▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Jan 30, 2021 23:09:33 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Jan 30, 2021 23:09:33 GMT -5
The doubt in her eyes made Cassian feel a little more guilty. It wasn't her fault–any other red-blooded male would probably be ecstatic to sleep with the queen, not to mention one as pretty as her, but there was probably nothing he could say that could assuage her doubts. There was just so much weight on all of this and frankly, he preferred guys anyway. His breath hitched slightly as her hand joined his, trying to coax himself to hardness. If only this wasn't so awkward, then this might not have been as horrible as either of them would imagine.
It took a bit of time and some imagination and memories of previous experiences to get him where they needed to be, but better later than never, right? They still had a job to do and he knew the maids would probably check the next morning. Not consummating the marriage would mean that something was terribly wrong, and he knew his father would never accept that.
All the fun felt like it was sucked out of the situation again, and he felt as nervous and restricted as he did when the man was in the room. Swallowing thickly, he nodded. "Yeah," he murmured, "I think that's fine. Thanks." He tried to give her a smile but it looked more like a grimace.
"Do you wanna lie down?" he asked, his own hand circling her waist as he laid her on the bed once more, one hand testing the waters between her legs and the other between his, "just...tell me if it hurts or you're not comfortable or anything."
With that, he began to press into her carefully, trying to keep her from hurting.
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Jan 31, 2021 11:26:40 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Jan 31, 2021 11:26:40 GMT -5
Try as he might, it was impossible to get rid of the pain entirely. It wasn't awful, but the immense pressure in such a foreign area made Aela's breath catch in the throat. At least he moved slowly, letting her adjust to the varying levels of pain as he pushed deeper.
After he was all the way in he paused for a moment, allowing Aela to relax. When he moved again, finding a rhythm, it was easier- and it grew less uncomfortable the longer he was inside her. Towards the end it was almost enjoyable, in an animalistic kind of way. Sex was far more raw and wild than anything the composed queen had experienced before. Feeling Cassian's warm breath on her neck, feeling the way her own body responded and moved with this, it all made her feel more bonded with her new husband than she'd expected.
Her arms loosely circled his neck, her breath coming in short exhales as Cassian slowly built up to climax. She didn't exactly know what that was, but she could sense a change in urgency in the way he thrusted, in the tightness of his hands on waist. Finally he stopped moving, and she could feel the throbbing of his dick as he breathed heavily above her.
When he rolled off her and onto his back, she turned to him, noting absently the warmth that burned between her legs. "Did you... did you enjoy that?" She asked tentatively, almost afraid of the answer. It had worked like it was supposed to, in the end, but she wasn't sure that equated to enjoyment on his end. And despite it all, she had enjoyed herself, enjoyed the new experiences and feelings. And Aela felt guilty for it, thinking perhaps she had taken pleasure from something that was uncomfortable for Cassian.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Jan 31, 2021 11:49:25 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Jan 31, 2021 11:49:25 GMT -5
He could see that despite her silence, the slight grimace of her expression meant that it wasn't as painless as he'd hoped. He wondered if he should say something reassuring perhaps, but he decided against it. As long as she didn't tell him to stop, he wouldn't. Once he was all in, he waited for a moment, noticing the tension in her shoulders. Was she ok? He tried to wait, only rolling his hips tentatively.
When she didn't seem to be in pain, he continued. This, at least he knew what to do. While it wasn't exactly the most mindblowing sex he had ever had, he was just your average teenage boy, and everything else was just motion, wasn't it? As her arms wrapped around his neck, he continued his rhythm, his breath his head now buried in the crook of her neck, his laboured breaths warm on her neck.
It didn't take long for him to complete their consummation, spilling into with a quiet groan. She didn't seem to react when he stilled inside of her, waiting to catch his breath. He let out a heavy sigh, before rolling off of her to lie on his back, staring at the decorative ceiling again. The sweat on his back was starting to cool, making his skin prickle in the breeze.
He turned to look at the light fairy when she asked her question, giving her a nod to assuage her doubts. "Yeah, um...did you, you know...come?" he didn't really want to hear the answer either, feeling awkward that he even asked. She didn't seem to react much at all during the whole time, simply holding him as he pounded away; maybe if he had been someone else, he'd know the right buttons to push to make it more enjoyable for her. He didn't want to think that maybe he just used her or something.
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Jan 31, 2021 12:36:09 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Jan 31, 2021 12:36:09 GMT -5
What did that mean? Was he asking if she enjoyed herself? Unsure what answer to give, Aela nodded. It had been uncomfortable at first, but it had not been altogether bad. It had even started to feel nice, at the end. “Yes,” she added as a confirmation. “I did... come.” Though she had not- but she didn’t know that. “Thank you for being so considerate.”
She wasn’t sure what else to say- how often were they supposed to do this, anyway? She slipped from the bed in the low light of the candle, quickly finding a nightgown to hide the silhouetted curves of her shorter frame. After she was dressed she retreated to the bathroom, taking a moment to compose herself by wiping the sweat from her forehead and the wetness mingled with Cassian’s seed from between her legs. This was all very... messy, at least on her end.
Aela splashed cold water from the basin on her face, waiting until her breathing had returned to normal before she went back to bed. “Well... goodnight. We have a luncheon with some guests tomorrow- your father included. And then a small coronation for you in the evening.” Now that the intimacy was over, Aela was back to her business like self- the one that did not know how to openly converse with people and stuck to safe topics like tomorrow’s itinerary. She laid on her back, staring up at the ceiling and wondering how this all would go in the future.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Jan 31, 2021 12:52:36 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Jan 31, 2021 12:52:36 GMT -5
He just nodded stiffly, watching her get up and head towards the bathroom, before crawling out of bed to look for something to wipe down with. Well he wasn't nearly as picky as Aela; his undergarments from the day before would work; it wasn't like he was going to sleep in his dirty clothes anyway. He tossed it to the ground, assuming the servants would be cleaning after them the next day anyway.
By the time Aela was back, he was already under the duvet, without the same reservations about nudity that the light fairy had. He didn't really have anything else to say, so as soon as she spoke of the intinerary again, he closed his eyes. "Sounds good," he grumbled, though he groaned internally. The alcohol was already starting to wear off, much to his dismay, but the idea of having to wake up early–and having a wife who at this point sounded just like his father when he was going through a list of expectations–reminded him of the predicament he was in once again.
He turned to his side, away from Aela. At least now that they could sleep, he could escape for a moment, let down the walls for a brief second in which he could pretend to be asleep and process the long day. Things really were never going to be the same, he thought miserably, as he drifted to sleep. The bed wasn't as soft as his mattress back home, perhaps due to how new it was, and the room was so....bright, compared to the darkness of the mansion up the hill. It was also such a big room, so empty and without anything that made him feel like home–his pillows, the books and posters and other knick knacks he kept around.
It took him a while to fall asleep, and the morning came all too early. As soon as the servant whisked open the curtains, allowing the sun in, he gave a loud grown, pulling the pillow over his head. Whatever niceties and awkward politeness he had worn as a mask had faded in the early morning light. His head was still woozy and sludge-like, and god he hated the light.
"Good morning, your majesty," a smartly dressed woman was at the door as the servants came in with refreshments, clean towels and clothes. Cassian peaked out from under the pillow. "Would you like your breakfast in your room? We'll need to change your sheets and have you dressed; some of your guests will be leaving this morning and it's only customary that you bid them farewell."
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Jan 31, 2021 13:07:16 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Jan 31, 2021 13:07:16 GMT -5
Aela had risen with the sun as she always did, and was sitting at the small table by the window when the maid came in. She knew shadow fairies were not often morning people, and did not begrudge Cassian the chance to sleep in. Her hand absently stroked the small kitten curled in her lap- a plush, soft, plump little gray thing that was clearly fed liver and cream.
"Yes, thank you Martha," she said to the woman, scratching the kittens chin. "We'll need some strong black coffee for my husband, too." With that Aela rose, setting the kitten down on the floor as she crossed to the tea tray. The queen was a regimented woman, and the same green tea she drank daily was waiting for her, along with the small collection of pastries and fruit she had for breakfast.
After the maid had left, she turned to Cassian- he needed to be roused from the bed so their day could begin. "Did you sleep well?" She asked hesitantly, unused to the addition of a new person to her morning routine. "There's plenty of pastries for you here. Or I can send for some bacon."
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Jan 31, 2021 13:23:20 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Jan 31, 2021 13:23:20 GMT -5
Ugh. He really didn't want to get up. "Five more minutes," he groaned as the maids began to tidy up, straightening some of the pillows near him, his voice muffled by the pillow as he laid on the bed, still buck naked, his curly hair standing in all angles. It was only when they tried to straighten out the blanket when he looked up.
"Oi, I said later," he snapped, tugging the blanket closer to him. As much as he could be shameless if he wanted to be, he would very much enjoy his privacy when changing, thank you very much. "Can't you wait till we're gone first?" he grumbled, as the ladies apologized, before leaving the room, giggles still in their mouths, whispering about what the two must've been up to last night.
Great, he hated this kind of gossip. Who slept with who, what happened, who did what....god was this the rest of his life? Sitting up slowly, he squinted at Aela, who seemed perfectly poised. Too perfect, he thought ruefully, as he rubbed his eyes, waiting for the servants to leave. As the door shut behind them, he sighed, rolling his eyes. The moody teenager was back in full swing.
The way she asked her question made him feel uncomfortable, as if he was talking to someone like his mother or a tutor rather than someone else his own age. Aela just seemed to have her life together, and despite his own knowledge that she was probably raised this way, he couldn't help but feel slightly resentful about it like a spoiled child.
"I guess," he mumbled, "bed's not soft enough and the pillow doesn't feel like mine...and what's with the castle being so bright all the time? Do they keep the lights on all night?" He didn't mean to take it out on his newly-betrothed, but he was definitely not a morning person. Pulling the duvet off, he stood up on wobbly legs, moving towards the fresh set of clothes placed on a chair and pulling on a pair of underwear.
"What kind of pastries are they?" he peered at the table, still not looking at his wife. The word still didn't sit comfortably in his mouth.
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Jan 31, 2021 13:44:18 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Jan 31, 2021 13:44:18 GMT -5
"Most of the nobility here are light fairies," Aela pointed out, keeping her eyes averted until Cassian was clothed again. There was a residual stickiness between her legs, and she still was too embarrassed to look at the part of him that had been inside of her the night before. As to the rest of his complaints, she didn't deign to respond, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. He sounded like her sister.
She looked down at the pastry assortment, motioning to each in turn. "Boysenberry, lemon, poppy seed, strawberry, and a few plain scones." The kitten wound around Cassian's legs, silky fur brushing against his leg. "And that's Olive by your feet." A hint of warmth crept into her tone- Olive was the one thing Aela could love unreservedly.
After Cassian was up to speed on the food options and the day's events, Aela left him to eat while she read by the window. The maids soon returned with the coffee and flitted around the queen, leaving Cassian alone for a bit while they dressed Aela in her morning outfit. Then they turned on him, and the shorter of the two examined various parts of his frame. "We should dress him in a dove gray," she told the other, clucking her tongue. "It'll match Aela's luncheon dress. We can choose the coronation outfit later." The two rummaged in the trunks that were still being unpacked into the massive closet, searching for a good shirt and tossing aside various underwear and socks in the process.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Jan 31, 2021 14:24:01 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Jan 31, 2021 14:24:01 GMT -5
"Great," he grumbled, "now I can stick out like a sore thumb here instead of back home." He sat down with a grunt at the little table on the side, glancing at the selection. Lemon and poppy seed didn't sound too bad. He grabbed the bright yellow tart and began shoving it in his mouth with no care for manners like he usually would in a dinner setting with others. At this point, he was going to have to live with this girl, so she might as well see what she was getting into.
He didn't care much about the people of this city, and frankly, he couldn't care more about his new duties and responsibilities. He just wanted to eat his meal in peace, ignoring the servants who were now dressing the queen. The cat, however, he didn't mind. Smiling softly for a moment, he gave the creature a scratch behind the ears, before dusting off his second pastry.
He was just about to start on a third–what? he was still a growing boy–when the ladies turned towards him. He looked up, crumbs still all over his mouth, as they pulled him up from the chair, already trying to get him dressed, speaking about him as if he wasn't there.
"I'm right here, you know," he grumbled under his breath, before looking at the others rummaging through his stuff. "Hey," he protested, "that's my stuff. Be careful with that. That outfit probably costs more than your monthly wages."
The woman rolled her eyes. Spirits, these young nobles were so damn spoiled these days. She snapped her fingers as they brought a grey waistcoat, along with another silk shirt, already putting pants onto the young man.
He sighed. Of course they weren't going to listen to him. What was the point of being king if no one listened anyway? He rolled his eyes as they dressed him, pulling and tugging at him until he was the vision of perfection, at least in the woman's eyes. "Perfect, now if you'll come with me."
Cassian looked at himself in the mirror, dressed in a waistcoat with his hair slicked back. Giving his reflection a grimace, he shook out his hair until it was back to its usual curly mess. At least he looked like himself.
An exasperated sigh left the maid's mouth, before she turned to Aela. "Are you ready, your majesty?"
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Jan 31, 2021 15:00:18 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Jan 31, 2021 15:00:18 GMT -5
"I am," Aela confirmed, turning to her husband. At least they were a handsome couple, him in his waistcoat and silk shirt and her in a soft gray dress. Hopefully he would adjust quickly and taper off with the obnoxious comments.
The two of them left the room, but the giggles of the maids as they stripped the sheets off the bed were still audible. That was a weight off Aela's shoulders- she had performed her consummation correctly and there would be no question of the legitimacy of their marriage.
The luncheon began painlessly enough- it was the royal couple, Cassian's father, the Duchess Sibyl, and Aela's younger sister- another dark fairy, who seemed as tired as Cassian as she picked at her food. Sibyl stirred her tea with dainty motions, turning to Cassian. "Do you think you'll enjoy castle life?" She asked, a hint of a teasing smile on her face. Aela drummed her fingers on the table, holding back a sigh. Her closest relatives in the castle were her aunt and her sister, who both took after her mother's slightly mischievous personality. While the rest of the nobility around here were distantly related to her father and held to his stricter ways, it was difficult for Aela to keep her aunt and sister in check sometimes.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Jan 31, 2021 15:15:11 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Jan 31, 2021 15:15:11 GMT -5
Cassian didn't say much as he left the room, though his jaw tightened at the giggle of the maids. Of course the bedsheet was probably going to be presented to their guardians and they'll be the gossip of the country for the next couple of weeks. He was not looking forward to that. As they entered the dining room, all eyes were on them again, and he swallowed thickly, as he headed towards the table at the center, already steeling himself for the niceties ahead. He'd be greeting a bunch of people he barely knew, trying to impress them and trying not to let down his family. Great.
He saw his family sitting to the side, and noted that his father was to be seated on the other side of him, along with his family. Great, under his watchful eye once more. He was starting to realize that he had no stomach for these sort of meals. As in, his stomach was in such knots he barely felt hungry. Thank the spirits he had gulped down all those pastries earlier.
Soon enough, they were sitting down, the sound of chatter and clinking forks and knives decorating the hall. He was moving his food around on his place, eating the fancy eggs florentine on his plate, when he registered that a question had been asked.
"I'm sure I'll adjust," he replied dutifully, "there's plenty to learn about the castle, but it seems familiar already." A lie, though his even voice betrayed nothing.
His sister, however, didn't mind being the one to ask first. She had always been more outspoken–perks of being the youngest child–and people rarely scolded her for it. "So how was last night?" she asked in a sing-song voice, a smirk aimed at her brother, before she turned to the queen, "we're family now, so you can tell me everything."
Cassian's face flushed, opening his mouth like a fish, unable to respond.
"Carina," his father admonished, though in a lighthearted way, a chuckle leaving the man's throat, "they don't need to share the details of their consummation to all of us." They did consummate, yes? his father's look spoke in his sharp eyes.
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Jan 31, 2021 15:32:10 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Jan 31, 2021 15:32:10 GMT -5
A Queen did not crack under pressure, no matter how unconventional her guests were. Aela simply smiled and took another bite of her lox, glancing over at her husband. How to tactfully respond, though? "My wedding night was all I could have hoped for, from the ceremony to when I went to sleep. It was a blessing to be able to see all the traditions through to the end."
There, that was the best she could manage- admitting they had indeed consummated the marriage within a larger context. Now it was time to change the topic. "How long do you plan to stay? You're welcome to stay as long as you desire- we have enough rooms for you to set up a longer term residence, even." It wasn't uncommon for family and guests to spend a long sojourn at the palace. The space was large enough and the Queen busy enough that she did not have to entertain guests once they were situated. There were plenty of things around the palace and in the city to amuse them.
"And you must come riding with me sometime soon, Carina. I'm eager to get to know my new sister in law better." Undoubtedly the family was looking to infuse themselves as much as possible in the running of the kingdom- such were the perks of being related to the King. Aela supposed she should offer one of them a spot as an Advisor to the Crown, but she wanted to figure out which would be the best choice.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Jan 31, 2021 16:11:35 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Jan 31, 2021 16:11:35 GMT -5
Cassian was glad that Aela was the kind who could speak so eloquently. He couldn't help the warmth that spread to his ears when she spoke of their consummation; it was just awkward that this was going to be a conversation in front of his parents. He glared at his sister, who gave him an innocent smile. She was always kind of shameless really, and at Aela's invitation, he turned to her. Spirits, please, he thought. He'd rather them leave if they were just going to keep embarrassing him like that.
"That sounds like a lovely invitation," Carina spoke before their father could, "but I'm afraid we won't be able to. I'll be playing a role in a ballet back in Vela, and we have plenty to work on–"
"Thank you for the invitation, but I'm afraid the rest of my family have business back home to attend. It's been a lovely time here in Pyxis, and we are extremely grateful for your hospitality, your majesty," his father spoke. It was clear that the man was the head of the family; whenever he spoke, the rest fell in line. Cassian didn't react, simply picking at his food once again.
The man continued. "However, if I may, there are still a few matters I would love to speak to you about, regarding the security of the kingdom, though it may be something for another day, yes?"
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Jan 31, 2021 16:46:14 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Jan 31, 2021 16:46:14 GMT -5
"Another day." Aela smiled again as she agreed. The rest of the luncheon passed quickly, and the royal couple were allowed a few hours respite before the coronation. The queen left Cassian to his own devices, heading out to the gardens with her book to recharge.
It was peaceful outside, in a way that called to Aela's soul more deeply than any other location. She wandered among the springtime flowers, stopping at her favorite bench among the rosebushes to sit and read for a bit. Before too long, she had to return to their room, to repeat the process of dressing for the coronation. The maids dressed them matching again, clearly enjoying playing dress up with the couple. This time it was in royal purple- a sharp, regal dress for Aela and a matching suit for Cassian.
The coronation was a small, quiet one compared to the Queen's a few months prior. Family and a few ambassadors were there. Aela stood beside Cassian, her own crown in place as Cassian knelt before the High Priestess and was anointed and crowned King of Lacaille. When he stood, she smiled at him, nodding in acknowledgement of the applause. Would the crown weigh as heavily on his head as it did on hers?
There was another dinner, and then the departure of a few important guests that Aela and Cassian oversaw. It was well enough that he was the secondary monarch, since Aela was well able to handle the formalities for the time being. Eventually, though, people would expect the same level of grace from him. When they were sequestered in their bedroom that night, she reclined on the couch, moving a feathery toy for Olive. "You should probably begin lessons in ruling," she commented, her eyes deep in thought. "I have plenty of advisors who can help you through the beginning weeks of ruling a nation. I had to undergo the same thing when I was first crowned."
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Jan 31, 2021 17:07:20 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Jan 31, 2021 17:07:20 GMT -5
Everything was just rituals. Rituals, rituals, rituals. At this point, he was just going through the motions; and the few quiet moments between things were the only time he could let his guard down. He felt like a rag doll, allowing the maids to preen and dress him like they did. The purple suit at least felt comfortable. Purple always did look good on him, he had to admit. They were really going all out with the matching outfits, huh?
The coronation was just more ritual and ceremony. Everything felt like going through the motions at this point. It wasn't exactly a big event–frankly, their wedding seemed bigger–and in a way, it made sense. It wasn't like he really had much power; at the end of the day, the church was the true power of the kingdom. As much as the kings and queens made decisions about the country, it was a position of publicity more than anything else. Not to mention, he was just a king consort rather than the true royal or anything. No, that was Aela.
He simply smiled and waved and answered all the questions, making small talk with other ambassadors and politicians. As much as he knew of the new responsibilities and expectations of being a king, he knew that in reality, he was nothing more than a puppet. For the church, for his father, hell, for Aela even. He was nothing more than a spokesperson for his other people's ambition. After all, he had none of his own. He'd have to learn everything just to find himself trying to hold up a perception of being someone else, someone stronger. Someone like his father, or his late brother Cato, who could influence the masses without a doubt.
As they retired to their room, it seemed Aela had some similar ideas too. Already, she was giving him orders and setting routines and lessons. Just trading in one schedule for another, he thought dryly, except now it wasn't just his father. His wife seemed to have a similar disposition too.
"Can we just talk about that another day?" he gave her a wry look, his one brow raised, "you're starting to sound like my dad." He didn't mean to snap at her. She probably meant well, but frankly, Cassian couldn't stand the way everyone just sounded so condescending. It just made him feel even more overwhelmed than he was.
"Can't even have a normal conversation around this place," he mumbled under his breath as he unbuttoned the stuffy shirt he was wearing.
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Jan 31, 2021 17:24:48 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Jan 31, 2021 17:24:48 GMT -5
Aela watched him unbutton his shirt, keeping her face clear of emotion just like she'd been taught. Still, she was confused by his reactions. Did he not know what this would entail? What he was signing up for? For Aela, these were normal conversations. Ever since childhood, this had been her life.
Still, it must be a hard adjustment for Cassian. She should try to be understanding. "Another day," she agreed quietly, turning to look out the window at the stars splattered across the sky. She fell silent, having nothing else to talk about. What was a normal conversation, to Cassian? And why was being like his father such a bad thing? It shouldn't affect her, but it did. His words cut deeper than she'd like to admit.
Maybe she'd hoped that this would be different. That their relationship could be different. That... that he'd be happy to be here, to be with her. It was a stupid hope. He did not want this. Didn't want her, didn't want this life. And why should he? He was clearly used to his life before, clearly forced into this by someone. He didn't even know her. Why would he care about her way of life?
Still, emotion was weakness. Aela's inner turmoil did not show on her placid face. She listened absently as he climbed into bed, waited until he stopped tossing and turning to prepare herself for bed and climb into her side, keeping her distance as she faced the wall under the soft sheets. Olive found her way up to Aela's side, and the queen smiled sadly, leaning forward to kiss the furry head. As a child, she had thought that a loving marriage would solve that uneasy unhappiness that came from her required lifestyle. Now, it seemed she would have to turn her hopes of fulfillment elsewhere- perhaps soon enough there would be children to fill the halls and the strange empty ache in her heart.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Jan 31, 2021 17:43:58 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Jan 31, 2021 17:43:58 GMT -5
Maybe he shouldn't have snapped at her like that, but honestly, she was making everything sound even more of an impossible chore than it already was. Perhaps she assumed–like probably everyone else–that he actually wanted this. As if it was some sort of privilege to be forced to sit through dull meeting after meeting when his own life had been perfectly fine. He could never understand why anyone wanted to be born into this role either. Then again, it seemed like Aela was handling it well. Some people were just meant to be on the throne.
He certainly wasn't.
Whatever distance they seemed to bridge last night was gone. In fact, it was as if they were even further apart now. He turned to his side again, his back facing Aela. Frankly, he just wasn't in the mood for any conversation. The day had taken up more energy than he had, and as much as it would probably help them if they at least tried to get along, Cassian already had a bitter taste in his mouth.
She just reminded him too much of a set of expectations he would never meet, a permanent reminder that had always taken space in his head. Was it so hard to want to find their own way? Everyone certainly made it sound so. He sighed, trying to slow his breath so he could fall asleep better, but this all felt like he was sleeping in a hotel bed. It was just so foreign. There was nothing in this room that was his own. Maybe one of these days, he'd finally put a few things on his dresser. The ugly paperweight Cato got him as a joke back when they were younger, the little planter his mother gave him before he left, the picture frame of his friends when they went on that trip to Maline...
The next thing he knew, it was morning once more, the maid pulling the curtains open as he let out a long groan once again, shoving the pillow on top of his face. Why did people wake up so bloody early?
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Jan 31, 2021 17:53:59 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Jan 31, 2021 17:53:59 GMT -5
Aela was gone by the time he woke, at least, so he only had to contend with the maids. They informed him that he would be dining with the Queen in an hour, for breakfast, in one of the small dining rooms. Perhaps she had said something to them, because they left Cassian to his own dressing and left only a pot of coffee and tea behind for him.
When the hour came, he was escorted to the dining room. Even for a meal between just the two of then, the setting was lavish and the food bountiful. Even the 'casual' things in the palace were ornate. They sat at a distance from each other, and Aela tried to search for a normal conversation topic. What did he normally talk about? What could they have in common to talk about?
"So... was the bed any comfier last night?" She asked finally, rolling a berry from a tart around on her porcelain plate. She was dressed in a pretty sunshine day dress, and her golden eyes darted from her plate to her husband, wondering if even that topic would set him off.
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▲ my life is just constantly existing at ungodly hours
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Jan 31, 2021 18:17:18 GMT -5
Post by achromatic on Jan 31, 2021 18:17:18 GMT -5
Surprisingly, the morning wasn't horrible. The maids were a little less annoying, having just left him to his own devices. Of course, that meant he would decide to follow his own schedule, but the agenda seemed to be rather relaxed today compared to the couple of days before. The coffee was helpful; he practically downed it all at once when he finally dragged himself out of bed.
Cassian wouldn't be himself if he had arrived on time. Exactly fifteen minutes late–fashionably so, he'd argue–he simply took a seat as if nothing had happened, glancing at the food placed in front of him. A dull thank you left his mouth. French toast. That he did not mind at all. He always did have a sweet tooth, after all. He would've been happy to just ignore everything for the sake of his breakfast, but it seemed like the queen wanted to make conversation.
He looked up, blinking at the young woman. "It was fine, thank you for asking," he spoke, in the dull, polite tone he used whenever he was in his public diplomatic persona, "I assume you slept well? You look well-rested." While he wasn't as snappy and annoyed as the night before, the demeanor wasn't exactly better than the sarcastic one. Frankly, the dead-in-the-eyes look didn't fit anybody, much less the young king, but he was always guarded. It wasn't that he didn't trust Aela, but this was a political engagement, after all.
Still, he could see the reproach in her expression; was he too harsh the night before? He cleared his throat. "I apologize if I may have spoken out of turn last night," he recited, "it had been a long day and it would please me if you didn't hold that against me." Though he didn't mean to be cold, the apology still came off somewhat aloof.
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Jan 31, 2021 18:29:37 GMT -5
Post by nostalgic on Jan 31, 2021 18:29:37 GMT -5
So this was her life? A different husband every day, and never one that even pretended to be happy to be here. Aela sighed, turning her gaze back to her tart. "I slept well," she said, deciding not to mention his tardiness. "And do not worry about last night. It was nothing." Her acceptance of the apology was also aloof.
Maybe if it had been a genuine apology, they could move past it all. But it seemed to happen because he thought she expected it. He didn't truly regret his actions. The longer she spent with him, the more she realized he never would. He was not open to establishing any real relationship with her.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Did he think she liked torturing him with her presence? That she liked causing him discomfort? That she wanted to be the person who babysat him day and night to remind him of what they had to do? She did not want to do this, but if this sullen boy would not step up, she would have to.
"My sentiments still stand, though," she said in a clipped tone. "My advisor, Erien, will speak with you today about your expected duties over the next few weeks. I hope you will be more cordial with him, seeing as today won't be as draining for you."
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