Realistic or Modern Pitter-Patter | Private

[catatonic]

Leana had been pleased when Marjorie finally arrived with her belongings, crossing the room eagerly to shuffle through them for her sleep gown which was nothing more than a pink lace shirt and panties to match. She waited patiently for the bath to be drawn and when it was, she gladly entered the bathroom and stripped her clothes, not caring that Marjorie saw the tattoos across her back and collarbones as she did. Tattooing was common place for the royals of the Storm Providence, often of the stars and animals they associated with, and of the wildlife they adored. There was a nest of white vipers across her shoulders, a bouquet of roses and fire lilies underneath it, a constellation of the stars of her birth night on the left collarbone and a white viper wrapped around her right collarbone.

When she was done with her bath, she dressed in her sleep clothes and had Marjorie brush out her now curly pink hair as it was freshly cleaned. The curls would remain in waves in the coming morning. When her hair was done, she ordered Marjorie to return in the morning to help pick out a dress and braid her hair back. Finally alone in her room after she dismissed the servant woman for the night, she settled at the table for another glass of wine and some light reading before she settled down for her first night in the foreign land.

-----------

She had been aroused from her sleep when the dream of her and Arlo coming together had filtered through her brain, fists in the sheets of her bed as she stared at the canopy above her in disgust. As she she'd let him bed her so soon, even if it was expected of her. She also didn't think he was too keen on the idea of it himself. She raised her hand to her face, watched as a small blue flame sparked in her palm, smiling to herself as she felt herself calm down at the sight of it. She didn't care what the opinion of the popes of their churches thought of her, she was no witch. She didn't dabble in magic like they did, but she was an elemental, and a powerful one at that. She knew one day Arlo would want to see her powers in action, he'd be a fool not to, but for now she would keep it a secret for as long as she could.

When Marjorie returned sometime after the sun rose in the sky, Leana had two dresses to choose from. A light blue one with purple roses on the skirts and a red one that was rather form fitting with a loose skirt she could dance easily in. "I was thinking the blue one." She had a soft spot for roses, and often embroidered them into her dresses when she had the time. When Marjorie seemed to agree, she stripped her clothes and had her help her dress, standing with her back to her as she tied the laces of the dress. Next, she had her braid her hair in a braid that started at the top of her head and weaved her hair into each one of the three locks until it was one complete braid down the middle of her head. Leana was pleased with how well Marjorie did, told her so softly, and followed her to the dinning hall for breakfast.

------------

Leana entered the hall with as much grace as someone in her position could hold, which was far more than she thought she could have had. She held her head high as she crossed the room to take her seat beside the head of the table, unaware that Arlo was already there and waiting until she had passed his chair. "My betrothed." She greeted in a soft voice as she sat down, smoothing the skirt of her dress as she did. She looked at the array of food in front of her, hesitating in wanting to grab some of the meats and bread she could see, unsure if she could eat before he did. She turned her pink gaze away from the food and onto himself, taking in his appearance, noticing the bandages on his hands and the drippings of water in his hair still. "You look handsome this morning, my King." She said gently, trying to ignore the pain in her chest when she called him her King. He was now, or would be once they married, so she figured she should get used to calling him it.

Her fingers fiddled with one another under the table, her hand reaching to touch the ruby necklace she wore as a nod to him. Marjorie had thought the pendant would serve her good luck as it matched the boy king's crimson eyes and Leana didn't have the heart to argue with her. The dress showed pieces of her collarbone tattoos as she turned in her seat to face Arlo. "I wanted to apologize for my behavior yesterday," She started in somewhat of a tight voice. "I hadn't meant any insult towards you, I am just not used to someone so young being King. In my homeland, the new King isn't crowned until his sixteenth name day, regardless the situation." She hoped explaining herself would help ease some of the tension, she was at least glad that he didn't seem to be in as a foul mood as he had been the previous day.

 

[LONELYRAIN]

Footsteps, he could hear footsteps. Arlo visibly tensed in response, ruby eyes stirring within his sockets as the reddened whites had flashed in suspicion to whoever was approaching... only for the suspicion to ebb as Leana had stepped into his view once more. Apathy was quick to flow over his features as he took in her appearance, the blue dress contrasting against her odd hair coloration, and her greeting was soft, making his skin crawl immediately in response. Play nice. Play nice. He reminded himself as he didn't seem to be reacting to the initial greeting, only slightly inclining his head to her as to acknowledge her presence, crimson eyes settling once more upon the grandiose display of food that had been placed for both of their eyes to feast upon in the all too empty chairs that lined the table.

"Hm." A subdued response to her compliment, which made crimson eyes turn to look at her again. It was forced, that much was obvious, it certainly didn't make him feel any better, more so making his expression fall further into apathy as a sigh left his lips. "There's no need for that." No need for false compliments or pretty words, Arlo knew she didn't mean a damned thing, attempting to say anything pleasant or nice to him. Perhaps, the boy was more used to negative reactions? But then again, considering what Victor had divulged to Leana during the night, Arlo was indeed more accustomed to screaming or shouting. Compliments were methods to hide true meaning, and knives were always hidden behind kind gestures.

A bandaged hand had waved absent-mindedly toward the platters of food that had been displayed before them, "Eat." It was suspicious indeed that he didn't have a plate before him, rather Arlo had forced a servant to take it from him. The boy didn't feel hungry that morning, instead his anger fuel tirade during the night had both robbed him of his appetite and his rest, not that he could sleep easily otherwise. Eyelids drooped as he looked to the food again, the different rich smells making his stomach twist in discomfort... he definitely wasn't hungry.

Then came the apology. At first the king wanted to snear at it, at the absurdity of it all. Had Victor put her up to this? Or was it the church finally rearing their heads again? Was this a ploy? No.. it couldn't be. She seemed like she was being honest enough, which in turn made Arlo suppress the annoyance that flooded within his chest as crimson eyes took in her appearance again, a coldness to the rubies that stared at the necklace: no doubt someone had put her up to wearing such a thing, and then the curious sight of tattoos underneath the fabric of her dress. This in turn made the displeased emotions fade, and in turn had settled into amusement. Ah yes, she certainly was a perfect blade to stab at the church with. Try to force him to submit, to back him into a corner? Haha... ah, they knew not how far his spitefulness could go.

But, as Leana's words had ceased, it was now up to Arlo to respond in turn. The boy looked aside, suppressing the urge to vomit at the practiced words Victor had forced him and begged him to repeat. "..I apologize as well; my reaction was... uncalled for." The words dropped like cold stones from the boy's lips, the delivery all too awkward and robotic, the slightest wrinkling of his eyebrows into a furrow being enough to show how uncomfortable this situation was for him... he had enough.

"Tell me of your homeland." Blunt, to the point, but Victor had tried to make it stick in Arlo's head to show at least some interest in his wife to be. Try to make her feel at ease, remember pleasant things and most of all: play nice and be a gracious host.

 

[catatonic]

When he hummed and sighed, Leana found herself from. "I meant it." She heard herself say in response, feeling offended that he thought her to be lying when she had said she thought him to be handsome. He was in his boyish looks, and she would be a fool to not think that he'd grow even more handsome as he aged and matured. Unfortunately after her talks with Victor, she knew well that compliments weren't something he had to be used to. She figured in that moment that she could at least give in one or two in the coming days, to try and ease any tension between them. She still had no intentions of letting him in her bed any time soon, that much she was sure of.

When he said to eat, she seemed to hesitate for a moment before she helped herself to some of the sausages and bread with honey smeared on top of it. She munched thoughtfully on the bread as she filled her plate with some bacon as well, obviously not shy in showing she had a healthy appetite. She hadn't eaten too much the night before and hunger gnawed at her stomach. She finished the bread as she watched him as he sneered at her apology, frowning to herself as she swallowed her food. "Do you think my words as a jest?" She questioned a little sharply, wincing at her own tone. Be nice, he knows nothing else. She thought to herself, frowning all the more.

She listened to his own apology, finding it awkward and robotic to say the least. She sighed through her nose as she wiped her lips, sipping at the wine they had proved for the early morning. It wasn't as sweet as the wine she had in her room, but it would suffice in calming her nerves. When he told her to tell him of her homeland, she seemed to stiffen a little as she eyed him curiously behind her glass of wine. She took another sip before setting it down, licking her lips as she looked over his dark clothes in a moment of silence to imagine him without them on. It made her skin crawl to imagine, so she pushed the thoughts away and to her homeland. "Where to begin?" She hummed, breaking the silence as she turned her gaze onto her plate, cutting and eating a piece of the sausage and bacon.

"The castle is grand, though not as grand as yours." She remarked. "The front yard is lined with white roses and the people are kind and gentle," She hummed, trying to stay away from mentioning the fact that all of the royal family could control the elements. She thought to herself for a moment longer, eyebrows furrowed as she did. "There's a beautiful garden in the castle full of all sorts of plants and I used to have a nest of vipers living there as my pets." She chuckled, her hand touching the viper on her collarbone. "The whole of the royal family gets tattoos come their fifteen birthday, and after the first can choose to get more or remain with just the one." She continued, explaining a little as to why he could see tattoos on her. "I have five, and if I'm permitted I'd like to continue the tradition by getting more." She glanced at him as she spoke, wondering what he would think of her getting fresh ink on her skin. She wasn't even sure tattoos were something people got in this kingdom, and it did sadden her a little to think they didn't. "The Storm Providence is a small island, but we have beautiful beaches and forests teeming with flora and fauna. I'd love if we could visit one day." She said the last sentence a little softly, as if she were somewhat afraid he wouldn't want to her to leave the castle once they were married.

 

[LONELYRAIN]

A raised eyebrow was the response she was given as she had questioned rather sharply his reaction to her compliment. So, she was genuine with the compliment then? Why? What was the motive? What did she want? That made the eyebrow lower as he dismissively looked aside, expression settling on a tiredness that seeped within him. Maybe he really shouldn't have tired himself out so much... wasn't there still paperwork he had to attend to? Something about the church... something else about some other kingdom that wanted to import in some...thing? He couldn't remember; could he? The thoughts drifted from one to the next as he could almost imagine being in his office again, surrounded by paperwork piled all too high around him and the comfort of a pen in his hands.

Ah, that's right he should be focused on what she was saying. The king's eyes slid back to the woman again as she had begun to explain her homeland to him, as if the words could strike anything deep within the boy's icy heart. He didn't understand the different expressions that flickered across her face, nor the gentleness of her voice as she spoke fondly of describing the people or their traditions. To him, it certainly did fit the description of the tiny island nation tucked far away with practices described as "savage" or "barbaric" by the church that served as Yore's secret backbone for centuries. A hand had come up to cup his cheek as the arm it was connected to had been propped up on the armrest of his seat. There was no interest in the glossy eyes of the boy, no stirring in his chest to look at her homeland.

Flowers were just flowers. Animals were just animals. Why would such things even be interesting to him? No, instead the whole world was dull and uninteresting, filled with just as uninteresting and disgusting people. Had he even believed her when she had said the people were kind? No, he did not. There was not a single kind person in this world, for it was all fake. But, he had to "play nice", had to "be good". But one sentence did slip from his lips, "I don't understand." Empty were the words, but genuine enough in their confusion. Arlo didn't get it. Couldn't understand this fascination or fixation with the world around him. Sure, he had conquered and crushed as many kingdoms underneath his heel, but not once had he admired the territories he had acquired, not once had it been interesting to him. Everything was dull.

It seemed though that the boy king hadn't realized such words left his lips as he looked aside from her to the rather healthy helping of food upon her plate, "Do as you wish, it doesn't matter to me." Whether she wanted to visit her homeland or continue whatever traditions she desired, it wasn't his place to stop her from doing so. In fact, the more she did, the more agitated his enemies would become, and then that would serve to make everything so much more interesting for himself. Make them rear their ugly heads, to play their cards so that he could crush them until they never returned to haunt him again. Now that, that was a thought that made his heart feel something.

"..Though in regards to tattoos, I don't think there's anywhere in Yore that does such things. You'd be better off visiting your homeland to continue adding whatever you'd like." More uninterested words, but it at least showed he had no true intentions of keeping her a prisoner within the castle, but that didn't mean such a thing couldn't change. Arlo was very unpredictable after all.

 

[catatonic]

Leana watched him as she spoke, and when he said he didn't understand she raised an eyebrow at him. It came as a shock to hear he didn't understand something, and she wanted to know what it was. "What don't you understand?" She asked softly, wanting to clear the air and explain what confused him.

She hadn't expected him to show any interest in her homeland as she explained it to him, nor did she think he ever would, but she had been pleased when he said she could visit her homeland. She would definitely make use of his words, already thinking of having Victor schedule herself a trip back once they were married so she could get a fresh tattoo. As much as she would not to, she was thinking on a set of rubies to acknowledge Arlo has her husband, as it was tradition to get a tattoo for one's spouse once a royal had married.

When he said there was nowhere in Yore to get tattoos, she sighed, nodding her head as she had figured that much. She could see to traveling to her homeland every so often for fresh ink and to visit her family. She missed them dearly now that she was away from them, as she was the eldest and watched her little siblings grow each day and learn of their powers. "Thank you." She said softly in response to him letting her go to her homeland for more tattoos, having originally thought that he wouldn't have allowed her to. "Tell me a little about your Kingdom. I read a few things in books before I came here, but not much." She turned her pink gaze back on him from her plate of half eaten food, deciding to give him her full attention as she spoke.

 

[LONELYRAIN]

Arlo looked aside when when had in turn questioned him on his slip of the tongue. He didn't realize he'd actually spoken the words out loud... that was uncomfortable. "Hmph." A response that was dismissive and prickly, though perhaps a bit embarrassed if it could be categorized as such. "Forget it." It certainly seemed like he wasn't going to be too forthcoming in regards to his bewilderment or questions. There was nothing that she had said that served for his confusion, but the warmth that she had spoken when regarding her home had indeed confused him. It was a sentiment he saw often in other people if by chance they spoke of their home, their family, their people... he didn't get it.

Her gratitude he found unnecessary immediately, causing him to shift a bit in his seat as if uncomfortable. "...Right.." Distant and seemingly uncertain was the voice that responded back to her, his eyes persistent in looking away from Leana. Her gaze made him uncomfortable, or rather the gentleness she was now displaying felt more so uncomfortable. He was sooner expecting that she'd be still enraged or demanding an apology from him, which in turn he would respond as he always would do...

Be chaotic and as vengeful as he was accustomed to being, especially to save his own hide.

When she had questioned him about his kingdom, that made Arlo shrug as he spoke, "There's not much I can tell you. I don't leave the castle anymore." The disinterest in his eyes as he spoke the sentence was baffling as crimson eyes stared icily at the woman, "Considering the amount of countries that has been annexed in under our flag, there's more than enough places for you to explore. That's all. There's nothing interesting here." At least, nothing interesting to him. Truly, a king that practically conquered nearly the entire world but hadn't even spent on second enjoying the world he conquered.

Instead he decided staying in his castle after he was done with his conquests for now was a better option... if only to constantly be a thorn in the side of those who were actively trying to take his throne from him. Nonetheless, Arlo didn't seem like he enjoyed much if anything, instead the tired gaze that remained as icy as ever didn't belong to that of a child at all, but a paranoid and exhausted soul. "..Hm. if you do decide to look around for yourself, tell Victor and he'll send guards with you." Her safety... right, she wasn't safe here, and he didn't forget that important fact. But the absence of him telling her that he would accompany her was obvious, he had no intentions of leaving the castle, his one barricade against the world around him.

 

[catatonic]

When he told her to forget it, she sighed to herself, looking at him curiously as she did. Leana was a little taken aback when he continued to speak, tilting her head curiously at him as he did. "I suppose I could travel the Kingdom. Learn what I'm supposed to help rule over." She mused as she thought it over, knowing it would be a good idea.

She returned her attention back to her food, finishing the plate in silence before she pushed the plate away from her when she was done. She wiped her lips and downed her first glass of wine, pouring herself another that she sipped for a moment as she thought to herself. "Well," She started as she licked her lips, setting the cup down in front of her. "May I be allowed some blank books to write and draw in?" She asked him, turning her pink gaze on him as she did. She didn't really know what else to ask or say to him, for she could tell he was uncomfortable.

She looked around the room, finding it empty aside from themselves, sighing to herself as she did. Would there ever be a time this hall would be filled? The brief idea that it'd be full of their children made her heart happy and disgust run through her. She did not want to birth his children, for she didn't want a child to have a demon as a father, but she knew she would have to one day. Her fingers brushed her stomach for a moment before she looked back at Arlo, taking in his tired features. "I assume there's a garden here?" She hummed. "Would you do me the honor of taking me to them?" She didn't care if he did or not, but she wasn't exactly to sure she wanted to stay in his presence for much longer as she was indulging in the drink and was afraid her tongue would become too loose.

 

[LONELYRAIN]

Her comments in regards to traveling the kingdom had only received a shrug from the boy again, "Do as you will. Just try not to get yourself into trouble." Considering she was indeed a foreigner to his lands, lands that held its fair share of threats in their own right and headaches that he had yet to deal with; it certainly would be best if he did make sure there were some guards he could trust enough with protecting her if she happened to leave the castle to explore. A bit of an annoyance that he would have to go out of his way to do so, but she sure as hell wasn't useful to him dead. It wasn't as if he would be allowing her to take much of his burden in regards to foreign affairs either, though it was more of him not really seeing her much more than a means to an end rather than a person that could be of any actual assistance.

The tired eyes of the boy had trailed off to look at the empty table, his stomach beginning to twist a bit in the beginnings of faint pang of hunger, one that he would be all too swift to ignore. Long lashes came down to conceal rubies from sight as the sound of Leana eating had echoed within the silence, only for it to be followed up by the tinkling of glass and the pouring of... another glass of wine? Tired eyes would open again, sliding over to her yet again, though his expression certainly could not be read. In truth, he was a bit amused if not all the same feeling very much unpleasant, if only due to the fact he's had interactions prior when he had just begun his reign only for whichever noble he had the misfortune of having to entertain in the balls that used to be thrown would be all too ready to tip wine down nervous throats to speak to him, or perhaps even seem friendly.

It wasn't seen in a kind light behind crimson eyes that held nothing obvious, but he would not speak on it, making sure he remained tight lipped in regards to any spark of displeasure that may ignite. No need to have Victor begging and pleading again, that already was far more annoying than he could bear. Her question had finally caused the man to sigh, his gaze turning to the table before him, "There's no need to ask. As long as you don't cause any trouble for me, I don't care." Blunt again, but Arlo truly didn't mind if she wanted such things, "I'll inform Victor to handle that later."

More silence followed, aided on by the less than friendly and not quite hostile air of Arlo, her request made the king shift from his spot, a bit too eager to move about considering he was quite exhausted and didn't need to fall asleep upon his chair. He knew not why she wanted to see something as insignificant as the gardens, but he would not protest... even if he'd not stepped foot in any open areas like the garden for quite a long time.

...​

It wouldn't take too long to reach the gardens, even with the long hallways and twist and turns, the outside air felt scathing against the king's skin and the brightness of a sun that seemed far too bright compared to how it usually was in the safety of the interior of the castle had burned his eyes. Yet, the garden itself was lovely and had continued to be taken care of despite Arlo having little to no interest in visiting the peaceful location.

There were a myriad of flowers from not only the capital where they were, but from other nations as well that Arlo had conquered. Colors of every hue was displayed from soft petals that swayed in the warm breeze that flowed by. A lovely fountain was nearby as well, in the center of all the lovely flowers and little tables that had been set up for guests that sadly went unused for many years as it seemed, but the fountain itself seemed... odd. The statue that served as the center had any distinguishing features removed, though obviously a woman, the face of whoever it may have been at one point had long since been destroyed and removed. And yet, the sight made Arlo's expression become colder as he looked aside immediately.

Ah... that was why he avoided coming here. He had completely forgotten.

"..Why did you want to come here?" Another empty question, that truly didn't make much sense either. Why wouldn't she? This castle was to be her home so of course she would want to explore it. But, he didn't retract his question, holding his tongue and trying to remain as composed as possible.

 

[catatonic]

"I'll remain peaceful," Leana promised him softly, knowing better than to try and cause any sort of trouble. After Victor's warning, she knew the churches would be looking for any sort of reason to strike her down. She wasn't about to give them any. She sipped her wine as she thought to herself, pleased that he'd allow her what she asked for.

When he led her to the garden, she carefully made sure to remember the way as she wanted to come there frequently. "I have an affinity for wildlife." She explained gently when he questioned why she wanted to go there, smiling to herself as she looked around at the different plants around her.

Her pink gaze stared at the faceless statue, confused as to why there was no face, but not asking about it. She figured Arlo had it removed in one of his tantrums and didn't want to spark one by questioning it. She hummed as her fingers danced over the flowers, taking a few steps away from him as she did. She plucked some flowers and threaded them in her hair, the ruby pendant shining proudly in the light of the sun as she enjoyed taking in the sight of the garden. "It's beautiful here." She told him gently, smiling warmly as she looked over at him again. He looked far too tired to still want to be in her company, and yet he still was. "What..." she started, changing her mind. "I like your ruby eyes." She told him gently, feeling more honest with the alcohol in her system. "They're quite intriguing compared to my own pink. I'd fancy the idea of our children inheriting them from you." She continued, feeling awkward at the idea of carrying his child still. Her cheeks flushed as she spoke, eyeing him almost cautiously as she feared she might have said the wrong thing.

 

[LONELYRAIN]

An affinity for wildlife? The words resounded puzzling within Arlo's head as his eyebrows furrowed in visible confusion; such confusion strengthening as he watched her face seem to hold only joy as she beheld the different plants on display before her eyes, a happiness that he could not and perhaps would never understand. The boy cast his eyes as well toward the plants swaying in the warm breeze, and finding that there was no joy or happiness that sparked in his chest. Flowers were just that, merely flowers. Fragile things that could easily be plucked, burned and crushed in his hands. Were flowers even pretty?

The king found quickly that he cared not for them anyways, whether they were pretty or not, whether they sparked emotions within him or not. Flowers were always that, just things that would serve no obvious purpose to himself. Why did he even permit Victor to even keep onto the garden to begin with? It wasn't as if they held any parties of the sort. It was a waste of space to keep the gardens intact, perhaps he could see to it that it could be scrapped-

Tired ruby eyes snapped upward as Leana had spoken once more, her compliment on the gardens being beautiful had made him raise an eyebrow in response, bewilderment settling upon the boy as she had given him a warm smile. Immediately, he was quick to reject basking in the gentle warmth of her smile, for to him it was fake. Not a true smile, only one to be guided by the wine she'd drunk and the pleasant weather. It made his expression threaten to turn sour, but he swallowed and spoke stiffly, "I am glad that you enjoy it." He felt no such thing, but the very least he should still cling as much as he could to being polite.

Arlo's eyes began to drift then; settled upon the statue as it taunted him at the edges of his vision. It was a looming shadow over his mood, making the boy's hands clasp tightly behind his back as his hands began to tremble, sucking in a breath as he slowly tried to push down the wave of nausea beginning to surge in his throat, his gaze refocusing upon Leana at her puzzling utterance of the beginning of a question, only for him to suddenly slap him with a compliment which served to catch the boy king by surprise. It was a slackening of his tense expression, the selfsame ruby eyes filling with disbelief as he stared in confusion at her.

Not once had someone said they liked his eyes... or at least even genuinely meant it. He struggled to pick apart her words for more of a meaning, to uncover a lie within, but he found none.. though this awkwardness was intensified tenfold as she continued to speak, more so in regards to whatever future children they may have, stating that she'd much rather have them inherit his bewildering eye color than her own. But, the manner in which she spoke only served to then make Arlo finally reclaim his composure, forcing his expression into neutrality as he reminded himself that this woman was currently influenced by wine.

She meant not a single word.

"There's no need for you to lie to my face to try and placate me." Cold was the tone, obviously not trusting a single word she had spoken, the caution in her eyes making his expression turn bitter as he stepped back from her, "...Do not take me as a fool. No one would want a devil's eyes for their children." The bright rubies within his skull had been hated since his mother's execution, though this was a fault of his unknown father being the one to pass down to him such accursed eyes... he simply detested the unusual color, if only due to the target on his back it served to be.

 

[catatonic]

Leana frowned when his cold tone reached her ears and she processed his words. "I am not lying." She said firmly, crossing her arms over her chest as she stared at him. She was a little taller than him right now, but she knew as he grew older she'd eventually have to look up at him. For now she would be pleased she had to look down to look at him, even if it was only a little bit. "I have a strong feeling that they'll inherit your beautiful eyes over my own. Though I think they'll be pink haired - it's a trait from my mother, much like my eyes are, that seemed to pass to all her children." She continued gently, as if trying to convince him she was being sincere in her compliments.

She could understand his disbelief of her words though, considering how he had acted towards her the day before. She was just glad they both seemed to be able to act civil with one another. She licked her lips as she thought of her next question, a little hesitant to ask it. "Do... Do you not wish to put a child in me?" Her voice was soft, but her eyes showed her hesitation on the fact they'd have children. Her hand touched her stomach gently, her other toying with the ruby pendant that she would now see herself wearing each day until she got the ruby tattoo on her skin. Whenever that may come.

"Don't think me a fool, either, Arlo." She sighed. "I know this match wasn't what either of us would have wanted, but I will do my bit as I'm sure you'd agreed with doing yours." She felt sick at the idea of them having children, because she didn't really trust him yet, but she knew it would come to pass sooner rather than later. Their marriage was only so he could have heirs to his throne after all, she knew that much.

 

[LONELYRAIN]

Arlo took an apprehensive step backward, the hands that clasped behind his back trembled a bit more as he was forced to raise his head to look up at her. His expression twisted then with discomfort, and a tinge of annoyance at the difference in height between them, though it was one that could be overcome in the next few years. And yet, shock froze the discomfort upon his features as she claimed that she wasn't lying and persisting to push a bit more in her insistence with her words. He... he couldn't possibly believe such words though, was this a trap at his expense, or was she trying to appease him?

There would be no words to pass his lips then, now being rendered speechless as his lips pressed together in a tight line, lowering his gaze away from the pink eyes that were fixated upon him, the talk of children being a topic that he'd would have thought would go unspoken between the two... aside from his anger fueled outburst the day before. So, when the question came in regards to if he desired to "put a child in her"; that made the king's eyes finally meet Leana's again, the iciness returning as he resisted the urge to scoff in response. Oh? So this was what this was all about. Her hesitation was obvious, and perhaps there was there a lingering disgust underneath it all?

The hesitant hand that remained on her stomach, a stomach that would otherwise be swollen with the promise of children if they indeed danced along to the tune that they supposedly were to fulfill if only to cement whatever claim that Arlo had to the throne. It made a cold smile finally touch the king's face then, "No." The icy rejection was a bit shocking, considering his vile comments to her in the dungeon, regarding her as nothing more than a means to an end, but more than that he desired for some silence, some borrowed time to at least get his advisors to be silent in regards to having him wed.

There was no desire that sparked in the boy's body, no willful youthfulness that normally would leap at the opportunity to have a woman fall into his sheets, especially one like Leana. Yes, she was pleasant enough on the eyes, but Arlo's mind was far too steeped in suspicion to even give her the benefit of the doubt in regards to her innocence. As far as he was concerned, all of her words were lies, for that was how he had been able to live until this point, not trusting anyone. His hands unclasped behind his back, settling to linger at his sides, "Unfortunately, I find you very much unappealing to me. It's a shame that you have to rely on liquid courage to even so much as speak in my presence." A biting quip at her expense, though Arlo would not approach her as he did before in the dungeons, his expression remaining icy as a frozen tundra as he waved a hand dismissively at the very notion of them having children, "Although, yes that is your purpose here, I have no intentions of fulfilling it."

Admitting that much would certainly make his advisors scream in frustration at the boy, but he never was one to willingly dance along to the will of those who thought it would be easy to tame him of all people. It was laughable, truly. It seemed like Leana's compliments served only to make Arlo withdraw a bit more into biting comments, the shock that had served to be his reactions having already faded as he stepped past her to move further into the gardens, crimson gaze trailing over the flowers that blossomed under the sunlight, "I have a kingdom to run, enemies to weed out, traitors to crush... do you think children will fit into that easily?" The boy's head turned to look over his shoulder to Leana, the rubies cold, once more void of innocence that should have been in the boy's eyes, "Death will take me before that can even be achieved."

A cold truth that uttered with confident clarity. It was a pattern that would be followed, and as much as Arlo had disrupted that pattern time and time again, eventually there would be a time he would fail. Eventually his own blood will be spilled, and eventually his throne will be left vacant, abandoned. He knew he had made enemies, far more enemies than allies and even then his supposed allies were always trying to weasel their way out of being choked by Arlo's hold upon them. He turned his head then, now settling on plucking a rose from its place, the thorns cutting into his flesh as he spoke distantly then, "No matter, making a claim that you've fallen ill will be simple enough. Perhaps even barren? Though, that would probably result in those fools trying to throw more women into my lap." The stem of the rose snapped his grip, the thorns cutting deep, "...How annoying."

 

[catatonic]

Leana felt relieved when he said he didn't desire to put a child in her, but that relief disappeared into distaste as he continued talking. Offense even. She frowned at him, her hand removing itself from her stomach and the jewel around her neck as she turned in her spot to follow him as he moved past her, still talking. "Then why even marry me if you don't want children? Surely, you must have at least one heir to put on the throne. Be it girl or boy. I'd care not if you were involved in their upbringing." She meant it too, she didn't care if he would be involved, as she didn't think he'd want to be.

But it did hurt a little when he said he found her "unappealing" and it was evident on her face when he said it. Though she didn't think he noticed or cared that he had hurt her feelings with his comment. "I am not barren. I've had child scared many times before." She grumbled softly, feeling anger in her blood at his quip about her needing drink to even speak to him. She hadn't drank all that much, had she? She didn't think she did, at least nothing like she had the night before.

He'd be a fool to think she was innocent in the bedroom, the young woman had been intimate quite frequently with an old guard of hers - even once briefly carried his child until she drank a certain tea that took it away. She couldn't, at the time, have a child out of wedlock out of fear of her father. Now she was being told she shouldn't expect any children. She scoffed in annoyance, frowning still as she watched him, disgust evident in her purple hues just as his own red were ice cold. "Well," She said finally. "I think I'll return to my room. If you need me for anything, simply come there or send a guard." She sighed, wanting to be away from him now more than ever since he was insulting her again. Or at least that's how she felt. Not once had she thought he'd deny her the prospect of children, even if she had been planning on denying it from him, nor did she think he would admit that he had no sort of attraction to her especially after she was trying her damnedest to be polite and kind to him. Without even waiting to be told to leave, she turned on her heel, glanced one last time at him, and left the gardens to start her trek back to her room, before she said anything to make him angry with her.

She thought he'd want to secure an heir before his untimely death, and knew to herself if she had the means to she'd see to it herself, but she had no way to ensure she'd be able to discreetly take care of him. So she had decided to play the dutiful wife role - the one that would lead her on her back most days and swollen bellied with a babe inside. He was robbing her of even that. And it angered her more than she thought it would. She was angry with him, with his icy words and declaration that she wasn't as stunning as her appearance would seem. Angered that she was angered to begin with, as if she started to feel a little something towards the demon boy.

 

[LONELYRAIN]

"Because you are a means to an end." The cold response was all too logical for Arlo, "A way to shut up the masses, and make me have less of a headache dealing with them." For now at least, though that would go unspoken as he felt a change between them, prompting the boy king to turn his head, causing him to raise an eyebrow at her implications. She had indeed slept around it seemed, certainly not the usual virgin bride that would have been preferred. Experienced in matters that she perhaps shouldn't have, but it made Arlo sneer in response.

"I would say I'm surprised, however I cannot. Considering your barbaric nation, I'm unsurprised that you're already experienced. How tragic." Sarcasm now rang with undisguised contempt as his fingers clenched tighter around the poor rose within his hand, petals crumbling and breaking underneath his grasp as the thorns of the flower bit into his flesh deeper, rewarding him with the fresh sensation of pain. It was something familiar, something that kept him at least somewhat calm despite the growing distasteful comments that were being hurled in his bethrothed's direction.

Crimson eyes turned to finally look at her, and the disgust that lay as plain as day made the sneer deepen upon his face. Ah, there it was. That was what he was used to, the disgust, the blind hatred. These emotions were normal to direct toward him, to settle his little demented world into something that was normalcy. He thrived on it, for it was something that felt at least somewhat expected, nothing like the gentleness she had insisted on displaying earlier toward him. Civility... politeness, what use were such things when it was obvious it would never last between them? But this was only their third meeting between themselves... though he had a feeling that Victor would rip into him after this, but did it matter?

She would leave him within the gardens although with an odd backward glance from her; but all she would receive would be red eyes gleaming with contempt. There was no remorse in the boy king's eyes as he dismissively turned his head, settling upon the wounds now bleeding freely from his palm, painting his pale skin red and the rose that he held was now broken and crushed, petals bruised and stained, a mockery of its fellows. The flower would fall from his grasp and release his flesh from the torment he was putting it through, "...Looks like I've done it again." A chuckle left his lips in response, not knowing the cause for this situation was anything but funny. He was ruining his prospects, but there was no escaping this path he'd already decided to dance along to.

A rustle in the pathway behind him had caused Arlo's head to turn, spotting the maid that he'd seen only a very limited amount of times here and there, though one that Victor had mentioned in passing that she'd been attending to Leana's needs when she had been permitted to leave the dungeons... what was her name? Ah, it probably wasn't important enough for him to remember considering the manner in which the woman's eyes were straining toward the grass beneath her, "Y-Your Majesty," She greeted with all too nervous stammering, a normal reaction from his servants. But, he didn't think that he would have ordered a servant to be shadowing himself or Leana. Did Victor perhaps send this one to spy upon their interaction from afar? Or was this mere chance?

Arlo dropped his gaze, disinterested, "I did not call for you. Leave." The dismissive tone made the woman flinch as she retreated a few paces back, only for the king to reconsider his decision, "Hmm. On second thought, tend to the lady. At least then you'll be doing something useful."

 

[catatonic]

Leana frowned even more at his words, crossing her arms over her chest as she stood there listening. "They'll only hound you when we don't have children. Do forgive me for thinking we'd at least end up with one child." She shot back, lips pressed in a thin line.

She scoffed when he called her nation of birth barbaric, feeling more insulted than she had been before. "Not everyone has to live up to certain standards, do they?" She huffed, shaking her head. She didn't care if he thought herself barbaric, but not every girl in her home kingdom were versed in the ways of being a lady like she was. The pink haired woman didn't seem shy at the fact she admitted she weren't s virgin, the words he said had shown how little surprised he was, but the sarcasm made her groan to herself.

Leana had enough of his insults and left without another word, after she glanced back at him once more. Finding herself alone in the halls, she ran her fingers through her hair with a huff, trying to ignore the anger in her blood. Trying to ignore the way her hands burned at her sides as she walked, slamming her door shut behind her when she reached her room. "Such a stupid boy." She growled to herself in the privacy of her room, crossing the room to look at the ruby necklace again, feeling nothing but sadness as she looked at it. She could already see the ruby inked into her skin, the intricate weaving of the necklace, the proud stamp she would wear signifying herself as Arlo's wife. And it made her feel a little sick, knowing she was devoting herself to someone who wouldn't care about her, even if she thought she had seen a bit of change in him for that brief moment.

She sighed to herself, teary eyes looking at her flat stomach now. You would have relented and gave him a child, even if you were to try and deny him one. She thought to herself, frowning as her fingers dusted over her stomach. She briefly carried a child once, but had to get rid of it. She had been no more than two months with the child before she lost it in a miscarriage - something she had planned and dreaded. She had dreams where she was holding a babe, had seen the sleeping face of a little pink haired little girl that looked like herself, but had robbed herself once of the pleasure. Now Arlo was admitting he had no plans for children? She wouldn't have any out of wedlock, she doubted he'd be too pleased by it, so she was reliant on him to want to bed her for her dream of a child to come true. And it bothered her to think she was so eager for him to fill her with his child - especially considering it had only been their third meeting. Had she really longed for a child so much she would allow such a demon like him to put his seed in her? She shook her head, frowning as she crossed the room to sit at the table to thumb through the book with disinterest. "No need to think about things that won't happen." She said to herslef softly, sighing as she looked at the pages.

 

[LONELYRAIN]

There was an uncomfortable bit of silence that followed in between Arlo's command and the servant he now had turned his back to. Her presence lingered even after his commandment for her to leave, which prompted the boy king to turn his head again, seeing the expression on the servant's face being one that seemed trapped inbetween fear and like she'd ingested something sour, her hands clasped before her and fingers wringing restlessly, "What? Didn't I tell you to leave?" A foul mood strengthened in the boy as his steps rustled the grass, red eyes glaring up at the servant's trembling form and sour expression, uncharacteristic of the usual fear, the brown eyes flickering between fear and something else.

But that something else would be dispersed as the mere servant whose name he'd forgotten had closed her eyes, bowing her head to the boy, "Y-yes, Your Majesty, but.. forgive this fool for being deaf to your voice." The words made Arlo immediately take an apprehensive step backward, the heavy eyelids dragged down by exhaustion would be temporarily widened as a spark of caution and alarm had filled his veins.

"O mighty Raha,"
Those bastards wouldn't-
"O mighty Mehila."
In broad daylight?! No they wouldn't possibly-

The thoughts were sluggish in his mind as he struggled to begin to think of a way out. But there were no secret escapes in the garden, no other pathways to freely escape. Crimson eyes flashed toward the maiden's hand, one that had grabbed hold of something glinting in the sunlight, the accursed prayer that began with every chant of the damned church that persisted to sink its filthy claws into his empire, his palace. His teeth bared then, feral was the visceral panic and rage that now pounded in his veins as the boy tried to muster any strength in his veins, but there was a sluggishness there in his small body, a fault of his own.

Because he never slept soundly. His body was already at its limits.

"Guide my hand-!" The maid had suddenly lunged, the dagger mesmerizing in the sunlight, blade a brilliant gold, ceremonial of followers that devoted themselves to the church. It was a common enough item, sacred in ceremonial use and usually blunted, but he knew better. The blade was sharpened, deadly in the brief glance he could take as he stumbled backward, the blade ripping through the fine fabric of his side as the woman's weight came toppling down on top of him, "You bitch-!"

The curse left his lips as the two souls were now engaged in a desperate struggle, however Arlo was merely a boy, taken off guard in a place that left little escape, his lack of care for himself rendering himself weak, the grappling for the dagger as adrenaline was beginning to pump in his veins, the tossing and turning of two bodies exchanging desperate punches and clawing at open flesh, but soon Arlo's head would come to smack against the foot of the stone fountain, a collision that made him see stars as the woman's elbow had came to dive into his ribs, driving the breath out of him as he choked, wheezing.

The glint of the dagger reached his eyes again, and then pain as it drove deep into his stomach, piercing the fine robes and forcing out a cry of pain from his lips. Oh, how it burned, the vicious cut up face that grinned down at him in victory seemed all too happy to plunge it deeper, the weight of the other swaying away from him, turning her back to leave him to bleed.

Hahaha... The laughter echoed in his mind as the pain was so very familiar. Oh, how he should have known that the church would try to make a move. They'll deny it of course, try to claim that this was an unfortunate accident, that his kingdom must now fall under their reign. Everything that he had built so far would come crumbling down, and all it took was one dagger... like hell it would! The boy's hands gripped the dagger, flesh slowly relentling underneath the anger fuelled strength as the king staggered to his feet, mouth twitched up in a excited grin. Now he had an excuse.

...​

The palace was in an upheaval in the coming hours, although one would assume it would be considering a passing guard had come across the bloody sight of a maid that no longer could be identified due to the broken, bloody and swollen face that had been marred beyond recognition, and the king who was barely holding onto consciousness, clutching a horrid deep wound, his hands and face smeared with blood, an icy clarity to the exhausted eyes of the boy which had confirmed what was being desperately avoided for so long.

There had been an assassination attempt on the king's life. Not something that was uncommon certainly, but never so brazen and so rash, usually the methods would be underhanded and not in broad daylight. Checking over the current maids in service to the palace, there was one in the roster that day that served to identify the maid who had been so rash to attempt to kill the boy; Marjorie. Her name was the only one that was unaccounted for, the only one who could even roughly be identified, and yet for all the why's and the questioning of who put her up to it, there would be no obvious answers; or at least any obvious answers that would be able to be spoken of freely.

The silence within the castle was oppressive, and one that Victor would interrupt as the man seemed on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Sweat as usual was trickling down his face, his expression grave as he closed his eyes, feeling his stress building. Why now? And he was such a fool! Why did he trust a maid- but she seemed so normal and now... A hand came to his face as he sucked in a sharp breath only to raise his free one and gently knock on the door belonging to Leana. Though, he knew well enough after speaking to Arlo when he had been tended to that their interaction had went... poorly yet again, she still needed to be informed.

It would be only until the door would open that Victor, appearing the worst that he possibly could have appeared had spoken, "..Your Grace, there's... there was an incident." He struggled to get the words to string together properly, uncertain how to keep the gravity of the situation to one that wouldn't alarm her too much, especially considering that it was merely a day here and already the castle seemed to be rife with not only Arlo's foulness, but the chaos that surrounded him as well.

 

[catatonic]

When the knock sounded on her door, Leana lifted her head off the table, having fallen asleep sitting there. She rubbed her eyes as she crossed the room to open it, finding Victor standing there looking like he'd seen better days. She sighed at his words, shaking her head to rid herself of her sleep. "Come inside. What incident?" She questioned, stepping out of his way to allow him into the room.

She shut the door behind him, leaning against the door as she watched him under a gentle but careful gaze. She knew he had to have known her recent meeting had gone poorly with Arlo, but she wasn't sure if he knew what had been said between them. "He has no means of wanting a child." She frowned as the words passed through her lips, feeling her cheeks heat up at the fact she admitted it to the man she only knew for a day. "I had thought of denying him of it, but now he denies me of one." She grumbled, crossing her hands over her chest. She hadn't had any wine, not after Arlo's comment, and felt the need to pour a glass to drown her sorrows. It was be undignified if she did though.

How I long for those herbs. She thought to herself as she crossed the room to sit at the table again, sighing. "Did something happen? I haven't seen Marjorie yet today." She thought the woman to be sweet, but knew that opinion would change once Victor told her what happened. As far as she knew, it was something to do with Arlo at least. Had someone tried to take his life like he had said during their talks? She didn't know. "Someone come for my husband to be's life again?" She hummed sourly, frowning to herself. She didn't know she was right in her assumption, but had a certain dreadful feeling that she was right about it. Or he just killed a servant for some unknown reason. She was certain she was right though, considering how worse for wares that Victor looked like when she saw him at her door. "Please have a seat. Tell me what happened." She motioned to the chair across from her, closing the book in front of her to give him her full attention, pushing her pink hair back from her face as she did.

 

[LONELYRAIN]

A wavering smile barely managed to cross Victor's face as she had appeared before him, the man's exhausted eyes turning away from her at her question, his own mind still reeling over his mistake; a mistake that he had thought naught of. Maybe now he had to do extensive questioning on the king's servants, even those who spent many years underneath Arlo's reign. But, hadn't the king gone through every precaution before? If so then how-

He lightly shook his head as he stepped into the room, uttering a quiet 'thank you', attempting to gather his thoughts with care together, for one panicked thought would be quickly overwhelmed by another. It was exhausting, but instead of uttering complaints on the utter chaos that was now engulfing the castle, Leana's words had made the advisor's eyebrows furrow as he heaved a sigh. Of course, of course Arlo would say such things. "That certainly makes everything more... complicated."

Complicated and frustrating, if only for the fact that Arlo's life had been threatened so brazenly in broad daylight, and now the boy was being stubborn? Granted, Leana's intentions of refusing Arlo seemed all too obvious, especially considering how poorly their interactions seemed to be going with the foolish king being quick to throw insults than being polite. Even if Victor hadn't been there to view it, from what little Arlo had spoken to him about the matter in the midst of his pain; it seemed as if nothing truly seemed to be going smoothly, especially now that Arlo was in a foul mood and part of the reason he was there to begin with.

There was only silence that would meet Leana's questions at first, only for Victor to take in a breath and speak hesitantly, eyebrows furrowing at Leana's all too accurate guess, "There had been an assassination attempt on the king's life today; he's currently resting but the wound itself was deep. The assailant is also suspected to be... Marjorie." The words were ridiculous coming from his own mouth, but in all honesty he could not bring himself to shield her from the bleak situation, lowering his gaze to the floor, "...He desires to see you, perhaps to question you from what I gather."

Arlo's suspicion knew no bounds, or at least Victor suspected it was just a result of Arlo being paranoid again. There was no telling what in the world was going through the king's mind as he had seemed far too calm inbetween the pain he was enduring, his request being bewildering as he typically would have sent everyone away so that he could be alone after his wounds would be tended to.

 

[catatonic]

Leana listened quietly, frowning when he said that things would only get complicated with Arlo denying the prospect of children. "I tried telling him he'd only get hounded for not having children. He seemed to dismiss it." She sighed, hands resting on the table. She knew Victor knew she had been planning on denying the boy children, but had to have known she would have relented and given him at least one when the time came. She sighed as she listened further, frowning at his words.

"Marjorie? Tried killing him?" She muttered in disbelief. That wasn't the woman she had met. But she had gotten the sense that the woman had been hiding something. Perhaps this was what she was hiding - her true intentions on taking Arlo's life. She sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair, shifting in her seat when Victor said Arlo wanted to see her. "Why me? I have no knowledge of the woman - I only just met her yesterday." She sighed, though she was a little worried as to what injury Arlo had received.

She paled a little but nodded her head as she rose from her seat. "Very well, if he wishes to see me then will you do the pleasure of escorting me? I find your company of comfort compared to the guards that stare almost wantonly." She sighed, straightening her shoulders as she waited for him. She crossed the room and opened the door, waiting patiently before following him out.

When they finally reached the room that Arlo was hiding in, she straightened her dress and touched the ruby pendant on her neck. She sighed to herself, knowing she'd be in for an earful and that she had no knowledge of what Marjorie had planned. She licked her lips, frowning as she raised a hand to knock on the door. "Arlo," She called hesitantly, waiting until she heard him call for her to enter, which she glanced at Victor one last time before she slipped into the room, shutting the door behind herself. She stood in front of the door, seeming to hesitant in wanting to approach the boy king, despite wanting to know how bad the injury he had received. "You wanted to see me, my King?" She hummed as she looked over at him, spotting the bandages that covered his torso, eyeing the physique of the small boy she could see, feeling a bit of stirring in her at the sight, though she chalked it up as worry for his injury. She hesitated before stepping further into the room, her hands clasped behind her as she did. "How bad was the injury?" She asked curiously, wondering if he'd even let her see the wound that had been so expertly taking care of. She would have tended to him if she knew he had been injured, but she doubted he would have let her tend to him.

 

[LONELYRAIN]

The entrance to the king's room was as expected, would be grand, betraying the wealth of his predecessors with the pure golden accents upon the oak door, though once one would open the door to reveal the room that lay beyond, it was almost too empty. One would expect a king to have grand decorations, or even some semblance of power, even a wardrobe that would be filled to the brim with expensive fabrics or clothing, but no. The king's room consisted of nothing but a battered end table next to the king's bed, a silver platter with a simple vial glistening with pale liquid within; the king's nightly sleep aid; and the overly large plush bed that seemed far too huge for the small body that lay upon its center, the bed obviously intended for two, and even potentially more, with the mattress underneath threatening to swallow the pale faced boy king, his face twisted with the dull ache of pain.

Arlo's torso could only be seen from where he lay, drowning in the plush pillows and mattress, the bandages having been wound tight over the deep wound that punctured his vulnerable stomach. Although, such a small body seemed to hold some muscle, a result of his prior years being set out to battle, although his slender build would not simply betray the strength that war had given him, it was enough to show from the small ridges of scars that crossed his pale flesh that he had indeed tempered his body in battles prior to this moment, robbed of the softness that should have came with his youth.

Exhausted rubies would open then at Leana's approach, her inquiry being innocent enough as he looked her over, though there seemed to be no suspicion in the crimson eyes that peered at her... at least not yet. "Yes," He confirmed her question with a very much dulled response, an effect of some alcohol that had been administered to him to dull the fierce edge of pain. A grunt left his lips as he struggled to sit upright in the bed, though the softness underneath him served to make the movement more trouble than it was worth from the strained expression upon Arlo's face as he finally settled on giving up entirely, a huff of breath leaving his lips in exasperation at the failure. He truly did detest this bed.

"I was lucky she missed any vital organs. Sloppily done, it was almost disappointing." The words were rasped weakly, lacking the bite that normally would come with his usual sarcasm, though deeming quickly that he didn't have the strength to muster much of his usual contempt responses, he glanced over to Leana again, eyes narrowing at her, "..Normally I would have suspected you to put her up to this, but I'm not so much of a fool to believe that you could have that much influence yet." An insult almost it seemed, but Arlo's voice was weak, expression losing the tension as he grunted, "...No. just be careful, please."

This was surprising indeed, a rare bit of concern being spared for her behalf... granted it could be blamed merely on some alcohol being in the king's system to make the slightly gentler words leave his lips. It wasn't as if he wanted her dead, as she still was necessary here. If he was targeted so easily in broad daylight, his paranoia only spread to whoever could be seen as an asset to him; or perhaps whoever was targeting him could try and aim for Leana as well, either to make her an ally or eliminate her entirely from the equation.

"A shame she missed though, huh? You could have been able to go home freely!" Ah, how quick the king was to try and fall back on the prickly comments again, discomfort settling within him at his brief kinder warning to her. After all, keep the animosity going and everything would be normal.

 

[catatonic]

Leana had been surveying the large room she had stepped into as she approached the bed, listening as he spoke in response to her questions. She was saddened to see such a grand room so empty, but it made sense. This castle seemed deprived of actual life with how little Arlo was interested in having any such things in his life. There were no wardrobes with clothes, nor much of a table she could see except a broken night stand. She sighed softly, wondering briefly if she could change the room if he would allow her into his chambers once they were married. She stepped up to the large bed, considered briefly in climbing in beside him, and rested her hands on the mattress as she leaned closer to him.

"You shouldn't try moving yet. Just from the stain, I can see it was something fierce." Her mother had been a healer, and taught Leana all she knew about medicine, and the pink haired girl had learned even more as she grew older. She was used to the sight of blood having tended to her soldiers when they were wounded in training. "I did not have any hand in this attempt. I may not entirely enjoy our arrangement, but that does not make me cold hearted." She chuckled, feeling a little amused he considered this act be by her orders. "I suspect the eyes of fire and dark on you, my sweet. It shall be my job to help keep you safe." She hummed, feeling her heart ache at the scars that would forever linger on his body. He was so young, yet she could see him to be battle worn.

Leana would keep a careful eye on newcomers to her, she was already wary of the servants and guards alike. Though she knew that she trusted Victor, he seemed truly kind in his ways. She had seen battle worn adult men, but never had she considered Arlo truly fought for his reign as King. Not until she saw the scars and knew the horror he had to endure. It made her heart ache for him, especially as she looked over his bandaged torso again before turning her pink hues to his crimson, her face soft as she reached to touch his hand softly.

"I don't think death would allow me to leave this Kingdom." She said gently, wishing to convey she was sincere in not wanting him to come to harm. She may have briefly thought of doing it herself, she didn't realize just how at danger he really was. She decided she didn't want to add to his worries about his life, though she could figure someone would be out for her as a way to get to him, especially with the soft warning of his concern he gave her.

 

[LONELYRAIN]

A tinge of unease had settled upon the young king as she had told him to not move about yet, a frown being quick to flow upon his lips, however the king would in a rare moment of obedience do as told. It wasn't as if he could move around much if he wanted to, the wound to his stomach, although now dulled with the aid of alcohol that had settled in his uneasy stomach still did pain him with every slight movement. He would have to settle for being completely still, a prisoner to his wound, confined to the all too soft bed underneath him and the scrutiny of the pink gaze that had settled upon him. It all made him uncomfortable.

Her reassurance that she had no hand in this attempt on his life had made him snort, crimson eyes rolling as he responded, "I know that well enough, it wouldn't have made much sense." After all, Leana was still a stranger to these lands, nor would he think she was one that paid homage to Yore's twin deities yet, since his assailant did utter the names of the gods, it made little sense in his mind to even connect Leana to the assault. It was far too obvious who was behind it... a bit too obvious in fact, though it left him boiling with rage, he would not act on such anger; not yet.

Nonetheless, the drifting angry thought would be halted as his betrothed's tone had become gentle, claiming that she would keep him safe. This caused another twitch in his expression, a stillness that crept over him as he struggled to even come to a conclusion why she would even say such a thing. It made no sense to the boy, especially after his conduct before. Wouldn't she sooner want him to meet his end, or perhaps despised him? Why did she persist this act of being nice to him?

He... he didn't like this. It was scary.

Fear made his fingers feel cold as the gentle gaze stared down at him, her tone plucking at a heart that had long since tried its best to grow cold. Yet, these still fingers wouldn't respond to the urge to snatch them away as Leana's hand had touched his own, the warmth of her gentle touch seeping into his skin. It was not one of an angry fist, or hands seeking to break joints and shatter bones, it was not a blade that would meet flesh intending to steal his life... it was warm. Safe.

Terrifying. It was also very, very terrifying. Her words confused him further, but then again.. perhaps it made all the more sense. She was trapped here now whether she liked it or not, for he had deemed it so. "..Ah... you..." He struggled to speak, trying to gather his thoughts, his face seeming a bit more paler than before, unable to bring himself to think of any sharp remark or angry quip to make the woman stop pulling him into these false sense of security. Arlo's eyes flashed up to meet the pink gaze that remained soft and.. something broke.

"..Stop looking.." The words made little sense as his hand ripped away from her own, almost as if he'd been burned, only to shield his face from view underneath his hands, a stubborn set to his jaw as his breath quivered in his chest, "..Don't.. look-" His teeth clattered together, fingers clenching around blonde locks as it could be seen clear as day the tears beginning to trickle down his cheeks. One, then two... was it the stress or the lack of sleep? Maybe it was the alcohol that was humming in his veins? But, Arlo couldn't control the irrational response.

How many years had it been since the boy last shed tears in front of another? He couldn't remember, but at that moment the little bits of gentleness had unknowingly pushed a button that had been desperately hidden, his breaths hitching in his chest, his lips trembling and struggling to remain pressed close, but the tiny broken sounds left him all the same despite not desiring for such embarrassment.

 

[catatonic]

Her skin was warm against his cold one as she clasped his hand softly in her own, enjoying that he allowed her to touch him in the state he was in. That they could share the brief moment of peace between them. "I've no intention of making you my enemy." She confirmed gently, looking over his pale expression as she spoke. Red eyes met pink for a moment and she enjoyed looking into them, despite the anger she held for him just earlier that day. She was saddened to think someone had boldly tried eliminating him in broad daylight - the maid assigned to herself no less. If the woman hadn't been taken care of by Arlo himself, she certainly would have enjoyed the pleasure of dealing with her had she been given the chance.

Leana squeezed his hand gently, smiling softly until he started speaking again. His hand ripped away from hers like she burned him, though she knew she had been keeping her powers a secret from him so that couldn't have been the case. It seemed the moment had passed between them, as he struggled with his words and hid his face in his hands. She frowned at his words of her to look away, seeing the tears that began to stream down his cheeks and feeling her heart ache at the sight of the boy crying. Felt it was her place to comfort him. Perhaps being the first to do so in a long time. She reached out again, softly pulling his hands from his face, and with a gentle brush of her thumb she wiped the tears from his cheeks.

"There is no need to act so strong with me." She whispered gently to him, hoping to convey she was a safe place for him to break even just a little bit. It shocked her to think he'd cry before her, but given his age and how he had been treated she hadn't been all too surprised. She had a soothing presence, at least that's what she had been told by man battle worn men and older ladies of court. A certain kindness to her fire that allowed even the most hardened of men to collapse into her arms. It was just as much a gift as her elemental powers were.

She pushed herself onto the bed, settled down beside him without much hesitation, and pulled him as best she would with his wound into her. She rested his head on her lap, allowing him the comfort of her warmth as she evened her breathing. The pink haired woman let silence fall between them as she held him, feeling somewhat awkward as she was certain she hadn't planned on being this close to him. Yet, her hands held an unusual warmth to them as she ghosted them over his scarred arm, pushing back his bangs from his eyes with soft fingers, humming a light tune that she knew would be soothing to the ear.

 

[LONELYRAIN]

"S-stop-" The protest was weak, fingers being pried from the king's face twisted with his tears, her grasp upon his hands burned more, a scathing that seeped deep underneath his skin with the gentleness that persisted. Oh, how cruel this was indeed for her to regard him with such kindness, his teeth baring at her in an attempt to snap at her, as if he were a wounded animal lashing out... but he did not strike her, nor could he muster much of a response in terms of words for his body was rebelling, restricting him from speaking as he usually would.

Then her reassurance, that there was no need for him to act so strong with her, that he could find temporary solace had made the tears flow a bit stronger, a sensation so painful that filled his chest as he struggled to draw in breath to lungs that seemed too eager to deny him such a luxury. "N-no, I..." If he allowed himself to lower his guard, that would put him at risk, that would render him vulnerable, plucked clean of everything that he was. In fact, he perhaps would be better off dead than to allow this woman, this stranger to pull out all of the horrid fear out of him.

The bed lurched beside him, her weight making his body shift in response, a struggling to attempt to recoil from the warmth that was very much foreign to him and yet he was weak, far too weak at that moment to struggle against her grasp as she stubbornly guided his head to rest upon her lap, his eyes as wide as moons as he sniffled, body locking into place. This moment was awkward, not only for her but for the king himself who had not been held in far too long. It felt far too foreign to feel the sensation of warmth seeping through her clothes against his bare skin, her fingers ghosting gentle touches over scars that served as twisted decorations of cruelty he had to endure. "..Stop.." He whimpered again, though it lacked spirit, lacked anger as his tears spilled down his face in pitiful streams over his nose, his cheek.

Arlo knew not how long he would be held by Leana, but it certainly was long enough until his quiet, ugly uneven breaths would settle into slow breaths interrupted by the occasional hiccup in his chest. Her light tune that left her lips had echoed in the king's ears, eyelids growing heavier, "...Why?" He mumbled, the question that served to reveal the confusion twisting within his chest. Why was she doing this? Why was she acting like this? And why for him?

 

[catatonic]

"No." Leana said firmly when he told her to stop, continuing in wiping away his tears as she settled him into her lap. She seemed content in letting him close to her, like they had done it many times before despite it being the first time. She pushed strands of his shirt from his face, cleaning his tears from his cheeks with gentle fingers, humming softly to herself as a means to calm them both in the awkward position they were in.

"Deny it all you want, having a safe place is a good thing. Even if it's all I can do for you, I will do it." She continued in her attempt to let him know it was okay to seem weak around her, she understood what it was like to be strong for so long that even the prospect of being weak a hellish thing. She sighed softly as his question, looking down into those wide red eyes softly. "Because I'm to be your wife. I am supposed to be your comfort. It is my purpose, aside from bringing you children. And I will fulfill whatever purpose you have of me." She said gently, meaning every words as she tucked his bangs behind his ears.

There was a light tint of red to her hands as she wiped away his tears, feeling pleased that he hadn't fought her so hard to get out of the position they were in. Her light tune continued, muttering soft words like "little dove" and "flightless angels" in between her hums. This would be the first time they ever found peace with one another and she was basking in it. She would see to finding more peace between them where she could. "I will be whatever you want me to be, but I am forever a gentle woman despite the fire I hold." She muttered softly, eyeing the scars on his body with a sad gaze at their existence. "If I can be your peace, I will feel as if I've won the day." She continued softly, humming as she pressed her fingers gently against his eyes to close them. "Rest, my love. I will be here when you wake."