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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Sept 2, 2021 17:28:54 GMT -5
Lilith had gone to her own tent to work, trying to come up with some plans of how to make sure news of their new guest didnβt get out. That, and continuing to make her elaborate plans to hopefully one day return to Alexandria with the hope of taking her kingdom back, as insurmountable a task as that seemed. Sheβd been working on the latter for years with very little success and had always made certain to keep anything quiet that might let those under her employ figure out her past, so it had always been secret.
She hadnβt been working for too long when she was interrupted, someone coming to inform her the prince was awake. Already? There really was never a momentβs peace where she could get work done around here.
Either way, she left her tent, hand resting on the sword that sat at her waist, and was soon greeted with a sight she hadnβt been expecting. The prince sitting on the grass like a toddler making a daisy chain, apparently supervised by Eden.
Lilith wasnβt pleased with the fact that the prince wasnβt in the tent, but she knew that the camp was too well-guarded and supervised for the prince to be going anywhere so she supposed it wasnβt really a problem. But still, it was hardly ideal. Regardless, as Lilith approached the displeasure she was feeling wasnβt obvious from her almost unnervingly neutral expression.
She knew better than to undermine her people in front of a prisoner, so if Eden was going to be experiencing any criticism for the prince being able to just wander outside on his own, it wasnβt going to be while he was there to watch it. There was no point in revealing weak spots or discord within the group.
She folded her arms, looking between the two with her eyes, coloured grey by the contacts she wore to disguise the purple. Even in front of her gang members she did this. After all, her being a telekine revealed far too much about her. It also made her a major target. She knew how much people would pay for the head of the last living telekine - which she had to assume she was at that moment. And the people she worked with, while she fostered loyalty in her group by punishing severely those who didnβt exhibit that most important quality, were still criminals after all. Lilith knew of all people that one could generally trust criminals to do whatever benefited them most, even if it meant betraying someone important to them. Theyβd sell her out in a heartbeat if they knew.
That was why she never showed anyone her real eye colour, not unless she knew they werenβt getting out alive.
βI see youβve made yourself comfortable,β Lilith commented to Carlo with a raised eyebrow
The kid was treating this kidnapping like a holiday. It was annoying, but she supposed she had to admire his attitude.
βAnd that youβve met Eden, who is going to be responsible for you.β she continued with a nod to indicate the woman in question
Lilith approached Carlo more then, dropping to her haunches in front of him to better speak to him.
βI have to keep you alive. That is all that is required of me. Nobody said anything about in one piece. I donβt have to cater to your childish whims or sensibilities. If you donβt make problems for me, you and I will get along just fine. Cause trouble and itβll be a very different story, and I donβt make empty threats.β
A lie, of course, since sheβd told Eden not to let any harm come to him without Lilithβs say-so. She had no intention to hurt Carlo, nor did she want to. But he didnβt have to know that, and she wasnβt opposed to it if she really had to.
She hoped those words would be effective on their own, but if her experience as an older sibling to two younger sisters had taught her anything, it was that it probably wouldnβt. Especially since Carlo was a prince, just like Lilith and her sisters had been princesses.
If it didnβt work, she might have to start treating him the way she would her sisters. Her oldest sibling skills were rusty, but sheβd decided that her techniques would probably still be viable.
The question was whether theyβd work on Carlo.
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Sept 5, 2021 21:30:41 GMT -5
Carlo almost could feel the grass and flowers calling out to him. He could feel their energy, the ability to bring to life wild blooms, rather than regal bouquets.
Instead of that, he just ran his hands deeper into the dirt. He almost felt like a plant, having been kept in a pot, roots restricted, blooms sheltered to a localized place. Even now, despite the sun shining on his shoulders and neck, he knew it wouldn't matter in the long run. Either he'd go back home, eyes on him, scanning for any wilted spots and weaknesses, or he'd die out here in the wild.
Might as well enjoy it while it lasted. It's not like these people could really hurt him, he'd heard the Rajani girl. He wasn't to be damaged, he was a precious good. Not a person, not a prince, just a treasure.
"Lady Eden," He chuckled, flashing her a charming grin. Looking away from the sun (though it was hard, a flower naturally looked to the light), and back at her. His eyes narrowed, dazed from staring at the bright sky. "What a pretty name."
Picking up a wild flower from a series of weeds near him, he picked it up, offering her it. It was a simple weed, it seemed, but seemed to be an offer of kindness. He ignored her threats or comments or whatever they may be, instead focusing on the approaching leader.
His charming grin turned to a more mischievous one, staying in place as she made her comments. When she lowered herself to be eye level with him, he nodded to her words, seemingly paying attention. That was until he picked out a little violet flower from the wild patch of flowers next to him, leaned forward, and planted it right in her hair.
"Purple fits you," he pointed out, sitting back and pressing his now dirty hands back into the soil.
Though his lips opened, glancing at her once more, raising an eyebrow, "Do I really seem that troublesome to you?" He questioned, "I've been nothing but a gentleman thus far."
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Demisexual
Leo
Surviving off Thai tea and Miguel O'hara
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Post by Leo on Sept 14, 2021 22:37:18 GMT -5
Crius made a face at his comment about Callan never having met Elena. He kept thinking it over even as Callan kept talking, apologizing about the life he had early on.
His mistress would never get so angry over just some random person. Maybe if it was a noble but this one in front of him was a palace guard. Sure, he came from an esteemed family of warriors but that never bother Elena before. He must have personally done something to her. Or someone in his family did.
" 'The Siren doesn't hold grudges for no reason'," Crius recited raising his eyebrows at him and frowning. It was something they said all the time. Sure, she was rarely angry like she was now but it wasn't uncommon for her to be deeply annoyed or hold grudges against other people. "That's what we always say. We might not know why she has a grudge but its usually for a reason. So you must have met her before," he insisted.
A moment of silence passed before Crius got to his feet and brushed the stray bits of dirt off his pants. Moving to get the rest of his things he turned his head towards Callan. "I should get Miss Elena. She'll want to know you're awake," he said a little disappointedly. He didn't want to go just yet but he'd probably be in trouble if he lingered too long. And he didn't want to be in trouble again... "Goodluck, try not to pass out too quickly."
And then he was gone. Having slipped out of the tent to go get the notorious gang leader. And almost as soon as he stepped out, Elena was stepping into the tent a calm wrath on her face. Reed followed closely behind her, tired as always and a little angrier than normal. Gone were the friendly faces and in stepped the two leaders that wanted him dead.
Elena didn't stop approaching when she stepped in. She kept her strong stride until she was in a good enough position to rear her leg back and connect the toe of her boot to his jaw. The kick was hard and intended to cause a lot of pain. She couldn't kill him but she could certainly hurt him. Less than he deserved but enough for the moment.
Taking a couple steps back, Elena let out a huff of air and pushed her hair out of her face. She caught her second glancing at her, that never fading look of disapproval carved into his face. "Really?" he asked crossing his arms over his chest. His tone was flat and his head shook from side to side on the smallest scale.
Elena huffed out another breath and shrugged. "I wanted to get it out of my system."
"Did you?"
"Sabes que no lo hice," She hissed. Looking down at Callan, she scowled and then turned on her heel and left the tent.
"Let's go," Reed muttered to Callan. He crouched next to the guard dog and undid his binds. All of them. Then he picked the boy up by his bicep and pointed for him to follow Elena. "Follow her. Don't do anything stupid," He threatened. But it also partially sounded like a warning.
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inky
I'm a free woman again! At least until the semester starts up :D
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Post by inky on Sept 15, 2021 1:53:40 GMT -5
Β»Eden Mullinax With Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ πππππ π¨
Blinking she just sort of stared at him, she was still a bit shocked that he'd gotten up and walked right past her before she could even scramble to her feet. Lady Eden? She was far from that. Then she was being handed a flower? For a moment she didn't move, what was with this guy? Slowly she reached out her hand a took the flower from him. "Uh, thanks... I guess?"
Then footsteps hit her ears, Lilith. Quickly her head whipped around to look at the leader of the gang. She glanced back at the prince on the floor then at the other woman again. She was calm and that was probably not good. It seemed like she wasn't going to get in trouble at least not yet though. Choosing to not say anything about it yet she watched as Lilith spoke to the prince. He seemed unfazed which honestly didn't surprise her at all. As far as she'd seen he didn't think this hostage situation wasn't that big of a deal.
The woman that is going to be responsible for him? She was in charge of him, even after this? Wait, was she on babysitting duty till this was over?
Great.
Well, she guessed it was okay right? Sort of. It meant she was being trusted at least a little. Not that she understood why considering he'd already escaped his tent with ease under her watch. Looked like she was going to have to get used to the carefree boy. It seemed her threats had no real effect either, of course, she knew Lilith wasn't going to do anything to him, she'd been told firmly to keep him in one piece. After all, how would you negotiate a profit with a beaten a bruised hostage? It just wasn't ideal, if they were nice they'd stand a better chance of getting whatever he was being traded for.
Shifting from behind the prince she stood next to him now, still holding the little flower she played with it nervously as she stood watching the two. What the hell was she going to do with this guy while he was here? Just sit and stare at him? Watch him as he played in the dirt? She guessed it could have been assigned a harder job, would she prefer the harder job? Probably it was more fun to fight than it was to sit with some guy. They could make flower crowns? She didn't know what to do with this guy, but it seemed she'd need to keep him busy to stop him from doing whatever he wanted.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Sept 15, 2021 6:00:52 GMT -5
"The Siren doesn't hold grudges for no reason."
Callan knew the kid had to be right; Crius would know his own leader, after all. Just like Callan knew Tia. All her idiosyncrasies, all her moods. He could tell when Tia was angry before anyone else could, he could tell when she needed him and when she needed to be left alone. He'd been able to tell the way he'd hurt her with the things he'd said before he left for the army. So he trusted Crius on this one.
But he couldn't understand it. Elena wasn't the kind of person Callan thought he'd forget meeting. She'd only said his surname when she'd seen him in the forest - maybe it was someone from his family who'd wronged her? It wasn't inconceivable.
Callan watched the boy leave, and almost immediately new faces entered the tent. They must have been waiting. The guard was greeted with Elena's boot to his jaw, and it became abundantly clear to him that this wasn't a family thing. No, this seemed far more personal.
Time for a new theory.
Suddenly what Crius had said to him about not passing out too quickly seemed not to be the joke Callan had hoped it might be, and figuring out what the hell Elena's problem with him was rocketed higher on his priorities list. It hurt like hell, of course. If he hadn't been bound his hand would've instinctively flown to the injured jaw, but as it was impossible to do so, he had to settle with a pained grunt and a muttered swear.
Elena and her second had a brief exchange, and he didn't need to understand Elena's hissed words to know that she was most certainly not satisfied with just that kick. It was going to be a long...well, however long he was going to be there. And if Elena had anything to do with it, it wouldn't end well for him, he was fairly sure. He could only hope the decision of whether or not to kill him was kept out of her hands.
Elena then scowled, turned on her heel and left. That meant Callan was alone with her second, who crouched down next to him to undo his bindings. Callan didn't even have time to wonder why before Reed pulled him to his feet and indicated for him to follow Elena. The man caught the warning that lay within his threat about not doing anything stupid. Now both Crius and Reed had given him largely similar warnings about The Siren.
"I don't think I need to," was Callan's response, eyes following where Reed had pointed and where Elena was waiting. This was going to go badly whether he did anything stupid or not. Anyway, if what Crius said was right (and it seemed to be), he'd already done something stupid.
The worst part was, he couldn't remember it.
Still, he didn't waste any time. As reluctant as he was to be alone with a woman who was very clear in her desire to kill him, he also knew it would be equally dangerous to keep a woman who was very clear in her desire to kill him waiting.
So he stepped outside the tent, blinking as he took in the new scene around him of the camp. It smelled of fresh woodland air and woodsmoke, and he could sense the buzz of activity and quiet bustle that there always seemed to be in places like this. Sadly there wasn't enough time to properly soak everything in, never mind to try and see if there were any weak points security-wise. Not that it mattered anyway - not until he knew where Carlo was. He didn't want to try to escape until he knew the location of that other woman, Lilith's, camp. There was no way he was returning without the prince.
All he had time to do was take a breath of that refreshing air in an effort to mentally prepare himself for whatever was about to happen before catching up with Elena.
"Look, clearly we've gotten off on the wrong foot here," he began to her, eyes flicking down for a moment to the boot from which he'd just moments ago received that kick to the jaw "Unless kicking people in the face is a habit of yours"
He couldn't say he really understood what was happening. There had to be something he was missing here. How could he have done something to hurt this woman so badly and yet he didn't remember it? He could only imagine how angry she'd be if she found out that he didn't remember whatever it was that he was supposed to have done. Not to mention that he didn't exactly think she'd believe him if he did try to explain that he didn't remember it.
In other words, Callan couldn't see any scenario in which the following conversation would go well for him.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Sept 15, 2021 16:27:42 GMT -5
Lilith froze when Carlo put the flower in her hair, saying purple suited her. She blinked her violet eyes, safely hidden behind the grey contacts. But it was as if the boy could see right through them, could see the Telekine magic flowing through her. Could see Alexandria itself in her.
What did he know? Surely he couldnβt know, surely it had to be a coincidence. The way those green eyes fixed on her made it feel all the more like he somehow knew something. But there was no way. Sheβd been so careful. Nobody knew she was even alive. Briseis Lenore had been dead for three years, just like she should be. Lying alongside her sisters and her mother just like she sometimes wished she was. Because she hates that for some reason sheβd survived, when nobody else had. Why had Minke and Maylea been denied the opportunity to live like she had? Why had she lived while her thirteen year old sister was gone?
If this boy really knew something, it would be bad news indeed. It was the one thing she couldnβt afford getting out. Sheβd learned how to play the power game, to make herself essentially invulnerable. But if it came out that she was a Telekine, and a princess of Alexandria to boot, every bounty hunter in Oikoumene would be after her. Every ruler would want her head, just to make sure everyone still knew what they did to Factioneers. Or maybe theyβd keep her as a prisoner, so they could show off such a rare kind of Factioneer.
But the rational part of her brain took over. It was just a coincidence. There was no way he knew. She touched the flower for a moment, before taking it out of her hair, mouth set in a hard line.
She was unaffected by his words about not causing trouble, about being a gentleman. Instead her mouth just flashed into a brief smile that didnβt reach her eyes, before immediately settling again.
βI think you think this is a game.β Lilith replied evenly, her voice calm but having a sharp, warning edge to it βI assure you it isnβt. Iβve dealt with far too many people like you, I know what youβre doing. Whatever youβre playing, Iβm not playing with you.β
Royals who thought they were untouchable? Lilith had seen plenty of those in her time. They were a dime a dozen. It bordered on sociological cliche, really. And that was coming from a former princess. Sheβd thought she was untouchable too, until her world crumbled around her.
βYouβre a decent kid, I can tell.β Lilith said firmly, determined not to let it sound too soft or like a compliment βweβll get along just fine provided you behave yourself.β
She rose to her feet, dusting herself off, before casting a glance at Eden.
βKeep an eye on him.β she instructed βIβll arrange for someone to bring some food. God knows Ress wouldnβt have fed him and I doubt Atlas wastes space carrying spare food that he could use for whiskey. Iβll be back later to talk with him.β
With those instructions given, Lilith stepped away to leave the two alone. She could be seen stopping to talk with someone cooking by the fire, before heading back towards her own tent and disappearing inside.
Where, out of sight of the others, she opened her palm to look at the purple flower in her hand. Was this like the ones that used to grow in that little patch outside the palace, on the hill she and her sisters often sat on in the summer? Maybe, it was hard to remember. Even after only three years things were getting blurry now.
She didnβt know how long she stared at that little flower.
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Demisexual
Leo
Surviving off Thai tea and Miguel O'hara
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Post by Leo on Sept 16, 2021 22:19:23 GMT -5
Athena scowled at Dante and gave him her middle finger. "Alright die then, it was just a question," she snapped back, ignoring Alex's attempt to keep things civil. Athena could have absolutely looked over his shoulder like a stalker to see what he was reading. But she was trying to be polite by asking. She was never gonna do that again. Especially when she was not above biting back and hitting even lower with someone who thought he was above her in life.
What a joke he was.
Approaching Alex, she gave him a thin and forced smile as she grabbed her skirts, curtsied, and then violently tossed them to the side. A feebile attempt to cast the fabric away and off of her. Of course it just swished back around her legs and settled in its former position.
"Very funny," She hummed in a strained happiness. She was not in the mood to deal with Dante's blatant dislike of her and Alex's childish teasing. She was only growing more and more tired of this twisted way of palace life they had. "You better hope your father isn't thinking of courting me," she hissed bitterly. It was only somewhat of a joke.
Moving around the table to one of the discarded books, Athena ran a hand over the spine and opened it. More information on abilities and what they could do. She could see why this book was cast to the side as it didn't have a lot of information about Telekine's themselves. Much more on Sonix's it seemed.
"I-" The mercenary stopped herself before she could finish her sentence. Physically clamped her mouth shut as she thought about what she was going to offer in a moment of blindness.
"I could teach you some things..."
What in the hell was she thinking? Yes, she wanted to help them keep her sister safe and alive. But, she also had to keep in mind about herself. She was also one of these "dangerous" Telekine's. She loved Alex like a brother but she didn't trust him as far as she could throw Dante (ignoring that she could probably throw that little stick a wide distance). They didn't need to know what she was and who Minke was to her. Not yet.
"I can tell I'm not wanted by half of the party so I'll leave you to it. I just thought I'd check in on you two before I attempt another failed escape plan," She shrugged and turned on her heel. She pulled up her skirts and began walking out of the library, suddenly desperate to be alone and away from this conversation.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Sept 22, 2021 3:15:19 GMT -5
When Elena hissed at him that he deserved worse, Callan was more confused than ever. Crius had said that she was holding some sort of grudge, and the kid couldnβt have been more on the money. Clearly whatever he was supposed to have done wasnβt a minor slight, but something far worse.
The problem was, he still really didnβt have the faintest clue what this thing heβd done was. If heβd done something this terrible, he was sure heβd remember it. Sure, he followed orders, but he never went out of his way to cause pain or hurt. Something really wasnβt adding up here.
βI have no idea what it is Iβm supposed to have done, but even so, youβre perfectly within your rights to kill me. But you have a nice thing going here - Crius is a great kid - and Queen Adrestia will be on the warpath already.β was his reply
He wanted to make sure they both knew where they stood. Elena could do whatever she wanted, but if any harm came to him or Carlo, Ernestine would be the least of Elena and Lilithβs problems. Besides, as soon as he had a better idea of where to find Lilithβs camp, heβd be trying to make his own escape. He couldnβt face returning to Tia without her brother, not any more than he could face leaving Carlo out here alone.
Elena had a wonderful set-up, but Callan knew that Tia wouldnβt hesitate to take out her anger on her and Lilith when she found out it was they who were holding him and Carlo. Never mind if any harm came to either of them.
Callan understood that; heβd always been protective of the queen and the prince, ever since they were kids. Looking out for them was the one part of his role Callan had never had any issue with, even if he hadnβt always expressed it in the way his father (or Tiaβs parents) had wanted him to. Heβd do anything for them - after all, wasnβt that why he was in this situation?
Ernestine was dangerous, but Callan felt that his queen was certainly not to be underestimated.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Sept 24, 2021 4:30:01 GMT -5
What was it Reed had said? Oh yeah, βdonβt do anything stupidβ.
Well, Callan was pretty sure what heβd just done qualified as something stupid, which made the situation heβd now gotten himself into entirely his own fault.
It was only when Elena flipped him, and snapped about him not remembering, that recognition finally flashed across his eyes. He remembered this woman, but he hadnβt recognised her because sheβd looked quite different the last time theyβd met.
A soldier heβd met after around a year of his service in the army. Sheβd been pretending to be a man, going by the name Santiago. Callan had found out she was a woman, but had been called away shortly after and never returned to that unit. Once or twice before heβd found himself wondering what had become of that soldier, but now he supposed he had his answer.
The problem was he still didnβt know what heβd done. Was she angry that he knew? Did she think heβd told someone? Of course he hadnβt, he would never have said a word. Especially when heβd known exactly what would have happened to her if that information had gotten out.
Heβd seriously thought he might have pushed her to kill him as her foot dug harder and harder into his throat. After all, Elena had threatened to simply forget the orders sheβd been given by Ress and Atlas and from their limited interaction Callan fully believed she would. For Elena, the satisfaction of killing him might just outweigh the consequences from Ernestine.
Luckily for him, she removed her foot and opted for a hard kick in the ribs. That was the kind of pain that made you want to double over on yourself. Callan held up the arm Elena hadnβt grabbed to flip him moments before, hoping to placate her for just a moment. She did seem to be done with the physical expression of her anger, now screaming at him in her language.
βYouβre Mendoza,β Callan began painfully, breathing heavy, the hand heβd lifted to try and ward off Elena now moving to the throat sheβd just been pressing her foot into βI know, I recognise you now.β
He was still feeling like theyβd skipped a couple of steps here. He still recognised her, of course, but he still had no idea what had led her to hold this rage against him.
He looked at her now, confused, shaking his head slightly and drawing his brows together. Whatever was happening here, he thought he at least deserved to understand it.
βBut I swear I have no idea what this is about,β Callan continued βI seem to be the only one who doesnβt, actually.β
Even Crius had seemed to know more than Callan had, and he got the impression Reed knew. Heβd seen the way Elena and her right-hand man had looked when they came into his tent.
βI promise that whatever it is that happened was nothing to do with me.β
He meant that sincerely. If he really knew heβd done something to hurt her, he wouldβve owned up to it. He might be a lot of things, but he wasnβt a liar. And the impression he got from Elena was that if he had done it, telling the truth would be a far better option than lying.
No, he figured that if she thought he was lying, heβd be in for far more pain. The real question would be whether she believed him when he said he hadnβt done anything.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Sept 28, 2021 6:38:18 GMT -5
βI wish youβd just left me in Levina!β
Alex had yelled those words once to his father. It was in an argument when he was a teenager, and such spats were so frequent that he didnβt even remember what they had been fighting about.
The prince was known to get hot-tempered in arguments, but he very rarely meant the things he said. This was one of the few exceptions, as much as he didnβt like to admit that little truth.
His cousin Aurore and her parents in Levina had treated him truly kindly while heβd been with them, as terrified as he had been of the situation heβd found himself in. Very different from the father who had seemed so reluctant to show any concern or care for his son from the moment the war with Levina had broken out and his mother had sent him away. Different from the biological mother who had seemed to care for him, but not as much as she cared for her ability to use her son as a political pawn. Different from this new stepmother who seemed to be trying to hard to mother him, like she could somehow fix him if she just acted like she loved him enough.
The exception was his brother. Any negative feelings he had towards Caspian were of Alexiaresβ own making. Jealousy that everything seemed so much easier for him, at least from Alexβs perspective. The younger prince knew that, knew that things could be better with him and his brother if he didnβt keep so much distance between them. But theyβd never been especially close and as theyβd gotten older it seemed harder and more intimidating to bridge that gap. Children, after all, make friends in an instant. It wasnβt so easy once you werenβt infants anymore.
He did wish sometimes that his father hadnβt brought him back. He wished heβd known how much of his father bringing him back to Oralee was about ending the war, or about the shame of a king having a son held captive, and his much was about genuine concern or love for his youngest son.
But the truth was that he never would.
Heβs known his father wouldnβt take the words well the moment heβd said them, but he hadnβt lost the venom in his tone. Because heβd meant it. Deeply, truly, achingly meant it.
In Levina, theyβd treated him mostly as if he were one of their own. They had never seemed to care the way his father did about the fact that he was half Oraleean and half Levinian. They cared about him for the part of him that belonged to them, rather than judging him for the part that didnβt.
βYouβre Adreanaβs boy,β he remembered them telling him βwe take care of our own.β
Heβd known that his safety was conditional on his fatherβs cooperation with their demands, but he was able to forget about that. Enjoy the illusion that he was completely and totally safe with people that really did care about him.
Alex would rather have had that. There was a very childish part of him that would have rather played house with that Damoclesβ sword above his head than come home and faced the cold reality. A reality that wasnβt his fault, and a reality that he couldnβt really change no matter what he did.
So yeah, he did mean it. He did wish that heβd stayed in Levina.
For better or for worse.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Oct 13, 2021 16:42:05 GMT -5
The Lenore family had famously been private and secretive. Few could even speak of having seen the princesses and the queen, and public appearances were not common. Nor was it usual for them to interact with other kingdoms.
Even within the family, they were not always inclined to share things with one another. Lilith - or, as she was known, Briseis - was perhaps the least open of the sisters. She was the oldest, and she had a lot to shoulder. Her nature was quiet, stern and stoic anyway, and the weight of the expectations she placed on herself as future queen made her even less likely to share things with her sisters.
She had always looked up to her mother and the strength she held. She wanted to be like that one day, sheβd decided. And to do that she had to show the same strength. Mistakenly, however, from a young age sheβd told herself that strength involved distancing oneself and taking on burdens alone.
Sometimes sheβd surprise her sisters by sharing something, often out of the blue and only because it was something that was truly distressing her. She wouldnβt express that emotion in front of Maylea and Minke if she could help it, but they could know by the very fact that sheβd chosen to share something that it was affecting her deeply.
The feeling that she had to be more than she was, and that she wanted more than what she was supposed to be, had crushed her sometimes. Sheβd wanted more than to be queen. Sheβd wanted adventure. Sheβd wanted to fight and see the world from somewhere other than the walls of their home.
Sometimes sheβd wondered if all of this had so much consumed her that she hadnβt done enough with her sisters.
It was a source of great guilt for her. She was close with them, but sheβd never truly let them in. And it hurt her to think Maylea and Minke might have died without knowing how much they meant to her. How she wouldβve given her life for them - though there she stood, alive when they were gone.
She didnβt know how to live without everything sheβd ever known and everyone sheβd ever loved. That was why sheβd made a new identity for herself; she couldnβt bear her old name that she shared with them. If she could be someone else she could be someone whoβd never had to lose them.
Still, Lilith had never been able to let it go. That was why she still worked to one day return to her old kingdom, or whatever was left of it. She knew the dangers of returning but she was willing to die for it. She didnβt know if she was cut out to be a ruler, but sheβd take back the last place sheβd had her family at her side come hell or high water.
It was why sheβd had such rivalry with Elena right from the start. This woman who was a danger of coming between her and her plan to return home. A woman with a skill in dealing in secrets, secrets Lilith couldnβt afford to get out.
She loved her sisters and nothing, and no one, would stop her from avenging them.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Oct 26, 2021 17:38:01 GMT -5
JUST SOME BORED WRITING Callan hadnβt always been as comfortable with the role heβd been raised to play.
Of course, as a child it hadnβt meant much to him. Sure, his father had hammered rules into him and given him expectations and duty to carry with him just about as soon as he could walk and talk. But he hadnβt paid too much attention to it.
All heβd done was be a kid. Running around the palace with Tia and Carlo, whom he almost saw like younger siblings. Hiding from the palace staff, stealing food from the kitchens, generally getting into all kinds of childish trouble. And heβd been invincible because, well, he was with Tia and Carlo. The fact he wasnβt like them didnβt occur to him at first.
But as he got older, the training got harder. The duties became greater. The expectations higher and more onerous. The weight on him grew heavier and heavier until it was almost suffocating.
And he began to see more and more clearly how he wasnβt like Adrestia and Carlo. He didnβt resent them for it, it was simply a truth that became clearer to him. No matter how much Tia included him in everything, he knew everyone else in the palace was wondering when heβd grow up. Heβd go with Tia and Carlo for lessons on dancing that he knew heβd never really need, and theyβd spin one another around and laugh but it became clearer to him that he had his role and they had theirs, and they were a distraction to him as much as he was a distraction to them. How was Tia ever supposed to learn how to rule her country properly if she was spending her days doing childish nonsense with him?
He didnβt want it any more. Didnβt want the rules, didnβt want the expectations. The pressure was building and it was too much and he didnβt know what to do. All he knew was that he already couldnβt bear that weight, and he couldnβt just sit around for another tonne to drop on him.
That was how he and Tia ended up talking of escape. Theyβd sit and carve silly messages and pictures on wooden beams like they always had, while talking of the places theyβd go once they were far away from there.
But that had all come crashing down.
______
βYou are lucky the king didnβt have you imprisoned, or worse. You put the princessβs life in danger; people have been executed for less. Not to mention the utter shame you bring on our family. Weβve spent generations guarding the royals and protecting them with our lives, building our reputation as noble and loyal people. I didnβt think it possible to destroy such a legacy in a single night, but you certainly seem hellbent on trying.β Tybalt Verndari seethed
The man seemed to look expectantly at Callan, daring him to speak up for himself. The teenager, cheeks flushed with embarrassment and rage, did just that.
βMaybe I donβt want to be part of this family. Maybe I donβt want your stupid rules or your legacy.β Callan countered βThe princess felt the same, too. She left of her own volition.β
βShe is thirteen years old, Callan.β his father answered βtake some responsibility.β
βI donβt want any responsibility, I donβt want any duty, I donβt want-β
Callanβs father interrupted him, pointing behind him to the great throne on its dais.
βYou serve that throne!β Tybalt bellowed βnot your childish whims, nor the princessβs. This kingdom lives and dies by the protection of its rulers, and that lot falls to our family. You may not like the responsibility, but you have it regardless and it is not so easily shaken.β
The teenager didnβt respond to his fatherβs words, simply staring straight ahead of him at the wall while his father raged. Finally, the older Verndariβs expression smoothed into a neutral one, his tone dropping from a shout to a normal volume. But he looked at his son with some mixture of disappointment and disdain.
βI suggest you go back to your room and finish packing. You leave in the morning.β he said calmly as he turned to leave the room.
Those words drew Callanβs eyes from the wall to his father, his eyes widening as he reached to grab his fatherβs upper arm.
βFather, you canβt-β he started
βYouβll go for military service as planned. It is better you stay out of the sight of the king for a few months now, and away from the princess.β he warned as he pulled his arm from his sonβs grip, straightening as he cleared his throat βnow go.β
_____
He had been angry at Carlo, at first, for it was he who had spilled the secret about the escape plans out of fear for the safety of his sister. And of course, Callan understood it now that he was older. How had he proposed to be able to look after Tia? His friend had been young and naive, and he had been older and supposedly more responsible. Carlo did the right thing by his sister. By both her and Callan, really, in the end.
So Callan had indeed gone to finish packing, feeling more than ever that feeling that had been growing inside him, that feeling that he had to pull away from Tia to let her become the person she was meant to be. That feeling that maybe if he just conformed and tried to be what he was supposed to he, things would be easier.
That was why his last words to Tia before he left for the army had been so cruel.
_____
Tia stood before his bed, looking at the things heβd been packing away. She seemed in shock for a moment, her frame tense as if sheβd been slapped, but she abruptly whirled to face him.
βSo itβs true,β she began βyouβre really leaving?β
He sheepishly rose a hand to the back of his head as if ashamed of the fact, but he nodded.
βI am, maβam,β was his response
She narrowed her eyes then, almost suspicious in her expression.
βWhy are you acting so strangely?β Tia questioned βyouβve never called me βmaβamβ in private in your life.β
That was true. The two of them had grown up together, really. They were practically siblings in all but name and title, and the two of them were very informal when there werenβt any prying courtiers to criticise them.
βIβm simply learning my place,β Callan replied βtaking responsibility.β
βIs that what this is about?β Tia exploded, gesturing to the packed bags βWhy youβve suddenly changed?β
βI grew up!β Callan snapped, taking a step closer to the princess βI have my place, and you have yours. We were childish to think that it could be any different, and I put you in danger when we did that. So Iβm acting like a Verndari, like Iβm supposed to.β
He sighed, looking at the young girl in front of him. Her expression was already unspeakably hurt, but he couldnβt stop himself. His anger wasnβt at her, and he didnβt really believe his words. His anger was at his father, at Tiaβs father too. But what use was there in fighting it?
βMaybe itβs time you learned your own place, too.β
____
That had been it. At first, heβd hated his time in the army. But it gradually grew on him, and he began to feel more comfortable with what was expected of him. After all, heβd always want to protect Tia and Carlo and their parents, who had been family to him. Was it really so bad?
Upon his return to the palace during his first period of leave, things had been awkward with the prince and princess at first. But as soon as he stood guard at that first banquet and joked around with Tia like they always used to about the stuffy old courtiers, he knew everything was going to be okay.
He might not like everything about it, but it was his place. He loved Tia and Carlo like they were his own siblings, and they meant more to him than he could say. Heβd have fought for them even if it wasnβt his job.
He didnβt have to be like them, he never would be. They were a prince and a princess, after all. But that didnβt mean he couldnβt be close with them. It just meant things had to be a little different.
The distance and perspective his time with the army, travelling from place to place away from the palace, had helped him to know what it was what he truly wanted.
He didnβt care about being a Verndari, or a warrior, or anything else. But he did care about Tia and Carlo.
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Oct 31, 2021 2:55:29 GMT -5
Dante stared at his books, rolling his eyes when Alex told him to play nice but offering no other commentary. As the two 'best friends' spoke, he found himself wanting to sink deeper in his chair. Especially as Alex spoke about Telekine powers. Dante's semi-calm expression shifted to one of panic, his eyes flying to glare at Alex.
"Do you ever shut up?" He hissed out, looking around wildly, "you don't know who could be listening, do you want to get us all killed?"
Despite his own earlier comments about looking into magic resistance, Dante seemed to completely flip out at the mentioned of Telekines. Like even mentioning the name would get them killed on sight.
However, when Athena spoke about leaving, he slunk back slightly. His fingers tapping together a bit nervously, "Don't be stupid. Escaping now would get you both killed. You leaving would look too suspicious, no matter how much I'd love to get your criminal filth away from the palace."
Actually, given Athena leaving, Dante wasn't keen on having to deal with Alex either. He contemplated leaving as well, but ultimately remained in spot. He didn't relax at all until Athena was out of sight, but even then his eyes remained trained on the door she left out of, as if he expected her to return with a knife and steal all of his money.
"Why do you even trust her?" Dante questioned, not even moving to look at Alex. He kept staring at that door, intent and alert, ready for the worst.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Oct 31, 2021 5:31:06 GMT -5
When Athena spoke about leaving and began to head for the door, Dante wasn't the only one who seemed to get a little nervous. Alex rose abruptly to his feet, chair scraping as he did so. But his reasons for not wanting his friend to leave were very different to Dante's practical and sensible ones.
He needed as many people he could trust around him right now. He'd only just begun to share things with Dante, but he'd trusted Athena for a long time. He needed that right now, couldn't deal with all of this without that.
"Ignore him, Athena," Alex began "I do."
He shot Dante a withering glance with those words, a warning to shut up.
He needed Athena.
She needed answers about her sister. Sure, Athena could go and look for her on her own - Athena could do anything she wanted on her own, and had done so many times before. But she could make sure Minke was safe so much quicker if she stayed and got some answers first.
He wasn't happy with Dante referring to her as criminal filth, but he knew Athena had heard worse. Could dish out worse in return. His angry glance at Dante would hopefully be enough warning.
But Athena was gone, out of sight, and Alex sighed, collapsing back down into his chair. Why did Dante have to do this all the time? Why couldn't he and Athena just get along? Everything was hard enough for all three of them without this on top of it.
Then Dante was asking why he trusted her, and Alex shifted tired eyes to his friend, entirely deflated by the entire exchange that had just occurred and Athena's departure from the library.
"Because," Alex answered with a heavy breath "she's always been the only one who didn't see me the way everybody else did."
They understood one another. Didn't need to ask questions or pry.
"She looked out for me time and time again when she knew things were bad without me having to explain anything, and probably most importantly, never once has she blabbed anything to my father."
That last one was a barb at Dante, at the fact that before everything with Minke, Dante was always getting Alex into trouble. Seemed to take pleasure in it. Of course, the two of them were past that now, but Alex felt it right to remind Dante that he had no more reason to trust him than he did to trust Athena.
"I trust you both," Alex murmured quietly "but this is never going to work if the two of you can't get along."
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Oct 31, 2021 12:27:56 GMT -5
Dante kept his eyes trained on his book. In all honesty, he just wanted a nap. His eyebags had gotten worse as of recent, and he had been missing out on sleeping. In all honesty, he couldn't really remember the last time he slept for more than three hours. It hadn't been for a while.
He was doing fine though, for the most part. Except he had enough to worry about, and he didn't need a thug to be one of them.
When Athena left and it was just him and Alex, Dante scoffed at Alex's answers to his questions. What kind of reasoning was that? "You're a prince," Dante pointed out, a refute on his tongue already, "If you acted like one, you wouldn't have the reputation you do. You wouldn't have people looking down on you."
It took about two seconds for him to look away, feeling a little bad for the comment, "I mean, the people wouldn't care. Not your dad or anything, I know you can't really control that."
Why did he even care to amend the statement? Wasn't it true as it was? If Alex acted more princely, acted better, then sure, some people would dislike him for the war and for his ties to Levina but the people of the kingdom wouldn't care. They just wanted rulers who cared for them. They didn't exactly have any at this point.
With Alex's comment about blabbing to his father, Dante opened his mouth the argue, but clamped it shut quickly. Alex may have had a point, but why would Athena blabber anything at all. Dante's job was to look out for the best, Athena's job was to cause trouble and get whatever she wanted. Athena wouldn't benefit from reporting issues, so why would she care?
Why did she even care about all of this? Why hadn't she just run? Sure Alex would pay for that, but that wasn't her issue.
After Alex had said everything he wanted to say, Dante huffed out. "Listen, I know you've never actually lived outside of a castle all of your life, but out there? We don't get to befriend criminals. If we do we'll get a knife in the back or lose everything we've got. People like her? They ruin lives." The words were clipped, cold, but straight to the point.
"But you haven't had to worry about any of that, have you? Even as a disdained prince you can befriend as many thugs as you want and not have to worry about losing everything you've got because of it. But just because you won't have to lose a ton of your wealth doesn't save you from a knife in the back." He commented, "This is just a game to her. A tactic to get close enough to a royal to get whatever she pleases from you. They can pretend all they like that they are helpers and not frauds, but in the end, it ends up the same."
At this point, regardless of how true Athena may be, they were all going to die anyways.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Oct 31, 2021 12:58:22 GMT -5
Alex scoffed when Dante said Alex should act more princely. What did that mean? Behaving like his brother, his fatherβs golden boy? Sure, he could, but that wouldnβt be him. He did care about the people of his kingdom. He did try to make an effort, or at least he had tried once. And where had it ever gotten him?
βFor someone who didnβt even know I was a Factioneer until recently, you sure do act like you know everything about me.β Alex shot back in response
The last thing he wanted or needed were more expectations on him. A life forced on him that he didnβt want. He thought Dante might have understood a little more by now, but evidently he was wrong.
The princeβs anger only grew when Dante started talking more about Athena, about befriending a criminal.
βDonβt condescend to me,β Alex said lowly βyou havenβt the slightest idea. Do you really think I somehow have less to lose? I have everything to lose.
Dante had to be stupid to think a royal befriending a criminal wasnβt equally as dangerous, if not more so, than anybody else.
βYou donβt get to judge her. She hasnβt ruined my life; sometimes sheβs been the only thing keeping me goddamn sane. If she really wanted to betray us sheβs had plenty of opportunity already to throw us under the bus with my father in exchange for a reward. Do you really think that if she wanted to betray us and this kingdom sheβd be hanging around us? Do you not think sheβd be blackmailing my father? Or running to another kingdom with the knowledge that Iβm a Factioneer?β
He trusted Athena. He didnβt trust easily, but heβd seen something of a kindred spirit in her. He didnβt think he was being deceived. He knew he couldnβt trust Athena technically, but he also knew that they looked out for one another. They had ever since theyβd started being friends, and they loved one another like siblings. They meant too much to one another, or at least that was what he hoped.
A part of him was worried that Dante was right.
βIf you trusted me, youβd be able to trust her too, but you donβt. I get that, but I have to ask. If you donβt trust me, what the hell are you here for?β
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Oct 31, 2021 14:15:39 GMT -5
"There's more to you than your magic," Dante shot back, glaring at the words on the page he read, as they blurred together, "Like the fact that your a thorn in my side, among other things."
Alex acted like Dante knew nothing of him, like Dante had just built up something in his mind. Maybe the prince was right, maybe Dante didn't really know him that well, but Dante knew enough. Alex was a prince, but he was a conniving guy as well. He was smarter than he let on, and also simultaneously an idiot. He could be reckless but unbelievably careful. Alex was infuriating but also intriguing, like a question with an unknown answer.
"Do you really think she is that good of a criminal?" Dante scoffed when Alex brought up what Athena could be doing if she was against them, "She's not stupid. You don't make large enemies like an entire kingdom. No criminal is going to do that. There's reason gangs around here make a point to ally with royals dirty enough to deal with them. But even then, you shouldn't mess with criminals."
Dante knew that, regardless of his disdain for his own family, he learned an important lesson from them. Don't trust criminals. Don't trust thieves who would claim to help, because they were out for themselves. Athena wouldn't be any different.
At Alex's question, Dante fixed him with another look, like Alex was out of the blue on something. He scoffed though, words scathing as he slammed the book in front of him shut, pointing at Alex for emphasis, "Let's get something straight, I don't trust you. I don't trust your so-called friend, and I don't trust you," those words, at least about trusting Alex, tasted like lies, but he ignored that and plowed on, "I'm not here to help you because I trust you. I'm doing it because it will help her. I'm doing it because I refuse to sit by while she's hunted down like prey."
After saying that, he moved his hands back to his lap, looking towards the door to assure that it was still closed, and that it was just them. "I don't trust anyone here. I just want to keep everyone alive. I know it's so unfortunate to you that I'm taking into account the very nature of what your 'friend's' occupation is, but I'd rather do that then end up dead for her amusement and gain."
He glared once again at Alex, before sorting his books. He wasn't keen on this, and he got more done alone. People were a distraction, and Dante wasn't in the mood to deal with anymore than he had to. Still, he signaled his finality by opening a new book, flipping to the first page, and diligently reading.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Oct 31, 2021 14:40:21 GMT -5
Alex shook his head, letting out a frustrated exhale. Dante⦠he infuriated Alex sometimes. Most of the time. But why did he always feel drawn back to him? Why did that anger never manage to push them away from one another?
βIβm a criminal, Dante!β Alex shot back βMy very existence is illegal. Are you a hypocrite or is there a line between me and Athena?β
Where did Dante draw the line? Sure, they were different kinds of criminals, but Dante trusted neither of them so what was the difference really? If Dante wouldnβt put betrayal past Alex then there was no distinction between him and Athena.
βI know youβre trying to be cautious, trying to keep us all alive. I appreciate that. But we all want the same thing. Athena cares about her too, you canβt fake the reaction she had when we said her name.β
He didnβt think any actor could have done that. Athenaβs face, her tone of voice, when theyβd brought up Minke. This was someone Athena knew, probably cared about.
For once they were all on the same page. Or they could be, if Athena and Dante could put everything behind them for just a little bit.
βIf you care so much about her, Athena might have the answers we need. In fact, Iβm not even asking for trust, just civility. How are we ever going to get anywhere otherwise? If you put your judgement aside for just one second, the same judgement that you had for me, you might actually learn something about Athena.β
Alex knew far too much about judgement. Something Dante didnβt understand was that everybody had an opinion about Alex even before they met him, and often they were negative. Dante thought him just acting more βprincelyβ would fix everything, but he knew that alone wouldnβt change the minds of a kingdom.
How could they hope to succeed in protecting Minke, in outmanoeuvring Alexβs father and King Drake, if they couldnβt work together?
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Oct 31, 2021 15:51:45 GMT -5
Dante shrunk back, frowning deeply at the idea. "Yeah, but she chooses to be a criminal. You didn't get a choice in it."
Weren't they all criminals anyways? Dante wasn't any better, he was wrapped up in this. The very Kingdom that took him in, gave him a position, and here he was, betraying it for some criminal kid some king was after. He assumed Minke was just some hurt kid, but he could be wrong, right? All of this could just be Dante being fooled.
Alex's words continued, but Dante was too deep in thought to reply. He was exhausted and stressed, and the whole topic was throwing him off.
As he focused on his book, Alex's worked continued to drone on, and he snapped a glare at Alex. "I've already formed my opinion of her. It's not changing, not until she proves where her loyalty lies. And I already know who she cares about. So drop it, won't you?"
The words were clipped, rushed, as he returned his attention to his book. The ink seemed to smudge in his mind, and he couldn't seem to focus on the words. Not with the underlying annoyance and panic.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Oct 31, 2021 16:18:08 GMT -5
Alex shook his head once again when Dante said Athena has a choice in it. Because the two of them didnβt ask each other two many questions, he didnβt know exactly how Athena had gotten into her line of work. But something told him she hadnβt had a lot of choice in it either.
βThatβs an assumption.β he murmured
But there was no anger, no venom in it. He was just trying to point it out, guide Dante to seeing where he was jumping to conclusions.
But something changed in Dante suddenly. He seemed to panic, he seemed to shut off. Alex didnβt want that. He could feel it tugging at him, the feeling that he couldnβt let Dante just feel that way.
So he reached out, placing his hand for just a moment over Danteβs. He was immediately surprised by the warmth in it.
βHey,β Alex said, voice a little softer βitβs going to be alright, Dante. I know youβre scared. I am too. But itβs not going to get less scary. Thatβs why I need to know we can all work together.β
He needed to know they were all okay.
The last thing Alex needed was conflict amongst the people he was working with. Not on top of everything else. He needed it to be uncomplicated for just once. That was all he was asking for.
It was what they needed for Minke, most importantly. Because that was who this was really about. He could never let himself forget that
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Nov 1, 2021 0:22:09 GMT -5
Dante had buried himself in his book when the panic of it all settled in. The fact that he too was a criminal bothered him. He did everything he could to honestly earn everything he had, and now he was hiding things from the King.
What would happen if anyone found out?
He was pulled from that at Alex's hand being placed on his still laying on the table. Dante immediately shot his head up, glancing at Alex's hand for a moment, before glancing at Alex. Part of him wanted to twist his hand, see if Alex's would stay if Dante tried to hold it. Except that was insanely stupid and Dante was absolutely not going to do that.
Instead he watched Alex carefully, strangely, he felt even more terrified and calm at the same time.
"Fine," Dante said, words clipped, as he rolled his eyes, pulling his hands back and resting them clasped in front of him. He missed the warmth, but Dante was used to being cold as it was, and in that was comfort. "And I don't need comforting, I'm a grown man." He pointed out, raising his nose slightly, though he did seem to soften slightly, his gaze flickering to Alex for a moment, seeming to think on his words.
"But thanks, I guess. You suck at comforting people, by the way," The words were borderline teasing, "Telling people everything is going to get worse usually has a bad effect, but you get points for honesty."
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Nov 1, 2021 6:19:26 GMT -5
Alex was glad to see Dante soften, relieved that he seemed to have at least made the other man feel a little bit better. In fact, he seemed to have helped him feel better enough that Dante now felt able to tease him a little, which was as good a sign as any that the two of them were returning to their previous equilibrium.
Alex chuckled lightly, nudging the royal council member with his elbow.
"Shut up," he murmured in response to his friend's teasing.
He still felt bad about Athena, and of course he'd talk to her about it. After all, it would take effort from both of them to get along and Dante hadn't exactly been polite to her. Athena didn't take insults lightly.
Still, Alex was able to see that Dante's rudeness had come from a place of genuine concern and fear. He could sympathise with that, could understand that. If he couldn't he never would have been as forgiving of Dante's treatment of Athena.
Athena meant far too much to him for that.
As it was, the prince rolled his eyes, a smile lingering on his lips as he turned his attention back to his book.
"You're impossible." said the man softly.
But his gaze kept moving towards the door, through which Athena had just disappeared. He didn't feel right about just leaving her after all of that.
"Maybe I should go after Athena," he suggested "have a chat with her."
If he didn't, she might think he didn't care, which wasn't true at all. He didn't want her to be alone, angry and upset, when she was clearly already worried about Minke. Besides, on a more practical level he needed to make sure Athena and Dante were okay with one another; if they weren't, they could never hope to make any progress.
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Nov 1, 2021 15:30:40 GMT -5
Dante ound that he enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere that came from Alex's concern. Even the smile Alex had seemed genuine, unlike his usual chaotic smiles (when he even smiled), or his taunting smirk. It seemed like he was content, and that made Dante calm down a bit.
They didn't need anymore problems, and Alex was right about that.
"I don't think I'm impossible," He stated, fighting off his own smile, and instead ending up with a strange constipated look on his face, before it settled into his more stoic expression, "I'm an absolute delight to be around."
He was sure that would get a reaction out of the prince.
When Alex offered to go chase after Athena, Dante shrugged his shoulders. Of course Alex was going to chase after his real friend. Between the bickering and anxiety, Dante almost forgot who really mattered to Alex in this whole thing. His eyes trained towards the door, and he had a cold air of indifference to him, "Yeah," he agreed, "Just...watch your surroundings, okay?"
Dante let off a breath, glancing back at the door. Just one wrong person overhearing a conversation could spell out doom for all of them. As much as Dante disliked Athena, he'd have to deal with her until they secured Minke's safety.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Nov 1, 2021 17:10:50 GMT -5
Alex snorted when Dante referred to himself as an absolute delight.
βIf by βan absolute delightβ you mean βsoul-suckingly irritatingβ, Iβd have to agree,β Alex replied, but his light tone indicated good-natured teasing
Dante wasnβt all bad, Alex had learned that recently. Sure, the fact that Dante hadnβt told anyone Alexβs secret was the bare minimum, but it was still more than heβd expected from him if he were honest. And then the way Dante seemed to genuinely care about Minke? Had put his position and life at risk to help her? That was big.
When Dante spoke words of agreement that he go to see Athena, Alexiares rose to his feet. But the prince very quickly detected the change in Danteβs demeanour, the sudden bitterness or even resentment that seemed to lay over him.
Thatβs when Alex realised. Dante felt that Alex was abandoning him for Athena.
That was difficult. He didnβt want to leave either friend and there was no way to win here. If he didnβt go to check on Athena sheβd think he cared more about Dante, and if he did then Dante would think he was being abandoned for Athena.
Unlessβ¦
Alex raised an eyebrow, looking at his friend for a moment, before shrugging.
βYou couldβ¦come with me, if you want?β Alex suggested βMaybe the two of you could make up? At least for a little.β
He didnβt like the way his father had been acting recently. Alex recognised the pattern of his behaviour as of late; it was what he did when he was scheming something. Alex didnβt like that. It made his stomach churn, meant he couldnβt settle. The king was up to something, and Alex had a terrible feeling it was to do with more than just Minke.
All the more reason they couldnβt afford to waste time on petty arguments.
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Nov 1, 2021 17:47:07 GMT -5
Dante murmured something under his breath about being more of a delight than Alex, but it was soft and grumbled under his breath. Classical for their rivalry, where Dante just had to get the last word in (actually, usually Alex did, Dante wasn't as committed to being a nuisance).
When Alex offered for Dante to go, Dante shook his head. "I already spend too much time with you as it is," he replied, the comment was only half a joke. Dante really did spend too much time around Alex sometimes. Not that he disdained it as much as he let off, "Plus, I should keep studying. It'll seem weird if I'm around Athena too much. I'm not her attendant. Just because I'm an advisor to you doesn't extend to her," if Dante spent too much time around Athena, it would seem as if something else was going on. It wouldn't appear like Athena was just some sweet visiting girl, but instead it would appear like Dante was in cohorts with her or something. At least, that's how Dante justified it. He honestly didn't want to spend too much time around her either.
As nice as she was to Alex, Dante didn't know her well enough to trust being anywhere near her, especially when he didn't need to be.
"I have a meeting soon anyways," Dante pointed out, glancing at the windows, the sunlight reflecting in, "But you two talk things out. I will try to treat your friend with more kindness, so long as you accept that if she does anything..." he trailed, off pointedly looking at Alex, "I told you so."
Beckoning for the prince to leave, Dante started working on assorting his books to put away.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Nov 4, 2021 16:03:14 GMT -5
The prince rolled his eyes when his friend made that quiet comment about being less of a nuisance than Dante. Typical of him to always have to get the last word in. Alex really didnβt know how he tolerated him sometimes.
Danteβs justifications for not going with Alex made sense, though of course the royal council member had taken the opportunity to throw in a little insult to Alex. That was something else the two of them did with great frequency; throw in little barbs and insults where they were hard to respond to.
The manβs mouth twitched for a moment into a little smile when Dante said that if Athena did anything, heβd βtold him soβ.
βOh, Iβm sure youβd take immense satisfaction in telling me so yourself. Donβt deny yourself the opportunity.β Alex responded
With that, he headed towards the door, shooting one last backward glance at Dante, illuminated by the sunlight and focused on putting his books away. Alex had always kind of enjoyed the expression that came over Danteβs face when he was very focused. It was a little endearing, he supposed. Almost made up for the intense annoyance he was for the other 99% of the time.
The prince shut the door quietly behind him, trying to think where Athena could have gone. It was a nice day outside, and a lot of the corridor routes in the palace seemed to take one past the gardens, if not directly to them. After all, gardens were too pretty not to make a feature of.
It made sense Athena would have ended up out there, so Alex made a beeline for the nearest exit out to the gardens.
Eventually he breathed in heady flower-scented air, and felt the sudden golden warmth of sunlight spreading across his skin. The gardens had been a favourite of Alexβs as a child, heβd always loved to play out there, sometimes with Caspian. Sure, theyβd never been that close, but theyβd also been kids together.
But theyβd also been a favourite of his motherβs, so after his return from Levina he hadnβt much wanted to be out there. Of course, that was what he said. Avoidance of anything he associated with his mother might be a better way of putting it.
Besides, he hated how ordered the palace gardens were. Perfectly manicured, every petal in place. His mother had loved that. Sheβd always been like a natural force, something powerful to be reckoned with, but sheβd been ordered and precise. Everything in its place. Goals and plans. Not like her wild son.
Alex much preferred what he saw outside the palace gates. Wildflowers were much preferable to this engineered garden. Shady forests much more agreeable than the ornamental trees that had seemed so much bigger when he was young.
He followed the marked out pathways, but diverged from them a little to head to a favourite spot of his. It was a part of the gardens that felt slightly more natural; a little clearing heβd liked to sit in when he was younger and a huge oak tree, the biggest one in the gardens. Heβd always gotten in trouble for climbing too high in it as a child.
It was the least garden-like area, and certainly Alexβs favourite. He thought perhaps Athena might enjoy it too.
Surely enough, he was correct, spotting the figure of his friend. The prince approached, settling himself beside her. Alex sat in silence for a moment, deliberating on what to say or how to say it, before he began.
βIβm sorry about Dante,β he began (a promising start), βHeβs just anxious. Not to state the obvious, but heβs very highly strung. And set in his ways.β
There was no way to put it nicely that Dante had a tendency to make snap judgements about people and he had his prejudices. He was working on them, if the change in his attitude to magic after meeting Alex and Minke were anything to go by, but he hadnβt changed yet.
βHeβs worried about Minke,β Alex continued βI know we all are, and that isnβt an excuse, butβ¦β
He didnβt want to sound like he was making excuses for Danteβs behaviour towards Athena, but he thought maybe helping the two of them understand one another could be a step towards improving things for the two of them.
Either way, he sighed, trailing off, before looking at Athena properly, regarding her with concern. Concern he tried his best to hide, because he wasnβt sure how Athena would feel about concern or pity. He didnβt think sheβd be overly appreciative of either.
βAre you okay?β he asked
He knew she was big and tough and had handled a lot worse from a lot worse than Dante, and that hurting Athenaβs feelings wasnβt something that seemed to be possible with any level of ease, but how often did she get asked questions like that?
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