Dove listened with keen interest as Arven spoke of his Mongolia adventures. It almost felt like she was there as she listened. His next words were somehow unexpected. Dove supposed that with how close they had become, she probably should have.

"I would allow it," Dove said. But would he actually expect to meet her parents? And what would they say? It was terrifying to think of. She wanted to tell him the truth, truly she did. But it was much too soon for such a truth to be laid out between them.

"I also have every desire to keep seeing you and to dance with you at balls," she said in response to his serious words as he kissed her hand. "Do you expect to speak with my parents because I would need to speak with them first.. to explain how I came to meet you in the first place."

  

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In all truthfulness, Arven would've been content to continue stealing these moments behind the backs of Dove's over-strict parents, for the rebellious approach was far more of an adventure. But his feelings for Dove were not fleeting, and he was acutely aware that if her parents were to discover her secret then she might be in dire trouble. He did not want to risk her forest being taken away from her.

"We will do this however you wish to do it", he reassured her gently. "But yes, no doubt your parents will be involved. And no doubt they won't approve", he added, with a wry gesture down at his tall, ruffian self.

He was nowhere near as weather-beaten as he'd been when first they'd met, but he was evidently not of her social standing.

  

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Dove stood in deep thought for a moment. And then an idea came to her, one she was sure would work. "I could convince my parents to let me attend societal events. Not in stealth as I have been but... truly attending. And then we could 'meet' at one as I am sure one of their many questions will be how we met and the truth of that I cannot inform them of."

He was right, though. Even then, they would be disapproving. And not just because of who she truly was. "My brother would approve so long as I am happy. And what's important is that I quite approve of you."

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Arven responded with an agreeable nod and a lopsided smile. "Good idea. You're about as convincing as it gets, silver-tongue." If anyone could change the minds of what sounded like two rather closed authoritarians, it was Dove.

As for his grateful possession of Dove's own approval, Arven pretended to muse for a moment, tapping his fingers on his chin. "Hm, you know what... I dare say I approve of you too."

  

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Dove laughed in response to Arven calling her silver-tongue. It was going to be tricky and who knew how society would respond but it would be worth it to be able to be seen on his arm. Even if most people would have no idea who she was beyond 'the sickly Ashdown' since that was how society had known her all these years.

"Excellent, that makes shaking up my life worthwhile," she said teasingly, as if she had not been doing so her own self long before she had met Arven Fisk.

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With a roguish look, Arven responded to Dove's on-brand audacity by sweeping his hand to the small of her back and drawing her close for a spontaneous kiss beneath the dappled canopy.

OOC: Do you want to do anything further with this thread or shall we move on to the next? ^__^

  

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Dove laughed as Arven drew her close before letting her worries be silenced by his kiss. Whatever the future would bring, there was no sense worrying about it now. Whatever was meant to happen would happen.

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/yes lets wrap and move on to the next thread <3

  

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