Private The Gift of Life Day

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: I'm in demand
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Aurelian chuckled as she circled him, the sound warm and easy, shoulders loosening as her presence settled at his side. He leaned back slightly on the stool, glancing up at her with open amusement. "I don't know what Cordé has you scheduled for half the time," he said. "For all I know, she's plotting against me. Lining you up with someone respectable. Stable. Tragically dull."

His eyes flicked upward, playful suspicion sharpening his smile. "Wouldn't surprise me if she's already taken notes. Strategic alliances. Suitable heirs. All very efficient." He paused, then added lightly, "And that's before we account for the requests your father must be fielding."

He tilted his head, studying her from below, something earnest threading through the teasing. "I imagine the Abrantes' doors are practically splintering. Suitors lining up for the possibility alone." His mouth curved. "I know I would."

Her turn of the joke earned a laugh, fuller this time. He lifted both hands in surrender. "Guilty," he said easily. "I do have admirers. It's unavoidable." He rolled one shoulder, curls falling loose at his temple. "Must be the hair. Or the winning personality." His gaze dropped to his hands, flexing them once, slow and deliberate. "Or the hands."

He grinned, unapologetic, then shook his head. "But not for this." His tone shifted, quieter. He rested his palms on the edge of the wheel, grounding. "I don't make these for anyone else. I'm not even particularly good at it." He smiled. "This is mine."

He glanced back at her, eyes steady now. "Well. Mine and yours now, apparently."

He reached out, catching her hand again, thumb brushing the inside of her wrist in an absent, familiar motion. "I might be persuaded to make something for you."

His smile sharpened, edged with pride and affection. "A one of one. No replicas. No revisions."

He looked down at the wheel, then back up at her, mischief returning. "Imagine it. You would own a piece of history!"

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Location: Okay, your curls are irresistible.
Aurelian Veruna

Sibylla let out a soft laugh at Aurelian's teasing about Corde conspiring against him, carefully curating suitors as if it were a strategic campaign. His suggestion alone was enough to earn another amused roll of her eyes.

I imagine the Abrantes' doors are practically splintering. Suitors lining up for the possibility alone....I know I would.

Yet when he mentioned her father fielding requests for her hand, and admitted he knew he would do the same, the curve of her smile softened even as her heart skipped a beat.

And while his laughter and brazen humor drew another quiet laugh from her, something settled in her thoughts -- a truth she had been careful not to linger on for too long.

"Well, at the risk of inflating your ego any further," she said lightly, "I will concede that your curls are rather irresistible."

Sibylla's fingers rose without hesitation, threading gently through his dark hair and brushing the forelocks back from his brow. Really, every time they fell forward, her fingers had that insistent urge to rake through them and he knew it.

He always seemed to read her so well.

"The personality does grow on one," she continued, teasing. Then, as if weighing a third consideration, she tilted her head thoughtfully.

"The strong hands… hmm. Still up for debate. Further confirmation required." A mischievous glint sparked in her eyes. "Though if you are offering a one-of-a-kind creation, I might be persuaded to reconsider."

And while her smile lingered, her mind wandered once more with pleasure as well as consideration as he emphasized again that the studio was his -- and hers. How this was now theirs. The entire night had been shaped by that same intention: giving her a place in his home where she could feel at ease, where she could play, where she could simply be with him. A space that spoke, quietly but unmistakably, to the depth of his feelings and the regard he held for her. It was why she had cried earlier, and why the pendant he had given her -- the last thing his mother had left behind -- had touched her so profoundly.

But even then, the words echoed against thoughts from his earlier teasing and the thread of truth within it. Suitors. Alliances. Duty. The expectations placed upon the children of royal houses. Lineage, legacy, and the carefully choreographed dance of courtship.

And how unorthodox whatever dance they were doing truly was.

She hadn't wanted to dwell on it. Sibylla was simply enjoying discovering this time with him. Discovering each other -- their real version of themselves that they hadn't been able to explore before. Not their titles. Their positions. Their responsibilities. And that regardless of anything, she knew this.

She loved him.

"You are not wrong," Sibylla said finally said quietly. "My father is fielding requests. He always has. Since before I was even born." Her tone remained calm, reflective rather than defensive.

"I imagine it is no different for you, especially now that you are Patriarch of House Veruna and King. And Interim High Chancellor."

Her fingers slipped back through his hair with a slow rake, feeling those dark curls clinging lightly as though reluctant to let her go.

"Offers of alliance, trade, credits, political leverage across Republic worlds," Sibylla continued. "You are in a position where you may choose a wife not merely for affection, but to fortify your House and strengthen its legacy."

There was no judgment in her words. Only fact.

"While perhaps a jest, the offer to Bastila Sal-Soren a pact of marriage is a valid consideration. No one can deny that House Sal-Soren is still a powerful House to marry into."

There was no accusation in her voice. No bitterness. Only acknowledgment. At least, she thought so. She had been seated beside Bastila during that dinner, and despite her unraveling at the mention of Lysander, she had heard every word.

Strange how now thinking about it made her stomach twist, her brow slowly furrowing as the seconds passed. As the slow churning feeling filled her, Sibylla realized she wasn’t completely reflective about it was she? It bothered her now. Dread. Jealousy. Possessiveness.

But did she have the right to feel that way?

She did not speak of concubines. Not after what he had trusted her with about his mother, and the way she had been used to produce an heir. It was a practice too common among the Royal and Great Houses when marriage was reserved for alliances rather than love. Many kept their affection elsewhere.

But there was one certainty Sibylla carried without question.

Her father would never agree to her being one.

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: I get what I want
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Aurelian stayed where he was, seated at the wheel, watching her as she spoke. He did not interrupt. He rarely did when someone spoke with that kind of careful honesty. His gaze followed the slow movement of her hand through his hair, the way her voice stayed even while the weight underneath it grew heavier. He understood it instinctively. The arithmetic of nobility. Bloodlines measured like assets. Affection treated as a luxury.

When she finished, he was still smiling. Not the dangerous smile he wore in council chambers. Something easier. Almost fond.

He lifted a finger, thoughtful for half a second, then promptly hooked it into the back of his throat and made an exaggerated gagging noise. "Gross. Sal-Soren's," he said, shuddering theatrically. "Absolutely not."

He leaned back on the stool, bracing one foot against the leg, eyes bright with irreverent amusement. "They could own half the galaxy and I still wouldn't touch any of them with a ten foot pole. Two Jedi in the family, one of whom might actually be unhinged, the other with a reputation that makes mine look restrained." He waved a hand. "No thank you. I value my sanity."

He glanced up at her again, expression softening. "Besides, that's the advantage of becoming Patriarch young. House Veruna isn't exactly hurting for prestige. I don't think marrying into another house is going to elevate us much higher unless I plan on wedding a deity." He looked her over. Maybe he would be marrying a goddess.

Then, quieter, sincere. "And even if it would, I don't think I'd care."

He reached up and caught her wrist gently, tugging until she was closer, until her hip brushed his knee. His thumb traced the inside of her wrist in that familiar, grounding way. "I get to choose," he said simply. "That's the point. I choose the woman I marry."

His gaze held hers now, steady and unflinching. "Beautiful," he added lightly, because it was true and because he liked watching her react to it.

He exhaled, humor slipping back in as if to keep the moment from tipping too far into seriousness. "And there are perks to being King, you know. Say someone's father receives an offer for his daughter's hand. A very lucrative offer. Very persuasive." He shrugged. "If I don't like it, I can simply remove a few key incentives from the equation. Trade routes. Defense contracts. Banking privileges."

He smiled again, casual, almost lazy. "Funny how quickly deals fall apart when the numbers stop working."

He lifted his hand, brushing his thumb along her jaw, gentler now. "I'm aware of the society we live in. I know what's expected of us. I just refuse to pretend it has to dictate everything."

His voice dropped, quieter but no less certain. "I won't make choices out of fear or obligation. Not anymore."

He leaned forward slightly, resting his forehead briefly against her side. "So let the suitors knock. Let the houses scheme. They can sharpen their knives and polish their contracts all they like."

He looked up at her again, eyes warm, unwavering. "I already know what I want."

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Location: I have insider knowledge!
Aurelian Veruna

Sibylla could not help it. The laugh escaped her before she could temper it at Aurelian's exaggerated gag at the very notion of Sal-Soren marital ties. It helped lighten the tension somewhat, reminding her that the man was still apt to make a joke now and then regarding matters, but not at the expense of the seriousness of what she was truly referencing.

She appreciated it. It was Aurelian's way of trying to comfort her as much as draw her out of the troubling thoughts that settled in her mind.

Yet as his humor softened into certainty, her own expression followed suit. Her fingers continued their gentle path through his hair until her hand settled at the back of his head, holding him there when he drew closer. The blush took hold when he called her beautiful, tugging equally at her heart as much as flustering her. When his forehead rested briefly against her side, emotion welled up in her chest, and her smile wavered despite her efforts to keep it composed.

I already know what I want.

He said it plainly, and the way he looked at her made it impossible to doubt that she was the answer.

Although her brows couldn't help but arch faintly at his casual mention of leveraging his power as King to toss a wrench in banking access or trade routes to break down the merits of any potential suitor, humor flickering through her hazel eyes even as emotion lingered beneath it.

He meant it, there was no doubt about it, even as he jested. Not the sort of action she'd prefer he'd take, for those ramifications would affect far more individuals than a singular marriage proposal.

"Well," she said softly, "I have already rejected a few in the last few years... too dull, had dreadful hair, and one seemed overly interested in how quick an heir could be provided." She joked with a particular look of disdain that said she didn't enjoy the afternoon tea she had to suffer through with cordial smiles and pleasant conversation.

She shifted then, settling to sit upon his thighs with a familiarity that surprised even her, her arms slipping around his shoulders with quiet ease.

"But I am fortunate that my father is now allowing me to review the proposals that reach him," Sibylla continued. "And given my elected position, we agreed that my present attention ought to remain with the people of Naboo." She paused, then smiled faintly. "Which does afford me a little time before that particular matter must be pressed."

For a few seconds, her gaze held his with a quiet but resolute affection.

"But perhaps," she added lightly, the corner of her mouth lifting with subtle mischief, "...instead of foiling the trade routes or banking access, it might be far more persuasive to demonstrate the finer qualities of a most excellent candidate during that interval to my father and mother."

Her thumb traced his jaw gently as she leaned closer, her smile soft, her eyes bright with a promise she had not yet spoken aloud.

"I daresay I would have better access to knowledge on what would be of a more highly curated proposal that would surpass the rest. " Her voice dipped into a more conspiratorial tone, edged with mischief. Alas, look what Aurelian's influence had produced.

Sibylla, offering insider secrets of House Abrantes to the Patriarch of House Veruna for what would be a more tempting offer.

Scandalous indeed!

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: All I need is time.
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Aurelian smiled as she spoke, really smiled, the kind that settled into his face without effort. He listened to her lay out her careful, sensible plan, the politics of patience and presentation, and he let her finish before he answered. When he did, his expression tilted into mock disappointment.

"Well that's no fun at all," he said lightly. "Here I was imagining myself ruining some poor noble's life. Shattered reputation. Financial collapse. A cautionary tale told at dinner parties." He sighed theatrically. "What is the point of being King if I can't occasionally exercise my power?"

His eyes flicked up to hers, bright with mischief. "Or abuse it. Either way."

He was joking and they both knew it, but he enjoyed watching her reaction too much to stop. Keeping her on her toes had become one of his quieter pleasures.

Then she shifted onto his thighs, and whatever clever remark he had lined up evaporated. His hands came to her waist without thinking, steady and warm, grounding himself in the reality of her there. He looked up at her for a moment, something softer threading through the humor, and leaned in to kiss her. Not rushed. Not performative. Just certain.

"A little time is all I need," he said when he pulled back, voice low and confident. "I'm very good at making people love me. It's a gift. A curse. Mostly a gift."

His thumb traced an idle path along her side as he spoke, relaxed now. "In the meantime, you should probably keep saying no. To all of them. Regardless of hair quality."

He smirked. "Though I can't imagine anyone has better hair than me."

He tipped his head, curls falling forward just enough to prove the point. "But just in case. Vigilance is important."

The teasing eased, replaced by something steadier. He looked at her with quiet assurance. "You have time. I have time. And if your parents need convincing, I'm more than capable of being… persuasive."

Then, softer. "Without destabilizing the galactic economy. I promise... probably."

His hands tightened slightly at her waist, protective without being possessive. "Let them send their proposals. Let them posture. I'm not worried."

He smiled again, warm and unshakeable. "I already know I'm the better offer."

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Location: I want things on our timeline, not others.
Aurelian Veruna

Sibylla's lips curved as she listened, her eyes bright with amusement at his theatrical lament. She gave a soft, incredulous huff of laughter, shaking her head as if indulging a charmingly incorrigible habit.

"Oh, how tragic," she murmured. "All that imagined devastation, reduced to nothing more than good sense and restraint. How I do pity you."

The teasing eased into a comfortable warmth as his hands settled at her waist and his kiss followed. She leaned into it without hesitation, content to let it remain unhurried, a quiet reaffirmation of what they were building together. When he drew back, she stayed close, one hand resting at the nape of his neck, her fingers tracing small, idle circles as she studied him.

Delicate dark brows lifted slightly at his commentary on hair quality, a smile tugging at her mouth that she did not bother to hide. She reached up then, fingers threading deliberately through his curls, testing the claim with mock seriousness.

"Well," she said, thoughtfully, "I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the evidence before me. Vigilance, as you say, is important."

The teasing softened as she looked at him, really looked at him, taking in the real Aurelian she fell in love with beneath the charm, the assurance beneath the humor, and a faint smile touched her lips as she enjoyed the weight and trace of his hands at her waist and side.

The skim of her fingers traced down from his curls to gently caress the line of his jaw, leaning forward to gently brush her nose against his. She didn't realize it, but she had been concerned about it. Not that she didn't trust Aurelian to be committed to her, but because this was still so new and they were both still figuring things out.

"For now," Sibylla said quietly, "I am enjoying this. Spending time with you. Learning more about you. About us." Her voice softened. "I spent a lifetime worrying about expectations, about how every choice would be judged. I simply want to be with you, on our own timeline, at our own pace."

She met his gaze with unguarded honesty.

"I find I am not particularly inclined to rush when I already know where my regard lies." She murmured quietly as she studied him, before leaning in to press a soft kiss to his lips, smiling against them before she drew back, looking down at him with open affection.

"And that," she added gently, "is with you."

A lightness returned as she smiled again.

"As for persuasion, I trust you to exercise it judiciously. Preferably without alarming the entire galactic economy."

A thought crossed her mind, and then Sibylla laughed softly, adding with a playful tease, "Though I must say, I am rather astonished you did not suggest assigning particularly inconvenient border-world stewardships to quash any overly eager suitors."

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Cassian Abrantes, DUKE OF GEONOSIS
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Aurelian laughed softly at her last comment, the sound low and warm, his hands still settled at her waist as if that was where they belonged. He tipped his head back just enough to look at her properly, eyes bright with that familiar spark.

"Our own timeline," he echoed, approving. "I like the sound of that." His thumb traced a slow circle at her hip, absentminded but deliberate. "And I won't let anyone derail it. Not a house, not a council, not a father with a ledger and a dream."

He smiled, then tilted into mock offense. "And for the record, I would never alarm the galactic economy. I have standards." His gaze sharpened slightly, playful but edged. "Though I might remove a house or two from the face of history if they get ambitious about your hand."

He shrugged lightly. "Nothing like a stewardship of Geonosis to cool enthusiasm."

The corner of his mouth twitched. "I had planned to save that for someone special. Maybe Cassian, the next time he looks at me the wrong way." He rolled his eyes and lowered his voice. "Kidding."

Mostly.

He leaned forward, brushing his nose against hers again, his expression softening as her fingers lingered at his jaw. He kissed her once more, brief and easy, like punctuation rather than a declaration.

"For now," he said quietly, "it's just us. No pressure. No schedules. We figure this out at our pace." His gaze held hers, steady and intent. "I like learning you. I like this version of my life."

His grin returned, quick and irreverent. "And if anyone tries to rush you, say the word. I'll make it disappear. Diplomatically." Another pause. "Or creatively."

He leaned back slightly, eyes drifting upward as a thought struck him. "You know, I could also wed off Elian sometime soon. Solve several problems at once." He sighed. "That child has more energy than a reactor core. Hyper, loud, always asking questions."

He glanced back at her, amused. "If you ever wake up and decide you want that handled, just say the word."

His hands tightened gently at her waist, grounding again. "But until then, I'm selfish." His smile softened. "I want this time. I want you here. I want to expand your horizons... more."

His gaze flicked meaningfully toward the stars beyond the viewport, then back to her. "There's a lot I want to show you."

He smiled up at her, dangerous and fond all at once. "And I promise, no economies will be harmed in the process."

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Location: Okay perhaps you would still do it...
Aurelian Veruna

Sibylla rolled her eyes at Aurelian's quip about sending Cassian off to a stewardship on Geonosis. Had this been earlier in their alliance, she might have dismissed it as nothing more than theatrical bravado. Now, however, she narrowed her eyes at him in mild suspicion.

All right. Perhaps he would still do it.

Aurelian and Cassian were never going to be close comrades, but they had reached a careful truce. And if Cassian were ever assigned to Geonosis, it would not be out of spite. It would be for a reason. An official one. Security-related, no doubt, especially with the Confederacy involved. There were already murmurs about augmenting the Grand Army with droid units for certain operations, missions better suited to machines than clones. If such an assignment came to pass, it would be calculated, not petty.

It was the suggestion of marrying off Elian that made Sibylla sputter outright, the reaction clearly pleasing him far too much.

"What? Elian?!" she exclaimed, leaning back to stare at him in half disbelief, half indignation. "He is only seventeen."

She shook her head firmly.

"No. He is fine. He is still finding his footing. Especially now." Her tone sobered. "Learning he may eventually lose his sight is not something to rush past with alliances and expectations. I still want second and third opinions. There are options. Genetic therapies. Cloning technology. Cybernetics."

She exhaled softly, then looked back at him.

"And he asks so many questions because he admires you," she added, wry affection threading her voice. "Possibly even hero-worships you. Which I am sure Cassian finds endlessly amusing."

A faint chuckle escaped her as she leaned closer, settling comfortably against him. Her head came to rest on his shoulder, her cheek warm there, as her breath brushed gently against the curve of his neck.

When he mentioned broadening her horizons, she laughed softly against him, warmth blooming in her cheeks along with a spark of challenge.

"Expand my horizons? Is that so?" she echoed, mischief stirring. Deciding to return the provocation in kind, she nuzzled lightly at his neck, the tip of her nose tracing a slow line before she pressed a soft, teasing kiss there. Pulling back just enough to meet his eyes, she offered him a half-smile.

"Do tell," Sibylla murmured. "What, precisely, would you like to show me?"

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Seventeen is old enough
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Aurelian stared at her for a long second after the Elian comment, then made a face so exaggerated it bordered on ridiculous.

"What," he said, squinting at her. "Seventeen is practically ancient." He lifted a hand, counting off imaginary points. "Old enough to argue policy, old enough to hover over me like a loyal shadow, old enough to ask questions at precisely the wrong moment."

His mouth curved into a grin. "That boy needs a beautiful bride as a distraction so he learns to mind his own business. Preferably someone charming, kind, and very good at keeping him occupied." He sighed. "I can only take so much hero worship before it becomes exhausting. A bride would mellow him out."

He paused, then added lightly, "I'm joking. Mostly. Unless you think it's a brilliant idea." His eyes flicked to her face. "Which you definitely do not."

Her explanation about Elian sobered him, just a touch. The humor did not vanish, but it softened. He nodded once, thoughtful. "All right. Fine. No strategic marriages for the prodigy. Yet."

He laughed when she leaned into him, the sound easing into something softer as her head settled against his shoulder. His arm came around her without thought, hand resting warm and secure at her side. When she nuzzled his neck and kissed him there, his breath hitched just enough to notice.

"Careful," he murmured, turning his head slightly toward her. "You're encouraging me."

Her question drew his attention fully back to her, and the look he gave her was pure Aurelian. Brazen. Amused. Certain of himself in a way that bordered on dangerous.

"What would I like to show you?" he repeated lightly. "That's a long list."

His thumb traced a slow, idle line along her waist. "Places you've never been. How to relax. How to blow off work."

His smile deepened, voice lowering. "And a few things that don't go in ledgers or history books."

He tilted his head, eyes glinting. "You're very lucky, you know. To have someone so experienced in life willing to broaden your horizons."

His gaze lingered on her mouth before lifting back to her eyes. "Patiently. Very very thoroughly."

He smiled, slow and unapologetic. "I'm an excellent teacher."

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Location: Is it warm in here? Perhaps the cooling system is not installed yet.
Aurelian Veruna

Sibylla gave a snort, adding, "Practically ancient. Would you see yourself married at seventeen?" she shot back with mild, mock affront. It was rather hilarious, truly, considering how scant seconds earlier they had spoken about taking their time, about waiting until it felt right to move toward anything resembling an official courtship.

For now, though, this was all she needed: to be with him, hold him in her arms, and feel the warmth of his around her.

"Are you so certain a beautiful bride will mellow and distract one so?" she teased, chuckling again as her chest quivered with amusement. "Nevermind. Do not answer. I doubt there exists any version of you that could be described as mellow at all."

And when Aurelian countered with that knowing, dangerous grin of his, flashing pearly teeth and unmistakable devilry, Sibylla found herself momentarily captivated all over again. She recalled, not for the first time, how he had joked earlier, half in earnest, about possessing the peculiar curse, or gift, of making people fall in love with him.

"Well" she leaned closer, "I have always been of the opinion that a partner ought to encourage their beloved in all practical, reasonable, and imaginative endeavors." there was a slight huskiness to her voice as she quietly murmured the words against his skin, feeling the idle trace of his fingers slightly distract her, before using the tip of her nose to give his jaw a slight boop as a playful punctuated beat.

"With room for appropriate course correction and recommendations, of course, when necessary," she added, giving another soft laugh as right hand drifted slowly to sail and trace the breadth of his shoulder before coming to rest over the gentle thrum of his heart.

"So, while I am very lucky," Sibylla echoed, the corner of her lips arching up in mild mischief threaded with sincerity, "You are as well, that I am a woman so magnanimous as to indulge your ideas and this rather extensive list of yours."

She was teasing, utterly so. Aurelian had always had a talent for winding her up with his incomprehensible, incredulous, and maddening antics – methods that, to her own surprise, had only grown more endearing as she learned to enjoy life alongside him.

If there were ever a man who lived fully, unapologetically, without concern for how he was perceived, it was Aurelian. And what made it special was that he never pushed her past her own choosing. He drew her close, yes, but always left the decision in her hands.

That's why she grew to love him all the more.

Although, the way he was looking at her now made heat rush to her cheeks, her thoughts gallivanting unhelpfully back to other moments he had looked at her just so.

Like the piano room. Oh. A dreadful, guilty pleasure indeed. Really, the deviancy of her thoughts were all due to him.

The blush only intensified further.

"I told you before..."she added softly, recalling the day he had given her that private sanctuary atop Veruna Tower. How they had teased and danced around the line of professionalism and the skillful use of proximity. This time, she nuzzled the line of his jaw up towards the lobe of his ear, her smile brushing along the shadow of his scruff just underneath there.

Encouragement indeed. There was no denying how that hitch of his breath had done the same with her, the knowledge she could cause such a reaction giving her a heady sense of power.

"I have a dreadful habit of questioning my tutors quite relentlessly..." she paused quite deliberately, as if to show how she could also tease and redirect as he had done to her so many times before, adding with impish, smug delight, "Although if we consult my list, I would say investing in a yacht ought to become a priority. I believe we are long overdue for another well-deserved vacation."

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Magnanimous!
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Aurelian blinked at her, then laughed outright.

"Magnanimous?" he repeated, incredulous. "Is that truly how you'd describe yourself?" He tipped his head, eyes roaming her face with open amusement. "Generous, patient, endlessly indulgent of my worst ideas." His smile sharpened. "Yes. That tracks."

His hand slid from her waist to her back, slow and deliberate, fingers pressing just enough to remind her he was there, solid and attentive. He could feel the warmth in her, the way her breath shifted when he touched her like that. The faint color rising in her cheeks did not escape him. It never did. He enjoyed it far too much.

"Oh, you'll enjoy my list," he said lightly. "But we'll find out in due time. I have no trouble waiting." That was the truth of it. For all his bravado, he liked the tension. The anticipation. He liked knowing he had her attention, that she chose to stay right here, balanced between curiosity and restraint. He leaned in, close enough that his voice dropped without effort.

"And I suspect my list would leave you quite literally breathless," he added, smiling. "So I'm not worried about relentless questioning. I'll manage."

Her mention of a yacht drew a laugh from him, warm and unguarded. He leaned back slightly, studying her as if she had just revealed something delightful and dangerous. "An expensive yacht," he repeated. "Possibly a private island." He hummed, thoughtful. "You know, I'm starting to think I might be the magnanimous one."

He looked her over again, slower this time, gaze unapologetic. "Still," he said, "I might agree. I could use a vacation." His eyes flicked up to hers. "And with a view like I had of you on that yacht on Zeltros, I'd pay the price ten times over." His hand tightened briefly at her back, possessive without being heavy. "I can already picture it. Sunlight. Music drifting over the water. You pretending you don't notice me watching you."

His smile softened, something warmer threading through the teasing. "I seem to be spoiling you," he mused. "You've gone from relentless workaholic to someone who enjoys leisure in the sun."

His gaze dipped, unhurried. "Absent all that clothing," he added mildly, then glanced back up at her eyes. "Or perhaps you just enjoy seeing me in the sunlight."

He leaned in again, forehead brushing her temple, breath warm against her skin. "Either way," he murmured, "I'm not complaining."

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Location: Bet
Aurelian Veruna

Sibylla felt the distraction hit before she could marshal anything resembling a clever defense.

"An entire private island?" she echoed, incredulous, her head tipping up as she looked at him properly now. Amused, yes. But flustered too, and she was painfully aware of it. Especially with the way his finger continued its slow, infuriating trace, as though he were cataloging every tiny reaction she failed to suppress.

Blast him.

The tenor of his voice, that husky ease with which he painted images he knew her mind would seize upon, sent a faint hitch through her breath despite herself. Her spine arched subtly, instinctively, pressing her closer against the firm wall of his chest as if her body had decided before her thoughts could intervene.

"A yacht," she managed, trying to reclaim the thread. "and an entire private island? Well for privacy sake that does make sense but is such an exp --"

Then Zeltros was mentioned and with it, all the sunlight, and the precious little modesty he had shown then by wearing only that silk shirt and those tiny excuse for swim trunks.

And of course, Sibylla's face betrayed her instantly. Heat flooded her cheeks, then her neck, spilling over the exposed line of her decolletage thanks to the entirely impractical off-shoulder dress she suddenly regretted wearing.

And then Aurelian had the audacity to mention himself in the sunlight, and her mind, traitorous thing that it was, immediately supplied a very clear memory. Seemingly no tan lines from the bare little he had worn. None. How? Well her mind knew how. Which only made it worse.

Shiraya help her, the image he conjured was already far too vivid, her imagination greedily filling in details she had absolutely not authorized but felt the guilty pleasure of it -- now absent all that clothing.

Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.

That was unfair. Entirely unfair.

Especially when he wasn't wrong. It had been a struggle to keep her gaze above neck level, especially when he sat next to her. Or stood beside her, the sea breeze ruffling his silk shirt just show, revealing the planes of his smooth, bare chest and --

No. No no, focus. He's doing this on purpose Sibylla!

She swallowed, blinked rapidly, and finally decided if she could not escape the provocation, she would meet it head-on.

"Well..." Sibylla said, lifting her chin with what she very much hoped passed for composure, even as her breath remained a touch unsteady, "I would remind you that spoiling me is really just indulging yourself."

Not to be outdone, Sibylla fingers slid deliberately to his collar, gripping just enough to ground herself and, perhaps, remind him she was not entirely defenseless. She leaned in closer, close enough that her voice dropped to a playful but pointed tone, as she looked up at him in that adorable combination of defiance, boldness, and fluster she'd been growing into in the several months of being exposed to his maddening, brazen, incorrigible self.

And truthfully, she wouldn't have it any other way.

"And if I recall correctly," she added, her gaze skimming deliberately over the sharp lines of his handsome face, "you were hardly subtle about enjoying the view yourself."

She let the moment breathe, then allowed a slow, considered smile to curve her lips.

"After all," she said sweetly, her thumb tracing a small, unhurried arc along his collarbone, a deliberate echo of his earlier teasing. "You do have a habit of forgetting how easily distracted you claim to become around me. Perhaps there is some merit to your earlier claim for Elain."

She leaned back just enough to meet his gaze fully now, her eyes bright with challenge rather than fluster.

"So do go on," Sibylla murmured. "Tell me more about this island of yours. But do remember -- I am quite capable of imagining my own scenes enjoying my lesiure time under the sun."

This time, when her thumb rose to caress his cheek, it did not stop there. It slid slowly down to brush across the fullness of his lower lip, her eyes dipping to follow the motion before lifting again.

"…More to add to my collection," she added softly, "for later use."

Heat flared instantly in a deeper rouge across her face, traitorously betraying her despite her resolve, but she did not look away. Instead, she lifted her hazel eyes back to his, holding the darkening of his amber gaze, daring him to pretend he was unaffected as he had done with her.

"But maybe if you ask nicely enough, I might share one."

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Need to work on my tan
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Aurelian watched her carefully as she tried to recover her footing, and the satisfaction was immediate. Not cruel. Not triumphant. Just pleased. He liked seeing her loosen, liked the way she challenged him now instead of retreating. He liked even more that she was learning how to turn the game back on him.

"You're right," he said easily, smiling. "I do enjoy spoiling you." His hand slid along her back again, slower this time, more deliberate. "Watching you try something new. Seeing that moment when you stop bracing and actually relax." His gaze softened. "It suits you."

Her fingers at his collar drew a quiet breath from him. He did not pull away. He let her have the space, the contact, the small victory. She was learning how to disarm him, and he found he had no interest in stopping her. When she turned the memory of Zeltros back on him, he laughed, low and unashamed. "I never denied it," he said. "You have my attention wherever we go." His eyes flicked over her face, fond and unapologetic.

The image came back to him without effort. Sunlight. Heat.He smiled to himself. "That outfit," he admitted, quieter now. "I remember it very well." He met her gaze again, honest in a way that felt almost indulgent. "I was completely distracted," he said. "Utterly. Captivated. So yes. I speak from experience. A good partner would straighten Elian's focus right out."

Her thumb brushing his lip pulled him back into the moment. His eyes darkened, but his smile stayed easy. He leaned in, close enough that his voice lowered without effort.

"As for the island," he said, amused, "I've thought about it." His hand traced a slow path at her waist as he spoke, drawing her closer without force. "We'd dock the yacht at Kaadara first. Let the city have us for a night. Good food. Music. A little spectacle."

His thumb pressed lightly, anchoring her as he continued. "Then we disappear. Out to the island. Private. Quiet." His gaze lifted briefly, as if he could already see it. "A villa. Mostly glass. So at night we can watch the stars without leaving the room."

He smiled at the thought. "Catered dinners. Ridiculously expensive. Just the two of us." His eyes flicked back to hers. "No schedules. No interruptions."

"And during the day," he added, voice warming, "the beach. I need to work on my tan. I'm starting to think I've gone pale." His gaze drifted over her again, unhurried. "You can supervise."

He paused, then laughed softly, shaking his head. "You keep saying you might share what's going on in that imagination of yours." His thumb traced another slow arc, teasing now. "But I don't think you're telling the whole truth about what you're daydreaming this vacation would look like."

He leaned in, forehead brushing hers, voice low and amused. "And I suspect," he added, "I'd enjoy hearing it."

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Location: Checking tanlines for quality control purposes...
Aurelian Veruna

Sibylla knew she should have been immune to this by now.

She had faced down hostile senators, unruly Houses, and entire chambers bent on seeing her falter. She could parry rhetoric and hold her ground beneath scrutiny sharp enough to draw blood. And yet here she was, finding it absurdly difficult to keep her composure while Aurelian Veruna calmly outlined an imagined itinerary and dismantled her defenses one word at a time.

Hazel eyes narrowed at Aureliean, even as the corner of her mouth betrayed her with a smile, delightfully pleased as much as flustered that he admitted again that she did have an effect on him as much as he did on her.

The time spent on selecting what she wore that day had paid off.

But her wayward thoughts died somewhere between Kaadara and 'mostly glass,' her breath catching just slightly at how his voice had her entranced. Treacherous thing.

Shiraya above, he painted things. With his voice, with that effortless confidence, with the way he spoke as though the world simply arranged itself to accommodate the two of them. The city, the yacht, the quiet island retreat. No intertuptions, no meetings, no need to worry or be concerned about responsibilities and just sink into the presence of him.

Sibylla shifted closer, settling against him as though it were the most natural thing in the galaxy. The way the warmth of his body seeped in against hers through the thin layers of fabric made the imagined scenes feel dangerously close to real.

Then he teased her about her daydreams again.

Oh. That was low.

Bright pink cheeks flushed immediately, color blooming deeper as Aurelian smiled like a man entirely pleased with himself. She gave a small, exaggerated pout, tilting her head just enough to glare at him from beneath her lashes.

"You are being a terrible tease," she accused, attempting prim dignity despite the way his hand traced along her back. "And you know it."

She shoved him lightly, a token effort at retaliation, only for her hand to curl into his collar instead, fingers betraying her entirely. The man made her want to kiss him and throttle him in equal measure, and the balance tipped far too easily toward the former.

Honestly, it was entirely unfair of him to bring up supervising him as he worked on his tan. Because she did wonder. Her mind conjoured up all sorts of things where her fingers itched and curled against the fabric of his shirt, all together curious at being able to wander and explore the terrain underneath. For tan line quality control of course.

Oh how did the tips of her ears burned. Absolutely burned.

Alright enough of that!

She tipped her face up toward him, expression gentler now, and let herself close the distance she'd been pretending to maintain and her voice softened with wishful admiration and to be honest, threaded in equal measure with weary anticipation of one who certainly needed time off with him for more than a night.

"But you make the trip sound utterly lovely...I would like that," she admitted quietly.

The kisses came unbidden then, light and exploratory along his jaw, each one a small confession. She lingered near the corner of his mouth, teasing, before pressing a soft, warm kiss there at last. It was as much equal part reprials as it was surrender. When she pulled back, her eyes stayed closed for a beat longer than necessary, a faint smile curving her lips.

"All right," Sibylla said softly, meeting his eyes again, composure reclaimed just enough to make the challenge land. "You plan our vacation."

She let her thumb trace a slow, unhurried line along his collarbone in deliberate indulgence.

"But," she continued in a lighter, almost teasing tone. "I would love night on the yacht. Nothing ostentatious, just a simple meal taken on a soft blanket on the deck. Sharing a few glasses between us both. Nothing but the stars and the moons overhead with only the sea murmuring as if it knows better than to interrupt."

She leaned in, nuzzling his cheek with affection, the soft rasp of her voice falling into an intimate and wishful murmur.

"And perhaps we might lie there together after," she slid her arms once more over his shoulders to wrap around him and draw him closer, "close enough to forget the rest of the galaxy and trade our dreams as though they were secrets meant only for us."

 

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: You, me, and the sea
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes

Aurelian watched the way she reacted before she ever finished speaking. The faint hitch in her breath. The way she settled closer without thinking. He felt it like a quiet victory, not sharp or greedy, just deeply satisfying. He shifted his hand at her back, fingers spreading, thumb tracing a slow line that was deliberate enough to be felt and gentle enough to invite rather than demand.

He scoffed softly at her accusation, amused. "Tease you?" he said, brows lifting. "I've told you before... I would never." His mouth curved, betraying him immediately. "I'm simply… descriptive."

Her shove made him laugh, but when her fingers caught in his collar, he stilled. His gaze dropped to her mouth, then back to her eyes. He leaned in just enough to keep the tension alive, his hand sliding to her hip. "You do realize," he murmured, "that pretending you're immune only makes this more entertaining for me."

When she admitted she wanted the trip, something warm settled in his chest. He nodded once, decisive. "Of course you can have a night on the yacht," he said. "I wouldn't rush it. The island won't be obvious. It'll take a day. Maybe two."

His eyes flicked to hers, playful and knowing. "I won't tell the captain to hurry. I need the time."

The image she painted of the deck, the blanket, the stars made him smile in a way that felt softer than his usual confidence. He tilted his head, listening, his hand drifting in small, absent motions along her back as if he were already memorizing the shape of her there.

"That," he said quietly, "sounds perfect." He leaned in, brushing a kiss near her neck, lingering just long enough to feel her warmth. "And you should know something."

He pulled back slightly, eyes bright. "I can picture it so clearly because I've already asked Tona to start planning it." He shrugged lightly. "Discreetly. Slowly. With room to change anything you want."

Her suggestion of lying together under the stars drew a low breath from him. His forehead rested briefly against hers, his voice dropping. "I'll share whatever dreams you want to hear," he said. "Every reckless one. Every quiet one."

His hand tightened just a fraction, protective without being possessive. "For a little while, it can just be that. You, me, and the sea." He smiled again, easy and sure. "No meetings. No expectations."

"I'll take care of the details," he added. "All you have to do is stay right here and keep looking at me like that."

And judging by the way she was already leaning in, he had a feeling she would.

​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Location: Oh you...
Aurelian Veruna

Sibylla stared at Aurelian for a breath that turned into laughter before she could stop it.

"Oh, you…" she began, slowly shaking her head in amusement at him, only for the sound to dissolve into a soft, incredulous huff that shook her shoulders. The light caught the green and gold flecks in her hazel eyes as they brightened, and for a moment, the glow from the warm lights set the loose chestnut waves of her hair alight like spun gold.

She tipped her head, studying him as if he were a delightful puzzle she had no intention of solving but enjoyed just the same.

"You, Aurelian Marcus Veruna," she sang with warmth and mischief threading every word, "are utterly maddening, wonderfully conniving, incredulously incorrigible, and delightfully brazen in your incomparable devilry."

She punctuated each laughing accusation with a kiss. His cheek. The bridge of his nose. His other cheek. And finally, his mouth, lingering just long enough to steal the breath from her own laughter.

When Sibylla drew back, her expression softened, the humor giving way to one of gentle musing. Another quiet chuckle slipped free as her hand came up to gently rake through his curls in a loving cafune, brushing back the dark forelocks that had fallen when he had dipped his head closer to tease her earlier.

Truly, she could spend all afternoon running her fingers through his hair, watching how the inky locks clung to her fingers, gently massaging her finger pads along his scalp until he relaxed against her and she could hold him close.

"...and above all that," Sibylla added quietly with a tender breath, "you are thoughtful in ways that touch me most, brilliant in your attention to what I need, and completely, wholly beloved." Tawny hazel eyes held his, and as she let the moment linger, she added ever so quietly:

"Thank you. You are far too good to me."

She meant it. In the way he noticed when she doubted herself. In how he invited her to live rather than merely endure, and in how he challenged her composure with warmth instead of force.

"I love you, Aurelian," she said softly, as if saying it again might somehow deepen its truth.

And then she leaned in, this time without hurry or tease. The kiss she gave him was unhurried and open, a quiet surrender wrapped in affection. It carried the warmth of laughter, the promise of shared nights and imagined stars, and the lingering, provocative tension of all the ways he still managed to unsettle her as much as make her feel alive. When she finally rested her forehead against his, smiling, it felt as though the evening itself exhaled around them, content to let the rest unfold slowly together.

It was, by far, the most perfect Life Day she could have ever imagined with Aurelian by her side.