forum What Lies Behind The Mask? (o/o) (Closed)

Started June 25, 2019 by @Vuclan-is-tired

tune

The human giggled happily and snuggled against her king again, humming herself as he opened the book and started to read.

(Skip to when they're done?)

Sure//

Cian looked around the garden, sighing softly as the cool air hit his skin. He ran a hand along the crystal flowers, spending almost every evening here calmed him, relaxed him. He didn't care much for the castle. Just the garden. But he of course made sure the castle didn't fall to ruin. His mask caught a bit of moonlight, and he sighed softly.

(Yey thanks)

Aliana had creeped after him when he had left her that night, looking at the fountain nearby and petting Blizzard for some warmth. She liked following her king around, talking to him, and eating with him. It gave her very small chances to see underneath his mask, to see the slightest of slivers of skin, and the flash of bright, pointy teeth. Personally, she thought he'd look much better without his mask, mostly because the curiosity was killing her.

He gazed at the fountain before shaking his head and straightening himself. He looked towards Aliana and smiled a little. "Shall we head inside. You appear to be cold." His voice was gentle, sightly teasing. He offered his arm to her, his golden eyes glinting gently in the light.

Aliana glanced back at him and smiled a little when he noticed her, flouncing over, her extra-floaty dress floating behind her as she jogged over to take his arm. She smiled up at his golden eyes and nodded shyly. "I'd like to go inside. Can we have that dessert that the cooks made yesterday? I think it was… Velvet cake?" She asked, sort of forgetting it. But it was tasty and sugary.

Cian nods gently, a little smile settling on his lips as she hurried to join his side, Blizzard bouncing after her. He nods, "Of course. I'm glad you enjoyed it," He says gently. He walks them into the dining room and helps her into a chair beside him before settling into his chair as well.

Aliana glowed like the little gem she was, watching her king move around with bright eyes. She pulled out a chair and patted it for Blizzard to join her, giggling like a little five-year-old offering a space for her cat to sit.
As she was distracted, the cooks bringing out slices of cake for them brought her attention back in. She smiled bright and picked up a fork after giving them a chipper "Thank you!"

Blizzard leaped into the seat, although little parts of him stuck out since he was so large. Cian raised a soft brow at that before chuckling a little.
He nods to the cooks when they serve the food and he hummed before gently biting into the warm, sweet cake. He ate slowly and in a refined manner. Blizzard happily ate a piece of meat given to him, his tail flicking back and forth.

Aliana turned to look at the tiger again and giggled at him as he ate. "You're so cute, Blizzard," She cooed to him as she cut into her cake and gobbled it up. She wasn't quite as refined as he was, and it showed a rather lot as she got red specks all over her cheeks and chin. She almost got done with her slice as fast as Blizzard ate his meat. She went to cut herself another slice, but one of the cooks standing out with them beat her to it and slipped her another.

He smiled as he watched them both eat before finishing off his cake, raising his hand when the cooks went to give him another slice. They quickly backed off and he smiled a little bit before looking at Aliana. "I have been thinking, and I am going to hire a scholar for you. They will teach you how to read and to write." He says, folding his hands neatly together. "What do you think, Aliana?"

Aliana finished her second slice and licked her lips with her now bright-red tongue, looking up at him as he spoke. "A scholar? Why can't you teach me how? You've been doing it and I like reading with you. Maybe you can teach me how to write, too." She smiled at her own suggestion, her eyes gleaming with hope.

Cian blinks before looking at her and raised a brow. "I suppose I could." He shrugged and sighed softly as he leaned back, running a hand through his hair. It had fallen from his ponytail, falling gracefully down his shoulders. He stands. "Your lessons begin in the morning." He says before nodding towards the cooks. "9 am sharp."

Aliana watched his hair fall with a soft, gentle sigh. She thought his hair was really pretty. She would give anything to touch it and feel how silky it was. She refocused on him as he stood, nodding hastily. "Of course! Where– where will they be?"

"Meet me here in the mornings for breakfast and then we'll get started on our lessons." He smiles a little bit before sweeping out of the room, his cloak trailing after him. The door shuts behind him without a noise and Blizzard tilts his head, licking at his nose.

"Okay!" She called back in a small voice, her cheeks reddening. "I like him a lot," She said to Blizzard, turning to look at the tiger. "I'm glad he didn't make me leave."

Blizzard purrs and licks her hand. He looked up at her with big blue eyes. "Erm… miss… Do you know what Blizzard is?" One of the cooks asked, her eyebrow raising a little before coughing into her hand. "He's a shifter." She states and Blizzard glares at her.

"A shifter?" She asked innocently, turning her eyes up at the cook, still stroking Blizzard's head. "What does that mean? He's a tiger and a very nice one." She hugged him close and pressed a kiss to his big head.

She coughed and gave a pointed look at Blizzard who huffed in reply. He pulled out of her grasps and sat in a corner before he shifted, and a small boy was put in his place. he was wearing a simple white shirt and black pants. his hair was a soft white, and he still had the ears and tail. "There. Happy?" he asks, looking rather annoyed.

"So-so you…" She stuttered, unable to wrap her head around it and blinking a couple times, biting her lip as she evaluated him. She fell silent, then stood up. She probably would have preferred it if she didn't know she'd been sleeping, bathing, and dressing with a boy. Probably. She was used to the type of thing, but he was rather young… and she'd gotten used to the whole privacy thing.

He sighed before looking at her. "I was assigned to protect you miss. Please don't let this ruin me being able to hang out with you… I haven't had a friend since I met master." He pouted a little bit. "Don't worry, your privacy has always been your privacy…" He shifts back into his white tiger form and pouts a little, giving a little whining sound.

Aliana sighed and dipped her head a little as she thought it over. "I like hanging out with you, but I would've wanted to know… I-I thought all of those things were just always between me and…" She trailed off as he shifted and watched him pad over, a slight flush to her usually full, red cheeks. She was clearly uncomfortable for the first time she was here.

"I am sorry for keeping it from you. Master thought it was best until I waited for when you were comfortable with the palace, with me, and with him." He says quietly, settling down on a chair. His eyes were soft and a little downcast. He was used to people rejecting him once they knew what he was.