A Tale of Ice and Fire // Modern AU (Oliver)

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Yassia’s smugness of having won round one of the chocolate war was short lived with all the chaos that ensued in the following minutes. The students were using the hubbub to their own advantage of course, craning their necks to get a clear view on what was happening, and talking amongst each other, probably commenting and cracking jokes. Her uncle would re-establish order quickly though, and without much yelling. He was a real person that commanded respect without even calling for it, when he spoke everyone listened, some because they feared his strictness, some because they simply respected him as superior. Everyone trying to give him the runaround would realize soon what consequences that would have. And yet they didn’t fear him, they just didn’t like him much either, but Yassia knew Kay didn’t care. He often said he was being payed to manage the school and keep up order, not to be the well-liked grandfather.

What she wouldn’t have expected maybe and as such took Yassia a little by surprise was how distinctively the young duke tried to take the blame from Bricks. The deputy headmaster was famous for his ability to cause just such scenes like the spilling of chocolate, but most of it truly wasn’t his fault, he just had an uncanny talent to be at the wrong place at the wrongest time imaginable. It would be easy to just to let him take full blame, lean back and enjoy his embarrassment, and it was impressive and highly likeable that Duke Oliver did NOT follow this easy path, but took even more blame than he even had to. This had not been his fault either, such things simply would happen as long as humans didn’t develop eyes in the back of their heads. Duke Oliver had not seen Bricks and Bricks had been too occupied to get his mug across the floor WITHOUT spilling it he hadn’t seen the hand coming towards him, catching him across the face. Yassia’s eyes involuntarily flickered towards the duke and she had to smile.

In hindsight no one could tell who exactly had started, but suddenly someone was whistling and clapping and soon all students joined in the wooting and laughing, cheering for the duke and their beloved Bricks alike. They had given an excellent show after all, and the students felt more entertained than on any other important visit before. First the duke’s speech and now he was being reduced to nothing but an ordinary man soused with hot chocolate – it was just perfect in their eyes.
Sir Kay let it happen for a few moments, with his usually facial expressing set in unreadable stone. Not even Yassia could tell this time, if he was annoyed about this unseemly behavior, or amused. He just held up his hand and said: “That’s enough. You might be entertained by it, but this is no reason to cause mayhem in these halls. May I remind you that one of our school principles is ‘dignity’? Act on it, please.”

Yassia was already about to turn and lead the way towards her office, when she saw what Oliver intended to do behind her back. Her fingers twitched and itched to slap his, like a mother would do finding her child’s hands in the cookie jar, but of course she could not act like that in public. It might just cause another scandal, and this time with her in the main role, she could really live without that. So… should she just let him get away with it? No, that was unthinkable! This would remain HER chocolate, or if she couldn’t finish it, at least she shouldn’t, either!
Som instead of slapping his fingers, she reached forward and TOOK his hand, guiding it away from her mug and gently tugging at it, as if asking him to follow her. She hoped it would go mainly unnoticed, since their hands were partly hidden by a decorative flower pot. “I daresay, burns should be treated RIGHT away, Sir, don’t you think? Come on, my office is not far, just up the stairs.”

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

The cheering and hooting that followed the incident made Oliver turn his head towards the students. He gave them a smile and a small laugh, but then also placed a finger on his lips as if telling them to dial it down a notch. He wasn't being a killjoy. He just knew, having been part of the students who hooted before at visiting dignitaries, how it would end. Sir Kay was not headmaster extraordinaire for nothing. And sure enough, a few minutes after, Sir Kay had restored peace back into the momentary chaos simply by holding his hand up and speaking calmly but firmly to everyone. His speech was more or less the same as well. The headmaster almost always cites the school principles in his little lectures or reprimands, as if the students badly needed reminding for forgetting themselves. Oliver shook his head in amusement. Some things never change.

Yassia's mug was sitting there pretty and comfortably oblivious (or probably not) of the ongoing battle for the hot chocolate contained therein. Oliver should have snagged it as soon as he had spied it. He shouldn't have waited, trying to see if she was watching or not. He had wasted time, very precious time. And in that precious time, Yassia had seen his hand about to reach out to the mug. Oliver had expected her to smack his hand away, give his hand quite a beating. Or he also expected her to beat him to the punch, or to the hot chocolate, by quickly grabbing it herself. What he didn't expect was her snatching his own hand, the one that was outstretched to take the mug away, and pulling him towards the direction of her office.

While that was totally unexpected, it wasn't unpleasant at all. He swore he felt a jolt of electricity there somewhere just as their palms touched, but he could just be imagining it. He may have rested his hand on the small of her back today, caressed her forehead when the accident had happened back then, and even carried her himself into his car and into the hospital...but this right here, this was so nice, mainly because she was not unconscious and then because the initiative had completely come from her.

"Yes, please lead the way," he replied as seriously as he could, trying to keep his mouth from opening into a wide grin at how totally interesting this day was turning out to be. As Yassia was leading him away from the hot chocolate, away from the platform and away from the crowd of students, Oliver tightened his hold on her hand. Partly because he didn't want to let go just yet, and partly for the sheer pleasure of...well, holding her hand.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Yassia could see how happy the praise of the students made the young duke, and she wondered why he cared so much. What was it to him, if a bunch of kids were delighted by the change he brought into their dull school day? He must really love this place to bits, judging by the glinting in his eyes. It made Yassia compare his attitude with her own, concerning school. Sure, she had some fond memories of the time there, and one or two of her classmates she still considered her friends, but that was it, really. She had far more fond memories of her time at hotel mangement college, where she had shared the same hopes and dreams with people of her age. Not everyone of them had been as prosperous and ambitious an heir as she had been, but they had already fought their little teasing battles as to who would be taking over the world with the company they would be working for. The Dyfrène Holding had been high on all their lists, and Yassia had tried to do her best to do this role as the favourite justice.

A little too late she returned from this walk down memory lane into the imminent present, and as such had no way of telling what the last few seconds had been about. She was still holding Duke Oliver’s hand, which was a little weird, concerning the circumstances. Hadn’t she merely wanted to tug at it, to make him stay away from her chocolate? So why wasn’t she letting go? And why wasn’t HE letting go? Well, that question was answered by the mischievous glinting she could detect in his eyes as she led him away, eager to get this done with. He was undoubtedly preying on her indecisiveness right there and kept a firm hold on her hand, even as she tried to wriggle out of his grasp, not wanting to be seen holding hands with him in front of the whole school’s populace. What impression would that give please?! And what kind of impression did HE want to give? He was practically hauled off like a child by his mother, was that really how he wanted to be viewed as? And why didn’t she try harder for heaven’s sake? She didn’t WANT to hold his hand… right? Even though she practically could feel every inch of his skin on hers tingling like frictional electricity… no, this needed to STOP! She wasn’t going to hurl herself at him, just because he had that certain smile and wink! She wasn’t such a naïve girl… not anymore. She had learned her lesson and learned it good!

They soon were out of the room, and just as they reached the stairs, Yassia decided that enough was enough. Gently, she increased the tugging of her hand to show him that she wanted to free her hand and remarked softly: “You’re a grown up man, Sir, I’m sure you can manage these stairs on your own. My office is just up there, the third door to the right, if you remember.” To show that she wasn’t really angry at him or anything, just trying to draw a line, she added with a smile: “I have yet to ask my uncle who managed the uniforms and all those little things before me. Maybe you can give me that answer?”
Then she turned and started to ascend the stairs with quick, agile steps. Meanwhile in the refectory, Sir Kay was frowning at the door the two young people had just left through. He had seen their joined hands all too well, and he hoped for his niece’s sake that she knew what she could get herself into. Maybe he would have to have a talk with her tonight after all…

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

Oliver was enjoying this far too much that he thought with amusement that this must be illegal or unlawful, at least in RAA. Everything that had happened since he had stepped out of his Jaguar was not one that the Duke had expected in this visit. From meeting Yassia again, to bantering quite freely with her, to their wager on the hot chocolate, to the accident with Bricks, and up until this little trip to her office with their hands locked together---never in his wildest imagination had he expected them to happen. And Oliver had quite an imagination. He wondered what else would be waiting for him this day. Actually, he was so excited to find out he almost wished that time would stand still, that he didn't have to leave so soon to attend another engagement somewhere else.

His amusement was short-lived, however, when Yassia seemed to have caught up with his little show of holding onto her hand for as long as he possibly could. So reluctantly, he let go and held onto the railings just to give them something to do. Otherwise, he might not be able to stop himself from grabbing her hand again or something else. He didn't like the weird sense of loss that he felt when he let go. "What exactly do you do around here other than take care of uniforms and greet guests?" he asked, ignoring her little rebuff. Conversation was good, Oliver told himself as he followed Yassia up the stairs. It would keep his mind and hands from wandering where they're not supposed to. Truth be told though, he was not as interested about her duties and responsibilities at RAA than he was about getting into that room and just finally having her all to himself. To talk, of course.

"Madam Catherine Fisher used to do that during my time. I take it she has retired?" he asked, now curious but still a tad bit impatient as it seemed to take forever to walk up the stairs. He tried not to get distracted by the lovely view of her retreating back, her slim waist, and the dainty curve of her bottom as she walked up ahead of him. When they finally reached the door to her office, Oliver looked around them and noticed not a soul. It seemed everybody was still enjoying their hot chocolate at the refectory or are already heading down to the gymnasium. "I'm really glad to see you again, Yassia. I'm happy to see that you're doing great after...after the accident," he finally remarked, somehow feeling apprehensive at bringing the subject back up first. After all, he had no idea how she was feeling after all that, of him leaving her to his friends.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

At least they were now getting themselves on a normal level of conversation, instead of all these… disturbing things. What on earth really had possessed her in taking his hand? She should have known he would take advantage of that and not just a bit! Good Heavens, what ideas he might be getting now! He surely hadn’t shown himself averse to flirts on the side, if you could believe the yellow press for once. And she REALLY didn’t want to go down that road again! Her guts already squirmed and hurt in shame when she just thought back on what they had made of her not long ago. How they had pounced down on her like vulltures, spreading these horrible pictures all over the country and even adjoining ones! People she didn’t even know had thought themselves able to compare her to the ‘state of deterioration’ in the general youth of today… and all that for one misguided night out… what they would make of her, if she was seen with Duke Oliver she didn’t even want to think of!

"What exactly do you do around here other than take care of uniforms and greet guests?" it was a good question indeed, one Yassia actually would like to pass on to her uncle sometimes. But she knew she wouldn’t get the answer she desired, he probably would just growl into his ice-grey beard and change subjects. Or not say anything at all, that was even more likely.
“Let’s try to put it that way”, she started, looking back with a grin while her hands fiddled for the key to her office door. “I’m the emergency girl. I took over the vacancy that had just occurred and ever since that I’ve become something like a young mother-hen for the students. Big sister maybe more like. I treat little wounds that they don’t want to bother the doc and nurse with, and, like you witnessed, if my uncle wants me to greet the guests, I greet the guests. It’s nothing I haven’t learned before, anyway.”

The set of keys rattled as she searched for the right one, and she was momentarily so occupied with that specific task she almost missed his tell-taling remark. Wow. He was tackling the subject even before they had entered the relative privacy of her office. He must be either desperate to get it off his chest… or she was reading far too much into this again. In any way, she nearly dropped the keys in surprise and let go a short Catalan curse, before she caught herself. “Sorry, that was not directed at you…” That excuse sounded lame even in her own head, good grief, why was she even voicing such things? She should have just kept silent! But then, it was better than saying nothing at all, and it also gave her a little time to think over a reply. Finally the door opened and she beckoned him through, closing the door behind him and leaning against it, also a little for support. How to best go at this? She couldn’t very well tell him about all her crazy thoughts in those days at hospital, when she had daydreamed about her mysterious savior… No, of course not, that was ridiculous!

”You could have seen that earlier”, she remarked maybe a little too testily. “But then again, maybe I should be grateful you at least weren’t a ‘hit-and-run’ guy. Only a ‘hit-take-care-of-then-run’ guy.”

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

"Those are quite big shoes to fill," Oliver remarked as he listened to her outline her supposedly duties and responsibilities around the school. If he didn't know any better, her uncle probably just took her in and find her something that would keep her busy while she was under the school's roof. What brought her here though was another matter that Oliver was only now just starting to think about. Sir Kaye hadn't exactly mentioned having a beautiful niece before or in any of their correspondence leading to this day. Where did she come from? And will she be staying and working here for good? Oliver was suddenly dying to know. So when she said something about having already learned all these things before, Oliver couldn't help but seize the opportunity. "You're quite adept at what you do, guest and student relations and such. Did you study it back at university?" he asked as matter-of-factly as he could, trying to mask his growing curiosity.

His eyebrows shot in mixed confusion and amusement when Yassia let out another foreign string of words that made Oliver wish he knew that language. Her mother tongue, it was clear to see now, was not English. Knowing what language she was speaking would definitely help narrow down his guesses as to where she really came from. "May I ask what it means then?" He couldn't help himself. He should just as easily shrug it off, but somehow he wanted to know, wanted to endear himself to her as much as he possibly could with what little time they were given.

He followed her into her office as she invited him in, and proceeded to walk towards a nearby window. He looked out at the winter wonderland outside and couldn't help but wish for a snow storm that could trap him inside the school for an indefinite period of time. But he was bolted out of his little reverie when she spoke a tad bit derisively in response to his earlier remark. He couldn't really blame her. He practically ran her over and didn't even stay long to at least apologize. "I hadn't meant to run, believe me. I stayed for as long as I could, but you were unconscious for quite a while. I had to leave the country for some important affairs overseas." Of course, she was already discharged from the hospital when he had returned from his trip. His friends only got her name, and Oliver had clung to that name as closely as he could. He never really expected to see her again, so this was all a very welcome surprise, one that he was still quite elated to be experiencing right now. "I'm really sorry. You disappeared as soon as you left the hospital. I tried to find you, but I realized that maybe you didn't want to be found...by me, no less."

Belatedly feeling the wetness of the hot chocolate down his back again, he gestured at his shirt and made a rather sheepish smile at Yassia. Then after assuming that she had understood what he meant, he proceeded to unbutton his shirt. Crazy, but it didn't occur to him at all to turn his back from her or something as he started to take his shirt off. Not that he was doing it on purpose, everything that had happened today was quite surreal than they already are, and Oliver felt like his head was just in the clouds, floating, not taking hold, just enjoying this wonderful moment with Yassia.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Apparently there was a difference between being lauded in general and being lauded by a specific person. Yassia had never known that difference before, but right now she experienced it will all possible might. Being the good and ambitious student she was, the high society girl with great prospects, she had been used to praise literally all her life. The teachers would laud her grades and her efforts, the interviewers trying to charm her were lauding her looks and her ways (the latter of course having changed rather abruptly thanks to her uncle’s and cousin’s ploy), and she had all accepted it with more or less indifference, but now, when it really mattered, she couldn’t quite muster the same amount of indifference. It was completely illogical of course, since his opinion about her should mean nothing to her. And it didn’t… of course it didn’t… right?

This simple question confused her so much, she didn’t even think twice about keeping her guard up in her answer to his inquiry. It was a stupid thing to do, since every little detail could make her current residence known to the wrong people, but somehow it was out before she could stop herself.
“Yeah, I went to an hotel management school, and learned things like that from scratch: Organizing stocks, running an environment with many ‘guests’ and smiling and saying the right things to visiting celebs.”, she finished with a smirk in his direction. “That’s probably why my uncle trusted me with not scaring you off right away.”

Oh dear… she really didn’t want to be called out on swearing! It wasn’t very polite after all, but then, she had just been so frustrated and nervous that she let it all out on the keys. If this was any important training game, with one of her tutors acting as the guest, she would have been getting a desastrous grade now. Never lose your poise!
”What would you do with foreign swear words?” she therefore asked back. “Better use your own so everyone understands, right?”

Once inside, she listened to his apology, and found herself even believing him. The yellow press had told her after all where he had went off to… but sadly also what he had been up to. Instead of working as reliable patron for some charity, he had rather passed his time with questionable skimpily clad company. Hoping he would not catch that slightly deprecative flickering in her eyes, she only nodded. “I found out later. So… you’re excused. I’m not after your license or anything. Let’s just forget it, okay?”
Forget it… yeah that was probably best for them both…
Then he started to undress quite shamelessly, and Yassia suddenly realized she absolutely had to get that burn ointment and his new shirt – but not before she had gotten quite a good view of course. Dammit, why was he so painfully bordering on perfection?! That was hardly fair!

Hoping he had not seen the red tint on her cheeks as she turned away, she went into the adjoining uniform room, calling back over her shoulders: “You could say that I didn’t want to be found. But that didn’t necessarily have something to do with you.” Once again she had said more than she wanted in her confusion and she bit her lip. If he had heard about the scandal at all, would he be able to piece the puzzle together already? Hopefully he hadn’t paid attention to the continental yellow press… but then… he HAD been in the south for that charity thing…