Marius whimpered softly when Evan left again, but then shook his head, mentally kicking himself. He was being stupid again… I don't like Marianna… He sighed and hopped up to sit on the edge of the table. She's keeping him away from me. And I just… I don't want to marry her. But I don't really get a choice in that either, do I?
"Well no sadly. She is my only blood daughter. If things were different you could've married one of my other daughters but alas this alliance is very important. I am working towards opening trading ports and relations with others to heal our own little island. It's all about strong connections and your marriage is a greatly appreciated union. But. Do know that there is a LOT to Evan. A lot more then he presents himself as. With his past and his rather interesting hobbies and past times well, he's quite a few handfuls. That I've encouraged him to be. Know what you're in for."
I'm probably more of a handful than he is, honestly… there's a lot of shit I have to hide from when I was younger. Marius sighed softly as he lay back on the table. I don't want to get married in general… I feel like I'm too young. Like, I just turned eighteen and now I gotta get married. I don't like having no control, especially not over stuff like this…
"Well. Start changing around laws. A revolution. That's what I did when I started ruling dear. Get off the table it's dirty." She waited for him to get off before continuing. "And trust me. You both are equal handfuls from what I've heard from your mother." She gave a soft chuckle and tapped his nose.
Marius huffed a bit, reluctantly getting off the table when he was told to. I can't just start changing laws willy nilly… I'd get assassinated or something and I'm not looking to get killed at the moment. He ran his fingers through his hair and closed his eyes for a moment.
"Well no of course not. But. Slowly you can. Create some equality." She patted his hand and picked up some of his gifts. "Let's go put these in your gazing tower. After this I must plan the wedding and then the reception with your parents. Marianna will be there as well, along with Evan. It'd be best to hold your anger and neediness in as much as you can." She then walked off towards the doors of the library.
Marius huffed a bit and grabbed some things before following Crystal out of the library. I'm not that needy… He headed up the stairs with her, seeming a bit winded by the time he made it up. Sometimes I wish this thing wasn't so high… I'm always exhausted by the time I make it up.
"Yes you are dear. Very needy." She set down the telescope, and other items, and smiled gently. "Now then, let's go grab Marianna and Evan, and then go discuss some things with your parents yes?" She said this with a certain tricky twinkle in her eye.
Yeah, sure… back down the stairs we go… Marius sighed and huffed a bit as he turned tail and started making his way back down the stairs. He was definitely winded by the time he made it back down, but he was trying his best to ignore it.
She then let Marius lead the way to Evans room and once the two got there, she knocked on the door. "Evan? Marianna? We have a meeting to attend to." "Oh ah h-hold on mother!" There was some weird sounds that came from Evan and the shuffling of fabric. "No no no don't do that Anna or else you'll tear it!" Crystal gave Marius a confused look and gently opened the door to Evan in a deep royal blue dress with gold accents, standing there, while Marianna was trying to tug off of him. "Oh-Evan. Don't cross dress here." "I couldn't help it! She brought along my favorite." Crystal shook her head and began to slide the dress off of Evan, chiding the both of them, leaving Marius in the door frame.
Marius flushed red at the sight of Evan in a dress and quickly tipped the brim of his hat over his face in an attempt to hide it. He stayed in the doorway for now, figuring that Crystal would be able to handle this on her own. He definitely didn't need to be helping to take clothes off of Evan. It wouldn't help his situation in the slightest.
Evan finally slipped out of the gown and stood there in his pants. He had very feminine hips that his pants hung off of, and a small 4 pack as he stood there, running a hand through his hair. He was definitely sexy. "Mom why can't I cross dress here?" "Do you know the hatred and judgement you'd receive? I do not want to shelter you but I also don't want the dresses I hand make ruined by tomatoes and spit. So. Since your birthday is here in a month or so, I'll make you one like hers." "Mother! I do not want to MATCH others!" "I said LIKE yours Marianna, not exactly. It'll be sized and styled to more his tastes." The two just huffed as Evan got dressed and was about to kiss Marius's cheek, when he remembered Marianna. So he stiffened up as she looked at the two. "Why are you blushing Marius?" She screeched in an accusing tone.
Marius jumped at the loud noise and covered his ears, which made his hat return to normal. I'm not! I just ran up and down the stairs to the star tower. Excuse me for being a little out of breath. He huffed a bit and glared at Marianna with his arms now crossed, trying his absolute damnedest to keep his eyes off of Evan's bare chest. If he could manage it, then the lie would be convincing enough.
"Sounds like you need to work out young prince, like I do." Evan said as he got on his shirt and pants, doing up the belt buckle. "Maybe you can join me some mornings. Get your legs stronger." Marianna glared at Evan. "His mornings should be spent with ME!" "Doing what? Yelling at the servants? At least it'll be for his health and well being, My Queen." She smacked Evan on the head. "You best watch that tone of yours or I'll have your head!" "MARIANNA! Treat people with respect. Now really. All 3 of you. To…wherever they hold important meetings…now! And not another word of argument!" She stormed out of the room with Marianna in tow, already starting to talk about her wedding dress. Evan stayed behind the two and silently took Marius's hand.
Marius rolled his eyes as he listened to Marianna and Evan bickering, his blush slowly fading. However, it returned full force when Evan grabbed onto his hand. What's wrong with me today? God, I'm such a mess… He thought to himself, shaking his head a bit with a soft sigh. Hopefully this meeting would go well, at least… it would keep Evan around him more often, so he didn't have to constantly only be with Marianna.
Eventually they got to the meeting room as Evan secretly kissed Marius's cheek and whispered. "I love you." In his ear. He couldn't help it. These tiny little moments with Marius were like gold nuggets to him now as Marius's parents sat at the head of the table. Then there was Crystal, and then Marianna across from her. Evan sat next to Crystal. "Now then, the wedding. It shall be by the end of this week then, yes? And then Marianna moves in here…I have some ideas for decorations." And out Crystal pulled sketches, and soon the 4 were involved in things like colors, and lighting. Evan spoke up. "And what about Marius? It's both of their weddings, whether they like it or not." And so the conversation changed. Evan sat there hands folded, when he felt a small notebook and pencil levitate into his lap out of Crystal's bag. He opened it and began to sketch so he wouldn't be too bored during the wash of conversation.
Marius whined softly and tugged his hat over his face again, turning his ears back when Evan whispered in them. When he was asked his opinion on the wedding, he offered very little. It wasn't like he really wanted to get married to begin with, so he didn't actually care much. Additionally, allowing Marianna to pick pretty much everything would mean that she'd be bitching and whining a little less, which was definitely preferable. While the others were talking, he glanced down to watch Evan draw.
Evan was drawing his own version of a wedding dress, a sad sigh on his face. He'd never get married, which broke his heart a bit. It was white at top and then faded down to blue at the end with long sleeves, done ballroom style. He sighed sadly as he began to sketch a ring too. Letting it all become background noise. He hadn't noticed Marius watching while he sketched, lost in his own little sad fantasy that would never come true.
Marius cocked his head to the side a bit, seeming a bit confused. Why was Evan drawing a dress? Was it one he wanted to wear? Or did he just enjoy designing clothing? He tried to focus on the meeting as well as he could so he wouldn't just be staring into the other's lap, but the meeting was pretty dull…
He sighed and whispered to himself. "If only I could get married…" He then shook his head and looked up as the pace of conversation seemed to be slowing down. Then it went silent. So Evan shut his sketchbook and decided now would be the best time to bring up his idea. "Oh My Queen." He said, looking at Karen. "I have an idea. I was speaking with Marius and he really only knows a lot about the stars. I've been travelling and discovering the world since I was a young little lad, so I have much to teach and he has much to learn. I was wondering if I could become his personal tutor?" Evan fidgeted with his hands nervously, picking at the sides of his fingernails, but otherwise managed to stay still and appear unfaltered.
Marius looked down and fidgeted a bit as Evan spoke, hoping the response to his question would be good. The queen considered for a few seconds, humming softly to herself as she thought. "Yes, I think that would be beneficial for the both of you. He spends an awful lot of time in that star tower of his. It would do him some good to research other things." Marius rolled his eyes, but he was incredibly relieved. She'd said yes… he and Evan could spend more time together!
Evan nodded. "Wonderful. Maybe their honeymoon could be in Obdin? I could show them the dragons, and what a true Fair Festival is, as you know there are many creatures just like Marius there. Introduce him to some of his own kind, teach him their customs." And so the honeymoon conversation began, with Crystal chipping in. Evan then began to draw Marius next to him in a suit, and soon it became a whole wedding scene.
Marius flushed a bit as he watched Evan draw. Don't talk about me like I'm some kind of animal… I'm plenty cultured. He huffed. It was hard to stay annoyed at the moment, though… not when he was so distracted by Evan.
"I'm not saying you are my prince, but you are half animal. I just want you to see much more of the world here. And don't worry I won't force you into anything you don't want to be involved in." He ripped out the page and handed it to Marius, and began to sketch flowers and pointless doodles. Whatever came to mind. Dragon heads, though they looked like a second grade did the dragon head. His wedding sketch was brilliant but some of these…not so much.
Marius looked down at the drawing for several seconds when it was handed to him, but soon carefully folded it up and stuck it into his pocket. Yeah, yeah… but still. I've been raised like a full human and I act like one. I don't see why we need to complicate things.