Tones of Light

[Pearce Lockheed]

Pearce made a habit of visiting the Gardens every other week or so. The green space was lovely and while he wasn't much of a gardener or a plant person, he did appreciate the flowers and being outdoors and appreciating good landscaping. Plus walking more was probably good for his health

The noble also liked the Gardens because it was a great place to meet people. Sure, most would go to the castle or their local tavern to meet people and they would not be wrong, but Pearce preferred more personal meetings and much less people. Some people, such as the small groups walking the Gardens or families with children playing or even the lone wanderers like himself were much more his pace.

It was still morning. Not exactly early, but the sun hadn't hit its peak just yet and there were softer tones of light. The summer air was quite pleasant and Pearce enjoyed the warmth of it on his face. He paused on the path near a neatly cultivated patch of small purple flowers, enjoying the scent from the lavender.

Devinia Nesrin

[Devinia Nesrin]

She had only been home for a short time, long enough to settle and rest up from the trip back from her school. Her father had sent her off so that she might learn and follow in the knowledge that everyone seemed to enjoy gaining in her family and she turned out to be no different in that regard.

Today though was a mental break day and what a better way to enjoy it was to go and talk a walk through the gardens. Sure she had a bag over her shoulder with a book or two inside it should she want to read but at the moment, she was happy to enjoy the fresh scent of flowers wafting around.

It didn't take too long for her to notice she wasn't the only one enjoying it and she would walk over, standing a little bit away as she let her fingers reach out for the petals, "This garden is beautiful," She called out to him, her tone light and relaxed as she looked at the daisy for a moment. So simple and so pretty.

[Pearce Lockheed]

He heard someone walk closer but didn't pay them any mind until she spoken and he twitched in surprise. It was just sort of nervous habit that sudden talking to him or an innocent touch to his shoulder or things like that, even his own name being called, made him jump a little when he wasn't expecting it. His father had derogatorily used the classically feminine term 'high stung,' to describe it.

Pearce offered the woman an easy smile, as if nothing had happened. "It is," he agreed. "Do you visit often, my lady?" She had the look of higher class about her. Not that it matter all that much. The noble was inclined to refer to most people respectfully. And she looked...familiar. At least a little. Pearce's family had been around for a long time and he'd gotten to know many people vaguely. It wouldn't surprise the man if he knew her parents or some siblings perhaps. "P-pearce Lockheed," he introduced himself quickly with a nod.

Distantly, he wondered if they could make more use of the space right now, however. Gardens were nice and so were flowers and herbs, but the farmers had need of more help. Perhaps...the gardeners that worked here could be enticed to work for them sometimes.

[Devinia Nesrin]

The little twitch made her bite her lip, she hadn't meant to surprise him but the man was so quick to recover that she didn't even seem to need to apologize to him for the little surprise. She would give a smile and shake her head, "Sadly no, well not since I was a girl that is, so I'm glad to be able to see them again," Devinia told him with a rather easy going smile.

She would give a small curtsy to his name, "Devinia Nesrin, it's a pleasure to meet you," she told him, though her brows furrowed a little. Lockheed, that name struck a familiar chord with her and she was quietly thinking on the name for a moment.

"I recognize your name my Lord but I've been away from home for my schooling so I can't place you right away, do you mind me asking what you do?" Devinia asked him curiously, her tone light and casual but wanting to learn was there so that she could place the new face to the familiar name.

[Pearce Lockheed]

Her answer was...a little cryptic and made him do a double take on her looks. Younger than him, certainly, but beyond that he was rather terrible at guessing ages. And of course he wasn't about to ask. Aralore had only been located here a few years. Perhaps she had been a young girl then? But the gardens had only just become what they were now. There was no way she had visited here as a girl. Perhaps she meant the gardens as they had been in the old kingdom?

He didn't press the matter. Maybe she just misspoke. It made him feel a little more awkward and nervous.

Devinia. Vaguely familiar. Nesrin was much more so. One of the other noble families. Scholars, if he recalled correctly? Some of them, at least. Away for schooling. That would explain it. Traveling like most nobles did, including himself. Especially with a family like her own, dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, that made sense.

What did he do? That was...actually a complicated question. "I t-teach reading and writing," he said at first, the easy answer. To just about anyone that asked, but often kids. It struck him as important for everyone to know how to do both, regardless of rank or class or money. He did not teach speaking. "My family used to run a n-number of mines and quarries before the move. Now, I facilitate much the same here." Because he was experienced in the venture. Because he had had the money to get it off the ground. Because he knew the right people to help him do it and had them in his employ already. Because he liked having that income so he could continue to pursue his lifestyle and teach what he wanted and support as many people as possible.

"Would it be too f-forward of me to ask the same question of you, my Lady?" He asked with a small smile.

[Devinia Nesrin]

Devinia happily listened, her hands folding against her lower back as she didn't mind the stammering a bit, "You're a teacher?" she asked, a happy awe in her voice at hearing that. Her family tended to know those in the scholarly studies as it was helpful to bounce information back and forth between groups and learn more. Knowledge in it of itself held it's own power and security and her family liked it.

"Not at all, you were kind enough to answer my question," she told him with a warm smile, moving closer but still giving them both space. "What I do now, is I interpret. I've spent most of my years away studying various languages and cultures of the other countries around us and learn their individual customs as well," she told him with a smile.

"My family has always had deep roots into learning about the world and the countries in it, collecting and copying books to give to other schools to teach those who might follow the same path. I only just finished my schooling so I'm relearning where everything is because I was so young when they sent me away," she told him with a little sad smile.

"But that is the short of the long end of it, I'm currently looking into finding a position to be able to help her Majesty," Devinia told him with a sigh, "A lot harder than I thought though," she told him as she turned to the flowers, letting her hand move to play with the petals again but being careful so as to not pluck them from their place.

After a few moments she would fully be able to recall the mine works, "I do remember my father speaking of the mines, how they switched hands in your family," Devinia said, her mind still working as she didn't want to be rude but she also knew that she needed to be patient with speaking so that she didn't over talk and to just relax. Meeting someone new at times, did tend to wind her up a little but the young lady knew she would calm as they conversed.

[Pearce Lockheed]

Pearce turned slightly to face the young woman but let her close the space. He wasn't sure what she meant by interpret until she explained. Languages and cultures. That must be quite fun and confusing all at once. Many nobles studied abroad and at least knew a few different languages and the like, but she seemed to class herself as an expert in them, not just something she had learned in order to read a certain book or the like. He was certain he would never be able to keep up with so much. Aralore was a lot for him and he had lived there most of his life.

He nodded as she explained her family. That did sound familiar. Scholars of that sort were what kept the world moving forward, sharing information and the like. She repeated the notion of relearning where things were. "Milady...you c-can't have to relearn the gardens," he spoken hesitantly, clearly confused. "Aralore has only moved here...three years ago?" Barely three years. Devinia hadn't said she was an expert in history, he supposed, so he would give her that. Before that, they had been on the old island, Avalendor. Likely that was what she remembered, if anything, since many had left that and only returned when Alexandria had.

"I imagine your knowledge of cultures should be useful to the queen? Have you spoken to...to her b-brother? Or perhaps when the queen returns you can speak to her d-directly?" Alexandria was well traveled herself, but having someone else who could potentially serve as a diplomat...that was always useful.

The nobleman didn't mind how much she spoke. In fact he hardly noticed. Just because he had a stammer and didn't speak that much normally didn't affect his understanding. What did affect his understanding was that he simply didn't understand her question. Pearce studied her a moment, confused and thoughtful. Perhaps she meant the death of his father? Ah, yes, that seemed made sense. He blushed slightly. "Ah, y-yes. My father passed years ago and I have been running the family since then. Most of the q-quarries and mines on the isle are my family's." And by most, he meant nearly all of them. Not a monopoly, but near enough. The important part was that he employed a lot of people.

[Devinia Nesrin]

That made her silent for a moment, thinking and then looking down some as her cheeks turned pink, "I might have been mistaking my own family gardens...it's been a while, apologies for my mistake," she told him. She knew the country was still new but she was still a bit stuck in the way it had been before when she was young, so her mind was making connections that were not there and that left her mildly embarrassed for the moment.

When the topic changed, she was glad for it, trying to not linger on her mistake, "I haven't yet, I would like to, to see how I can be of some help so I'm not just stuck at home with my books," she told him with a light tone. She did want to help, wanted to show that her schooling was not going to waste and that she could benefit their country.

Devinia listened and then gave a small nod, "I'm sorry about your father and that is a rather impressive to take on so much," she told him, a little smile on her face, "I admit I am rusty on what your families mines produce, is it ores or gems?" she would ask curiously, her eyes watching him. She did enjoy learning about people and their jobs, it was vastly different than her own and it let her just enjoy learning something that didn't relate to possible languages or something of that ilk. Learning about her own country and what was going on inside from someone else who lived here though, now that was something she was looking forward to.

[Pearce Lockheed]

He was embarrassed that he had embarrassed her. That hadn't been very tactful of him. But it had been an honest question to settle his confusion. "My ap-pologies, milady, I d-didn't..." He blushed. "It's quite alright," he said softly. It was a big change for all of them, and it was even more new for her. "I'm g-glad it reminds you of home." Because it was home now, regardless.

Pearce nodded. The queen was busy. And away. But he hoped she would be open to hearing from her people once she announced her return.

It was certainly a lot, but generally he just managed. "A little b-bit of everything. The mines produce ores and gems. Some specialize, of course, but it depends on what resources the area has." Half of the field was about finding a good vein of anything. "As for the quarries; granite, s-sandstone, raw building materials," he said. It was easier to talk about things he was familiar with and avoid the topic of his father.

The nobleman was hardly sorry the man wasn't around anymore.

[Devinia Nesrin]

Devinia gave a shake of her head and a smile, "Please, it's alright. It was my mistake and it's ok," she told him, trying to calm him of his nerves. It was her silly mind that was set on playing some tricks on her it seemed and her nerves as well, "It does and it's home now as well,' she told him, a kind smile on her face as she was brushing off the mild embarrassment easily.

She listened to him intently, her hands folded against her lower back as he told her. "That's amazing, you have a lively business. Do you have a favorite stone?" she asked curiously. She herself knew what she liked and that was opals but they were always hard to find and she had one necklace in it.

The young lady's mind was all over the place, trying to get a feel for who this man was while also finding a way to get into the palace to see what work she could do for their Queen.

[Pearce Lockheed]

He nodded in agreement. It was a lot, but that was a good thing and he had managed it for a while now. Pearce would much rather be busy than have too much time on his hands. Between that and teaching, he was doing a lot of what he enjoyed.

"Oh, uh..." Favorite stone...his mind didn't immediately go to 'precious' stones. He did like those, but those were so...well, everyone talked about diamonds and sapphires and rubies and the like. All of those were wonderful. But when asked about just stones... "I find marble quite lovely." A lot of the surfaces in his home were made of the material, usually a white. There was something about the soft look of the stone, the cleanliness of it, and the naturally cracked look of the stone. And then he realized she probably meant gemstones and he blushed. "Amethyst. Or p-purple sapphires." Or any purple gemstones really, he was entirely too partial to the color. But he didn't wear jewelry beyond a family signet ring. Part of it was appearances, part of it was...well he didn't really like wearing jewelry or showing off like that.

"A b-beautiful woman such as yourself must have a favorite?" Was that flirting? It probably sounded like it.

[Devinia Nesrin]

Devinia watched and tilted her head a little as she listened rather curiously to him. She did wonder a bit if she made him flustered since he was stammering a bit or if that was just part of his natural charm.

"Marble is beautiful," she told him in agreement before her eyes going a little wide in surprise to the other stones he liked. Those were unique and she noticed he blushed a little as he talked of them, they must mean something special to him for that sort of reaction.

Then he was flirting with her and pink rose to her cheeks as she looked down a little bit, "I like opals. Each one is so different and the little cracks of color in them or the way they look a bit like magic trapped inside a stone," she told him but then she was blushing a little as she then lifted a hidden pendant from her dress and leaned forward some to show him the tiny stone she wore around her neck. "This was the last gift I got before my family sent me away so I'd be safe from the war and have all the time needed to focus on school in safety," she explained to him as she grew a little more comfortable talking to him. True her schooling had been strict as can be and she was only now free of their tight rules and slowly she would like to break free from it to experience more in life.

[Pearce Lockheed]

Was it charming? Definitely. Was he aware of that? No. If stammering was naturally charming, no one had happened to inform the noble man of this. And to be honest, if they had, he probably would have thought they were lying. He knew some people didn't mind and that helped, but sometimes it was more about his self image. Zander didn't seemed to mind but it would be difficult to be in a relationship where someone did.

They were unique. Amethyst wasn't too difficult to find but sapphires of that color were. Though sapphires came in quite a few rare colors. Purple was a soothing and majestic color. It was the color of his favorite flower and the lighter tones reminded him of gentle things like fabric and sunrises.

Pearce smiled as she talked about her love of opals in detail. It wasn't a very common gem either, but it was quite expensive and gorgeous. "they have a sort of...glow, d-don't they," he said in a knowing tone as she moved to show off the small pendant. He didn't shift nearer, like someone more comfortable (or interested) in being in her personal space might, but he did lean in slightly to see. "It's a lovely gift," he said gently, leaning back and looking at her with a faint smile. "Maybe that's what kept you s-safe this whole time? I'd hang on to that," he said, his tone slightly conspiratorial. OF course she would keep it, but that was part of his charm.

"Did you have a favorite place of study?" He asked politely. She'd mentioned her schooling now a few times, vaguely about culture and traveling. He too had traveled abroad for his education and he was interested to see where she had enjoyed the most.

[Devinia Nesrin]

For her, it was not something she would say out loud as in her mind it might be rude to. Quietly though, she found it sweet that he stammered and spoke as he did. Confident yet unsure, it made her wonder what he might be like when he was more comfortable instead of just out and randomly meeting ladies in the gardens.

"They do and I love it. It holds so much color and changes," she told him before pink stole across her cheeks. She was rather sure he didn't want to hear her gush over a stone. That was what it was but it was like magic captured in a rock that she could never wield herself. "Thank you and it could have. Nothing ill has happened to me and I managed to avoid the war since I was tucked away safely at school," she told him, a little optimism in her tone. Sure she had avoided it but at what coast had she? So many people were still dealing with the ripple effect from it and trying to rebuild their lives.

"Oh...like a location to study or something that I study?" she asked him curiously as she wanted to be sure. She had a few spots she liked to study and get lost in books in but she also had certain topics that she loved to read on more than others as well and she wanted to be sure she answered right.

[Pearce Lockheed]

Pearce, in fact, did not stammer in more comfortable settings when he felt confident. But there wasn't a hard and fast rule to that. In his own home or with Zander he was more comfortable, in public with Zander he was less comfortable, in intimate settings he was morr confident... Or when angry. With strangers not so much. Even with family he was nervous. He very rarely escaped his anxiety one way or another. It was likely Devinia would hardly ever see such moments.

He smiled as she spoke to how much the stone appealed to her and how important that specific pendant was. It was always nice to know that not everyone had a dofdocult childhood or was running from something. Managed to avoid the war? That was quite fortunate indeed. Hopefully they could all avoid more in the future. At present, rebuilding was still occurring.

"Ah, n-no," he blushed as she misunderstood his question. He should habe clarified but... "You mentioned various cultures. I meant what c-country?" Surely she had visited many different places and talked to many people. Or at least read a lot of books. He wanted to know what country or province she had enjoyed being in the most.

He had visited a lot places briefly but stayed longer in some. Tresteria had been the most difficult for him. Ithias had a more open environment that he wished he had been able to know better.