Private Tales Graceless and Divine

[Vittoria Larrainth]

That some how made Vittoria laugh. It was small, brief, but there was a momentary brightening of amusement in the crook of her lips, her eyes crinkling at his humour, but it all fell away when she turned to stare at the small window before them, where they could see the glimpse of trees.

"I doubt I would kill you over one, Kilien." She finally said. "Without you, it would mean one less challenge for when we graduate next spring. How else am I to impress the Dreadlords if I am left with the weaker Initiates?"

But her thoughts were never spoken, never intended to be heard by anyone. Vittoria knew death would come for them all one day, and she hoped Kilien's death would not be by her hand. No, she could not bring herself to picture being the cause of his demise.

Was she growing attached?

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

Well if that wasn't a masked invitation to steal a kiss he didn't know what was. Maybe she was trying to tempt him, or maybe she earnestly had no clue how a male would read between those particular lines. Kilien was a scoundrel, this much was true, but he was not an asshole.

Still, he'd keep that bit of info tucked away. If the inclination to kiss her ever truly struck, it was at least good to know it wouldn't bring an immediate end to his existence.

"Yeah?" Kil remarked as he shifted in his seat to ease once more into the backrest, boots lifting to prop crossed at the ankles on the opposite bench, "Well that's good to know."

"You seem real confident about me graduating," he did not believe they would let him. Not after only two years at the Academy. Either they'd hold him back a few more years or he'd find a reason to take his life into his own hands outside Vel Anir.

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Her brow quirked, giving him a quick glance as she nodded slowly. "Of course, your chances are much better now than they were before this Revolution. You could have graduated with the class of this year, but they wanted you to remain another year at least..." Now, Vittoria met his gaze once more, turning to face him.

She lifted an arm to rest against the back seat, pushing his arm slightly so that she had a comfortable perch to rest her cheek in her hand. "That is if you choose to graduate at all. We get a choice now, and something tells me you are not ready to jump into the career of Dreadlords... so, perhaps, reserves." She pinned him with a calculating look, her lips twitching at one side as she gave his appearance a once over.

"Or exile."

Her eyes snapped back to meet his, a glint of something undetectable in her gaze. "It just would be a shame to see your potential go to waste."

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

"I'm not Dreadlord material," he admitted without shame, stating the words as a simple truth. The sky was blue. Grass was green. The sun rose in the east and set in the west. And Kilien Basmarc was not Dreadlord material.

"I'm not even Anirian," his fingers drummed at his middle, thumb moving to push his father's golden signet around his pointer, "I was born on the seaside cliffs of Amesford in South Ethel which is well outside of Vel Anir reach." Kilien looked at her, brows tipped up in discontentment of the word 'exile', "it's not really exile if you're going home."

"If they'd even let me. Something tells me they won't."

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Vittoria stiffened for just a moment, instinct putting her on edge for just a second hearing the words of him not being born in Anirian lands. There was truly too much for her to get this close in acquaintance with Kilien, a drive to keep him at an arms length and threaten his existence... but here she was, close to him that suggested she was comfortable in his presence.

And that pull towards him. She had never felt something like that, even if the intent was to murder.

"Pity," she said coolly, eyes dropping to take in his form beneath his coat. "You certainly would make a fine one."

Vittoria did not say anything more on the matter.

Instead, she turned to sit properly in her chair, back straight, shoulders back, and her hands clasped nicely in her lap. A silence fell between them, and she had felt no need to fill it with more idle talk. They were halfway there to their destination, and only when the carriage began the slow and winding road leading to the town along the hills, she turned to Kilien.

"We should start with tea, that way you can tell me more of this place you called home." For Vittoria too grew up by the sea in Vel Luin, but her time by the water was scarce unless she was to learn to swim, to understand how to survive before going to the Academy.

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

In the silence he was content. Comfortable, even. Kilien had spent long hours in silent isolation for a good majority of his life - not that he remembered this particular fact or the cell in which he'd been kept. The haze of his memories merely gave way to the intimate familiarity with silence. It crept in between them and slunk itself by his side as if an old lover.

Kilien felt the weight of his eyelids and made no effort to resist. When Vittoria spoke again, he'd been drifting off.

"Mm?" the young man blinked, stirred slightly, shifted to lace the fingers of both hands together over his middle. Wasn't much to speak of on the place he called home but... "Tea sounds good," he consented, "I like tea."

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Turning her head slightly, she could see in her peripherals that Kilien looked relaxed. Enough to suggest that the day they already spent together and now their journey, of course one would begin to tire and take advantage of the peaceful ride. She did not say anything, not when staring at him was nothing short of uninteresting.

Vittoria did not interrupt him as she allowed some quiet between them both. Whether he truly slept or feigned it, she relented and turned her attentions to the window on his side. It offered something more than the line of forest they had been skirting, and what seemed to be mere minutes that had gone by, the view of the town below came into view.

She did not lightly shake Kilien's shoulder until the carriage came to a stop.

"We have arrived."

The sun had begun it's descent, but at least this time of the year it took it's time before descending behind the trees in this forested area. They were stopped before the tea house, but Vittoria waited for Kilien to stir.

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

He had, in fact, dozed right off. Vittoria had missed her chance to rid herself of the mongrel once and for all - not that killing the man in his sleep would have been very respectable or fun.

With a stiff inhale at her words and gentle shake, Kilien's eyes blinked open to the sight of the town outside his window. How quickly a nap had made the trip, almost as if they'd arrived by magic. He made a noise of bemusement, a droll smile shifting the scruff on his face as he looked back to Vittoria, "Tea first?"

Tea first.

Kilien departed from their carriage, offering a hand to his companion should she want it, and shortly cast a curious look about the place. It had a quiet sort of feel to it, but not the sort of quiet that plagued so many towns haunted by war, battle, or strife. It felt homely. Welcoming. A far cry from that which he lived within at the Academy.

"What's the name of this place again?" he asked her as she took the lead to the tea shop.

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Where did her thoughts go before she had taken his offered hand to help her from the carriage? Before, Vittoria would have at least voiced in her own mind the reservations of being kind to him, but a matter of hours had rendered her comfortable enough to take his hand and not immediately drop it after she stood outside beside him.

Not that he was quick to remember to drop her hand either.

"This town is called Orean." And it was true to her word of being busy.

Festivities were being prepared, the last touches being made. A sign advertised the first night of celebrations would begin this night, and there certainly were more people out and about. She hoped this meant the tea house would be quieter.

Still holding his hand, it proved useful when she pulled him to follow her. "This way." Past a few shops, and around one corner, soon they came across the peaceful tea house. A table by the window and a table by one corner were all that was left. Vittoria frowned. "I had hoped one of the quieter areas were not occupied..."

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

Her hand was warmer than he would have imagined. Chilly was the word he might've thought to describe physical contact with her, given her reputation and disposition, but color him amused to find she was as warm as any human.

"Orean, right," he hadn't remembered it from before, but at least making some show of effort to remember it now would count for something. Boots clomped across cobble, following the lead of the other Initiate, and slowed to a stop as they arrived at the tea house. Invigorated by the festive evening and the crowds of the town, Kilien did not find the same disappointment to see their destination was rather busy.

"Why," he slipped a sideways smirk at her, "you trying not to be seen with me?"

It was his turn to tug her along, wending through the occupied tables to take the one by the window. Here they could see everything going on outside - that was the point, wasn't it? To see the sites? Kil pulled out a chair for her and took the one opposite, curiously pursuing a menu on the table of the various teas on offer.

"Don't know most of these kinds," he admitted after a moment.

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

It did not matter if they were seen together or not. Not when Vittoria in fact was a regular visitor here, even before attending the Academy she had spent summers here with her father's best friend's family. Connell and his wife were not blessed with children, but had taken her in when her father was tasked on longer missions. She had spent considerable time here in Orean, and was known to those that resided here.

The server came to their table without another moment passing, a doting smile on her face as she looked to Vittoria.

"You took up my suggestion on returning for the first night of the festival, Little V!" She cooed, already setting down cups on saucers onto their table. A small jar of sugar cubes and a small pitched of milk to share between them. "And you brought a... someone."

Vittoria smiled, a true although small smile. "Kilien Basmarc." She provided, watching him closely as she said. "A friend."

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

Smiling pleasantly to the waitress, Kilien's gaze shifted to Vittoria at the title she'd chosen for him. He'd been expecting fellow Initiate or something stuffy and proper like acquaintance. Friend was a nice surprise. A dark brow arched at the term and the girl speaking it, eyes lingering on her hawk-like gaze briefly as he wondered just what her aim was with it.

"Basmarc," said the woman, "not a name I recognize."

"No ma'am," Kil looked back to her, silently glad she did not seem well-read on Dreadlord or Academy history, "my family's from the south."

"Ah, just as well, we're glad to have you. I'll give you two a moment to look over the selection - check the new seasonals, Vi," with a warm smile she drifted off to her other tables.

"Vi," Kil repeated with emphasis on the consonant, "that's a nice nickname. I take it you two go way back, then?"

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Busying herself by perusing the new seasonal tea, perhaps something new to impress her tastes with, Vittoria merely hummed in acknowledgement to Kilien's question. "She lives next to my uncle's property."

Setting down the menu, she smiled. "I think the citrus and floral blend would sound lovely. Something light..."

Her eyes drift up to meet Kilien's stare. The use of one of the nicknames residents used here made her blink. "Oh, well... I spent time here before attending the Academy. As a child you can never intimidate someone into not coming up and using an alternative name..."

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

"I dunno," Kilien eyed her skeptically, "I've met some pretty scary children..." and he wouldn't doubt she'd been one of them. He chuffed at the thought and turned his attention back to the menu, finding a nice earthy black tea to try for himself. Something from the northern valley of some place he had no idea where.

"I find it hard to believe Little Vi wasn't just as intimidating as Big Vi."

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Vittoria held up her hand to beckon their server to return, placing their order with her before Vittoria gave Kilien an amused smile.

"Oh, yes, I was a terror to some as a child. I once made it halfway to the Academy at seven years old before my uncle found me with my packed lunch and my cloak covered in mud and brances. I made my own shortcut."

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

A gruff laugh spilled from between white teeth, amusement growing across his expression as he shifted in his seat. He gladly accepted a small basket of freshly made biscuits from the waitress as she passed by again, plucking one for himself to take a bite.

"Mm - and what did Little Vi pack for her lunch?"

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Vittoria looked across to him, curious about his line of inquiry, but that did not stop her from informing him of her answer. She knew it would amuse him, and she liked seeing him smile.

"Three roast pork sandwiches. Two apples that were not yet ripe for picking or eating... and a waterskin that had lost it's stopper on the journey and spilled until it was empty."

Her hand reached for a biscuit, careful not to touch his hand again. There was an instinct to want to hold it again... but across the table? No, that would warrant a further explanation past calling him a friend.

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

Another chuckle, "She had quite the appetite."

Not that an appetite was a bad thing. Kilien rather respected a woman who could eat. And drink.

Though tea was a bit different, he'd not shared tea with too many others outside of family.

"Why so eager to get to the Academy?"

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

"She always wanted to prove she was capable with her magic." Said the server upon return. Two pots were placed before one another. Their server stayed a moment, smiling at Vittoria and even daring to brush back some of the dark locks behind her shoulder. "Little V came from a line of strong Dreadlords, but her father wanted her to wait. Every summer, she came here since he was born, and I can tell you, I have never met someone so fixed on their goal as Vittoria."

"Thank you Rose." Vittoria managed a polite expression.

"Now, is he a friend like King or a friend... you are getting to know?" Asked Rose, winking at Kilien as she waited for Vittoria to answer.

Vittoria unfortunately did not understand the connotations of her tone and the wink, and simply said. "A friend I am getting to know."

"Right!" Surprise and grinning, Rose began to shuffle away. "I best leave you two alone."

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

So not so different from the young woman she was now. Made sense, he supposed.

"I strive to be perfection. My father taught me, and it was not hard to keep it up."

She'd been raised with a silver spoon in her mouth and a purpose on her plate while he'd been raised with the wind in his hair and the wilds at his back. It was rather likely her father had groomed her to be what she desired simply because it was in their blood.

Generation after generation of indoctrinated child soldiers. He frowned at the thought before the server's question derailed it entirely.

A friend like King or a friend... you are getting to know?

His eyes slowly turned up to view the face of the server, seeing an expression upon it he could read far better than any book of herbology and poisons. The wink could not be missed or misunderstood. Then, just as slowly, they turned to look at Vittoria.

Well, apparently it could. That or her poker face was far better than he imagined.

So what did she think it meant? A friend like King...

"Besides, you make your own family. King is the brother I never had, but many of our peers think we are more than that to each other."

...or a friend you are getting to know.

Kilien's gaze trailed after the waitress briefly, pondering the thought that she might be trying to get him into trouble if she truly knew the nature of Vittoria Larrainth. Either way, at least there was tea. He turned to his pot and poured the first cup of his own brew.

"So I'm a friend now, am I?"

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Vittoria pierced him with her gaze as she poured with practise into her cup. Her eyes unwavered, using her hearing to know when her cup was near full before breaking her stare to drop her pot back to the table. She used a spoon to taste it, licking her lips when some of the tea spilled over the spoon.

"You are quite different from the rest. I have not declared boredom... and I invited you here." Vittoria offered him a shrug, as if to say that was obvious.

"Why? What would you call me?"

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

He very clearly recalled not more than a few hours ago Vittoria declaring, without any room for misinterpretation, that she would under no circumstances ever come to call him friend.

So... either he was quite a bit more charming than he knew, or she wasn't nearly as staunch in her beliefs as she thought. Or perhaps she was just playing him for a fool. Kilien considered all this as she prodded at him for an ulterior name for what, exactly, they could be called. He wasn't often one to bring up the faults and follies of others - by the Gods he knew he was terribly far from perfect - so he opted to simply let it be.

If Vittoria Larrainth wanted to call him her friend, then friend it was.

Looking gift horses in the mouth, an all.

"Just makin' sure is all..." Kil lifted his hands to ward off any reason to change her mind, "Friend is fine. Pal. Buddy. Compadre...they all work."

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Vittoria kept her eyes on him, not thinking about that stray thought that told her it was hard not to do. Even as she brought her cup to her lips, her sea green eyes were still fixed on him. "I do not call many friend." Delicately, she sipped the hot tea, placing it back onto the saucer and letting the flavour sit on her tongue a moment with consideration.

"Hmm..." Was all she gave in review. It was lovely, a nice seasonal tea perfect for the summer they were experiencing. "Are you questioning whether or not it is dangerous to be in any such position?"

 

[Kilien Basmarc]

"Nope," he replied candidly, popping his lips on the p. A glance up at her as he slowly stirred a splash of milk into his tea gave her no reason to question the response.

"If I worried about being in danger all the time I'd never get to enjoy anything," the tea cup was certainly more feminine than anything he'd pick to use but he picked it up and supped from him without issue. Kilien was nothing if not completely comfortable in his own skin.

"And I fully intend to enjoy this tea, Madame." A smirk, a wink, a sip. It was pretty good.

 

[Vittoria Larrainth]

Vittoria surprised herself by voluntarily telling Kilien stories of her summers here before the Academy. She spoke of the tea house, the afternoons reading by the river, and how she always looked forward to her father returning from long missions but would come to her first.

In fact, it was this time last year that he had passed.

Despite her lack of emotions, her speaking them either, it was clear that thoughts of her father now weighed something in her. Vittoria shifted in her seat, a slight wrinkling above the bridge of her nose as she feigned being lost in thought over a question Kilien had asked her.

Her eyes flicked up, staring at Kilien a moment before tilting her head at him. "Sorry... did you say you wanted to... go for a walk?" In fact, she had not fully heard him over the rush of sound in her mind. Awkwardly, and hurriedly, Vittoria pushed her chair back and stood. "We can go for a walk."

There was something in her gaze that asked him to go for a walk, as if it were a better idea than ordering a second pot of tea.