Dunanana...

Nananana... Can't touch- OUCH. STOP POKING ME.
Haha. Thank you, spank you, Katie for egging me on to post. :D
So... Basically... Same song, different verse, a little bit louder and a little bit worse! :D
Actually, for the sake of people wasting valuable typing time to tell me it's not worse, I know. It really isn't. But I have this thing with Talon right now, where he's kind of driving me up a wall with his personality swings.
In fact, it's almost to the point of banging my head on the keyboard and yelling "ENOUGH. I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER DAY TO PLAY NICE." because that's what he's supposed to be gradually doing in this part: being nice to Adele; getting closer.
But I still love him.
:D
Oh, and I'm on a slight mission to find "pictures" "of" "my" "characters". [Note the quotations because, um, it hasn't happened yet, and possibly actually won't. Bwahaha.]
Alright, no more narrative. Here ya go. :D

“Freaking stupid, dumb, retarded poison.” I spat, grimacing. “It hurts.”
Kandon laughed at me and rubbed some more sweet-smelling liquor on my forehead. “It’s not so bad. I’ve been poisoned before. You’ll get over it in a few days.”
I frowned. “First of all, what do you mean, you’ve been poisoned before? You’re a medic, for crying out loud.” He smiled and shrugged. “And secondly, what’s liquor supposed to do to help me recover?”
“It doesn’t. It’s to help you ignore the pain.” He informed me, looking entertained.
I sighed and closed my eyes. “Wonderful. Alcohol on my forehead that’s practically pointless. This place is so bizarre.”
“Not as bizarre as your own place sounds.” Kandon told me, and I rolled my eyes.
“Yeah, well maybe you wouldn’t know because you’ve never lived in my place.”
He chuckled. “And maybe that’s my excuse, too.”
I was about to tell him that that wasn’t fair, but a polite cough interceded my thoughts. Both Kandon and I turned towards the disturbance.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering if I could talk to Madam McKenna.” A guard, older and with a kindly face, stood in the doorway, smiling awkwardly. “It’s pertinent to the investigation, and I wouldn’t try to invade otherwise...”
“It’s alright, Grant. I don’t think she’s too busy.”
Talon rounded the corner, and I about choked on my own spit. Why was he here?
“You’re here.” I stated almost hysterically, trying not to have a coughing fit.
He raised an eyebrow. “Yes... I went to go find Grant before you woke up.”
I looked at Kandon, alarmed. “He was here while I was knocked out?”
“He was here the whole time you were unconscious, Ad... Lady McKenna.” He glanced up at Talon after catching his mistake. “I can’t vouch as for the fact that he went to find the Guard, though it kind of looks apparent.”
I looked back at Talon and Grant. “Oh.”
Kandon stood up and brushed himself off. “I was getting ready to leave anyways.” He winked at me. “I need a break.”
I started to protest, but Talon caught my eye and shook his head, causing me to shut my mouth abruptly. I frowned, confused by the way everything was carried out over here. Kandon was one of my only friends at this point, and I needed all the friendly company I could get. Especially around Talon.
Fiancée’s could be such a pain.
I sighed and leaned up out of bed on my forearms. “What can I help you with...?”
He smiled nervously. “You can call me Grant; anyone Talon is engaged to is good enough to call me by name.” I blushed furiously. “And, well, I’ve only really got one question.”
“Oh... I was under the impression there was a whole series.”
Talon stepped up. “Actually, we just wanted to get the medic out of here. I needed to talk to you privately, Grant wanted to ask you a question.”
I frowned at him. “You kicked Kandon out of here just to chew me out? What now? Is your reputation in danger?”
He leaned down until he was inches away from my face. “As surprising as it may seem, no, that’s not why I ‘kicked the medic out’. I’m here because you’re deathly ill and you’re most likely not going to follow orders when it comes to your health.”
I heard Grant clear his throat, but I didn’t stop staring angrily at Talon until he smiled wryly and looked back to Grant himself. “Alright, well, go ahead. I’m open for questions.”
Grant smiled. “We’re trying to figure out how exactly you were poisoned, and so far, can’t come up with anything. Where were you and what did you do two nights ago?”
That was the night that I’d been introduced to most of Jericho as Talon’s fiancée… Or so I thought.
“The ball,” I recalled. “When I first met everyone.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Talon run his fingers through his hair in an exasperated motion.
“No, I’m sorry, Madam McKenna, but that was three nights ago.” Grant said apologetically.
“Call me Adele, but…” I turned to Talon. “I’ve been knocked out for two days?”
He nodded, shrugging. “ It’s not that big of a deal.”
I clenched my lips together and looked back at Grant. “Okay then, the night that I passed out, right?”
“Yes.”
In my head, I tried to remember. That day, I’d spent my time getting fitted for dresses and walking through the gardens until Talon found me and brought me to the main hall for dinner. After that... Well, I really didn’t know. That’s where I passed out.
I told Grant that, and he nodded as he soaked up every detail that passed my lips.
“Thank you so much. It’s been a pleasure meeting you… Adele.”
I forced a smile. “Anytime.”
He stood there, as if waiting for something. It took Talon half a minute to realize I had no clue what it was.
He sighed and stepped forward, shaking his head. “You’re dismissed, Grant.”
Grant looked a little confused, but nodded once and left the room.
Talon looked hard at me, a hard smile on his face. “You’re not making this easy, are you?”
I groaned and let myself fall back onto the cot. “And you’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?”
He laughed dryly. “Not purposely, but yes, probably so. This life is... Well, it must be...”
“It’s harder than my old one, yeah.” I admitted for him. “But I think it’s harder for you to teach me how to live than it is to actually try.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Was that somewhat of a compliment?”
“Possibly. I wouldn’t push it.”
He chuckled, surprising me, and came over, sitting on the bed. “Look, I realize that we didn’t get off to the best start, and I do know what it feels like to be new to a place like this.” I tried to ignore the close proximity between us, and from the looks of it, so was he. “Truly, you’re not repulsive or completely undesirable, but...” He smiled regretfully. “You’re just not my kind of choice.”
Surprisingly, I felt a little twinge of hurt at his fair-enough statement, and looked over at the opposite wall. “I didn’t ask to be saddled with this kind of situation either.” I said, a little more gruffly than I meant.
“And I know that,” he countered lightly. “But clearly, we’ve got to make do. Erick and Vitali know what they’re doing,” He sighed. “Even if I don’t. But they’re honorable, and you’re in good hands. No one will question your identity too much if you’re my fiancée.”
I looked over at him incredulously. He’d said the “fiancée” word, for once, without spitting it, and even had a look on his face that resembled genuine kindness – the kindness you show friends of friends; distant but benevolent.
“Um, well, okay,” I babbled, “but people already are.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah,” I struggled not to panic. His average, normal, everyday good mood was throwing me off. The Talon I’d dealt with for the last few days wasn’t anything like this. “there was a whole group of people, well, actually just a woman and her twelve kids, protesting that I wasn’t really engaged to you because I didn’t have…”
A fatal blush crept up in my cheeks as I stopped in my tracks.
“You didn’t have what?” He looked slightly annoyed. “There’s nothing that people in Jericho have that you shouldn’t, and whoever says differently is a liar.”
“…An engagement ring.” I finished lamely, closing my eyes. “It’s kind of stupid.”
There was a pause, and then I heard Talon laugh. “Actually… no, that’s not stupid.” he laughed again, and I opened my eyes. “I apparently don’t give people the credit they deserve; that was very observant, though on any other grounds, I would have probably had them confined until the wedding was over.”
“’On any other grounds?’”
He shook his head. “It’s nothing, really. Basically, we’re not having a wedding. On any other occasion, when two people are actually making the commitment, the bride usually doesn’t take well to people saying she isn’t legitimate. But that doesn’t matter now.” He closed his eyes and was still.
“What…?” I started to ask, feeling a taste of suspicion in the air.
He held up a finger without opening his eyes. “Give me a second.”
I sighed and copied his movement, closing my eyes, but only for a moment. Without someone moving around in the room, it was like death had already shoved me in a coffin – I couldn’t stand the silence.
And when I did, he was gone.
I leaned up on my forearms. “Talon?” I called, a worried note haunting my voice. “This isn’t funny.”
I heard him laugh, and turned around sharply. He stood in the doorway, his hands behind his back, looking amused. “I know. I just had to get something.”
I started to lie back down, but he shook his head. “Sit up for a minute.”
“Are you serious? I thought you were here to make sure I obeyed doctor’s…”
“Medic.”
“Medic’s,” I rolled my eyes. “orders. Not to help me go against them.”
He looked distracted, yet intent and serious on what he was doing. “That doesn’t matter right now.”
“Oh, so you can just walk in to a room and bend things to your will?” I asked sarcastically, not really realizing how true that statement could possibly be.
“Adele,” He said, smirking, looking me straight in the eyes. I couldn’t breathe, much less move. “Just do it.”
I groaned and pushed my legs off of the side of the bed. “You better have a really good reason for… Oh…”
Talon gauged my response, his face almost concerned. “It’s a Lady of the Night; the flower of the house,” he explained warily, looking from the circular case in his hand to my face. “It’s no wedding ring, but it’ll keep those with the ill intentions of unveiling your identity at bay.”
I could feel my mouth gaping open, and I knew that in royal places the action was considered rude, but try as I may, I couldn’t help it. In front of me lay the most beautiful necklace in the world; on a silver chain, there was a cream colored flower with five points, the width of two of my fingers. It looked like a star, and from where I sat, I could even smell it.
Hesitantly, I reached out to touch it. “Is it real?” I whispered, consumed by it’s beauty.
Talon looked taken back by my question. “Well… yes, but it’s been preserved for the smell. It grows stronger in the night, and looks the best when happy.” He smiled distantly. “It’s rumored to take on the feelings of the wearer actually, or so my mother told me.”
I looked at him, disturbed. “You want me to wear this?” I stated, rather than asked, flatly.
“Not particularly, if you want my honest opinion.” He said, shrugging.
“So why are you giving it to me?” I sighed, throwing my hands up. “I’m only your fake fiancée. There’s no need to treat me like the real one.”
Talon half-smiled. “You don’t understand. Finally. For once.”
“When have I ever understood?”
He chuckled. “This necklace is equal to your, ah, ‘engagement ring’. It’s not something to be given of my choice in this case, and not to be given lightly.”
It occurred to me that that’s why I was sitting, and he was on his knees in front of me.
“Oh.” I said, slightly awed.
He took a deep breath. “For this to work, this has to be somewhat real, do you understand?” I shook my head slowly, and he sighed. “This flower will presumably die if it’s on someone who the giver never actually proposed to in a formal fashion.”
I swallowed.
“So in order to do this, we’re going to be engaged, but only for the purpose of show. You cannot actually use the ‘but we’re engaged’ excuse on me just because of this. In any case, it’s just a symbol. All the same, it’s better than a fickle ring, since no one in this dimension, or whatever it was that you called it, even knows what that is.”
Only then, on the verge of being proposed to by my fake fiancée, did it come to mind that I was dressed in a thin silk, speghetti-strap sleeve nightgown that went to just above my knees. In lamens terms, a big no-no for anything to do with big ceremonies.
“Can’t we do this later?” I asked cautiously. “I’m really not in the position right now to commit to the necklace in a ritual or anything…”
“Adele,” Talon said plainly. “Calm down. We’ve already gone over this, okay?”
“But…” I protested miserably, “Oh... I’m not… I’m not dressed right.”
He stopped and looked at me, trying to pull the dress down farther than it was meant to go.
And then, of course, he promptly burst into laughter.

Rofl. I know, I know.
Haha. You guys make me smile; you rock way more than you know.