[PRP] The Art Of Antagonizing [Eloise + Lightner folks]

[Olivia Solace]

Eloise certainly seemed very excited when Allegro mentioned coming with him to ask permission of his father to go off and speak to her about what he was. He assumed it was a girl thing, considering Eloise was a girl. Perhaps she assumed that Hayden was single since she didn't see any mother around; she'd be right, of course, but he wasn't sure how comfortable he was now with introducing Eloise to Hayden, if only because he wasn't sure how the boys would react to a woman coming to meet their father.

Dismissing these feelings almost instantly, Allegro gave Eloise another smile and offered her his hand to grab so he could lead her to Hayden. His actions held no implications, it was mainly a habit of his, having to lead the two boys about in this manner on a daily basis. He was also concerned about losing her in the fray, even if it was only a short distance from where Eloise and Allegro stood to Hayden and the boys.

The fray of the busy day was picking back up again and Allegro knew that soon Hayden's shopping trip would be over and they'd return back to the Helena border. He turned to Eloise and commented, "We should hurry. I'm not sure how much more time dad will be out today shopping."  

[Ephemeral Hope]

Eloise beamed at the offered hand. She wasn't sure if he was offering it with means to lead her to his father, or if he was seeking some authoritative figure's contact while working his way through the crowd, but either way, she quickly slipped her hand into his, and even gave it a quick playful swing, before motioning with her other hand for him to lead the way.

Allegro quickly led them over to his father, and with each step they took towards the three boys, her false sense of growing confidence slipped a little further away. Oh, what was she doing? Going over to a grown man to ask if it was okay to steal one of his children away? What would she even say to him?

...Did she look acceptable?

Eloise wasn't always one to fuss with her appearance, but the idea of going up to someone with an obviously higher stature than her in the social ladder (near everyone was, to his credit...) made her stomach roll in a queasy and uncomfortable way. Would he banish her away?

She'd obviously have to go, if he did. And then she wouldn't have any more of her questions answered. Mentally, she could picture it. Him snatching Allegro's hand out of her own, and sending her away. Maybe even telling her mistress about her unacceptable behavior.

By the time they had made it up to the man, she'd worked herself into a tizzy, and she couldn't even bare to raise her head to look at him, thereby missing his initial reaction to her arrival. She worked her throat, trying to swallow around the lump that'd formed there. Finding it impossible, she stood there, head bowed, her free hand twisting the hem of her dress in her grasp, waiting for him to shoo her away.  

[Olivia Solace]

It didn't take long for Allegro to escort Eloise to where Hayden had been buying produce. Even though it felt like endless amounts of time had passed, it had really only been minutes. It was funny how time could trick a grouping of individuals so wrapped up in their business to think that copious amounts of time had passed when it hadn't, but it was no matter. Hayden had only now noticed that Allegro was on the quiet side and looked away from his produce hunting to look around for him, which ended up being perfect for Allegro as he had just arrived next to him with Eloise.

"Dad, this is Ms. Eloise Morrow. She has a bottle like the one that I came from," Allegro explained, his tone on the hushed side, loud enough for only the five of them to hear. Allegro and Hayden had always spoken openly about the events leading up to Allegro's emergence from the bottle with one another and the family, but they liked to keep it hushed in public. It was not because they felt people would think them crazy, because in all honesty they didn't care. They worried that the wrong people overhearing their conversation would lead to trouble, the kind in which Hayden knew he may not be able to save his children from.

Hayden looked at Eloise quietly for a moment, scanning over the woman before him who seemed to be growing quite nervous by the minute. Her clothes were a touch on the homely side, but she had a pretty face of porcelain skin, accented by dark green eyes and dark brown-black hair that helped play up her pale skin. Her small stature and timid displayed demeanor was cute to say the least, but he would not openly admit it to anyone. He was a single father and his priorities were right in front of him; those were the things Hayden needed to keep in mind.

Extending a hand to Eloise, Hayden gave her a warm smile, the kind only a lovingly devoted father held, "It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Morrow. I'm Mr. Hayden Lightner, and these are my sons, Cante, Benjamin, and you've seemed to have already met Allegro."

Both Cante and Benjamin stepped forward to Eloise and offered her a hello, though they were a little shy in doing so. Most of their acquaintances were elderly women within the neighborhood, or other single fathers. They were not used to being in the presence of a younger woman, especially one who could have potentially been their mother at one point and time. Sure, given their father's career they came in contact with many women who were young enough to be their mother's; however, they never spent much time in their company, having always found something else to occupy their time with while Hayden conducted his music lessons.

After the boys introduced themselves, Hayden smiled, a small gleam in his eyes as he addressed Eloise further. He was very excited about this meeting, and it was becoming more and more apparent, although his excitement was not over the fact that he was meeting a woman, which Eloise could easily misunderstand, but the fact there was a new person (especially one with a bottle like the one Allegro had emerged from) to ask questions to. His mind was already buzzing with potential questions for the woman.

"So Ms. Morrow, Allegro mentioned you had a bottle?" Hayden began, Allegro quickly tugging at his father's jacket sleeve with a small frown, "Yes?"

"Ms. Morrow wanted to know if she could talk to me about the bottle and myself. Is it ok if I join her?" Allegro asked, not meaning to cut his father off, but otherwise he might completely interrogate Eloise.

"Well, sure, that's no problem," Hayden began, looking from Allegro back to Eloise, "Though wouldn't it better if I was there as well, Allegro? There are things concerning this subject I could also answer for her."

Allegro nodded at this, as it was very true. Some questions Eloise had he might not be able to answer, especially concerning he was still within the bottle when Hayden and the family had initially found it. He turned to Eloise with a inquisitive look upon his face in light of his father's request, "Uhm, would that be alright with you Ms. Morrow?"  

[Ephemeral Hope]

If Eloise had to hazard a guess, she'd say that the walk from their previous corner to Allegro's father took them a grand total of...oh, say, three hours, or so. Intellectually, she knew this was not only improbably, but impossible. The little boy leading her by the hand moved much to quickly for that much time to have passed.

And then, as if time was slapping her in the face, the moment she was actually in front of the man, it seemed like that three hour long journey suddenly passed her by too quickly.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she heard Allergo make the introductions, but she was too busy trying to focus on not vomiting on the man in front of her. Her nerves were getting the best of her, and she could already feel the pinprick in the corners of her eyes, and she blinked furiously, trying to stop the impending tears that were a direct result of her stomach whirling.

Just as she blinked away most of the moisture in her eyes, a hand was suddenly thrust in her line of vision. A startled squeak left her lips as her eyes finally moved up from the ground to take in the man before her. He was a tanned fellow, with long hair, and the most fascinating orbs she'd ever seen. She could instantly feel her blood rushing back up to her face as she stared at his eyes a moment longer than was polite before she could finally force her eyes to look down at the hand offered to her.

Gulping audibly, she placed her small hand in his larger one, before taking another tentative look at his face as she shook his hand. His smile was warm, inviting, and made her feel a tad bit safer. He wasn't shooing her off to Lady Sara-Ann's yet, despite her gawking. That was a good sign right? Imagining it was, she allowed herself another look over him.

He looked a bit older than her, but not so old that they couldn't have been friends, had social standings been different. His hair was pulled back, in a neater fashion than she could have ever managed, and his clothes only furthered her impression of him- given by his son Allegro. He was a dashing man, that was certain.

She licked her lips nervously, not really wanting to open her mouth in front of this man. What was that adage her mother always used to tell her? 'Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.' But he was speaking to her and she really had no choice that she could see, but to respond.

Taking a calming breath she began. "It's...It's a pleasure to meet you as well, uhmmm...Mister Lightner...uhmmm...Mister Benjamin, Mister...Cante..." She released the hand she had placed in Mister Lightner's hand and offered a feeble courtesy to the three of them.

The boys were much more adorable when they weren't trying to steal from their father. They were beautiful, shy as they were, and Eloise had a feeling Mrs. Haden was as beautiful, if not more so, than Lady Sara-Ann.

She was just about to stand up and flash the best smile she could muster when she realized her faux pas. She'd never addressed Allegro properly, had she? Her mind raced back through their meeting and she knew, without a doubt, she'd simply called him 'Allegro'.

Her eyes darted to his, wide and panic stricken. However, before she could open her mouth to apologize- or something. The conversation pushed on without her.

"I...uhmmm...yes...I...do?" It came out more as a question than anything, as she once again selfconsciously hugged her basket closer to her, her eyes darting around at the people that stood by them. The man's sudden eagerness had her worried. Would he try to take her bottle from her? Was this a mistake?

Another part of her brain wondered if the poor man was just so starved for adult interaction that perhaps he thought she was a suitable conversationalist. She shoved that thought away instantly, it was laughable at best.

And then he was letting his child go with her to dinner, and suggesting he go with them. And Oh, no, no, no, no!

She only had a few more coins left. How was she to afford, now, three children and an adult male? There was no way. There wasn't enough money! That sick feeling was coming back, and she was sure her realization was written all over her face, so she attempted to smooth over her expression.

"I...uhm..." How would she word this? She had to find the way to expression her problem. Use your words, Eloise! "I...uhm...dont see a problem with...that." Stop using your words, Eloise! Stop using your words "We were...just going to get...uhm...food." She finished pathetically, and mentally sighing in utter defeat. Now what the son-of-a-puppy was she going to do?