(Attn: Valentine))

It was out of general concern that Cadence found herself taking herself to each Province to check upon the current rulers. As High Healer of Little Terreille she had every right to have the urge to protect everyone in the territory, and that definitely included the Province rulers. Having been on a current vacation to see the Warlord Prince Madoc, Cadence knew that the male was up to speed and healthy as any male could be. The other rulers it was that she needed to tend too and first on her list was Valentine Hale of the Darkweir Province. She had heard things of the dark jeweled Warlord Prince and she was curious enough to see if they were true or not. She hoped at least all of what she heard wasn’t.

So off to Darkweir she went, making sure that she had the appropriate escort to take her there. She hadn’t told Saeltir about the business trip she was making, knowing he probably would have wanted to escort her himself, but knew that by now he would have found out. All she could do was hope that he wasn’t upset with her for not saying anything. She didn’t want him worrying about her when she knew he had important matters of his own to attend too.

Coming to the Province Cadence couldn’t help but smile at its beauty as she pulled herself from the carriage. She had dressed in black leather pants and red shirt that almost matched her red flaming hair. Walking along the cobble pathway she was always amazed at the beauty of the territory. It was her first time in Darkweir of course and she was wondering what sorts of things people normally did here, just as she had been shown by Madoc the types of things they did in Casselone.

Stepping up to the door Cadence politely knocked on the door, waiting for someone to answer. She had made sure they knew of her coming beforehand and could only hope they hadn’t forgotten.

The Warlord Prince of the Darkweir Province of Little Terreille rubbed his eyes and groaned at the trickle of daylight that had snaked through the gap in the heavy black curtains that were failing their duty. He felt a presence drawing near, a trace of Green. He grunted to himself and turned over. There was nobody home today, or at least, he sure as hell wasn't. His only member of staff, the one brave, or stupid, enough to stick around had sauntered off into the capital today, and had graciously come to alert him to the fact at a ridiculous hour. He had greeted them with a glass, not close enough to hit, not far enough to be misinterpeted.

Valentine opened his bleary eyes slowly, trying to focus on the ceiling. There were spots and spirals dancing before him in a beautiful rainbow of colours, and as much as he wished he stay and watch them at play, his tongue felt like a dry sponge, and when he mustered up enough spittle to swallow, he regretted it for the burning aftertaste not dissimilar to something long dead. Shuddering, he sat up, massaging the stubble on his chin. How he wished he was long-lived sometimes.

Stumbling to the bathroom, Valentine raised the glass tumbler to his lips and took a long swallow. He raised a hand to create a ball of witchfire in the bathroom, instantly squinting and muting it down a tone. His eyes strained to make out his shape in the mirror, and when they eventually did, he grimaced. His whites were no longer white, they were a bleak, murky red, and his pupils seemed to match the emptiness. His cheeks were sallow, and thick purple smudges painted under his eyes. His lips were dry and chapped, and his mouth still feltlike his throat was harbouring a dead animal.

He heard a faint knock at the door but ignored it, instead, he took another deep mouthful of clear liquid and tried to locate his toothbrush in the dark. He did not want to illuminate the marble room anymore than it already was for fear his head may implode. Even for Jewels as dark as his, he was having trouble burning this alcohol off. He attended to his morning routine and shuffled back into his bedroom. As he leaned down to pick up a pair of fitted black trousers, the room started to spin, and he felt himself lurch forward. A low gutteral growl pulled him back up and he turned to the door, ready to face whatever had made the hideous noise. As he caught his toe on the large wooden bedframe, he let out a bellow of rage, a few foreign curses thrown in to make it a little more colourful.

Another knock at the door pulled a snarl from the Warlord Prince, but he settled back down on the bed, topless and drifting, the numbness in his body slowly trailing up to his head. He opened an eye as the visotor rapped again, but Valentine sniffed to himself with a smirk. One of the Kindred or some other beast would see off the pest eventually. He sighed. Then he'd have to answer to someone higher up about why the animals in his area were chowing down on people. Then he'd have to have a chat with the Kindred or dispose of some unruly non-Kindred, and a carcass somewhere.

With a pensive chunner, he dragged himself back up and wandered out into the hall, oblivious to the cold that made his skin shudder into gooseflesh. He walked toward the front door, feeling a flicker of annoyance. Whoever it was was bloody persistent. He opened the door, squinting in the half-light of the cold day. He focused on the fire-haired woman before him, and sighed. She was the Green he'd felt, which meant only one thing. Official business.

He ushered her in, closing the door gratefully behind her small figure. He eyed her, his eyes still bleary, scratching his rough chin. "Valentine Hale, at your service, lady, but I'm assuming you already knew that." He moved to the desk behind her and leaned to her side, taking a small crystal decanter and a glass. He poured three fingers of the clear venom and tossed it back. He spoke through clenched teeth, the bitterness on his tongue and fire in his throat giving him a husky edge to his voice. "I sincerely hope this is important, lady."

One knock soon turned into many knocks as the little Healer waited as patiently as she could for the Warlord Prince of the territory to answer. Even if he had by chance forgotten the meeting it would have been nice to have been welcomed inside so she could at least wait for him. She was there after all and it would be more of inconvience to return then and have to come back then just stay around. Besides that would also involve telling Saeltir about the little information she had kept for him and Cadence was greatly hoping that she could keep that away for as long as possible.

So she knocked and knocked until her little knuckles needed a little rest, which by then she heard the rustling of someone behind the doors. Finally she thought while he quickly ran a hand through her hair to untangle any that had misplaced themselves. When the door opened however Cadence was a little shocked to see what she had. This was the Warlord Prince that people mused about, she thought, a little unimpressed. He was attractive of course, but the way he was squinting at her and the waft of alcohol she also got was a major turn off for the little witchling. Someone had a rough night..

“Hello Prince Hale…” was all Cadence could muster out before she was ushered in quickly. Closing her mouth she hugged her waist while the Prince then made himself comfortable or whatever it was he was trying to do. Cadence had to kept from scrunching her nose at the smell of him, but gave him a polite smile while he introduced himself. “Nice to meet you Prince Hale, my name is Cadence Haliven, Healer of Little Terrielle.” She smiled at him while her eyes watched what he was doing, nearly dropping from the sockets as he did what he did. Was he drinking that early in the morning? He was! She thought while her smile drowned into a serious frown while she blinked in disbelief at him. It seemed she had a little more on her hands then she had hoped for.

"I sincerely hope this is important, lady."

Cadence just continued to blink at the Warlord Prince. Was he serious? The Healer in her just wanted to smack him silly for saying what he did and while she took a step forward and removed the glass from his hands she vanished it while taking the crystal decanter into her arms. She hated alcohol, it being the very substance that had left her with a lonely childhood. She didn’t want it around and she knew the obvious signs of an alcoholic when she saw it, which were pointing to the Warlord Prince in front of her.

Taking a step back she forced a smile, “I was here for a routine check up Prince Hale, which a message should have been sent months ago to let you know I was coming. However, looking about your condition it would seem I have other problems to worry about with you.” She tightened her grip on the bottle. “Now if you could show me to your kitchen I would like to make a tea for you so you can sober up. So is it important Prince? Yes I would think it is gravely important especially if you don’t want you liver failing.” She gave him a warm smile, the sincerest she had since she had gotten there.

(OOC: Let me know if it's enough/okay))

Valentine saw the little Healer's pallid expression and sniffed to himself. She'd woken him up, and then dragged him downstairs with her persistent knocking, and he did not take kindly to people who demanded his time. He felt a ripple of irritation whisper toward him from the firey witchling, and he turned slowly toward her, his eyes glazed from both the alcohol, and his own irritability.

It was as he turned that things seemed to move in a very slow motion for the Warlord Prince. The little whench took his glass, and vanished it first. He felt the ice burning in his fingers as he tightened his grip on the decanter. He didn't want to break the crystal, nor did he really want to have to clean up the Healer, so he let go. His haunted eyes burning into her with silent vehemence. As she cradled the decanted to her chest, Valentine held a tight leash on his temper, breathing slowly, trying not to let the haze descend. He walked a hailine, right then, Valentine Hale, and he would be damned by Kali once more if he disposed of one of her officials.

Wisely, little Cadence Haliven took the same step back as she had forward moments ago. He saw the slight pillow of hot breath as she spoke, his eyes narrowing as he reigned in the chill. His mind, eyes, and very boned burned with the fire of a thousand forests, but his blood ran cold. Who the fuck was this little nothing to try to --

I was here for a routine check up Prince Hale, his eyebrow traced an arch as his weary mind took in just how much she meant business. It meant nothing at all to him, however, and if she didn't see sense in her little fiery head soon, Valentine Hale would only need a brief flicker of strength to remove the problematic witch from his home, and her existence, altogether. He went to mae a reach for the bottle, but the rapid movement blurred his vision, and his reach fell short. He really wasn't in the mood to kill her outright, but he was open to throttling her if she didn't give him back the bottle fast.

However, looking about your condition it would seem I have other problems to worry about with you. As she tightened her grip on the bottle, Valentine Hale let out a half-hearted snarl, too weary to fight her anymore. Her strength would probably be enough to save her at this hour, and in comparison to his mottled awareness, she could probably move quicker than he. He sighed loudly in defeat and leaned on the table. More for his own stability than to try and appear nonchalant. He still wanted the bottle, and she'd have to put it down eventually.

When she asked to be escorted to the kitchen, Valentine Hale raised a hand to his face, trying to hide from this unwelcome presence and block her out completely. He couldn't muster up the strength to speak, but hiss will to strangle her was growing more with every second that ticked by. He rubbed the course palm over his stubbly face, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. "Lady," was all he could manage, and the crackly rasp he produced put him off trying to say anymore. Let her have her five minutes, then she would leave, and be gone for another year, and he could go back to bed and dream of having throttled her when he'd had the chance.

He pushed off the table and set off toward the kitchen, still barefoot, bare chested, and barely there. It was only as she spoke again, and he released a chain of impressive curses that he stopped and turned back to her. He rubbed his hand harshly through his ruffled, tufty hair, pulling at it as he made strangled, pained noises. He wanted her to be quiet, just quiet, for a moment. The smallest moment where she wouldn't open that trap, and he could just manage to stomach her scent in his home. Who in their right mind woke a Warlord Prince at this hellish hour?

So is it important Prince? Yes I would think it is gravely important especially if you don’t want you liver failing. What? He stood, dumbfounded for a moment. Every instinct in him wanting to wrestle the life out of her, but his brain to addled, or pickled, perhaps, to actually formulate a response. It was at that moment, as he decided how he could mute the little beast permanently that she gave him a warm smile, and as much as it felt like nails on the chalkboard of his nerves, he simply sighed in resignation once more and pointed her in the way of the kitchen.

He muttered something incoherent as she kept a tight hold of the decanter, eyeing his outstretched arm pointing toward the back of the residence. "Females."

Cadence could sense the distaste Valentine had for her the moment she entered, the strong pulsations of that distaste growing with her words. As much as she did care, she didn’t in the same breath knowing that once she was done with him that he would be better off. She really had simply come for a minor check up and instead she got a half naked Warlord Prince with alcohol smelling like what he ate for breakfast. Cadence had never touched the substance herself, but she knew the affects well while she had been call on occasion to rid a person’s body of the self inflicted poison. She had seen her mother consume enough that she knew that it was unhealthy. Though that still didn’t stop the Healer from wondering what it felt like to be influenced..

Her grip on the bottle only tightened, her tiny arms maybe a third of what Valentine’s was as she eyes his naked upper chest. She swallowed hard while her anger took a brief moment to breath until his ignorance and attitude pushed her back to that anger. She was doing her job. She had sent the message weeks before, if he had wanted to stay away from a tedious check up than he should have refrained from the alcohol. Just then maybe she would have neglected to look upon his liver while she probed him.

Watching him point the way to the kitchen she nodded gratefully though stiffly at him while she then followed his directions. Turning towards him she frowned at him strongly while he cursed her sex finding her body stagger a bit enough that when she fell behind she stepped hurtfully on his feet as he proceeded. A stub to the toe was the smallest of his worries when it came to her, even though with the snap of her finger she could be dead. There would be a price to that though if he did and she hoped he knew. Even if he didn’t when her feelings were strong it never stopped the little witchling.

Once they reached the kitchen Cadence took a moment to look around while she cradled the alcohol for a moment. Biting her lip she probed to get a sense of where every thing was before she continued on to make a brew to help with Valentine’s hangover which would then make it possible for to make sure everything else was okay with the Warlord Prince. She didn’t trust him with the alcohol so instead movd around to gather what she needed.

“Tell me about you night Prince Hale.” She asked though she wasn’t necessarily curious. If she could get him focusing on something else though maybe it would make things more pleasant between them. She settled the bottle of alcohol behind her out of his reach. “I don’t know how you could like such things… it just causes pain.” She said while her feelings of it mustered up greatly while she had been isolated because of it. She also wondered if she should try the stuff to see what was so great about the stuff.

It’s what caused her actions before. Calling the bottle in Cadence slammed it down in front of Valentine while she called in two glasses, pouring a fair amount in each. “Or shall we drink now, Prince?” Cadence gripped the glass tightly while she dared him. She had never done so and while she wished he backed off she didn’t at the same

The whench would be lucky to keep her mind much longer if she carried on winding the Warlord Prince up in such a way. His bleary eyes bore holes into the back of her as she continued toward the kitchen after standing on his toe. Twice now, he'd stubbed it, and it was something that grated on his nerves. He hung back a little, his mouth open in a silent scream until he bit his lip and restrained himself for pulling the sassy witchlings hair and throwing her on the floor. It was a violent struggle, Valentine warring with his own hands to restrain them, but he regained a little composure and flounced into the kitchen behind her like a stroppy teenager.

He leaned a bony hip on the counter as he watched her brow furrow as she got a feel for where evrything was. Valentine spent very little time in the kitchen, so he would have been little use to her in finding anything, and had it always been yellow? He rubbed his eyes with a coarse hand and settled onto a stool. The cold counter hurt his jagged bones, and he figured he might be here a while. He noticed, much to his annoyance, that she kept the bottle well within reach, and out of his. If he could just nudge her out of the way, he could grab it, and then she'd have the fun of getting it back off him. A sly smile crossed his lips, until she snapped him out of his reverie.

“Tell me about your night Prince Hale.” He was suprised, to say the least. He hadn't expected her to ask him about anything other than 'does this hurt?' or 'are you getting enough fresh fruit?', and other senseless questions. He looked at her and considered his answer. "I don't know what to tell you, Lady. I don't recall much of it." He rubbed the back of his neck, his wasted muscles trying in vain to flex like they once had. "I wanted something to relax for the evening, and then I woke up with a stinking headache, and anything in between is a bit of a blur." He smiled weakly, a little ashamed of himself. "I suppose it's because of that stuff." He motioned toward the bottle behind her.

He listened to her answer and snorted. "It also numbs pain, Lady." His eyes blazed, both from his headache, and from a deep belief in those words. He knew deep in his heart it was untrue on many levels - it simply muted the feelings for a while, and as soon as it wore off, you had to start the process again. But at the same time, he needed to believe that he was drinking it for a reason, for it's anaethestic qualities, otherwise he'd someday soon have to face the realisation that he was just a run-of-the-mill alcoholic. He sighed and looked at his hands; the beginning of the tell-tale tremor just starting to creep over him.

What threw him back into the scene before him was the explosive slam as the little Healer challenged him to a drink. She didn't look like the sort who would have had much to drink in her time, and Valentine wasn't sure why she was doing it, but a drink was a drink, and he wasn't overly fussy about who it was with. He took the glass and eyed her. If she took it badly, who would help her? Valentine knew basic healing Craft, but nothing more, and he couldn't even help himself, so how was he to help her? Still, she didn't weigh much, or have much to her, so he was sure she wouldn't need that much, and he could just throw in one of the spare beds and let her sleep it off, and continue about his day. Or return to bed.

He shrugged and smiled, "Lady Haliven, I hope you know what you're getting into." And with that, his glass was empty, his eye falling on the bottle, ready for a refill.

Why she had asked about his night she didn’t know, but maybe it was a subconscious thing. Maybe really while her emotions ran high she wanted to know why people drank so much like she felt Valentine did. Her mother did the same and maybe by understanding why he did Cadence could understand why her mother did. Or at least why her mother ignored her despite that reason. Cadence knew why her mother drank so much, but why couldn’t she be enough for it to stop? What was so great about the substance?

All he did was list more reasons to why it was good then instead bad. Numbing pain was something she had wished she had known how to do long ago though she never did. She didn’t think that with the drink that consumed most that she would find that. Maybe it would help then, she thought. Maybe it would be good for her.

That what was caused her to grip the glass like Valentine and take it in like nervous breath before she took it down, her cough as it burned her throat showing the evidence. She coughed a few more times before she had control, her mind wondering what was about to happen. She blinked a few times to see if it hit instantly but realized it differently while she looked at Valentine. Nothing though.

Not at least right away which only caused Cadence’s awareness’s to heighten a bit while she looked around before her small hand poured more for them. “Nothing’s happening. What’s the point?” Cadence looked at her glass and did so again by taking the drink. Were they stupid and not realize nothing happened?

It was a few more drinks in when Cadence stopped and looked at Valentine while she still wondered, her feelings more sensitive and her world beginning to spin. “Why do you drink? How is this fun?” She asked curiously, a hiccup escaping her lips.

((OOC: If you need more let me know))

Valentine watched the fiery witchling with a flicker of annoyance at her hesitacne to refill his glass. She'd been stupid enough to challenge him in the first place, so why take so long? However, something else crept into Valentine's head, a small voice telling him to stop from a great distance. He managed to shoo it away for some time, and focused back on the bottle, oblivious for some time to the idle musings that seemed to be escaping the Healer's lips.

He watched her with vague interest as she took a shallow breath before ploughing the drink as he had. He wondered idly for a moment if his eyes scrunched up and his nose wrinkled in the same endearing way hers did, before he choked on a suppressed laugh at her coughs. "Not for the faint hearted, is it, Lady?" He smiled, an arrogant, lazy smile. She'd not be in this game for long, this one. He took the bottle from her loose grip and poured them both another, downing his before he'd placed the bottle back on the table. "Round two, or three?" His smile reached his glazed eyes, and Valentine flashed his teeth for a moment as she managed to rasp a response out.

"Nothing's happening. What's the point?" Valentine's rusty throat tightened as he let out a gutteral, husky laugh. He shook his head and pushed the glass toward her. "All in good time, lady. All in good time." He sank his own, and poured another, pausing to fill her glass once more. He used Craft to keep the slim bottle ice cold. Vodka was no good when it was warm.

It was comfortable for a few more shots, Valentine enjoying the reprive from being chastised, and simply seeking refuge in the drinks. It was a short-lived happiness, however, for she soon spoke again. "How is this fun?" He stared at her for a long moment, toying with his glass, and the ideas in his head. He poured her another and smiled as she hiccuped. "Oh, lady Haliven, I could show you a great many ways it could be more fun."

It was the tiniest flicker of seduction, but he couldn't help himself. She'd pissed him off earlier, and now he wanted his revenge. He'd show this little witch what was fun, and what was definitely not business. And with that, he was up, out of his seat, his hands pulling Cadence ouit of her seat and into his arms. "Tell me, Healer, if you don't know how to drink, do you at least know how to dance?"

All her life Cadence had stayed away from the vile substance because she saw what it did to a person. She saw how one small substance could alter a person and change the world around them. It was silly really when she thought back to how different.. how slobbish and inhumane her mother became after the bottle had been cracked. She still remembered the countless times her father left her with her mother. She still remembered the pain from being ignored all her life and the inexperience that came with it. It still hurt Cadence thinking about it.

Maybe that’s what made it easier though for her to take back the substance, questioning it without giving it a moment to actually affect her body. It tasted nasty, that was for sure, but even when Valentine commented on it not being for the faint hearted, something within her pushed her to take the rest of the drinks he poured. How many she had guzzled down within seconds she had no idea, but in the end while she still convinced herself that things weren’t happening, her cheeks flushed with warmth from it.

She just looked at him though while it seemed he was choosing his words wisely when she had asked how drinking was in any way fun. She knew the male could have fun, she wanted to know what fun was when one was drinking. Even if she came to heal him and make sure he was healthy she knew he was the best to show her. And this was definitely one experience that she didn’t want to share with Saeltir. He knew of her past and he wouldn’t have approved. But maybe, just maybe if she got drunk she could understand a little to why her mother did what she did.

“Please do, Prince! And please.. call me Cadence.” She gave him a warm smile. Probably the first she had that day, though she was intrigued to know what kind of things people did when they drank. She had heard the stories, but she wanted to feel what it was like. Even if she was silly about it.

Maybe she had spoke to soon, Cadence thought while she was pulled from her seat and in Valentine’s arms. She looked up at him while her hands rested on his arms.. his naked arms.. Cadence looked about his naked chest, realizing it really for the first time since she had seen him. Her cheeks flushed redder considering she had never been that close to a male like that other than Saeltir or patients of hers. She looked up at Valentine, “No, but I could try!” She said, trying to focus on her steps and not his naked chest, her feet coming in contact with Valentine’s.

When she stepped on it she didn’t think she would have hurt it much considering she was a tiny thing, but still with the alcohol buzzing through Cadence she worried considerably. “I’m sorry! I’m so so sorry Valentine. Are you okay?” She asked while she looked worriedly at him. “I hope I didn’t hurt you.” She said while her arms wrapped around his waist and her face rested against his chest in a hug. She could still feel the warmth of her cheeks, cooling off from Valentine’s skin, which she liked.

Still though, she pulled away from him and frowned. “I suck at dancing and I probably suck at this drinking thing too.” Cadence sighed. She was never very good at things except healing.

Valentine's mind buzzed with last night's remnants and today's top-up of alcohol, and while it didn't hurt nearly as much as it would have done earlier, Valentine still found himself grit his teeth in an attempt to stop himself yelling and wailing like a banshee as the little healer stepped on his twice-stubbed toe. He wanted to believe she wasn't doing it all on purpose, but she'd managed to step on the same toe twice, and he'd cracked it on the bed once today - he had a feeling it would give up and fall off soon, but he managed not to wail.

Her profuse apologies fell on semi-deaf ears, as his ind was enveloped in the feel of her warm skin against his own cool torso. He loved the feel of the female for and he leashed the urge to press her against the table and have her right there and then. It would never do to embarass himself too much, and thankfully, the stirring in his groin went unnoticed as she moved away from him with a sigh. When she admonished herself, Valentine took her face in his hands and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "You don't 'suck', witchling." His lips grazed against her skin as he spoke, "The party just hasn't started yet."

He called in a bottle of vivid green liquid, and floated it to the table. He had to admit to himself that he was surprised at how well she was holding against the vodka, but her Jewels weren't nearly as battered as his, and he was already halfway drunk each morning. He sat down and motioned for her to follow, but instead, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto his knee. "Now, if this doesn't get you shit-faced drunk, I don't know what will." He poured them both a good glass full. "It's called Green Frog." He swiled it around in the glass, watching as Craft frosted the glass as it cooled.

He handed the glss to Cadence and smiled lazily. She felt good, smelled good, hell, she looked good, and it was all he could do not to tell her so. However, being a Warlord Prince, it was difficult to shield the feeling, and he had to wriggle into a slightly different position so as not embarass himself. "I promise we can stop if you don't enjoy it." His eyes glistened as he spoke, curious as to whether she'd sense the double-entendre he proposed. He knocked back his chilly home-brew and rested his chin on her shoulder, resisting the urge to place a tender, yet powerful kiss on the vein that throbbed in her neck. He could feel the pull of it, but mercifully, his mind was content with the warmth spreading through his body.

"Just don't smell it."

Cadence had convinced herself strongly within seconds that she had to be the worst dancer and drinker that Valentine had ever met. Between the countless times her feet seemed to miss the ground and stepped on his own she was sure that she was enraging the Warlord Prince right in front of her. It just got to the point where she felt bad enough to hug him, hoping that would squash any feelings of wanting to strangle her from his mind. No strangling was definitely good in her opinion.

Even if she was the worst drinker though at least she had tried it. She was kind of sad that she hadn’t really felt anything.. well at least realized she did. Everything seemed heightened for the little healer as she peeled herself from Valentine’s cool body. It was a nice body and one that alone was aiding to the heat of her body, but she couldn’t even focus on that when she felt like she was yet again another failure at something. Wasn’t drinking supposed to be easy? She thought.

Her mind was swirling with negative comments on herself while she pulled away only to find everyone of them she said vanished the moment Valentine took her face and kissed her forehead. It was a rather lovely and unexpected action that she got from the Warlord Prince, but it was one she liked. Her green eyes just stared at him in bewilderment while he reassured her that it wasn’t her. Taking a deep breath in Cadence then wondered if drinking around an attractive male was such a good idea when she had her own perfect and lovely male herself at home.

Cadence thought about it for only a few seconds, thinking that it would be best maybe if she sent word for Saeltir to come and pick her up or even any sort of escort. Those few thoughts again vanished the moment that she felt Valentine pulled her wrist until she was settled on his knee. Cadence turned and looked at Valentine with wide eyes before settling them in front of her again. Just breathe She instructed herself even though it was very hard to do as the alcohol settled more. She nodded at him with a smile as she hitched a little laugh, “It has rather a funny name, but I guess I could try it.” A few drinks of the green stuff and then she would call for Saeltir, what harm would it do?

Accepting the glass Cadence returned the smile while she then looked at the contents in her glass. Sure was an interesting color she thought, the shift in not only Valentine’s positioning having the little Healer looking back at him. She could feel the change in the scent, could feel the change in his feelings for her. Cadence just blinked at him for a moment considering what that meant, her body naturally leaning in a bit to rest against his chest. She had never had a male act like this around her.. well .. except Saeltir. She nodded though at his words which pushed her into thinking about Valentine more. How she had hated him upon the sight of him, but now was growing to enjoy his company.. maybe a little too much. As she felt his chin rest upon her shoulder she took back the green liquid without hesitation.

She coughed again while she clasped her throat until she regained the air in her lungs. “Sure has a kick to it.” She said while she gave him a smile afterwards, waiting to feel anything. “How about another?” She said, squirming on his knee a little to grab the bottle of the liquid, pouring them a glass each. When she was gone taking back that drink too it was finally then that Cadence realized that it was affecting her. “I think it’s working!” She said excitedly while placed her glass and the bottle on the table before wrapping her arms around Valentine’s neck and giving him a hug. “It’s working and all thanks to you!”

Cadence then sat back and grinned at him, focusing on the features of his face that seemed more evident to her. “You’re quite attractive, you know that?” She said, the slip of her tongue resulting in a flush of her cheeks. She gave a nervous laugh before turning to pour another drink, “Though I’m sure you hear that a lot.” She said, another laugh escaping when she turned back to see if he wanted another drink. Boy, he made her nervous for some reason.

Valentine sensed her thoughts trying to pull away from him, and it fired up the hunter in him, and he simply needed to prove to her that he was the only person she nedded to be thinking about at this moment. Yes, she needed to be shown. His lips curved into a hidden smile when she coughed and wheezed at the putrid liquid. It was a simple mixture, but almost hedonistic in the quality of it. It had won him many an arguement in the past; most adversaries simply couldn't hack it. However, Valentine had ingested a lot of 'Green Frog' in his time, and his body and Jewels held it a lot stronger. His eyes danced with fire as he watched from her shoulder. The brave little Healer poured them both another glass.

As much as his eyes were fixed on her hands, his body felt her wriggle and move, and temptation crept in. What would she do, this little witchling, if he turned on her? He wouldn't, of course. His respect for Queen Desmond was too strong, and he wouldn't incur her wrath, but he could toy with his new little friend. Another squirm from the temptress had his mind buzzing, though not from the faintest flicker of alcohol. It was all her. He couldn't sense anything but her slight hesitance mixed with naive curiosity and dangerous nonchalance. If she only knew what he was thinking.

He knocked back his drink and held Cadence's hips, moving her into a more central position. She'd be sure to notice his heat before long, and he was so very tempted to lay a deep kiss on her neck, but as she let out a delighted exclamation and spun around, Valentine was dragged out of his desire. He looked at her green eyes, her still-shy smile, her flaming hair. He wanted to feel her, see her smile for a reason other than the poison on the table. Yes, Valentine Hale was a Warlord Prince fast losing his hold on his lust. Again. He bit his lip and smiled darkly at how many times it seemed to happen recently, as she commented on his features, letting out a silky laugh that made his blood roar in his ears. He smiled, his eyes fixed on her as she faced the table. She was nervous. The devil on his shoulder nudged him forward.

It was delicate, almost innocent, the kiss he placed on the nape of her neck, his free hand pulling the collar of her shirt down slightly. His other hand remained on the leather-clad curve of her hips as she sat on him in a way no woman should have dared. He stood up slowly, holding her hips as he slid her off his lap. He pulled her up and spun he slowly against the closest wall, looking down into her eyes with a deep fire. "Tell me, Cadence, would like to know what it feels like to be completely inebriated and consumed by it?" He smiled, his hooded eyes no longer bleary, no longer red from exhaustion. His skin was cool against hers, and as he held her arms softly above her head, he could feel her heartbeat fluttering nervously. He raised an eyebrow and leaned in to kiss her, stopping just before his lips connected with hers, letting out a throaty whisper, "Well?"

(( Let me know if it's enough ))

((OOC: Entering the scene with the knowledge and permission of Cadence and Valentine))

What a day, what a bloody day. Saeltir rubbed his forehead in an attempt to banish the slight headache he had gotten from the hysteric shrieking of the banshee district Queen who had taken her guards and Master of Guard, too young a Warlord in his opinion, to the territory Queen’s palace for them to gain some practice with the best of the trade and when Saeltir had told her in no gentle words that the whole company was full of sissies who should have still been playing with dolls or something like that, the witch had blown up. Not that the man could blame him, no Queen likes to be put down, even if it had had nothing to do with her, directly. He had pointed the Lady to Kali’s office and appointed a few of his better men to train with her so-called guards and left the palace, in bad need of fresh air and some peace and quiet.

Loosening his collar, Saeltir had stepped into the house and called for Cadence only to be greeted with silence. That was odd, she’d said nothing to him about going out that afternoon. Or maybe she had but he’d missed it. Sometimes it did happen – Cadence had this quiet manner to her, she seemed to not want to tell him things that she thought would concern him. And that what Saeltir was still trying to teach her – in a relationship like theirs, it was of utmost importance that they communicated.

Sending a psychic message to the guard on duty for the High Healer’s escort that day, the Warlord received a curious response – the guard was not quite sure if Lady Haliven was where he thought she would be and that was the house of the Warlord Prince, Valentine Hale. Suppressing a moment of panic as he reminded himself what kind of a man the Warlord Prince was and knowing full well what Cadence was like, the Master of Guard for Lady Desmond told the guard to meet him at the estate and took off.

The Green wind was faster than the Purple Dusk the guard had to take and therefore Saeltir was in Darkweir a while before his companion, leaving the Web landing in a hurry and, after consulting a local about the whereabouts of Valentine Hale’s house, looked it up. Yes, she was there – the familiar psychic scent of his little Healer emanated from the menacing house(and it wasn’t menacing by architecture but for the overwhelming sense of its occupant) – so he sent:*Cadence? Are you alright? You did not wait for your escort.* It was enough warning for her. Without knocking, the Warlord walked into the house, rushed footsteps taking him through the building while his senses tried to pinpoint the location of the witch. It felt different, strange and it caused Saeltir to almost panic. What in the name of Darkness was she up to?

"Tell me, Cadence, would like to know what it feels like to be completely inebriated and consumed by it?"

Heart sinking, he lingered at the door of the kitchen, eyeing the two drunken people for a moment before speaking, his voice serious and deceptively calm:“No, she does not. Step away from her, Prince Hale.“

Breathe, just breathe…

Cadence told herself over and over again while things just got more nerve wrecking from the few seconds before. From the soft kiss planted on the nape of her neck that sent shivers down her spine to the forceful grip on her hips as she was pushed against the wall, it felt like she couldn’t breathe. All she could wonder was how she had gotten herself into such a position and with the grin liquid now coursing through her system it was hard to concentrate. Even when his sly, cool words slipped from his mouth that was only inches away from hers, all Cadence could do was focus her eyes on how close he was and open to mouth though she was speechless. What was she supposed to say or do when she was pinned against her own will?

Hearing Saeltir’s voice ring through the air was like the ice breaker to Cadence’s uncertainty as she felt like she could breathe again. Her tiny lungs collapsed in a heavy breath while a brief moment of soberness snapped into and everything came together. She knew then that when she had heard his voice in her head that it was him and not her imagination. And more importantly while she blinked at Valentine who was still near her Cadence knew that she wanted nothing more than to get as far away from him as she could. How drinking could be fun when it led to this, she didn’t know.

Cadence didn’t even need to say anything while she squirmed hard until her wrists were free and she ducked underneath Valentine, running until her body was against Saeltir’s in a hard hug. Her tiny arms never wanted to let go of him every again as she felt stupid, silly and naïve. All she had wanted to do was see what the big deal of the substance was and why her mother had chosen it over her so much. The last thing she wanted in anyway was for Saeltir to worry about her or to walk in when she was inches away from another male. She didn’t even want to begin to think about what Saeltir thought was going on. Instead she just hugged him.

Turning to face Valentine though, her arms still tightly wrapped around Saeltir Cadence spoke as loudly as her voice would carry. “Thank you for your time Prince Hale, I think it is time I go.” She then looked up at Saeltir with watery eyes. *I’m sorry.. Can you please take me home?* The alcohol was still affecting her slightly, but she felt alright enough that she was stuttering or anything. All she could do was feel every single emotion hit her in the chest twice as hard. She squeezed Saeltir, *I love you.*

The Warlord Prince's mind roared at the sound of another voice, but his eyes held Cadence, and when he saw the relief there, at the sound of this voice, he knew he'd pushed her too far. The cold crept into his veins, and as he looked at her for the longest moment, all he could think of was how he must look. He'd been so angry and unforgiving when she'd first arrived, and all she'd wanted was to help. Hadn't that been what he'd prayed for? Help?

He glanced in the direction of the other man, vaguely recognising him as one of Kali's men. He didn't realise he hadn't let go of the little Helaer until she wrestled herself free and rushed into the man's arms. She hadn't been the tease he'd thought she was, she'd been afraid and unaware. Whatever lust he might have felt had uncharacteristically simmered down, and as much as he usually encapsulated his caste, Valentine Hale no longer felt like a Warlord Prince. He no longer wanted to be a Warlord Prince. Hell, he didn't deserve the honour in this kind of state.

He looked at them in a fierce embrace and envied them. He'd spent so very long being angry that he had probably overlooked and pushed aside any chance he had of regaining that feeling. It wasn't something he was proud of, his drinking and temper, and now, looking at the young woman who'd so freely given her time to him, it all seemed so very unfounded. If people knew of it, what would they say? What would Kali say? He'd had so many plans for Darkweir, to prove himself. He'd tried to kick the habit so many times -- no, he hadn't, he'd kicked it once or twice for a few days when something required him to. He'd never wanted to be the man he was. He'd given up caring without Aleese.

He fought with himself, part of him wanting to prove he was a fiery Warlord Prince, part of him wanting to honourable, part of him just wanting another drink. Nothing would drown out the tears in Cadence's eyes when she looked back at him, thanking the Prince for his time. Guilt washed over him, and as the two went to turn out of the kitchen, Valentine felt everything around him collapse. He had wanted to show her why he drank - was this is? To lose everyone that came into your life? She had been so desperate to see, said all it would cause is hurt.

"Lady Haliven," he spoke quietly, a very uncharacteristic wobble in his voice, "I hope you see now why alcohol is so very toxic, and I hope you've been put off it for life." He looked at the floor as he spoke, not wanting to see the look in their eyes, or to see them walk away. "Whoever in your life chose alcohol before you was very, very stupid, and yes, all it does is cause pain." He took a breath and looked at her for the briefest of moments, feeling the warrior in him turn away in disgust of what he had become. There was no fight left in him for this. "Thank you for your time, Lady. The help of a Healer has been a long time coming." He turned away, collecting bottles from various cupboards as he waited for them to leave him in his guilt, and what he hoped was the strength to overcome this obstacle, and actually take on Darkweir.