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[Drake Wyntermore]

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Drake looked out over the balcony, past the water below and at the distant ships, over at the docks. The ocean breeze blew his hair back slightly under his long hat. It made him feel good. He wasn’t in Magincia today, though. He was looking out over his youth – Vesper docks. It was nice to be back and he had even nicer company. Glancing to his side, also looking out over the docks, was the love of his life, Asera Pamelare. He had pointed out the boats to her and she was looking out at them. She looked so thoughtful and peaceful in that moment; he couldn’t help but smile. It may’ve been a time to think ‘humanity at its finest’ but Humanis was hardly even in Drake’s head tonight. Nothing was – but her.

They had walked through the streets of Vesper today, stopped in a few shops, and talked to the citizens on the street. For Drake, it was a revisiting of his past. He had grown up on these streets and at the docks, watching the merchant ships come and go all day. They had been fine times for him, yes, but he didn’t care about his past so much as he expected he would. What he really cared about was a future: a future with her.

They were walking towards the docks now, the final destination for the day. It had been a long day but the hours had sped by. They always did when he was with her. He drew a picture about it once. He vaguely remembered the comic clocks in his head. After seeing a few of the larger trade ships down at the docks, they had placed her picnic basket upon a barrel on the dock and began to eat.

The meal was wonderful, as usual, but Drake would soon forget all about the meal. They had begun to converse about the future, now that the date into the past was almost complete. The conversation, though, was not as good as the rest of the day had been. “But, Drake, I’m just a simple girl. You are well-cultured and I wouldn’t want to hold you back. You could find someone smarter then me.”

“No, Asera… You’re special. That’s why I’m here with you and not anyone else. You’re the only one for me, Asera.”

“I spoke about marriage, Drake. I’m sorry. I overspoke. I shouldn’t have said things like that.”

The sea breeze hit against his face again. This time, though, it wasn’t pleasant. This breeze wasn’t full of the old life and energy of Vesper trade. He smelled the darker side of it in this one. He remembered the high crime rate, the pirates burning ships, and the gold – All the gold. Vesper ran on gold. That’s all they cared about. The bad memories of Vesper were overtaken by Asera’s words again. “Forgive me, Drake?”

He shook his head. He couldn’t forgive her when she hadn’t done anything wrong. He thought maybe that was the wrong approach though, when he saw the look in her eyes. It tore him apart and he felt just about as awful as he ever had. “Please, Drake, forgive me? Please?”

For a moment, he was utterly unsure of what to say. Should he forgive her for exactly what was on his mind as well? Not forgive her and make her even sadder? He bit his lower lip gently and looked over at the sea. The waves passed gently until crashing up along the docks and the ships. A seagull sounded his call somewhere in the distance. Drake spotted a trade ship coming in from the east. He vaguely wondered if it might be from Magincia. He loved the sea – always did. It was in this moment that he became positive of his decision.

“I can’t. Asera, you’ll have to forgive me… Will you marry me?”

~

Later that night, the new fiancés walked through the doors of Magincia inn, feeling as if they were walking on the clouds. Up there, there was no Regency, no Ebon Skull, not even a Humanis. There was simply the ocean to look out over, a picnic basket and the pair of them, enjoying the world.