true confession

[19:55] At the mention of its origins, it had Esther clearly interested. "Wait, really? Its almost as if fate is giving us another sign to go there ourselves!"

Cupping her chin, Esther nodded along as Orain rambled. It was nice to see him doing such, especially since he had to endure all of her out bouts of ramblings.

"Oh, he has! He said it was one of the only peaceful places in Gehenna!" Esther beamed a smile, a but proud already knowing these facts about him.

Esther waggled her finger at him, upon the mention of not getting the notes in full. "Tsk, tsk, tsk..." She tried to contain a stern face but couldn't and ended up having a small giggle fit bofore refocusing on his response.

"Oh yes, the shine does sound like a nice peaceful place to spend our night! Lead the way oh noble lord."
(Esther ven Grimmore)
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[20:02] Despite the jestings, Orain took it all with poise and strides. He wasn't one easily swayed by mere jokes, if anything, he rolls with the punches.

Taking a more posh and exaggeratedly regal tone, he bows. "Very well oh beautiful lady, allow me to show you to our evening's delight."

Taking Esther's hand, he would be swift to lead the Grimmore to the shrine itself. This late in the evening, it was notably silent and empty. Most students have retreated into their dorms or are about in the square doing their own late night musings.

Yet as the two arrive, Orain would be quick to lead Esther near the cliffside overlooking the ocean.

His hand remains bound to the Grimmore's as he merely stops before the view. His grip lightly tightens, almost as a check as to how his partner was doing. "What do you think?" He asks. The garden was well kept as the view was somewhat not much, yet the sight of the ocean was always welcoming.
(Orain ven Pelleaux)
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[20:17] Covering her mouth the giggled a bit. But should couldn't help but be swept off her feet by the grace and poise that Orain could call upon at an instances notice...he really would do wonderful in theatre.

Taking his hand, she took a moment to enjoy everything the night air. Without the normal hustle and bustle of the academy, there was just something, pleasant about it, like a calm lull had come upon the island.

As he lead her to a cliffside by the shrine, she couldn't help but wonder what he loved so much about these areas. This would be their third rendezvous upon.

As her partner's grip tightened, she ran her thumb gently up and down the side of his hand to signify reassurance. "Oh it's beautiful! The gardens here are a bit a lot like the one in the embassy..." There was a bit of a nostalgic glint in her eyes as she spoke of it.
(Esther ven Grimmore)
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[20:31] The two stood by the view silently. Minutes pass, mostly due to Orain himself opting for a more silent impasse to start with.

Perhaps it was why he was so prone to people watching, it didn't need much interaction and allowed him to just be there present, just like how he was being there present now with Esther.

"Yup." Though he doesn't make any big moves to makes it obvious, it was now his turn to stare straight at Esther. "Truly is beautiful." Smooth, but this time he refrains from laughing, a clear sign of his purpose.

Despite knowing it for so long, he actually hasn't asked much about her time before the academy, has he? Perhaps it was time to rectify that mistake.

"The embassy huh?" A soft tone now overtaking the previous caricature of a regal noble. "What was it like then?" Of course, he didn't expect her to fully provide if she weren't willing. It's just little steps, right?
(Orain ven Pelleaux)
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[20:49] Esther did not mind the silence at all, She normally had to read though to enjoy it, but instead she found herself taking in everything with only Orain by her side.

Noticing where his eyes laid upon the comment, the Grimmore cheeks darkened to such a hue that the that blessings of the crimson stars were apparent upon her visage.

Though it seemed that there was salvation upon her embarrassment, as Orain brought up the topic of her home. Bust still, she couldn't look away from him. "Oh! Well it was populated primarily with Osronan officials and Jiangese interpreters. Though my family were determined to entrench themselves in the land they were working with so I was brought up with both customs...though much was kept from me, so I was often alone when not practicing the trade..."

While there was more to the story, if not pressed further, that was all she had to say about the matter.

"How about you? What was it like being raised by two of Osrona's most powerful people?"
(Esther ven Grimmore)
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[20:57] He chuckles, yet this one was softer and less of a jesting one but more intimate. "Gotcha," he'd merely comment before turning back to the ocean, head careening to the side to meet Esther's.

Though despite him not looking directly at her, the view of the ocean would be his backdrop for their following conversation.

"Sounds rough," he comments, mostly on being kept alone in practice. Boy was that slightly relatable. "Well, at least you're out and about now, right? The things before don't have to be that way again unless you deem it to."

Perhaps this is true, perhaps not. Orain was merely speaking on assumptions, yet most of the time his assumptions land somewhat true.

Yet as his own upbringing is brought up, a soft chuckle merely escapes him. "Well, it's not easy being in the shadow of the Archmagi and the Stellus. It comes with high expectations and an even higher amount of responsibility."

One expects a lot from him. Perhaps his easy-goingness was merely an outlet for such things.

"I try not to rely on the 'Pelleaux' part of me too much. I feel like it'll make me complacent and over-reliant."
(Orain ven Pelleaux)
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[21:20] Leaning her head against his, then turned towards the ocean as well, though still keeping him in the corner of her eyes, was he looking back? Feeling as he still was, her heart fluttered slightly.

"I guess so, but it was still a comfortable upbringing..." She thought about some of the other Fenrirs and the living condition that they had been upbrought in. "It at least gave me time to invent and learn alchemy," She paused for a moment, staring out wistfully. "Apodis' first sign leading me to Eos I suppose...because I never want others to control what I know or can do, leaving me in the dark to wander in blissful ignorance..."

The Grimmore she her how out of the fugue and refocused on what Orain had to say.

"I bet...and even so, neither position is birthright like the age of kings, who knows what test there will be for the next Archmage…"

Though that meant thinking about Amori's death, which she probably shouldn't ponder about with his son.

"Hm, it is a bit of a conundrum, I wear my bloodline on my sleeve so I can prove that we were not all like my kin Lannis."
(Esther ven Grimmore)
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[21:32] At least the both of them had more things in common in their sheltered lifestyles. "You too huh? I ended up picking up alchemy when I was reading through our library at home."

"At first I just did it for fun because the books had bright colors and illustrations, but eventually I tried doing it myself." He pauses with a chuckle. "Next thing you know, I've been mixing and matching ingredients until something stuck. It's a simple origin story but I think its a funny one." He laughs it off, clearly entertained by him simple-minded choices as a child.

"But yeah, I guess I understand why'd you want to reclaim your family's name back to what it was." Though he was young, news of Lannis' own doings was something he did not go by unknowing.

"If it means anything, I think you're doing great already. Even though we're just like, students right now." His grip tightens once more. "But to me, you're doing absolutely great."
(Orain ven Pelleaux)
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[21:44] Esther chuckled softly at the origins of Orain's interest in alchemy. I just seemed so...Orain. "Oh, look at us finding things in common! But I must admit, it interested me because it was something stimulating that I can do."

She turned her head for a moment, taking the time to get a read on his aura. "Not stare at the pretty colors...I have other things to fill that niche." While Esther thought it was clever, she wasn't sure if Orain noticed as she turned her gaze back to the sea.

"Mhm...my first encounter with Eztli, I had to prove that I wasn't carrying the grimoire of Antares or lying about it's whereabouts either."

Feeling the grip tighten, a genuine smile formed upon her face. "That, really means a lot to me Orain. It's my destiny to help Uncle Atticus restore our House, I was the only one who came to his call after all. I just hope I won't be letting the stars, Eos, or Atticus down..."
(Esther ven Grimmore)
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[22:05] He smiles, almost happily because of the initial comments. The more the two spoke, the more the Pelleaux felt like they had more in-common than he initially thought. Who would've known!

"A shame, luckily Ez eventually warmed up to you, right?" A lighthearted comment in an attempt to at least diffuse whatever weight the initial statement brought.

Though the repercussion of things were still present such as Lannis' 'legacy', it was something even Orain could sadly say he empathized with. This would be clear in his tone, yet he makes no moves to actually explain such a thing.

"Either way, no matter how you decide to move forward, just know that I got your back when it comes to restoring your house's name." His free hand extends, offering a thumbs up for the provisions of his efforts.
(Orain ven Pelleaux)
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[22:34] Esther nodded, if Eztli hadn't then he sure didn't show it, but after their first encounter, it seemed she quelled his suspicions, after all, she was accepted to be in his council.

"Mhm! I wouldn't say we're friends, but he definitely has no ill will towards me anymore."

She had never met Lannis herself, but the stories eventually reached all the way to Jianghu. She could only imagine how long the Essharans have known without anyone more than Atticus to prove them wrong.

"Thank you Orain, really...and whatever future you decide, I will support it as well." After returning the thumbs up, the Grimmore nestled her head upon his shoulder. "You know...I'm surprised there haven't been more unions between the trinity."
(Esther ven Grimmore)
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[22:49] "Good, good. If Ez still feels suspicious, I'm sure I can talk to him and show him you mean well," he suggests.

Still now, he seemed more than willing to provide. After all, why wouldn't he?

As her head burrows further into his neck, he could not help but smile. If she looked at him now, his cheeks likely would be in the hues of red.

"You know, I'm not really sure either," he chimes. What with the trinity being reunited now, perhaps it opened doors for more things to occur.

Much like what occurred now.

"But hey..." He pauses, his chest almost skipping a beat upon an idea of his following words. "I mean maybe we're going a good job at rekindling those unions, right?" A chuckle, perhaps to diffuse the pressure pent up from preparing to say those words.
(Orain ven Pelleaux)
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[22:49] * You have been awarded 1 Roleplay Points! *
[23:11] "Mhm, mhm, but I honestly don't think its an issue." Honestly, she hadn't gotten as much resistance from people as she had thought. Perhaps those truly hurt from his actions have all passed on?

Seeing the blush form upon his cheeks only incentivized Esther to snuggle closer, besides the air was a bit cold given their seaside location, and Orain has quite literally been a human furnace for her in the past.

He wasn't sure either? Though perhaps it was because other families of status existed back in the day. The Astors and the Docros and the Grimmores and the Sallises. Maybe now that its three again it will become more common?

Though see a union between a Grimmore and an Aertas was peculiar.

Though, Orain's words had caused her thoughts to cease for a moment. Esther pulled her head back from his shoulder to look him properly in the eyes. It was beautiful to her, how the crimson and teal reflected off each other.

"R-really?" It too her a moment to process it. While their relationship had been formed out of subtly and understanding each other's intentions, nothing how fully been vocalized.

A small smile appeared as he tried to laugh away the tension. "So, is that an official recognition of courtship I hear?"


(Esther ven Grimmore)
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[23:28] At least he has it out of his chest now. No work arounds or hints, not subtle words, just straight facts.

Instead he just chuckles.

His hand finally lets go from Esther's, yet it moves to a different position. Instead, he wraps it around behind the Grimmore, holding her shoulder a he pulls her in closer.

"You know what, I might as well." He lets off a sigh of relief. At least now he can put his actions to words.

He leads in closer, his tone going down into a hush silence. Only one soul could likely hear him. The intended recipient.
(Orain ven Pelleaux)
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[23:28] Orain ven Pelleaux whispers: I love you.
[23:42] While the dance of subtle gestures was a fun game, it was more for poltical relationships, and while Esther had initially came to Orain to establish such, it had become so much more personal since then.

Feeling his embrace pull her in, Esther steadied herself by placing one hand on the small of his back.

His flame wasn't going, so why did she suddenly feel like she was overheating?

At his words, Esther gulped for a moment, while sensing it was one thing, actually hearing it was an entirely different matter. It took her a moment to register it all before the widest grin Orain had seen came about her.

Leaning in close, she spoke back in a hushed tone.
(Esther ven Grimmore)
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[23:42] Esther ven Grimmore whispers: I love you too
[23:50] Perhaps this exchange was one of their shortest. Not much else could come through and out do them when they spoke about their inspirations and interests.

But at the same time, those three words alone seem to carry the weight that the two of them held.

He smiles, just as big as Esther's. The reciprocation was big. It always made him flutter in joy.

Almost in reaction, the same radiating warmth that came through the boy begins to flourish. It was practically impossible not to hold back such an intense fit of emotion like this, most especially for a fire magi like him.

If one didn't know, one might be scared of being in danger of being burned by the heat. But perhaps Esther was one of the few people who likely knew they shouldn't be scared of his flames.

As Orain pulls her in closer, a long breathe comes through. Perhaps the last of many.

"Well, that officiates that," he comments nonchalantly. "I think we'llhave a fun time together."
(Orain ven Pelleaux)
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[00:02] Everything had become so surreal now, so many uncertainties and things left unsaid, all now washed away in sheer and utter bliss.

From strangers, to political acquaintances, to puppy crush come real. It was official now? Perhaps their young love will become the unity the Trinity needed, but that didn't matter now, she was with the one who she loved.

As the salty winds blew their way, the warmth coming from Orain never felt more inviting. But even in the desert she would be comforted by it. No matter where they were or how hot he burned, Esther was a moth to his flame.

Relaxing any stiffness that she held, this was perhaps her first time in a very long time that she fully let herself relax.

"Mhm! We shall see many adventures together!" A thought then crossed her mind, that just sort of spilled out. "I wonder when we should tell our family."
(Esther ven Grimmore)

[The rest of the scene is irrelevant]