Conclusions [Yuki/Adrain/Private.]

[Deleted]

Classes had ended for the day hours ago, and the night was nearing. Melda had finished her work and had changed clothes in her office. Though it wouldn't be entirely suspicious for her to show up at the Headmasters Quarters, a Duchess as she was, but for her to store clothing there, or go in in one outfit, and leave in another... that may raise some suspicions. Not that they were hiding their relationship per say... but they still hadn't told Noku... So rumors may not be in their best interest.

She changed into a lovely smokey blue gown, with the bodice covered in an icy blue embroidery that accented her eyes and hair beautifully. She'd taken out the braided bun at the nape of her neck, and let her now wavy hair flow freely around her shoulders and back, stopping just below her shoulder blades. After locking her office door, she walked through the Arch, making her way to his Quarters. She was planning on sneaking into his kitchen and making him dinner for once, seeing as he so enjoyed cooking for her. She figured it would be a nice surprise for him.

Reaching the door to his Quarters, she glanced around her to just be sure no one was following or watching her. She opened the door and quickly closed it behind her, an excited grin on her face. There was a certain excitement about "sneaking" around in a sense. With a sigh, she moved away from the door, heading for the kitchen. Serai, who'd been lounging on the couch jumped down, patting his way over to Melda and rubbing up against her leg. She pet his head softly, greeting him with a smile. "Who's a handsome kitty?" She cooed softly. After a moment she stepped away from the cat, who just followed her anyways, and headed towards the kitchen opening the pantry to see what she had to work with. 

She pulled a few things out, deciding on a relatively simple elven dish she'd wanted him to try back when they'd visited her Home, but never had the chance. She started working quickly, not sure when Adrain would be returning to his Quarters for the evening. Knowing him he was still holed away in his Lab, but just in case she wanted it to be ready. The dinner was almost complete, after about 40 minutes, when Melda started to feel chilly. She knew Adrain wouldn't mind if she borrowed a coat of his, so she made her way back into his chambers, opening the door without a second thought.

She froze. There was a sleeping figure on his bed, bundled up in the blankets. Melda blinked, gaping at it. ... Her. It was a woman, that much Melda could tell from the distance she stood. She felt her heart pounding in her chest, and she quietly moved forward, wanting to see the face of the woman sleeping in his bed. .... Yuki?

Melda felt her breath catch in her throat, and flashbacks to the night she'd met Adrain flew to her mind. Yuki, all but nude in the springs, leaning on Adrain in the water... fast asleep... Blushing... Inappropriate... Melda felt tears sting her eyes but she blinked them away. No... He wouldn't! ... Would he? Melda wanted to be so sure he wouldn't do something like that to her, but she'd seen it happen time and time again to foolish women in their love struck worlds. It was why she hadn't trusted men, didn't let them in... Were her fears coming true??

Melda backed out of the room, closing the door behind her and leaning against it. She couldn't breathe. The tears threatened to fall forward again but Melda refused to let them. She would not cry over a man. Lucas had died, and she had cried for him, but she would never cry over a man who would hurt her and lived. Without really thinking about it, Melda swung the door opening again, not worrying about the sound it made.

"Yuki." She spoke at just above a normal volume. After a moment she cleared her throat, aiming to wake the young woman. Her arms were crossed in front of her chest, and her face was ice cold, eyes piercing like deadly sharp icicles.

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Tag Yuki D'Avranches and @adrain

[Yuki D'Avranches]

Yuki has fallen asleep soon after Adrain left her, though the last thing she remembered was cuddling with Serai’s paw. Her hands moved as she took one of the pillows that decorated the bed, bring it close to her chest as she nuzzled into it a small smile on her face. Her dreams for the first time in a long time were peaceful ones, though it was more like memories long forgotten.



It was one at her family estate her mother was in one of her rare good moods. The sun was still high in the sky and there was enjoying a peaceful time out in the gardens enjoying a few snacks and tea, she saw the rare glimpse of love in her eyes. She had just finished her studies and her mother was treating her for her accomplishments. Just as her mother was about to embrace her she heard a loud noise that made her jump it wasn’t part of the memory only to hear her name being called.



Turning away as she pulled the pillow closer to herself to try and remind in the one of the few good memories she had of her mother. Though it seemed that whoever was disturbing her memories and dreams was not going to allow her to remind there. Slowly her eyes opened as she sat up in the bed, the blanket falling from her body revealing the simple white blue cloak. The cloak was partly opened showing a bit of her nightgown. Looking around she wondered where Serai had gone since she had remembered him being right there it didn’t take long for her eyes to land on the one person she was not expecting to see Melda.



Yuki didn’t say anything she just picked up the pillow that was discarded upon waking and brought it to her chest. Burying her head into the pillow so that only her eyes was visible as she waited for Melda to say anything cause she didn’t know what to say.

[Deleted]

Melda watched as Yuki stirred, clearly unwilling to wake up at first, but as Melda cleared her throat she slowly registered the presence of another person in the room. Her eyes narrowed as Yuki moved around and the robe covering her moved, revealing the lack of actual clothing beneath it. More reason to believe what Melda had already been thinking.

Her chest felt tight, but Melda swallowed the lump stick in her throat and took in a deep breathe, almost rolling her eyes as Yuki lowered her face into the pillow, her big eyes staring up at her from behind it. Acting so innocent.

"We've dicussed in the past what is appropriate of a Lady and what is not. You can't image how disappointed it makes me to find you like this..." Melda managed to say, having to pause to control herself again before her voice started to shake.

"Asleep in a mans bed.. A man old enough to be your father, I might add! Why must you put yourself in such dramatic situations! It's like you want to be the focus of gossip!" She felt her heart racing, her face must be red as roses, but she couldn't let it go.

"It's shameful!" She was getting worked up. She needed to stay calm. She turned away from Yuki for a moment, needing the time to catch her breath. ... Oh shoot... the dinner was still cooking.. Melda debated letting it burn, but for the sake of not wanting the Headmasters Quarters to burn down despite the indiscresion convinced her otherwise.

Without turning to face Yuki, Melda spoke. "I can't look at you when you're dressed like that in a mans bed. I'll be in the kicthen, and I expect you to join me." With that, Melda left the room, closing the door roughly behind her.

[Yuki D'Avranches]

Yuki looked away from Melda as she felt the tears welling up in her eyes as the words of her mother echoed in her head that she was a stupid child, that she shouldn’t have been the one to live. Clinging to the pillow tighter as she did her best to remain strong even as Melda berated her for her actions that she did not even register the facts or question why Melda was there in the first place the only thing she could take was that she messed up once again just be simply being.



Once Melda turned away from her she allowed the tears to fall not caring if she saw them. “I’m sorry…” Her voice soft barely above a whisper. “I didn’t mean too… Please… don’t hit me.” Tighten her hold on the pillow feeling her heart beating fast knowing that she was going to be punished for something that wasn’t her fault. She closed her eyes as she waited for impending hit but none ever came.



Looking up her vision a bit blurred from the tears only to find that Melda wasn’t there. Pushing the blanket off her body and sliding off the bed, still clinging to the pillow. Making her way to the door her head looking out wondering where Melda disappeared to or if it was just a dream. The scent of food assured her that it wasn’t a dream, still she was scared that any minute now Melda would show up and hit her with a spoon or something worst.



Her steps were cautious, her head turning each direction on the lookout as fear set into her body. Yuki finally made her way to the kitchen the pillow her only defense as she stood there looking like a scared child.

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Melda's heart had been pounding so loudly in her ears that she hadn't heard Yuki's frail whisper, or seen her tears. She found herself in the kitchen leaning forward on the counter, her hands gripping the edge until her knuckles turned white. Should she just leave? Or did she want to stay and confront Adrain? Melda let out a shuttering breath. How could she allow herself to even get in such a situation?

She moved to fix the food, turning off all heat elements and placing the food on plates, making one for Yuki. No sense in wasting the food or letting it go cold.

She was setting the plates on the counter in front of the stools, leaving Adrains on the counter behind her as Yuki turned the corner, still hugging the pillow to her chest. Melda sighed again.

"Sit down." Melda spoke lowly, needing to take care to control the shake in her voice. After a moment to breathe, Melda looked up and made eye contact with the fearful woman. "What were you thinking, sleeping with the Headmaster? Why would you ever think that was a good idea? You have so much going on in your life, how could something so scandalous possibly help you?" She was trying to remain rational, to look at this from the position of a Duchess, and not a hurt woman.

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At this point the door would open, Adrain would be walking in having a muffled conversation with a couple of people unfamiliar to either of the women inside. A single line would be evident in the kitchen from the two women's perspective.

"Look, track them down and get the information. I gave you what I could to work with but I told you the aura I emit makes it hard for me to directly interfere. Once location is established I'll send specific people to finish the job. You'll get your pay when I can verify it." he says, then closing the doors. The appearance of the others leaving were black leather armoured with hooded cloaks, and vaguely spy like. As he makes his way into the home and follows the scent of the food.

"Hello?" he says, seeing Melda looking shaken and angry and Yuki looking traumatized. He goes to Yuki and looks at her with deep concern, kneeling. Melda would notice that it was a more paternal approach and not one of a greater association.

"Yuki what happened? Did you have nightmares or something?" he says, then turning to Melda, and beginning to put two and two together...a deadpan expression appears over his face.

"Ah..Melda, hello. I suppose an explanation is in order." he says, not knowing just how fully flustered the elf or girl was a moment just before. He sits in a chair and kneels forward heavy handed with a sigh.

"Our courtship started just before a matter of maximum importance happened." he says then looking at Melda. "The past few days have been a blur of trying to sort out the steps in order, but Yuki went through a very...trying ordeal at the hands of her mother. She was passed out near the ARC and I brought her here once she recovered." he says, exhaling knowing Melda was a little more traditional and probably would scold him even for the best case scenario.

"In short, I feel Yuki isn't safe anywhere I am not able to directly watch over her, or at least off the Arch's property. Since her mother is so eager to sell Yuki off to any man that would take her, I intend to adopt Yuki as an heir to the Kaiaru nobility line and compensate that..." he says, choosing his words carefully.

"....questionable woman immensely to get her out of Yuki's life. For the time being I've let Yuki make use of my quarters and been sleeping in the lab, much like that one night you stayed over in the past." he says, half expecting a swat from Melda for that comment, but if this was going to be the family unit going forward it barely mattered.

"I should have told you sooner, though our schedules have been busy and I've been devoting most of my free time to gathering intelligence and resources for the Plan B in case Baroness D'varanches Senior isn't...cooperative." he says, a certain ice to his voice as his eyes couldn't help but glow once indicating the latent anger deep inside.

"Look at Yuki's back, you will probably still see even the slightest evidence of what the Baroness has done despite my urging of Yuki to drink the regeneration potion. Yuki is very important to me as a person, someone I do love very much as I have guided and watched her turn from a scared child into a brilliant woman over the past year and I will not allow her to come to any further harm under her mother's hand." he says, exhaling and then pausing for Melda to process it. This was a conversation that was needing to be had anyway, though a lack of foreplay and hostiltiy just before would have been a more favorable condition.

[Yuki D'Avranches]

She took a seat never once letter go of the pillow, her eyes stared at the plate blankly at the food in front of her. Lifting her head a bit as she listened to Melda she was scared to answer since she felt that no matter what she said no one would believe her. It was always like that at home no matter how much she tried to defend herself it always fell on deaf ears. The sounds of the door opening up causes her to look towards it wondering who else was going to join her in her own personal Morgg now.

Hearing the familiar voice of Adrain her eyes lit up a bit that her savior was here. Mentally shaking her head knowing that the word savior didn’t do justice after everything Adrain did to help her and what he told her before she fell asleep he was more of a parent than anything. Catching only a small glimpse of the people before the door closed she wondered a bit why there were wearing those clothes it wasn’t needed. Shaking her head a tiny bit when he asked her if she had nightmares, when in all honestly she wanted to throw her arms around him and cry into his chest and feel that parental comfort.

Listening to Adrain she turned to look at Melda she wasn’t aware that the two were in a courtship but she wasn’t trying to come between them. Her fingers dug into the pillow as he spoke of what happened, the memories and wounds were still fresh in her mind and she didn’t want to relive them. Her home life was normally private that she kept it hidden from everyone close to her and even hidden from the members of the court. A fresh wave of tears started to well up in her eyes as she thought that now another person she had not meant to get another person involved with her home once again.

Yuki looked at Melda wondering what she is going to think, it was normal that parents found someone to marry they daughter. She didn’t think that Melda would understand what she been through from that winter all those years ago that led up to the recent events. She was almost positive that Melda would side with her mother that she should have been married off by now for either the benefit of her family or the benefit of Nova.

Freezing up a bit when Adrain mentioned her back, it was one thing to have someone else know that her mother has been trying to sell her but it was another to have someone see the results of what happened when a marriage meeting failed. She reminded seated waiting to see if Melda made a move to even confirm what Adrain said. If she did she would carefully unclasp her cloak, thankful that her nightgown was modest and covered her fully. Taking a deep breath she waited until Melda either ran her fingers over her back doing her best not to whine in pain as her fingers ran over the scars that been caused but she knew that they would fade in time they always did leaving her skin without any faults.

[Deleted]

Melda was about to open her mouth again when she heard the door open in the next room, along with muffled voices. Her face heated with colour. Looks like she was going to confront him about it. She took in a deep breath as he called out a greeting, wondering who he was expecting to find in his home, because she had a feeling it wasn't her.

Melda watched as he entered the room, looking at her first before turning his eyes to Yuki. Once they found her, she became his focus as he moved directly beside her, kneeling to reach her level. Part of her brain was shouting at her, that this was normal for him. He helped people all the time. She knew Yuki was a focus for him. She knew about Yuki's mother. But finding her in his bed, it blinded that knowledge for the time being. All she saw were her worst fears.

She watched as he turned his face back up to hers, his expression seemingly understanding the situation. When he said an explaination may be in order, all she did was raise an eyebrow, unable to speak. Her hands still held the edges of the counter, knuckles still snow white from the pressure. As he launched into his explaination, her eyes flicked over to Yuki, wondering if the news of their courtship would have any reaction, but all it seemed Yuki was able to do was hug the pillow and move her eyes around the room. A sinking feeling was creeping into Meldas stomach.

He'd found Yuki passed out somewhere outside the ARC... of course he'd brought her here. Melda's face was becoming scarlet in colour. She could feel her body begin to shake ever so slightly, partially from the grip she had on the counter, and partially from the waves of emotion she had rolling inside her. Based on his words, she had just further tramatized someone who was too frail to be even mildly yelled at in the first place... Is this what it's like to feel like Severeine...? No... she wouldn't feel remorse... Melda let out a shakey breath. She looked back and forth between the two of them, her chest going tight yet again. He was adopting her.

...........

That was the opposite of what she'd been expecting. By that point she had realized they weren't sleeping together, but to hear the complete opposite come out of his mouth... well it made her age comment about him being old enough to be her father seem pretty damn ironic right about now. She darted her eyes over to his, narrowing them at him when he mentioned a previous night of there. He had to know that wasn't funny at the moment, but she still found herself unable to speak.

He admitted he intended to tell her, and should have sooner, but time permitting it just hadn't happened yet. All valid... all the truth... dear Gods, she was the crazy one here... she was so rarely wrong.... Melda's face must have looked terrible, racked with various emotions scrolling over her face, brighter than ever.

She glanced at Yuki, Adrain telling her to look at the young womans back for further proof. She needed a second. Her hands were still locked against the counter, so finally letting go took a bit of thought. When she did, she felt a finger or two crack from the release of the pressure, but her hands were bright red now as well, to match her face and neck.

Slowly she approached Yuki, in the back of her mind she'd be understanding should the girl flinch when approached; one she was tramatized, and two Melda had just reamed her a new asshole, so fear of her wasn't unsually. She could be a scary woman when she wantedd to be. Slowly she unclasped her own cloak, realizing it needed to be down, and revealed her back to Melda. Carefully, she lifted a hand up, moving to kneel behind her, and lightly grazed her fingers over the girls back. What had she done...

She had just finished interrogating Yuki... yelling at someone so frail, after something so intense... She felt horrid. Melda sunk to the floor, her hand dropping off Yuki's back, and was no longer able to push to emotions away. Tears began to fall down her face, though no sound was made. They fell into her dress, turning it a darker blue as they sank into it. She wanted to hug Yuki, to apologize for all she'd said, but she didn't have the current ability to speak. She'd felt Yuki wince when she'd touched her back. Melda had never felt so ashamed.

Slowly, after many silent moments, Melda managed to stand again after making a failed attempted to whipe her face clear of tears, her skin now blotchy and red. She walked back to where she'd been standing before, and grabbed the third plate she prepared for him, handing it to him before sitting down across from them. She didnt know what to say...

"I..." She closed her mouth again, shaking her head. nothing she could say right now seemed right...

[Deleted]

Both women were silent in the following events. Melda was processing the information that Adrain had been putting out and not responding while Yuki seemed to be child like and fragile. He waits for both to process and then waits for Melda to stutter "I" just once before she went to quiet. He rubs the back of his head and then sighs a little.

"Both of you, I'm sorry for this...the misunderstanding could have been avoided if I had found a way to get in touch with Melda a little sooner. I'll step away for a moment if you two need to clear the air." he says, standing up and walking to his lab, opening the door with the spell and stepping into it, though leaving the door open in case they needed him or called out to him.

He trusted Melda would try to right things when the initial shock wore off. Perhaps it should have been anticipated in one way or another that this might have been a potential consequence of the hastily made living arrangement to protect Yuki.

[Yuki D'Avranches]

Yuki remained still years of beatings that if she moved or even flinched that it would only become worse. Closing her eyes she allowed herself to be somewhere else anywhere but in that room at the moment her own little escape. It was in that small moment of wishing that she was elsewhere that mind projected the spiritual version of herself away from her body and back into the bedroom where she had felt safe until everything came crashing down in those late moments.



Her ghostly formed walked through the walls of the room back into the kitchen area to see Adrian leaving them. She almost wanted to run after him not wanting the only person that was father like figure to her to leave she didn’t want to be left alone just yet. If she could cry in this form she would but she couldn’t instead she moved back to where her body was and reached out knowing that she had to become one with herself again.



Feeling the pull back into her body she allowed it her eyes opened slowly. A few tears were welling up in her eyes, her fingers slowly lifting her cloak as she secured it back on her body, her fingers playing with the little clasp it was her family crest. A simple three leaves and in the middle blooming like a flower was a snowflake. Her fingers ran over it slowly remembering that even if the family crest was the same each person had a different snowflake design to represent them.

[Deleted]

Melda glanced up as he started speaking again, apologizing. She shook her head- she shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. She was the one at fault. She let her history cloud her jugement. She made assumptions. She opened her mouth to speak, to say all of that, but nothing came out. By the time she knew what to say he had left the room, leaving her with Yuki.

Melda looked at the young woman, as she opened her eyes and did up her cloak, like she had only just then realized Melda had moved away from her. "Yuki... I..." Melda closed her mouth again, chosing to gather the untouched food she'd made, throwing it away. She highly doubted it would get eaten now.

"I'm sorry..." she spoke quietly, her back facing Yuki.

[Yuki D'Avranches]

She jumped a bit hearing the voice she had expected that Melda would have left her alone too that’s how this normally worked. Once everything was said and done she was finally left alone it was during those times that she would cry silently since if she made any noise her mother would just come back. Other times she would just move and sit by the window watching the world go on as her mind reflects on what happened and if she was lucky she would have her cat Sir Kane to pet and comfort her during those times. Her fingers left the clasp as she turned her head towards the voice she wasn’t going to cry it would give people what they want to see her cry that they words affected her more than there should.



Her right hand curled around her cloak close to her heart when she heard the words, ‘I’m sorry’ she wasn’t expecting that at all. “It is okay… it’s normal… I’m use to it.” Her voice was quiet yet there was the hint of pain indicating that she was close to tears. A weak smile on her face as she blinked away any tears that wanted threatened to fall. She wanted to stand up and hide that was how she normally coped with these situation she would return to seclusion so that no one would ever see her like this just another child who been unloved by her parents.



Standing up her feet shuffling against the floors as her eyes darted around looked for a place she she can hide till she felt back in control. The bedroom wasn’t an option anymore… she thought about leaving the room though the main doors but that another teacher might see her the only thing left was for her first comfort method the window the portal of escape. Making her way over to the window she placed her hand against it then her forehead as she looked out at the tree canopy and as much as the night sky she could see between all the leaves and branches. Her ears strained to hear the sounds of the night as the tears finally came, as she berated herself for messing up again and ruining things for someone else. First it was her mother for living instead of her sister, then it was her rejections of all marriages where she would be an object and now it seemed like she ruin things for Adrain and Melda because of her simple existence. “Maybe… I should leave… I can’t do anything right.” The tears continued to fall only this time she didn’t have her cat to hold in her arms and bury her face in his fur. By this point Yuki had completely forgotten that Melda was still in the room.