Courtyard - Afternoon - Cloudy
Senka Rinaldi
Senka sighed, tucking the tome underneath her arm as she ignored the stares from the students around her. There was no end to the harsh slurs being tossed in her direction, but she was learning to ignore them. She had people who cared about her, who didn't care where she was from, or who she was. They cared about her, and that was all Senka found she needed. She could endure the harsh words, the thrown objects, and everything else associated with being who she was. Their thoughts, their words didn't matter to her.
And she'd nearly assaulted a student the other day for trying to get under her skin in a more literal sense. He was brave in his thought that he could get her to lay with him simply because of the rumor about her and Cyril. He was lucky Cyril showed up when he did, otherwise she might have done something that someone might not have approved of. It was likely that she'd have been given a lecture as well, or a punishment of sorts.
That wasn't important to her, though. She wanted to see how her friend was doing. It was his name, after all, being smeared through the mud as the leak, but Senka knew differently. She knew Vridel wouldn't have done that, and for someone to have suggested it, well... it made her angry that they tried to blame him for it. She knew who it was; knew who the person behind it was, but they couldn't prove it. They had no evidence to back it up, but they all knew.
But most of all, she just wanted to clear up any confusion. She wanted him to know that she did not blame him, that she never did. Never could. He was her best friend, and that meant something to her. It was that in mind that she began to search the academy for him.
She found him in one of the lesser-used courtyards, perhaps enjoying the slight improvement in the weather from the day before. He was sitting on a bench, legs pulled up to be crossed underneath him, some kind of book resting in his lap. Though his breath clouded with every exhalation, he didn't seem to be all that chilly—perhaps the fact that he was wearing his new cloak with its clasp in fact helped.
He looked up at her approach, though, tilting his head to the side and half-smiling softly. “Looking for some peace and quiet?" he asked in a knowing tone of voice. No doubt it was a reference to the rumors and harassment.
“I was looking for you, actually, but I suppose they are both the same," she replied, returning the smile with one of her own. Those were becoming increasingly easier, she'd found, to do. Smiling had been something she thought she'd lost after everything, but knowing that her friends were able to help her remember it, especially him, it warmed her heart. She took a seat next to him, though, and sighed softly.
“How are you doing, by the way? With... with everything that's been going on?" she asked, glancing at him from the corners of her eyes. It couldn't have been easy to deal with, but from all appearances, it looked like he was handling it well. Not that Senka could ever claim otherwise. Vridel did not often confide in her, and she wouldn't want him to unless it was something he wanted to do.
He shook his head faintly. “Nothing new, honestly. It bothers me that anyone would think I'd do that to you, but I suppose I have intentionally cultivated the image. I'm a vain, empty-headed, backstabbing pretty boy, you know. It's just the kind of thing I'd do to suck up to the Archbishop." He actually made a face at that.
“What about you, though? I'm sure people have actually harassed you about it, unlike me."
Senka rolled her eyes softly at the statement. “Hm, yes, well forgive me for not noticing sooner," she huffed in good-nature. She pursed her lips at his question, though, and contemplated her answer. “People have harrassed me, called me names, have thrown things at me on some occasions, and quite a handful have even tried forcefully propositioning me since I have a new reputation of being rather open to all types of people, now. Not that I didn't before, but apparently this has only seemed to reinforce the previous rumors," she furrowed her brows at that.
“They've all been dealt with, of course," either by herself in quiet, or by Cyril who has only dealt with the one person, so far. She dared not tell him about the others, though, mostly for his sake. “But it is nothing I am not not used to. Even before the reveal of my heritage, people often spoke about me because of my closeness to Sorcha, and my Almyran heritage. People do not like me even though they know nothing about me. It is, an unfortunate fact of life," that she has learned to accept.
“Thankfully, I have friends like you, Sorcha, Mercer, Thea, and the others." She truly didn't deserve such wonderful people in her life, but... maybe she did? She pulled the book from her side where she'd laid it, and held it out to him.
“I have something for you; a bit of a late birthday present that I meant to give you a couple of days ago. It just arrived, though, from Espera. It's an old tome of my mother's. Even though she was from Faerghus, she always seemed to have more of an affinity for the fire-based magics and... well, I think you can benefit from this. It's a higher classed fire spell called Meteor."
Vridel accepted the tome with a look of mild surprise on his face. “Thank you," he murmured, setting it down atop the other book in his lap. “I appreciate it, Sen. And you know... for what it's worth, while I'm sure you're highly capable of dealing with all those people on your own, I hope you know you don't have to. Letting one of us at them occasionally will help us feel useful, you know? Especially the aggressive ones."
He smiled, but it was more sharklike than mirthful. “I personally really enjoy reminding idiots where their hands don't get to go, you know?"
Senka chuckled softly as she leaned back. “Hm, I'll keep that in mind the next time an idiot tries," she replied, grinning lightly at him. “And... I hope you know that works both ways, Vi," she continued, glancing at him to hold his gaze. “For whatever problems you may be facing as well, I hope you know you can rely on me, and the rest of us as well, to help you. Whatever burden you feel like you can't handle alone, I'm here for you, too. You're one of my best friends, you know," she stated in a serious tone. She wanted him to know that she thought highly of him.
That she'd accepted him as one of her best friends, as her second best friend. At the beginning of the year, it had only been Sorcha, but now... now she had him as well, and the others. Her life was becoming full again, and they all felt like family. Not that she'd ever admit that to Mercer; it would go straight to his head, but she loved them all the same.
“Even if you feel like you can't tell Thea, or Mercer, or Sorcha... I want you to know that you can tell me. I'm not going to tell anyone your secrets, you know."
Vridel huffed softly, regarding her with a strange little half smile. “I hope you won't think me too full of myself if I say I'd already figured that much out, Sen." He shook his head faintly, then expelled a heavier breath, almost a sigh. “I also have it on good authority that you'll all be around in some sense even after we've gone our separate ways, and... I'm choosing to believe that. It's more reassuring than I would have expected."
He closed over the book, resettling the tome atop it. “Just as I hope you know that, once I'm properly in charge of Adrestia, there will always be a room in the castle with your name on it." His eyes narrowed, and then he grinned a little more outright. “Well... you might have to share with Cyril, but I figured you wouldn't mind so much."
“Sounds very appealing, I'll have to make sure we put it to good use, then, and visit. As I'm sure you'll be putting your own room to good use with Amalthea," she replied, matching his grin with one of her own. She reached over to tap his shoulder lightly, before settling her hand down. “And for what it's worth, I hope you know the same of when... of when I get Duscur back. There will always be a place for you, for everyone, there. It might not be as big as Faerghus, Adrestia, or the Alliance, but... there are places that are quite beautiful."
He laughed softly. “I'll be sure to take advantage; perhaps when we feel a vacation of some sort's in order. Monarchs can take those, right?" He arched an eyebrow, then looked down at the books, though he didn't quite seem to be seeing them.
“You know... it doesn't help much, but I think I figured out how Rhea knows. Do you remember how she was there, right after you told the Professor and I? What if she was actually present before she entered? Knowing now how fixated she is on him, it wouldn't surprise me if she'd followed him to the study session and eavesdropped."
Senka thought about his statement. It was quite likely that Rhea had been there the entire time, eavesdropping on Cyril. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, as she pursed her lips together. Who knows how many times Rhea had eavesdropped on conversations they've had before? She truly did seem to regard Cyril with the utmost... something. Senka didn't know the word for it, but she sighed softly.
“That woman... I do not know why she is so persistent. If she didn't want us to become close to Cyril, why give him a job at all as a professor? Surely she had to have known that his students would have become attached to him, regardless. There is no denying that he has... brought us all closer together than we ever would have been. Professor Manuela and Hanneman are lovely professors as well, but they don't have the... the charm that Cyril does. Maybe it's just me that thinks so, but..." she trailed off as she shook her head.
“Well it certainly seems to have affected you more," Vridel mused, flashing a smile to indicate that he was only teasing. It didn't stop the flush on her face, though. “But you're right. It's strange, you know. I've never had a mentor before. Never thought I needed one. But even though he's barely older than me, it just seems so... natural. And at the same time, it's very natural to think of him as a close friend of mine. There really is just something about the guy, I suppose."
He shrugged. “I'm glad you two actually talked to each other. He's good for you, and you're good for him, too."
She huffed lightly and willed the blush on her face, down. “Well... I figured you were right. I shouldn't decide something for someone, and that they have a right to decide for themselves what they think the risks are worth," she replied softly, smiling just the same as her eyes softened. “I'm not so sure if I'm good for him, considering all the..." she waved her hand in a vague gesture to indicate the rumors flying around, “but I will not deny that he is good for me. I cannot deny it."
“And let's be honest with ourselves, here," she began, a small little grin taking over her face. “We've all been good for each other. Thea has been good for you, Mercer has been good for Sorcha," her entire little family has been good for each other in more ways than one, and Senka would not deny this.
“Especially little Thea with how bold she's becoming because of you. I don't think I've ever seen anyone initiate a kiss like the one she gave you the other day," she stated, her grin turning a little sly.
He laughed outright at that, apparently not inclined to the least embarrassment. “You should have seen the first one. She practically grabbed my collar and yanked me into it. I was quite surprised, considering I'd come to her door to grovel and hope maybe she hadn't given up on me completely." There was just a trace of regret to the way he said it, no doubt for the actions of his that had led up to it, rather than anything else.
“Backstabbing prettyboy ladykiller, I am, and she still kissed me first. Clumsy as all hell, mind, but that was an easy fix." He arched a suggestive eyebrow and gestured slightly with one hand.
“What about you, Sen? Bold enough to kiss him first, or did he catch you by surprise?"
Senka pursed her lips at that, and pouted lightly. “We haven't really... well, kissed like you and Thea have," she spoke, a little disappointed by that fact, now that she thought about it. She understood that with their relationship, it wasn't going to be easy. “We've come close once... the day after the mission," but even then it had been innocent, and Senka wasn't entirely sure it counted as one.
“But... you understand how it is. As much as I might want to... it's just not possible at the moment," and by the gods of Duscur did she want to. More than anything in the world, but she could wait. Had to wait for three months to pass. Two, now, but all the same, she had to wait. She wasn't sure how long she could, but she said she would.
“You should enjoy what you can, Vi, with Thea. I'm not saying it won't happen eventually, but at least the two of you don't have to... hide it," and Senka would not deny that she was a little envious of that. She wished she didn't have to hide her feelings for Cyril, but she understood the dangers of it. Understood that his position as her teacher, mattered in this place. Sometimes she wished it didn't.
For a moment, he looked profoundly pained by something, but then he sighed quietly and rested an arm around her shoulders, gently nudging her in closer to himself. He wasn't nearly as warm as Cyril, and was decidedly more slender, but when he threw part of the cloak over her, there was warmth nevertheless.
“It's not forever," he said gently. “Not that that helps much now, I'm sure. But... already it's been almost another month, so there's basically only two left now. That's a third of the way done. Has to count for something, right?"
“It does. It counts for something," she replied, pulling the cloak a little closer around herself. “I'm sure Thea will forgive me for taking this little bit of comfort from you," she huffed lightly. “But thank you, Vridel, for everything. Don't tell Sorcha, but you're my best friend, right now."
“And I'm sure she'll be it some other time," he replied lightly. “I'm fortunate enough to have many best friends, now. It's nice, right?"
It really was nice to have many.
And she'd nearly assaulted a student the other day for trying to get under her skin in a more literal sense. He was brave in his thought that he could get her to lay with him simply because of the rumor about her and Cyril. He was lucky Cyril showed up when he did, otherwise she might have done something that someone might not have approved of. It was likely that she'd have been given a lecture as well, or a punishment of sorts.
That wasn't important to her, though. She wanted to see how her friend was doing. It was his name, after all, being smeared through the mud as the leak, but Senka knew differently. She knew Vridel wouldn't have done that, and for someone to have suggested it, well... it made her angry that they tried to blame him for it. She knew who it was; knew who the person behind it was, but they couldn't prove it. They had no evidence to back it up, but they all knew.
But most of all, she just wanted to clear up any confusion. She wanted him to know that she did not blame him, that she never did. Never could. He was her best friend, and that meant something to her. It was that in mind that she began to search the academy for him.
She found him in one of the lesser-used courtyards, perhaps enjoying the slight improvement in the weather from the day before. He was sitting on a bench, legs pulled up to be crossed underneath him, some kind of book resting in his lap. Though his breath clouded with every exhalation, he didn't seem to be all that chilly—perhaps the fact that he was wearing his new cloak with its clasp in fact helped.
He looked up at her approach, though, tilting his head to the side and half-smiling softly. “Looking for some peace and quiet?" he asked in a knowing tone of voice. No doubt it was a reference to the rumors and harassment.
“I was looking for you, actually, but I suppose they are both the same," she replied, returning the smile with one of her own. Those were becoming increasingly easier, she'd found, to do. Smiling had been something she thought she'd lost after everything, but knowing that her friends were able to help her remember it, especially him, it warmed her heart. She took a seat next to him, though, and sighed softly.
“How are you doing, by the way? With... with everything that's been going on?" she asked, glancing at him from the corners of her eyes. It couldn't have been easy to deal with, but from all appearances, it looked like he was handling it well. Not that Senka could ever claim otherwise. Vridel did not often confide in her, and she wouldn't want him to unless it was something he wanted to do.
He shook his head faintly. “Nothing new, honestly. It bothers me that anyone would think I'd do that to you, but I suppose I have intentionally cultivated the image. I'm a vain, empty-headed, backstabbing pretty boy, you know. It's just the kind of thing I'd do to suck up to the Archbishop." He actually made a face at that.
“What about you, though? I'm sure people have actually harassed you about it, unlike me."
Senka rolled her eyes softly at the statement. “Hm, yes, well forgive me for not noticing sooner," she huffed in good-nature. She pursed her lips at his question, though, and contemplated her answer. “People have harrassed me, called me names, have thrown things at me on some occasions, and quite a handful have even tried forcefully propositioning me since I have a new reputation of being rather open to all types of people, now. Not that I didn't before, but apparently this has only seemed to reinforce the previous rumors," she furrowed her brows at that.
“They've all been dealt with, of course," either by herself in quiet, or by Cyril who has only dealt with the one person, so far. She dared not tell him about the others, though, mostly for his sake. “But it is nothing I am not not used to. Even before the reveal of my heritage, people often spoke about me because of my closeness to Sorcha, and my Almyran heritage. People do not like me even though they know nothing about me. It is, an unfortunate fact of life," that she has learned to accept.
“Thankfully, I have friends like you, Sorcha, Mercer, Thea, and the others." She truly didn't deserve such wonderful people in her life, but... maybe she did? She pulled the book from her side where she'd laid it, and held it out to him.
“I have something for you; a bit of a late birthday present that I meant to give you a couple of days ago. It just arrived, though, from Espera. It's an old tome of my mother's. Even though she was from Faerghus, she always seemed to have more of an affinity for the fire-based magics and... well, I think you can benefit from this. It's a higher classed fire spell called Meteor."
Vridel accepted the tome with a look of mild surprise on his face. “Thank you," he murmured, setting it down atop the other book in his lap. “I appreciate it, Sen. And you know... for what it's worth, while I'm sure you're highly capable of dealing with all those people on your own, I hope you know you don't have to. Letting one of us at them occasionally will help us feel useful, you know? Especially the aggressive ones."
He smiled, but it was more sharklike than mirthful. “I personally really enjoy reminding idiots where their hands don't get to go, you know?"
Senka chuckled softly as she leaned back. “Hm, I'll keep that in mind the next time an idiot tries," she replied, grinning lightly at him. “And... I hope you know that works both ways, Vi," she continued, glancing at him to hold his gaze. “For whatever problems you may be facing as well, I hope you know you can rely on me, and the rest of us as well, to help you. Whatever burden you feel like you can't handle alone, I'm here for you, too. You're one of my best friends, you know," she stated in a serious tone. She wanted him to know that she thought highly of him.
That she'd accepted him as one of her best friends, as her second best friend. At the beginning of the year, it had only been Sorcha, but now... now she had him as well, and the others. Her life was becoming full again, and they all felt like family. Not that she'd ever admit that to Mercer; it would go straight to his head, but she loved them all the same.
“Even if you feel like you can't tell Thea, or Mercer, or Sorcha... I want you to know that you can tell me. I'm not going to tell anyone your secrets, you know."
Vridel huffed softly, regarding her with a strange little half smile. “I hope you won't think me too full of myself if I say I'd already figured that much out, Sen." He shook his head faintly, then expelled a heavier breath, almost a sigh. “I also have it on good authority that you'll all be around in some sense even after we've gone our separate ways, and... I'm choosing to believe that. It's more reassuring than I would have expected."
He closed over the book, resettling the tome atop it. “Just as I hope you know that, once I'm properly in charge of Adrestia, there will always be a room in the castle with your name on it." His eyes narrowed, and then he grinned a little more outright. “Well... you might have to share with Cyril, but I figured you wouldn't mind so much."
“Sounds very appealing, I'll have to make sure we put it to good use, then, and visit. As I'm sure you'll be putting your own room to good use with Amalthea," she replied, matching his grin with one of her own. She reached over to tap his shoulder lightly, before settling her hand down. “And for what it's worth, I hope you know the same of when... of when I get Duscur back. There will always be a place for you, for everyone, there. It might not be as big as Faerghus, Adrestia, or the Alliance, but... there are places that are quite beautiful."
He laughed softly. “I'll be sure to take advantage; perhaps when we feel a vacation of some sort's in order. Monarchs can take those, right?" He arched an eyebrow, then looked down at the books, though he didn't quite seem to be seeing them.
“You know... it doesn't help much, but I think I figured out how Rhea knows. Do you remember how she was there, right after you told the Professor and I? What if she was actually present before she entered? Knowing now how fixated she is on him, it wouldn't surprise me if she'd followed him to the study session and eavesdropped."
Senka thought about his statement. It was quite likely that Rhea had been there the entire time, eavesdropping on Cyril. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, as she pursed her lips together. Who knows how many times Rhea had eavesdropped on conversations they've had before? She truly did seem to regard Cyril with the utmost... something. Senka didn't know the word for it, but she sighed softly.
“That woman... I do not know why she is so persistent. If she didn't want us to become close to Cyril, why give him a job at all as a professor? Surely she had to have known that his students would have become attached to him, regardless. There is no denying that he has... brought us all closer together than we ever would have been. Professor Manuela and Hanneman are lovely professors as well, but they don't have the... the charm that Cyril does. Maybe it's just me that thinks so, but..." she trailed off as she shook her head.
“Well it certainly seems to have affected you more," Vridel mused, flashing a smile to indicate that he was only teasing. It didn't stop the flush on her face, though. “But you're right. It's strange, you know. I've never had a mentor before. Never thought I needed one. But even though he's barely older than me, it just seems so... natural. And at the same time, it's very natural to think of him as a close friend of mine. There really is just something about the guy, I suppose."
He shrugged. “I'm glad you two actually talked to each other. He's good for you, and you're good for him, too."
She huffed lightly and willed the blush on her face, down. “Well... I figured you were right. I shouldn't decide something for someone, and that they have a right to decide for themselves what they think the risks are worth," she replied softly, smiling just the same as her eyes softened. “I'm not so sure if I'm good for him, considering all the..." she waved her hand in a vague gesture to indicate the rumors flying around, “but I will not deny that he is good for me. I cannot deny it."
“And let's be honest with ourselves, here," she began, a small little grin taking over her face. “We've all been good for each other. Thea has been good for you, Mercer has been good for Sorcha," her entire little family has been good for each other in more ways than one, and Senka would not deny this.
“Especially little Thea with how bold she's becoming because of you. I don't think I've ever seen anyone initiate a kiss like the one she gave you the other day," she stated, her grin turning a little sly.
He laughed outright at that, apparently not inclined to the least embarrassment. “You should have seen the first one. She practically grabbed my collar and yanked me into it. I was quite surprised, considering I'd come to her door to grovel and hope maybe she hadn't given up on me completely." There was just a trace of regret to the way he said it, no doubt for the actions of his that had led up to it, rather than anything else.
“Backstabbing prettyboy ladykiller, I am, and she still kissed me first. Clumsy as all hell, mind, but that was an easy fix." He arched a suggestive eyebrow and gestured slightly with one hand.
“What about you, Sen? Bold enough to kiss him first, or did he catch you by surprise?"
Senka pursed her lips at that, and pouted lightly. “We haven't really... well, kissed like you and Thea have," she spoke, a little disappointed by that fact, now that she thought about it. She understood that with their relationship, it wasn't going to be easy. “We've come close once... the day after the mission," but even then it had been innocent, and Senka wasn't entirely sure it counted as one.
“But... you understand how it is. As much as I might want to... it's just not possible at the moment," and by the gods of Duscur did she want to. More than anything in the world, but she could wait. Had to wait for three months to pass. Two, now, but all the same, she had to wait. She wasn't sure how long she could, but she said she would.
“You should enjoy what you can, Vi, with Thea. I'm not saying it won't happen eventually, but at least the two of you don't have to... hide it," and Senka would not deny that she was a little envious of that. She wished she didn't have to hide her feelings for Cyril, but she understood the dangers of it. Understood that his position as her teacher, mattered in this place. Sometimes she wished it didn't.
For a moment, he looked profoundly pained by something, but then he sighed quietly and rested an arm around her shoulders, gently nudging her in closer to himself. He wasn't nearly as warm as Cyril, and was decidedly more slender, but when he threw part of the cloak over her, there was warmth nevertheless.
“It's not forever," he said gently. “Not that that helps much now, I'm sure. But... already it's been almost another month, so there's basically only two left now. That's a third of the way done. Has to count for something, right?"
“It does. It counts for something," she replied, pulling the cloak a little closer around herself. “I'm sure Thea will forgive me for taking this little bit of comfort from you," she huffed lightly. “But thank you, Vridel, for everything. Don't tell Sorcha, but you're my best friend, right now."
“And I'm sure she'll be it some other time," he replied lightly. “I'm fortunate enough to have many best friends, now. It's nice, right?"
It really was nice to have many.