An Advanced Victorian Steampunk Roleplay discussion
Characters' Havens
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Vivian's New Start
"We can dance," Joeri said with a smile and held out his hand. "Would you want to dance?"
She wiped her mouth daintily and accepted his extended hand. "Of course," Vivian said with a bright smile. She let him lead her to the middle of the terrace, walking as though she was on a cloud.
He grasped her hand in his, the other at her waist and pressed her close. Then softly, he began to hum a tune and began to step, gently pulling her along. His steps were graceful and he moved as if it was second nature to him.
Vivian could see the sparkle in his eyes and as he hummed the deeper notes made his chest purr. As they twirled around on the cobblestone terrace Vivian looked up at him, wondering how she could tell him without sounding brazen or bold or even desperate that she wanted to be with him forever.
Pressing his forehead to hers, Joeri smiled and paused from his humming to whisper, "Vivian, I love you forever."
Vivian pressed her cheek against his, her lashes fluttering like butterfly wings over her fair cheeks. "For you, forever and a day," she told him.She pulled away, their impromptu waltz slowing to a standstill, to look up at him.
Use your words, Vivian.
"I...I'm going to miss you so much," Vivian told him. "But I want you to know that...that no matter where they send you and no matter for how long, if I can't go with you then...well..."
She paused, then took a deep breath to steady herself. "If I can't go with you I'll at least be able to look forward to the day that you come back...back to London, and perhaps...perhaps..."
Her voice trailed off. No, she couldn't say it. He'd think she was foolish and fast.
Inwardly, Joeri felt his heart soar at her words. Now he was confident that his choice was right. His blue eyes focused on her, twinkling with a smile. "I know," he said softly. "I wish the same things as you."
"You do?" Her heart leaped in her chest and she buried her face in the front of his shirt to hide her tears of mixed joy and sorrow.
"I do," he said without thinking. Then he realized how in another context, those words bound a promise of love that lasted forever. Embracing her closer, Joeri repeated sincerely. "I do."
Vivian hugged him tightly, hoping against hope that one day he'd say that to her in a different way. He hadn't asked her anything yet and she was surprised that she wished he would. After a long while she pulled away enough to look up at him with a tender smile. "Let's get everything cleaned up," she said quietly. "Then we can enjoy the rest of our evening."
Nodding, Joeri smiled. He pulled away gently and proceeded to gather his plate and the dishes. He waited for Vivian to follow, then he made his way to the kitchen. As he walked, he thought that he'll ask her another day.
Once everything had been washed, dried, and put away, and the leftover food put in the cold-box so it would keep over night, Vivian rushed out onto the terrace to blow out what candles were left. She'd get the fabric down tomorrow.They went upstairs to Vivian's room and as she shut the door and leaned back against, Vivian wondered if she ought to call Joeri out on whatever he wasn't saying. He'd been quiet since coming in from the terrace to clear up, and she could read him as easily as a sonnet - he wanted to say something important.
Unconsciously she gave him an expectant look, one perfect brow arched in her trademarked expression.
Joeri looked up at her and seeing her expectant gaze, he almost gave in. But it wasn't time, plus he wanted to send a letter to Geoffrey first. So instead, he smiled. "What is it you would like to know?" he asked.
Vivian blushed and smiled sheepishly, ducking her head so that her curls swung to hide her flaming cheeks.
Since she didn't answer, he let it slide and instead stepped up to her, cupping her face with both of his hands. "Mine eyes be blessed made, by looking on thee in the living day," Joeri said softly.
Vivian laid her hands on top of his, still not looking at him. He'd tell her when she was ready, but she wanted to know...Patience, Vivian, she chided herself.
He kissed her forehead, closing his eyes. I'll tell you soon, Vivian. I promise. Gently, he rubbed her skin with his real fingers. Not knowing what to say, Joeri stood there quietly.
Vivian squeezed his hands with her own and pushed the thought from her mind. She only had one night left with Joeri, and as she looked up into his face she pulled him close to her in an embrace. Remembering what had happened the last time she'd kissed with with every ounce of feeling inside her, Vivian didn't dare do that again. She didn't want to do something that would end up causing him pain. So she just held him, her head on his chest as she listened to his heartbeat.
As he embraced her, Joeri wanted to let her know how much he cared for her and how much he'll miss her. With his gentle fingers, he brought her chin up and he bent down and kissed her. He kissed her with all the love in his heart and the promise that it would stay that way. He wanted this last night with her to linger with them through the days of their separation.
Vivian felt a tear slide down her cheek but she didn't pull away. Joeri would be gone for ages after tomorrow morning - might as well make the most of tonight, she thought, but she felt none of the fiery desire she'd felt the previous times. No, it was a different kind of fire. A loving one that only needed him to keep burning.
"I wanted to cherish you, Vivian, properly."
Now she understood what he'd meant.
Joeri felt something was different, the small fire in his chest burning, and he tried to coax her with his lips, wanting to show all his passion for her. Unconsciously, his hand went to her waist and brought her close in his embrace.
This kiss was different. She could tell.Vivian wrapped her arms around Joeri's neck and kissed him deeply, then forced herself to pull back to look up at him. Her eyes twinkled and she cupped his cheek with her real hand, her fingers caressing his jaw.
Green eyes met blue, and Vivian gazed up at him, wondering if he had felt it too.
The warmth of her fingers and with her green eyes on him, Joeri knew this kiss and night with Vivian would be unique compared to the others. This time, he wanted to kiss her passionately, letting that gate of reservation open, freeing his emotions. His eyes searching hers, he said in a whisper, "Vivian, I love you."
"I love you too, Joeri," Vivian said. "Please don't ever leave."When he nodded quietly, she smiled and disentangled herself from his embrace. Hoping that she'd read the signs correctly, she looked towards her bedroom door and back at Joeri.
***END OF SCENE***
They had fallen asleep entwined, and even though she had experienced Joeri's night terrors only twice Vivian was wide awake a short while before the time that they usually began. Lying there next to him, Vivian could see his face perfectly, and she found herself wishing that he could be the first thing she saw every morning.Dropping the lightest of butterfly kisses on his forehead - I'll be back - she extracted herself from his embrace and slid out of bed. She bent to pick up his shirt and buried her face in it; his fresh, crisp scent lingered on the white cotton, and she pulled it on around her shoulders. The garment draped loosely over her delicate frame, and she rolled up the sleeves as she sat down at her vanity.
Thanks to her enhanced eyes, she had no need to light a lamp. Vivian opened the top drawer of her vanity and withdrew her writing tablet and her fountain pen.
She wrote as the words came to her, writing until there was nothing else left in her heart that she wanted Joeri to know. Vivian read over it quickly, nodded in satisfaction, and dusted the numerous pages to make them dry. Then she opened a smaller drawer, one filled with rolls of ribbon and small lace kerchiefs, and selected one of each. Finally, Vivian opened up her sewing box next for a length of green embroidery silk and her scissors.
Vivian looked at her bed-tousled hair in the mirror before selecting a curl behind her ear. She bound it with the embroidery silk, snipped it off, and laid it in the square of lace and bundled it all up. Then she folded her letter around the small cloth package, slid the lot into an envelope, and lit a small taper to melt the dark green wax to seal it. She laid the ribbon down, poured the wax onto it in a circle, and stamped her triquetra knot into it.
Vivian tiptoed out and tucked the letter into the corner of her dressing-screen that faced the wall. She would slip it into Joeri's luggage later.
Coming back into her room, she saw Joeri beginning to stir with the telltale signs of his nightmare, and Vivian quickly got back into bed next to him and held him, preparing herself for the usual. But it did not happen. He did cry out softly once or twice and he did thrash around a bit, but it was nowhere near as violent as Vivian was expecting. Joeri did not even wake, but rather calmed down in his sleep at her comforting touch and soothing whispers.
When he was settled again and peacefully sleeping, Vivian entwined her limbs with his once more and held him close. She wasn't one for praying much, but this time she sent a silent prayer out into the grey light of predawn. Please, God, let his nights without me be peaceful.
Soon, Vivian too was asleep again.
***END OF SCENE***
The first thing he heard as he awoke was the sound of Vivan breathing softly next to him. Blinking the sleep away, surprisingly with no images from his dreams, Joeri became aware of Vivian's arm embracing him. Slowly, he shifted around to face her, careful not to wake her, and looked at her sleeping face. She was so peaceful and her curls were a soft halo, framing her smooth, pale skin. He didn't want to wake her, but he knew he must report to the barracks soon. Gently, he ran a finger along her cheek and kissed her forehead. "Wake up, Vivian," he said quietly.
Vivian stirred at the touch of Joeri's hand on her cheek and his kiss on her forehead. She smiled blissfully with her eyes still closed at the sound of her name from his lips, and she pulled him closer to her. "It was the nightingale, and not the lark," she murmured, opening her eyes slowly.
He gave a soft laugh and gave her a quick kiss on the nose, admiring her ability to quote Shakespeare even before she was fully awake. "It was the lark, the herald of the morn," Joeri replied with a small smile.
Vivian sighed and nuzzled his throat and chest. She'd known three weeks ago that this day was coming, and knew full well when she'd secured the reinstatement of his leave that those extra weeks would make it harder to let him go. It was harder, but as she gave him a soft kiss Vivian realised that at least now she would be seeing him off with the knowledge that he would come home to her, and that she'd be able to see him once a month for a bit. It would have to be enough until his next time of leave.
"What time do you have to be there?" she asked.
"At 9 o'clock, I believe," he answered, rubbing her arm absentmindedly.
Vivian dared a glance at her clock. Half past six.She shut her eyes against the tears and turned away from him so that he wouldn't see.
He was silent, knowing it was difficult for both of them to face the imminent reality. But it still warmed his heart to know that she was there for him and that they have been able to tell each other how much they cared. After a moment, Joeri started to slide out of bed, thinking it would be best to be fully prepared before he left to the barracks.
Vivian lay still for a moment until the tears were successfully pushed back. She would not cry in front of Joeri. Asbolutely not.After a long moment she sat up in bed, pulling her knees up to her chest. She was still wearing his shirt. She laid her cheek on one of her knees, watching him dress slowly.
As he changed, the muscles of his back rippled, the scars near his arms stark against the rest of his smooth skin. Joeri pulled on his trousers and reached for his shirt when his fingers grasped air. Turning around, he frowned in puzzlement until his eyes rested on Vivian. He broke out in a grin and raised a brow in amusement. "Can I have my shirt back?"
Vivian admired the strong grace in his body as he moved, knowing exactly how each part of his body felt against hers. Realising he'd asked her a question, she arched her own brow in return, a mischievous gleam in her eyes."No," she said impishly, a smile on her face.
In a smooth motion, Joeri strolled over to the bed, hands on his hips. "I need my shirt," he tried to convince her, trying to look serious.
Vivan stretched out her legs, rolling her eyes, but making no move to return the garment.
Joeri gave an exaggerated sigh, all the time thinking of what strategy he'd use. Thinking action would only get him his clothes back, he darted into action, diving across the bed in an attempt to catch her ankle.
Vivian yelped in surprise at his sudden movement. She'd no idea Joeri could move that fast, but she was more nimble. His hand only barely managed to grasp her ankle and she twisted out of his grasp easily. Then she dove across him to try and pin him down face-first, laughing.
He rolled away quickly and rose to turn around. As she moved go after him, Joeri tried to twist away, but he felt her hand clasp around his wrist and pull him towards her.
"Aha!" Vivian crowed triumphantly as she pulled him back down onto the bed. She pinned down the wrist she'd captured and swung swiftly on top of him, pinning down his other wrist above his head and leaning over him, kneeling with a leg on either side of him and devilish grin on her face.
Joeri frowned. "Now I definitely can't get my shirt back and all my years of training are wasted," he said, though his eyes twinkled playfully.
"You let me win, because you're a gentleman," Vivian quipped, kissing his nose. Not caring about proper behaviour, she let go of his wrists and sat back on her heels, still with a leg on either side of him, to unbutton the few buttons she'd done up when she'd put it on. She slid the shirt off, deposited on the bed beside her, and leaned forward to give him a deep kiss. Then, laughing playfully, she hopped off him, landing lightly on her feet, and walked into her dressing room to choose a dress for the day.
Laughing as well, he took his shirt and pulled it on. As he buttoned up, he kept his back to give Vivian privacy, but more so to stop himself from looking, especially now he knew every curve of her body.
Vivian chose a dress quickly and disappeared behind her screen with everything she needed to make herself presentable for the day. She emerged in a few minutes, buttoning up the front of her dress as she headed to her vanity to brush her hair and put on her makeup and jewellery. She realised with a start that this morning, she found little need for the makeup, and then realised it was because the events of last night had given her a rosy glow.Joeri was still inside her bedroom, and she snatched her letter to him and flew downstairs to put it in his luggage.
Vivian returned to her quarters in time gently pull his tie out of his hands and knot it for him, straightening out his shirt collar and vest when she was done.
"I believe we have just enough time for a quick breakfast," she told him.
((Vivian's dress today:))
Joeri smiled, thinking how the blue of her dress contrasted with her red hair, making it seem brighter and her eyes greener. "Ah, a breakfast would be good. Never liked approaching officers on an empty stomach," he commented, nodding sagely, then he offered his elbow.
They went downstairs and into the kitchen, where Bridget had cooked up a storm."Miss Vivian, Mr Walker," she said politely as they sat. "I've already eaten, so if you'll excuse me," Bridget added.
"Thank you, Bridget,' Vivian said warmly.
Bridget left once everything was on the table, and Vivian smiled at Joeri.
He managed to sneak in his thank you before Bridget left, and then looked at the food laid before them. Glancing over at Vivian, he smiled. "I might be spoiled after all this cooking," Joeri joked, setting a pastry and apple slices on his plate.
"We'll send you care packages," Vivian joked as she helped herself. "Did you sleep well?" she asked by way of conversation as she cracked open her boiled egg.
Don't let him see you cry.
"I wish we had music," she laughed after a moment. "It would be nice to dance out here right now."