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Mar 1, 2021 16:18:48 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Mar 1, 2021 16:18:48 GMT -5
Elise fought sleep for as long as she could. She and Cato didn't say much- what was there left to say? They knew how they felt, and they knew what was inevitably going to happen. For as long as she could stay awake, she held him tightly, or gazed into his eyes, or trailed fingers along his arms. They both knew it was more of a goodbye than they wanted to admit.
The memory of that night, of the feeling of him beside her in her bed, of his legs entangled with hers, would stay with her for the entirety of her life. It was a better way to leave things than anger and sadness. But eventually, dawn came, they whispered their goodbyes and tried to kiss away the pain, and Cato had to sneak back home again.
Elise held her pillow to her chest, weeping silent tears until she fell asleep. She had promised to see him once more before leaving, before he went to Pyxis and she to 'Columba', but she wasn't sure when that would be. After last night, however, she resolved that she would not sleep with Wharton again. Cato's would be the last hands to have touched her, the last lips she kissed, before she was sent away.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Mar 1, 2021 16:58:11 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Mar 1, 2021 16:58:11 GMT -5
He still missed her. It had been a couple of weeks, of packing and organising and saying his farewells to whoever and whatever, as he prepared to leave for Pyxis. The royal guard training; they wanted him to start under the commander, and while it was an honour, to rise so quickly under the training of some of the most skilled warriors in the country, he was leaving behind everything he knew.
Cato had waved his goodbyes and said his farewells to the rest of his family. They had bid him farewell at the gate, and he had taken the carriage on his own. There was a rest stop outside the gates of the city where they'd quickly gather the last of their supplies for the journey ahead, and he'd be leaving Vela behind for however long his training would be.
Perhaps forever, he thought with a sigh. His father had been in more meetings with the king recently, and he knew of the plans they had. After all, the Rotherhithe name was a powerful one in Lacaille, enough to guarantee that Cato was on top of the potential suitors list.
As the stopped for a break at the city gates, he stepped out, taking in the last sights of the city. He'd miss it here, he thought with a sigh, unaware of another carriage coming along, carrying someone he had yet to say goodbye to.
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Mar 1, 2021 17:06:51 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Mar 1, 2021 17:06:51 GMT -5
( backstory) The driver was kind to Elise, a small mercy she was grateful for. He seemed to think her weak, though, as he insisted they stop outside the gates for to get fresh air and sunshine. It was important for 'ladies in her condition', as he put it, though her small belly was hidden under her cloaks and Elise felt very little difference in her physical shape apart from some nausea and fatigue from time to time. Elise stepped out of the carriage into the morning sunshine, shading her eyes, and stopped dead in her tracks. Cato? The driver was distracted- chatting with someone he knew at the post- so she moved to Cato's side, touching his arm to get his attention. "What are you doing out here?" She asked, peering up at him with green eyes. She didn't think the rumors had spread far enough for him to hear about her condition yet, but they undoubtedly would.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Mar 1, 2021 17:29:33 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Mar 1, 2021 17:29:33 GMT -5
The gods must have been smiling down on them today, because he had thought that perhaps, he'd never see her again, at least not until after his training, and yet here they were, both...heading out of town for some reason?
He fought the urge to give her a hug like they often did, lest anyone saw them together–like the driver who seemed to have an eye on the two–but his face brightened immediately into a grin. "Elise," he breathed, "I didn't think I'd see you, her of all places."
Cato gestured towards his carriage. "I'm heading to Pyxis today," he replied, looking a little saddened by that, "I'm due to start training under the commander of the royal guard for two years to learn about the command stations around the country. I guess I should be happy but it's just...so far from everything I know." So far from you, he wanted to say.
"Where are you heading?" his brow furrowed, looking rather confused, "I thought you'd be staying in Vela for the next year looking for suitors or something. Unless you're heading out to Pyxis, which would be a godsend if you ask me." It was a dream, of course, if she had been heading that way. Pyxis was far away from creeping eyes and he had occasional weekends off. He could only imagine, if they could've been heading off to the same place, spending weekends together and getting lost in a city so far from their home...
but reality was often unkind, and Cato knew that. "Not going to your summer cottage, are you?"
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Mar 1, 2021 17:41:31 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Mar 1, 2021 17:41:31 GMT -5
"Not to Pyxis," Elise said with a sad smile. For a moment she hesitated, trying to come up with a believable lie. "I'm going to see a friend in the countryside for a few weeks before I go head off to university. I- I got into the literary program in Columba." She smiled up at him. It would be easier for him if he believed she had a brighter future than reality held.
"Congratulations on your training! That's really amazing," she said with a wider smile, wishing she could give him a congratulatory hug. Despite everything that faced her, she was proud of Cato, and wished him the best. "I'm sure you'll prove your mettle in no time." How she wished she were going to Pyxis, to be with him. But in a short time, she would not be able to hide her pregnancy, and then he would have questions.
"You can write me. My mother will forward the letters to me." Of course, he wouldn't want to write her if word got to him that she was being secluded because she was an incubator for Wharton's bastard. But until then... it might be nice to get a letter or two from him. And her mother would hide them from her father, so no suspicion would be cast on the baby's paternity.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Mar 1, 2021 17:58:46 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Mar 1, 2021 17:58:46 GMT -5
Cato almost looked a little bit bashful at the compliment, but he immediately grinned at Elise's announcement. "That's amazing!" he exclaimed. He knew she always wanted to go to university, to study something and be something other than a pretty girl on some lord's arm. His hand reached out to her shoulder, giving her at least some type of familiar touch. "I'm sure you'll do well, maybe the next time I meet you, you'll be a professor or something, or a famous writer. You always did have a way with words."
"I'll write," he promised, "I'll write so much you'll regret you asked me to." The humour was in his expression, though his eyes still held a trail of sadness, of wistfulness, of how in another world, they could've been together instead of leaving each other for journeys of their own.
"I'll miss you a lot. Maybe more than I miss anything else from this city," he replied quietly, before pulling the sleeve of his coat upwards, to show a leather band around his wrist. He'd keep it forever, that was for sure.
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Mar 1, 2021 18:13:29 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Mar 1, 2021 18:13:29 GMT -5
"It's really exciting." Elise felt her stomach sinking, and the threat of tears in her eyes. It was another lie she was telling Cato, but maybe he'd understand one day. How she wished she could go study, and make something of herself, but she was just sinking farther into dependency on the men in her life.
The driver called for her, and she turned to smile at him. "Coming!" She said, and he turned away to pack something in the back of the carriage. For a moment, no one was looking at them. Elise kissed Cato once, quickly and furtively, before stepping back, struggling to smile as she raised a hand in farewell.
"Hopefully I'll see you when you're done training," she said, voice shaky as she moved away. "I hope... I hope it all goes well for you. I'll miss you more than I can say. I love you- and I'll never forget what we had." She showed her own leather band in response, moving back forward for a moment to link the stones inconspicuously. One last reminder of their twilight love.
"Goodbye, Cato," she said brightly, back to a friendly tone as the driver turned his gaze back to them. Far, far too soon, she was back in the carriage, forehead pressed to the window as she watched Cato's tall figure fade away behind her.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Mar 1, 2021 18:22:09 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Mar 1, 2021 18:22:09 GMT -5
Cato seemed to notice that Elise didn't seem nearly as excited as he thought she'd be. He was about ask what was wrong, when the driver called for her once more, and she was kissing him on the cheek, a kiss that was gone all too soon. He couldn't put the smile on his face when she spoke her farewells, only returning her words with an 'I love you and I'll miss you' before she disappeared into the carriage, heading out in the opposite direction.
He stood there waving until he could no longer see her face, as his own expression fell. She was gone. It was the end of an era.
Watching as the carriage disappeared into the distance, he climbed back into his own, as they headed off to Pyxis to spearhead his new future.
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