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Post by πππππ π¨ on Mar 7, 2024 14:40:57 GMT -5
Dante was terrified the King was there, but the King would never know him well enough nor care enough to see that hidden emotion in his eyes. He gave Alex a relieved smile when he affirmed his alibi, also giving his respect to the King, bowing deeper than the Prince had, as he was of a much lower status.
Chadwick seemed annoyed as Alex continued to come to the advisor's defense, his gaze suddenly locking on his son rather than the advisor. "You seem to be tolerating his presence, for once," He said, skeptically, to his son. His gaze then narrowed, "Is there something more I should know about, Alexiares?" He had a cruel look on his face, looking between the Prince and the advisor, before settling on Alex with a look that dared his son to speak. He knew the boy would know exactly what he was referencing, that whole little spat about being gay.
Dante himself was confused by that, angling a confused look at Alex, because what was that about?
"You're son speaks the truth, sire, we were simply waiting for Lady Athena and the Queen to get ba-"
"Silence, Thorsten," The King spoke, and the advisor flinched back by the sudden ire. The King had never snapped at him in such a way. Sometimes he was commanding and bossy and downright rude, but it was usually like his comments before, and that how he treated most of his staff. This direct anger was unusual. Dante's mouth closed, dipping his head in silence and to show his remorse to the King for speaking out of turn. The King huffed, "I was not speaking to you, Dante. Do well not to speak out of turn."
Dante nodded, voice soft, wavering slightly, "Yes, your majesty. My apologies."
The King then glared back at his son, raising an eyebrow expectantly to get an answer from the boy. He ignored Athena as she approached, too engrossed in his trying to figure out what his son was playing at.
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Mar 7, 2024 18:00:58 GMT -5
Alex was affronted by his fatherβs suggestion that there was something going on between him and Dante. He didnβt know exactly what he felt about the man, because with everything else going on he didnβt have the emotional or mental capacity to try and sort through those feelings. That and he was slightly afraid of what he might find. But whatever he might be feeling, he and Dante were not a thing. Dante had always hated him, and that was only just beginning to change into a tentative friendship. He felt certain that Dante had no feelings for him even if he was also gay. All in all, there were a million reasons his fatger was wrong.
But he said nothing, for now. Sometimes with his father it was better not to dignify his accusations with any acknowledgment. Itβd only validate the concern if he did.
No, it was the way his father spoke to Dante that made him speak. The king had never treated Dante like that, at least not in front of Alex. The prince didnβt appreciate the way he seemed to be punishing the advisor just because he was angry with Alex.
βFather.β Alex put in meaningfully. A warning that he was making a scene, a warning that Alex was angry about the way the kind was talking to Dante.
But then Chadwick continued to press Alex about Dante, at which the prince finally could no longer hold back. He was getting annoyed now, the way his father was speaking both to him and Dante. Heβd been awfully tolerant of a lot of his fatherβs treatment of him but this was one of those times he was reaching his limit.
βIf you didnβt know what you know about me and Dante were a woman, would you be asking the same question?β Alex asked sharply in return, though he kept his voice low enough not to broadcast their conversation to the crowd. He didnβt care what Dante knew about him at this point. Nothing was worth hiding anymore. βNo, father. Thereβs nothing to know. Iβm sorry the fact that I do not hate him makes you so uncomfortable butβ¦ I am committing my entire life to a marriage I donβt want for you. I donβt know what more I can do.β
What more was he meant to do to convince him? How much more could he be trying to be the good obedient son, not make too many waves?
It was at this point that Athena had the unfortunate luck to join the conversation. She was doing her best to dutifully play the fiancΓ©e, so Alex returned her warm smile, though with how angry he was with his father it was difficult to break that spell of tension. He had to put effort into relaxing in her presence, despite the fact that she was his best friend.
βI am so glad you enjoyed her company,β Alex replied, βI thought you might.β And that was said totally genuinely because he was glad they got along. More that got along, from what he saw. That was good. Beyond how nice it was to see them both light up talking to someone like that, it meant Athena would have an ally after she got out of here.
He looked to his father then, leaning a little closer to Athena as if to make his point. That he wanted this argument to be over.
βHave your concerns been adequately addressed, father?β
Please, for the love of everything, let it go.
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Mar 7, 2024 19:20:07 GMT -5
The King glared at his son when he gave his warning tone. He ignored the woman pressed now to his side and instead gave his own warning tone, "Alexiares."
The question Alex asked about if Dante was a women confused the advisor and set the King off. He couldn't make any moves at his son, but his eyes held a threat to them. He continued speaking, and the King glared, before harshly pointing at the advisor, causing the poor boy the flinch back a little, eyes wide and confused. "He is not a woman," The King ground out, before looking at Athena, " She is. I will hear no more about this insolence." Dante himself felt his mouth gape open slightly, shocked by what that was insinuating. Was... was Alex gay? Like him? Was that what the King had presumed? That Alex and Dante getting along meant they were secretly in some affair? Alex was okay with that thought?
He'd expect the Prince to be disgusted by the very idea, and he felt himself fluster slightly at the insinuation that Alex wasn't. He froze as King Drake approached, however, paling slightly, and offering nothing else to the conversation. Almost as if shrinking away from it entirely. The King himself calmed, throwing a smile at his friend from the other Kingdom, his cold demeanor thawing to a more warm one. A fake one. As the other asked him about his anger, he just chuckled warmly, "You know how I get with my sons," he commented, reaching out and 'fondly' rubbing at Alex's shoulder, though his hand clenched over the shoulder a bit, a warning, "Alexiares here, he's always been quite the trouble maker." He let go and chuckled as King Drake made up an excuse for him, and looked at the trio before them. However, something was quite odd. Dante had went from being slightly spooked by Chadwick's earlier actions to going full blown pale as Drake approached. He narrowed his eyes the boy suspiciously. Dante paled further at that, eyes wavering between Alex, Athena, and the Kings. His frozen limbs still lowered into a polite bow, and he had schooled his expressions rather quickly, politely nodding to the new King. He didn't chance speaking out of turn again. "You've met my son's bride-to-be, have you not?" The King asked, looking back at the other King, gaze back to polite and charming. |
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Post by Ζ€Ξ±ΖΖΞ±Ρ β§ on Mar 7, 2024 20:05:30 GMT -5
Alex was anchored by Athena squeezing his hand, the small act of comfort she was able to offer him in that moment. He took a deep breath, giving her hand a small squeeze in return. A thank you.
He was fairly used to his fatherβs anger, but Dante wasnβt and the poor man was catatonic as the king raged. Alex gave him a concerned look, but given the exact topic of the current conversation he thought it better not to try and comfort Dante in any obvious way. It would only fan the flames and would probably confirm his fatherβs speculations in his eyes.
The prince only grew more angry at his fatherβs behaviour, but was saved from the very bad decision that would be retaliating by the arrival of King Drake. Alex bowed briefly in greeting, laughed along with Drakeβs joke, did all the right things.
He felt his fatherβs touch on his shoulder, the grip that was a warning. Alex was careful not to react to it, and smiled politely at the excuse Drake offered.
βYou need not apologise, Your Majesty. My father is right as always, I am rather a troublemaker.β Alexiares said, and he honestly wasnβt sure how he got the words about him being a troublemaker out in the civil and lighthearted way he did. He was the first to admit he was no rule follower, certainly no saint. But this trouble was far from of his making. βThough I suppose I will have to make less trouble now.β he joked, looking at Athena. Playing along with the whole thing still, for appearances. He was so sick of appearances.
The worst thing was that because of this, heβd had to essentially concede the argument to his father. Take all the blame for the kingβs ire just to end the argument and keep appearances up that their family was not a nightmare.
Chadwick asked if Drake had met Athena, and the prince knew he had but elected to let Drake speak for himself there and try his best to fade into the background of the conversation now. Let the kings talk.
He gave Athenaβs hand another squeeze, reassuring her and thanking her for the reassurance she herself had given, and gave Dante another quietly concerned look. He needed to pull it back together, and quickly, but Alex couldnβt check on him overtly without drawing the wrong attention from his father.
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Demisexual
Leo
Surviving off Thai tea and Miguel O'hara
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Post by Leo on Mar 7, 2024 21:51:31 GMT -5
Drake gave Alex a knowing look and smiled. "We were trouble makers once. Your father, my brother, and I used to get into trouble all the time when we were your age. You are perfectly fine," he insisted in a hushed tone and gave the boy a wink.
He then turned his eyes toward Athena and gave her a big smile. Athen a returned the smile, forcing it to look genuine and once again bowed her head to the King. There was that familiar feeling in her gut from when they had met earlier. Something she couldn't quite identify.
"I have had the pleasure," Drake confirmed and nodded to her. He pressed his free hand from his chest and clapped his fellow King on the shoulder. "Lady Frost I'm sure you've turned away my friend for good reasons but I hope you still have room in your heart to entertain this old king to a dance," He teased lightheartedly. She didn't have to agree to do anything, he was not going to keep insisting because he wanted to, only because he wanted to lighten the mood for the time being.
This was a celebration! There was no need for the drama of everything at this time. That was for later.
Athena looked away with a chuckle and leaned her head against Alex's shoulder. She was remembering what Aurore had said to her about who to avoid. He seemed so charming. But, she trusted the Queen's judgement for the moment.
"I would love to, Your Majesty, however I've not had the chance to even dance with my FiancΓ©e yet. I would have to dance with him first," She insisted softly. It wouldn't be proper to dance with another man before her own husband-to-be.
King Drake nodded in approval and smiled warmly at her. "Very well, Lady Frost," he conceded and addressed the couple. "Take your time you two. And enjoy yourselves. Come along, Chadwick. Let's leave the children be," Drake cooed, guiding his friend away from them. But not before glancing at Dante with a warning look and then continuing on their way.
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Post by πππππ π¨ on Mar 8, 2024 12:38:22 GMT -5
Dante's eyes, frantic, though his face was set in a line, calmed as Alex looked at him. Right, right, no one knew. No one could. He'd been too careful.
Schooling his features back into a polite and poised apathetic look, befitting to what the advisor used to wear. It was as if the King was addressing the more important ones in the group, the Lady and her groom to be, rather than a lowly advisor. Good. If anyone would suspect Dante, it would be that man. He still remembered the man's threatening voice, ordering him to be careful of what he asked. Chadwick himself seemed to be in better spirits, especially with Alex once again playing along with his marriage. At least the Prince was good for something. He chuckled in all the right areas, playing up charm once more, and smiled at Lady Athena. "My apologies for my earlier actions, Lady Athena, I'm sure you can understand." The words themselves carried an undertone of darkness to them, but not much. He wasn't as charismatic as Drake, after all. As Drake went to pull him away, he turned easily, but stopped just before leaving, glancing back. "Thorsten," he began, words silky and smooth, and the advisor looked up at him. Since the other King had given him that warning glance, he'd been rooted to his spot, poised and quiet, but he stared at the King beckoning his attention regardless, "Leave the groom and his bride alone, will you? My son has his lovely bride to watch him, after all! He has no need for a pesky little advisor, as he used to say," he said the words teasingly, as if fondly calling back to how Alex used to view Dante as a pest, "Go mingle among your fellow advisors. You can even tell them the good news! You won't have to get stuck attending to my little rascal of a son anymore!"
The words were said in a fond tone, but they both knew it was anything but. He laughed as he said it, before exiting with the other King, turning his back to the group. Glancing at Athena and Alex, Dante opened his mouth, glanced back at the retreating Kings, eyes lingering on Drake in a mix of anger and fear, before glancing back at his friends. He closed his mouth, looked at the ground, and dipped his head in respect before walking past the couple to meet with the other Advisors (the ones with no specific task for the night). |
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