forum The King with the Burning Fire in His Heart (closed//stalkers welcomed with a scoff//)

Started May 27, 2021 by @tungsten fastfood

tune

(No it's perfect!! Thanks!)

Neo had found the man interrupting the energy of his party as soon as he heard the yelp of alarm from the first noble being clobbered with a pair of gloves. The contented smirk on his face faded to one of twisted discontentment as he squinted across the party, but immediately recognizing that thick bear pelt around the shoulders of a man he knew… Unfortunately too well. Neo crossed his broad arms as Nikolas Ballast, king of the upper territories crossed through the party to him. The other king tossed a curly stray dark hair out of his icy, glaring eyes, running a hand through it.

Nikolas fortunately did look aggravatingly alive, which was pretty unfortunate news for the new king standing above the party. In fact the news seemed to make him frown a little. Annoy Nikolas wanted, and annoy Nikolas did. After the pair had "separated" because Neophyte had caught Nikolas spiking his drink with a medium-level poison, Neo hadn't been so keen to return to his country. Or see him. It was a wonder Neo hadn't done something against the other king, but that also ran the risk of being discovered of his secret, passionate affair. Nikolas ought to consider himself lucky, yet here he was sidling up into a party he was not invited to.

Another fun fact about Neo, he didn't quite like to see people he didn't want to see. He had the ability to just… make those people disappear, yet Nikolas stayed under his skin and constantly in his mind– most unlike anyone Neo had ever met. He couldn't ever admit that he enjoyed the feeling of such a bothersome creature constantly buzzing around his head, but somehow a part of him was glad that it was such a powerful, confident man.

Yet here he was, sticking his hand out towards him, white and red clashing together as the pair of kings met eyes. Gold and ice pierced together, the icy ones looking as if Neo was trying to stab the other.
"Mm, it's very interesting to see you here, Nikolas," Neo spoke in his throaty, rumbling voice, but not stepping down to take the hand offered to him. Neo tilted his pale head down once more to survey the other as memories of them dancing together for the first time played in his head.

"You look well, after trying to kill me, my dear Nikolas. I also don't remember inviting you– did you hear news from the blabbermouth queen from Riothmuth?" Neo attempted at a joke, not putting much behind it. His accusations of Nikolas being uninvited was genuine, so there was not much to joke about in Neo's opinion.

Nikolas laughed, deep in his chest at the king's reaction. His mellow voice echoed all around the halls, he knew this ballroom well and the spot where he stood, he knew, had been designed with the best echo for the king to address his people. "No, not from Evangela. I simply have my ways of finding things out." he smiled, waving the offered hand slightly in Neophyte's face. Indeed, he had not been invited to the party, nor had he been welcome in the kingdom since the poisoning attempt. Nikolas would be hard-pressed to admit that the poisoning was more for Neo's own good, and that deep down, he'd wanted to be caught if only to put an end to their risky affair. Nikolas wouldn't even admit that to himself. He may have wanted Neo's kingdom, but Neo's sluglike "lover" had always gotten in the way of his plans to marry Neophyte and seize control.

"Now, would you care to dance? We've never done so properly, after all, and I would think it would be an entertaining prospect to see you do your best to avoid stepping on my feet. Don't worry, the toes of my shoes are reinforced. With steel." he grinned, and it would have been sheepish had it not been Nikolas. The steel was less for worry of his toes being crushed, and more for kicking Neophyte in the fork and running if the king tried anything.

He remembered the first time they had danced, in Neophyte's ballroom when everyone had left for the evening and Neo's husband had gone to bed. He had stayed behind, and while Neophyte had almost had him executed for it, he'd managed to convince him of enjoying a dance all the same, then disappeared into the night.

Neophyte was a fairly good dancer, but Nikolas was more skilled than he for Nikolas had practiced for years on end, perfecting every single technique there was to know in the many kingdoms and territories, both that he ruled and that he didn't. It was simply a hobby of his, being the best at everything.

"Neo, darling, don't be shy." Nikolas giggled, smiling with thin eyes and knocking like a door on Neophyte's head. "I know you want to, now be a good boy and come dance with me." Nikolas straightened up, giving an absolute shit-eating grin at the pet name. It was a nickname he'd used for Neophyte in some of their more intimate moments, and he used it here now, no worries about Neophyte's bore of a husband finding out, for he was… disposed of. Not by Nikolas, and not for lack of trying either. He did wonder, sometimes… but no, Neo wouldn't have killed him, would he have?

Neo stood silent in the barrage of words the other man threw at him, his eyebrows cocking at the mention of the steel-enforced toes as well as just everything. Neo had somehow let the thought that Nikolas was a bit more than eccentric leave his head. His thin lips drew into themselves into a further expression of bitter regret of talking to the other man. He tossed his head to get the hand off of him, stepping back slightly onto his perch as he looked at Nikolas down his sharp nose.

"My dear, I can't believe you think you could win me over with such simple words," Neo growled, his eyes glinting malevolently at the pet name. It made him visibly bristle, but clearly not uncomfortable. What Nikolas didn't know was it brought back quite familiar memories. Fond ones, of comfortable, intimate nights where they were spent more than dancing. "I feel like it's not in your best interest to remind me of those nights."

Somehow, though, Neo seemed to convince himself to step down off of the perch close to the other man, taking the hand that had been used to wave in his face and knock against his head. "I don't plan on stepping on your toes, and I hope you don't either. These shoes are completely white, and I don't want you to scuff them up." His eyes sharpened as he frowned down at Nikolas, yet upon the threat, he remembered with a jolt in his stomach one of their intimate nights spent together. He took a slight shake to his head. Such thoughts were so bothersome looking down on a man who tried to kill him for his power…

"And you best thank whatever God there is that I didn't kick you out the moment I saw you," Neo growled suddenly, dipping his voice low and leaning down to whisper in his ear. "I didn't want you here. Yet you appeared. I didn't forget what you tried to pull on me." He leaned back up, his lips still slitted and white.

“I only wanted to celebrate you. Would you believe me if I said helping you with your crown was in my best interest?” Nikolas sheathed his cane like he would a sword, using Neophyte’s body as something to lean against. He pressed his ear right level with Neo’s heart, having to stand on his toes some to reach but managing all the same.

“And I did expect you would be so fussy. Dearest heart, I’m only here to celebrate your accomplishments. How your husband died was never disclosed to me, but I’m sure you supported him all the way through it. Disease, perhaps? Or assassination? I can tell you were vewwy bwave.” he said, making his voice turn childish towards the end. “Ooh, was that too soon? Don’t tell me you loved the fellow, darling, that’s not how this goes.”

Before his former love could answer, he had already pulled them down onto the dance floor with an eager brightness, leading Neophyte to a tune with no name, just some empty song playing over the loudspeaker. “Enjoying yourself, dearest heart?” he asked, for such a slight figure he was prodigiously strong, especially with how his condition was doing today. He knew Neophyte could see it too, and he hated the very fact.

Neophyte couldn't admit even for a lie that he loved his late husband. Charles was a petulant child who did nothing but lay his responsibilities onto the shoulders of others, especially onto him. Charles' death was in fact a relief in some regards, ah, but he couldn't admit such a thing to a smug individual like Nikolas. Instead Neo rolled his eyes as he was swept up to the dance floor, and allowed himself to dance.

Their striking, passionate and assured feet hit close to each other as they danced to the nameless song, twirling and weaving through each other's arms with the experience of dancing clear as they enjoyed it freely without the threat of Charles hanging over them. For a few moments, Neo could enjoy himself in the song-filled silence, creating the scant illusion that Nikolas was just a confident, smug suitor and not a completely dangerous leader.

"I can't say I think the attempt on my life was good for the crown," Neo finally said after a few minutes of brisk dancing, "but I'm glad you consider my indoctrination something important enough to appear after years of not talking to each other." His eyes became thoughtful as he gazed down at the other, dancing in the middle of the floor. "I think I could put it behind me if you so desire it. I can see your thoughts behind it. They were stupid thoughts, but I see and understand them, at least."

Nikolas was happy to dance, for a time. However, he quickly positioned the two so that Neophyte was leading as he following, as he was getting the itch to be shown of like some prize king-consort. Not like he was right now, anyways, but it was a feeling he needed. He preferred to follow on dancing anyways, it gave him the chance to show off without the expectation of total success. He could do as he pleased like this, with nobody to justify him but himself.

“I will address those concerns in reverse order. My thoughts are my own, I don’t know why you would assume them. To assume… well, it would make an ass out of both of us. If you did put it behind you, I wouldn’t put it past you, but I think you already have and even if you haven’t, I don’t intend to beg.” he twirled about, holding onto Neo by a finger before folding back in, pressing his back to Neophyte’s broad, stronger chest.

“Furthermore,” he allowed himself to be dipped, nails coming very close to digging into Neo’s throat, “of course your crowning was important to me, it’s why I attended the first. And how would my attempt on your life be good for the crown? It would only be for your own good and you know it.”

Neo dipped Nikolas for a few moments, and in that moment it felt as if all eyes were set on them dancing in the middle of the ballroom. Brilliant scarlet clashed with the icy blue and white accents as they stood so elegantly poised together, each limb meticulously placed– almost as if the pair had planned it together.
The music dipped back in to the audience's ears and Neo heaved Nikolas back up, pulling him into his chest and dipping his head.
"I actually do intend for you to beg. Now that there is no threat of divorce, I actually may pursue it," Neo murmured, but falling into silence about the other two points the jabber mouth went on about. For a brief moment it was just them, nose-to-nose and accompanied with intense eye contact. Neo usually in a situation like this would be trying to intimidate the person pissing him off, but Nikolas would have too much fun with that. Instead he gave Nikolas a look Neo knew the other man couldn't resist, one full of fire and passion, challenging Nikolas to meet it in its intensity.
Again, without warning, Neo spun Nikolas out and the chaos around them continued as if time itself had been paused. "I'm so glad you found it necessary to attend my crowning. I find it funny the country thought a formal arrangement was needed, I was practically already king." He laughed his rumbling, quiet laugh, but it was a genuine and almost slightly annoyed one at the thought.

Nikolas felt a strange peace. This was his Neophyte, back to normal again, back to passionate gazes and sultry smiles. And he… liked it, he really did, wanted it to be like this forever, although he’d die before saying that to Neophyte. “I already said I wouldn’t beg, and I meant it. If you want to ty and force a confession out of me, go ahead. But it won’t work, believe me.” he answered smoothly, allowing himself to be flung around. His heart was beating faster than ever and he couldn’t tell if it was his condition acting up or if it was the way Neo was looking at him, that gorgeous, passionate gaze full of fire and love.

Well, only one way to find out if it was mutual. Nikolas, when pulled close, snuck a clever, thin hand under Neo’s suit jacket, brushing a hand over his clothed chest. This could be what finally made Neophyte lose it, but he really doubted that. If he was kicked out, he was kicked out, but that was a little unlikely seeing how Neo was practically grinding against him at the hip like a small dog greeting its master.

“You know,” Nikolas said as if he wasn’t currently fondling his former lover’s chest, “I often find that it’s easy to forget how much you miss someone until you see them again.” he leaned to Neophyte’s chest.

Neo allowed himself to straighten up a little after the intense dance, his own heart beating faster as his body struggled to keep up with the pace. It took quite a lot to move such a large body, after all, but Neo kept his breathing quiet and soft to avoid blowing air into his partner's face. At a certain point he wondered if his heart rate was because of the dancing or the heat of their situation.

"I'm sure it won't," Neo purred softly in response, breaking his mask of neutrality to smirk slightly, He reached over to grab his hand back from his chest after a few moments of enjoying it, joining their fingers while using his other hand to button his shirt again. "I know what you're trying to do." He let go of the other after guiding them to the edge of the crowd, crossing his arms and taking a deep breath to control himself. "You're going to do the same thing you always do, and just run off." He cupped Nikolas' face in his left hand, tilting it up delicately, then releasing it and shaking his head. "I want you to enjoy the party, okay, Nikolas? Perhaps find another, ah, person for your needs." His icy eyes slitted back to their natural glaring position, giving a slight bow.

He didn't move immediately away, though, and he seemed to be thinking about something. "It was good to see you. It brought back nice memories. Despite your whole situation, you knew how to take care of me." Neo let another slight laugh leave his lips.

Nikolas sighed, and turned away. He felt empty, this wasn’t what he wanted. Wasn’t how it was supposed to go, not at all. But there was no use in pandering to Neophyte’s desire for him to beg, so he simply shrugged and walked off. Maybe this night could have ended in a kiss, or even something more. Something like old times. But… no, that wasn’t how it was going to work anymore, was it? Neo’s touch still lingered gentle on his face as he gathered his things and began to leave, stopping at the gates and breathing in the fresh, warm, summer night air. Nikolas felt wrong, felt sad if he even had a heart to feel sad with. He wished Neo would have taken him back, he knew that now. But that was the past, he’d broken too much to fix and there was no point in taking Neo’s advice in finding someone else.

He remembered their first meeting, remembered the exact steps they took in their waltz. Neophyte could barely keep up with Nikolas’ energy, his brilliant spark of love and joy, and plenty of desire. Eventually, he learned to, but then it had been trial and error, and a lot of laughing and missteps.

Nikolas traced their steps in the empty courtyard, he’d learned them by heart since that night. Learned the way to the missing tune of those moments. If Neophyte really wanted him to leave, he’d leave, but for now… he just needed the familiarity and the comfort of this, needed to feel safe in his lover’s clutches.

Neophyte after a few moments of recollection, inhaled sharply and made his way to the front of the party. Two, almost three hours was certainly enough, and announced the end of the party, and wishing everyone a good journey back home, if they were going back. As Nikolas danced in the shadows of the flowery garden Neophyte himself cultivated, people streamed from the open gates into the warm, fire-fly filled night, chattering sleepily as nobles of all sorts of backgrounds and time zones left the palace.
The new king himself stood in the middle of the ballroom, tilting his head up to the large ceiling as he let out a slow sigh, tucking his hands into his coat. He followed a couple stragglers out the door, passing words between his guards and down the white steps of his home. He followed them down until the gates, where he himself shut them once he was certain everyone was gone, glancing over his shoulder at the large, green expanse of yard around him. He turned completely around after a few moments, inhaling slowly.

Surely he'd be happier when it came to this sort of thing? He didn't expect it to feel so lonely. As he thought, his head dipped to the ground, his feet carried him to his greenhouse, where he truly cultivated himself through. Sure, he was in a bright white suit and crossing at almost full moonlight, but there was nothing to fear. He was completely alone. Alone in every regard.

Even with Neo’s blissful loneliness, Nikolas still hadn’t left. He himself had snuck into the greenhouse to reminisce, thinking he’d have all the time in the world. Unfortunately, he’d had to duck under a table of flowers and ruin his suit just to avoid Neophyte, who probably didn’t want to see him, least of all here. The dirty cobble was cool underneath his hands, and he remembered that this table was temperature regulated because these particular flowers were moonflowers, flowers which only grew in his perpetually dark kingdom. If Neo stepped over here for any reason, he’d certainly see Nikolas, and would probably kill him for his troubles. Nikolas, loathe as he was to do it, would have to strike first. He unsheathed a hidden dagger, and slowly crept out when Neo’s back was turned, suddenly striking when he turned around. With inhuman grace and speed he leapt over the tables, stumbling some with his weakness, and pinned him by the suit jacket at his shoulder onto a neighboring table, just barely nicking the flesh. Unfortunately, that move had cost him, he’d overestimated the amount of energy he’d have to run and that caused him to stumble backwards onto another table, breaking it in half with the force of his crashing into it and landing on the splintered wood pieces. It was fine wood, too, there was no way Neo wouldn’t be deeply upset.

Nikolas breathed, heavy and hard, awaiting a fate that he was certain would come any second now, if Neophyte freed himself from his admittedly light bonds. He could barely lift a hand, much less gather the breath to speak and justify himself, so he simply laid there waiting for Neophyte to kill him for his crimes of near-assassination of a newly crowned king.

Neo's feet as soon as he slipped into the warmth of his greenhouse turned towards his prized bush of Juliet Roses. After years of frustrating cultivation and hard work, they were blooming and absolutely gleaming in the face of the full moon. The touch of the moon had sent everything in the greenhouse to shine and sparkle with no color of their own except the ghostly white that matched Neo's suit. Neo himself stood out like a beacon because of his white suit, his dark head of hair even turning a silvery sheen in the onslaught of moonhigh.
Yet he couldn't enjoy the sight of his prized bush for very long. His legs were tugged on and he was pinned against his own coat, which didn't take very much force from his broad shoulders to tear. Buttons and gleaming white pins flew off as Neo's attention honed in on his attacker. Of course, of course, Neo couldn't help but think to himself as he took off the white coat. His button-up also tore in the struggle, as well as the slight dagger prick, and it ultimately ended up tearing down his left arm to show a couple scars and a tattoo, the specifics of which was hard to see in the frostiness of the greenhouse.

Crushing of fine wood on a table that had yet to be inhabited by something other than dirt was what made Neo turn around completely on his attacker, his usually slightly angry neutral face actually twisted into one of strife and rage. It was certainly a scary sight, the strong newly-crowned king with his eyebrows twisted down and thinning out his icy eyes the smallest Nikolas has possibly seen them. His fine lips were almost invisible, and his long nose was scrunched in anger. It also wasn't hard for him to assume (and see) the dagger belonged to the other king. Neo moved to stand over the other, not in an immediate attack, but just as an intimidation tactic. His angle sent his long shadow over Nikolas, his arms crossing tightly.
"I want you to explain yourself before I ultimately throw you out of my kingdom for the rest of your pathetic life." There was no reason Neo should show any sort of mercy to the person underneath him. Nikolas had taken two attempts at his life (that he knew of), and it was two too many.

Nikolas could do nothing but breathe, hard, as his heart beat harder and faster than it had in his life. “Not… ah, ouch, not going to kill me then… I see?” he panted out, letting a delirious smile cross his face. He probably had a concussion, no, definitely with the force he’d slammed into the ground with, and his clothes had torn as the wood had splintered, leaving his chest open and vulnerable should Neophyte choose to stab him for his troubles. Nikolas tried, and failed, to push himself up. “Well, I suppose I owe you an… an explanation. Right, that smarts.” his arm was well out of it’s socket, unfortunately, caused by falling at an odd angle. Dislocation and concussion, what would they come up with next?

“Sorry, I merely thought you were going to stab me first, in the event you found me here. Really, I had no intention of killing you.” he said, having finally regained some breath to speak. “Although it would have been a welcome surprise had you moved just slightly enough for me to stab you in the heart.” Nikolas chuckled at his own dark humor, shaking his head.

(of course! No issue whatsoever ^^)

Neo was far from laughing at the attempt of 'dark humor', probably succeeding in making him angrier than anything. The king leaned down and seized the cloth remaining on his shoulder, and with no regard to how he felt, pulled him up and forcing him to sit up.
"I'm afraid your luck has run out with me, Nikolas," Neo growled throatily as he pulled the other king to his feet. "First the attempt on my life those many months ago, then you break into my greenhouse, and you try attacking me in my own kingdom." Neophyte twisted his hands into the cloth of the torn suit near his back, to hold him up like some freshly caught fish, almost pulling his feet up off of the ground. "If I had my gun, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot you. You should consider yourself lucky." Neo pulled the other to the entrance of his greenhouse and stepped outside, fully planning on turning the king in, but a plan brewed in the corner of his mind. One that would most likely not work knowing Nikolas, but as the other king said, Neophyte didn't know his thoughts– why would he assume them?
Neo heaved Nikolas up the steps of his castle, tossing his head at his security guard's questions. He went through the familiar room of where the party was just held, and being cleaned by some janitors and maids of the like.

"I don't know what I want to do with you," Neo finally spoke after his journey through the castle, pushing open the door to his room. His room was dressed in white that matched most of the rest of his home, but the sheets on his bed were unmade, and the clothes he was wearing was folded up neatly on the mattress. Neo pushed Nikolas down on a plush seat next to the door, giving him a sharp, warning glare.
"Stay there. I am going to call someone for your shoulder and whatever else you managed to do to yourself. If you attempt to run I will shoot you." He pulled open a dresser drawer and pulled out a handgun, turning off the safety and holding it in his left hand, as he pulled out his phone with the right.

Nikolas yelped as he was pulled up and dragged away, but stayed still mostly out of fear of getting seriously hurt by Neophyte, much more than he currently was. He wouldn't put it past him, in a moment like this. But it was also strange. Nikolas had pulled a lot of shit in his tenure with Neophyte, but in the end, he was always forgiven. Why so different now? He'd thrown plenty of daggers Neo's way in the past, but now? Just one was enough for Neophyte to start screaming, practically. When he was seated, he didn't move much, just relaxed into the chair and tried not to move his shoulder much. He was feeling funny, like his brain was made of sludge, and it was positively skull-splitting. The door was so close, but he knew Neo would do good on his threat of shooting him if he so much as lifted a finger out of place. "Hmm. You're silly, silly little man." he mumbled to himself, the statement more towards himself than Neo. "Stupid, manages to get in sooooo much trouble. Fucking hell, my head… what did I do?" he struggled to sit up in the chair, feeling like he was going to pass out. Walking without his cane hurt more than this, why was he managing it so badly?

Nikolas shook his head, reached for a container of some sort of presumed liquor he spotted on the side table by the chair. He withdrew his hand after a few millimeters, however, he didn't want his fingers shot off no matter how much he needed a drink. His heart was still pounding, he could feel it in his head and deep in his chest, his ears rung until every other sound was drowned out. "Neo, Neo, Neophyte, my love, life, light, whatever are you going to do with me?" he murmured, quite unaware of what he was saying.

As Nikolas struggled with himself and his pain, Neo called the nurse who lived a few houses away, posted there specifically for emergencies. Luckily for Nikolas, because of the party Neo had thrown, she was somewhere in the building as Neo spoke to her and called for her to his room. He thanked her as he hung up promptly before she could ask what she could expect, pocketing his phone again. The conversation with a sane human being eased his anger a little, but looking down on Nikolas again just re-sparked those feelings of age-old anger.
"I don't know," Neo admitted sharply, in a tone that didn't suggest friendliness. "I should report this to someone in your kingdom and get you arrested here, but that would create too much tension between our countries. As much as I despise you, I don't want your fine people to be hurt in an unneeded war, just because you–" Neo cut himself off and sharply shook his head, inhaling slowly. He knew better than to just insult kings and queens all willy-nilly, even if they did just attack him.

"I will most likely just let you go. However, I do want you to stay a few nights before you travel so my nurse can help with your injuries. For, in case you decide to sue me, ARE self-inflicted. Don't forget that." Neo tightened his grip on his gun, considering giving him another wound that wouldn't be so self-inflicted. "I want to think about what to do as well. This can't get out to the public. It could cause unnecessary tension and conflict."

Nikolas shook his head. "Not… not what I meant. I mean, with me. What to do, to do?" he said. "Neo, dear, you're bleeding, and not in the fun way. Let me help, I have bandages with me… top left pocket of the cloak, some painkillers too. It's the least I can do." he said quietly. Nikolas was hollowed, he'd been taken down for possibly the last time. Hell, if he was going to die, he'd do it on his own terms. It was something he'd been waiting for so dearly after all. If he was going to breathe his last, it was to be easy breathing, not fearful gasps. No. Not like that. He would be scared, obviously. It was in his nature to be. But he'd be resolved. He muttered indecipherably to himself for a few moments, then pulled out the bandages and offered them to Neophyte. "I can help you, if you sit still. But I can't if you don't, so choose now whether you'll struggle all by yourself or let me do something nice for you for once."

He rarely did kind things for Neo during their time together. He just was never that kind of person, nor was he the type to suddenly offer help. This was part of his terms, if he was going to die by Neo's hand he'd at least make it easier for the man to commit the act. He hated himself for how weak he was, but that was simply how he was right now. Weak. Pathetic. He had to make peace with that. He didn't like being open or vulnerable in any sense of the words, but Neophyte had backed him into a corner and he had little choice anymore.

Neo's arm twitched as his bleeding was mentioned, and he took a moment to glance down at the place he was pricked. Indeed, the spot he had been pricked was staining the places that hadn't been torn in that general area.
"No, I don't need your bandages, but the nurse might. Keep them." Neo set down the gun slowly, crossing his arms again with one of his eyebrows raised at the offer. "I am not going to kill you, Nikolas, as much as I might have seemed like I wanted to. I'm beyond angry at you, but I'm not going to stoop to your level. I am much smarter than that." He leered at the other man with a sly smile. "I'm glad you think I had the guts in me to do it, though." A knock at his door a few moments later announced the nurse, and he opened the door for her.
The nurse was a woman Nikolas had seen before in Neophyte's castle before his husband passed away. Her name was Casey, and she was a scrawny, pale woman who looked haughty and stressed, more so than the last time Nikolas had happened to see her. Her hair was a messy brown color and tied up in a bun held up with a pen.
"Hello, King Whembrooke, and– oh!" She bowed hastily to Nikolas as she shut the door behind her. "You must be Nikolas. Neophyte has mentioned you on occasion. May I take a look at your wounds, please, sir? King Whembrooke called for you."
Neo mumbled to her, mostly a warning against keeping quiet, and he crossed the room. Casey replaced the king as Neo pulled off his shirt, giving an annoyed growl at the streak of blood that came with it. For a king, Neo was quite the piece of eye-candy, especially as he folded up his broken coat and stuck his long fingers through the tear in his button-up.

Nikolas gave her a simpering grin, entering his comfort zone once more. Well, if that pathetic son of, well, a Whembrooke, wouldn't kill him, he could be as debauched as he liked with little risk for long-lasting consequences, or at least long-lasting in his mind. He payed no mind to Neo's stripping right before him, instead focusing all his attentions on the nurse. "Ah, my darling Miss Casey, how wonderful it is to see you again. We've never been introduced formally but, I suppose it would be better late than never." he said, flashing pearly white teeth. "Now, as you can see, my shoulder is in quite the predicament, and I'm quite certain I'm a little more than mildly concussed. My fault admittedly, but I would be delighted if you'd offer up your services to put me right back in my place, in quite a literal sense."

He shifted to give her a good view of his injured shoulder, ripping off the rest of his soiled shirt and jacket, along with removing the cloak and letting it slide down his bare shoulders slowly, tilting his face at an angle and huffing out a long, contented sigh. "Miss Casey, do you ever think about religion? A sensational thing, I'm sure. But very… restrictive, don't you think? Unfortunately the castle I inherited is full of conspirators and paranoids both, it's truly dreadful. Your company is probably the most enjoyable I've had, second to our lovely king here."

"Of course, King Ballast," Nurse Casey said obediently with a bow, not asking question as she allowed Nikolas to strip himself, helping with his injured shoulder and taking a look. "Oh, please keep talking about that, sir, I am going to pop your shoulder back into place. So just focus on… something." She gave a laugh, however as she laughed she popped the shoulder back into place with a heave and a strong push. Everyone in the room heard a snap! as his shoulder locked back into place. She pulled out a roll of bandages to twist it on his shoulder to ensure it stays in place and heals well.
"Forgive me for the suddenness, I just think it's better for my patients to not expect it." Casey smiled as she went on to feel Nikolas' head for bumps, also checking his neck. "And I am honored you think so, sire. I am not interested in any sort of religion, despite having the freedom to. Sounds like your kingdom is a bore, if I may suggest it so." She giggled quietly again, stepping away closer to her king. "I'm also aware that King Whembrooke has a few scratches himself?"
"No, I'm quite alright, Casey. If you're done with Nikolas you can leave him here with me. I'll get him to his own room for rest. That's what he needs for his head, yes?" Neo rose his eyebrows with a kind smile to his nurse.
Casey flushed a little at the smile with a nod. "Correct, sir. You are learning very fast and very well! If that is all you need of me, I'll give Nikolas some painkillers and be on my way." She turned back to the other, taking out a small bottle of painkillers from a fanny pack around her hips. "I do suggest that you get as much sleep as possible, King Ballast. And do limit as much movement in your head and neck."

"Going so soon, nurse?" Nikolas asked, after his shoulder had been popped back into place. "A shame, but we can't always have nice things. Toodle-oo!" he wiggled his fingers in a small wave towards her, standing up and stretching.

At her parting words, he nodded, giving her a tiny, two-fingered salute. "Doctor's orders, I take it. Well, I will certainly miss your company, my dear." he said, bundling up in his cloak to hide a long, deep scar on his side he realized he really, really didn't want anyone seeing. Well, besides Neo, but he'd seen plenty of Nikolas' darker sides, enough for a lifetime. Nikolas then sat back down, crossing one leg over the other. He wasn't quite succeeding in making Neophyte jealous, but he was at least trying by coming onto his nurse.

He curled up in the chair, lounging back with one arm back behind his head and another drumming fingers on the arm of the chair, a bit bored now that he didn't have much chance of further irritating his former partner. "Neophyte, dearest, help me to my room. I feel quite dizzy, and I'm sure we've imposed too far on Miss Casey's time."

Neo mumbled in an annoyed tone to himself, glancing over his shoulder at Nikolas wishing her good-bye. The nurse smiled and laughed at him, giving him a bow and stepping out of the room. He pulled on a dark long-sleeved shirt, undoing his belt with an annoyed scoff at Nikolas' demands.
"Can't you do it yourself, Nikolas? Surely you've finished playing up your head injury." Neo's chips of ice swept back up to the other as he pulled off his somewhat untouched pants, pulling on a loose fitting pair of pajama bottoms that matched his top. Usually, Neo slept commando, but for the sake of his company (and other factors), he had been sleeping clothed. "You also know where our bedrooms are, anyway." Neo turned towards him anyway, striding across the room to offer his right uninjured arm. "I'll humor you, though."
The newly crowned king honestly wanted this night to end. He wanted to put his head down and finish this "first" day of his official kingship despite spending years of his life acting as a surrogate king. It was satisfying to all hell, but this night's outcome couldn't be read as a good omen for most. Happening upon an ex-lover of his after years of parture, to dance and be reminded momentarily of those memories that kept him on Nikolas' side, then to be betrayed by the very thing that ripped Neophyte away from him. Neo upon looking down on the other man just wanted to scream at him until he was red in the face with no voice left in his throat, but such a thing would be embarrassing to even try. He would be laughed at by the person who had seen more of him than his late husband.

Nikolas chuckled. “Yes, my head is feeling better, it was only a minor shock. But, I do enjoy your company quite sincerely, and it would be… oh, never mind, show me to my room. I’m sure you’d hate for me to ruin one you particularly liked.” he said, withdrawing a flip-phone from his pocket and dialing a number. “Ah, I’m only reassuring my people that I am indeed not dead by your hand. I may have played up the risk to my person, and I just want to prevent a war. Goodness knows my people won’t need my heir to be thrust into the position without any capability of handling themself.” Nikolas smiled. His heir had been a well kept secret for years, even Neophyte didn’t know who they were, only that they were very young, a fact that Nikolas had let slip more than a few times just to frustrate Neo and put him on yet a further wild goose chase figuring it out.

He allowed himself to take the offered arm, feeling like it wouldn’t be so bad to humor Neo with the contact. He’d offered, Nikolas generally would have just followed the man, any contact chaste and quick out of necessity. Old habits, after all. But now, with Neo’s worm of a husband finally devoured by the jaws of old crow death, he could freely cling to the man like a stubborn barnacle.

Neo wasn't exactly interested in such a goose chase, in fact the dropped hints just annoyed him more than anything. Implying such details could easily be considered as weaknesses. If his country while in that same exact position, with a weak inexperienced king, dropped such a detail so early, it could have been their downfall without the Whembrooke family stepping in.
"I don't think it's appropriate you tell me such details, Nikolas, especially if you're worried of war," The king drawled as he opened the door to his room. "Your room won't be very far from mine, since all of my guest bedrooms are on this floor." He gestured out into the hallway, which was in a dome shape. In fact, this was the highest part of the castle and it looked over the courtyard and greenhouse. Neophyte himself had the best view, something only Nikolas would know. "Pick any one you want. I'm tired, so I'm afraid I can't bring you right to your room and tuck you in." Neo rolled his eyes a little at his comment, his eyes narrowing again. Neo wouldn't be surprised if Nikolas wanted to be treated like a child, especially after their tense moment of Neo physically threatening him.

Though, something prevented Neo from taking his arm back right away. Such a gentle touch after so long was heart-achingly bittersweet. He couldn't allow himself to get tangled up with Nikolas again, even without his drool of a husband hanging over him and watching his every move. He needed a man, a suitor perhaps, he could trust wouldn't try to kill him every moment of his life. Neophyte hadn't heard one apology for any of these attacks, and honestly there was a point he crossed that he probably wouldn't get one.
"You may let go, now. Unless you need something else from me."

Nikolas laughed. “Oh, I’m sure they will find a way.” he said, before walking down the halls with Neo slowly, savoring every moment of their time together. But… well, this made him… it made him feel empty. Alone. He wasn’t fond of either feeling. When they reached his room, he had slowed to a halt, not letting go of Neo but just sitting there, breathing slowly. His cane… he could walk on his own, but it hurt to stand now and he just wished that Neophyte would stay, help him to bed like the child he truly was. What was even the point, though? He couldn’t fall back into old habits, Neo wouldn’t allow it and besides, Nikolas didn’t want what they had either way. He was so much angrier back then, borderline abusive, and while Neo was too in many ways there was simply no excuse.

He sighed, let go of Neo. He unsheathed his battered cane, and began to walk to the closest room, not feeling like standing up any longer. “Goodnight. If you die in your sleep from being a stuffy old man trapped in a young body I won’t be surprised. I’ll see you in the morning, we’ll talk about transportation back to my kingdom then.” he huffed out a long sigh and entered the room, closing the door and locking it behind him. He collapsed on the bed and, in his weakness, began to sob uncontrollably.

"I'll be sure to put a pillow over my face for you then," Neo snapped back with a certain spite that he kept in the back of his mind just for situations like this one. He also tended to get way more irritable when he was exhausted (as he was after the party), and Nikolas' unrestraint towards him wasn't helping. He took a few moments to make sure the other had a grip on his cane, almost an instinctual thing after doing so for so long. King Whembrooke didn't stick around to make sure he got into the room, though, walking a few yards to his room, which was smack dab in the middle of everything.

Neo turned off the light and settled down onto his bed, laying down in the same side he'd always occupy throughout his marriage. Sleep was always a struggle since his husband's death, and it was humiliating to admit to himself, but he had truly gotten used to the warmth of another body sharing the bed. The silk linen was chilly against his exposed skin, but something brought him to remove the thin clothes restricting him. The softness outlined every detail of his bare body as he laid in darkness, a deep sigh leaving his lips.

He could just shut his lips and pretend something wasn't calling him back to the other king. This whole situation was just…

Nikolas waited a few hours, unable to sleep. Then, he got up, adjusted himself, and started to wander the hallways without aim, trying to focus on keeping the urge to scream in pain down. His knees were weak, and the way the cane barely held him up didn’t do much to help. But he couldn’t sleep at all, he had to do something to ignore the thoughts spiraling through his head. He gritted his teeth, used the wall for support, and eventually wound his way back to the ballroom. Dancing was easier when you had a partner to support your weight, so he chose not to move much, just sitting and watching the cleaners clean and the maids dust, electing to ignore any attempts at casual conversation. He had sat himself on the floor, bundled up in his heavy cloak completely shirtless, an odd sight for anyone to see if they didn’t know Nikolas was usually just like this.

He eventually found his way back to his room, and attempted to lie down for a time, but found he couldn’t. There was nothing wrong with him, he was used to seeping alone and he rarely slept when with another, no matter how little threat they posed. But for some reason, he missed Neo. He needed to hold him, tell him it was okay and that they would figure this out together. So he did. He walked to Neo’s room, opening the door with a soft creak and hoping there wasn’t some invisible alarm system about to get him arrested. He watched Neo sleep for a few minutes before climbing into bed with him. If he woke up, he woke up, but Nikolas just needed to be with someone who he felt… not safe, that wasn’t the word, but secure with. He began to murmur a lullaby in his mother tongue, the words bringing out his lilting accent divinely.