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Airyanna Dahlia - Faustus was making preparations for his wedding... | Facebook

Faustus was making preparations for his wedding that is yet to come. Lupercalia was not even upon them yet, being a few days away, and he was scrambling to get everything put together in time. He had not proposed, not yet considered a date. He planned to request the favor of the Dark Lord's presence to ask when He thought the wedding ought to be.

He had the bold decision to allow the boys from the Judas Society to arrange Lupercalia this year. Anton had been edgier than usual, antsy, snippish, and Father Blackwood decided to give him this important task instead of punishing him. Responsibility begets leadership, and Anton was the most promising young warlock in the Judas Society.

Going over again the colors of parchment and ribbons, a thought struck him. He went to his private garden, selected a small, blue-black rose, and snipped the stem. He stuck it in an envelope. "This will be a charming addition," he said aloud to himself in satisfaction.

Hearing a knock on the door, he hastened to put everything back into his desk so that there was no traces of the wedding planning. How silly of him to plan a wedding when he had yet to propose!

Rebecca Butler

The day had come to a close and Freya made her way to the Office of the High Priest as she did every day after the last class and before dinner. She and Faustus usually spent some time together before they had to part for the night and she usually ended up sitting with him as she finished up her schoolwork and him his paperwork, as they chatted together. Sometimes they sat in silence until all work was done and then took over an hour just to be together and enjoy each other's company. Whatever they did, Freya had come to enjoy every moment spent together with Faustus as she felt her feelings for him deepening day by day.

Feelings she was learning to hold in most times, because she had promised that they would go slow in getting to know each other and she was determined to hold to that promise....after that one night of shared passion where it had left her breathless and his in every way. That, hadn't happened again and she never brought it up, content to let things go the way they were supposed to go, slowly.

She knocked upon the door and peeked in to see if Faustus was busy, smiling brightly as she spotted him at his desk. "Hello Faustus." She greeted him, using only his name when it was just him and her. "Are you busy? I can come back later?" She asked.

Airyanna Dahlia

Faustus straightened and smiled at her. "Nonsense. Come in." He smiled and gestured with his hand that she could close the door and sit. He wondered if she would be bold today and sit at the edge of his desk, facing him.

***

Elsewhere, Anton was marshaling the rest of the Judas Society to prepare for Lupercalia. His resentment for Father Blackwood had been growing, but he had been trying his utmost to be stronger then his emotions.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen, order please."

"Why is there a woman here?!" One of the other Judases demanded, pointing to the curly-haired young lady at Anton's side.

"If you would please calm down and allow me to explain." Anton waited for the hubbub to die down. "This is my Cousin Carlotta. She's well-versed in the traditions of Lupercalia. She will be helping us prepare in the way most pleasing to Our Lord." These last words spoken with a steely emphasis. "Are there any objectings?" His tone brooking no disagreement.

There was none.

"Good. Carlotta, if you would bring forth the goatskin cloths." She did so. "Now leave us." She did so. "Gentlemen, please form a line so we can measure these cloths. I want them each to be a perfect fit...."

***

"What's on your mind today, Freya?" Faustus asked. As Freya had entered Faustus's office, a rush of warmth swept over him. Her presence was like a ray of moonlight piercing through the clouds, illuminating his world with a radiance that he couldn't resist. The way her eyes sparkled with intelligence only deepened his fascination for her. Every step she took exuded grace, captivating him further. Faustus found himself drawn to the delicate curve of her lips, remembering the sweet taste of her kisses. Her voice, soft and melodious, echoed in his mind long after she spoke. In her presence, time seemed to slow down, as if they were the only two souls in existence. Freya's mere existence stirred a whirlwind of emotions within Faustus; desire mingled with admiration, creating an intoxicating cocktail that consumed his thoughts. Having her before him now, as ever, was almost indescribable with the joy that it filled him with.

Rebecca Butler

Hearing that she was permitted into his office and that he wasn't busy, Freya's smile brightened as she came in and shut the door behind her. Going to drop her book on the nearby chair where she usually sat, she instead went to perch lightly upon his desk, facing him. Crossing her legs together at the ankles, she braced herself lightly on the palms of her hands upon either side of her upon his desk.

"I heard people talking in the halls today, is it true?" She asked with a hint of a grin. "Lupercalia? I heard it was coming up in a few days and was....curious about it."

She tried not to blush as she spoke, as she had never actually participated in a Lupercalia festival before. Her father had forbidden it! Determined that she not even watch it, to keep herself pure.

But now that he wasn't around, and she was free to explore and learn, that is exactly what she wanted to do. Learn, and who better to ask than Faustus?

He smiled as she perched upon his desk. "Yes, it is most certainly true," he affirmed to her. "Some of our finest students are helping to arrange it this year. They wished it to be most... authentic," he said with a widening smile to her. "You shall find it refreshingly different from any other Lupercalia that you've attended," not knowing that she had not had the chance to attend before.

Hearing that it was indeed true, Freya's eyes seemed to gleam in excitement, even more so when she heard that some of the students were preparing to make it special. Though, such excitement slowly faded as she bit her lip and looked away from Faustus.

"I--I have never---actually participated in said event before." She admitted, blushing terribly. It felt sillty to say, but it was the truth. Her father had never allowed it. Knowing of the 'sins of the flesh' and he would have none of it for either of his children. They were to remain Pure, so he could best use them as pawns to further his power by offering them up in marriage as such.

The cloths had been measured. The boys had been discomfited that it was a woman measuring them but she was businesslike. Carlotta prepare the strips of goat hide, ensuring they were supple and ready. "This year you shall bless each other with health and prosperity," she siad in her thick Italian accent. When the goat hides had been prepared she inspected the instruments that would be used to fill the night air with melodies that would entice even the most reluctant dancer.

"Now, collect the laurel leaves while I tend to the togas," Carlotta instructed. Her tone would brooke no argument.

+++

"Haven't you?" Faustus asked with an arch brow. Such innocence... begged to be corrupted. He tried to suppress the smirk that wanted to curve his left lip. "Then Freya, I can promise you without a doubt that you shall have the experience of a life time."