yuemiru | THRADS.

THRADS.

[I am a puff of my word.

Thus, sometime after the trial and amidst somewhat, ah, heated debates about certain betrothals, Yue has finally snapped, told Alex's father he can either be present and invited at the wedding or not, it's happening regardless, and left the room. Whatever fallout has come of that, the fact that she's standing in one of the outdoor training yards and the entire thing is on fire save where she's standing in the center, leaving was probably the best option for a Queen-to-be under a not inconsiderable amount of stress and pressure.

But like hell she's going to remain unbothered, right?]

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[Well, no. Everything being on fire, it turns out, is a fantastic method by which to keep the young knight out. He can't sword or diplomacy fire, only stand there and wait for it to stop.]

[...She does stop the fire after she notices him, at least? Although she hasn't particularly moved from where she was standing, yet.]

[Which elicits a small chuckle out of him.]

Is it safe for me to come out now, Princess?

[Huffing a little.]

It wouldn't have burned you to begin with, unless I wanted it too. Which I don't.

I'd really prefer not take my chances with fire, all things being equal, my love.

[He'll head over to her though, despite what has to be incredible residual heat, and she is getting a hug.]

[She likes hugs! he will even get one back!]

Most people wouldn't...that was kind of the idea, even.

I suppose that is one way of getting time by yourself, but doesn't your door seal itself when you don't want visitors?

[He does have a point. He's also leaning his head atop hers if she's just gonna hug him like that.]

My father knows how to open the seal.

[Nuzzling into his neck.]

And I don't really want to be inside right now.

[Tilting his head down to kiss the top of hers.]

Then what do you want to do? Where do you want to go? You're practically the queen now, it isn't as if they can stop you.

You shouldn't tell me things like that, I'll get ideas.

[Licking up his neck.]

Hmmm...I might have a couple ideas. It'll be a bit of a long flight, though.

[Shuddering a bit, and hugging her a little tighter in return.]

W-well, what would those be, Princess? Don't leave me in the dark...

Hmm...I showed you my secret base before, didn't I?

But...no, I was thinking, there's a town by the sea...they should be having their yearly festival soon. It's quite spectacular, I'm told.

Whatever you want to do, I am more than willing to do it with you. The town, the secret base, hiding in the castle and speaking ill of our parents... I just wish to have some time with you.

[Leaning down and licking her ear, since she's got her face in his neck apparently.]

[Squeaking, before leaning away from him to whistle for yon big and scaley taxi service.]

I'm pretty sure we'll be speaking ill of them wherever...so why not do it someplace pretty and save from eavesdropping?

Have I ever told you that you make the best noises, my love?

[Yes, lean away, that gives him time to lean down and lightly chomp on her neck. Advantage pressed!]

[YELP fortunately any retaliation on her part is interrupted by the dragon arriving.]

A-Alex!!

I will behave on the dragon, do not worry.

[Letting her go and giving her a gentle push toward it. You know, with a hand on the small of the back. He did say he'd behae on the dragon.]

Yeah, can't imagine why.

[Well fine. She'll climb aboard and offer him a hand up with no more than a dirty look at his misbehavior. She'll have her vengeance, Alex. Don't doubt her.]

[Given their track record, he actually does kind of doubt it! But fine, he will behave on the ride to this town, beyond holding on tight to her the whole way. Then again, fucking dragon. You'd want something to hold onto as well.]

[She could totally get her revenge all in one fell swoop the moment he leaves her alone long enough to change into a costume.

The ride is, as she said, a bit of a ways, but they do land at a coastal harbor, right about at sunset.]

--Oh! Good timing...there's time to show you around some before it's dark enough to send out the lanterns.

[She'd have to know that worked, which implies either she's also into costumes or she has spies. Both of these raise questions.

He's glad to land, because while he could literally hug her all day as he has been doing, it's also good to stretch his legs.]

Augh, I think I could definitely stand to walk a bit...

[That's for alex to find out when he picks his jaw up off the floor. But we're getting ahead of ourselves.]

It is a bit much...Well, look, the festival stalls are down by the beach, I think? I smell food.

I imagine all that magic's worked on your sweet tooth...

[Snagging her hand then, and walking through the streets as they go. He is taking his time, though, he clearly wants to look around the whole town... It's easy to forget he's basically been captive in the castle this whole time.]

[She's perfectly happy to let him lead, but she is definitely on the lookout for food, here.]

Sweet tooth nothing, I smell meat. [Grinning at him.] Are you really going to tell me you're not hungry?

I've got a bit of an appetite, but if you looked at me the way you did those little chocolate pastries, I don't think I would would know what to do.

[He's wandering in that direction. He knows he can tease her but if she's hungry stopping her would be a terrible idea.]

[Welcome to the wonderful world of festival food, Alex. And it seems, even all the way out here, Yue's recognized as the heir, so she procures some meat on a stick without much fuss. She'll even hand him one!]

Really? I'll have to remember that.

[He is okay with a meat skewer. Really he just looks more than thrilled to be out again, but especially out somewhere with her.]

I'm not certain I'd be that delicious, Princess.

I feel like any comments I could make on your flavor would be highly inappropriate in this setting, dear.

[She is catching on to that, and leaning a little into him.] And we're exploring, aren't we? Wherever catches your eye...It isn't as though your father can make us return. We've all the time you want.

I'm just worried of the consequences you might suffer for this.

[Leaning back down to her, because this is a sweet moment and also this just leaves his steak skewer free to be stolen, but mostly because he's glad to have her close.]

But I'll go anywhere you want.

[She's not stealing his steak. This time. She will lean up to boop her nose to his, though!]

No consequence he didn't already make an empty threat of doing...He'd be a fool to try and claim we took you against your will. But don't worry about that right now.

Besides, you're the one who's been trapped in the castle, shouldn't you call the shots here?

[She might not steal his food but he is stealing a kiss if she's gonna go that far, and he's actually a bit flushed when they do pull back.]

Honestly, dear, I have no clue where I am or what this festival is for... I'm not sure I should lead, but if you insist.

[Eh fuckit, they're going thatta way.]

[Thatta way has shiny lights and what appears to be festival games. Of course, given they're all designed for mages, they may be a bit more, um, odd than he's used to.]

The festival...well, every year they put out moonflowers, to light the way home for the spirits of those who drown at sea. Somewhere along the way, it became a celebration of the lives those people lived, rather than a day of mourning. Which of course means getting hideously drunk and eating until you can't move anymore.

[He really can't play these games, then, so they sadly have no real interest to him other than watching some people play them. He'll tighten his grip on her hand.]

In the end, all we can do in the face of death is celebrate our lives. It is the only thing that makes us human, no?

It comes for us all, eventually. We mages might live longer, but we're as susceptible to misfortune and sharp things as anybody else...so why fear and loathe when Death might come? Might as well celebrate the time we do have. [She squeezes his hand, in what she hopes is a reassuring fashion, and then nudges him towards the perfectly ordinary ring toss.]

Enough of such gloomy business! We can to enjoy ourselves, yes?

[Perfectly ordinary ringtoss for a nation where most the population uses magic to assist in every mundane task? Sounds like it's time for him to basically wreck this while the guy's explaining the rules to him. Look, he's got to rock what little he can do here.]

Of course~ Just don't beat that poor man's game too hard, huh?

[She's content to watch...and maybe wander over to a nearby game stall while he's doing that. what is she plotting? it is a mystery.]

[It is a mystery he is too preoccupied to solve. Look, the man has a giant stuffed dragon and he's going to win her the giant stuffed dragon and there is absolutely nothing that she can do to stop him from doing so.]

[Of course not, but this is about to get hilarious, since she's bringing him back what she won.

...Which appears to be a very large jewel-like egg? Yue, yue no.]

Aleeeex~

Hello, my love. What do you have there?

[He's not really sure what the hell that is, seriously. Dragons are for slaying, where he's from.]

It is an egg. Here, hold on to it for a minute.

[c: Look at this face. It is the face of innocence.

[He'll quirk his eyebrow at it some and take the egg from her.]

What a strange egg.

Hmm...it should hatch in a week or two, we're pretty lucky. They said it washed up on the beach in the last summer storms. Normally, a town like this would raise it together, but several eggs washed up, and they can't take care of more than one of them.

And every prince needs a valiant steed, no?

[YUE.]

...What sort of egg is this?

[YUE XENOBIOLOGY ISN'T HIS STRONG SUIT.]

Hard to say what kind it is exactly, but...[Squinting at it.]

Prooobably some variety of gryphon? Dragon eggs are much larger than this, and even I'd have trouble touching one this close to hatching. And a phoenix egg would have dissolved after that much time in the water.

[Yue don't say these things so casually.]

I... I cannot say I have ever given much thought to how these things are born. Slain, yes, but this is a new perspective.

[He pauses, considering.]

Go pick up your dragon.

I really hope you're not planning on taking up monster-slaying as a career, they're pretty popular pets.

[Kissing his forehead, and wandering off to the booth to fetch plush dragon.]

I suppose it will be another aspect of my life that I leave in my old homeland, dear.

[He is confused by the forehead kiss but, hey, egg.]

[It is very warm and kind of glows prettily? So that's a thing.

She is coming back with the giant plushie after a second.] So where next?

I'm not sure. I've not had a lot of experience with these sorts of things... I can't play most of the games, either. Perhaps watch a performance?

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THRADS.

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