• Closed • Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder (Virikai)

[Maebella]

62 Zi'da 717

Maebella carried a few tomes in her arms out of the Prime Atheneum. Classes were finished for the trial and she didn't have any work so she'd chosen to pop into the repository of knowledge to pick up a bit of light reading. The young woman could have stayed within the building to carry out her study but that would have been too easy for her. It was a place of quiet and easy concentration whereas she was trying to teach herself better discipline. If she could manage to sit in the midst of her residence with her noisy roommates but keep her mind on what she intended then she'd be doing well.

The Eídisi had been paying visits to the Academy's Fitness Centre ever since Caesia had attacked her. Aside from reporting the girl, it had been necessary to take certain steps to ensure that no one could ever assault her like that again. As such, she'd entered the place in search of something that would help her. She hadn't known a great deal about it but she'd heard of Menochoros and knew it was a martial art. Since she'd started learning more about it, she'd been working on meditation, discipline and endurance, as well as the combat itself. The scholar felt stronger, more empowered and there was something very enjoyable about the highly cerebral components of the art. She didn't take any pleasure in violence but it wasn't about causing harm to others. If it came down to it, she'd be able to defend herself though; she was confident about that.

The student would have pursued such a course of action regardless of Virikai's intervention. He had acted as if she was brushing the incident with the redhead off entirely but in truth, she'd just needed a bit of distance and a bit of time to consider the matter. It hadn't even taken that long to do but he hadn't given her the benefit of the doubt. She hadn't forgotten his use of pain to make a point and to be quite honest, he'd only added strength to her decision to know how to defend herself. Mae didn't want anyone to have the power to hurt her that way.

She hadn't seen the young man for a while, almost half the season in fact. That didn't mean she hadn't thought about him though. Maebella would be embarrassed to admit just how much she'd thought about him. Depending on her mood, she'd wonder if he'd praise her decisions or she'd wish that she could rub her ability to care for herself in her face. She wanted to prove him wrong but really what she wanted more than anything was to see him.

The scholar had taken great care to effectively wean herself off Virikai Talius. If she'd wanted to, the young woman could have found him easily enough, sought him out so they could interact but she hadn't. She'd gone out of her way not to do it. When they'd last been together, the extent of her feelings for him had been a bit more apparent and it had frightened her. Not to mention that the sensation that her heart had literally broken in her chest had been reason enough for her to try to separate herself from him. He hadn't come looking for her so it was quite possible that his feelings for her weren't anything akin to her own. The scion had always acted coolly towards her and honestly, she didn't think that he thought of her that way.

Unfortunately, it hadn't stopped the young woman from tossing and turning in bed, almost screaming in despair and frustration, as thoughts of him plagued her at night. She'd cried herself to sleep on more than one occasion. She'd even thought of him when she found other forms of relief, the pleasure she gained from it bittersweet and often leaving her feeling hollow.

Trying to push the scion from her mind, she shifted the books she held so that they rested against one hip while she swept her hair back out of her face. It was a comfortable position so she kept it as she continued walking, pondering if she'd head straight to her accommodation or if she'd go somewhere else first like The White Fox Inn.

[Virikai Talius]

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The young lordling in question had has similar intrusive, unwanted thoughts plaguing his mind for the past half a season. A girl he had only met a handful of times, and for a short span of time at that, had been weighing on his mind more than expected. Of course, he had not cried himself to sleep, nor had he indulged his wayward trains of thought, merely brushing them aside. But, every so often, he had wondered about the strange, unruly girl, and how she was doing.

The morning after she had been forced to stay in one of the Talius Residence guest bedrooms had been a quiet affair. Virikai had done a final check over and, once satisfied that she did not need to be monitored further, he had discharged her from his care after a hearty breakfast cooked by one of the slaves. Maebella had clearly not wanted to talk to him that morning, and had not seen Virikai since.

But Virikai had seen his Bella.

It was a remarkably unwelcome sensation, to know that he… no, he didn’t care about the girl. But he was fascinated by her. Intrigued by the contradictory way in which she marched to the beat of her own drums. She was a puzzle, a challenge, a pawn destined to reach the other side of the board and become something greater. That was all it was. Virikai did not allow himself to think that there could be another reason for why his mind kept returning to the girl. He had never actively considered that he might, or would, actually feel something for her.

But he had thought about her all the same. And he had taken it a step further: investigating her schedule; keeping tabs on her; and using his family’s influence on the network of guards to ensure her safety. Virikai had been pleasantly surprised when he found out that she had reported her attacker, and even taken it a step further to learn how to protect herself. He was pleased that she would not roll over and expose her belly like an omega dog. He liked to imagine it was his words which had spurred Maebella into action.

Standing just out of sight, down a corridor which would lead down to the secondary entrance of the Academy, Virikai saw his quarry leaving the Prime Atheneum. Using his gifts given to him by Yvithia, the Xyph relayed an image to Maebella, reminding her of when he had taken her down to the Tienite Reavers’ warehouse. He hoped she would understand the underlying message: the powers of Xypha were not freely used around the city, despite so many people having Yvithia’s favour.

If she turned and headed away from the crowds, he would reveal himself, “Good afternoon, Bella,” he would murmur, reaching down for the hand that was not laden with heavy tomes, and raising it to his lips to brush a kiss along the cool blue skin.

[Maebella]

The last thing the young woman had been expecting was the Xypha's mental touch and thus when it came, she actually stopped dead, eyes wide. She'd only just been thinking about him - not that that was anything new - and then there he was, seemingly in range and-

If Virikai didn't want to see her then he wouldn't have reached out to her that way but the question was whether she wanted to see him or not. The answer was a rather emphatic yes but that was a gut reaction, an instinctual desire to see the man that she'd been pining for in order to gain some relief. If she considered it logically then it was far better to stay away. All it would take would be a few bits with him and she'd be right back to square one, the time she'd purposely kept away from him a pointless endeavour. However, there could be no logic in this situation, that tantalising sense of closeness enough to send her heart racing. It was like her body had received a hit to the system, that brief contact providing her with enough of a fix from her drug of choice. There was a wonderful sense of euphoria and as much as she wished that she could squash it, the damage had been done.

Given that the majority of the harm had already been done, Mae didn't have any problem leaving the main thoroughfare and giving into temptation. It only got better of course when she saw him, the jolt of electricity that shot through her ready to make her grin like a fool. She couldn't manage to remain entirely impassive but she didn't submit to the urge either. Instead, she smiled demurely, even as she felt her face warm. Hearing him speak, hearing him say Bella was almost too good but when he took her hand and kissed it, her insides seemed to liquefy. The girl wondered if he could somehow see through her and see how powerful an effect he had on her.

"Good afternoon, Virikai. How... how have you been?" she asked softly, knuckles paling as she clasped her books more tightly. By Yvithia, she was ready to declare how much she'd missed him. It was lurking on the top of her tongue, ready to treacherously leap off at the worst possible moment. Biting it probably wouldn't do any good.

[Virikai Talius]

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Oh, she was so responsive to even the most innocent of touches. The way her cheeks flushed with colour under his gaze, the way her breathing hitched ever so slightly, the way her pulse seemed to flutter against his skin. She was delightful. Virikai had forgotten just how much he enjoyed her.

“I have been well, thank you. And you, Bella? I trust you have avoided any… compromising situations to your health?” Releasing the woman’s hand, his lips widened into a smile. Maebella seemed to be having an internal battle with herself - did she want to spew vitriol at him? Or was she pushing back the urge to fling herself at him? With the Arts student, Virikai could never really tell, such a capricious little soul that she was.

If Maebella was trying to school her face into something neutral, she wasn’t really succeeding. Virikai had started using the diminutive ‘Bella’ more often with his companion - vaguely remembering a first use as if it had been in a dream. It was her reaction to that which fascinated Kai the most. Her reaction was absolutely sublime.

Turning his body away from the main thoroughfare of the Academy, Virikai’s hand found its natural place on the small of Maebella’s back. “As you have finished your final lecture of the day, I was hoping you would accompany me to the Fruit Gardens. I am sure you have tasted their delights, but I have heard rumour of a new selection of fruits the family have grown these past seasons.” He glanced down at the other student’s arms, laden with books, “Though I had not expected you to be carrying around half of Viden’s knowledge.”

In reality, he had. Having watched her movements these past few seasons, Virikai had seen Maebella with books more often than not. They walked a little further, where a slave was waiting at the large doors which would lead the couple out into the cold air. He slowed, expecting MAebella to do the same, and spoke to the slave, “Take Miss Arval’s books and bag back to the Talius residence. She will collect them later.” He commanded his family’s property. Virikai did not speak unkindly to his slave, but there was the distinct expectation that his commands would be obeyed.

If Maebella handed over the books, which he hoped she would do without argument, the slave would bow deeply to the pair before turning down a passageway which would lead back down to the Obsidian Wing. “Well, now that you are free to move as you will,” It wasn’t just the Fruit Gardens that Kai wanted to take Maebella to see - the badly-hidden secret of Burnt Wine - at least in sone circles of Viden - was a popular choice too. The scion knew little of Maebella’s enjoyment of alcohol, but he was sure he could find something to tickle Maebella’s tongue in the Aranaz family’s vast cellars. “Shall we?”

[Maebella]

Breathing was supposed to be something that was automatic, done without thought and yet once she became hyperaware of it, not wanting to hyperventilate in his presence, she wasn't sure that she could breathe. If she stopped thinking about it then would her lungs unfreeze or would they remain paralysed, unable to cope with resuming their natural rhythm of their own accord.

Breath, Bella, she told herself, unknowingly adopting his name for her.

"I'm glad to hear it. I've been well actually... quite well," she admitted with a warmer smile than before, his own smile melting her resistance to displaying the full extent of her emotions. "I've managed to keep myself healthy and intact. Additionally, I'm not nearly as helpless as I was."

She adjusted the books that she held so that they wouldn't slip, almost allowing them to topple from her grasp entirely as he laid his hand on her. His touch was enough to send a tremor through her body that he couldn't have missed and the scholar hated her flesh for so openly betraying her weakness for him. His touch went entirely to her head, so much so that when he commented that she'd had her last lecture for the day, she giggled.

"Oh? You've been keeping tabs on me, have you Virikai?" she threw out playfully, caution flung thoughtlessly into the wind with no thought of the potential consequences. "I suppose that I might be able to tolerate your company although as you say, I am carrying around a wealth of knowledge, and it would be a shame to be parted from the acquisition of it for too long," Mae added with another giggle, tilting her head so that she could look at him askance.

By Yvithia, she couldn't help herself! She was just so incredibly pleased to see him and interact with him again. If the scion had ever been in doubt that she was interested him, she'd probably well and truly obliterated it. She hadn't spoken like this since- No! She wasn't going to think of him when she had the Talius heir to occupy her attention. Instead, she would focus on the feel of his hand, a certain current seeming to crackle between them even through the layers of material. It was exceedingly pleasant though and thus, when he slowed, she slowed to rather than risk walking out of the range of his touch.

The Eídisi glanced at him swiftly, surprised by his orders. She'd collect them later, would she? Well, if he said it would be so then it would be. As such, she passed over the tomes that she carried and slipped her bag from her shoulder to give to the waiting slave. She rolled her shoulder back, loosening the muscle and easing the tension that had grown in it from the weight. She also shook out her arm lightly, reinvigorating her circulation in the limb, which had been somewhat deadened by her burden.

"Completely free thanks to you. Thank you," she murmured with a soft smile, finding herself leaning towards him unconsciously, seeking a greater closeness to him. "Please, lead the way. I'll be quite happy to enjoy... their various wares with you," the scholar added, resisting the urge to look him askance again.

[Virikai Talius]

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Maebella’s jab at his knowing her schedule was mocking, and he doubted she was serious; anyone could find out the schedule of classes for various subjects and levels if they were bothered to go through the effort. But Virikai had done that and more. “I have,” he said simply, his gaze carrying none of the playfulness that Maebella had as he glanced over. Viden was, for the most part, a benign state for the citizens and visitors to live in. If one cared to look deep enough, however, they would see just how well it mirrored a totalitarian state, where thoughts were policed on a daily basis. They would rarely act on the knowledge, but Yvithia and her most powerful Xyphs were not above keeping tabs on the population, as Virikai and Linika knew only too well. Virikai was only following his father’s example.

“I promise I will not keep you from your beloved books for long. But sometimes practical experience is just as valuable as knowledge garnered from the written word.” He smiled, pleased that she had not put up an argument in front of the slave in turning over the books. Though part of him wondered if he could get her to do anything right now.

The way she was looking at him, the wavering of the pitch of her voice… they said the voice would be the first to give away any state of being - whether it be physical or emotional, sickness or wellbeing. Such was clearly true in Maebella’s case. She was like an open book, enthralled by his mere presence, as if in awe that the young lordling would want to give her attention. But it had not been easy. Virikai was used to the simpering and fluttering eyelashes from the fairer sex. What he was not used to was it taking so long to elicit such a reaction.

Perhaps that was why he liked it: because he had had to work for it.

“Besides, everyone deserves a little time to relax and enjoy themselves. You seem to have been neglecting that side of life for the past few trials. It is certainly not healthy, Bella.” To reach the Fruit Gardens, the pair would have to leave the Fortress proper, heading out into the sub-zero winds of Zi’da. Virikai gave Maebella a moment’s warning to brace herself against the cold before opening the door. Once outside, he also closed the gap between them, arm now firmly around her waist to minimise the risk of Marbella being thrust in any direction by the wind, which could change strength without warning. “The Aranaz Estate is just beyond these buildings. It will not be long.”

[Maebella]

Despite her teasing tone, Maebella was strangely eager to hear him admit to such a thing. If he said that he'd checked up her schedule then it meant that he'd considered it worth the bother. Not that it was much bother really, but it still took a certain amount of intent and a little bit of time. It would have been far easier to ignore her existence but despite the time they'd been apart, despite his lack of contact in the interim, he obviously was interested in her.

As a puzzle perhaps, you do seem to intrigue him, a logical voice in her mind suggested, bypassing any hint of amorous intention. Perhaps it - well, she herself - had a point; better to be practical rather than allowing all sensible thought desert her entirely. Unfortunately, she didn't want to be practical. Sure, there was a lack of control in the relationship, a distinct sense that she was going out on a limb without guarantee that she'd remain unscathed but there was something terrifically thrilling about it. The Eídisi couldn't deny that she took some pleasure in the uncertainty and unpredictability of the thing, something that was quite contrary to how she typically went through life.

"Yes, experience is just as useful if not more so than the written word; not everything can be learned from books. That's the first time I've heard that one," the scholar retorted sarcastically, thinking of her brothers and their eagerness to gain knowledge firsthand in foreign places. She'd always been something of a homebird; Viden had always been enough for her. However, thoughts of her brothers brought a touch of sadness to her expression; it had been too long since she'd heard from the young men. Not only did she miss them but she also worried a little. After all, she had no way of knowing if they got themselves into trouble and the idea that they might have come to harm...

She discarded those thoughts, quickly trying to divert her attention. It wouldn't be wise to dwell on these things while she was with Virikai. After all, she didn't want to get herself into a tizzy while she was with him. She felt instinctively that he simply wouldn't get it.

When he pointed out that she needed to enjoy herself, she laughed, the sound bearing a melancholic note. "Ah yes, but I do find reading relaxing. That is how I enjoy myself," Maebella pointed out, tucking hair behind her ear; the mark that had marred her cheek when they last saw each other was long gone now. "Oh I know that I could do something with my wealth of friends, given how many people are keen to be acquainted with me, but it doesn't really interest me. Such a shame to disappoint those individuals clamouring to share my truly thrilling companionship," she added self-derisively, bitterness edging her words.

The scion moved to open the door to the outside, the Eídisi girl tensing in expectation of the biting cold that lay beyond. Even though she knew what was coming, she still shivered violently as the icy air caught her, shrinking from it and instead seeking an even greater closeness to Virikai. It was for some shared warmth of course, a way to minimise the amount of surface that the freezing gusts could reach. It had nothing to do with anything else, it definitely had nothing to do with the desire to feel his firm form pressed against her own.

"I'd certainly hope not," the scholar commented, wincing as a frosty fingernail seemed to cross her cheek. She huddled more tightly into her cloak, clutching the material more closely around her, tucking her chin against her chest. "I only hope that it's worth it. I hope that you haven't brought me out here for the purpose of merely settling a chill into my bones, my lord," Mae added, tongue almost tangibly caressing the honorific. The corners of her mouth curved upwards slightly but she didn't look at him, more concerned with reaching her destination so she could be free of Zi'da's cold.

[Virikai Talius]

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“I don't know, your actions over the past few trials have indicated the contrary. And I so hate to see people missing out on the wonders of the world. There is nothing wrong with reading, nor enjoying it...” The scholar's eyes shined with amusement. “I don't recall you making much of an effort to seek out company, Bella. In fact, so far all of our meetings could be attributed to my efforts. You are not a scientist, but you are scientifically minded. Scientists work in fact... what more evidence do you need to prove your statement is false?”

Virikai much preferred it when Maebella was quick with her wit. She normally always had something to say in return to his words… and the Talius scion, whilst he had enjoyed finally making his point understood for Maebella, had not been glad of her silence last time they met. He felt as if something had… broken inside her that day, and he had spent many a trial watching her in the hopes that it had not been her spirit. It seemed not.

“Do you doubt me?” He asked, his own words taking on a teasing tone as he glanced over to his companion. Approaching the gate to the compound, he nodded to the guard who, recognising him, bowed and opened the gate, letting them pass through. There was a public shop within the main city, but that shop wasn’t selling the new fruits, nor did it have the supplies of alcohol readily available. Before Kai introduced her to the wine and spirits, however, he wanted to show her the fruits. “This way.”

Within a few more ticks, they were inside again, warming against the cold and removing layers. Another slave, one of the vast hoards the Aranaz family kept, greeted the pair, “My Lord, Miss, welcome to the Fruit Gardens. What may I help you with this fine trial?”

“Fruit first, if you will,” Virikai replied, his tone ever-civil. He turned to Maebella, his smile growing at the prospect of showing Maebella something so unusual. “Would you like to see the greenhouses? They are, as I understand it, warmed arc-round by arcanists. I cannot profess much knowledge on how it is managed, and I don’t try to, preferring the mystery. But it is a surreal experience to be in a heated building and look outside to see nothing but white, arctic lands around.”

The slave nodded, “An excellent choice, My Lord. Our strawberries this year have grown larger and are claimed to be even sweeter than ever before.” Their guide gestured for them to follow him. All greenhouses could be accessed from this main building, so they would not have to head outside again, thankfully. Though, even inside, Virikai did not distance himself from Maebella again, somehow enjoying the close proximity of feeling her smaller body fit into his like a well-cut puzzle piece.

[Maebella]

Perhaps she could have retorted coolly if he'd left it at the first sentence or given her a chance to respond before he carried on. However, any retort she could have made about most of the things she was interested in only existing in books, he had to go and say that. Wonder of the world. There was no other way she could interpret it aside from the fact that he was referring to her. She knew that he found her intriguing and she knew that she was different - she'd always thought broken - but that was quite a stunning compliment. It seemed to be something that he was quite good at doing, describing her in terms that no one ever had before. The young woman felt sure that this was the sort of thing that would have sent a human woman rather eagerly to his bed. However, the fact that she'd even thought such a thing made her flush. Perhaps she was just as susceptible to those sweet words, just as ready to become more attracted to him as a result.

"Well, yes... perhaps you make a fair point," she whispered, unable to come up with anything witty to throw back at him. Her face truly seemed to be ablaze now and she wanted to hide behind the strands of her hair but she had the funny feeling that it would go up in smoke with her skin so hot beneath it. No doubt, the young man would find her reaction to be a source of amusement. She was too flustered for a bit or two but she was able to recover some of her former faculties once they were en route to their destination.

"Should I doubt you?" she countered, a slight curve to her lips. She might seem amused but under it, she genuinely wondered. She didn't know what she should think about the Talius scion. He was honestly a mystery to her, both in terms of his motives and his way of thinking but he hadn't given her reason to believe that he was a man who went back on his word. If he said something, it would happen, even if he had to wield power to make it so, she felt certain of that. Still, she was glad when they reached the estate and returned to a world of warmth once more.

Slipping off her cloak, she set it aside and returned to the same comfortable position she'd occupied at his side before. Virikai hadn't tried to remove her so who was she to remove herself? If he didn't complain about the closeness then she'd be quite happy to stay there indefinitely; she felt safe there.

She returned his smile, giving the slightest shrug with the shoulder that wasn't touching him. "I don't mind. I'm quite happy to do whatever you think would be interesting. You obviously have more knowledge in the matter than I do," she murmured, the concept of the greenhouses certainly seeming intriguing to her. If it was magic then that was definitely something she'd like to see in action. However, even if it was the result of technological ingenuity, she'd be happy to bear witness to it. Given her present company, there was little else she needed to enjoy herself and she was quite willing to place her fate in his hands.

"So have you brought me here to ply me with fruit and potentially sweeten me for something?" Mae questioned softly, letting loose a murmur of laughter.

[Virikai Talius]

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A brief description of the fruits and their growth pattern was supplied by the slave as they walked, pointing out features and plants along the way. This was primarily for Maebella’s benefit; the slave knew the lordling was a relatively frequent visitor to the Gardens. “Do you think you need to doubt me?” The young Talius scion returned just as quickly, eyebrow raised. He was far better at playing the game - for all of Maebella’s shows of blasé confidence, she was little more than a child in a world she did not understand, fleeing whenever anything became too hard for her to handle.

“Oh, Miss Arval, don’t test me,” the lordling laughed, with only a hint of mirth, as they followed behind the slave, who was now sensibly silent. “If I were to ply you with anything, it would not be frozen fruit.” The greenhouse was magnificent, just as it always was to Virikai, whenever he came to visit his contemporary, Julian. It was through his father, not the human, that Kai knew of the illegal activities of Burnt Wine, but Virikai had never hidden his knowledge from Julian, and that honesty had resulted in a somewhat positive relationship.

…Or at least as positive relationship as two psychopaths could engage in with one another.

“Regardless,” he continued, his pace slowing as he reached up for a small purpled clump of small drupelets from a thicket of brambles. Blackberries were by far his favourite fruit: an equal amount of sweet and sour. “Why would I need to sweeten you up for anything?” He popped the berry into his mouth, eyes fluttering closed as he enjoyed the dichotomy of easily released juices and firm torus, before picking another.

Turning to his companion, he raised the berry to her lips, inviting Maebella to open her mouth. It was a very intimate gesture, to expect Maebella to literally eat from his hand. Beyond the intimacy, it was a bold and daring statement, demanding a certain power over her. A light danced in Virikai’s eyes, a cold playfulness, daring her to comply or leave - there was no hiding now, Maebella had been a victim to his own threats, she knew who he was, and she had not fled yet. He didn’t tell Maebella this, but it was an action Virikai had witnessed their host, Julian Aranaz, perform multiple times, when he felt like toying with his slaves. It could be sensual or degrading... or even both... and Virikai meant it as the former, though he could not tell how the commoner would respond to the action.

He was done playing games with Maebella Arval. They had made quite the show of a dance, pushing and pulling against each other, a battle of wills like nothing Virikai had ever experienced form a contemporary. It was a delight, yet it also frustrated Kai to no end. And their public involvement had only added fuel to the fire. The rumours would end.

If she ate the berry, Virikai would lick his fingers clean of the purple stain, before placing the fingers below her chin. The amusement had now left his eyes, now burning with a seriousness which could bore holds through adamantium. “My darling Bella. Why would I be so obvious when, one way or another, sooner or later, I always get what I want?”

Off Topic

I'm so sorry for the delay, Bella <3 life, as you know, has been dire. I hope the steps Virikai has taken makes up for it.