forum The Strangers in the Palace (Closed)(Fantasy)

Started October 31, 2021 by @LovelyRose

tune

Ari blinked at him, sensing that something in Honey's demeanor had shifted, but unsure quite what or why. "I…don't know. That's why I was asking you if there was anything that you wanted to do." he said slowly, sounding just a tad confused. Honey was gorgeous, but something had shifted in the young man's demeanor and behavior, and Ari wasn't sure what to do now.

Rin laughed when Arquis toppled them both, smiling over at his partner and wrapping their arms around him. "Perhaps you could. I'm sure they would love some souvenirs from you." he replied, running a hand through Arquis's hair.

Honey, detecting that note of confusion in his voice, stopped what he was doing. That arch in his back went away. His eyes snapped to Ari's face, searching his expression thoroughly. There was nothing sinister or seductive about it. The blond had made the whole thing up in his head. He let out a sigh of relief and smiled.

"You really were just asking." There was a touch of awe to his tone when he spoke, like he couldn't believe what he was saying. "Nah, stranger, we don't gotta do anything here. We can go on ahead. I do got something small to give you, but, uh, I can do that later. On our date."

Arquis beamed, already picturing some of the things he might be able to get. Marsiquia loved anything cute. She might like a purse or a book to press flowers in. Quirisa was a bit harder to shop for. Her likes were mostly somewhat gritty and dark. Maybe he could get her a masquerade mask or something similar. An amethyst necklace, feathered scarf, or cool piece of art. There had to be at least one object in the village that she'd like. He and Rin would find it.

"They were so shocked to hear of our relationship," he mused. "I wish you had gotten to spend more time with them. I wish we both had."

Ari smiled softly. "Alright. And, ah, I haven't had time to get you your gift yet, so I might slip away from you at some point to get it for you." he replied. He offered Honey his arm so that they could walk together. "So where were you planning on taking me? Because I believe you said you knew a place we could go."

Rin nodded. "Quirisa was, ah, certainly interesting." he laughed softly, leaning his face against Arquis's throat. "She tried to sleep with me a few times." he shook his head a little bit. "But I think I would have enjoyed getting to know them both some more. Perhaps I still can, someday."

Honey gladly took his arm. It was a small thing, but it made their plans feel more real. He smiled to himself as he began to walk down the hallway with him. They really were going on a date. An actual, go-out-to-eat date. He felt light and bubbly on the inside.

"Yeah! It's a nicer place, kinda out of the way. You'll see. It's not too far from Ophia's house." He leaned in conspiratorially. "The squash ravioli is absolutely to die for, but it's a bit of a hidden gem on the menu. They also have this incredible bruschetta with sun dried tomatoes on top."

Arquis flushed. "Ah, yes. I had forgotten about that part. She is quite persistent. Though I suppose I did technically win out in that regard." Even saying that was enough to make him embarrassed, though it was a lovely kind of embarrassment. "Goodness, what a statement. I do think—to, ah, get back on topic—that you could still get to know them. That plan that you mentioned the other night. The one we discussed yesterday. If we were to do that, then you would likely get to know them well. But there is no pressure to agree to that, my love. I know it is still quite sudden."

Ari smiled again. "That does sound wonderful." he agreed, smiling happily at Honey as the young man led them both along. "I can't wait to see it." he kept their arms entwined together as they walked through the halls of the hotel and towards the entrance.

Rin laughed a little bit. "Yes, you won." he replied, smiling over at Arquis. "And as for the, ah, plan…" he trailed off, taking a deep breath. "I think that that is one that we need to discuss quite a bit more. I am not opposed to it, I just think we need to tlak about it."

Honey decided to take Ari on a slightly different route to the village this time, one that would take a touch longer but cut through a meadow. Plenty birds were out and about, fluttering and chirping from the boughs of autumnal trees. That was right. Despite the intense weather—all that snow and such—it wasn't deep into winter. And speaking of weather, the rainstorm from earlier had subsided into a very fine, faint mist. It caught on Honey's lashes and curls like morning dew.

The meadow was wonderful. Petrichor and the sweet perfume of flowers drifted through the air. The grass was long and pale green. It swished in the cool breeze, revealing poppies, marigolds, and buttercups that grew in clusters alongside the stone path they were walking down. Honey had to be careful not to slip on the slick rocks. Heels were pretty but dangerous. He clung to Ari extra tightly for support.

"It's pretty this time of year. Not so much in the summer or winter. Grass gets all dry and shriveled. But right now, it's gorgeous. Looks even better at sunset." He paused for a moment to listen to the sounds of nature around them, letting it really soak in. "It's weird, y'know? I really do love this place. Just not the inn."

"Oh, yes, of course!" Arquis replied, nodding earnestly. "I was not suggesting that you had to decide at this very moment. Absolutely not. We still have plenty of time to discuss it, and I believe we should do so."

The more he thought about the subject, the more he remembered what he'd shared the previous night. Before their nightmare, he'd talked about rings and dresses. He'd been so sleepy that it had all just come pouring out, like water from an upturned glass.

"I said some rather silly things yesterday, did I not?" he mumbled. The tips of his ears had gone pink.

He smiled, doing his best to help support Honey whenever the blond stumbled or slipped. "It's gorgeous." he agreed softly, smiling at Honey for a moment and then looking around the fields. "And it makes sense. You don't have to love this inn when there are so many bad memories attached to it. That's okay." he wanted to reassure Honey in whatever way he could.

Rin hummed softly. "You did, but they were also valid things." he replied, kissing Arquis's cheek. "Do you want to wear dresses, my love? I think you would look lovely in them, and I will not stop you if you do wish to." they leaned their head on Arquis's shoulder, looking up at their partner as he waited to see what Arquis would say.

"Yeah. I'd move somewhere else if I could, but that's where we work. The job pays well. And I'm just not sure where I'd go." Honey stopped walking and pulled his arm away so that he could pick a rather vibrant poppy. He lifted it and breathed in slowly, basking in the fresh, sweet scent. A small smile played at his lips. "I don't wanna make Lovey get up and move, either. She seems to like the people here. I think she and this other woman, Pretty, are close friends. They spend a lotta time together."

He turned to face Ari and cupped his face with one hand. His other started to lift the flower, then hesitated. He'd been planning to playfully put it behind his ear, but he wondered if that would make him uncomfortable. Was it too feminine? Just because Honey adored dresses, skirts, and lipstick didn't mean that everyone was alright with more feminine-coded things.

"Can I put this in your hair, stranger?"

Arquis's expression was hard to read because he himself didn't know what he was feeling. "I… I do not know, my love. When we were younger, I used to ask Quirisa if I could try on her dresses, and she let me once or twice. Never in front of my parents, of course. I thought they were wonderful. One day, my aunt found us as I was looking at myself in the mirror. She made me promise to never do it again. When I asked her why, she… she told me that it was dangerous. That I would be mocked and possibly hurt. Or worse." He squeezed his eyes shut, swallowed, then opened them again. "I know that it is different here. Honey wears them without hesitation. I find myself wishing to do the same. I just do not know. Where would I even get one?"

Ari nodded a little bit, but didn't say anything as to moving, or Lovey and Pretty. After all, he had promised Lovey he wouldn't breathe a word of it to Honey, and he was going to keep that promise. At the question, and the flower, he thought for a moment. True, he tried to steer clear of more feminine things due to his own past with them, but he didn't mind this. He smiled softly, and nodded. "You may, Honey." he replied.

Rin listened quietly, taking a deep breath as he heard Arquis's story. "Oh, darling. When we go into town today, we will see if we can find a dress shop, and you can try some on." he said, reaching over to cup Arquis's cheek, smoothing his thumb over their lover's cheekbone. "If, of course, that is something you desire. If the idea is too frightening or strange for you, then that is alright too."

Honey smiled and leaned in close. His eyes flickered across Ari's face for just a moment. The palm of his hand was warm on his cheek. He brushed aside a curl of his hair and tucked the flower in carefully, making sure it wouldn't fall. Then, he shifted back so he could study his work. It was a little crooked. He adjusted it and looked again. That was better.

His heart fluttered when he realized how close they still were. Ari could kiss him, if he wanted. It'd only take a second. Just a subtle step forward and their lips would connect. He imagined it for a moment with a faint blush. Before either of them could act on it, he twirled away and fanned himself with his good hand. His other wrist was still too sore to be waving about wildly.

"Why, here I am, all alone in a gorgeous meadow," he practically sang. He gave Ari a flirty wink. His hips swayed as he walked ahead on the path, spreading his arms out wide. "All by myself. Such a shame, to look so lovely yet be without a date. If only some dashing man were here to sweep me off my feet. Preferably literally. These shoes kinda hurt."

Arquis nuzzled into their hand, the tension bleeding out of him. "Mm. I suppose that might work. The idea does frighten me terribly, but, well, I should not simply avoid everything that scares me." He snuggled closer. "After all, dating you seemed a terrifying prospect at first, but it has been one of the best experiences of my life. Please do keep holding me, by the way. It is very enjoyable.”

Ari smiled, standing still as Honey tucked the flower in place, then laughed as Honey moved away from him. "Sadly, I do not have the body strength to lift you from your feet." he replied. And it was true; he did not. He had muscles, yes, but he just was not strong enough to pick Honey up, even though he wished he was. Nonetheless, he came over to Honey and gently wrapped an arm across his shoulders.

Rin smiled. "Yes. We'll do that, then, and if it makes you too uncomfortable, we will simply leave." he replied, kissing Arquis's cheek softly, still cupping the nobleman's other cheek with his hand. "I love you, my darling."

Honey beamed. Clearly, he'd gotten what he'd wanted, even if that didn't mean he got a free lift out of it. He'd take anything he could get, and this was far more than he'd been expecting. He cozied closer to Ari for a bit, resting his head on his shoulder, before starting to walk forward. They really did need to make it to the village soon. The lunch rush would be ending. There'd be a gap between it and the dinner rush that would be the perfect time to eat. Nobody would tell them to hurry.

The village was back in busy mode. Vendors pushed their carts up and down the streets, offering lollipops and stuffed toys to children, newspapers to parents, and warm blankets to the elderly. A group of energetic, giggling kids wearing matching scarves ran past, chased by a pair of older women. Several adults gathered around a board game with a lot of metallic pieces that kept falling over. Everything here was all hustle and bustle, but it was the fun, lively sort, not stuffy or unwelcoming in any way.

The restaurant they were going to was a small building made of wood and stone. Tendrils of ivy curled up the side, giving it the appearance of a cozy, mossy cottage. Honey grinned when he saw it. He didn't go to it often because it was so expensive, but the food really was fantastic. He ushered Ari in through the door, followed the waiter to an empty table outside, and sat in a chair. It was painfully obvious that he was nervous. This was his first date. He wanted to do everything right.

"Hello. May I take your order, or would you like a couple of minutes?" a second waiter asked as he approached. When he looked up from his notepad and saw Honey, he pulled a face. "That is quite an outfit. Makes such a bold statement."

"Aw, thank you!"

Arquis was on cloud nine. The touch was making him melt. He could barely remember what they'd been talking about. Instead of considering it further, he nodded, then moved and placed his head against Rin's chest.

"I love you so incredibly much, my heart.”

Ari smiled as Honey led him through the village and into the restaurant, settling in his seat and giving Honey another soft smile. The poppy was still tucked behind his ear, having survived the trip unscathed. "I think we need a couple minutes to order. Or at least, I do, though my date may be ready already." he said, laughing softly and smiling. He was happy to be on this date, in all honesty. Honey was a lovely young man, and Ari was looking forward to this.

Rin kept holding onto him, smiling as Arquis snuggled closer to them. "Mm." he bent to kiss the top of Arquis's head, a soft smile pulling at his lips.

(half of the time it takes for me to write responses for this roleplay is just looking up "gourmet food" lol)

The waiter nodded at Ari, handed them a menu, and walked away, giving Honey a backwards glance over his shoulder. It was hard to tell whether his words had been a sincere compliment or not. His expression was difficult to read. Once he was gone, the blond turned to his date, blushing. He fidgeted in his seat. He had the urge to bite his nails, but he battled down the instinct. That was such a bad habit. The sooner he broke it, the better.

"Let's see what they've got today," he said, picking up the menu and holding it between them. "Like I said, the bruschetta's there at the top, and they've also got the pasta down here at the bottom. There's beef bourguignon, which I've never had, and here it says today's special is mushroom parmesan risotto. They've got creamy spinach pasta, too. Or a gourmet cheese board, if you're looking for an appetizer. Charcuterie in general, actually, might be nice. I don't know. They don't really have seafood, but they do have these ribs that have this incredible garlic butter. Also a pretty refreshing salad with goat cheese."

He was rambling. Food was a subject that he adored. Cooking wasn't his strong suit—he'd never really learned how to make more than some basic breakfast items—but trying new things was always a great experience.

Arquis grinned and rolled over, tangling himself and his lover in the comforter. His heart felt light. He wrapped himself around Rin, his legs encircling theirs, his arms around their back. His lips sought out a spot on their neck; he kissed him as if he'd been starved of it.

(lol oof)

Ari smiled again; it was hard to stop. Honey was adorable and this restaurant was lovely, and Ari was glad to be here. He looked at the menu, taking in all the various items on it. "Lovely." he commented. "It all looks delicious, I have no idea how I'm going to narrow down my choices here." he laughed a little bit, trying to make a decision. But he had spoken the truth; everything looked great, and he had no idea how he was going to narrow it down to just one or two choices.

Rin laughed, smiling and returning the kiss happily. "Love you." he said softly. "Love you so much, my darling." he was smiling, arms wrapped around Arquis and their hair slightly messed up from the movement.

"Huh. Maybe I can help with that." Honey reached out, placed his hand over Ari's, and closed his eyes. He guided his finger blindly along the page. His finger stopped over a dish, and the blond looked at it. Instantly, his face reddened. He choked on a laugh. "Well, uh, that's certainly something."

The dish he was pointing at was actually a dessert. It was a chocolate lava cake for two. The sketch of it showed that it had strawberries cut into heart shapes on top. The plate under it was also adorned with rose petals.

Arquis murmured an "I love you" in response against their mouth. He said it again as he moved down, kissing over his already-fading love bites, then again once he reached their collarbones. Slowly, watching their expression to make sure he'd be alright with it, he tugged down the neckline of his shirt so that he could kiss his favorite spot. Their heart. He swore for a moment that he could actually feel it beating, and he nuzzled into their warm skin.

There was a quote in a romantic tragedy he'd once read that had stuck with him. A princess mourned the loss of her lover, who she'd held as he took his dying breath. She'd kissed his forehead, which was still warm with past life, and had whispered, "An eternity with you would not have been long enough." He'd never truly understood that until he'd met Rin. He could lie and say that he'd be happy with just a few weeks. That even a moment with him would be paradise enough. But he was selfish. He wanted more time. He'd always want more time.

(dude if/when Ari and Honey have kids,,,, aaaaaaaaah it'd be so cute. i just. Ari figuring out he's pregnant and being nervous to tell Honey even tho he knows Honey will love it and just. cute gfbkh)

Ari laughed when he saw what Honey's finger had landed on. "Well, perhaps we can have that for dessert, gorgeous. But I want real food first." he replied, giving Honey a soft smile and hoping that Honey didn't mind the nickname. It was true; Honey was gorgeous, and Ari loved it. But he didn't want to upset Honey by calling the blond a name that those others had called him in the past.

Rin's breath hitched slightly as Arquis traveled lower, and he reached over to tangle his hand in his lover's hair, holding his head gently. They were still smiling, soft and hopelessly fond of their lover. He always found himself wanting more and more of anything Arquis would give them, wanting him to just be close and talking and smiling and laughing together.

(awwww agreed that'd be so cute!! also lovey potentially giving ari some tips and having sweet conversations with him since she's already been through it)

Honey let out a bubbly, slightly startled laugh. Gorgeous was a very good pet name. There were others that he didn't like that men had used in the past. Baby was one of the worst. Myr called him that, blondie, and doll frequently. He hated those three, but because baby had been used by a majority of his clients, it was definitely his least favorite. Just thinking about it made a chill run down his spine.

"Gorgeous, huh? How sweet." He turned and prodded the menu. "Well, if you're not gonna have that excellent choice, you're gonna need to pick something else. You wanna do an appetizer? We could share. I, like, love charcuterie boards. Pay a bunch of money for some cheese and crackers on a piece of wood. Fantastic stuff."

Arquis hummed, pleased by the hand in his hair. He let the collar of their shirt go and instead moved back to the crook of his neck. This was a good spot as well. He nestled against it with a small smile.

"We decided on what to do while in the village, but we have not discussed what to do while we are here. How would you like to pass the time, my love?"

(yess! aw but also Ari getting a bit worried that Honey's going to see him as less of a man bc of this? like. obviously he knows Honey sees him as a man, but dysphoria is a bitch and so Ari's just,,,, needing some extra reassurance that yes, even tho he's carrying a baby, Honey still sees him as a man and just,,, sweet little comfort scenes)

"Let's split a charcuterie board to start off with, then." he replied, giving Honey a quick, sweet smile. "And if we're both still hungry, we can figure something else out to have too." he looked down at the charcuterie boards on the menu, tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear to keep it out of his face.

Rin exhaled softly. "Mm, I don't know. I like just laying here with you and relaxing." they replied, smiling a little as he looked over at Arquis.

(yeah! and honey making sure to give him a lot of reassurance using masculine compliments and emphasizing that he'll be an excellent father, really just doting on him throughout the whole experience)

Honey nodded happily. He leaned over and fixed the flower so that it'd keep his hair in place. Ari really did look handsome wearing it. Then again, Ari looked handsome literally all of the time. The blond had been stunned from the moment he'd first seen him in Arquis and Rin's suite.

Their waiter returned to their table with a large pitcher of water. In it was a whole lot of ice as well as cubes of fruit. There were also some berries near the bottom that floated to the top of two glasses when he filled them. He handed one to each of them, popped his notepad out, and cocked a brow at Honey. It was a somewhat judgmental yet cool gaze. The blond was too distracted by Ari to notice or care. He hadn't even seen him arrive, to be honest.

The man cleared his throat. "What would you like?"

"Oh! Um, what'd we say? A charcuterie board! That's right, that was it. One of those. Any kind, I guess." He hadn't been expecting to be asked to order again so soon, and he gave Ari a flustered grin. "Surprise us!"

"I will get right on that," he said stiffly. Before he walked away, his eyes flickered over Ari. There was a note of distant amusement lurking in his gaze. "What an interesting flower."

Arquis kissed the soft spot under one of his ears, unable to hide his smile. That was such a cheesy yet cute thing to say. Sometimes, his partner was just adorable. The line from the tragedy repeated in his head. He'd give anything to be able to lay in bed with them forever. An eternity resting side by side would still not be long enough. He placed his hand on their stomach and let it slide to their side, pulling him into a tight hug.

"I really love you," he said, voice cracking. "If you take any one thing from our time together, please let it be that."

(yeah! like. just. cuteee. but like also once the baby is born, they'd use formula bc Ari isn't capable of breastfeeding bc of the surgery. but like. tbh these two as parents/parents-to-be would be absolutely adorable)

Ari smiled softly at Honey, then looked up at the waiter. He could tell that the waiter didn't really approve of them, which was fine. As long as he kept his mouth shut about it. The second the man said anything, though, Ari would be jumping to defend Honey and himself. "Thank you." he replied in a cool tone, unsure if the comment about the flower was a compliment or not. Either way, he was civil about it.

They snuggled close to Arquis, looking up at him when he heard his lover's voice cracking. "Darling, is everything alright?" he asked, raising his eyebrows slightly and hoping that his partner was not upset by something. He ran a hand throgh Arquis's hair, studying him carefully and just trying to understand.

(aww and honey absolutely taking a lot of the late night shifts when the baby won't stop crying because he knows how hard it's been on ari and then also just spending a lot of time tending to his partner's needs before their little one is born)

The waiter covered his mouth as if to hide a laugh and walked away. If Honey had noticed his odd, slightly rude behavior, he didn't say anything about it. He was usually very perceptive, but his senses had been dulled somewhat by the excitement of the date. The world, which normally seemed a harsh place, was brighter. Softer. Kinder. That was also likely due to the introduction of candles, which a different waiter set out on their table. The blond blushed and smiled.

"How romantic," he said, humor coloring his tone. The flickering candlelight made his brown eyes seem to glow gold. He placed his elbow on the table and leaned forward on his hand. "So, stranger. You said you wanted to get to know me. We did a little bit of truth and dare last night. I say we should keep it going, minus the dare part, of course. Anything you're curious about?"

"Everything is fine. Really, my love. I just…" Arquis swallowed and gestured limply with one hand. "I cannot stop thinking of the future. And I know I should not. I should be happy with you in the present, and I am. But I still worry about what is to come. How my past will affect you. What it will mean for our relationship, I simply… I…”

(awwww yess! like. they're both tired and exhausted and trying to take care of each other and the baby and yessss)

Ari smiled. "I do want to get to know you." he replied. "And…what's your favorite flower?" he didn't htink he had asked this before, and perhaps he could buy a flower for Honey, since the young man had given him the one tucked behind his ear. He wanted to find Honey a present that the young man would truly enjoy.

Rin nodded faintly, kissing Arquis's cheek. "My darling, I understand that you are worried about the future, but, ah, listen to me: we will be fine. No matter what the future brings for us both, we will be alright." he said, reaching to take Arquis's hand, studying his partner with soft, gentle eyes.

Honey shrugged. He didn't want to disappoint Ari, but flowers usually weren't his thing. "I don't know. Never really thought about it. I mean, they're pretty and stuff, and I think they smell nice. But sometimes they, uh, bring up kind of bad memories. Not all them! Just roses, mostly. I'm so damn sick of roses."

Roses were the type that The Cecilia Rouge had on sale for people to buy. Many men had bought them to woo Honey, as if a bouquet of flowers could in any way make up for what they were planning to do. Worse was when they demanded to be praised for it. He could recall spending many nights showering undeserving men with compliments, practically worshipping them for their cliché gift. If the roses had ever been given with pure intentions, then he'd be truly appreciative. But they never had been.

"Maybe sunflowers? Or moonflowers. I don't know. Neither of those really grow around here, so I don't get to see them much. Do you have a favorite?"

Arquis sighed. "I want to believe you, love. I truly wish that I could. It is just that lately I have had this feeling, worse than ever before, that something bad is going to happen. It is like sensing rain on the wind before a storm."

Storms flooded and ravaged towns, leaving nothing in their wake. They ruined and stole lives. The nobleman had the sinking feeling that if a metaphorical one really was heading their way, he wouldn't survive. He wondered if it was best to send Rin packing before it hit. To watch them get washed out to sea because of him would be a torturous fate.

"I wonder when we will hear from Quirisa. She knows our location. It worries me that we have heard no news from her at all."

Ari nodded a little, giving him a soft smile. "I understand." he replied softly. "And I…I'm a gardener, I love them all. Lilacs are lovely, though they are very fragrant. Lavender, as well. Tulips, too." he shrugged a shoulder. "But I love them all." he did; flowers and plants were lovely, and he liked to work to create a garden, digging in the earth and planting seeds, taking care of them until beautiful flowers sprang from the earth, unfurling soft little leaves and reaching towards the sky.

Rin nodded slightly. "We're going to be alright." he repeated. "And…maybe Quirisa can't write without giving away where we are. After all, if she wrote to you and your mother saw the letter, then everyone would know where we were. And we don't really want that to happen just yet." he said, hoping he was right and that nothing had happened to Quirisa.