At the end of everything, hold onto anything

An early autumn moonlight set upon the estate their family had been staying at during the lunar festival. A beautiful home amidst the upper-class circles of the city surrounded by streets Oriana had always found rather boring compared to the buzz downtown. Yet tonight she had not felt like venturing out- instead her path had led her to her brothers chambers. She was unable to catch sleep that night, given the circumstances that troubled her mind. She was worried about her friend and cousin- uncertain about how her brother was affected by the separation from his fiance. She knew he wasn't keen on marrying her, yet she always thought they had been fond of each other in other ways.

Either way, Oriana did not hesitate before opening the door that led to his room, it was her brother after all. They had always been extremely close to each other. And when she couldn't catch sleep and her head felt heavy, his side was always somewhere she could find peace once again. And on that note she stepped further, Remi following her by the foot. "Caelum" she whispered as soon as she could make out the shape that was him within the faint moonlight that fought its way past the curtains and onto his bed. "Are you awake?"

Even if he hadn't been- she would've woken him up really. Thoughts clouded her head more than they had ever done previously and she just knew she would not catch any sleep until they were spoken. Caelum had to hear them, he had to understand her- she couldn't sleep knowing they had a disagreement somewhere. She could not sleep if she knew something was bothering him. And thus she fell onto his bed next to him, as they had done so many times previously. Cat upon his lap, Remi next to her head. She sighed and nodded "Yeh- i guess you couldn't either huh" she answered softly as she moved her hand over Cat's back.

Oriana stirred in her thoughts for a moment, keeping her eyes fixed upon the ceiling above their heads as an easy silence grew between the pair. She never had reason to explain her ways before- or well she never felt as though she owned anyone an explanation for anything. Yet here and now she couldn't count the amount of reasons she wanted to tell him. She would throw anything and everything in his way if it meant he'd be on her side again. So she clenged her jaw before she began.  "Are you mad at me?" For marrying, for not telling you? For doing something against his wishes- god, she had done so many things against his advice. She had jumped over roofs, she had declared wars on stupid people, but never had she been this afraid to have angered him. To have lost his support.

He was not mad, neither was he disappointed. Then why did she still feel so terrible about the whole ordeal? Why couldn't she be happy with his answer?  With open eyes she looked at him through the dim light he had on, her head slightly tilted as she kept petting Cat. Caelum had stated he was confused on the matter, bringing up the fact he had expected her to tell him beforehand. And with that, the guilt within her head found reason. Food for growth.

A shaky sigh escaped her as she looked at her brother familiar "..I should've..yeh" she confessed "But in my defence- I did not know he was going to ask me right there and then..." she tried with an ounce of hope in her voice. It was true, she had not known. They had just gone over the deal and that was all. "And honestly...it is not like something really was going on? Look" and then her eyes watered slightly, "I do not want to marry, i do not know if i ever will..but I have too...and me and Ray get along. He is fun, so I rather marry someone who thinks about marriage the same as me and is fun to be around and  to look at, then marry someone father and Peter set me up with...you know?" she explained, wiping her eyes dry "It's a perfect plan..and i won't have to move away from you either! I won't have to marry some far away lord or prince or whatever...Nothing will change, i have a fun husband and everyone is happy" After all it was just a small price to pay for the riches her family had spoiled her with.

When a sigh filled the silence between them, Oriana had looked up carefully...which sucked. It sucked she felt as though she had to tiptoe around her brother now. It was awful to see him like this through her own teary eyes. And for a moment a silence had taken hold of her, found her after years of being unable to do so. Oriana, the brave daughter of Valerio Vylasar,  Oriana traverser of roofs and climber of walls. Now sat quietly beside her lifelong best friend. And even though she had gotten a compliment from him- his whole demeanor formed no foundation for her joy to stand on.

Many things raced through her head as she took hold of both her upper arms, hugging herself softly as she stared down at the floor. Why did she not tell him before? She always told him everything and yet this significant change in her life had been left a mystery to the one person, whose opinion mattered most to her. Perhaps it had been because she did not want it to be true just yet- after all it was still a deal made out of a lack of choice. No matter the fact she liked the guy. if it truly were up to her- she would not marry anyone at all. And maybe by not telling him, she could keep its reality a bit more unclear to herself. As though it was just a dream she would forget eventually.

Well- either way, Rheagan had made it a reality this evening. And whether she had been ready or not did not matter anymore. And so his little sister tried her best to swallow away the lump in her throat. Wiped away the tears that stuck to her eyes and nodded slowly "I-i am sorry i didn't tell you...i guess in a way it felt less real that way?" she attempted to explain her thought process as her eyes fell upon her brother again. When suddenly it struck her just how selfish she had been.

Here she was crying over a perfect Vlyasar wedding. that oke, she had not asked for but alas...Caelum had been stood up today. Ani had fucked off without a word and left him for some fucking pirate. Oriana felt herself getting angry at the thought alone. If they all had to suffer through a damn marriage- what had made Ani feel any more special than them to just...skip that? And not just at her own price..but that of her brother to. "But...what is done is done" she nodded, laying her hand on Caelums arm "This night was hard on you too" concern had filled her voice by now as her eyes softened "I don't know what has gotten into Ani...but I do know she doesn't fucking deserve you."