Corbin couldn't help but watch the man with concern, even with what he said. He nodded some when the halfling relaxed, standing fully now. He kept close to the man as they left, pulling his cloak around himself more. He would have loved to offer help to the man, but he didn't want to pressure him into anything. The man had obviously been through so much, the hint of the grace giving an idea as to to what he used to be.
Mir led Corbin through the back streets and alleys, his demeanor shifting ever so slightly now that there weren’t hardly any people around. They came to a small shanty town and Mir now smiled as more of his kind were there. He greeted little ones playing as they ran by, greeting elderly men and women with kindness and softly inquiring after a young lady’s baby as he walked, almost forgetting about his company. Nobody really looked twice at the cloaked figure, as if it wasn’t quite something out of the ordinary for Mir to be leading someone strange to his home. They then arrived at a wooden shack with cloth tacked across a rough hewn window. Mir opened the makeshift door and gestured. “Please come in. I’ll make some tea and then we can talk…”
Corbin kept to himself, unable to keep himself from watching everything with interest. There were so many here… this was no place to raise a family. This was no place to live, really. The worst part was, Corbin knew it wasn't just the half fae, the social outcasts who lived like this. Only the nobles were managing to keep up a high standard of living anymore.
Why was no one questioning the king, either? Surely a cloaked figure like himself would be a cause for concern, a towering shadow trailing after the man. Just how often did he do things like this?
The king had to duck down some to walk into the home, nodding some.
"Alright, then," he said, his voice more resigned. When he saw they were alone, he lowered hi hood, hair falling out completely now.
Dragomir glanced at the king’s incredibly long hair with interest before gesturing to the only chair in the room, at a tiny table next to his cot. “Please take a seat. I have a few different teas… I have dandelion, lavender, peppermint, and of course, black. Which would you prefer?” He set about heating up the water in his tea kettle with a broken handle on the brick-and-tin-made stove that was clearly of his own design, a fire having already been started in it, he smiled at the small fire, knowing a neighbor had probably been in to set it up for him. They were all so kind even when they themselves were struggling to get by…
Hair was a sign of status. It was hard to keep, and expensive. To have the time and money to spend to keep it long and nice was enough to reveal just how well off someone was, and Corbin's hair… it reached past his thighs, silky smooth. He sat down quietly, looking to the man.
"Black is fine," he said, nodding some. It was also the easier to get, for most people. Rationed out by the government.
Mir nodded and quickly made the tea. There were herbs and mushrooms and other such things drying in strings and bunches all over his hovel. He had often gone outside the city limits whenever he was laid off from work and foraged for the healing substances of the earth. A clearly handmade quilt was spread over his thin, hard cot. He got a jar down from a self after he served the king his tea in his only unchipped mug, and pushed the jar and a spoon over to him. “Honey, if you want it.” He then sat down on his cot and waited for the other man to continue their discussion.
Corbin accepted the tea with a small thanks, holding it in both hands. He looked around once, taking almost everything in with barely a glance. At least it seemed the half-fae had some way of taking care of himself, with the herbs, but it obviously wasn't enough. He looked at the honey once. He preferred to have it, but he turned it down all the same.
"I've come to offer you a position in the palace," Corbin finally said, once they were both ready.
"An… unofficial advisor, of sorts." It wasn't like he could be an official one.
Mir choked a bit on his tea at that. “A-a position? In the palace? Y-you’re joking right? I’m a mutt. There’s no way you w-want me in the palace…” He coughed to get leftover liquid out of his airways, and set the tea down on the table before rubbing his temples. “Ex-explain please…?”
(Sorry it’s short…)
(Oh hey Swim, can we do one of these? :3c)
(it's fine, no worries! As long as it furthers the plot, length doesn't matter much to me)
(:0 yes we totally should)
Corbin let out a soft breath, not expecting much more from a response then he got.
"What you are doesn't matter to me," the king said, voice quiet and plaintive. "It had never meant anything to me of anyone. It's who you are, and the things you can do, that matter. Not origin." Corbin set his untouched tea down in his lap, shifting to look at the halfling more properly.
"And I firmly believe you have the knowledge to be able to help with this war. Even your commanding officers said so, in their reports." In their own way, of course.
"However… You wouldn't be able to come in officially as an advisor. Unfortunately, my grandfather's laws would forbid it. You would need a cover, if you were to agree."
Dragomir shifted a bit, watching the king warily. “And if I were to agree, what would the cover be? I can’t pretend to be a bodyguard with my arm… I wasn’t even in direct combat in the army.” His voice was beginning to smooth out now as he grew a bit more comfortable. It helped that he was in his home turf now and away from all the fae-intolerant people that really caused his fear. He crossed his legs as he studied the king. He was much much different than he had expected…
"Well…" Now they came to the hard part. "There are very few jobs that would be open for you, and… only one of them would give you the ability to come to any meetings, or even be close enough to me to allow us to discuss." Corbin shifted some, looking up at the halfling again.
"Well, it would be… Concubine. Nothing would be forced upon you, of course, if you were to accept. You'd be under my protection, and I would never lay a hand on you in any way."
Mir perked up at that. “Oh I can do that easy!” He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, looking strangely and totally comfortable with the idea. He didn’t even seem to notice Corbin’s promise to not touch him. He didn’t seem to care about it one way or the other.
Corbin couldn't bring himself to be surprised by now. From the reactions of the man's neighbors, and his attitude in general, Corbin had a suspicion the man had done these things before.
"So, is that a yes?" The king asked, finally taking a sip of his tea.
Dragomir shrugged. “I’ll be clothed and fed while you use me and my brains, right? For the time that I’m your concubine/spy, anyways?” He took his tea again and gulped it down.
"I was thinking we could set something up for you afterwards, as well. You'd be taken care of for the rest of your life." Corbin knew the man would be able to retire comfortably, almost an unofficial noble.
"Of course, even if you turn me down I will arrange for compensation for your time."
Dragomir shook his head and smiled for the first time, his grin bright as the sun. “Not necessary. I accept your offer if you truly think I’ll be useful. Thank you your majesty.” He got to his feet and bowed to show his thanks. “I promise to be of the utmost use to you as I can.”
Corbin couldn't help but smile in turn. He was so glad the man had accepted his offer.
"Perfect," the king said, standing with a grin now. They were rare, the rumors saying he didn't even have the ability to. He didn't, not really. The only thing that could make him grin like this was the thought of this war finally ending.
"And thank you, Dragomir, for all the help I know you'll be."
Mir smiled bigger but said, “I suggest you save your thanks for after I actually help you. Do you want me to come back with you today?” He fidgeted with his threadbare tunic as he felt the beginnings of another bout of pain in his arm.
"You can if you wish, yes. If you have anything you'd like to do beforehand, or had a few days, there is no pressure. And, you'll be able to return wherever you like." Corbin was twisting his hair back up into the hood, knowing it might take some work before he was ready to leave again. He hummed softly, looking at Dragomir a moment more.
"I'm sure as soon as you're in the palace, my personal doctor will want to take a look at your arm, see if there's anything in particular she could do to help."
Dragomir nodded. “I can leave now, just give a few moments to pack a few things and say goodbye. And the doctor would be lovely, thank you.” He fished a knapsack out from under his bed and went to his cupboard pulling a few packets and jars out of it and placing them inside. Then he rolled up his quilt and pulled a ragged, patched grey stuffed rabbit out from under his pillow and packed those up as well. “Ok, that’s it. I’ll say goodbye as we walk out.”
Corbin nodded. He stood to the side, out of the way. By the time Dragomir was done packing, corbin had all of his hair back into his his, which was secure around his head in turn.
"Let us get going, then," he said with a smile.
Mir nodded and walked out, slinging the pack onto his back with a bit of difficulty due to his injured arm. He said his goodbyes as the walked out of the shantytown, leaving many sad faces in his wake. A few people now looked suspiciously at the king’s shrouded figure, many distrustful due to this new development. As they walked out through the darkened alleys, Dragomir was slowly dropping back now, getting more scared and shy again as more and more intolerant people appeared before they were back on the main street.
Corbin didn't pay attention to the distrustful looks, knowing and understanding them. Honestly, he knew just what the situation looked like. Still, things weren't as others thought, not at all.
The king looked back when he saw how Dragomir was not they were out in the open, lagging back himself. Corbin offered his hand to the halfling, almost like he was offering a protective wing to the man. Corbin wasn't going to let anything happen on their way to the palace.