Rufus and Prudence: Even the Longest Journey Begins

The auditorium on the 1st floor was being set up for a couple's audition for the play the Easter teacher was putting on. All were invited to this one, and as Prudence understood, it was at the couple's request. Some auditions were closed to accommodate for the shyer students or the busier students, Prudence supposed, but this one was loudly declared to be open to the public. After eyeing the clock and deciding she should probably get going soon, Prudence turned in her chair to face the door, mind full of advice and tips from both Miss Hendrix and Miss Flower. Surprisingly enough, this was the first time she was informed that her views were... a bit old-fashioned, probably because the very few people she conversed with regularly were.... well, a bit old-fashioned themselves.

The room she was in was cluttered to an unnecessary degree due to her general unwillingness to clean as of late-- which was odd, actually. Usually she had enough hours in a day when no one was awake to make sure to clean everything up, but with her need to research all through the night and normal trips to the cafeteria to make sure Mr. Cornelius was doing alright, she hadn't thought about cleaning up. Prudence could sense an all-too-familiar feeling of sadness and loneliness and regret coming from him that she couldn't seem to ignore. It had always been her weakness; trying to help where she knew she most likely couldn't. She considered it a character flaw, but if she understood correctly, Mr. Cornelius considered it a virtue.

She didn't understand him much of the time.

After lingering in her chair, deep in thought for so long that she was nearly late, she decided to take a risk and float through the floors to make it in time. She normally didn't like to draw so much attention to herself, but she figured much of the school was probably in the auditorium already. She had made it just in time.

Mr. Cornelius was standing in the back, looking as though he was about to enjoy himself. At first, she wasn't quite sure as to whether or not she should go over to him (it was so easy to assume people didn't enjoy your company), but then she remembered her talk with Miss Hendrix.

Bold, she remembered. The 1700's were a long time ago. Bold is the way of the 21st century, therefore I must assume some things.

Prudence floated over to him cautiously as the couple began to sing. She had figured the duet would be good, but she was already impressed at the ability they were showing and the clear love they had for each other.

I would like something like that, she decided, before opening her mouth and saying as boldly as she could in a whispering tone, "Hello, Rufus. I take it you're well?" She smiled at him widely before floating just an inch or two closer to him and turning her head to the stage as if to show she was merely regarding him and not expecting him to reply in the middle of the number. She couldn't be too bold, at least not right here or right now.

Rufus stood at the back of the auditorium with his arms folded over his chest. He had been overwhelmingly curious when he'd heard news of the young pair of undead students allowing their audition to be open to the public; He had just barely stopped himself from breaking into the auditorium before the doors were actually open. Somehow, he had refrained. Though he didn't know them personally, and had never actually heard the two singing before, there always seemed to be a great deal of chatter about the two of them. He was quite excited to see the display for himself.

He found his excitement was well justified when the performance began, and he was transfixed. He didn't even notice the guidance counsellor float over to him at first, when normally he would jump at the opportunity to get to speak to her.

He may or may not have whipped his head a little too quickly to look at her when she used his first name. Despite his repeated assurances she could use it, she had almost always referred to him as 'Mr. Cornelius'. Even trying to get her to drop the mister had proved difficult. She always would at first after he reminded her - but would quickly return to her usual manner of speaking. A force of habit, and he understood.

So for her to use his first name right off the bat was quite the pleasant surprise.

He found his grin spreading widely, and he kept his gaze fixed on her though she had chosen to watch the performance now instead.

"I am in the company of many good spirits." He said loud enough for her to hear, but not so loud to disturb anyone near enough to hear them through the audition taking place on stage. "And you, my fair lady?"

As attentive as she was on the couple, she grinned-- a grin that you could see on her entire face when he replied. She pushed some hair out of her face as she spoke.

"I'm doing well, myself. I heard the chatter about these two being beautiful singers with an amazing talent, and I have not found myself disappointed." She bit her lip before continuing, "If I couldn't see their Halloween attributes, I would guess they were Valentine's students with how they're bringing people together." She floated a bit closer to him, praying he wouldn't notice or if he did it would be alright with him.

She pointed a few couples around the room who were getting closer. "Music has a way of helping people remember who means the most to them at times, I suppose." She looked at him carefully before turning back to the stage.

What are you saying, Prudence? Are you insane? She bit her lip again. There's bold and then there's this. Are you trying to chase him away?

Rufus nodded in agreement, before thinking about the fact she may not be able to presently see him. (Though he'd be wrong.)

"I am entirely in agreement!" He whispered enthusiastically, and unfolded his arms from over his chest. "I would've never thought Halloween residents were capable of such romance."

Noticing Prudence was now slightly closer than before, but her eyes were watching the stage, he spent several seconds internally debating with himself before he very carefully slipped his arm behind her back and rested his hand there. He made no further movement, but hoped the gesture wouldn't be taken offensively.

Though surprised, Prudence did not act as though she even noticed the movement. Internally, her thoughts amounted to nothing more coherent than, "jfdklsj;afdjkagldhakf," but externally, she remained composed aside from the golden blush spreading across her face.

After a moment of merely enjoying his presence, she said (so quietly that she was nearly positive he wouldn't hear her), "I would very much like it if you would allow me to kiss you now," blush only growing brighter as she spoke.

Bold? She would show Miss Hendrix bold.

He tried to hide his actually profound reaction to hearing that, but he doubted she somehow didn't feel the way his hand noticeably twitched against her back. He lowered his hand slightly so it wasn't resting between her shoulder blades, and was more around her waist.

"If you may be so bold." He whispered just as quietly without looking away from the stage, and his own face broadcasting a furious blush.

Before she could change her mind, she floated up a ways so she was eye level with him. Prudence lingered for just a second, blush deepening somehow, putting much care into where she would kiss him.

The lips? Too forward.
The forehead? Too far from the lips.
The nose? Too close.
The cheek?

Yes, that will do nicely, she decided.

She kissed him on the cheek very delicately, but strongly enough so he would feel it. Quickly, but long enough so he would remember it, and lightly enough to let him know she didn't want to force him into anything but heavily enough so he knew she was interested.



...Or so she hoped, anyway. She began to doubt as she pulled away and floated nearer to the ground (still lingering very near him) that a simple kiss could communicate so much.

Without a thought to tell him otherwise, Rufus fully wrapped his around around Prudence's back, gently pulling her against his side so they could stand comfortably together. He tilted his head at a slight angle towards her - not so much that his head was resting on top of her's. But enough that his ear was tickled faintly by her hair, and he smiled.

She leaned into him, and even as the song came to a close, she couldn't bring herself to leave. They ended up, eventually, moving to the back of the auditorium as people left (some of the teachers and students sending grins their way). Prudence didn't know how much time passed, but she knew how patient and willing to linger Rufus was so she wouldn't have doubted it if it had been an hour or more. They had at some point sat down on the ground and Prudence rested her head on his shoulder.

She was painfully curious as to whether or not he was asleep, but she didn't dare move to see because at some point she felt a weight on her head that she just knew was his own head.

Sitting next to Prudence with his head resting on top of her's, Rufus was entirely too many things. Happy, comfortable, and in love. Unfortunately, he was also exhausted. And it was with great difficulty he was managing to open his eyes again after every blink.

With his eyelids sitting precariously at half-mast, he groggily raised his head slightly and wrapped his fingers around Prudence's hand.

"M'gonfallsleep." He said in a yawn into his other hand, as he straightened up a little more. "If we don't move somewhere. I think sleeping on the floor of the auditorium wouldn't be so comfortable, do you?" He asked with a chuckle as he slowly stood up. Though he was positive she didn't need it, he 'helped' Prudence up while holding her hand and then rubbed his eyes a couple times before blinking towards the exits.

"I'm so tired, I don't remember which way my office is from here..." He admitted tiredly, and looked at Prudence hopefully. "Do you remember?"

Prudence giggled like a schoolgirl and allowed him to help her up. She tried to push all thoughts out of her mind because at the moment they were all silly, little things like how cute his wheat hair looked ruffled from nearly falling asleep on her head, like how his jacket was askew, like how his eyes still glowed like the harvest moon even though he was inches from sleep, like how nice he smelled, like how much she loved his jawli--... She blushed at this last thought, though, because she was getting remarkably out of control of her own thoughts.

"Why certainly, sleepyhead," she said cheerfully, glad to see that he was actually tired for... likely the first time she had seen. "We'll take the lift because I don't trust you'll be able to make it up to the fourth floor on the stairs."

Weighing her options as she looked around to see no one near, she took his hand and gently pulled him toward the lift past the cafeteria, wondering how exactly she could tell him any of the thoughts running through her chaotic mind (like how nice his hand felt or how even his scars complimented his hair lin--... she was allowing her mind to get out of hand again). She wasn't sure if she could.

"A wise choice." He agreed, and smiled fondly.

He spent most of the walk following directly behind her, and letting images slide through his mind like thick syrup. Remembering how Prudence looked the first time he saw her. The times she'd come across him still awake at night, and talked to him. The first time he grabbed her hand and pulled her into an impromptu dance - as was his way - which immediately followed the first time he saw her blush. He'd apologized, of course.

How she looked in the almost-darkness at the back of the auditorium earlier. Having the pleasure of wrapping his arm around her back. What it felt like when she kissed his cheek. He touched the spot affectionately... and unintentionally bumped into her back when they entered the lift, having not been paying enough attention to his surroundings.

"Oh, forgive me." He chuckled self-consciously, and moved to stand next to her instead. He wobbled slightly, and blushed again when Prudence put a hand on his upper arm to steady him.

"You have the most beautiful eyes." He blurted without thinking, since he was presently staring into them. "They match your blush." He teased good-naturedly when she ducked her head after his comment, and used his free hand to tilt her chin back up to face him.

Prudence blushed more brightly, in spite of herself before spluttering, "Y-your eyes have... been a comfort to me... ever since we... we met."

Her and his eyes locked on each other, she leaned in ever so slightly, blush deepening as she did, and froze. Certainly he wouldn't be being that forward... and certainly she wasn't this.... well... this... in love. Certainly not... And yet still, wouldn't it be nice to be...? After all this time...

Leaning the last few inches forward, Rufus placed his lips upon Prudence's and gave her a soft, lingering kiss, before slowly pulling back and looking into her eyes again.

"I will always be happy to be a source of comfort to you, Miss Prudence White."

Grinning and blushing, she replied, "And I you, Mister Rufus Cornelius." In spite of herself, she giggled, and pushed away a thought of having gotten her first kiss at least a good 400 years into her life.

The doors to the lift opened, as if on cue, and Prudence took his hand in both of hers, still facing him, and backed out of it to begin heading down the hallway.

"If you'll let me be one, of course," she said, somewhat playfully before floating up to peck him on the forehead.

"I would be a fool not too!" He laughed, and gave her a quick twirl around the hallway, before placing his hand on the small of her back while holding her other hand and guiding her forward like he was leading her into a waltz.

Unfortunately, he had to stop halfway into the steps, when he realized the name they had passed on a room - because it was his.

"Oh, curses. We must be here." He sighed, and abruptly yanked his hood over his head and down into his eyes. "If I pretend I'm not here, can I choose to follow after you instead?"

Positively smitten and completely enchanted by him, she grinned ear to ear and thought for a moment before saying, "Oh, heavens me! Where did Rufus go? I haven't the slightest idea. I suppose he must have gone off to bed, that sleepyhead!"

As she spoke, she began to float off toward the library, but not without a backwards glance to make sure he was following her. She did worry about him not sleeping (heaven knows he wouldn't sleep much tonight at this rate) but it was still early and she knew he often went with far less sleep.

Having resigned himself to going to sleep now that they were there, Rufus was instead delighted to peek out from under his hood and seeing Prudence playing along with what he had mentioned as just a joke. Who was he not to roll with it?

Keeping his hood up, but not completely over his eyes so he could still see, he pretended to creep along behind his cherished ghost as though he could only pass through the shadows. He hopped the spaces between each door and even leaned into some of them when she looked behind her, as though pretending he needed to hide.

When they reached the library, he faced her with his hood still up, and playfully yanked his bandana up over the lower portion of his face.

"I hear a spirit haunts this library." He said in a hushed tone as he opened the door for her. "One of the harvest. A lord, no less. Pretty frightening stuff, wouldn't you say?" As he said the word 'frightening', he flexed his hands over her head like gnarled claws.

Prudence giggled at him throughout the entire trip and then again when he talked of spirits.

"Why, Rufus! That's utterly terrifying! Should we leave? I've heard talk of some sort of... ghost haunting the library as well! She supposedly glows gold and leaves stacks of books wherever her lantern guides." Prudence wiggled her fingers at him playfully.

"I'm not sure if I could handle running into such a horrifying creature! My poor little heart couldn't take it!" She pretended to faint, as if terrified.

Rufus easily caught her and lifted her back up - in fact, he lifted her right off her 'feet' and held her in the air for a moment.

"Then it's a good thing I'm here."

He stepped forward and swung them both in a circle again while carrying her, before gently easing her back to the floor as though this was all part of a dance.

"But I make no promises not to take your heart."

Blushing even more brightly than she had in the past, she lifted her hand up to his face and stroked the hair on his jawline down to his chin with a smile on her face, head slightly tilted. She felt like the luckiest woman in the entire world at that point and would argue with anyone who tried to disagree.

"I would never want you to make a promise that you don't intend to keep, Rufus dear." She closed her eyes and smiled more brightly, "Besides, who's to say you haven't already?"

Rufus leaned into her touch like a cat, following her hand forward when she reached his chin. He was pretty sure if he could purr, he would be.

"Then I guess I never have to worry about breaking that promise, now do I?"

Daringly, he wrapped his arms around Prudence's waist, bent forward, and twisted, taking her with him so he had basically swung her into a dip.



"Though if you're kidding, I would be lying if I said I wasn't offended by the suggestion I'm not doing everything within my power to keep such a precious item within my possession."

Baffled momentarily, it took everything Prudence had to keep her composure until finally, she decided to take a chance.



She smiled and blushed even more deeply (somehow) as she decided how to retaliate, beginning by moving even closer to him. She was so close to him that she could feel his breath on her lips at this point.

"Well, my darling Rufus, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were ready to take me somewhere with candlelight," she said somewhat tauntingly but predominantly just daringly. She raised her hand and cupped his face in her palm, enjoying the scratchiness of his beard as she added, "You wouldn't go back once you've led a proper lady on for this long, would you?"

Rufus tried to focus, but found it extremely difficult to do so.

With great effort, he managed to look away from Prudence and quickly glanced around the library instead. He knew it would be here, it was just a matter of...



Ah, there it was! Prudence's latern. Reluctantly, he disentangled himself from Prudence and stood up. Though he held onto her hand as he lead a now very curious Prudence over to it, he let go when he picked up the delicate instrument by the handle.



Turning to face her, Rufus grinned in the glow of the latern. It cast a warm glow over the surrounding area - including the curves of Prudence's beautiful face.

"Well, it's not candle light." He admitted sheepishly, and blushed. "But it's something."

Smiling softly, she moved toward him, sending the shadows behind them into a frenzy, before whispering, "Close enough," and planting a kiss on his lips. His beard tickled her, but she didn't care much at that point-- in fact, she was growing to enjoy it.

They spent the night much like that, stealing kisses and telling each other why they enjoyed their company and how they wished the night could never end. At some point, Rufus did fall asleep, hand clasped around Prudence's. She lingered for a while before carefully placing his hand back in his lap and making sure his neck wasn't bent in such a way that it would be painful in the morning.

Grinning happily, she floated toward her section of the library and selected a book before retreating back to her study for the remainder of the night.