Ari smiled at him. "What would you like me to do to help you, then?" he asked, putting his hands on his hips and looking around the room. "I can pick things up, organize them into piles…what would you like me to do?" he ran a hand through his still damp curls, gaze moving back to Honey. "I would like to help, if you're alright with that."
"Mmph. No. 'm okay." he replied. "'m just tired. Just give me some time to wake up a bit, 'n I'll be okay." his voice was still soft and hazy and sleepy. "Promise." he smiled gently, still snuggled close to his partner. "Love you a lot, and I'd tell you if I wasn't okay."
"Uh, well, you can just help me sort through stuff, I guess. Here, let me drag all this shit outta the wardrobe, and we can sit on the floor. Go ahead and make yourself comfy."
He quickly crossed to the wardrobe, gathered a bunch of clothes into his arms, and stumbled to the middle of the room. They all fell into a heap on the ground. He dropped with them and crossed his legs. His eyes swept over the pile as he decided what to look at first. There were a lot of, well, embarrassing items in there. Things he kind of wished Ari didn't have to see. But it was too late for that now. He picked up a very sheer, short nightgown with lace straps and frowned. The entire back was split in half. If the material wasn't so thin, he might've been able to have someone sew it. He put it in a pile to toss and held out a plain sweater to Ari to observe.
"If you are certain," Arquis murmured. "And I love you as well, my heart. So, so terribly much."
The marriage plan suddenly resurfaced in his mind, and he could imagine himself on an altar with them. Him in a gorgeous gown, them in whatever he chose to wear. A tuxedo or a dress or a skirt. Smiling in that way that they did, holding him just like this. Damn it all, he wanted to marry Rin. He wanted to sweep them into a honeymoon suite and lock the door, to shower him in worship and praise and love. And he wanted to forget completely about the Palace and the stresses of his previous life.
He sat down on th floor, taking the sweater and examining it carefully. There were a few little burn marks at the bottom, but had otherwise managed to escape relatively unscathed. "This is only a little singed at the bottom. Do you want to keep it?" he asked, holding it up to Honey so that the blond could examine it for himself. "Or do you want me to put it aside elsewhere?" he didn't quite know what Honey wanted him to do, so he would wait for directions from the blond.
Rin smiled again, soft and sweet. They remained curled by Arquis's side, head resting on his shoulder. "Good." he said softly, letting out a quiet, faint little hum.
Honey glanced over. "If it's not completely ruined or, like, unwearable, then you can put it in the keep pile. Uh, here," he cleared out a space with his arm, "put it here. But if you see something that's pretty messed up, throw it with that nightgown, and I'll take it to be tossed later."
He picked up a pair of shorts and scanned it. The back pocket had been torn, but he could get that fixed. The zipper still worked, and there didn't seem to be any holes or anything. He folded the pair, set them aside, and picked up another item. This time, it was something risqué. Light pink stockings with a garter and a bow on each hip. He coughed awkwardly as he looked them over. Myr had ripped massive holes into them and burnt the right bow. He wasn't exactly sad to see them go. He had better nightclothes.
Arquis eventually ended up closing his eyes as well, and his head tipped against the back of the armchair. In his mind, he kept replaying that scene with Myr standing outside, saying something to Ophia. He didn't understand it. There was just no way Myr and Muria could've ever met. Muria was prideful enough that she'd never speak with someone like him. Not because he was morally bankrupt, but because he didn't seem of great wealth or status. She preferred to negotiate with upper class, elegant criminals, or so he'd thought. He couldn't wrap his mind around that comment. Maybe he really was overthinking it, and he'd been making a jab about Ophia being Honey's mother or something. The man had probably been delirious due to pain.
"What do you think will happen to him?" Arquis asked softly. "Myr, I mean."
Ari nodded faintly, and then continued to go through the stacks, carefully sorting damaged from undamaged. He didn't say anything abut the different clothing, about the various nightclothes that he discovered. He did not want to embarrass Honey, and he knew any remarks about it would embarrass the young man, and he did not want that to happen.
Rin sighed faintly as he thought about the question. "I don't know." he replied in a quiet tone. "I…I hope he just dies, but I don't know for sure. Maybe someone will save him, maybe they won't. I just…I just hope that he stays away from Honey and the hotel." he knew it would devastate Honey if Myr came back again, no matter the reason.
"It's not all mine," Honey muttered after a while of sitting in silence. The tips of his ears were red, and he refused to look at Ari. "I mean, it is. Like, I own it. But I didn't buy it all. A lot of the guys chose it for me."
As if that made it any better. He'd kept it all, hadn't he? And he could remember nights in his room by himself, admiring his reflection as he stroked over ruffles and fixed straps. He was vain, just like everyone had said. Prancing around in leather, flirting with strangers, playing the game. He liked the way he'd dressed. Hadn't he? Nothing felt certain anymore. How much of his wardrobe was himself? Was there any of his true self left? Had all of Henri turned into Honey? That's what he'd implied the other night, but the truth of it made his mouth taste like metal.
"Well, it's not as if they—Pretty, I guess—severed his whole hand or arm," Ophia responded, deep in thought. "You're likely right. If he managed to stop the bleeding and got to another doctor before infection set in, then he'll probably live. Not that he deserves it, of course. I'd love someone to find his body in a gutter. But I have a feeling that he'll end up just fine. People like that are usually more lucky than they have any right being, while the good ones get the worst cards."
Arquis took another sip of tea. "There is no way to get him arrested for what he has done?"
"Definitely not." Ophia gave him a slightly pitying smile, as if she thought he was naive. "How do I put this nicely? Those in charge don't usually believe people like Honey, and even if they did, they wouldn't do anything to help him. The people in charge of this village want The Cecilia Rouge gone. They'd actually probably side with the bastard, claiming Honey owes him for his injury."
Ari nodded a little. "I'm not, ah, judging you for it, Honey. Even if you like it, dressing up in them…it's not something I'd judge you for. There are worse things to like then wearing cute or sexy lingerie." he replied, giving the blond another quick little smile, before going back to the clothing. "Alright? Please believe me on that. I am not going to judge you for the clothes you own, whether or not you bought them or someone else did."
Rin exhaled. "Shitty bastards." he remarked, opening his eyes to look over at Ophia, his brows gathering together a little. "This country is such a…a terrible place for anyone who isn't…" he trailed off, their mouth pulled down into a frown. "For anyone who is different." he looked up at his partner for a moment. "Sorry, darling, but…but I'm right. Anvillea is…"
"I don't know if I like it." Honey groaned and buried his head in the crook of his arm. He didn't feel like looking at the clothes any longer. They symbolized his life too well. Fake and pretty and perfect and torn to shreds by a man who didn't know Honey's real name, a man who'd pressed his burning fingers into the blond's skin like he was stubbing out a cigarette.
"I wish you hadn't been with me when we came here last night. I wished he'd been here instead, and he'd just done what he'd wanted, and then it'd be over with. I can't stop thinking about him. I don't feel safe. Here, or anywhere. We don't know what happened to him. He could be coming back right now. I shouldn't have made him mad."
"Anvillea is awful," Arquis said softly, finishing the thought. Without thinking, he wrung his hands together, feeling the ridges of his scars under his gloves. His eyes watered. He'd known it for years already, but saying it aloud almost hurt. It was as if he was betraying his home, though Anvillea had never really been home to him. Homes were supposed to be safe and comfortable. He'd lived nearly his whole life in fear.
"I would leave if I could. Just pack my bags and run as far away as possible. But even this trip of ours is temporary. I was always meant to return to the Palace."
"Is it really true what they say about your father?" Ophia asked, then flushed. "That he was murdered by your aunt."
"He was murdered, yes," Arquis whispered. His grip grew tighter on the armrests. Aurisi's blue eyes flashed in his memory, and the nobleman shuddered.
Ari listened, looking over at Honey. "He won't come back. And if he does, then we're going to get Pretty or someone to help." he replied. "You don't deserve to be hurt, and I, for one, am glad you weren't here when he did this. That you didn't have to be hurt by him again, that we got to have a good time on our date yesterday." his voice was soft, but firm. "Remember? Yesterday, we went out together, and we had fun. We had a date, Honey. Where we didn't get hurt, and nothing beyond a storm went wrong."
Rin kissed Arquis's cheek gently, taking a deep breath. "I am sorry, darling." he whispered. He looked over at Ophia, but didn't say anything about it. He didn't know the story of what had happened, and he wasn't about to interject himself into the conversation about it.
"Of course I remember. You were a perfect gentleman, and I loved every minute of it. Except the part with the waiter. And the family by the fountain. And the storm. Well, actually, I kinda liked that part, 'cause it meant I got to do your hair, which meant that you got super close to me, and, uh, I should stop talking."
It was good he'd managed to stop himself. He'd been about to ramble about how gorgeous Ari's eyes were and how great he'd smelled. Which was weird. Very weird.
Arquis pulled Rin closer and nestled his head in the slope of his shoulder. Every time he thought about what had happened to Aurisi, he felt sick and clammy. Neither his father nor his aunt had ever been particularly nice to him, yet the fate that befell them was just ghastly.
Ophia set down her crocheting hook. "May I ask why?"
"You may not," he snapped. His temper cooled quickly, and he blushed, embarrassed at how fast he'd lost his head. "My apologies. It is just a sensitive matter."
"Yes." Ari replied softly, shifting closer to Honey. "And, ah, what do you think would have happened if you had stayed here?" he asked, voice quiet. "We wouldn't have been able to have all those lovely times. You would have been here. Myr would have done terrible things to you, none of which you could ever, ever deserve, in any lifetime." he reached out to gently take Honey's hand.
Rin reached out to gently squeeze Arquis's hand. "Perhaps we had best find a different topic. This one does not seem to be a good one for anyone involved." he said softly, trying to keep the peace and trying to keep anyone from getting angry. "I, ah, don't think this is going to be a good or helpful discussion for us all to have right now." he cleared his throat softly.
Honey's face scrunched up like he was trying not to cry, and he slumped over, defeated. A tidal wave of memories crashed into him. Things that made him want to crawl under his bed and itch at his skin until it stung. Myr had never really been gentle. He lowered himself down until his head was resting on Ari's knee.
"He's done a lot of terrible things already," he whispered. The burn on his side seemed to flare up, and he winced into Ari's leg. "Not sure how long he would've kept coming, honestly. He was into the younger sort."
Arquis nodded and tugged at his collar. Even though it was still raining, he needed air. He gratefully kissed his partner on the brow, glad that they'd tried to change the subject, and stood. Ophia gave him an apology as he passed, but he sort of ignored it. Only sort of. This was her house, after all. He opened the door and ducked out onto the porch, shoving his hands into his pocket. The cool, crisp morning air was just what he needed to clear his head.
Inside, Ophia coughed awkwardly. "I didn't mean to rile him up. You just get curious, with men like him, you know? The really wealthy.”
Ari nodded a little. "Yeah." he hated that comment. Hated all of it, really, but there was nothing he could do about it, at ths point. "But now he's gone for good, Honey. Do you understand that? He isn't going to come back, and if he does, Pretty or someone else will take care of him. Make him leave. But he's never going to hurt you again, even if, ah…even if you're too old for him." which was a sentence that made him want to gag. Honey was still very young. So was Ari, really. So if Honey was "too old" now…gods, it was terrible to think about.
Rin took a sip of his tea, nodding a little. "I get it. But he's…he's complicated." he finally said with a wry smile. "So can we…not talk about his family anymore? There are a lot of issues, and I don't think we want to get into any of it right now." they ran a hand through their hair, sighign very quietly. This was all just so tiring to deal with, really, and he didn't want to get stressed out because of it all.
Honey nodded slowly, cheek still pressed against Ari's leg. He hadn't even been eighteen when Myr had first started to come around. Just a child. Not naive or innocent, exactly, but still blind to a lot of the cruelty in the world. He'd thought the inn was funny at first, maybe even a bit cute. That opinion had rapidly changed.
"I'm trying to understand it. I just can't really imagine a world without him and the rest of the guys, y'know? It's been years. I've gotten so used to it all. I'm scared there isn't much of me left that's not… that's not made to serve them."
Ophia adjusted her glasses and hummed worriedly. "I know, I'm sorry. I should never have let my curiosity get the best of me like that. He's just as human as the rest of us. But being raised in an environment like that really can't be good for someone. I imagine it's a lot of stress, and, oh, goodness. There I go again. You know what? It might be best for me to go to my room. You two can have some time to recover from my careless remarks."
She stood, clutching her crochet project to her chest, and hurried off to her bedroom. Just to be safe, she shut the door behind her.
Ari gently ran his fingers through Honey's hair, looking down at the young man. "I know." he said in a quiet tone. "But, ah…there is plenty left, Honey. You may need to take some time to discover just what and who you are without them, but you will discover it all. You will figure out what you can do without them." hs voice was firm, and yet still gentle.
Rin let out a breath. "I, ah…we'll see you later, then." he said as Ophia left the room. He sat alone for a few minutes, sipping his tea and nibbling at his breakfast as he waited to see if Arquis would come back in. He didn't want to bother their partner by going outside to bring him back in, and they knew that Arquis wanted some space to calm down and think.
Honey turned his face in towards their thigh. His lips brushed Ari's calf as he spoke. "Yeah. Guess I gotta try to do that now that the kid's coming, huh? Need to be a role model for them, and I can't do that if I wear stuff like," his hand fumbled in the clothes pile until he snatched a piece of lingerie, "this. Not around the house. Don't want them to learn about that stuff young. Not like I had to."
He really was excited that Lovey was having a kid, but it did make him nervous. He wasn't exactly sure how to take care of an infant. He'd had some practice with children when he was younger after being briefly placed in an orphanage, but that wasn't the same. None of them were Lovey's child, after all.
Arquis stayed out on the porch for a while. The weather was really nice. He lost himself in it, breathing in the brisk air and letting gentle rain mist his skin. When he finally came back to himself, he remembered that Rin was still inside, and he headed in. There was an unusual calm to him as he approached the armchair. He didn't sit.
"Love, there is a lot that we need to talk about," he began carefully, kneeling and folding his arms on the edge of the chair. His gray-blue eyes were dark. "Not right now. But very soon."
"You can wear it if you want to, but, ah, yes, perhaps not in front of a child." he replied, still gently running his fingers through Honey's hair. "You're going to be a wonderful uncle, Honey. The kid is going to love you." his voice was soft and gentle and confident. He knew that Honey would be an amazing uncle, just by the way Honey was already so excited about the kid's arrival, when it was still months away.
Rin looked up at him, blinking, and a little confused, too. "Ah…about what?" he asked slowly, reaching up to rest his hands on Arquis's shoulders. "Is everything alright?" was this about the things that Ophia had been asking about? He almost hoped not. That seemed like a difficult subject, and he didn't want to overwhelm Arquis with such a topic.
Honey barked out a laugh. "I didn't mean that I'd wear it in front of the kid!" He was grinning now, though there was a hint of embarrassment dancing in his brown eyes. His expression softened. "I hope that I am. I really, really hope so. There's a lotta bad in the world, and the kid's gonna have to see some of it. That's just how life works. But if I can protect them from the stuff that I went through growing up—if they know that they've got a home that's clean and safe and a family that'll take care of them—then I'll have done well."
Arquis let out a sigh and turned to kiss their left wrist. "What happened to my family. Aurisi, specifically. I have avoided that conversation for far too long. It is a very unpleasant one, and I would rather not have it at all. Yet I would rather you hear the full story from me than someone else. It will undoubtedly change your opinion on a lot of matters. Myself, especially."
They'd been together for over two weeks, and if they did decide to follow the plan, then Rin needed to know the truth of the man he was marrying. It wasn't fair to keep him in the dark. Even if it resulted in their breakup, the bard deserved to know what had happened.
Ari smiled, nodding. "Yeah. As long as they are loved and they know that, then they'll be okay." he replied, voice gentle and soft and sweet. "It's all that is really needed. Love and safety and a place to put their head at night." he kept gently running his fingers through Honey's hair. "I promise that you are going to be a wonderful uncle, and they have two wonderful mothers, as well. They will be well-loved and safe, Honey, and you need to think about yourself, too, not just the baby."
Rin took a deep breath, and nodded a little. "Alright. We can have that conversation, ah, later, then." they said, soft and gentle. "I know that it's going to be a difficult one, and I don't think we should have it here. We can have it back at the inn, later tonight." he ran a hand through Arquis's dark hair, soft and gentle.
(how much longer were we thinking they were gonna be at the inn for? I know we talked about it but I can't remember what we said)
"Love and safety," Honey repeated quietly. He'd been given plenty of love growing up. First his older sister, and then Lovey, who'd never left his side. Sugar, too, in her own way. But safety had never really been part of his reality. He'd risked his life every time he'd gone into a stranger's room. He was constantly in danger. The events of the past few days had proven that much.
"I'm okay, stranger. Really, I am. I've been strong for the past, what, twenty years? I'll be just fine."
Nausea surged within Arquis. Even though he knew the conversation was important, and had been the one to suggest it in the first place, he kind of wished it would just be done with already. He didn't want to watch their opinion of him sour before his very eyes; didn't want to see him grow cold and repulsed. But he would have to. He nodded and swallowed down the bad taste in his mouth.
"Yes, this is not the place for it. I would rather have that talk in private. Just in case I, ah, have an adverse reaction, as I have in the past."
Though maybe, he thought grimly, it would be nice to have a doctor around if he fainted. Not that such a thing was possible. He'd never trust Ophia, someone he barely knew, with his family's secrets. She didn't exactly seem like a gossip mill, but this was an extremely private matter.
(mmm at least a few days to a week? i think?)
"You're not, Honey." he smoothed his hand over Honey's hair, his touch still gentle as ever. "You're not okay, and that much is obvious to anyone who looks at you." he hated saying it, but it was true. It was obvious, and it was rather sad that it was. "I'm sorry. But you do need…time, and help." he took a deep breath.
Rin nodded again. "Of course. It will be alright, darling. Promise." he cupped Arquis's cheek with one hand, and gently brought him in for a kiss. "Okay? It'll be okay." he hummed very faintly, unsure what else to tell Arquis about this subject.
(ooh ok I'm trying to figure out what else they can do in that period cause I feel like a lot of stuff has been done already and I don't wanna repeat stuff/events too much if that makes sense?)
"I know. But, like, I'm okay enough, y'know? Or at least I hope I am. I really wanna make a good impression on the kid. Be someone they can trust, not someone weepy, and frail, and, like, uh, negative. If that makes sense?” Honey groaned and tugged on his hair sharply, tearing out a curly, golden strand. “I don't want them to be all, oh, yeah, Honey's got so many issues, and, uh, he needs a lotta help, and he's not fun to be around, and… I don't know."
Once they were done with the kiss, Arquis rocked forward so that his head was resting in between their knees. He stroked his fingers absentmindedly along their calf. After a moment, he tapped his ankle and pointed to the plate.
"I do not mean to rush you, but are you finished eating? I am not sure how much longer we should stay. I am worried that we might have overstayed our welcome." Ophia not being in the room seemed like a bad sign. He hoped she wasn't mad. "We must not forget the dresses, of course. Those will need to be placed in our room."
(yeah that makes sense! I get it!)
He nodded. "I know. But pushing away any help just makes it more likely that you'll fail, Honey. Seeking help isn't a sign of weakness, sweet thing." the nickname slipped out before he could stop it, and he winced faintly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to, ah…call you that." he said slowly. "I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable." he took a deep breath, still looking down at Honey.
"I am." he said, setting his plate and empty mug aside. "I, uhm, we should say goodbye to Ophia, and thank her for letting us stay here." he said, smiling at his partner. They stood, reaching down to gently help Arquis up. "It's alright, sweetheart. I love you so much." he had a feeling that Arquis needed that reassurance.
Honey's brows furrowed, but he grinned widely at the nickname. It was adorable, that it just slipped out. He reached up and patted Ari's cheek.
"You're so cute," he teased, his smile absolutely dazzling. "Didn't make me uncomfortable at all. Long as it's not baby or doll, I'm pretty much good. Well. Uh, there are some other nicknames I'm not too fond of, but I'd really hope you wouldn't call me that sorta thing."
It'd really hurt if Ari ever did insult him like that. Not that he'd openly admit it. He'd gotten used to hearing stuff like that while working, and he was generally decent at pretending it didn't bother him.
Arquis flushed, embarrassed at his poor manners. He'd been raised better than to be so careless. Hell, he'd taken entire courses on manners and etiquette. He'd learned proper body language and phrasing. Had all of his lessons gone down the drain? Should he care if they had?
"You are correct. We must do that. And, ah, thank you, dear. I love you, too."
Ari hummed very faintly. "Alright." he replied softly. "I'll keep that in mind. But, ah, the important thing is the other thing I was saying. That seeking help doesn't make you weak, and it doesn't make you untrustworthy. You deserve help, and, ah…you need it, too. No offense meant by any of that at all."
Rin smiled a little, cupping Arquis's cheek again. "Yeah. Darling, would you mind grabbing the dress bags while I go talk to Ophia? Or would you like to come speak to her with me? She went into her bedroom, so we will have to knock before we enter." he gave his partner another soft, sweet smile, gently stroking Arquis's cheek with their thumb.
