(sjhfbd for some reason I read "briskly" as "Britishly" lmao)
(also I love how Sabbas is like "i routinely talk to my potential gay lovers in chapels" and Edward is like "if we stay in here one second longer i will Physically Combust" lmao)
Edward watched as Sabbas moved away, nodding slightly and following him, then going through the door. The sky was clouded, the way it almost always was here in England. It was what Edward was used to, really, and it felt like home. Weather like this always did. To be fair, that was because it was home. How could it feel like anything else? He paused once he had stepped outside, waiting for Sabbas to join him outside of teh chapel. He glanced up at it, eyes traveling up the architecture. It still felt strange, to stand in its shadow with these feelings curdled in his chest.
(Lmao I love their energies)
Never did he expect the weather to be so gloomy; perhaps he shouldn't have taken the sun at home for granted. It always makes him feel sluggish and wine doesn't cheer him up. Oh how he misses the Costa del Sol. His eyes drifted, watching as the king passed by. A loud thump pounded in his chest. Maybe he does not have to worry much about the lack of sun from the clouds above. Maybe…..just maybe.
Closing the door, he let go of the handle. Sabbas brushed off his shoulders then ran his fingers through his hair. He walked over to His Majesty, making sure he kept a little distance between them. Tilting his chin up, he glanced at their surroundings and the architecture. "Ahh fresh air," He smiled, "It is lovely out here."
(same)
Edward looked over at Sabbas, shrugging a shoulder slightly. "I suppose that that is…subjective. I like it, but, for me, it is home. I am quite used to this. You are not." he replied slowly, shaking his head for a moment. "Spain is a sunny place, yes? Not a rainy place like my England." much as he worried about failing his country, England was his. It had been since he was very young, and would be until he died.
Keeping his hands in front of them, he clasped them together. His gaze met the king's. While His Majesty is correct, Sabbas wasn't sure if he should (or could even) confine in monarch about such a little detail. He smiled at the thought of home. The feeling of missing it is in him, yet he doesn't want to encourage it further. On the other hand, it all is part of his duty, yes?
"It would be safe to say that is sunny most of the time," He assured. Especially in Málaga; the sun would rise before dawn and then set in time for the stars shining above. The view from his balcony is beautiful. Sabbas sighed, "Every now and then it rains, yet I never imagined it to rain as much as it does here….Still sun or not, it is lovely here."
Edward nodded. "Of course. Spain sounds lovely, though it is a different beauty from England's." he replied, smiling slightly as his eyes moved around the outdoor space near them, tracing up the edge of the chapel beside them. "It is lovely here." he agreed. "Though it's weather is not the only lovely thing about it." nor the only ugly thing. England had its troubles; any country did, though Edward would not be exposing those troubles to Sabbas.
"It is indeed, although I wish you were able to see it all. I have yet to see it all," He sighed. Sabbas bit his bottom lip. For moment, he looked up to the gray cloudy sky. "No it is not the only one." With his chin parallel to the ground, his eyes took a glimpse at King Edward. The movement was so natural, so rudimentary. And yet, they glistened a little, just before he looked down at the ground. "England has its many beauties, that I can assure you, Your Majesty."
Edward smiled softly, glancing around the nature around them. "Yes. We have been blessed by the Lord." his eyes moved to the chapel now, still feeling its shadow looming over them, casting long fingers over them in a grasp that would not go away, even once he and Sabbas had left to go elsewhere.
Sabbas was not able to look down at the ground for long. It is as if his eyes had some kind of pull to King Edward. A light shined in his eyes. Were they reflecting His Majesty's smile? His heart shivered, yet he felt the ground being made of clouds. "Surely he has blessed you with such a face as yours…" The instance those words left his mouth, he went back to looking down at the ground. He bowed his head, "My apologies, Your Majesty. I am not sure what came over me…"
Edward inhaled faintly at Sabbas's words, hands coming up to twist the signet ring around his finger, gaze moving quickly about as if to search for an eavesdropper. "I…" how could he respond? The words could be innocent. Must be innocent. Surely Spain would not send an ambassador who was impure the way Edward was. Surely no country would pick such a person as their ambassador. Not when Edward felt terrible enough as a king. No country would pick someone like him to represent them in foreign matters. Sabbas's words must only have been flattery. Could not be anything else. "We can forget that you ever spoke them, Ambassador, if you wish."
The matter of fact is, Sabbas knew he was a man of sin since day one. His "special interests towards certain people" was just added on to his bastard nature. Eventually it became something second nature thanks to a few, but he was always in a place where it is normal to hide it. Now he is in a place where it is not normal and it is even more worse to hide it. And somehow his other behaviors are more acceptable, even in England.
Is he sure he isn't intoxicated? No, the last time he drank wine was yesterday afternoon which so isn't like him at all. What in God's name is going on anyways? But he meant every single word. Oh yes. He would never lie about such a thing; he'd swear on his father, his real father.
His Adam's apple bobbed. "I believe that it is a matter up to you, Your Majesty," He pointed out. Lifting his chin, he glimpsed over towards the king for a second. "I do not possess such ability or power to do so, I'm afraid. I can never forget anything nor anyone."
"I believe you are mistaken, ambassador. I do not have the privilege of forgetting anything." the words skirted the very edge of…something. Propriety? He wasn't sure. Nevertheless, they felt wrong from his lips. "Least of all compliments from– well, from ambassadors." it had been a far too close a call. What was wrong with him today? He glanced skyward, silently praying for strength and fortitude, for the devil was strong today indeed. "But, in light of your embarrassment on the matter, I suppose I can pretend that I never heard it."
(Edward, feeling normal human emotions towards an attractive man: dear lord help me satan tempts me)
(whereas Sabbas…he goes a little more like "yeah let's do it")
First off it was King Edward acting strange in the chapel and now he is the one acting strange. Not only that but he just being a complete fool in front of one of the men that he shouldn't be. And how can he forget this? Sabbas only can forget anything over wine and dancing. Dancing, yes that's what he will call it for now.
Embarrassment, that is one way to put it. "Thank you, Your Majesty." Would he truly take back his words? No, not really. It is despicable how such a man is beautiful and he cannot utter a single word. How utterly despicable for God to put him in such a position.
"May I ask you a rather foolish question? One in which we both may remember or forget for the better then?"
(I feel like Sabbas is about to risk it all. The unhinged Sabbas energy is there)
Edward's brows gathered faintly, but he nodded slightly in response to Sabbas's words. "You may ask, Ambassador Valiente." he replied, curious as to what Sabbas could be about to ask him. What question did the ambassador consider a foolish one to be forgotten or remembered? He ran a hand through his hair, golden waves glinting faintly in the muted, cloudy lighting as it caught what little sun filtered through the clouds.
Do I frighten you? Does my apperance make you uncomfortable? They floated around in his head just waiting to rush out of his mouth. And it was going to happen. It was until he glimpsed at King Edward, watching as he brushed his hair with his hand. Suddenly another question appeared. What do I have to do so I can ran my own hand through your hair as we lay together?
Sabbas gulped. "Would you care to join me in having red wine from Spain in my chambers?" That is what he finally asked. In the following moments after, his mind uttered every single curse in his native tongue to himself. What has gotten into him today?
Edward considered the request for a long moment, trying to think what else he had going on that day, but he could not think of anything that needed to happen soon. Could not think of a single thing that could stop him from accepting Sabbas's invitation. He swallowed, taking a deep breath, and then responded. "I believe I may accept this invitation, ambassador." he replied, lips twitching into a soft, quick little smile.
It is completely normal to invite others (including monarchs) over for wine. On the other hand, Sabbas had no clue where that thought came from. The nerves left him stiff, not even considering the option of looking at the king. "¿Qué?" Did King Edward really just an invitation that he made on the whim?
"Oh…." Sabbas cleared his throat. "Wonderful. Wonderful….Would you like to go now, Your Majesty?" He has no clue what he is doing. No forethought has gone into this. No plans have been made. He is just letting his heart do all the decision making.
Edward took a deep breath, and nodded slightly. "Yes. Unless you have a reason not to?" he asked, raising his eyebrows faintly and studying Sabbas. Perhaps he should not have accepted the other man's invitation, but…he did not really see a reason not to. After all, this would help him get to know Sabbas better, which could help to improve relations between England and Spain.
Sabbas shook his head. "No reason at all, Your Majesty," He assured, giving a beam. "I just had to think which wine would be the best. There are many wonderful ones from Spain." He gave himself time to take a slow exhale. This is fine. Everything will be fine. "Please follow me, Your Majesty." He began to walk off in the direction which he came from before.
Edward followed Sabbas after a moment, moving quietly behind the ambassador. He knew how to get to Sabbas's quarters, of course, but he was not going to lead the way there. It would be rude to do so. The quarters were the Spaniard's, after all, and there was no reason for Edward to lead Sabbas there. He did wonder, not for the first time and certainly not the last, why he had accepted this invitation.
So many thoughts ran through his head. There isn't anything he can pair with the wine for this time of day. He really is inviting the king to his quarters out onbthe whim for wine due to his heart being sent for a panic. A random meeting with an attractive man; it's not like he has experienced that before.
Sabbas opened both doors then waited for Kong Edward to enter first. Afterwards, he walked in and shut the doors behind him. The quarters were decorated just like home. Every corner flourished with elegance of Spaniard and Moorish roots. There were portraits and paintings of famiky members and the Spanish royal family all around. Even his desk is riddled with papers, scrolls, and the letters from the king.
"Have you ever had wine from Spain, Your Majesty?" He asked while taking out two glasses from a compartment in a chest. Then he pulled out a green bottle of wine. "It is one of the best in the world."
His gaze flickered about Sabbas's quarters, taking in the paintings and portraits, all the various personal items that Sabbas had out. At the question, he raised his eyebrows faintly as he processed the question. "I do not believe that I have. If I had, it was not recently." he replied, a soft smile tugging at his mouth as he waited.
What was he doing here? In Sabbas's chambers? This…this was inapropriate of him. That was what it was. It was not appropriate for him to do, but yet…if anyone said anything, what was wrong with it? He was visiting an ambassador and making conversation. What problems could someone have with it?
"Ah, I see." He laughed a little. Taking a cloth that was left on his desk, he did his best to make the glasses less dusty. He's never personally used them, yet he worried about the dust staying on the glasses. Appearance and taste matters, even if it just from some simple wine.
Nothing bad ever happens when there's wine about, right? Right? Sabbas gulped. He knows his limits and he knows that a drunk man's words is a sober man's thoughts. They won't become intoxicated. At least he knows that he won't, hopefully. He really shouldn't have been so aimless.
He poured wine into the two glasses, leaving the red liquid to rest halfway. The wine bottle rattled the other assortments on his desk as he placed it down. With his index, middle finger, and thumb, he picked up one and gave it a tiny swirl before handing it over to King Edward.
"Here you go, my dear king. Rioja from the northern Basque region of Spain."
Edward carefully took the glass from Sabbas, cautious so as not to drop it or let it spill. "My thanks, ambassador." he replied, inhaling softly at the way Sabbas called him "my dear king". He knew that it meant nothing. Had to mean nothing. But yet…he exhaled faintly, shaking his head minutely and taking a small sip of the wine. It was…very good, actually. Different, slightly, from the taste he was used to, but good.
Sabbas just bowed his head slightly then turned to pick up his. Now in times where he was all wrapped up in nerves, he developed a bad habit of downing the whole glass then going to pour some more. His hand lightly squeezed the glass while he tilted his head back to drink. Ah, the delicious flavor of cherry and plum. He smiled while looking over at His Majesty.
"So, what do you think, Your Majesty?" He asked. Turning around, he took a glimpse at the bottle. "I hope you like it. It is rather sweet, but an excellent wine from home nonetheless."
He nodded faintly. "It is quite good, yes." he said softly. "My thanks for the invitation, ambassador." he swirled his glass lightly, gaze moving down to watch the wine swirl around inside, before moving back up to look at Sabbas again. He shot a quick, light smile to the dark haired ambassador, wodnering again why Sabbas had invited him. What the goal here was. He was not sure. He took another sip of the wine.
