“Okay, good,” ,he croaked, genuinely laughing at her teasing comment until he let his expression and voice fall. He lowered his tone so he hoped Fiori wouldn’t hear “Because I hate being here, this is terrible. Not- Not here in your store, I love being in your store but…I just hate this place.” He wanted to be Fiori’s friend, not his slave, “I’m just pissed and… angry.”
Tharis' face fell as his did, and she let out a sigh when Levi was done talking. "You're right to be angry but… no matter how easy it is, don't be mad at Fi. He's a kid and he… gods, he hasn't been home for a long time. His uncle's the problem, he's been pushing the slave trade for years but it ramped up to eleven when King Uran died and he got control of the kingdom. Hold onto your anger, it will keep you sane when you talk to the other Usigens."
He nodded in agreement “I’m not angry at Fiori,” he confessed, “You And Fiori are the best parts of my situation…” he looked down to the ground, lifting a hand to wipe threatening tears from his eyes, “He lost his king too?”
Tharis frowned, picking up a spare scrap of fabric for Levi to use as a makeshift handkerchief. "Don't cry, Leviticus. Life here really isn't bad once you get used to it, I promise. And… yes. Fiori's father died when he was 17, he was out on the battlefield. His uncle, the regent, took control."
Levi took the fabric and pressed it to his face. His expression wrenched with emotion. He knew how losing a father in battle felt, and he didn’t realize his nation’s enemy ruler had gone through the same thing, “This is just a lot to learn.”
"It was a lot to experience. Lord Olc-" she spat the name like it was a curse- "wrested control of the crown from Fi. And he couldn't even be made because he thought his uncle had his best interests at heart." She scowled. Talking about the man always put a bad taste in her mouth. "But Fi will be our king soon."
Levi’s heart fell into his stomach again. Would he ever be able to become king? “Fiori seems like he would be a good king.” He looked back up to the mirror to scan over his appearance in the mirror.
Tharis smiled at his shadow through the curtain. "He certainly will. He could use a guy like you, Leviticus. He needs perspective." She looked over at him and then jolted, a sudden memory hitting her. "Oh! I have some clothes better suited to your size, would you like some?"
“I would appreciate it, yes please,” he smiled loosely at her comment about Fiori needing him; he liked the idea of helping people, and maybe he could offer it.
Tharis nodded and walked out of the curtain, smacking Fi's shoulder and walking out of sight with him. They came back with a big chest, mostly supported by Fiori, which he set by Levi with a sheepish look. It was clear Tharis had been chewing him out for not giving Levi any clothes. "Here ya' go, Leviticus!" She smacked the side of the chest. "This baby's got everything in every size, pick out a couple that fit."
“Oh, thank you,” he gave a brief smile to both of them before he knelt down to open the chest. He picked out two sets of clothing: a beige color, and a slate grey color. He looked up to Tharis to make sure taking two would be alright.
Tharis scowled and grabbed the beige out of his hands, tossing it back into the chest. She grabbed something that would bring out his eyes and not make him looked like a washed-out vampire, and passed it to him. "Get something black and silver out of there, you'll need to for the week of sun."
Levi sputtered a bout of laughter, “Okay, then. I just usually wear neutral colors when I don’t have to dress fancily.” He dug through the chest to find the black and silver pairs of clothes, “These good?”
Tharis offered a teasing half-smile. "You look like a drowned cat in beige, not that anyone besides Fi here can really wear it well." Fi laughed, pushing her teasingly.
"Last time I dared wear beige in your presence you told me I looked like a pile of dog shit, Rissy. Don't lie to him just because he's a stranger. And… those'll look great, Leviticus. I trust you're both done with the fitting?"
Levi stood back up with his new clothes folded over one arm and an amused smile set on his lips. He was in good company. He looked over to Tharis just to be certain. “I believe so. Am I wrong?”
"Not at all." She pushed the trunk closed and becan ushering them out of her office, waving her arms in front of her like she was shooing away birds. "Now scram, both of you. I have a new order coming in at five and you're wasting all my free time. Shoo."
Fi laughed, leaning over to peck her on the cheek fondly as a goodbye and lead Levi out of the room. "So, how did it go? Did you like her?"
Levi walked alongside Fiori instead of behind him, his free arm left swinging at his side. “It went well, I believe. I like her.” He nodded surely, “She has an odd way of showing kindness, but it’s refreshing.”
Fiori laughed, nodding. He was just as happy to have Leviticus by his side as he was to have him following, pleased to simply talk and reminisce with another person no matter his status. He could already tell he and Levi were going to be fast friends. "You don't know the half of it. She's thawed over the seasons but when we were kids…" He let his words trail off, faking a shudder for emphasis. It was undercut by a fond smile. "Gods, that girl was like a knife blade brought to life."
He laughed heartily at that, “I’m not sure how you even survived; I can’t imagine her any worse.” He stared forward, but his mind was elsewhere. He felt completely at ease talking to Fiori now, especially learning that they most likely went through similar ideals. “She loosely reminds me of a uh…friend I have, had back where I lived. Not exactly, but they have alike demeanors.”
"To be honest, neither am I." Fi shrugged, offering Levi an uncomplicated smile. He had a dimple in his right cheek when he smiled genuinely, and it gave him almost a boyish charm. He laughed when he heard about Levi's friend. "Ah, so there's one in every country. We're the lucky ones, huh? Getting friends like ours when the whole world's big enough that we might've never met them at all."
“Oh, absolutely,” he looked up to Fiori’s face, particularly fascinated by that dimple. He hadn’t seen that before, and he hoped he would see it often. He was definitely looking forward to get to know him even better—because this was only the first day, after all—, and thus gaining a good friend. “I’ve had very good luck with my friends.”
"I suppose I have too, though my friends are few and far between." Fiori didn't seem particularly bothered by the statement, though his smile did dim a bit. "You'll meet Amelie and Cadmus soon, I think you'll like them as much as you liked Tharis. They're wonderful people. What are your friends like?"
“Oh, where to begin..” He half laughed, eyes flicking away to think. “I have plenty of friendly acquaintances who I like to have a drink with every so often, but the one friend who Tharis reminds me of is named Marya.” His expression softened even more at the mention of her name, “We’ve been close as long as I can remember, and she’s the only one I consider a real, friend. Well, beside my immediate family, of course.” He reached up to touch a looser strand of hair.
“She’s fiery, passionate, and unafraid to speak her mind on political topics, which is good. With so much passion, she’s also incredibly sensitive, but somehow she keeps a wall between herself and most people…But I can tell whenever she’s upset because she gets really quiet and talks in short, concise sentences. She has hair darker brown than mine, and a strong jaw,” he recalled with admiration. “Our relationship is nothing but platonic, but we’re arranged to be married. We didn’t have a choice in the matter, but it’s better than being married to a stranger.”
Fiori smiled at his description, trying to imagine the girl who made Levi so happy. His expression soured slightly at the mention of an arranged marriage, and he turned to Levi with confusion in his eyes. Why would you force two people together if they didn't choose it? Wasn't that cruel? "Why would you arrange a marriage? It's supposed to be a thing born of love."
“Well,” he swallowed, “Most of my kingdom has that luxury, but..” he hesitated, wondering if Fiori knew he was a prince or not. If he didn’t know, should he tell him? “Just not, me.”