forum "Now I know it's insane--" "I get to walk around shirtless and literally live in the lap of luxury? Where do I sign?" /Male OxOxO romance/ closed! / 16+only

Started October 03, 2020 by @ElderGodSwimwithGamers group

tune

Corbin bent down when the mop fell, picking it up and offering it to the half elf in front of him.
"I heard you've served in the war," Corbin explained, giving the man space once he had given the mop back. His voice want low anymore, clear in the room.
"That you and another here were good at what you did."

Dali's posture stiffened, damn it, someone was here. Probably another one who's come to harass me for being useless- Just don't pay attention, don't listen to what they have to say. I served my time and I don't need to listen to them anymore.

Mir kept his eyes to the ground. “Only as good as we could have… obviously we weren’t good enough though….” he stared with hatred at his mop, his grip going tight, his knuckles turning white on his freckled hands. “Why do you ask, sir? Do you believe you could have done better?” His voice was bitter, as if he was used to being ridiculed. His anger was getting the better of him, even as he shook in terror of being hurt.

"No," Corbin said. "I don't. I think you did absolutely wonderful- both of you." Corbin glanced over at the half elf cleaning the table.
"That's why I'm here. Do you know who I am..?" Corbin was… Disturbed, by the reactions he saw from the two men. He really did hate the treatment of people who weren't completely human in his kingdom, but it was so deeply engrained he knew it would be grounds for revolution if he tried to change it.

Dali kept ignoring him, eyes shut tightly, just in case. He won't hit me, not when there's people nearby, they usually don't. He assured himself, trying to mime cleaning the table again. His leg was in enough pain that he was basically leaning all of his weight on the table.

Mir was confused before he looked up and gasped, immediately dropping to a knee, bowing his head, “Your Majesty! I’m so sorry!! Please forgive me for my negligence and my ugly behavior!” He shook even harder, terrified. Acting like he had towards the king…. It could be grounds for execution, especially as a half-breed like himself. He pulled his half-useless arm against himself in a stance of submission to royalty.

Corbin did something no one would expect of him- he fell to his knee in turn, gently putting one hand on the man's shoulder.
"No no, it's alright. Please, if I had any problem with what you were doing I would have said something. You've done nothing wrong, you're not going to be punished." Corbin some gently, trying to soothe the man.
"There's no reason to be afraid, I swear it to you."

Mir looked up into the king’s eyes with his own bright magenta ones, absolutely startled that the king had knelt, and looking utterly lost and confused. “I-I’m not going to be p-punished…?” His dark-rimmed eyes were wet from relief even as he wondered if this was a trick as he felt the very man he served with his life gently touch his shoulder. He gripped his arm tighter to himself in a comforting gesture, sensing that the king wasn’t lying with his promise that there wasn’t a reason to be afraid. His body relaxed a bit. He sensed Dali’s pain and whipped around to look at him, eyes worried for his friend.

"Is he here to tell us we're kicked out of the kingdom for being ex-soldiers and half-breeds?" Dali spoke up, head still resting on the table and eyes still closed. His voice was tired and pained.

Mir’s heart squeezed painfully when he heard in Dali’s voice how much pain he was in and wanting to go help, but scared to leave his position in front of the king.

Corbin was not truly worried by the man's pain- he knew it wasnt going to be fatal, at least not yet.
"No, you won't be punished. You're not getting kicked out, either." Corbin moved to stand, offering his hands to help the halfling in front of him so the same.
"I know you've done much already, and you've paid dearly, but… I need your help once more. I've heard of what you've done on the battlefield, and I believe you both could help turn the tide of this way if you would be willing to."

Mir hesitantly took the proffered hand ps with both of his, his right hand shuddering and jerking, his eyes full of fear that he was going to be returned to the front lines again… He glanced back at Dali and his heart dropped when he thought they wouldn’t make it back out alive… But he turned back to the king and bowed his head, pulling his ruined arm against himself. “Whatever his Majesty desires, we’re here to serve…”

"Don't speak for me." Dali lifted his head, trying to draw himself up to his full height (which wasn't much) by bracing his arms against the table. "I spent years in your army, I pushed myself up through the ranks even when I faced bullshit from people I'm still connected to by my mother. Then, I got hurt. They wouldn't even offer me medical attention, they just told me to get out. No coin, none of my possessions, just a broken man having to fight his way out of the trenches because now that he's no longer part of the army, this little half-breed is free reign." His eyes were hard and his brows narrowed. "I fought for king and country for over ten years and look where it got me, I'm not doing it again."

(I just wanna stop this war and these three snuggle TToTT)

Corbin was a foot taller than than the man in front of him, and almost two more than the one who had spoken up.
"I know," he said softly. "I am not asking you to fight again- I could never, again what you both have been through." Corbin knew there was barely any coin offered to those who where injured, and he wasn't surprised to hear that none had been given at all. There just want enough to go around, and the money they did have for this went to the families of those who died instead.
"You both have seen so much combat, you've seen what happens first hand. What I'm asking is that you come to the palace with me. You would both make greater advisors then the men seated around me already, who have never seen a day of way themselves." One problem- half breeds weren't allowed to hold positions such as these that were being offered.
"It wouldn't be official, though… We'd have to find a cover, something people would believe."

Dali let a little puff of air come from his nose before saying "What, like a concubine?" His voice was dripping in sarcasm and more than a little spite. He would not bow, he at least had some pride left in him.

Mir simply stood there, cowering as the two harsher men argued and talked. When he heard they were being offered the positions of advisors, his eyes went big. When Dali mentioned concubines, he didn’t cringe. He been through worse…. he could deal with that…

(Me: Ah yes, Dali is like a sweet country farm boy)
(Also me: Plans an entire rant about how he won't be going into the army again)

(Hey, he can be both!)

(I just wanna stop this war and these three snuggle TToTT)

I just realized both Dali and Mir are the perfect sizes to sit in Corbin’s lap during meetings….

(Mhm, he's just a bit hostile becuase of the whole,,, thing)

(Understandable. He’ll probably revert back to sweet country boy when he’s not exhausted, in pain, and working too many hours just so he can eat.)