Edarial is nine, and he's avoiding his mother again.
Exploring the palace gets old after a while, but the library's even worse, and he suspects that if he spent any more time in his room, he'd scream. So, exploring the palace it is. Berathyme's with him, anyway, so the palace won't be so boring. She tends to make observations he didn't notice himself, and that's always interesting, if not always useful. Corridor, corridor, guest rooms, oh yes that is the closet with all of the uncomfortably looking coats, he'd forgotten about that one. Berathyme observes that they've been used relatively recently, some poor souls must have suffered - and then he opens a door and there's something he doesn't recognize.
He stares at the bar in confusion, consults briefly with Berathyme, and then wanders in.
What exactly is going on here?
she_sells_seashells
The gifts are thoroughly appreciated.
Shell Bell's wardrobe undergoes changes as Ranae makes her nicer things which are not intended for work use. Soon she swishes around with her careful tripping-risk-reducing steps in local-inspired dresses. She still wears her stick in her hair out of habit, though.
Shell Bell's wardrobe undergoes changes as Ranae makes her nicer things which are not intended for work use. Soon she swishes around with her careful tripping-risk-reducing steps in local-inspired dresses. She still wears her stick in her hair out of habit, though.
royal_obligation
Aww. Edarial thinks she looks lovely in the dresses. He would tell her so, but alas, there is still a bit of a language barrier.
royal_pain
(No there isn't.)
After watching Edarial and Shell Bell - be themselves, and not kiss, Zevros is officially fed up with it. That's it, he's getting involved. He is so getting involved, this lack of kissing is going to stop right this instant.
He can communicate with Berathyme through doodles and hand gestures and tone. He suspects (correctly) that she would be all right with helping. Zevros has to plan the thing, because it's not like Berathyme can really weigh in on what tactics he should use, but that's okay, he's got a plan that isn't awful.
Part one: Hey, Shell Bell, will you please follow Zevros?
After watching Edarial and Shell Bell - be themselves, and not kiss, Zevros is officially fed up with it. That's it, he's getting involved. He is so getting involved, this lack of kissing is going to stop right this instant.
He can communicate with Berathyme through doodles and hand gestures and tone. He suspects (correctly) that she would be all right with helping. Zevros has to plan the thing, because it's not like Berathyme can really weigh in on what tactics he should use, but that's okay, he's got a plan that isn't awful.
Part one: Hey, Shell Bell, will you please follow Zevros?
royal_pain
Cool. Thank you, Shell Bell, you are a delight and Zevros is totally fine with you eventually banging his brother. Actually, go bang his brother with his blessing. Here, let Zevros help you get to that stage. He leads her to a balcony, nice and out of the way. It's nearing sunset, and this is an excellent place to see it, and the canals. It's very pretty.
Zevros then makes a little 'wait' gesture. Apparently she is supposed to wait here.
Zevros then makes a little 'wait' gesture. Apparently she is supposed to wait here.
royal_obligation
Berathyme delivers: one Edarial brought to the exact same place, coming right up.
He is very confused. He looks at Shell Bell, and then Berathyme, in confusion.
Berathyme says something unintelligible, and then slithers off.
Edarial is not any less confused.
He is very confused. He looks at Shell Bell, and then Berathyme, in confusion.
Berathyme says something unintelligible, and then slithers off.
Edarial is not any less confused.
royal_pain
Part three: dramatic reveal.
Zevros shows up. He looks between the two lovebirds that have not fucking kissed yet. Ugh. Kiss, damn you.
He motions to Edarial. He motions to Shell Bell. Then, vice versa. Then there's a 'now go on' gesture.
And then he turns around, closes the door to the balcony, and barricades it with a chair.
Zevros shows up. He looks between the two lovebirds that have not fucking kissed yet. Ugh. Kiss, damn you.
He motions to Edarial. He motions to Shell Bell. Then, vice versa. Then there's a 'now go on' gesture.
And then he turns around, closes the door to the balcony, and barricades it with a chair.
royal_obligation
Edarial's palm, meet his face.
"I'm sorry about him," he sighs. "I have no idea what he's doing."
"I'm sorry about him," he sighs. "I have no idea what he's doing."
she_sells_seashells
"Can you -" She crosses her thumbs, flutters her hands like wings. Flying would get them off the balcony.
royal_obligation
He shakes his head. "Sorry."
There is now something fluttering down around them.
... Wait. Are those rose petals?
There is now something fluttering down around them.
... Wait. Are those rose petals?
royal_pain
He locks eyes with his brother.
Zevros throws rose petals slightly more aggressively. Not until you fucking kiss he's not.
Zevros throws rose petals slightly more aggressively. Not until you fucking kiss he's not.
royal_pain
Zevros raises an eyebrow. He holds up a handful of rose petals. And then he throws them.
That. That is what he is doing. Throwing goddamn rose petals for you ungrateful bastards, kiss damn you!
That. That is what he is doing. Throwing goddamn rose petals for you ungrateful bastards, kiss damn you!
she_sells_seashells
Shell Bell examines her rose petal. Then she drops it.
She takes a tentative step in Edarial's direction.
She takes a tentative step in Edarial's direction.