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 Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2025 3:19 pm
Quote: When two lonely hearts meet through reading lessons.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2025 3:20 pm
  Nerves were fluttering around in her stomach. Delicate little ice butterflies that tickled her stomach from the inside and left her feeling off balance, unsettled, as she found herself attempting to wander the halls of the school to find the classroom she was supposed to currently be in. The classroom that was making her feel cold and hollow and nervous.
Lady Beckett knew part of her secret.
Well, that may have been an exaggeration. For when she’d been approached it was about how she seemed to be struggling in class and wanting to check her notes to make sure that Nerys was writing down the correct key points. Notes that had snowflakes clinging to her lashes as Lady Beckett offered her a sympathetic look at her doodled circles and lamented the education of noble women in Hyouden. She’d blamed the country, not Nerys’s status as false nobility, and that left a small comfort in her chest that she was clinging to. Then she asked Nerys to return for supplementary lessons with another student that was struggling.
There was some relief in knowing she was not alone in the struggle as well. The other students here were far more deserving of their titles and yet someone of noble blood was in a similar boat as her? While she knew it wasn’t entirely unlikely - she still remembered how her Lady in Hyouden’s son acted when it came to lessons - the knowledge still wrapped her up like a large, warm blanket that left her feeling less alone and like the people she was supposed to call peers were more human than she had ever seen them before.
But it didn’t lessen the thrumming of her heart as she approached the room and realized she didn’t know who this mysterious other student was. Was it another woman who grew up in a culture that didn’t value educating their women? Was it a man who had shirked off his studies and was now paying for it? The fact that she didn’t know was making a mixture of shame and fear grow to lead in her belly with every step she took, regardless of the fact that more than a few of them took her in the wrong direction and more than one very helpful maid in her path had to help her course correct.
Finally she was pushing the classroom door open hoping she wasn't late. Thank the gods she wasn't. A small sigh of relief left her in a visible puff as her cold breath hit the warm air. One that immediately had her realizing she wasn't alone.
Wide eyes drank in the figure before her. They were tall. Tall and... feminine. Relief flooded her as she dipped into a low curtsy. "Good afternoon, My Lady. Would you also happen to be here for lessons?" The question felt silly on her tongue even as she asked it. But then a new fear erupted behind her sternum. "Um... You are here for additional lessons, yes?"
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classroom ❅ evelyn n. ❅ outfit
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Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2025 8:24 am
 
Evie stared at her reflection, stared until her own image began to blur. A mockery of a princess looked back at her, brows furrowed and shoulders slumped. What an absolute embarrassment. A waste of a title, truly. Her gaze dropped to the porcelain sink, it was her fault, really, it always was. She refused help when it was offered, waved people away with a smile, as if pretending everything was fine could make it true. Too ashamed to admit she struggled, too proud to say she could barely make sense of the letters on a page. A ”princess” who couldn’t even read a novel. Not even a children’s book. Aleithia had to read to her, her little sister, voice sweet and patient, holding the storybook open while Evie sat beside her. She’d loved those moments, their laughter and the warmth of Aleithia’s shoulder brushing hers. But the sting that came after lingered long into the night. Every syllable she couldn’t read felt like another crack in who she was.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the sink, knuckles whitening. If she gripped any harder, she might’ve shattered the thing in half. The thought of it almost tempted her. What would people say if they knew? If someone caught her practicing her letters like a child learning for the first time? The thought alone made her stomach twist. The shame would be unbearable. She could hear the whispers already- one of the beloved princesses of Phronese, the Kingdom of Knowledge… illiterate.
Thankfully, she didn’t necessarily look like a princess, not really at least. Maybe that was her saving grace. Maybe people would never suspect it of her, the one who smiled too easily and laughed too loud. The carefree one who didn’t seem to give any shits.
With a sharp breath, she turned away from the mirror and shut the restroom door behind her, scrubbed her hair with a towel, shook it free of excess water and then tossed the towel onto the back of her desk chair. Her eyes flicked to the clock, she was going to be early, “Good, maybe she’ll let me leave early too.” Goosebumps prickled her bare skin, pulling her from thought. She sighed and dug through her drawers for something warm, something soft enough to make her feel at least somewhat better about the day.
The walk down the hall stretched longer than usual, maybe it was her dread making it so. Each step echoed against the stone, and although she felt pretty ******** low, she kept her chin up. As she always did, ’Shake it off, it’s no big deal.’ That was the lie she fed herself on repeat. But it was a big deal, it felt like the biggest thing in the world. When she passed others in the hall, she smiled warmly, the mask slipping into place as usual. No one got to know what lingered beneath. All the insecurities, the depression, the anxiety. No way did they have that privilege. By the time she reached the classroom door, her hands were cold again. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she’d be alone, she never actually asked Instructor Beckett if anyone else would be there. She just assumed it was a private thing. It should be private, shouldn’t it?
She pushed the door open and the room was warm, a relief that melted into her shoulders instantly. Even better, it was empty of her peers, “Thank the Gods,” She breathed out heavily, a small grin tugging at her lips. Her arms stretched high over her head, releasing some of the tension coiled inside her. The classroom smelled faintly of chalk and tea, it was somewhat comforting. Finally, she could relax, let herself be a little vulnerable, and maybe even learn something without feeling the weight of her own embarrassment pressing down on her chest.
But then, the door opened and Evie froze.
She turned toward the sound, and her breath caught before she could stop it. Another student? Her heart sank, then immediately flipped into a strange flutter when she saw who it was. The woman who stepped inside was shorter than Evie, with dark, sleek hair that framed her pale face, and eyes so light they almost glowed. Evie blinked, her mind went blank as the woman looked up at her. She wasbeautiful. That was the first word that registered, and second was the terrible realization that now she had to share a lesson with someone, an attractive someone.
“Um… You are here for additional lessons, yes?”
Evie blinked again, realizing she had been staring, and worse, not breathing. She swallowed, forcing air back into her lungs. Right, she might not be able to read, but she could at least speak, couldn’t she? “Y-” Her voice cracked, earning a small grimace from herself, so she coughed, straightened her posture and slipped back into her well practiced coolness, “Yes, I am.” The warm smile returned, then she gave a small bow toward the shorter woman, “No need to be so formal,” A light laugh escaped through her words, “I don’t think I’m much of a lady. Just Evie is good with me.” She took a few steps closer, unable to help herself. Up close, the woman was even more striking, there was something about the way her eyes held her gaze. Evie tilted her head slightly, then offered her hand, “And who might you be?”
OOC: Location: Classroom Company: Nerys Outfit: Wearing
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Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2025 10:23 pm
Relief flowed through her veins that she was in the right place. Then it was very quickly replaced with shame. Hot, burning shame in her sternum. Yes, they both needed supplementary lessons, but even if this woman wasn't a skilled reader - which given her muscles maybe she came from a country that didn't value the skill highly? - she still likely knew what each letter was. Something Nerys didn't know. Something that would become extremely evident the moment they attempted to learn.
Was it possible to be preemptively embarrassed?
If it was, she had little time to wallow in it. Not when the taller woman was talking to her. Laughing in a way that sounded so nice. So friendly. Nerys blinked. Then she blinked again. To be less formal sounded almost like a trap. Could she possibly drop formalities? Would it truly be fine?
"I am... Unaccustomed to speaking less formally." Her cheeks felt tingly in that way that told her she was blushing. Like they were a few degrees hotter than the rest of her. For a moment she bit down on her lower lip, her face furrowing in thought. She couldn't explain why. Not without risk. A risk she had already taken once. And while it had not come back to harm her, she'd only known Evie for a breath.
"I suppose I could try, La - I mean, Miss -" She paused, once again worrying her lower lip. This was going to be hard. Harder than she expected, at least. When her mind kept reminding her that she was so many stations below the people were supposed to be her peers it was incredibly easy to slip back into being a maid. "- Just Evie." This time when she spoke, she looked up with an apology written on her face. One that she was trying to suppress with everything in her being.
"Although, I would argue you are plenty a lady." The thought tumbled out of her mouth unbidden, making her eyes widen as her hands flew together so she could nervously pick at her nails. Like twisting her fingers would make the comment dissolve into the ether. But it was out in the world now. If only she could create ice to swallow her whole and make her look less like a bumbling commoner.
Instead she was stuck here, with a lovely noblewoman who wanted her to be less formal as she spoke who was about to watch her trip over every word she attempted to read. "I am Nerys," It took effort not to call her my lady. Almost as much as it took for her not to curtsy. She couldn't stop the way her head bowed down in polite reverence. "I also think it is best I apologize now. I know we are in these lessons together, however I fear I will make them harder on you as I will need the most basic instruction." This was better, ripping off the bandage before they even started. If only it could make the words easier to say. "I have never been taught to read any language."
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classroom ❅ evelyn n. ❅ outfit
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Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2025 6:41 am
A faint hint of red tinted the pretty woman’s cheeks, and the sight of it made Evie’s stomach flip in a strange, pleasant way. What could she be thinking about? Damn, damn, damn. If only she had her brother’s abilities. Then, she’d be able to find out for sure, slip into her thoughts and satisfy the gnawing curiosity that always stirred when someone intrigued her. Although… that thought alone was proof enough of why she wasn’t blessed with that kind of gift. She was far too nosy for her own good. Every time she made a beautiful girl blush, she’d abuse the power without hesitation, dive into their mind just to see what colored their cheeks like that. The temptation would be unbearable.
Instead, she could only watch, Evie observed the woman’s face with quiet fascination. The small movements, the subtle flutter of her lashes, the way her gaze drifted when she grew shy. Her own eyes naturally fell to her lips. Her soft… perfectly shaped lips… and before Evie even realized what she was doing, she mirrored her without thought. Her teeth caught the edge of her lower lip. It was ridiculous how easily this girl’s mannerisms drew her in. Something, though, tugged at her amusement. Beneath that sweetness, Nerys seemed… worried, perhaps even anxious, or maybe frightened. Evie tilted her head slightly, studying her expression. Was her earlier request to drop formalities too much? She hadn’t meant to make her uncomfortable. The poor thing looked like she’d never been spoken to casually in her life. Her family must have been painfully strict. That was the only explanation she could think of for why something as simple as being called by name felt like a breach of etiquette.
A sheepish smile curved across Evie’s lips as she tried to think of what to say next. But the way the other woman said, ‘Just Evie,’ as if tasting forbidden words, was almost too much. How cute. Even the look on her face was adorable, even if it was a mixture of apology and politeness, like she might be reprimanded for being too familiar. Evie wanted to tell her to relax or to breathe and she was just about to say as much when Nerys continued speaking and caught her off guard.
Evie’s eyes widened, and this time, a streak of crimson bloomed across her own face, “Oh-” The sound came out breathier than she’d meant and a nervous laugh followed before she could stop it. Quickly she turned her gaze aside, pretending to study the wall rather than the woman in front of her. Her hand went to the back of her head, fingers finding a loose strand of hair to twist between them. “Thanks…” Her quiet laugh trailed off as she dared to look back. Nerys’s gaze caught her again and Evie smiled softly, “It’s very nice to meet you, Nerys.” She let her hand fall and eased herself onto the desk behind her, the wood creaked faintly beneath her weight. Even sitting down, she still wasn’t quite eye level with her much shorter new friend, which made her smile widen just a little. The difference was endearing.
When Nerys went on, stammering out an apology of all things, Evie raised an eyebrow. Her arms folded across her chest as she slowly shook her head from side to side. She leaned forward slightly, closing a bit of the space between them, just enough to meet her eyes fully, to make sure her words landed, “You and I,” Her voice started softly, a faint grin tugged at her lips, “We’re friends now.” The word felt right when she said it, it carried an easy warmth that she hoped Nerys would feel too. Straightening up, Evie continued with a touch of confidence, “There’s no need to apologize.” She stretched her arms above her head, letting out a quiet sigh as she leaned back on her hands, still keeping that steady eye contact. It was strange, she didn’t usually feel this invested so quickly. But there was something about Nerys that piqued her curiosity. Her next words, though, gave Evie pause.
She hadn’t been taught to read any language? Evie blinked, momentarily thrown off. That didn’t make sense. Every noble she knew of had been drilled on letters and languages since childhood. Even the most rigid, joyless families understood the importance of education. This wasn’t just odd, it was unheard of. Evie’s brow furrowed slightly as she studied her, but she quickly smoothed it away. She didn’t want to make Nerys feel self-conscious. Still, the thought lingered. Why would someone like her be at the Academy, if she hadn’t even learned to read?
But then again, Evie wasn’t one to judge. She was a princess, and she had her own shortcomings, ones she tried very hard to hide. Hers came from circumstance rather than neglect, but it didn’t make them any less real. She exhaled softly, “We’re going to get through these lessons together,” Her voice fell gently, the determination behind it was quiet but sincere. She meant it. Her gaze drifted briefly to the chalkboard behind them, its blank surface waiting to be filled, then returned to Nerys’s face. “Want to sit together?” It was probably just the two of them in these lessons anyway, but something about asking still made her pulse quicken, like she was talking to a childhood crush or something. She wanted to know her, to actually talk, maybe laugh a little, to make this less like an obligation and more like… perhaps something else.
“Only if you want to, of course. Don’t feel obligated.” This time, her voice stuttered subtly, she gave a small laugh, trying to shrug it off, but the waver in her confidence was unmistakable. Damn it. She was normally better at hiding it, at talking to people and keeping her composure. But this girl, with her shy smiles and soft-spoken voice, was throwing her completely off her game.
OOC: Location: Classroom Company: Nerys Outfit: Wearing
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Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2025 7:31 pm
Her confession had left Evie furrowing her brow. Some small part of her wanted to reach up - a much more manageable task now that the taller woman was sitting - and smooth the line away with her fingers. Like if she could just rub away the tension in her friend's face it would remove the shame that coiled in her belly from her confession.
Of course she would look at Nerys like she'd just said she hunted and cooked her own snakes for dinner every evening. There wasn't a single other nobleman here who couldn't do something as basic as read and write. She was an anomaly in more ways than one. But somehow she struggled to take it to heart when the confusion on her face melted away all on it's own. Though it didn't explain the way her chest seemed to hiccup when Evie informed her that they would get through the lessons together.
A small smile blossomed on her face. Bringing her hands up in front of her chest, she let her eyes over Evie with clear fondness. "Yes, together. I will leave myself in your care then." Somehow the thought of it didn't seem frightening. It didn't make her heart leap into her chest like she was a rabbit before a hungry wolf. It was strange, but there was something about the girl's easy demeanor that made her feel less like she was on the edge of getting reprimanded.
Her next question left Nerys nodding quickly, as if waiting too long would make the offer disappear. Then she was quickly rounding the desk to find the spot next to Evie, pulling out the chair and folding herself in next to the larger woman like she was her shadow. Which, really, ended up being a boon. It would seem that Lady Beckett had very much noticed just how little Nerys knew even without grilling her for all of the sordid details of why she could not read. And instead of making her feel worse for it, she was encouraging asking Nerys to lean on Evie for help. Something that melted some of the shards of fear that had been nestled under her skin.
Which was how she found herself looking up at Evie, eyes wide with curiosity with a work sheet of the common alphabet to copy. There was only one problem, one that had probably factored into their teacher noticing that she was struggling. "This almost feels a bit silly to ask, but can you show me how you, um, hold the pencil?" Heat colored her cheeks as she looked down at her own clumsy grip. Having never held one before, she'd just made a fist around it without much thought as she scribbled lines across her note sheets in the past. Now that she was removed from the stress of being in a room full of the people who were meant to be her peers, she could see that she was clearly doing it wrong.
Letting her eyes dip back down to the paper in front of her, she winced. "I-if not, that's okay. It's just hard to make the little loopies on some letters like this and this is... Very new to me." She could hear the embarrassment in her own voice, the way it made her sound more panicked than she actually was in the moment. Her first attempts at making the lower case letter A looked nearly illegible, all large, hard lines with a separated tail that barely looked like the letter on the sheet she was trying to copy.
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classroom ❅ evelyn n. ❅ outfit
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 12:07 pm
Her eyes brightened at Nerys’ response, I will leave myself in your care then. The words rang around inside her skull. Something about it made Evie’s chest tighten, just a little too tightly for comfort. It was ridiculous, honestly, how easily a handful of syllables could unwind the knots in her shoulders. Instantly, she felt at ease… maybe even a little giddy. At least she hadn’t crossed a line or sounded as desperate as she worried she had. It was the small victories. Evie slid into her chair at her desk, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from grinning like an absolute idiot. But gods, it was hard. A cute girl was giving her attention and more importantly, Evie felt like she might be gaining a new friend.
Light eyes followed Nerys’ movements until she settled in the chair beside her, and to Evie’s absolute delight, she was even closer than she’d anticipated. It nearly had her bouncing like some moron. She smiled warmly at Nerys before tearing her attention away and reluctantly dragging her gaze to Lady Beckett. The one downside to sitting next to a cutie was the rude awakening that she now had to force herself to actually listen to the instructor. It was tragic. She’d much rather listen to Nerys.
Evie began copying the letters on the paper slowly, starting with ‘A’. She slouched forward, narrowed her eyes, and gripped her pencil so tight her knuckles pressed pale against her skin, because apparently, if she glared hard enough, the damned letter might miraculously decide to look cleaner, or better. Less like a toddler. In her head, her inner critic cackled at her. Illiterate. Dumb. Sloppy. She grit her teeth in frustration. But then a quiet voice slipped her thoughts, slicing them in half. Evie straightened up immediately and tilted her head, looking down at the smaller woman next to her. Even with her own self–inflicted insults ringing loud, she hated that Nerys had called her question silly. She could call herself every awful thing in the universe, but Nerys doing it? Not allowed.
“No such thing as silly questions,” Evie said playfully, then flipped the pencil between her fingers, eyes flicking down to Nerys’ hands. Would it be overstepping if she touched her? She needed to, right? How else was she supposed to show her properly? She could try to explain it verbally but… gods, verbal instructions were the bane of her existence. “So,” She began, angling the pencil between her thumb and index finger, “If you just…” Her brows pulled together, eyes still darting between her own hand and Nerys’, waiting for…permission? Anything to make sure she wasn’t about to embarrass herself.
She sighed quietly, “Do you mind if I-?” Not even finishing the question, she hesitantly took Nerys’ hand in hers, and… it was cold like winter. No, like stepping into frost. Like she’d been standing barefoot in snow for hours and simply never thawed. Evie’s breath hitched and her gaze lifted to meet icy blue eyes watching her so intently it made her pulse stutter. Did the temperature have to do with her abilities? She wanted to ask, not out of fear, but more so out of fascination. However, she swallowed it back, not the time.
She let her gaze drop to their joined hands and steadied herself, then gently guided Nerys’ fingers into the correct position, “You’ll want your hand like this, something like it… so the pencil hits the paper at the right angle.” At least she knew this much, maybe that would impress her a little. With her free hand, Evie placed the pencil between Nerys’ delicate fingers. The small contact sent heat crawling up her neck. ’s**t.’ Now she was blushing. Completely unhelpful images of them holding hands flipped through her head. “Then you’re going to…” She began, but the angle wasn’t right. She frowned at it, so without thinking, before anxiety had the chance to stop her, Evie stood and slipped behind Nerys, then leaned in. Hovering just slightly, she placed her hand over Nerys’, cupping it from above so she could guide the movement properly. She leaned forward to get the right angle and maybe got a little too close. Inches from Nerys’ ear, close enough to breathe in something faint and sweet.
Together, she slowly guided their hands. The pencil moved and a shaky but visible line formed beneath the tip, “I’m not very good at crisp lines,” Evie murmured, voice lower than she intended, “But this is how I do it.” Beneath Nerys’ hand, the letter ’N’ began to take shape, it wasn’t perfect, but it was obvious. Then came an ’e’, and an ’r’. And before Evie fully realized it, she had written ’Nerys’ at the top of the paper. “If I had to guess…” She lingered for a beat before releasing Nerys’ hand and returning back to her chair, “That’s how you spell your name.”
She wasn’t the best at spelling, gods knew most of her handwriting looked like gibberish, but she could sound things out. And at this moment, she was proud of herself for that small success. Evie propped her elbow on the desk, resting her chin in her open palm, and watched Nerys with a softness that almost embarrassed her, “Eventually the awkwardness goes away. Or so I’m told.” She huffed a tiny laugh, blowing a strand of hair from her face, “Still feels weird to me, so don’t feel bad if it takes a bit.”
OOC: NA Location: Classroom Company: Nerys Outfit: Wearing
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Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2025 9:23 pm
The relief she felt that Evie didn't think her silly was palpable. The way her shoulders relaxed, the way her posture didn't seem quite as ramrod straight as the other woman offered her kindness instead of reprimands. Though the question still seemed to make her stumble. It took Nerys a moment to realized she was asking to touch her. It took her less than a breath to nod her head like an over eager puppy. Not that it mattered much as Evie took her hand to begin manipulating it into the correct position.
It nearly made her heart stop. She was used to men who felt like a furnace. Powerful fire in their grip that made her quake under it. Yet the grip on her now was gentle and warm. Not enough to be like a fire, but like the feeling of enjoying a mug of hot tea on a rainy day. Part of her wondered if the touch of her own frigid skin was unpleasant for the other woman, but she didn't have it in herself to attempt to pull away. Not when she was being handled so delicately in an effort to help with her own request.
Though she found she couldn't look at her hand. Evie's light eyes met hers in a way that left her cheeks pink and her mouth dry. For a moment they sat there, suspended in time. No sound other than the small puffs of breath between them. She needed to say something, anything, to break the tension that seemed to be corded so thickly between them it could not be cut. "Thank you." The words felt like everything and not enough.
But Evie wasn't done. It felt like in an instant she was behind Nerys. There were a few adjustments to be made, like how to angle her wrist to have the graphite hit the paper right. But then her hand was gliding over the paper with Evie's hand still enveloping it making letters that were far nicer than her own attempts. Then that warm touch was gone, making her skin feel cold even when it couldn't. With a small shake of her head, she let herself trust Evie without knowing what they were writing.
"I don't know what you mean by a crisp line." The words felt automatic. Said without a thought, like she couldn't help pouring out everything to her new friend. "But I think you are very talented." Maybe it was an overstatement. Nerys really couldn't say. She didn't have enough knowledge of what was considered good writing to have a proper opinion, only the knowledge that Evie could write. A skill she was willing to share as she showed Nerys the word they created together.
Her name.
Reverently she reached out with the hand that wasn't holding the pencil, tracing over the letters with her middle finger gently. "I've never seen my name spelled out." It was a whisper, one she hadn't meant to say. But it was the truth laced with awe and wonder. A small determined glint twinkled in her eye as she attempted to mimic the hold of the pencil and copy the letters that Evie had written with her. Letters she only knew the name of because of the handy chart Lady Beckett had given her with a little song to remember them in order. N-E-R-Y-S. Her lines were more wobbly and harder to read, but it was her first time writing ever. If she was lucky she would learn to do better with time.
When she looked up she was surprised to see that Evelyn was still close. So much closer than she had expected. Color stained her cheeks as she looked back down at her sloppy attempts to mimic what they'd written together. But she was unable to focus on it for long, not when her next question hung on the tip of her tongue. "Can you show me how to write your name?"
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classroom ❅ evelyn n. ❅ outfit
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 6:47 am
Talented.
A word Evie had heard countless times in her life, before the incident. Before everything faded into a blur of half-remembered days. She didn’t have many clear memories from before then, but that word… talented, had survived. It lingered and danced around in her mind at the most inconvenient moments, no longer a compliment but a taunt. It was something she used to be. Talented in the arts, literature and history. Talented in athletics, too, but thankfully that part had stayed. Her body remembered even when her mind did not. She was stronger than most, and that was one thing she could be confident in without hesitation. Her muscles had been earned in sweat and determination. Though it wasn’t something her mother had ever encouraged. Her shoulders were too broad… too “masculine”. Far too much for a lady.
But this girl, this sweet, kind girl, had said it anyway. She called her talented without a trace of doubt. Evie smiled warmly and glanced down at the name written on the sheet of paper between them. ‘Nerys.’ The letters were uneven and the lines were not nearly as crisp as Evie knew they could be. But it didn’t seem to matter to her, and that simple fact stood out to Evie more than anything else. Her eyes followed the delicate movement of Nerys finger as it traced each letter carefully. How she had never seen her own name written out before was frankly… unbelievable. How was that possible? The thought nagged at her. Evie blinked, but didn’t look away, a familiar curiosity stirring in her chest again. Where had this woman come from?
Nerys picked up the pencil once more, adjusting her grip as she tried to hold it the way Evie had shown her. Though it was a little awkward, which she expected, Nerys was honestly doing a good job. She had the hang of it, for the most part, and Evie felt an unexpected sense of pride at the sight. Without realizing it, Evie leaned closer, her chair shifting silently across the floor. She wanted a better view as each letter slowly began to form. They weren’t perfect, but they were letters nonetheless, and that’s what mattered. Nerys had done the damn thing.
If Evie ever learned the other woman’s last name, she could help her learn how to write that, too. And if it turned out to be long, well, that would just be another challenge. One Evie would be excited to tackle. Sensing eyes on her, Evie glanced up, expecting to meet those cool blue eyes again. Instead, she was met with flushed cheeks. Nerys was still looking down at the paper, her lashes casted faint shadows on her soft features. Evie paused as she took in the quiet beauty of the woman beside her. Then Nerys’s lips parted, and her attention snapped there immediately.
“Can you show me how to write your name?”
For a moment, Evie just stared at her mouth, still registering the question and butterflies erupted in her stomach. It was such a simple question. Innocent even. Yet, something about the way Nerys said it, sent heat creeping up Evie’s neck, “I… yeah, s-sure, I mean of c-course.” There it was, of course it happened now. A deep crimson spread across her face immediately. Earlier, she had managed to laugh off the small stutter and pass it off as nothing worth noticing. But this time? This time there was no hiding it, it was unmistakable. The paper between them instantly became her focus point, maybe if she stared at it long enough, she would disappear.
Evie chewed at the inside of her cheek and took a breath, an embarrassingly shaky one, then cleared her throat, “Sorry.” Thank the Gods, she got it under control, “I’d be happy to.” She tried to smile again, but it wasn’t quite as bright as before. She hated that this still happened… it was her least favorite thing about herself. She could hide that she wasn’t the best at reading and writing, that was easy. But speaking? No, can’t hide that.
She scooted her chair even closer, this time, there was no denying the distance. The side of her body brushed lightly against Nerys’s, sending another spark straight through her. She reached over, gently adjusting the pencil in the other woman’s hand, letting her fingers linger for just a second. Then finally, Evie glanced up to meet her gaze, “The ‘E’ is just like you wrote it for your name,” Her voice softened, “And the ‘V’ is really simple…” Reluctantly, she broke eye contact and slid her finger down to the ‘Y’ in Nerys’s name, and covered the bottom half of the letter, “You just get rid of this tail here. And the ‘I’ is just a line, with a little dot above it.”
This time, when Evie smiled, it was smaller, but very real. She picked up her own pencil and carefully wrote ‘Evie’ beside Nerys name. “My full name is Evelyn,” A quiet chuckle slipped out as a sheepish grin tugged at her lips, “But…” She glanced back at Nerys, eyes bright, “We can save that for next time.”
OOC: NA Location: Classroom Company: Nerys Outfit: Wearing
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2026 7:31 pm
When her gaze traveled back up, Evie was looking at her again. Looking at her like she was magnificent and wonderful and not just a fraud of a commoner. Though, in this moment maybe she didn't entirely have to be a fraud. Evie already knew she couldn't read or write. That the swirls and lines on the page were entirely new to her. And somehow that was making the other woman nervous.
It was cute.
Swallowing to stuff those words back down, her eyes drifted back down to the paper to watch Evie carve out more letters. One of which was in her name. It made them seem closer, though it was an odd thought. Just sharing a letter in their name didn't give Nerys any claim. Did she want a claim? Shaking the thought away she watched intently as the other letters were formed. Then, much like the first time, she took up the pencil the way she'd been shown and copied the name below again. E-V-I-E. It was also cute. Shortened in such a way that was feminine and dainty compared to the towering woman sitting next to her.
"Thank you." She said it like the words were a gift. In many ways, they were. They were something she'd never had before this moment. Letters had always been troublesome things - symbols that she understood had meaning, but that meaning was always just beyond her grasp. Only the servants that needed to know letters were taught them, most of them men. Only a handful of maids would ever be so lucky and she had never been one of those maids. Further still, what need did a prostitute have for written word?
A few moments of silence drifted between them as Nerys found herself writing the names a few more times. While every attempt felt easier, it didn't make the lines less wobbly or the letters neater. Somehow that didn't matter. Not when having the letters was already so magical. After the fifth copy of both of their names, Nerys remembered that she wasn't alone. Cautiously, she raised her eyes, finding Evie's. "I - I wish I could explain what this means to me." Looking back to the reference guide, her fingers started tracing over the alphabet reverently.
"Where I am from it is..." Her eyes flicked over to Lady Beckett in the corner. Licking her lips, Nerys took a breath to choose her words carefully. The last thing she wanted to do was get in trouble again. "Harder for women. We are allowed less in life. Which is a much longer way to ask when we can meet to do this again." Her heart fluttered, the anticipation of the answer she would receive making her palm sweat. "If it were up to me, I would like it to be tomorrow. I just don't want to impose."
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classroom ❅ evelyn n. ❅ outfit
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