(no subject)

[eiattu_pride]

It's just evening on Eiattu, the last rays of sunset are filtering in through the window and turning the floor to pale fire, lighting the tips of the trees and roofs of the palace that Rial, sprawled on a windowseat, is carefully immortalizing in pencil. Plourr is at a nearby desk, working hard, bent over datapads and stacks of flimsi.

Rial cocks his head on one side, squints out the window, and turns to glance at Plourr.

"Working?"

Comments

[fighting_mad]

Plourr sits at the desk, legs folded under her at an impossible angle and her chin resting on her hand. "Mmhmm," she says absently, frowning at a thick sheaf of flimsi and flipping through it.

The surface of the desk is strewn with datapads, flimsi, scattered notes, stylii, and datacards, along with a small holoprojector and the remains of a meal.

The empress has been here a while.

[eiattu_pride]

So she has. Too long, maybe, and Rial sets his sketchpad and pencils down, gets up and wanders on over to her, bending to drop a light kiss to her cheek and cover the top sheet of flimsi with his hand.

"About time to take a break, don't you think?"

There's concern filtering through his tone, there, something overprotective.

[fighting_mad]

Not looking up, Plourr shoots his hand an unthrilled stare. "I said I was going to get through these today, and I still have two to go."

[eiattu_pride]

"So take a break, come back to them in a little bit." He holds a hand out, coaxing. "The sunset is absolutely beautiful."

[fighting_mad]

"I've already taken two breaks this afternoon," she grumbles, but she glances out the window over her shoulder.

[eiattu_pride]

"Mmmhmm, and this one's going to be your third."

He takes a step backwards and beckons to her. "There's a windowseat with your name on it."

[fighting_mad]

When he takes that step, his hand comes away from the report, and she considers it for a moment. "I want to do right by them, Rial," she says, but she's rising.

[eiattu_pride]

He takes another step back, still smiling.

"They'll be okay if you take a break."

[fighting_mad]

"Fifteen minutes," she says firmly, and she takes his outstretched hand.

[eiattu_pride]

"Fifteen minutes," he agrees, and pulls her in the direction of the windowseat.

He was right about something, anyway. The sunset is spectacular.

[fighting_mad]

It is nice. Plourr settles into the windowseat with her back on the wall and her bare feet up on the seat, resting her shoulder against the window. She rests her arms on her knees, watching the way that the setting sun bathes their city in red, orange, yellow, pink, and gold warmth.

[eiattu_pride]

Rial sits on the other side, leaning against the window and watching the sun quietly. It's possible he's thinking of another time, another sunset. He smiles, at the recollection, and turns to look at Plourr.

"As beautiful as the princess who watches."

[fighting_mad]

Plourr starts to gently roll her eyes -- and then she smiles faintly, tired, but pleased.

The kiss she leans over and brushes against his lips is probably a better answer than the one she gave a year and a half ago.

[eiattu_pride]

It is. Much better, in fact, and Rial closes his eyes and hums softly under his breath.

"I don't know how you resisted me, back then."

[fighting_mad]

"Such ego, my count," she says, but she's grinning. "I didn't know you." She brushes his hair back with her fingers. "Not well."

[eiattu_pride]

"It's the curse of being me," he explains, but grins, ducking his head into her fingers.

"Now you do, though."

[fighting_mad]

"Now I do," she agrees, and she settles back against the wall. She closes her eyes and tips her head back, letting the fading sunlight play across her face.

Eyes still closed, she settles her feet in Rial's lap.

[eiattu_pride]

Rial pokes the feet dubiously, then shrugs and starts idly rubbing them. "Happy with what you got?"

[fighting_mad]

Once it registers that Rial said something, she cracks first one eyelid, then the other. She watches him for a moment; the gentleness with which he touches her, the brown hair falling into his face, the way that the ring on his hand reflects the light.

The stars will start to make their appearances soon, she knows, and along with them, thoughts of what it would be like to be among them. To shout and laugh and argue with the Rogues. To fly, still, and to have the freedom to run if she wanted.

Out the window, the sun slowly sinks below the tangled jungle on the horizon; lights are slowly flicking on, bright and hopeful, in the city spread out below. People coming home for the night.

Plourr looks back to Rial, her brown eyes warm and considering, and she nudges his knee with her toes.

"Fuck yes."

[eiattu_pride]

He smiles at her, quietly, before ducking his head and turning to glance out at the last rays of sun. His hair, untied, flops into his face and he idly pushes it back again.

There have been plenty of other sunsets, in other places, with other people. He knows the science behind them, the rotating of the planet, the slow orbit of the moons resting low in the sky. He's painted the sunsets, before, he's watched them alone, and he's watched them with friends.

But, he thinks, each one he watches with Plourr isn't just a sunset. It's the beginning of a night that he'll spend with her, just the two of them.

It's the beginning of a life they'll spend together, the two of them, and later, three. And after that, well.

Who knows?

So Rial Pernon smiles, and glances back at his wife. "Me too."

[fighting_mad]

"You'd better be," she says wryly, nudging his leg again.

[eiattu_pride]

"'course I am." He smirks back at her, cheerful.

[fighting_mad]

The empress prods his hand with her bare foot, signaling that the rubbing should re-commence. She watches the last of the sun's rays sink, and she stares upward thoughtfully, at the high casement of the window.

"Faolán."

[eiattu_pride]

The rubbing re-commences after a moment or two, and Rial makes a thoughtful noise.

"Faolán. Hmmm - not sure."

[fighting_mad]

She exhales softly and closes her eyes.

"Mmmm. Can't remember where I heard it; would have to look it up. With my luck, it means 'ass' in some obscure Rodian dialect."