Logs:Dissolution
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| RL Date: 28 July, 2013 |
| Who: Braeden, Yuliye |
| Involves: High Reaches Hold |
| Type: Log |
| What: Seven months after "retiring", Braeden and Yuliye speak of the future. |
| Where: Orchards, High Reaches Hold |
| When: Day 16, Month 5, Turn 32 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Aughan/Mentions, Devaki/Mentions, Edeline/Mentions, Issedi/Mentions |
| Storyteller: K'del/ST, Rose/ST |
| OOC Notes: Backdated. Played 28 December 2014. Braeden by K'del; Yuliye by Rose. |
| The seven months since Braeden's abdication was confirmed in Devaki's official recognition as Lord Holder from the Conclave has found Yuliye still at High Reaches Hold. Publicly, it doesn't appear as if early retirement has changed her social butterfly spirits: the teasing, the flirtation, the generally kind (if unusually blunt) manner that makes the winter days a little brighter. But it's in private that the anger finds outlet in little, malicious ways, and Devaki and Issedi are both quite ignored. It's Turn 32 now, nearing summer, and the former Lady Reaches sits in the orchards, a pensive set to her expression as she waits. Braeden has kept to himself, these months-- not hiding, not fleeing, but not making a show of himself, either. Even seven months later, eyes follow him, sometimes, and while it's all in the open, now, it's still... it's still there. He comes alone into the orchards, now, feet silent on the ground that once all belonged to him; he's not pensive as his wife is, but his expression doesn't show much at all. "Yuliye," he says, quietly, as he approaches. "Yu." For all their marriage wasn't a happy one, a flicker of fondness passes through Yuliye's eyes once she's roused from her pensive state. She gets to her feet and stands across from her husband and reaches out a hand. Her anger, oddly, has never manifested against him during this time. "It's almost summer. I thought you might need to get some fresh air. See the sun. At least publicly deny the fact that you resigned because you are, secretly, a creature who lives in the night and sucks on blood. Live a little." Taking Yuliye's hand, Braeden draws it up towards his mouth to press a kiss upon the back of it; as he releases it, he allows a smile to cross about the corners of his mouth. "I almost prefer that," he says, "to the possibility that I am out to seduce their young sons. You're right, of course. I can't hide away forever. Neither," blue eyes lift towards Yuliye's, "Should you." "No. I shouldn't." There's no coyness in it. Only a direct simplicity that places no blame on him. Yu purses her lips. "It wasn't fair to you. What I asked. What we did. What happened. But it would be less fair to both of us if we stayed like this." Her fingers curl in his, the moment his lips touch their back, and when released reaches up to cradle his cheek. If anyone might pass now, it'd be a wonder more rumors don't start of whether Braeden is or is not. "I'd like a divorce." Braeden's fingers tighten about Yu's for a moment before they release; as she cradles his cheek, he meets her gaze, sad and sorry, and full of acknowledgement. "Yes," he says. "Yes, I expected you would. If we're being honest, I expected it sooner." There's a set to his jaw, then, and then, a few seconds later, a sigh. "Don't worry, Yu, I've no intention of standing in your way. Quietly, though? Please?" "If you'll indulge me?" Yuliye begins to walk, her hand reaching out to catch his elbow, and guides him along the various orchard paths. Her other hand lifts to brush away a bough that's just about to bloom in apple blossoms. "High Reaches in the spring is lovely. I could do with less snow in the winter. You? You grew up mostly at Tillek, didn't you?" Braeden will, of course; out of friendship, and out of the marriage that will soon no longer be. Elbow crooked, he goes so far as to smile, as they walk. "High Reaches springs were what I missed most, when I was at Tillek. There's just rain and muck, there, mostly. It's not the same." He glances sidelong at Yu, then back at the path ahead. "But Tillek was safe." "The Lady Edeline is understanding, then?" Yu casts a glance backwards, to the tall Hold walls and what lies within. "In ways your sister? Her husband are not?" Braeden colours, visibly, his movements stiffening. "My father didn't understand. That's why he sent me away for so long; I suspect he knew before I knew, myself. Devaki's ambitious. Issedi... she's such a naive little thing, even now. All grown, and still my little sister." He sounds wistful as he speaks. "I'm sorry, Yu. I did mean to try." "I admit," the wife replies, a rueful set to her pretty mouth, "I most regret the fact we didn't actually bed each other. I suspect you might be quite amazing. Oh, it wouldn't be the first time I'd wished to be a man." Yuliye's smile quirks lopsidedly, and her grip of Braeden's elbow tightens. She'll breeze past his coloring or the defense of his sister and the exile. "I hope to travel. I hope you'll come with me for a little bit at least." Braeden's reply is strangled - a cough that turns into a snort, and then outright laughter, albeit embarrassed laughter. "Yu," he says, torn between amusement and horror. It takes him a few moments to catch up with the rest of what she's said, or perhaps he's mulling it over. "Would it be easier, do you think? If we - if I - were elsewhere?" "We'll part ways along the way," Yuliye says, unfazed by his strangled cough, which only serves to slink her frame closer to his. It means nothing anyway, right? "We'll visit friends, family, foes and put on a brave face. I'm sure it would put Devaki and Issedi more at ease if we weren't around... hearing them fuck constantly." Or whatever, whomever else Devaki might have around. "And you wouldn't constantly look around like people are talking about you as somehow less than them." A beat. "You aren't, even if we didn't manage to keep our Holdership." There's another strangled sound for the very idea of hearing his little sister be fucked (which, surely, is the way of things; better that than her be an active participant!), but Braeden at least doesn't seem bothered by Yuliye's proximity. "I'm not," he agrees, staunch for the last, at least. And the rest? "Yes, yes, all right. And eventually, I'll come back here, and retire to... something. And you'll be free to live your life." "Braeden," Yuliye works herself up to say something, pauses to look at him, truly look at him and shakes her head. "Never mind. Wherever I end up, you will always be welcome, m'lord." She even frees her hand long enough to feign a tiny, subservient curtsey. Braeden's brows furrow, a questioning look set deep into his features for all that, as she curtseys, he laughs. It's a mock bow that he aims in return and a promise, "And you will always have a place here, if you need it. And my support, if I can offer it." He offers her back his arm, and it's only then that he asks, "What were you going to say? Yu. Be honest." The woman's dark eyes gleam up at Braeden, taking in his look, assessing his strengths and weaknesses with a calculating keenness not often shown in public. Quietly, her hands lifting to cradle his cheeks to soften her words: "Even if we had not wed you should not have stepped aside for those reasons. You'd be a good Lord Holder. Better than Devaki would. Holderships aren't always direct Blood descendants anyway." Even with those hands, that softening, Braeden flinches. "I would've tried," he says. "I did try." But. But. He draws away from her hands, now, turning his gaze off into the distance. "You were born to be Lady Holder. I can see that. Most people can. But you're free, now; make the most of it, Yu. Do... do whatever you need to. Whatever you want to. Make it count." "How can I, a girl from Crom, win over the hearts of those Issedi has grown up with?" Yuliye shakes her head. "My uncle isn't well liked. Respected, but liked might be an altogether difficult thing for him to come around to. I no longer have a place at Crom anymore either. We can keep the dissolution of our marriage a secret for as long as you'd wish or," she allows, her head canting to catch side of Braeden's profile, "When it is timely for me to make it known. The world can think what they wish. You are a good man. One last tumble between the sheets? For old time's sake?" It's a joke that's punctuated with a chaste kiss to the once Lord's cheek. At least the joke makes Braeden smile, gaze turning back towards her only after that kiss. "When it needs to be known," he agrees. "It's not that I wish to hide it, only that... I don't want the speculation. And you'll give me warning?" "Always," is Yuliye's promise. In the upcoming weeks, their plans become known, and the pair jaunt off to mooch off the Blooded kinfolk of Pern. |
Comments
Tela (17:53, 11 January 2015 (EST)) said...
An intimate look into the lives we +gossip about... this makes me almost feel like I shouldn't eavesdrop but I really do want to. They really have come to some accommodation even in their parting, haven't they?
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