[OOM] Eiattu - Palace Roof

[fighting_mad]

Plourr likes this small section of the palace roof. It's quiet, for one thing, and it's flat which means that walking on it isn't too dangerous, but most importantly, she's never seen another soul up here. Solitude's getting hard to come by.

She slips off her shoes and makes her way past the glass of one of the Grand Hall's skylights, bare feet contrasting sharply with the formality of her clothes. She sets the shoes down and sits at the edge of the roof, letting her feet swing out into space. The courtyard is far, far below, but Plourr is a pilot; heights have never bothered her. She watches the capital city spread out before her. Her city. It's looking better; after nearly a month of work, it's becoming difficult to see signs of the fighting that had taken place. Most buildings have been rebuilt, the streets cleaned up, debris removed.

Still, Eiattu is not entirely healed. Plourr knows that.

She sits quietly, leaning back on her hands, and watches the sun set over the city and the jungle beyond.

Comments

[eiattu_pride]

"For everything, really."

Shrugs.

[fighting_mad]

Her gaze remains on him for another minute, then she decides, "You make no sense," and goes back to watching the lights come on in the city.

It's not said all seriously, but at the same time-- she doesn't entirely understand him.

[eiattu_pride]

"I know."

He's watching her.

[fighting_mad]

"You're staring, Count," she says evenly, eyes not moving once from the view.

[eiattu_pride]

"I apologize, Princess."

Moves his gaze. One hand slowly inching in her direction.

[fighting_mad]

Her eyes flick to the hand, then away, but she doesn't move.

[eiattu_pride]

Slowly, tentatively, it rests on her own.

[fighting_mad]

She doesn't say a word, doesn't do anything, looking out over the city. But she doesn't pull her hand away.

[eiattu_pride]

Rial watches the city as well.

Finally, "All things can start over."

[fighting_mad]

The sun is gone now, and there isn't a star to be found in the sky as the clouds that have been threatening all day move in.

"Yeah, I guess," she says. Her face is a little uncertain in the dim illumination provided by the lights blazing in the Great Hall, coming up through the skylight behind them.

[eiattu_pride]

He glances at the starless sky.

"We could start over."

[fighting_mad]

"Rial," and she looks right at him, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

[eiattu_pride]

He takes a breath.

"You are a fine woman, Isplo - Plourr. I would like to marry you."

Well, no one ever said he has to be diplomatic about this.

[fighting_mad]

Oh.

Oh, that's what he's talking about.

"Yes, I've-- I've been meaning to talk to you about that. I--" She stops. "Hold on a minute."

There's nothing tentative or slow about the way that she leans over and kisses him.

[eiattu_pride]

There's a moment of hesitation, and then he kisses back, soft but responding to her easily.

Huh.

[fighting_mad]

His mustache is scratchy. That's her first thought. Her second is that, he's not a bad kisser, but-- it's like she thought. She just. Feels. Nothing.

She slowly pulls away and leans back into her own space. Her eyes are firmly on him. "You're a good man, Rial Pernon. I will marry you.

"But you need to know." She has never been one to hold back the truth. "I don't love you." She falters the tiniest bit, looks away. "I am very fond of you, Rial, and I've been trying since we started rebuilding the city, but-- but I guess it's not something you can force." Brown eyes slowly flick back to him, and it's easy to remember in this moment that she's young. "Will you still have me?"

[eiattu_pride]

Well, that hurts just a bit. He's pretty sure he loves her, and to have his (fears) doubts confirmed is just a little bit painful.

But he smiles, and nods, because maybe you can't force it. Maybe she'll never love him.

Maybe she will.

"I will have you. But you must tell me what is appropriate."

[fighting_mad]

An eyebrow rises. "Appropriate?"

[eiattu_pride]

How exactly does one ask?

"They will expect us to sleep together."

[fighting_mad]

Plourr chokes back a surprised laugh, turns it into a sort of cough, but she sobers quickly.

"You're the one here with the feelings, Rial." And now it's her turn to be a little awkward, which is weird because it is ordinarily very difficult to make her feel any sort of shame. The hand that isn't under his is squeezing her knee to death. "I've slept with plenty of people who I'm not in love with, so." She's glad of the darkness to hide the color rising to her face; color that annoys the living hell out of her.

"It's up to you."

[eiattu_pride]

"I won't do anything that makes you uncomfortable," and this is quick, hasty, because he's an honorable man.

"We will share living quarters, not beds."

[fighting_mad]

"Rial." And her expression is soft, if wry. "I'm very hard to make uncomfortable. But okay."

[eiattu_pride]

"I don't want to - make advances."

And he's blushing and praying that the darkness hides it.

"I have honor."

[fighting_mad]

Plourr, in turn, is again very thankful for the dark, too. Mostly because it hides the fact that she is struggling mightily to hold back laughter at the absurdity of it all.

She gives herself a moment, to be sure that her voice won't shake. "I know you do, my count," she finally says, and she turns her hand under his and squeezes his hand.

There is genuine affection there. She'd spoken the truth: Rial is a good man. He's been a rock; she needs his help, and so does Eiattu. She could marry far worse a man. Even if she has never really wanted to get married.

[eiattu_pride]

Well, that's comforting.

But this is all still rather awkward, so after a second he extracts himself and stands up.

"I should go."