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Post by Iroh on Mar 17, 2011 20:28:21 GMT -5
((OOC: Suspend the 250+ word count for this thread my dear?))
Zuko carried Raisa down the emtpy corridor in his arms, both of them still laughing and smiling. The wedding had gone remarkably well, better than probably either of them had suspected, and it's good mood had followed them out of the ballroom after their last guests had left. That, and the fire wine had done both of them good at easing their nerves.
"You know Rai, I don't know why I never noticed it before, but you are an incredible, incredible woman. You're intelligent, talented, one heck of a dancer, a phenomenal leader, absolutely stunning," He said, pushing the door to his chamber open and carrying her inside." And you know the best part about you?" Zuko tossed Raisa onto his bed and leaned forward over her, his hands on either side of her shoulders and his body pressed to hers. "You're all mine."
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Post by Raisa/Darkmoon on Mar 17, 2011 20:41:46 GMT -5
((OOC: Agreed. Though please keep this thread... um... under control. I know you have it listed as mature, but we don't need a repeat of Av2 with a certain set of rulers...))
Raisa laughed as she bounced on the plush bed, though her breath caught at Zuko's nearness. That insanely addicting heat sparked through her again, making her dizzy. "I belong to no one but myself, Zuko," she scoffed playfully, pushing gently against his stomach with her foot. "You certainly won't be the one to tame me, even if such a thing were possible. Though I'll agree that the rest is all very true."
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Post by Iroh on Mar 17, 2011 21:21:24 GMT -5
((OOC: bwahahahaha yeah no kidding Tink. Nooooo more of that happening.))
Zuko raised an eyebrow at her response. Raisa was much more relaxed than he'd ever known her to be. She hadn't had much wine, he'd been careful about that, but still... this was not the girl he'd argued with in the North only a month ago. Deciding to test the boundaries, Zuko carefully took her shoeless foot from his stomach in one hand, sliding it over her ankle, up between the heavy folds of fabric and resting on the back of her slender thigh. "And what if I tied you up in here, then would you belong to me?"
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Post by Raisa/Darkmoon on Mar 17, 2011 21:56:30 GMT -5
"Zuko!" Raisa shrieked, whaping him in the head with a pillow. She struggled to scoot further from him on the bed, getting tangled in the skirts of the dress that (as she had argued with her tailor numerous times) outweighed her. Laughing and giving up her escape, Raisa sat up to face Zuko, tossing the pillow aside and running her fingers through his mussed hair to straighten it out again. "No, Zuko. Not for all the world would I ever belong to you or anyone. It is nothing against you, it's just what I believe. Everyone owns themselves - that one freedom should never be taken away. Which is why, as much as I am beginning to like you, I agreed to this marriage. It will help my people keep their freedom."
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Post by Iroh on Mar 17, 2011 22:04:39 GMT -5
She was very fast. He didn't even see the pillow coming at his head until it was close enough for him to see the individual stitches. He laughed and shook his head, stopping short when Raisa's fingers found their way into his hair. He took her hands in his and pulled her close again, wrapping his arms around her tiny waist. "And that is one of the things I admire most about you, Raisa. Honestly I hope to be half the ruler you are some day, you're the finest this world has seen. But even more than that you are a truly beautiful girl, inside and out." Zuko kissed her gently, pulling her off the bed. "Come on, let's get you out of that thing before I lose my bride to her own dress."
Taking her hand, Zuko brought Raisa to a changing screen in a corner of his room, a night gown for her already laid out. He spun her around and began undoing the delicate buttons down the back of her dress. "Don't worry, I'm not going to tear your gown off and turn into an animal." He reassured her, "But I do know from my sister how much of a pain formal dresses can be and thought you'd like help. Stop me if I'm wrong."
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Post by Raisa/Darkmoon on Mar 17, 2011 22:37:32 GMT -5
Fire. Heat and power. Zuko's kiss dazed Raisa momentarily, her head didn't stop swimming until he had started wrestling with her buttons. Well, wrestle with them is what she would have done, though Zuko seemed quite proficient at the task. "No, it's fine, I trust you. Thank you." She clutched the top of her dress so it wouldn't fall, and when Zuko finished, she stepped behind the changing screen and let the gown slip to her ankles. Raisa stretched, glad to be rid of the heavy thing, and slipped into the night gown Zuko had provided. Red, of course, and silk, it was thin and fitted and stopped just shy of her knees.
She marched out from behind the screen, arms crossed. "Really, Zuko, you felt the need to put me in something so conservative?" she teased, slightly self conscious and knowing her strong build was probably filling out the gown more than the slender Fire Nation women for which it was made. "I don't suppose you have one to match?"
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Post by Iroh on Mar 17, 2011 22:46:04 GMT -5
While Raisa changed, Zuko tugged off his own cloak and dress shirt, kicked his boots off, and wiped the ash from his brow. He heard Raisa behind him and turned around beginning to laugh - which was choked off as soon as he saw her. Zuko gawked for a long moment before walking up to her. "I'm surprised a shameless little thing like you cares," he teased, washing her mark off and removing her circlet. "But if you'd like, you're welcome to any of my clothes. My shirts will be much too big on you, though that's probably exactly the idea."
Zuko sat in an armchair and pulled Raisa onto his lap, removing the jeweled hair pins one by one and letting her hair fall freely over her shoulders. "So tell me, this consort of yours... is he anything to you?"
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Post by Raisa/Darkmoon on Mar 17, 2011 23:04:46 GMT -5
Raisa fought not to stare, though she quickly lost. It was hard not to, when he was standing in only slacks and his uncle had obviously done very well at keeping him in excellent physical form. After a moment, she was mercifully able to blush without being seen as she was pulled to his lap with her back to him. She played with the curls as they fell over her shoulders, her mind wandering, until Zuko's question. Raisa went rigid and defensive, thinking quickly and responding with a question of her own. "Would you like to tell me why I'm wearing a gown that used to belong to Mei?" A stab in the dark, but they both had a past and secrets, none of which she felt were necessary to share for their marriage to move forward.
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Post by Iroh on Mar 17, 2011 23:10:34 GMT -5
"Hey, hey, alright. Don't get upset with me, it was only a question." Zuko said gently, sliding his arms around her frame and pulling her back onto him. Obviously, he'd struck a nerve. And she had, too, bringing up his recent ex and guessing correctly that the gown she now wore was originally meant to be a gift for Mei. So they each had significant others in their past, why wouldn't they? He decided not to press the subject - it wasn't important, anyway - though made a mental note to keep an eye out for the man named Velox with which he would compete for Raisa's heart.
"Raisa, darling, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you." He nuzzled against her neck, kissing a line from her collar bone up to her ear and back down over her shoulder. "Forgive me?"
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Post by Raisa/Darkmoon on Mar 17, 2011 23:17:44 GMT -5
Without meaning to, Raisa's head fell back onto Zuko's shoulder and she melted into his kissed. Her hands clenched the arm rests of the chair and her legs curled in under her on Zuko's lap. She twisted until she lay facing him, her head against his neck. She closed her eyes against the fireworks going on behind them, taking a deep breath to steady her spinning head. Zuko smelled like heat and lightning, which only made her more light headed. "You're forgiven..." she mumbled against him skin, relishing the pulsing heat from the fire just underneath it. Raisa rested there for a long minute before reaching up and twisting her fingers through Zuko's hair, pulling his head to face her. "Though you are an evil, evil man."
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Post by Iroh on Mar 18, 2011 19:40:05 GMT -5
As Raisa twisted into him, Zuko looped his arms around her back and under legs, pulling her tighter to him. "Evil, maybe, but a hell of a lot of fun." He bit her lower lip and ran a hand through her hair, daring her to fight back.
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Post by Raisa/Darkmoon on Mar 21, 2011 13:55:01 GMT -5
A chill went up Raisa's spine. Zuko was, as always, completely intoxicating. She felt herself slipping back into that wonderful mix of heat and power and pleasure. Fire was such a seductive element, and Zuko amplified its effects more than anyone had a right to, or that she knew was possible. Without even a moment's hesitation, she melted into his strong embrace, returning his kiss with desire and need. She ran her hands up his sculpted stomach and chest, wrapping them around his neck.
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Post by Iroh on Mar 21, 2011 21:49:28 GMT -5
Zuko returned Raisa's passion without hesitation, his fingers sliding around her tiny frame and picking her up. He walked over to the bed, kissing her lips, her neck, her shoulders. Laying her down gently, Zuko moved carefully on top of her, twining his hands through hers and her hair. All the world was Raisa, Raisa and her skin and her breath and her bright, bright eyes. Zuko wanted to cherish her, to protect her, to keep her to himself, to help her, to please her...
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Post by Raisa/Darkmoon on Mar 21, 2011 21:56:37 GMT -5
Raisa was being smothered in the absolute best way by the fire and the power Zuko held. She didn't even protest when she suddenly found herself back on his bed - which, considering she always found something to complain about, was shocking even to her. She let herself get lost in his caress without inhibition, until one startling thought entered her mind that made her jolt, knocking into the Fire Lord.
"Zuko!" She cried, suddenly terrified of the real world just outside his door. "Zuko, what are we doing? What if this isn't right? I mean, I know that we married for our nations, but it was still an arranged marriage... I don't want to take away your freedom by making this seem like something more than it is, I just..." In all honesty, Raisa knew that she could very easily come to love the Fire Lord. He was handsome, strong, powerful, honest - everything she needed in a perfect blend. And even though she was kicking herself as she spoke for stopping him, Raisa still didn't want Zuko to regret anything that happened between them, no matter what. "I... I'll be honest with you, Zuko. I... care about you. And... and I want this. But..."
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Post by Iroh on Mar 21, 2011 22:03:24 GMT -5
Zuko jumped at Raisa's outcry, holding himself up off of her. He was terrified he'd hurt her, or pushed her past her comfort zone. When she spoke, though, Zuko almost could have laughed. Raisa was so much like her element - strong, wise, giving, and entirely too easy to read if one simply took the time to stop and listen. He knew probably before his bride that she was falling for him, and that she felt as he did. He could have told her not to worry. He could have told her that he was falling in love with her, too, and that he wanted things between them to grow just as much as she did. He could have told her that he would stop everything, and only do as she wished if that was what it took to ease her anxiety.
Instead, Zuko only lay back down on Raisa, ran a hand through her soft hair and across her cheek, and kissed the tip of her nose. "Rai, do you trust me?"
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