as close to him as she dared, and biting her lip momentarily. She wanted to suggest going home, but rationally, she knew this needed done, and pushing would only make things more difficult for both of them.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian ran a finger around the collar of his shirt and shot a glare towards the door, as if daring someone to come out and force them in before they were ready. He wasn't nervous, at least he told himself he wasn't. There was a tingle that ran through his blood, his body remembered what had happened the last time he had been in that shop. He was wearing comfortable clothes, fitted jeans tucked into clunky boots and one of his usual dark shirts, a silent declaration that he didn't feel the need to even attempt to impress the man.

"I'm fine, Adara," Emilian answered, just like he had the last hundred times she had asked. He brought his eyes back down towards her and moved one hand to his waistband, feeling the reassuring outline of his new wand. His other hand moved up to Adara's face, smoothing the hair behind her shoulder and then trailing down her cheek. He didn't say anything, but the warmth flickered in his eyes before he forced his hand to drop.

[Adara Snow]

Adara looked into Emilian's eyes for one last moment, then nodded in acceptance. Unlike Emilian, she had taken special care with her appearance today. She wore a light dress that only just skimmed her curves and flared out slightly into a graceful pool of linen around her hips and thighs, down to her calves. It was short-sleeved, and buttoned up just high enough to be modest, but the silver of her necklace glittered visibly against her skin, and the fact that it disappeared just beneath the neckline of the dress was her only rebellion.

I love you, Adara thought, then dropped her gaze and turned toward the shop, her chest lifting slightly with the rise of her chin as she took a deep, bracing breath. Her father would not take Emilian away from her again. She paused, and looked up at Emilian. However he wanted to do this, with quiet assurance or boldness, she would follow his lead.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian sighed and cleared his throat, trying to make a decision on how he wanted to go about speaking with her father, something he didn't want to do in the first place. After a few long moments he gave the smallest of nods and opened the door, walking in and holding it for Adara as he shot a suspicious look around the shop for whoever was there. He hoped that the meeting didn't end the same as the last, though he doubted that an agreement would be made.

[Adara Snow]

The man behind the counter didn't so much as blink, though he'd been in the shop the day the boy had been led out back. He merely nodded, then headed to the back to announce his arrival, along with that of Herr Snow's daughter.

He was gone for some long minutes, longer than usual certainly, and Adara's nerves only returned. Her head lowered demurely, reflexively, in preparation for whatever might happen next. Her father had not expressly said that she should not come, but she knew that he wanted to speak with Emilian alone. Then, of course, there was the matter of the ring she did not have, and had only mentioned to Emilian once. Adara's right hand crossed lightly over her left, though she knew she was fooling no one.

[Artemisios Snow]

When his associate returned at last, the man led the two youths back to Herr Snow's office, bowing lightly as he saw them through the door. Then he pulled it shut behind them, and the meeting officially began.

Artemisios was already standing when they entered. His dark gaze narrowed slightly on the boy for one tense moment before shifting to his daughter and softening ever so slightly.

That warmth was short-lived, however. She was properly dressed again, her eyes cast properly low, but he knew where she had spent the past weeks, knew that his money had been used to purchase a wand for the worthless junge he couldn't get rid of. He'd been livid, but his hands were tied, and so he had done nothing but continue to watch and wait, a spider in his web.

Artemisios stepped out from behind his desk to greet his daughter, lifting her right hand despite the momentary tension he felt in her fingertips. He pressed a light kiss to the back, but did not release her just yet. His gaze dropped to her other hand, and finding it bare, rose, narrowed again, to Sota.

It was only a moment though, and then Artemisios turned, guiding his daughter to sit, and gesturing for Sota to do the same. He rounded his desk and sat behind it, his hands clasping one another lightly. He turned his dark eyes on Emilian. "I trust you are well," he began, as though their last meeting hadn't even occurred. "And that my daughter has seen well to your needs," he finished. The message was subtle, but unmistakable; I know.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian sat and feigned relaxation that he most certainly didn't feel in the presence of that man. His eyes were hard and cold as he remembered what had happened, his hand clenched slightly. That man had hurt Adara. "She has been wonderful," he said in a falsely polite voice. "She has given me everything I need." He realized that it probably wasn't the smartest idea to add on that last, but he was willing to risk it to get in a jab when possible. And he had no doubt the man would understand what he meant.

[Adara Snow]

Adara was already blushing from the implications of her father's words; Emilian's had been mortifying. Adara said nothing, though. She kept her gaze lowered, as much from the desire to pretend that she wasn't listening as from any deeply-ingrained sense of decorum. She wished that she hadn't caught the undertone to the words; had she ever before?

[Artemisios Snow]

Artemisios found his eyes narrowing again at the boy's insolent words. He forced himself not to rise to the bait, however. Especially in his daughter's presence. His gaze didn't stray from Sota's, but only darkened in warning. Adara's presence in the room was precarious, and all that kept Artemisios from exploding. "I am glad to hear it," Artemisios said after a long pause, the words cold and clipped. "But enough of the past. I am more interested in the future. Tell me your plans, junge."

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian's eye twitched slightly. "My plans?," he asked, "That is much too vague. That could be anything from what I want to eat tomorrow to what I want to be dressed in at my funeral." He didn't want to give any information, unless asked for it, though he knew what he would answer to certain questions he knew the man was going to ask. He reminded himself that he couldn't let his temper get out of control.

[Adara Snow]

Adara's eyes flickered uncontrollably up to Emilian, widening at his words. Boldness was one thing, but Emilian was purposefully baiting her father! She bit her lip to keep from saying something, then, realizing she was doing so, released her lip and tried to force herself to at least appear calm. Still, her face was flushed, and had she been able to think of anything but the danger, she would have known what her father's next words would be.

[Artemisios Snow]

"Adara, you are excused," Artemisios said without breaking his furiously dark eyes from Sota's. "Go into the shop. Now." She would obey, there was no question of it, and Artemisios was rewarded when his daughter rose to her feet, gaze still properly lowered. He was tired of the pretense of politesse, at least on his own part, and Adara needed to leave so that he could speak freely.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian's eyes narrowed slightly and he glanced up at Adara quickly before locking his eyes back on her father. "She can stay. Anything you have to say to me, I'll tell her. So why not skip that step and let her hear it now?" Adara had the right to stay, Emilian wanted her to stay, he thought that he was much less likely to be hit again if she stayed, as well.

[Adara Snow]

Adara had been fully prepared to leave the room, and glad of the release. Still, she could not ignore Emilian's words, and so she stopped, poised on the brink of turning toward the door. Her gaze rose to Emilian's again, but he wasn't looking to see the soft pleading in her eyes, so she lowered them again, hoping that her father had not seen. She was torn between wanting to stay for Emilian and wanting to leave for her father, for her own comfort. Adara did not return to her seat just yet, but neither did she leave the room.

[Artemisios Snow]

Anything you have to say to me, I'll tell her. "Then tell her," Artemisios said, his voice still low, but tight with rapidly building anger. "We will speak alone." He turned his gaze on his daughter, then, the sight of her standing there at the boy's words doing nothing to cool his blood. "Adara!" he barked, "Gehen sie zum geschäft jetzt. Ich befehle es!" He made a sharp gesture toward the door.

((Translation, for the interested: Go to the shop now. I command it!))