A/N: For the purposes of this I have called the apprentice Liviana. Also sorry if anything I write is inaccurate, I have only played through the Julian story with the upright ending and relatively few extra scenes (to save coins). I'm also wanting to save keys for my play on Portia's story, so I'm not really wanting to replay chapters, so if details aren't on the wiki or in my memory I'm just making them up, sorry if I end up with canon contradictions!
Vesuvia docks, bustling as they were, shrank into the landscape of the coast as the sea wind pushed us further out to sea. Seabirds circled above and cawed out over the gentle hush of waves against the ship and there was a faint smell of salt on the air. I rested my elbows on the thick wooden rail and closed my eyes. It was calming and I felt the sounds of the sea and the gentle rocking of the ship lull me half to meditation. Serene as it was, there was still an energy in the air. Under my skin I could feel the gently prickling swell of magic, my own powers responding to the vast power of nature all around us. I wanted jointly to stay, eyes closed and basking in the warm air, but also to move, to run and act and explore the increasing depths beneath us.
A smile slowly spread across my face and from behind me I heard a creak of approaching footsteps. I turning to look at Julian as he perched himself on the edge of the ship, not seeming to mind there was only one poor balance between him and overboard. That sort of easy confidence would come to me eventually, I was sure. After all, Julian had spent years travelling by sea, I couldn't quite expect myself to acclimatise in just an hour or so.
"Feeling seasick yet?" He said, a playful twinkle in his eye. No, eyes. It had taken a moment for me to notice he had moved his eye patch up on to his forehead. It made sense, he had just been up in the rigging. As much as he liked to keep his right eye - the one stained red by plague all that time ago - hidden, that sort of work did call for depth perception.
"Not yet," I replied, "We'll see how long I can last."
Julian chuckled.
"You know, I actually think you might end up ok."
"You do?"
"Yeah. You don't carry yourself like it's your first time on a ship." He fixed me with a suspicious look that only familiarity betrayed as not real, "Assuming, of course, that you were telling me the truth about this being your first time."
"Of course I was telling the truth," I said, looking out again towards the Vesuvian coastline, now dwarfed by the vastness of the sea, "I do feel at home though. Part of me wonders why travelling never occurred to me before."
My attention was drawn back to Julian. He was drawing breaths and making short sounds like he was trying to find the words for something.
"I suppose," he eventually managed, "the last few months have had us - I mean I think we both have found things we never realised we wanted before."
He stared straight ahead of him, blushing a little, and I felt the touch of his fingers against mine. I turned so we were both facing the same direction and took his hand properly. We stayed quiet, enjoying the sea air and each others presence. The last month had been hectic. With me taking over sole running of the shop, Julian opening his practice after his official pardon, and countless other small tasks that needed done after our fight with The Devil, we hadn't had all that much time to just... be. Not to mention the constant feeling of eyes on us, and the discomfort that came from certain parts of the city realising that just they had cheered for the execution of an innocent man - one that would then go one to help save their lives no less - that had given a certain unease to our lives as we attempted to readjust to normality.
Put simply, we didn't know how to be normal yet. Our relationship had been forged in danger and sneaking around and now everything was safe we found ourselves lost.
I leaned into Julian and felt him relax a little. Across the deck I saw Portia discussing with the captain. Although her glee was evident in her eyes I could tell, even from a distance, that she was carrying herself with the sort of surety that commanded respect. She seemed to be taking to her new life of zoology and adventure like a duck to water and her own excitement for this trip had infused itself into the whole ship and her crew. Julian had chalked this up to her infectious smile and whilst I didn't think he was entirely wrong, I couldn't help feeling like there was something more lying underneath. I wondered what a magical education could do for her, if she wanted it.
"What do you think we'll find?" Julian said, breaking the silence.
"If Portia's right, hopefully a-" my mind went blank, "a - um- what was the name again?"
"Gold Crested Lillybird."
"Lillybird! Yes!" I remembered the drawings she had shown us of the bird, a graceful thing with long flowing tail feathers, "I hope it's as big as she thinks it is. That will be magnificent."
"Personally I just hope it's less hostile. I don't want her eye pecked out on her first trip."
"She'll be careful, you know Portia."
"I do," Julian looked at me and pulled his eyepatch back in place, grinning widely, "That's what's worrying me."
He pushed himself up and turned to me.
"I don't suppose," he said, "that you've had a chance to visit our cabin yet?"
I recognised that mischievous twinkle in his eye.
"I don't actually think I have."
With a theatrical flourish he offered me his hand. I took it in mine and allowed him to lead me below deck.
The decision for Julian and I to share a cabin had been made as much out of practicality as out of desire. A small ship like the one that we were using had a limited amount of space and so any excuse to cut down on the space needed was welcome. Looking around the cramped room I guessed it was not one built for a double bed as there was barely a foot of clearance between it and the side walls. At the foot of the bed there was a little more room, allowing the door to open fully and just enough space for our small trunks, lifted up on low tables so that the tops could serve a dual function as a desk. A small porthole allowed some sunlight in, but the cabin was mostly lit by a lamp hanging from a hook on the ceiling.
Julian sat on the bed, leaning back on to his elbows. Now that we were alone most of his nervousness had melted away and he gave the space next to him two light pats.
"What? No grand tour?"
Julian looked at me for a moment, trying to figure out if I was joking. With a playful sigh he stood up, and stood next to me with one hand on my waist. He pointed to each part of the room in turn.
"In that case, allow me to show you the door, the window - complete with a beautiful view of endless water - our trunks which at this point I would hope you'd recognise, and last but not least, the bed," he finished decisively, then, with flirting sarcasm, he continued, "I know it's a lot to take in, but I'm sure you'll remember it all eventually."
"You forgot my favourite part though." I replied, combating his sarcasm with an ironic earnestness. It seemed to throw him off for a moment.
"Your favourite part?" He asked, looking around the room, "Love, I don't think there's much else here."
"I can't believe you didn't mention my favourite thing in my room. I thought you knew me well."
"I- I don't-" His confusion turned into guilt and I immediately felt bad. I had probably taken that too far.
"I was talking about you, Julian." I slipped my arms around his waist and faced him completely. I felt him release an anxious breath he had been holding.
"You worried me there," he cupped his hand on my cheek.
Instead of answering, I went on to tiptoes to plant a quick kiss on his lips. He smiled widely and leaned down to kiss me again. This one was a firm, lingering kiss and his other hand pressed onto the small of my back pulling me close against him. The world seemed to freeze around us, that one moment stretching out. We barely moved, just breathed and enjoyed each other's closeness.
All of a sudden the moment moved on and the world started again. Julian broke the kiss and pulled away ever so slightly. Barely a breath passed and he was kissing me again with a frantic passionate energy that I matched in turn. The force for the kiss made me take a step backwards without thinking and I lost my balance against the edge of the bed. Julian steadied me with the hand on my back and lowered me down to the sheets.
The hand on my cheek moved up as Julian tangled it into my hair. I grab handfuls of his loose white shirt to hold on to him tightly as he climbed up on the bed. One of his legs pressed between mine and his free hand snuck up under my shirt. I kissed along his jaw and down his neck, feeling his breath catch as I did and his hand clench a little in my hair, tugging gently.
Just as his fingers brushed against my breast there was a loud knock at the door, making us both jump violently.
"Livi, Ilya! You busy?" Portia's voice called, muffled slightly by the door.
Julian closed his eyes and took a slow deep breath to steady himself. With visible reluctance he pushed himself up to sitting and replied.
"What can we do for you Pasha?"
"When the two of you are done… settling in," she was smirking behind the door, I just knew it, "Can we get you guys in the bridge? And Livi, bring the cards."
"Roger that Portia," I replied.
As Portia's footsteps faded away I made to get off the bed. Before I could stand up Julian snaked an arm around me and held me against him, burying his face into the crook of my neck.
"Just a little minute longer," he said, "Pasha can wait."
With one hand I gently stroked his hair, allowing our moment of privacy linger just a little more. Eventually though, it had to end. I stood up and retrieved my tarot deck from my trunk. Julian sat where he was, watching me. There was a tension in the air that made me suspect there was something he wanted to say. Sure enough, after a long expectant moment, he spoke.
"Livi," he said, slow and deliberate, "do you still love me?"
I didn't know what I expect him to say, but it certainly wasn't that. It took me a second to even process the question I was being asked.
"Of course I do!" I replied, "What makes you say that?"
"I don't know," he wasn't looking me in the eye, once he started speaking though everything came out in quick succession, "I suppose I was never really accustomed to… romantic relationships. And then ours began in secret, and in danger. Now everything is normal but I don't really know what 'normal' is anymore and I don't really know how to be in a normal relationship and I'm worried that you won't know how to be with me normally either. I- I just worry that… that now I'm not a project or - or a puzzle…"
He trailed off. This was obviously not something that had just occurred to him.
"Julian," I began, "How long has this been worrying you?"
He snorted out a humourless laugh.
"About a month."
"So the whole time?"
"If you wanted to put it that way."
I sat down next to him on the bed and placed my hand on the side of his face. His eyes met mine and I could see the fear in them.
"I love you, Julian. So much." I brushed my thumb over his lips, "Yeah, maybe we are still figuring out how this whole thing works but underneath all the changes I still love you."
Lightly, so that we barely touched, I kissed him. I felt his lips twitch into a smile as his kissed me back. Before we could get carried away again I pulled back and looked into his eyes again. I couldn't tell if all the fear was gone, but he seemed more at ease.
"I love you too."
"Shall we go and see what Portia needs?"
Julian nodded and stood to follow me up to the bridge.
When we entered Portia was leaning over a map laid out on a large table, deep in conversation with the captain. She was pointing instantly at a particular spot whilst the captain stood straight, his hands behind his back.
"- So I was thinking that if we were able to find the time and the weather was kind, we could get to this one too. It's not been explored yet so who knows what kind of things we will find."
"I'm happy to try, but I would like to advise caution on approaching a wholly new island on a tight schedule."
"Yeah, of course, I hear you. I just wanted to-" Portia looked up and caught my eye, "Livi! Ilya! Come in, make yourself at home."
Julian sat down in a chair next to the table and looked around the room with idle curiosity, whilst I stepped forward for a closer look at the map. I could see Vesuvia, rendered in minute detail, then moving out from the coast detail began to drop away until the map got to the area Portia was indicating, where islands were only noted with vague outlines.
"Captain Barnum," Portia continued, "I would like you to meet my brother, Julian, and my friend, Liviana. Julian is a very skilled doctor, and Livi-"
"Is the magician, yes?" finished Captain Barnum. He extended a hand, which I shook. Whilst not exactly hostile, his tone was still far from welcoming.
"That's me," I said, "Happy to help in any way I can."
"I appreciate the offer, but I hope you understand that having you on my ship was not my choice."
I was not expecting that level of uncomfortable honesty. Looking at Portia, she looked as uncomfortable as me at his comment.
"I… Um," I began.
"I'm sorry," Captain Barnum gave a small smile as he continued, "I don't mean that you are not welcome on my ship. But the ocean has its own power that city magicians seldom understand. I'm not sure how useful your skills will be to us."
"Maybe we can start to find out," said Portia, "Livi, you brought your cards, didn't you?"
"I did."
"Then maybe you could give a quick reading."
"For who?"
"For the whole journey."
I looked at the captain, he considered for a moment and nodded slightly, indicating for me to place my cards on the table. After a quick shuffle I put down the deck and put my hand over it. My eyes closed I opened my mind to the aura of everyone on the ship, to the vast primal power all around, to the arcana themselves. Allowing myself to be guided I cut the deck and took the card that was speaking to me. I flipped it on to the table and stopped when I saw what was drawn on it; a lightning bolt striking a stone structure.
"I don't like the look on your face there," said Julian, leaning forward to see the card. I realised I had been frowning. "It's not the Devil again?"
"No, not the Devil. This is the Tower."
Julian didn't seem much happier at that, no doubt remembering the time we were trapped in the Tower's realm.
"Is the Tower bad?" asked Portia.
"No, not quite. You don't really get cards that are simply good or bad, it doesn't really work like that," I explained, "The Tower can mean unexpected or unwelcome change, chaos and destruction, or it can mean revelations or awakenings."
"And which is it in this case?" asked Captain Barnum. I held the card and tried to tune in to what the Tower was telling me. This particular arcana, unsurprisingly, wasn't partial to giving specifics.
"In this case, I think it means we can't take anything for granted. Something is going to change, and it's going to change fast and it's going to change a lot," I looked around the room, "We have to expect the unexpected, and maybe even prepare for disaster."
The room was quiet for a long moment, all faces trying to disguise their concern, to varying success, as we looked between each other. I tried to catch Julian's eye, but he wouldn't hold my gaze.
"How do we expect the unexpected…?" asked Portia.
"We do it," said the captain, "by having lifeboats at the ready, and by having the crew on storm alert."
I looked at him in surprise.
"I thought you didn't believe this would be useful?"
"I don't," he said frankly, "but when you are in the middle of the ocean, miles from land, let alone food and civilisation, you err on the side of caution."
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
"I'm not doing this to please you," he said, not necessarily unkindly, "I'm doing this to keep my crew alive. If you'll excuse me, I'll organise the preparations."
With a nod to Portia and Julian, Captain Barnum left the room. Once the door closed, there was silence. I looked out the window and, for just a moment, I thought I saw a single black cloud in an otherwise clear blue sky. The next second it was gone. Maybe it would be best not to dwell on that too much.