A Small surprise (Closed)

The normally comfortable carriage was one of the single most stifling transits in her history but it was not the heated seat or the warm winter clothing that made it feel this way. It seemed to the naga that the coach was simply much too small to contain all her excitement for what was to come.

The curtains had been pulled shut even before she got in and Cassiopeia was given strict instructions not to open them. It was as if what she may see out the window was a present to be unwrapped at just the right moment.

Of course to look at her, you would never guess how keen she was to arrive. The youngest Du Couteau was a picture of noble grace as the carriage hastened along towards its destination. Not a single feature fell out of place except for the occasional flippant twitch of her tail.

Unfortunately the view of the coach’s interior did nothing to pass the time and soon she was left with naught to do but twiddle her claws and make conjectures. What could it be? The chemist had lavish taste and a mind as sharp as one of her siblings’ blades. Perhaps it was a dinner on the pier? A private concert? No… no surely he must have come up with something they had not done before.

And to do all this a day early!

It was a play that Cassiopeia had not seen coming. So far, the chemist had shown himself to be one of few men who could fool her not just once but with some degree of consistency. The effect it had was infuriating but also just the tiniest bit stimulating at the same time. After all, who didn’t like a challenge every once in awhile?

Immediately she fell back into the moment as she felt the carriage beginning to slow. The very instant it came to a halt, the Lamia was ready to make her exit. Unfortunately decorum dictated she must wait, so wait she did.

The chemist was looking excellent as usual but at his words, her eyes focused on what was behind him. The marvelous air ship was as impressive as any she had ever seen. It hovered expectantly in the distance, beckoning them both toward the nights adventure.

“A zeppelin?” She gasped, manicured claw fluttering above her heart in shock. “Oh Singed my dear man, it is positively to die for!” Cassiopeia praised his efforts before placing her hand in his and carefully exiting the carriage.

“You are too much! You needn’t have gone to all this trouble for me.” As she paused, the look of feigned guilt over his extravagance gave way to a wicked fang tipped grin. “However I do so love that you did! You have outdone yourself spectacularly.” Seemingly on impulse born in the excitement of the moment, she raised herself up just high enough to press her lips to his, rewarding him with a kiss in case the praise hadn’t quite been enough.

“Nonsense you sweet man.  I think it is positively perfect!” Cassiopeia replied, winding about in a slow circle.  The room itself was small yes, but the windows offered such a view that it was not difficult to see why he wanted to get inside before the sunset was lost. With a coy glance over her shoulder at Singed, the lamia began gliding toward one of the floor to ceiling glass panes, hips swaying in an unspoken invitation for him to follow.

Three hundred and sixty five degrees of Noxian sunset and a sunrise in Zaun no less, there was only one thing it could mean. The chemist designed to have her as a guest at his home. What marvelous luck! … Or was it?
 

Inwardly, her concerns were mounting. Singed’s home was also rumored to be his laboratory. The lamia’s delight at being there herself was pushed from her mind as the slightest tinge of worry formed between her manicured brows. The deceiver was watching, always watching. It would not do for her to be revealing things best kept hidden. What to do?


Feeling the Chemist’s approach she pushed the problem aside for the time being. She had the entire zeppelin ride to find a solution.

The sunset bathed the city in gold and red. No part of it stood out more prominently than Darkbourne hold. A flock of birds flew up the spire, presumably paying homage to the decaying sun in all its glory as it lost the fight against the horizon. In one last brilliant flash of light, it dipped down, leaving nothing behind but a ripple glinting off the distant sea.

“I could not have put it better myself darling and one can never have too much perspective.” The lamia replied, looking up at him from beneath her lashes. “To see the city from on high like this has a way of making even the worst parts shine like little gems.” Cassiopeia leaned against his chest and fell into watchful silence for a moment.

Inwardly her thoughts had turned to far more sinister things. The man beside her was all she could have asked for and more, wealth, influence and a mind that would never leave her bored. Yet, if she knew the Mad Chemist (and she did) he would not be going to such lengths while expecting no pay off. In fact, she would have been doing the same thing he was, if only she had thought of it first.

Smiling to herself she spared another glance up at her companion. Thinking once again how much of a shame it was that they had not met under different circumstances. Her sigh was one of complete contentment on the surface, but beneath it was a longing for happier conditions. It seemed their time would come to an end far too quickly, no matter how long it took.

Silent for much longer then she wished, the lamia perked up with a delighted gasp and then pointed a manicured talon down at the moat surrounding the city. “Is that your work there?  The defenses you spoke of in one of your letters.  It is quite impressive.”

Something was off. Cassiopeia knew the subtle signs, they were signs that she was struggling to keep from her own features. The real question was wither or not to point it out.

After watching him for several seconds she gently broached the subject. “A gold coin for your thoughts?” She asked him. “Better yet I think a glass of wine will certainly do us both some good. Don’t you?” The lamia glanced around, as if she was expecting a servant to appear out of thin air and handle this problem. When none seemed forthcoming she hid her dismay behind a smile and slithered over to the small refrigeration unit to get it herself.

Graceful hands slipped the bottle from the shelf and set it atop the counter. Cassiopeia stared at it for a long moment; she had seen this done a thousand times. How difficult could it really be?

A cursory glance did not reveal one of those swirly things the help always used to make the bottles open and so she took the talon of her pointer finger and thrust it into the cork instead. Slowly and carefully she spun the bottle with her other hand, finally with a little pop, the cork was pulled free.

Cassiopeia giggled; genuinely proud of herself for figuring out the simple task, for it was one she had never in her life had to do for herself. With the wine glasses in one hand and the bottle in the other, she slithered back over to the windows. “Why don’t you pour and then tell me all about whatever is troubling your brilliant mind.”

After listening to his explanation the lamia was even more curious than she had been before. “Truly you have a dizzying intellect.” She responded, letting the matter drop as they made their way to the table.


Cassiopeia leaned in, sniffing the aroma that rose up in a puff of steam from the newly revealed plate. Her serpentine tongue darted out for a fraction of a second to taste the air before declaring, “It smells divine.”

“I actually think this will be the first time I have ever tried such a dish. It is from Ionia you say?” Azure eyes flickered up and down his form as she lowered herself into the chair he held out. The irony of the Mad Chemists love for Ionian cuisine was not lost on her; at first she was surprised that he could even obtain such a thing but then again very little seemed to elude his reach when he wanted it. That was part of what made him so attractive. Ambition always looked so good on a man.

“So tell me of your time in there.” She asked once they were settled in. Cassiopeia dismissed the immediate thought of the more macabre times with a wave of her hand “I already know of your service to the military of course but what else occupied your time?” A wicked smile curved her lips up at the corners; perhaps the chemist would be so kind as to give her another little gift.

“Do you think you will acquire any new tastes while in the services of our Grand General?" She inquired, one brow cocked in intrigue as she took as sip of wine and waited for his reply.

“I see.” Cassiopeia murmured between delicate spoonfuls of soup. “I never would have pictured you tending the wounded. Though I am sure you were excellent at it.”

As she listened to him speak about his time in the war, the lamia was fully aware that he had glossed over one question in particular. She knew Singed had heard it; there was the slightest narrowing of his eyes when she had voiced it to him. That along with his choice to diplomatically turn the conversation toward another topic spoke volumes.   An unanswered question was every bit as informative as an answer given, sometimes even more so.

Could it be that the mystery that was the Chemist is slowly unraveling? Oh my, what a lucky girl she would be if that was the case. The notion left her staring at the man across the table with a sultry smirk.
 “You are just full of surprises tonight.”

When dinner was done, they brought out a fresh bottle of wine and turned down the lighting to better see the stars as they traversed across the sky. It was a magnificent sight.   Music would have been lovely to complete the moment, perhaps a chance to dance again here midst the stars.  But then, in order to dance one needed legs did they not?  Cassiopeia sighed wistfully as she stared out the windows but then,  "A shooting star!"  Swiftly she spun around to stand behind Singed.  Graceful hands slipped over his shoulders and she pointed out the window to the streak of light that now flew across the sky.

  "You know what one does with a shooting star don't you?"  If the chemist shook his head no, Cassiopeia would bring her lips close to his ear and whisper as if she was revealing a masterful secret that had been kept from him, that he must now make a wish.