Private Tales Bones and A Beating Heart

[Val Pirian]

"Enthralled." That was the only word Percival could find to describe how he felt about Perrine in the weeks that followed their first meeting. He waited on baited breath for every letter she sent and felt his eyes dance across each looping letter she had written to him. Her art was equally precious, and it wasn't long before Perrine's correspondences had found a drawer to themselves in Val's personal desk. And of course, he wrote her back just as often as she wrote him.

Val reunited with Perrine and marveled at her stylings as she dashed towards him. She was the very picture of feminine grace, and surely the envy of all who looked upon them as she nearly tackled him. Val caught her deftly, spinning her around wholly twice before latching her in his arms.

At last, at long last, the two of them were together once more, with nothing to keep them apart for the next arc of their journey.
"Perri..." he breathed, nuzzling into her and cradling her head in hand.

Val's apparel had not changed as drastically as hers, merely sporting a less rugged and more kempt version of the duster he had worn when they met, and an ascot rather than the open shirt he had sported then.

"I cannot tell you how I've longed to see you again, my dear," he said, his smile brimming in the lilt of his voice.

 

[Perrine Urahil]

In his embrace, Perrine felt something right in her world. Something she had not figured she had been without until that kiss shared between them that first night that was proof of their growing affections and quickly developing attraction and feelings for one another. She breathed him in, held onto him a moment longer as she felt weightless with relief to see him again.

"I had to start drawing and painting anything else that would not remind me of you... but that was unsuccessful." She pulled away far enough to gaze into his eyes, smiling softly as if she were dreaming this moment.

"Waiting and patience for someone I care about was such a new feeling." One she knew he would understand without a doubt from what she learned through their correspondence of letters. "I trust your journey here was comfortable?"

There just were too many eyes upon them at that moment. A blush rose to her cheeks, and Perrine realised how much she wanted to tilt her head and catch his lips in a kiss she had dreamed about since they last parted ways.

 

[Val Pirian]

When at last there was an inch of space to spare between them, Val was elated to look caringly into the eyes of the woman who had stolen his heart not so long ago. He was positively beaming as he held her cheek in his hand, then brushed some of the loose and messy locks of hair from her face and back into their proper place.

"My mind has been split between daydreaming of you and arranging everything necessary for this trip. It has been something approaching excruciating...but the mere sight of you has made it more than worth it," he replied warmly. "But yes. My could scarcely keep myself still in the carriage, but the ride itself was smooth. I pray your students didn't cause you too much trouble during our intermission!"

He pulled back slightly further and turned his head to search for the most important aspect of the next leg of their journey (beyond each other's company, of course): their ship. Val gestured toward it with a wide sweep of his arm. A sleek and regal looking clipper ship dressed in Pirian colors and bearing their titular cross on its flags awaited them on the nearby docks.

"And there she is! The Storm's Grace! She's not the largest vessel in the Pirian fleet, but she's by far one of the fastest. I've been told that the weather should be favorable, and that we should find ourselves at the Falwood portal stone ahead of schedule," his gaze shifted from the ship back to Perrine, a look of great pride on his mien. "How are you feeling, my dear?"

 

[Perrine Urahil]

She did not wish to leave his side now that she found him again after so long. Her arm linked through his, a hand resting at his bicep as she looked to the ship they would soon embark. Perrine smiled, "I never went by ship to the portal stone before. How long does it take?"

By horse, a week was a good estimate, but it always ended up a day or two of delay due to something or rather. At least, a ship was less prone to being waylaid in the Falwood.

Perrine looked to Val, finding that she quite liked his attention on her. A soft smile grew across her painted mauve lips, "I am feeling so happy to be here, finally, beside you." For the first time in her life she was taking time for herself, to give this... whatever they want to call it, a try.

Never had she clicked so well with someone before, and knowing that had made the time away from Val even more brutal.

"I cannot wait to see Dornoch with you."

 

[Val Pirian]

"And you've especially never traveled by Pirian ship. Our agricultural successes have lived by the efficiency of our fleets," Val chuckled as he began to traipse towards the Storm's Grace, arm in arm with Perrine. "Normally it would three or four days, but with the winds on our side we should arrive in two. The overland trip from there will take us less than half a day, and the remaining journey but a day more."

He shot a sky-blue glance down at Perrine and kissed her forehead as they walked.
"I feel the same, Perrine. There's no one in the world I would rather be sharing this journey with," he said softly before squeezing her arm in his own with a grin. "And you look absolutely stunning, by the way."

A dock bell sounded, a few men hollered in the distance, and a prominent looking figure waved a hand signal at Val, to which he waved a signal back. With that, he turned to Perrine once more.
"Seems the only thing missing aboard our vessel is us, my dear. Shall we?"

 

[Perrine Urahil]

Ah, yes, the brilliance of the Pirians and their agriculture. Where the Urahils served faithfully in the Knights, Guards, or Dreadlords, the Pirians were known for being pioneers with crops and such goods.

The timeline for travel seemed to sound agreeable to Perrine, who nestled closer into Val out of sheer missing his presence these past few weeks. His compliments were always welcomed, and perhaps the only one to make her hide her face out of shyness. "You have days before us to charm me until I giggle and blush, you do not need to start so soon." She mused, making a light jab at his side as they moved towards the wooden ramp that would take them onto the top deck of the Pirian ship.

She did not look back to take in the view until they were at the top, onboard and getting fresh breezes that had sea spray upon them. Perrine left Val's side, crossing over to look over at the water waiting for the ship to sail towards.

"Oh, my worlds!" She gasped. "I wish I had my paints and equipment unpacked so I could paint this view!"

 

[Val Pirian]

Perrine's jab ushered a small "oof" from Val, alongside a wide grin.
"I beg to differ! I've not seen you in weeks, I don't believe I could start soon enough."

Embarking onto the ship all seemed to be in order. A pair of Pirian Stormguard awaited them, standing at attention until Val gave them the "at ease" signal. The last few preparations were made and the ropes securing the vessel to the docks were being loosed by crew.

"My Lord!" called the prominent looking figure from before, a man twenty years Val's senior, sporting a finely kept beard and Anirian naval dress in Pirian colors. "We depart on your word!"

"Thank you, Captain Vance. Let us away, then!" Val replied.

"Aye!" the captain hollered, then began to shout commands at the crew.

Val at last turned to Perrine once more.
"You'll have time to do so, if you wish. Though I imagine it might turn to a bit of a race; who might finish first? The painter, or the ship?"

 

[Perrine Urahil]

His words were a challenge set, and the expression she gave him told him that she was willing to demonstrate she was up to the task. Locating the wooden chest that housed a lot of her supplies, Perrine held her easel and wandered the deck to find a good spot to settle into for a good few hours. The picture was captured in her mind, but she needed a spot that was not in the way nor too riddled with voices and distractions. The only distraction she permitted was Val's presence.

A stool had been fetched for Perrine despite her protests, but those under Val's employment were accommodating and not at all fussed to be of service. Assisting her in lugging her supplies over, Perri had chosen a spot that faced the open sea unopposed in it's view of the horizon.

"My favourite part to painting is coming up with the palette." She told Val, the chest had folded into a table, a gift from a friend of hers that no longer walked this earth. Perrine had witnessed that fatal blow, dead before she could get her hands on her friend to heal her, and made sure to put this gift into use. Perhaps too much given the almost precarious state it was now in. "I like to spend time exploring a unique colour... sometimes I would work a palette and use that to inspire what I would paint."

She had to purchase new pigments for lighter blues before this trip, having spent many hours painting Val's likeness in their time apart. Remembering this brought a light pink to her cheeks. No one had ever made her feel like this, but she also had never felt so sure and confident in her own affections before.

Perrine set her periwinkle eyes to the blank canvas before her. She only had packed a few medium sized ones and a half dozen smaller sizes, knowing that she could always purchase more when they made it to Dornoch. "What should I begin with first? The sky or the sea?"

 

[Val Pirian]

Sailors aboard the Storm's Grace used wooden poles to push the vessel away from the docks. The sails were deployed and quickly caught the winds, and before they all knew it the trip had begun. The ride was smooth as silk as the Grace skimmed across the water.

Val stood astride Perri's chosen spot, admiring the views of both the beautiful woman before him and the Anirian skyline she'd selected to paint.

"The palette?" he parroted curiously. "Wouldn't that mean that you get the best part over with before you've even started?"

He knelt at her side and considered the seascape at length. It almost felt as though there was a deeper meaning to be gleaned from Perri's question.
"I think I'd be doing the Pirian name an injustice if I did not say 'sky.' But even if I were not Percival Pirian, that would remain my answer."

 

[Perrine Urahil]

Perrine smiled, already picturing the sky and the colours in her palette. She regarded him with a brilliance he had brought out in her. "Perhaps you are certainly my muse, Val Pirian."

Looking to the case of paints opened up beside her, she began to build the palette she would need for the intended sky.

"You just reminded me that my father had been speaking of your family before I departed. He seemed to want to say more, but his letter cut off and wished me safe travels." Conversation was something she had not really had when painting, but she welcomed his presence and the open air. They were all blessed with the weather they were given for today. She was no sailor, but Perrine found the conditions to be absolutely optimal for setting sail and painting. "I suppose he may send another letter once we reach Dornoch."

 

[Val Pirian]

"There is nothing more flattering, Perrine Urahil," he replied with a warm smile and a gentle squeeze of her arm.

He stood after a fashion to gaze out at the scene his darling was soon to recreate. She began to speak of family matters, though ones that seemed to intertwine their parents.
"Oh? That is curious..." he mused. "I suppose it isn't all that strange that the lords of two Great Houses should need to commune with each other."

However, there was an odd itch that Val just couldn't seem to shake. His own father had been rather coy with him when he'd shared that he'd be bringing a plus-one on his excursion to Dornoch. Prior to that, the old codger had seemed eager to share some sort of news, but had changed his mind and stated it could wait until after he'd returned...hmm.
"Let us hope that his letter finds us in good time and condition, hmm?"

 

[Perrine Urahil]

She was happy for the conversation, the ability to chatter as she worked when for so long she had been painting in the quiet and isolation of her office. Now, Perrine was in the fresh, open air, and someone of interest at her side. The blonde woman smiled coyly at her canvas, her tone changing to something almost teasing. "What if he was writing to dissuade me from going on this trip with you? After all, Val, you do have a reputation of being friendly with many ladies."

But as her smile turned to him, it shifted from coy to something almost disarming by how lovely a visage it gave her when her periwinkle eyes found his face. "Although by way of speaking about your family, I do not believe that was the intended subject to his letter. Everyone knows how kindly the Pirians are, as I myself can attest to with your hospitality and that of your men."

She could not help but wonder what it would have been like if her own family was any shred of what she experienced arriving at the port. Her mother gone and abandoned Vel Anir, her father sickly in his mind but spiraled once he sent Perrine off to the Academy with no proper preparations. She survived, and she had to learn quick.

Her expression fell slightly, thinking of being away from her father again but there was no use to healing his mind after so many years of neglect.

 

[Val Pirian]

Perri considered the hypotheticals and weighed them against reality, shifting between humorous teasing and demure sincerity as naturally as the waves moved against the Storm's Grace. Val's eyes shone with a whimsy of his own, his hand stroking gently down his darling's golden locks before his fingers began to dance across the nape of her neck.
"And what if he was? Would you have listened?" he asked playfully, his fingers weaving into her hair to briefly rub her scalp, then drew them forward until he framed her cheek with his hand. "Perrine Urahil does not strike me as the type to shy away from her own heart."

He let the tender moment linger just a little longer before tickling her chin with his index finger and shoving his hands in his pockets with a smug grin and resting on a short stool beside Perrine's array of painting supplies.
"I tend to agree, though. I imagine our fathers are just dealing with their parliamentary affairs, nothing more. Our time is better spent not worrying about such trivial matters, I think."

 

[Perrine Urahil]

Perrine never knew how intimate a simple brush of the hand could be, or how nice of a sensation it was to have him play with her flaxen hair. Her eyes found his, staring at him with an emotion she was not aware she made, for it only came about whenever he was around. "Perrine Urahil runs into danger if it means saving a life."

And it should hang there between them, the fact that despite her genetics shared with her family, the only truly Urahil thing about the woman was her blood and name. The Academy was a freedom from them, a chance to become her own, and here she stood in his company. She had not informed her father she had spent an evening cuddling up to the Pirian noble and speaking of dreams, their past, and what made them happy.

Perrine perhaps was too afraid to let anybody in on this moment she never had. A bubble, one she did not fancy popping anytime soon for fear her heart cared much too deeply for this man nearest to her.

"Then we leave it to them to correspond on their official matters. Let us enjoy what it is this journey will bring." Perrine put down her palette and brush, took a step closer to Val and placed hands not yet stained with paint onto his shoulders. "I came here with you to find experience and get away."