forum At War // OxO // Closed

Started September 19, 2021 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

Nik shrugged faintly. "This is running on the assumption that, as soulmates, we intend to marry." he added after a moment, clearing his throat and not looking at Kaylum. "It…might work out well for us to do so."

Not only that, but since everything that was done to establish peace went so horribly wrong, the only way they could repair it would be through political marriage.
Kaylum sighed. “Perhaps…”

Nik looked over at him again. "My apologies, if that is not something that you desire." he said in a quiet tone. "We do not have to marry, you know."

Kaylum met his gaze. “There’s no need. You know we… we have to. That is the only way we can repair what has been destroyed, now. I’m just being…” he frowned at himself. “Being stubborn. And in normal circumstances, my people do not marry so young. The idea is so… unfamiliar.”

Nik nodded faintly. "Yes, well. I hate to be blunt, but we don't have time to wait another 80 years or however long your people usually wait. If you wait that long, I will be dead." he looked at Kaylum, a faint frown tugging at his lips.

For some reason, the way Nik spoke made him laugh. “Oh, no, of course not. We just have to wait another 60 and I’ll be fine,” he teased. His parents had in fact gotten married in their eighties, that was the normal age.

"I will still be dead." He replied. "Or, well, very very old." he laughed a little bit, shaking his head. "But, yes, in order to do it within a good amount of time for humans– and my lifespan– if we are to marry, it will need to be within the next five years."

“The next five?” An incredulous expression crossed his face. “Great ancestors, you humans do not last long.”

"I told you, average lifespan is about 80 years. Total. I am already 20, which means I have already lived about a quarter of my life, assuming I make it to 80. Therefore, within the next five to ten years, at the maximum, is our prime time, at least for me."

“Alright, alright, I get the idea,” he huffed. A quarter? Kay had lived less than a tenth of his natural life. “Five years then. At the most. We may likely have to get married sooner.”

"Yes." Nik replied. "I am sorry about that, that we must rush into this. But… between the war and my lifespan…" And to be honest, he had no idea if this curse would affect his lifespan. If he would live longer because of it, or if he would die sooner. Either way, he and Kaylum needed to wed if they survived.

(“And they were cellmates”)
(“Omg they were cellmates”)

Kaylum raised an eyebrow at him. “You sure are apologizing a lot for things you can’t control,” he remarked. Even if he was uncomfortable with the idea, he had accepted the fact that a union between them was their best move.

(lmaoo)

He cocked his head faintly. "Well, it is technically my fault that we must rush into this. If I had not attacked Seren– or if I was never born in the first place– then none of this would be happening. Therefore, it is my fault. Without Seren attacking the camp, we could have done the treaty without needing to be married, and he would never have attacked the camp if I had not attacked him first."

Kay sat up, unsure whether he should be annoyed or amused. “By Anthemian’s tooth, I’ve told you this before, prince. How can you ask to born, and be born with a curse for that matter? Honestly, I don’t think it matters that you attacked him.” Just then, he thought of something. “Hmm, I wonder, if that curse was not imprinted on you, would our souls still be tied together? If you had not been born with it, would we still be..?”

He blinked at him, considering that. "I'm…I'm not sure." He said softly. "It's…I don't know if the curse affects soulmates or not. There's no research on that, because of what Kevra usually does with cursed children." He cleared his throat very faintly, eyes narrowing faintly as he considered that.

Kaylum shook his head. “Aye, aye. Anyhow, I disagree. It’s not your fault, and I don’t see the point of playing the blame game anyway. We’re here now, there’s no point in dwelling on the past. If we live in the next five years or sooner, we’ll wed. Our feelings about it do not matter in the long run.”

He nodded slightly. "Yes. And once we are married, I will not mind if you take on a mistress or mister." He said softly. "I shall not hold that against you, as, while we are soulmates, I do not want to trap you in a relationship with me."

He studied the other man for a moment. “That is thoughtful of you. I will not mind if you do the same.”

Nik nodded faintly. "Of course." Privately, he knew he would not; a mistress especially not. Any pregnancy, any bastards, and the Kevran throne would potentially be put into jeopardy.

Really, he did not know if he would take a lover. He had never really been interested in such things, they had always seemed rather pointless in the stories Kaylum has heard and read. Though, he has speculated, and had been in a relationship before. It just did not last long. If he took a lover now, or in the near future, he believed it would end similarly. And then, what would be the point of it? What would he have gained? Memories, perhaps. Just memories.

He sighed faintly, shaking his head for a moment. "Anyways." He didn't know what to say now, what he wanted to do about all of this. What was on their future? What would he and Kaylum do? What would even happen to them, what would Seren do?

Kaylum laid back down, closed his eyes. “Well, since we spent this much time talking about it, we have to live now. We have to.”
He was getting tired again. His mismatched eyes fluttered open, then closed once more.

He hummed a little. "We should try and get some sleep; we will need it tomorrow, I think. Seren will need my crown, and he…" he closed his eyes. "He is going to do anything he can to get it from me. I hate to say this, but…he may hurt you to try and force me to give up my crown, and…and I'm going to have to tell you that I can't break for you. I cannot do that to my country." he didn't open his eyes, not wanting to see the expression on Kaylum's face. "I cannot break for your pain, disregarding our status as soulmates."

“Oh, wonderful. Pain and suffering,” Kay said sarcastically. “Hmm, good. If you broke for me, then I would consider that to be very, very stupid.”
Even if he was being sarcastic, he was almost eager to face whatever Seren may have in store for him. Neither his parents or Xiomara are here to protect him, and though the pain of losing them was still raw, he wanted to see what he could do on his own. He had been shielded for so long…

Nik sighed very faintly. "I am sorry." he said. "But I will not endanger my country for you." his words were quiet, but honest. At least, he hoped they were. He knew he would not break for himself, but he had always, always broke easier for the pain of others than his own. He could only hope Seren did not know that.