“I wouldn’t want to burden you with my troubles when you have so many of your own to handle.” he said sadly, looking Ezra in the eyes. “If you wish it, I will do so, but I still advise against it. Your life is worth more than mine, either way.”
He chuckles quietly. "Take this the way you wish, but helping others seems to ease my mind." He chuckles quietly and squeezed his hand gently. "I do not think my life is above any one else's… I understand that I have a kingdom to run but…" He smiled a little bit. "If you want to talk about it, get it off your chest please feel free to tell me." He whispers.
“I’m past it now. We were in love, he’s dead, now we’re out of love. Simple as that, I don’t know why you care about my feelings over the whole thing.” he shrugged, taking his crutch and standing up. “I need some new clothes, I’ve been wearing these ones for days now,” he sighed.
He nods slowly as the other talked, listening. Ezra had never fallen in love, it was a rarity for him, not only that but he just never found the right person. He stood slowly and nods quietly. "Not to worry. Why don't we head back in? You can take a bath and relax, and I'll have a maid bring some new clothes for you… If that's alright?" He asks curiously.
“That sounds perfect, if you don’t mind me saying. These old bones won’t be able to take much more if I don’t get to cleaning up soon.” he laughed, starting to walk back inside the castle.
Ezra nods and smiles warmly, "Of course. You're more than welcome to take as much time as you need." He walks beside the other and hums softly as they walk. "The maids tend to add lots of soap, so I hope you like bubble baths."
“I’ll manage,” he chuckled, hobbling down the hall. “Where do I go, now? This place is like that of a labyrinth.”
He smiled warmly and chuckled quietly. "Here." He guides the other through a short cut. "This palace is a maze, that's the whole point. My ancestors made it like this so that the enemy would have issues finding their way." He shrugged. They made it back to his room and he waved over a maid, speaking in a soft language to her. She nods and smiles before running off. "Anyways. Please go rest while the maids prepare the bath and your clothes." He opens the door for Aces.
Aces sat down on the bed, grateful to get some rest for his leg again. Sitting down was always easier to standing up for him, so he was always grateful to get a chance to sit.
He smiled gently at the other, wandering to his bed and settling down onto the soft covers. He gave a tired sigh, rubbing at his eyes. He had a meeting with his council tonight so he needed to prepare for that. He didn't want to though. He hated his council.
Aces waited for a while. Then waited some more. Eventually, he stood up and walked to the door, seeing a crowd of maids all gathered outside. “What the fuck?” he wondered aloud, and in and instant all but one ran away, making a chorus of squeaks and squeals. “What the hell was that all about?” he asked the woman who remained.
“I-I’m sorry sir, they said the king’s new concubine was a fearsome warrior and handsome hero and well… they wanted to see if you lived up to their expectations; you fell short on the handsome end, unfortunately. I’ll show you to the bath.” she said, taking Aces along to a glorious room with flowing water and gilded tubs galore, the room steamy and hot like a sauna.
Aces waved the maid away, unsure what to make of the earlier scene. He undressed and entered the bath, taking his time in washing up. He could now, here, without worrying about the water getting cold. Everything was made to be perfect, here.
After a moment, he sighed and stood, ringing for his usual maid. She entered quietly. The poor girl had been constantly harassed by the other maids since she was deaf. He smiled kindly at her and she smiled in reply. He signed to her that he needed his robes prepared, as well as a bath, she nods and exits. He watches her leave before walking to the mirror. He looked at himself in distaste, braiding his hair slowly over his shoulder. He just wanted this to be over with.
The maid returned and he asked her one more favor. She nods and bows before scurrying off. He nods in satisfaction and enters his bathroom, sinking into the bathtub. He gave a satisfied sigh and shut his eyes, letting his mind ease. He wasn't sure what to think any more, but he was grateful at least that he had someone new to guide him in his council. He desperately needed it.
Once out of the bath, he got dressed into a white flowing shirt that tucked in neatly to his black pants. He wore simple shoes. He pulled his hair into a neat bun and nods solemnly to himself as he wraps his mothers necklace around his neck. He sighed and adjusts himself. He needed to look like a king. Be a king. He grabs his crown and sets it on the top of his head. He sighed and touched his mirror. But did he really deserve the title of a king?
Aces exited the tub, finding an outfit was already laid out for him. It wasn’t much of an outfit, being a silk loincloth and thin, transparent cloak as well as a heavy load of jewelry, but if that was what he was to wear, so be it. He laughed at the twin anklets, he could only wear them on the one leg as he had no other. He dressed himself, finding his old clothes had mysteriously disappeared, likely to the trash. The jewelry was heavy, decadent, and clunky, but he did what he had to to make it in this new, unfamiliar world of finery and fancy.
He hummed quietly as he waiting for the other to come to his room, sighing quietly to himself. He hears a soft knock and walks to the door, allowing Ana (the maid for earlier) into his room. She was carrying a heavy suitcase. He smiles and takes it gratefully, handing her a few coins before setting it on the bed. He then settles back onto the bed and waits patiently for Aces to return from his bath.
Aces had to ask the maid for directions, but eventually mad his way to the king’s room. It was where he was expected to stay, after all, even if it made him feel strange. It had been so long since he’d slept in another man’s bed, and when Ezra noticed his chest… well, things would go downhill pretty quickly. It was still bandaged down to prevent any suspicion, and he was holding a towel over it as well but… well, his peers had always accepted him, but nobody knew about his body. He couldn’t be seen as a woman again, he’d die before that happened.
Ezra was asleep on his bed, his eyes shut peacefully as he relaxed. He looked ethereal as he rested, his hair framing his face prettily. His chest rose and fell slowly, and for once, the sorrow and pain on his face seemed to disappear. However, when he heard Aces enter the room, he sat up slowly and smile a little bit. "How was your bath?" He asked gently. He walks to the other side of his bed and removes the suitcase, as well as some extra clothes. "Knowing the maids, they probably didn't take you seriously. I have some clothes that would be a little more fitting." He chuckles warmly.
“Yes, a shirt would be nice.” he said, trying to cover up his chest with the towel, a little desperate. Ezra couldn’t see him like this, he couldn’t know, even if with his hips and thin but muscled legs it became all the more obvious.
He hands the other the clothing and then turns his back. Despite them being both men, he just found it more respectful. "I have a gift for you." He mutters quietly. He settles onto his bed and grabs the suitcase from before unlocking it carefully. He over looks it. "I had a close friend of mine craft it." He murmured quietly. Despite them not being a thing. Ezra was still going to shower the other in gifts because that was expected.
(What is the extent of magic in this world by the way?)
(Honestly magic is just. A thing. It happens. Like, technically anything can happen it just depends on the level of power the user has.)
“What is it?” Aces asked, after gratefully pulling on the loose pants and tunic the other man offered. He looked at the briefcase, tilting his head in suspicion. In the army, he was raised to assume everything was a trap set by the Dark Kingdoms, something that came in handy more often than not.
He waited for the other to finish getting dressed, his eyes soft as he waited. "I have a friend who is a talented magic user. I asked her for something… I uh-" He cleared his throat. When was the last time he had given someone a gift? He couldn't remember. He had never loved anyone. He slowly opened the briefcase. Inside was a prosthetic. "You can use it if you wish. It's magic so it will grow to whatever height you need it to be and comfortable. I just wasn't sure if you liked using the crutch or not…" He inhaled softly. "I'm not good at gifts, so if this displeases you I can return it…"
“Does it walk well? I really only have a stub of leg to go on, after all. They couldn’t even save my damn knee, which was something of a shame, but you can’t change the past.” he shrugged, fitting the prosthetic on. It immediately grafted onto his leg, and felt just like any leg should, but made of gold and gilded with a strange, swirling substance that shimmered in the light.
He nods slowly. "It adapts to whatever you're doing. It's magic after all." He laughs quietly and watches as the other put on the prosthetic. He waited quietly and smiled softly as he waited. "It should adjust to your body and how you walk, so…" He smiled a little. "Do you like it?" he asks curiously. He just wanted to make sure that the prosthetic was pleasing enough. He inhaled quietly and adjusts his hair.
Aces smiled, embracing the other man. “It’s perfect, thank you.” he said, standing and wobbling about but being able to easily regain his balance. “This will certainly take some getting used to,” he chuckled faintly.
He startles a little bit when he was hugged, smiling and hugging him back gently. He nods and stands close, offering support to the other if he needed it. "I'm glad you like it." His smile was warm, filled with affection. "Shall we head over to the meeting?" He asks curiously, offering his arm to the other.
(gentle poke)