104th Vhalar, 717
“Inspirational, yes, that and so much more. It’s like taking the cover off a lantern, letting the light shine further and brighter.” She smiled at the taller noble, pleasantly surprised that he got it. That he understood the why, and seemed to respect it. Watching him experiment with his own rocks, Darcy nodded with a humourless chuckle.
“Anthea is a regular, yes, but it’s only for silly things like Euphoria or reevi. Things she and her entourage can smoke and feel like they’re doing something just the most scandalous. Really, having a good glass of brandy would do more to them, but who wants to just drink brandy? Plus, have you seen Euphoria burn? It’s actually quite pretty.” The blonde said, an innocent question, neither asking anything further about his experiences nor offering one. She’d meant what she said about not pushing her habit into others unless they asked.
“I genuinely think that if you asked the people in there what they thought of the music, they’d probably not be able to even tell you they’d heard it. I could have just given Anthea her goods and left, and it wouldn’t have mattered, but I can’t resist that grand. It’s got the most beautiful sound to it, and the tuning is always perfect. No sarding idea why though, it never gets played except when I’m here. Lady Tulburn can’t hold a tune to save her life.” Watching the bright blue ripples as Caius tossed another rock, Darcy blushed, suddenly realising she may have made an assumption that the ink stained student would consider them friends. Fortunately, true to the form the pianist had experienced so far, the taller Gawyne followed up with more words that indicated he was okay with it.
“I love your sentiment, but it’s true. It’s sort of hard to make friends when you’re not exactly a social butterfly. Pythera was...well. I’m sure you’ve heard stories of her around the traps. A traitor, a bandit...she’s not changed. I don’t think she ever will.” The young woman looked over at him again with a sad smile.
“I’m sorry, about your sister.” She said gently, letting the conversation lay. There were things in their pasts, painful family things that frankly were better discussed when she wasn’t tripping the fairysnuff. As the last rock disturbed the tiny creatures, Caius’ words changed. They became less light and took on a much more personal affliction. The platinum haired Venora wrapped her arms around herself as he came close again, watching the play of curious emotions on his face. Her heartbeat practically made its own music as it pounded in her chest.
“You shouldn’t...I...there’s not much under the covers that’s worth exploring Caius.” She said softly, her eyes dropping with a sudden moment of weakness, a glimpse of the young woman’s self-worth - or rather her lack of it. If there was any innuendo to be found in her words, Darcy didn’t realise it. Shaking the somber moment, she turned her sunset gaze on the Gawyne again, seeing his eyes turn to the water with a clear consideration of her suggestion the lake was a great place to swim.
The words he all but breathed next were very much not at all sounding like he was talking about the bioluminescent bug display, and her eyes lit up with both surprise and delight. Was he seriously considering taking a dip in this weather? As though to emphasise the cold, her breath plumed between them, even as he pointed out that this wasn’t cold for his family.
“You’re joking right? I mean, it’s really, really quite the experience but...” Darcy’s very purple eyes dropped to his hand as it slowly released the buttons on his jacket.
Oh.
Looking up again, the Venora found she’d lost the ability to make words. The young woman had felt it, her own heated reactions to the sandy haired youth not entirely unfamiliar to her, but in the way she had worried about calling Caius a friend so soon Darcy had brushed any suspected shared sentiments away as imagined. Yet, here the Gawyne was, grinning stupidly as he removed his jacket and confessed he was potentially not just interested in her as a friend.
It was of course, normal. They were young. He was a man, she a woman. Hormones were rampant. The logical side of her hazy mind tried to sort through things, tried to make the words happen.
“Well, Lord Gawyne, what a gentlemanly thing to say.” Darcy started carefully, toeing off her boots and dropping her bag with a smirk, her confidence boosted by the snuff in her system. Reaching up behind her neck, the blonde released the catches that held her dress closed and peeled the lace down, dropping the fabric at her feet with an equally stupid grin. Clothed still in a simple black brazier set, the shorter woman walked into the cold water with a gasp, gritting her teeth against the chill. As she walked, the light from the lake glowed a soft blue against her alibaster skin, allowing perhaps the other student to see more than just her scandalously underdressed form.
“I’m sure we two perfectly adult like nobles can keep things entirely proper.” Darcy said with a breathless gasp as she lowered herself into the water up to her shoulders, before laughing softly.
“For now.” There it was, if anything, an acknowledgement the feeling was mutual.
“Anthea is a regular, yes, but it’s only for silly things like Euphoria or reevi. Things she and her entourage can smoke and feel like they’re doing something just the most scandalous. Really, having a good glass of brandy would do more to them, but who wants to just drink brandy? Plus, have you seen Euphoria burn? It’s actually quite pretty.” The blonde said, an innocent question, neither asking anything further about his experiences nor offering one. She’d meant what she said about not pushing her habit into others unless they asked.
“I genuinely think that if you asked the people in there what they thought of the music, they’d probably not be able to even tell you they’d heard it. I could have just given Anthea her goods and left, and it wouldn’t have mattered, but I can’t resist that grand. It’s got the most beautiful sound to it, and the tuning is always perfect. No sarding idea why though, it never gets played except when I’m here. Lady Tulburn can’t hold a tune to save her life.” Watching the bright blue ripples as Caius tossed another rock, Darcy blushed, suddenly realising she may have made an assumption that the ink stained student would consider them friends. Fortunately, true to the form the pianist had experienced so far, the taller Gawyne followed up with more words that indicated he was okay with it.
“I love your sentiment, but it’s true. It’s sort of hard to make friends when you’re not exactly a social butterfly. Pythera was...well. I’m sure you’ve heard stories of her around the traps. A traitor, a bandit...she’s not changed. I don’t think she ever will.” The young woman looked over at him again with a sad smile.
“I’m sorry, about your sister.” She said gently, letting the conversation lay. There were things in their pasts, painful family things that frankly were better discussed when she wasn’t tripping the fairysnuff. As the last rock disturbed the tiny creatures, Caius’ words changed. They became less light and took on a much more personal affliction. The platinum haired Venora wrapped her arms around herself as he came close again, watching the play of curious emotions on his face. Her heartbeat practically made its own music as it pounded in her chest.
“You shouldn’t...I...there’s not much under the covers that’s worth exploring Caius.” She said softly, her eyes dropping with a sudden moment of weakness, a glimpse of the young woman’s self-worth - or rather her lack of it. If there was any innuendo to be found in her words, Darcy didn’t realise it. Shaking the somber moment, she turned her sunset gaze on the Gawyne again, seeing his eyes turn to the water with a clear consideration of her suggestion the lake was a great place to swim.
The words he all but breathed next were very much not at all sounding like he was talking about the bioluminescent bug display, and her eyes lit up with both surprise and delight. Was he seriously considering taking a dip in this weather? As though to emphasise the cold, her breath plumed between them, even as he pointed out that this wasn’t cold for his family.
“You’re joking right? I mean, it’s really, really quite the experience but...” Darcy’s very purple eyes dropped to his hand as it slowly released the buttons on his jacket.
Oh.
Looking up again, the Venora found she’d lost the ability to make words. The young woman had felt it, her own heated reactions to the sandy haired youth not entirely unfamiliar to her, but in the way she had worried about calling Caius a friend so soon Darcy had brushed any suspected shared sentiments away as imagined. Yet, here the Gawyne was, grinning stupidly as he removed his jacket and confessed he was potentially not just interested in her as a friend.
It was of course, normal. They were young. He was a man, she a woman. Hormones were rampant. The logical side of her hazy mind tried to sort through things, tried to make the words happen.
“Well, Lord Gawyne, what a gentlemanly thing to say.” Darcy started carefully, toeing off her boots and dropping her bag with a smirk, her confidence boosted by the snuff in her system. Reaching up behind her neck, the blonde released the catches that held her dress closed and peeled the lace down, dropping the fabric at her feet with an equally stupid grin. Clothed still in a simple black brazier set, the shorter woman walked into the cold water with a gasp, gritting her teeth against the chill. As she walked, the light from the lake glowed a soft blue against her alibaster skin, allowing perhaps the other student to see more than just her scandalously underdressed form.
“I’m sure we two perfectly adult like nobles can keep things entirely proper.” Darcy said with a breathless gasp as she lowered herself into the water up to her shoulders, before laughing softly.
“For now.” There it was, if anything, an acknowledgement the feeling was mutual.