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Beyond The Time
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2025 11:02 am

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Characters: Atropia and Gabriel
Prompt: Gabriel's gotten back to writing and asks for Atropia's help.

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2025 10:52 am

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That Gabriel had stayed up pretty late writing was nothing new to him. Nor was the subject matter he was writing about something he hadn't done before. However, the last time he worked on something he was this dead set on publishing he wasn't exactly going around as Gabriel Montgomery. That part would be an adjustment, as would the potential ramifications of people back in Musique making any connections between the more concise writing voice of Gabriel today and the loud, scathing tone of Alain Mirandas past. He hadn't gone easy when it came to addressing the royal court of the land of sound in those days, and from the time he spent after reclaiming his birth name, he knew for a fact he had more than one detractor among the ruling class. Hopefully they would not collect the dots.

From the first day of classes, the Utopia Academy has been nothing less than a decidedly tense experience. From zombies to giant tentacle monsters, the moments where this place came across as a normal institution were few and far between. In a way, it was to be expected. Old wounds take time to heal. A year and change couldn't solve the unrest that so many clearly still felt about how things were left off prior to Lomacht being deftly placed into a period of peace.

But what sort of peacetime was this? There were many friendships found that wouldn't have been possible in the chaos that was the forever war, sure, but there also seemed to be unresolved plot points from that time that lurked behind what seemed like every corner. Admittedly, Gabriel could find himself on at least one of them. Just the name Corthyr itself brought an unease to the pit of his stomach, and that was before he enrolled. Ever since, the few times he knew himself to be in the presence of those from that land turned the unease into a festering abhorrence that rarely left him. Still, that small social circle he'd found a place in was a crucial part of his time here. From small gestures to long, personal conversations, Gabriel was gaining perspective on the world around him that he just wouldn't have gotten anywhere else. People he'd come to cherish that he might not have ever met otherwise. Those bonds helped with the discontent.

That was the thing about rose-colored lenses, though; they could only ever filter out so much. Obscured as it might've been, those feelings were still there. And if Gabriel simply glossed over them for the rest of his days, he'd be just as bad as the aristocracy he was so critical of during the war. He couldn't allow that of himself. But was he ready to take those glasses off? Not entirely, admittedly. There were a few conversations that Gabriel wasn't sure how to even start. Things a part of him would rather leave unsaid. But at the end of the day, for reasons bigger than him, he knew that he'd have to eventually.

It was that unsteadiness in his heart that led him to the art room. Of the many voices whose he'd come to harmonize with, there was a forward momentum he felt when conversing with Atropia that so far had gone unrivaled. And while their conversations often revolved around her continuing to teach him art, he felt as though there was a camaraderie between them that could be applied elsewhere as well. Just as well, there were a couple of questions he had the only she could answer...if he was brave enough to ask. Unfortunately, by the time he arrived she was nowhere to be found. Maybe I should...? It wasn't an "art emergency" in the way she might've been thinking of when she gave him her room number, but Gabe felt compelled to find Atropia nonetheless. He wouldn't linger for long if she didn't answer, nor would he push if she wasn't interested. And so, with some fleeting hesitations, he went to her door and knocked.

"Hey, it's Gabriel. If you're still up, could we...talk?"

Location: Atropia's Room - Doorway
Company: No One
Wearing: Outfit (Left), Sunglasses
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Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2025 10:12 am

The day had gone, surprisingly, smoothly. Surprising, because the last few weeks had been… interesting. To say the least. She hadn’t been sleeping well, and that was how Atropia found herself outside in clothes that were not nearly warm enough for the weather. Her gaze dropped to her bare legs, pale against the chill, before she crossed her arms over her chest in a halfhearted attempt to trap what little warmth she had. At least she’d grabbed a jacket.

With a quiet exhale and a long, deliberate inhale, Pia braced herself, then broke into a run. Her muscles complained immediately, stiff and heavy from disuse, but she didn’t slow. She wasn’t a runner, she barely did anything athletic at all, but she needed something repetitive, something that demanded her body’s focus so her mind would stop chewing on itself. Normally she would have turned to her art, but for once, the sketches and paints weren’t enough to bleed out the static.

The gravel path crackled sharply beneath her shoes, each step sending small vibrations up her calves. The cold night air stung her lungs, each breath rising like a wisp in the moonlight. The forest closed around her, with branches creating deep shadows. Her heartbeat began to pound in her ears, matching the slap of her feet against the earth. She passed familiar landmarks, moss-covered rocks, a warped wooden sign she’d seen a hundred times, but now they slid past in a blur, swallowed by the rhythm. Her body warmed faster than she expected. The burn in her legs spread upward, her jacket starting to cling to her as a sheen of sweat broke across her skin. The ache was sharp, but she welcomed it, it made her feel alive in a way her days lately hadn’t.

When she reached the old bench with the lamp post beside it, with the amber light pooling onto the path, her pace faltered. She stopped, leaning forward with both palms braced on her knees, gasping in deep, uneven breaths. Gods, she was out of shape. Her green eyes fixed on the pale scatter of gravel beneath her shoes, the pounding in her chest slowly eased.

At least the art project was done. She had time to herself now, no one to entertain, no deadlines breathing down her neck. But the absence brought a different kind of restlessness. She hadn’t seen much of Alastair lately, and she couldn’t help but wonder if that was her own doing. Had she been avoiding him? Maybe. He’d been more “protective” than usual, and it unsettled her. She was the last person he needed to worry about. All she did was study, draw, and read. Straightening her spine, Pia forced her legs into motion again. They felt heavier now, and her strides were shorter, but she kept the pace, pushing through the stiffness. Her breaths came quick and visible in the cold, her throat raw from the air. Her mind wandered despite her efforts- Gabriel. She hadn’t expected to think of him out here, but he came to mind anyway, his voice, his expressions. Somehow, he’d shifted from “random-student-she-tutored” to “friend,” and she hoped he felt the same.

The trail curved, carrying her toward the faint glow of campus lights in the distance. She didn’t know how long she’d been running, but the moon hung high, spilling silver light over the trees. By the time the academy buildings came into view, her body thrummed with exhaustion, every muscle reminding her how little she moved like this. She slowed to a jog, then to a walk, climbing the steps and slipping into the building. The air inside wrapped around her, though she wasn’t sure if it was truly warm or if the heat was still radiating from her skin.

Finally, Atropia stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel snugly around herself. She ran a brush through her damp hair, then padded out of the bathroom, just in time to hear a hesitant tap, tap, tap at her door. She froze, glancing at the clock. Not midnight, but not exactly early either. Her brows knit in confusion, could it be Alastair? The thought barely formed before a voice came from the other side, one that definitely wasn’t her brother’s. No, it was Gabriel. Did he have the ability to read minds? Did he know she thought about him earlier?

Her teeth caught her bottom lip as she crossed to the dresser, rifling through for something decent to wear, “Yes! Just-” she called out, cutting herself off as she grabbed the first comfortable thing her hands landed on. She slipped it over her head and tugged on a jacket, glancing briefly in the mirror. Plain face, fresh from the shower, hair still dripping. Not exactly her most polished look, but it would have to do. He’d just have to deal with it. She took one steadying breath before pulling the door open, meeting his gaze with a soft smile, “My apologies…you caught me just in time.” And then she saw what he was wearing. Her stomach tightened, and every ounce of her body worked in overdrive to keep the embarrassment from showing. He always looked put together, and here she was, a picture of casual disarray. No one ever saw her like this. Was this normal for friends? Or was this one of those walls she was supposed to let down? Blinking the thought away, Pia stepped aside and gestured for him to enter, “Come in. Of course we can talk.” A flutter of unease stirred in the back of her mind. It was… unusual, him coming to her at this hour. Just to talk.

OOC: N/A Location: Pia's room Company: Gabriel Wearing: Outfit

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2025 4:29 pm

ＧＡＢＲＩＥＬ ♫ ＭＯＮＴＧＯＭＥＲＹ
ＤＵＫＥＯＦＭＵＳＩＱＵＥ

“Yes! Just-”

That was probably the first time Gabriel had ever heard Atropia caught so off guard. Then again, it probably wasn't normal to just come unannounced at this hour. Should he...leave? Tell her not to worry about it and that he'll come back another time? At a normal time? Instead, however, he waited. While the guilt of coming to see her like this hung heavy on his shoulders, Gabe nonetheless resolved to stick around. For now, at least. Whether he'd keep such confidence throughout was questionable at best. And as he heard the soft patter of her footsteps as Atropia came to the door, that confidence got even shakier. But somehow, he remained still.

As she opened the door to greet him, Gabe immediately clocked that he'd come at an inopportune time. Her hair was wet and this was the first time he'd ever seen her face bare; clearly she'd just showered. It wouldn't surprise him if she'd intended to wind down from there. However, she would go on to apologize to him. A politeness he wasn't sure he'd earned. Feeling the heat hit his cheeks, he looked away from her for a moment as his self-consciousness hit a new high. He didn't have to continue with this, Gabe reminded himself. He could still leave. It wasn't like he hadn't already made a fool of himself. But then he looked back at her and, seeing her smile, he suddenly didn't wanna turn tail and run as much anymore.

“Come in. Of course we can talk.”

"O-okay, perfect."

Although he nodded along and entered her room at an almost gleeful pace, there was a lingering sense of dread that went in with him. Looking around, that fear had been quelled at first. Drawing his attention first was the teddy bear that was waiting for Atropia at her bed. Well that's a side of her I wasn't quite expecting. From a quick glance, it looked well loved. A comfort he was glad she got to have. Continuing to casually survey her space, nearly every surface had some form of art atop it. From finished paintings to rough sketches, even the walls had been touched by her masterful work. As they should be. "I see someone's been making good use of their free time," said a wide-eyed Gabriel in amazement. He was genuinely in awe of it all. Of her.

Finding a stool to sit on, he lingered on them for a moment longer. Having moved on from the various perspective pieces that detailed what looked to be scenes from out of windows, likely done here judging from the familiar architecture, those of an unfamiliar structure caught his eye. With how detailed the painting was, it was as if Atropia had been there her whole life. It was luxurious in a way that was completely foreign to him. Or almost completely. Some of the finer flourishing nudged at the back of his head. Just where had he seen something like that before, he wondered. He thought back to the various buildings he'd studied for the art project and eventually...it hit him. More than he had been expecting.

Gabriel's eyes widened, staring bleakly at the damning art before he caught how he must've looked and relaxed his features. Swallowing, he brought his attention back to his tutor. His friend. One leg slid up to use the upper ring that connected the legs of the stool as a footrest as his hands met at his raised thigh. Was that the intended use of the ring or was it more of a structural thing? Food for thought, but a distraction for now. He wished for a million more. Gabriel's eyes went to the notebook, his hands clenching around it. "So this is more than I...how do I..." began Gabriel, his voice quietly wavering. While he had a solid pitch previously, he now had far too many factors to consider. Gabriel paused and then took in a deep breath. His golden gaze returning to her, he continued slowly. "Alright, I don't think I have it in me to continue before getting this out. Just...promise me you'll be honest with me?" The foot that remained on the floor bent forward and back at a slow pace.

"So these structures you have...they're...from Corthyr, right? I'm sure I could be wrong, but does that mean...you're from there?"

His heartbeat continued to rise. While the conversation he was prepared to have might not have been the most comfortable for either of them, the prospect of Atropia being Corthyrian wasn't one he'd prepared for. It was always a possibility, sure, but to experience the actuality of it was another thing entirely. But he'd made the choice to bring it up; might as well finish taking the bandage off. While Gabriel didn't know what he'd do with the information, he knew Atropia. Or at least he thought he had. He thought he knew how comfortable they had seemed to get with each other's company and he desperately didn't want to ruin that. For either of them. But he couldn't keep looking away from things either. And so his eyes remained on Atropia. Gabriel wanted to see her and believe in what he saw. Believe that the person he'd gotten to know was the real Atropia. He just hoped he could do the same for her.

"As for myself...I'm from Musique."

The words came out weakly. There was a safety net that the rules of the school created for its students and Gabriel just tore it to shreds. But there was a part of him that wasn't quite sure if he'd miss it here or not. He hoped not. He had lived his life with a mask on for years and long since resolved not to do so again if he could avoid it. "A-anyway, don't feel prompted or forced to respond. If you don't want to or you want me to leave or anything, just say the word. I won't bother you again if you don't want me to," he clarified, standing back up so he could leave promptly if that was what Atropia wanted from him. A part of him wanted to do so regardless. Beyond the greater concerns of a conversation like this, Gabe felt like he'd provided way too long of an exposition dump. And then there was the lingering worry that he was about to get blasted by noxious green flames or something. Was this all worth it?

For an art tutor? Not quite, perhaps. But for a trusted colleague? Someone he'd genuinely grown to care about? For better or worse, yes.

Location: Atropia's Room
Company: Atropia
Wearing: Outfit (Left), Sunglasses
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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2025 10:02 am

The way he stepped into her dorm felt unsettlingly natural, as if he had crossed that threshold a dozen times before. The hour was strange and that alone should have raised alarms. Yet, she felt at ease in his presence. It was an unfamiliar sensation, considering she almost never felt safe around men. Atropia lingered by the door a moment after closing it behind them and watched him. His head tilted this way and that as his gaze drifted across her space, unhurried, like he was strolling through a gallery, taking in every piece on display. Her chest tightened when his eyes landed on her teddy bear. A flush crept into her cheeks, heat blooming against her will. Gods. He was seeing everything tonight. All the carefully kept fragments of herself she never meant for anyone to notice.

He wandered further in, and Pia slipped toward the bed. Perching on its edge, she zipped her sweater higher, crossed one leg over the other, and folded her arms loosely across her chest. She watched him study her sketches and paintings with an unnerving focus. Anxiety pricked at her ribs. Most of the artwork was from home, but there was no way he’d recognize it. At least, not unless he had been there, and as far as she knew, he hadn’t. When Gabriel finally spoke, her expression softened despite herself. She let out a quiet laugh, almost playful. “Well… it is a small hobby of mine.” For a fleeting moment she basked in the way his eyes widened with amazement. She hadn’t realized until now that he’d never really seen this side of her during their tutoring sessions.

Eventually, he sat down on a stool, his posture changed, and his composure unraveled into something far less familiar. Troubled. Pia frowned faintly, following his gaze until he turned it back on her. His golden eyes were softer now, but the discomfort beneath them was plain. Something was clearly wrong.

“So this is more than I… how do I…”

Her brows knit. His voice was unsteady, uncertain in a way she had never heard from him, “…Gabriel?” He hadn’t sounded this unsure even when he’d first struggled to draw a tree. Slowly, she uncrossed her arms, grounding herself with her hands in the folds of the comforter, twisting the fabric between her fingers. His gaze met hers again, and she knew her worry showed. “I promise,” She answered without hesitation, which in itself was strange. Trust was not something she gave freely, and yet, he had already glimpsed parts of her no one else ever had. Perhaps this wasn’t abnormal after all. But then his half-formed question lingered, and her chest went tight.

She had answered too quickly.

Her grip on the blanket tightened, ’How did he know?’ He shouldn’t even be asking, it was against the rules. So why did he look nervous? Did he hate Corthyr? Or worse, would he hate her if she told him? Questions spiraled through her mind, faster and faster, until she realized she was holding her breath, so much so she was dizzy from it. Her eyes flicked toward a painting near him, one she had drawn in painstaking detail, a memory of home. ‘Is that how he figured it out? Or had he always known?’

“As for myself… I’m from Musique.”

His words snapped her attention back, and dread pooled inside her. The fear she had tried to ignore had seemingly come true. If she told him the truth, he would despise her, right? She had been trained for moments like this. To lie and twist stories. To manipulate until people believed she was on their side. Emotionless masks had always kept her safe, never smiling, never crying, never revealing too much. But with him, that mask was already cracking, she knew he could see it. There was no hiding anymore. “I—” The word slipped out, but she faltered, and her eyes dropped to the floor. She couldn’t look at him.

Before she could continue, he stood abruptly. Panic stirred inside her chest as his words cut sharper than she expected. It hurt. Which took her by surprise. But it shouldn’t have. He had every reason to believe she would push him away. But part of her thought he knew better that she wouldn’t do that to him. Her body moved before her mind caught up. Atropia rose, stepped toward him, and set a careful hand on his arm, “Please don’t leave. That’s not what I want.” She swallowed down the storm of emotions clawing at her throat and met his gaze. “Will you please sit back down?” Her teeth caught her bottom lip as her eyes flicked to the stool, urging him softly.

When he did, relief loosened her chest. She sank back onto the bed, and inhaled deeply, forcing her voice into steadiness. “Yes. They’re from Corthyr.” The admission hung heavy, “And so am I.” Her confidence faltered even as she said it, fear gnawed at her edges. Their kingdoms did not have a happy history, and she couldn’t predict how he would react. Tugging anxiously at a strand of her long hair, she exhaled hard. She didn’t have to tell him who she was to Corthyr, but even this much felt like stepping off a cliff. “Wh…” Her voice stumbled, then steadied, laced with hesitant curiosity. “Is this why you came to my room tonight? To ask me where I’m from?” There was no bitterness in her tone, just a fragile, trembling hope that this wasn’t the end. Because the thought of losing someone she had grown to care about and trust, of having him simply pull away, made her pulse race with desperation.

OOC: N/A Location: Pia's room Company: Gabriel Wearing: Outfit

Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2025 9:35 pm

ＧＡＢＲＩＥＬ ♫ ＭＯＮＴＧＯＭＥＲＹ
ＤＵＫＥＯＦＭＵＳＩＱＵＥ

Gabriel wished he hadn’t noticed the details. That he hadn’t decided to act on them. Looking at her face, it was clear how much damage his words had done. Weeks of comradery thrown out the window. And for what? His own need for answers? Even as the words left his lips about her not needing to respond, part of him knew that him announcing his nationality was basically begging for her to respond. Gabe felt sick. He should just leave. Never bother her again. That’s what every nerve in his body was telling him, especially with the haunted look on her face. But before he could even get himself to take one step out of her room, Atropia had her hand on his.

“Please don’t leave. That’s not what I want.”

There was a soft tremble in his hand as she continued, asking for him to sit back down. When their eyes met, he saw things he never thought he’d see from a Corthyrian. Hurt. Concern. Fear. In the back of his mind, there had always been that nagging thought that he would have to swat away from time to time. “What would it be like to see them hurt like they’d hurt Arioso?” Disgusting vestiges of a rhetoric he’d long since abandoned. Even so, he hadn’t been able to disperse that anger so completely as it faded right now. For as he sat back on the stool and she sat back on her bed, Gabriel could find no pleasure in the turmoil she was clearly experiencing. Only regret.

”Sure.”

But that was the sort of thing he’d probably say to anyone else, right? As he sat back down, Gabe felt ten times heavier than he had just moments ago. Fidgeting with his hands as he looked down, he started to wonder how it all got to this point. There was an almost dreamlike quality to how they were sitting there now. Atropia had attempted to say something; did it sound muffled because she stopped herself or because he felt so sick to his stomach? Such ponderings didn’t make it any easier for him to grasp what she would then ask him. “Is this why you came to my room tonight? To ask me where I’m from?” Gods, what must she think of him now? And what was he doing to stop the storm of doubts she must have in him now? After all, Musique was known for its intelligence work as much as its symphonies of battle. Would she think he was some sort of plant? A spy? That he’d meant to do her harm?

Meanwhile, all he could do was sit there silent for some moments. He didn’t look at her at first. When they had all come to attend this academy, they were told with reason not to reveal where they were from if they could help it. It was only now, though, that the why of it all was really dawning on him. How could he ask her to spend time with him from now on? And was that even what he really wanted? For the long term, Gabriel wasn’t sure. But for the time being…

”No, I just…I’m so sorry, Atropia.”

Gabriel got up from the stool again, leaving his notebook atop it as he took quicker steps than before. He didn’t want her to feel the need to try and stop him again. And so it was that he came right over to her, standing next to where she sat on the bed. ”Would it be alright if I sat with you?” When she said that he could, he felt a bit of that weight lift from him. Sitting down next to her, he met her eyes once more. ”It wasn’t right for me to put you on the spot like that. That wasn’t why I came, it just…I shouldn’t have said all that.” Gabriel looked away and took a deep breath. Reality was settling in the wake of that dream-like state and he needed a moment to adjust. Turning back to her,

”But I know I can’t change that now. I know that this might change how we see each other. But even so, and this might be selfish to say, but I…I don’t want this to be the end of us spending time together. You’re important to me; that hasn’t changed. That won’t change. So for as long as you’ll have me, I’m here.”

The words came out weakly at first, but there was a growing determination in his voice. Gabriel still wasn’t sure if there was a way that they could get back to where they’d been with each other. But it wasn’t like he should be surprised to find anyone from Corthyr here at the school. Just as well, it wasn’t like they were the only people complicit in the war; all of Lomacht was at one point or another. And even though he couldn’t find it in himself to forgive those responsible for what happened to Arioso, that didn’t mean he had to pin that blame on Atropia. Unless she was an evil genius as a child, it was doubtful that those events were her doing. So even if he wasn’t sure how he’d feel even an hour from now, for now? For now, this was what he wanted more than anything.

Location: Atropia's Room
Company: Atropia
Wearing: Outfit (Left), Sunglasses
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Beyond The Time
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2025 11:03 am

Silence stretched between them, dragging on for what felt like an eternity. At least now he had sat back down. That was better than the alternative, even if his eyes refused to meet hers. Was he angry? Her brows furrowed as she studied his face, but it was unreadable, too different from anything she was used to seeing on him, and that unsettled her. Warning bells rang sharp in her head, her mind whispering the worst, what if he had come here to hurt her? She swallowed hard. Atropia had an intense distrust in men, and had for several years. But Gabriel had always been the exception, the one who somehow made her feel at ease, who made her feel safe. And now? She didn’t know what to think. Her hands twisted the blanket beneath her until the fabric strained between her fingers, her grip tightening with every second of silence.

Her emerald eyes searched his expression relentlessly, sweeping every line of his face for a clue. No. She exhaled quietly, he wasn’t here to harm her. She clung to that belief, Gabriel wasn’t the type of man to hurt a woman, much less a friend. Whether that was naïve or foolish, she couldn’t help but trust him. She always had.

“No, I just… I’m so sorry, Atropia.”

Her heart lurched. Sorry? She felt like an idiot, caught off guard, wide-eyed as he stood once again. Panic hammered through her chest until he set down his notebook. She blinked at the object dumbly, unable to process, until the shadow of his movement pulled her gaze back up. He was asking if he could sit with her. She blinked again, then- probably too quickly, shifted to the side, creating space. “Of course.” She gestured to the empty spot with a small, tentative touch, then turned her head to meet his eyes. He looked worried. Or maybe something she just couldn’t figure out. So she waited patiently while he gathered himself. But as his words came with guilt woven into them, all she could do was shake her head.

Maybe it wasn’t the right response, but the truth was, the only thing she cared about was the fact that he didn’t hate her. The relief bloomed in her chest. She bit down on the inside of her cheek to keep the smile from breaking loose, but when he looked away, even just for a brief moment, she let it slip free.

For an instant, she wanted to reach for him. To touch the side of his face, force him to look at her and tell him plainly that nothing he said could change what he meant to her. But she resisted. Instead, her hands loosened their hold on the blanket and folded neatly in her lap. She arched an eyebrow, “Maybe I haven’t told you enough,” She admitted softly, her voice dipping as her gaze dropped to her hands. “I’m not great at talking about my emotions…” Her words trailed off, but the small smile lingered. “That’s on me.” Her fingers toyed with the green and gold ring on her middle finger, twisting it back and forth. It was a nervous habit, one she fell into whenever decisions pressed too hard against her chest. The ring had been her mother’s gift years ago, a constant weight she always reached for when she needed grounding.

“You are…” She drew in a breath, exhaling like she was steeling herself for a fight, eyes still fixed on her hands. “So very important to me.” She paused, then added, “I should be the one apologizing. I know what the rules say, but I should have just been honest with you. I was afraid you’d…” Her emerald eyes lifted, locking onto his, “Hate me.” A nervous laugh slipped out thinly. Every attempt at honesty made it harder to meet his gaze. Because if he ever found out the whole truth, then surely, he would hate her. So, she decided, in one selfish, protective instant, that he didn’t need to know. It wasn’t lying, it was omitting to spare him added pain. At least that’s what she told herself.

Her voice softened, vulnerable in a way that she wasn’t prepared for, “You do realize I’d be broken if I lost you.” The words escaped before she could dull them, so quickly she added with a lighter, coy tone, "You are quite charming, Gabriel." And then she just looked at him, waiting for a reaction. For her, this was the truth, because when she let someone in, she held on with everything she had. Maybe it was a flaw, maybe it wasn’t. But Gabriel mattered, and she wasn’t about to let that slip away. She eventually glanced aside, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear before leaning back on her hands. Her eyes drifted upward to the ceiling as she tried to pull herself back together, “So then why did you come over?” Her tone fell lighter, with a dramatic sigh following. A playful glance slid toward him from the corner of her eye. “Don’t tell me you still can’t figure out how to draw a tree.” The teasing was deliberate, a small attempt at softening the tension. Maybe it would pull him back from the edge of his ridiculous fears. She wasn’t about to go anywhere.

OOC: Ring for reference Location: Pia's room Company: Gabriel Wearing: Outfit

Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2025 12:57 pm

ＧＡＢＲＩＥＬ ♫ ＭＯＮＴＧＯＭＥＲＹ
ＤＵＫＥＯＦＭＵＳＩＱＵＥ

Even while sitting down with Atropia, Gabriel felt an uneasiness in the back of his throat that no amount of bravery seemed capable of shaking. But it wasn’t quite the same as before. Sitting with her, sharing space with one another like this…he’d grown fond of it. There was a certain assurance he’d felt while following Atropia’s melody that he hadn’t quite felt with anyone else. Like his world might keep on spinning so long as he kept time with her rhythm. It hadn’t dawned on him until now just how pivotal she’d become in his day to day, but now that he had, his doubts and fears slowly drifted into ambient noise.

In its place, another fear emerged. What if she felt differently? Although she had at least released the tense grip she had held on her blanket, he couldn’t cross it off entirely. For all the interviews he’d done and all the things he’d witnessed as a journalist, Gabriel had never gotten to speak directly to those Musique had been actively in conflict with during the war. Their enemies. And if that was the kind of language that came to mind to describe them, was it the same for her?

As Atropia spoke up again, though, the discordant choir of thoughts in his mind hushed themselves so they might give way to her aria. “Maybe I haven’t told you enough,” Gabriel’s heart reverberated harshly from fearful anticipation. His hands, now at his sides, had taken it upon themselves to grip her blanket. Was this what people meant when they said imitation was the greatest form of flattery? Meanwhile, the choir had threatened to drown her out again. But then he noticed her smile. It was faint, the sort of smile you really had to look intently at someone to notice, but a smile nonetheless. And from the way he found himself agonizing over her every pause, he was certainly looking at her quite diligently at the moment.

That’s when Gabriel came to the realization that he was doing it again. Writing in someone’s part for them before they could reveal their true character. And while he had been fighting back the many intrusive narratives that his anxiety conjured up, she had been showing him her truth without pretense. For all the time he’d known her, Atropia never smiled with him unless she meant it. She never minced words. So when she said he was important to her, he sent the choir away outright.

“I should be the one apologizing. I know what the rules say, but I should have just been honest with you. I was afraid you’d…hate me.”

Gabriel’s heart rate slowed as his eyes widened slightly at the comment. Hatred was a feeling he’d rarely experienced. And yet he couldn’t say she was wrong to worry about that. He wanted to, certainly. But in his heart of hearts, the first time he looked into her emerald eyes after the revelation of her nationality, there was fear. There was a flash of hate. Gabe’s brows curled in, his features tightening as Atropia’s voice dipped into delicately hushed openness. It was like she was telling her a secret she held so tightly close. But she shared nonetheless.

Of course, the transition into lighter discussion brought him by surprise. Gabriel blinked, taking a moment to process the compliment she gave him. Looking away, he could only smile and let out a sharp exhale through his nose. When he’d look at her next, her eyes were at the ceiling.

“So then why did you come over?”

”Oh, well…”

“Don’t tell me you still can’t figure out how to draw a tree.”

Pursed lips dulled an already soft chuckle, but the little smile on his face remained. ”I mean, I can paint pine trees just fine. But other species? Like...palms or something? Might still need a few pointers there.” That one was bad, but the best he could muster up. Swiftly turning his head from her as he let out a nervous laugh, he looked down at his feet. It felt like they were made of lead. Maybe that’s for the best, though. She definitely won’t have to worry about me going anywhere like this. He then turned his attention back to the notebook still perched on her stool. ”No, I’d been thinking about chronicling my time here. Maybe collect some interviews from other students. I wanted to see if I could get some feedback from you.” Turning back to face her, Gabriel’s expression had gotten less tense. Still a bit nervewracked, certainly, but adjusting to their new normal.

Having been searching her features diligently for some time now, it was only now that Gabe was able to look past all the things he feared he’d seen in her. Instead, he tried to focus just on the person in front of him. She seemed accepting. For her, he was accepting. Need there be more? ”Coming here for that was selfish of me too, though. You’re important to me too, Atropia, and I don’t want you to feel like that’s only because of your support.” His tone had gone quite serious, and his smile lessened. But it didn’t leave. Not entirely. Their melody was not what it once was, but that didn’t feel like a downside as much now. If anything, it just felt...richer. More honest. That brought him some comfort. Perhaps he could offer the same.

”Is there maybe…something I can assist you with for a change? Even things out a bit?”

The words came out innocently enough. That his requests for her assistance had gotten to the point of invading her space and basically coaxing out her secrets left a bitter aftertaste. She deserved better than that. It was only in hindsight that he realized how that might be interpreted in a setting like this. Gabriel shied his eyes away from Atropia, albeit far less stiffly this time. He wasn’t necessarily embarrassed at the thought. It was more so the context. ”Y’know, like a paper or something,” he clarified. While Atropia was exceedingly charming herself, and her compliment today wasn’t the first time she’d gotten him a bit flustered, positive affirmations felt like the furthest for him to go unheeded.

Location: Atropia's Room
Company: Atropia
Wearing: Outfit (Left), Sunglasses
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Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2025 8:32 am

The ceiling had little cracks in the paint, lines that she traced with her eyes as she sank into her own insecurities. Was she too open with him? Pia wasn’t good at vulnerability, and she was certain he knew that. Or, at least, she hoped he did. Nerves fluttered in her chest, maybe she’d just embarrassed herself by being emotional. The blanket beneath her palms became a small source of comfort as she rubbed the fabric between her fingers. She tried to ease the tension with a teasing remark, watching him out of the corner of her eye.

“I mean, I can paint pine trees just fine. But other species? Like... palms or something? Might still need a few pointers there.”

Atropia laughed quietly, turning her head to look directly at him, but just as she did, he looked away. He was still nervous. She could feel it, because she was too. ’I wish I could just read his mind.’ His eyes drifted toward the notebook, but hers stayed on him. Was he really okay with her confession? She wanted to believe he was, that normally came easily to her. She trusted him, and he had never given her a reason to doubt that.

Atropia didn’t realize how intensely she was looking at him, trying to read every flicker of expression, until he turned back toward her. Naturally, she wanted to look away. She’d just been caught staring, after all. But she fought the urge, forcing herself to hold eye contact instead. Something about facing him when he sat that close made her chest tighten in a strange way. A feeling she pushed down, deep down, where she kept everything else she didn’t want to feel. It wasn’t the first time it happened either. That pressure had crept up on her before, lately more than ever, and she still couldn’t make sense of it. She’d written it off as simple social anxiety, but there was no reason to be nervous around him. They were friends, and after today, she was sure that bond would only grow stronger.

“I’m pretty good at feedback. Smart boy coming to me,” She laughed softly at her little joke and finally, he looked a little less tense. But it didn’t last, his voice turned serious again, a tone that kept resurfacing ever since he’d stepped into her room. Yet even then, there was a faint smile tugging at his lips. For that, Pia was grateful. Seriousness without hostility was something she could handle. She sighed quietly, giving him a small grin, “Just so you know, I don’t feel that you’re only using me for support.” His words had sparked something new in her chest, a warmth that spread slowly until she could feel it in her fingertips. She didn’t agree with him when he called himself selfish. He wasn’t, if anything, she was. From the very beginning, she’d only wanted him to succeed because it reflected well on her. But that had changed of course. His kindness and quiet selflessness had made her want him to thrive for his own sake. Even if his art still needed some work. What truly stayed with her, though, was hearing him say that she was important to him. The tightness in her chest returned instantly, making her breath heavy. It was such a simple sentence, yet it hit harder than anything else.

No one had ever said that to her, not even her parents, despite how much they liked to call her their favorite weapon. A surge of emotion bubbled up, but she swallowed it back down before it could surface. She wasn’t ready to let that side of herself show. Thankfully, the subject shifted, almost as if he could sense she needed it to. Just not in the way she expected. Pia blinked at him with wide eyes, cheeks flushing pink. “Oh, um…” Was their friendship… like those that spoke of benefits in her romance novels? Her pulse quickened at the thought. Did she give him that impression somehow? She couldn’t even form words as his offer hung in the air. It wasn’t as if the idea hadn’t crossed her mind before, it had once, in a strange dream that startled her awake beat red. When he looked away, she mirrored him and took a slow, steady breath.

“Gabriel…”

“Y’know, like a paper or something.”

The heat that had gathered in her cheeks now burned across her horrified face. She stared down at the blanket beside her, ’Oh Gods, of course that’s what he meant!’ Emerald eyes darted toward the clock, oh how she wished she could turn back time. But all she could do now was pretend to be normal. Taking another breath to steady herself, Atropia turned to face him. Thankfully, he was still looking away, which gave her a moment to collect herself. A small smile tugged at her lips, “That would be very helpful. Truly, I’ve been stuck on an assignment for ages.” It hadn’t actually been that long, but she did only have two days left before it was due. She watched him carefully to see if he was off in any way. Pia on the other hand had two very specific emotions that swirled around inside of her. Relief and the more surprising of the two, disappointment.

Ignoring that shocking feeling, Atropia stood and crossed to her desk to search for her notebook. When she found it, she could only stare. One single, half-hearted sentence filled the page, and it wasn’t even a good one. She was supposed to write a story, fiction or nonfiction, her choice, but she had no idea where to start. Writing wasn’t exactly her strong suit. "Don't you dare judge me, sir." She muttered quietly with her back still toward him. Shame for her failed attempt of writing a silly story seeped through her bones. Returning to the bed, she sat at the edge, one leg bent beneath her, the other dangling loosely over the side, her body turned toward him. Atropia pouted as she stared down at the page streaked with eraser marks, then held it out to him, “This is how far I’ve gotten…”

OOC: Location: Pia's room Company: Gabriel Wearing: Outfit

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2025 12:31 pm

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Taking a quick glance to see Atropia’s face toward the clock, beet red from his botched proposal, Gabriel brought a hand over his face as he looked down in embarrassment. She’d almost certainly taken it exactly how he hoped she hadn’t. Real good work, Monty. Surely the people of Musique will beat the bard allegations like this. Thankfully, the smile that tugged at her lips had Gabe hoping that she hadn’t been too bothered by it. He’d definitely have to choose his words more wisely in the future, though. For both of their sakes.

There was a warmth he felt on his cheeks as his hand slid down to just over his mouth as if to keep him to his word. But it hadn’t been newly kindled, he realized. While he wasn’t sure exactly when that feeling had first manifested, Gabe had noticed it in the back of his mind for a while now. Surely it was just from the stress. Unfortunately, it was beginning to dawn on him that he wasn’t as great at lying to himself as he’d like to be right now. Moreover, maybe what he said to her wasn’t quite as misspoken as he’d like to believe.

But that wasn’t a bridge he was ready to cross. Not like this. Swirling uncertainties aside, Gabriel wouldn’t want it to be a half-assed digression. Did that mean this was something he wanted, though? Another thing to add to the uncertainty list. For now, it seemed like Atropia had something actually productive for him to help her with. Thank the gods.

Peering over to her as she made her way to her desk, the fact that they could still be so casual with one another was a greater relief than he would’ve thought he’d feel when he first came to Utopia. Even without the occasional musings of retribution that haunted him in his worst moments, Gabriel hadn’t had much of a plan for handling meeting Corthyrians when he enrolled. Lunarians either, as Gabe hadn’t forgotten what had been done to the Alla Armoniosa monastery. Doing his part to help prevent such tragedies from happening again had kept him going through with it, and yet he never really considered what it might take to achieve such lofty goals.

That being said, Gabriel didn't want to worry about such things at the moment. Gabriel didn't want to spend time with Atropia for the purpose of strengthening international relations. He wasn’t there for the sake of peace. Such concerns were for another time. For now, he was with Atropia to be with Atropia. Nothing more, nothing less.

"Don't you dare judge me, sir."

A welcoming smile grew on Gabe’s face as Atropia came back to her bed. ”Considering where I started with my art, I’m not sure that I’ll have room to, ” responded the duke playfully as she sat back on the bed. But as the frown on Atropia’s face grew, Gabriel got concerned. The pressures of the written word could be a real struggle at times, especially in the political sphere. And from the way her voice trailed off as she passed him the book, it was clear to him that this was a particularly sore spot for her. Fixing his posture, he carefully took it from her. Removing his sunglasses and tucking them into his shirt, he began to diligently scan the page. There was only a single sentence of writing; or rather, just one that remained. Many eraser marks adorned the paper, the imprint of lost letters remained pressed onto it.

Gabriel briefly peaked up from the page, looking back to the disparaged look on Atropia’s face before going to the page once more. He had no way to know just how many revisions she had made before getting to this point, but it was clear that it weighed on her greatly. Hopefully he could provide some levity. ”Getting stuck happens, Pia. This is a start, and a start is a wonderful thing.” began Gabe, his focus fixed on her now. Scooting a bit closer to her, he held the book out so that they could both take a look at it.

”It’s okay. Okay?”

Looking upon her intently, a solemn smile had returned to his face. Whatever reasons Atropia had for her reservations, Gabriel hoped he’d be able to relieve at least a few of them. After all, she was one of the most well-spoken people he knew. Or maybe that was the problem in itself. Given how she brought it up, he couldn’t help but think that she was being too hard on herself. ”Would it be alright if I asked about your process?” asked Gabriel tenderly. Along with wanting to get a better sense of what exactly Atropia was feeling, he wanted to console her as best as he could. It was in that pursuit that he went on to carefully place a hand on her shoulder. ”Please?” All the while, he never once took his eyes off of her. If she wasn't receptive to affirmations like that, he wanted to be attentive enough as to back off immediately if needed. But most of all, Gabe wanted Atropia to know that he wasn't here to judge her. Not for anything.

Location: Atropia's Room
Company: Atropia
Wearing: Outfit (Left), Sunglasses
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Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 9:01 am

Atropia was not one to show weakness, never had been, not even as a child. Weakness meant cracks, and that was something that could be exploited. Her father had drilled that way of thinking into her long before she ever set foot in the Academy. So now, sitting next to Gabriel with a sad, eraser streaked paper in front of her, she felt as though she were committing treason. If her father ever found out she was accepting help, from someone like him- especially someone from Musique, he would be horrified. The thought alone made her pulse quicken. This was wrong by every measure she’d been raised with. Undisciplined and soft. Yet here she was.

It was still strange, doing things her father wouldn’t approve of. Speaking freely, even letting herself laugh sometimes. Allowing someone to get close enough to see her edges. That simply was not their way. But when her eyes lifted to meet Gabriel’s, her composure faltered slightly, and her stomach flipped. The old Pia would’ve handled this differently. She would have coldly shut him down and told him never to tell a soul that she was struggling. Perhaps even add a subtle threat for good measure. She probably wouldn't have even allowed him to enter her dorm. That Atropia was untouchable. But that version of herself had already started to fade the moment Gabriel stepped into her life. Brick by brick, he’d gently dismantled her walls. Not all of them, of course, but enough to make a point.

When he removed his sunglasses, it pulled her from her thoughts. His eyes were warm, yet rather intense, and she hated the way her chest tightened at the sight. She did noticed however, that there was something behind them, something that looked like concern. Her fingers mindlessly twisted the fabric of the blanket beneath her. When his gaze flicked up from the paper to her, although it was brief, it was enough to make her breath catch before he looked back down. “It’s… bad, I know,” A nervous laugh followed, breaking through her usual composure. It was humiliating.

Eventually, he looked up again, and as always, the words that came from his mouth were kind and understanding. He spoke reassuringly, and it disarmed her more than she cared to admit. He was far gentler than she’d been when their roles were reversed. Now here he was, giving her patience she didn’t think she deserved. Pia sighed quietly and forced herself to look at the notebook he held out instead of looking at him. It didn’t help much. The fluttering in her stomach only worsened as he shifted closer, closing the space between them. “It’s not okay,” Her voice lacked her usual certainty, “I don’t know why I’m stuck, Gabriel. This isn’t like me.” Her jaw clenched, maybe it was all of the strange and unusual events that constantly went down at the Academy. Or perhaps it was the endless pressure from her father to secure trade alliances. Her mind was stretched thin, pulled in too many directions. But none of that was an excuse. Atropia didn’t make excuses. She didn’t struggle. Yet here she was.

“Would it be alright if I asked about your process?”

Her process… the question nearly made her laugh. She didn’t have a process. She isolated herself, sat down, and forced the words out until they resembled something decent. That was it. Her creativity didn’t come out in her writing skills. It was controlled... disciplined. At least, that’s how it was supposed to be. Pia brushed a few stray strands of hair behind her ear, trying to compose herself before answering. When she finally met his gaze again, her words caught in her throat. His hand had come to rest on her shoulder making Atropia freeze. Her body reacted before her mind could. It wasn’t as if they’d never touched before, but this was different. Usually, she initiated it, like she had a moment ago when she stopped him from leaving. But now, she was caught off guard.

Normally, she’d tense up, recoil, and bristle at the contact. Every fiber of her would reject it. But this time, it was the opposite. The warmth of his hand seeped into her shoulder causing the tension in her chest to soften. It was unnerving how easily her body betrayed her mind. Instead of panic, she felt… safe. Her usual dread of closeness was replaced by something quieter, and in her opinion, more dangerous. Her eyes locked with his a little too long before she finally managed to look away. “I don’t have a process,” Her voice came out steadier than she felt. She gestured to the paper with a forced, humorless laugh, “It’s a meaningless little essay… and yet I can’t seem to find the right words.”

She meant it literally, but the words felt heavy, because deep down, she knew she meant it in more ways than the one. “I feel silly,” The corner of her mouth twitched with an annoyance directed at herself. She’d never say embarrassed, not out loud or anything, but the word pressed at her throat, “Every time I start to write something down, my mind gets… loud.” The confession slipped out before she could stop it. Frustration surged up, and without thinking, she leaned forward, closing the space between them completely. Her forehead came to rest lightly against his shoulder.

Her eyes closed, and she drew in a quiet, shaky breath. His scent was strangely grounding, and it sent another small, traitorous flip through her stomach. She should move, Gods, she should really move. It was utterly out of her character. Yet her body refused to obey, instead it let vulnerability spill through a space she’d normally leave shut. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d allowed herself to lean on anyone. Literally or otherwise. Her voice, when it came again, was softer, “What do you do when you’re stuck?” After a pause, she drew back to meet his eyes again. Then she turned her attention down at the paper, defeated, “I apologize, I’m usually better than this.”

OOC: Location: Pia's room Company: Gabriel Wearing: Outfit

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2025 6:35 pm

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The look on Atropia’s face when she realized he’d placed a hand on her had sent a high-speed wave of anxiety that rose up Gabriel’s spine before crashing back down to his chest. Had his attempt to offer support ended intrusive instead? There was a certain tenseness in her expression.

Maybe I should…

His index finger arched up ever so slightly in preparation for lifting his hand off of her. But as he processed his initial panic, whatever reservations Atropia seemed to have on the matter seemed to ease. Had his worry been for not, then? After all, there was ebb and flow in getting to know anyone. Their boundaries and such. And with things unraveling about each of them as quickly as they did combined with the mixed feelings he’d been dealing with himself, he couldn’t exactly blame her for having reservations. Perhaps even deeper than before. Nonetheless, Gabriel kept his hand there. To rescind his gesture now felt worse than doing so in the first place at this point.

As Gabriel and Atropia’s eyes continued to remain locked on to one another’s, there was an ease that travelled through the silence. Softer breathing. The feeling of her shoulder relaxing. Atropia would go on to break their gaze, her focus returning to the paper but her form otherwise remaining still. She would go on to speak on her lack of a process, letting out a bitter laugh while continuing to criticize herself. “I feel silly,” Gabriel’s brows furrowed as he looked at her, then at the paper again.

“Every time I start to write something down, my mind gets… loud.”

”Loud?”

While he wanted to question her further, Gabriel found himself suddenly preoccupied by the feeling of her head coming to rest on his shoulder. From the first strands of hair that grazed his jacket to the full weight of her by his side like this, his heart skipped several beats. The most he could do in that moment was to bring his arm behind her approaching form to hold on to her other shoulder. The more time spent with her on this, the harder it was for Gabe to believe that such staunch perfectionism was self-manifested for Atropia. Positions of power were positions of pressure, something he’d only recently been acquainted with the full brunt of. But his situation wasn’t a normal one; surely she’d been dealing with such things for far longer.

”Let me start by saying this, Atropia,” began Gabriel as he held her close. Golden eyes scanned his tutor’s features carefully. ”This is clearly hard for you to talk about, so you being willing to share this with me may be the best I’ve ever seen you.” His praise was soft, delicate. But more than that, it was honest. From the moment he met Atropia, there was a certain amount of awe Gabriel experienced from her every brushstroke. The way she could command your attention with little mercy but much patience. If she wasn’t giving herself the same grace, he’d happily do so for her until she got around to the idea.

Gabe let that moment linger for a moment, a caring smile on his face. Yes, he cared about her. About Corythyr as well, of course. Always. But more than that, right now, he cared about Atropia. Taking his free hand to hold the paper with her, he grazed his thumb up and down the page. ”As for my way of getting through writer’s block, I just sort of…let my thoughts run wild." There was a pause as Gabe collected his thoughts. ”Not well, not coherently, but I just fill pages with my ramblings and see what sticks. Ideas, wording, structure; I get a little more of something each time until I start seeing some real cohesion.” As he spoke, he would gently bring the hand on her shoulder up and down ever so slightly to console her.

”Whatever was here might not have been the final draft, but I’d say try and let your thoughts out first and build from there.”

All around them were various masterpieces that Atropia made, and he was certain that there was progress that could be found in each one if placed in chronological order. Such was the nature of any art form. Turning his attention away from the paper, Gabriel looked at Atropia tenderly. ”And if things get too loud to handle...dealing with sound just so happens to be a specialty of mine. So don't be afraid to reach out, alright?” There was a somber quality to the small smile he gave her. It hurt to see her so defeated, seemingly by herself no less. So even if it were only for this fleeting moment, he’d like to drown everything else out for her if he could. Maybe if he did that, she would see herself the way he did.

Location: Atropia's Room
Company: Atropia
Wearing: Outfit (Left), Sunglasses
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Utopia Academy: Between the Pages

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