⸺ sideblog to wulfdreaded

𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞'𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞.

[beautyawoken]

ari. • physical. • about. • isms. • aesthetics. • connections.

andré lamoglia, gay, male + he/him → isn’t that aurore "ari" rose? i hear that they're the sleeping beauty from sleeping beauty. i hear they’re 23. they seem to be innocent & playful, but also impulsive & naive. their aesthetics include (forest) animals, gentle tunes echoing through castle halls, blooming wild flowers and bright colors.   

BASIC INFO

full name — Aurore "Ari" Rose also known as — sleeping beauty age — twenty-three gender — cis male, (he/ him/ his pronouns) orientation — homosexual fairy tale connection — sleeping beauty clothing style — casual when he can get away with it, but since he's living at the castle, chic rather than casual

PHYSICAL INFO

face claim — André Lamoglia hair — brown / eyes — brown height — five foot & seven inches build — fit tattoos — none piercings — none special characteristics — somewhat lacking social qualities due to growing up isolated in the forest, a dreamer, sings more than he speaks sexual preference — bottom

PERSONALITY

positive traits — kind, innocent, playful, hopelessly romantic negative traits — timid, impulsive, naive hobbies — singing and dancing, strolling through the forest, spending time with animals, reading

MEDICAL INFO

mental — mostly healthy physical — healthy phobias — n/a eyesight — 17/20 dominant hand — neither, he's ambidextrous

SPICY INFO

sexual preference — bottom kinks — breeding, praise, body worship, vanilla (he's got no experience cut him some slack), verbal feminization, probably more, we'll find out. anti-kinks — gore/scat, blood play, overly rough sex,

BACKGROUND

birthplace — king stefan's castle in the kingdom parents — king stefan + leah (to be edited if they're picked up as muses) siblings — none notable skills — beautiful singing voice, can communicate with animals

BIO

once  upon  a  time,  in  a  kingdom  where  the  mountains  kissed  the  sky  and  rivers  ran  like  veins  of  silver,  a  king  named  stefan  and  his  beloved  consort,  leah,  ruled  with  wisdom  and  grace.  for  years,  their  castle  halls  echoed  with  the  joy  of  their  people,  but  one  longing  remained  unfulfilled:  they  had  no  heir.

one  midsummer  night,  when  the  stars  seemed  brighter  than  ever,  a  son  was  born  to  the  royal  couple.  his  hair  shone  like  the  golden  whisper  of  a  wheat  field  at  twilight,  and  his  cries  rang  out  like  a  melody.  they  named  him  aurore,  for  he  was  as  radiant  as  the  dawn.  invitations  to  his  christening  were  sent  far  and  wide,  summoning  three  godfathers,  each  renowned  for  their  virtues  and  gifts.

at  the  grand  banquet,  the  godfathers  arrived,  dressed  in  silks  and  bearing  treasures  from  distant  lands.  one  by  one,  they  bestowed  blessings  upon  the  young  prince.  "beauty,"  said  the  first  godfather,  placing  a  mirror  beside  the  cradle.  "song,"  said  the  second,  laying  down  a  small  wooden  bird. 

but  as  the  third  godfather  stepped  forward  to  offer  his  gift,  a  sudden  chill  swept  through  the  hall.  the  doors  burst  open,  and  a  figure  clad  in  tattered  robes  entered.  his  eyes  burned  with  resentment,  anger  -  fury  for  he  had  not  been  invited. 

claiming  he  wasn't  angry,  he  promised  to  bestow  a  gift  on  the  child  as  well.  aurore  would  grow  in  grace  and  beauty,  beloved  by  all  who  know  her,  but  on  his  sixteenth  birthday,  aurore  shall  prick  his  finger  on  a  spindle  and  die.

the  court  gasped  in  horror,  but  before  maleficient  could  be  caught,  he  fled  the  castle.  the  third  godfather  stepped  forward,  explaining  he  still  had  his  gift  to  give  and  even  though  he  couldn't  undo  the  curse,  he  could  soften  it.  aurore  shall  indeed  sleep,  but  his  slumber  will  last  only  until  one  who  truly  loves  him  finds  him.

in  their  sorrow  and  depair,  king  stefan  and  consort  leah  banned  all  spinning  wheels  from  the  kingdom  while  sending  aurore  to  live  with  the  godfathers  in  a  small  cabin  deep  in  the  woods  and  the  years  passed  peacefully,  though  aurore  was  kept  isolated  from  everybody  except  the  godfathers.  aurore  grew  into  a  young  man  of  extraordinary  beauty  and  kindness.  His  brown  hair  shone  like  a  gentle  harmony  of  earth  and  light  that  speaks  of  quiet  elegance  and  natural  grace,  and  his  laugh  was  a  balm  to  all  who  heard  it.  but  no  matter  how  joyous  the  days,  the  shadow  of  the  curse  loomed  ever  near.

on  the  morning  of  aurore’s  sixteenth  birthday,  the  castle  was  alight  with  celebration  for  he  was  to  return  home  in  the  night.  the  prince,  oblivious  to  his  fate,  wandered  the  woods  alone,  where  he  met  another  young  prince  -  one  who  he'd  dreamt  of  many  times  before.  excited  to  have  met  another  person  -  a  stranger  he  danced  with  in  a  dream,  excitement  bubbled  over.  but  as  time  passed,  he  knew  he  had  to  return  home  to  the  godfathers. 

with  his  birthday  and  return  imminent,  the  godfathers  told  aurore  the  truth  and  in  the  early  evening  hours,  the  sun  just  setting  on  the  horizon,  they  started  the  journey  back  home.  unbeknownst  to  them,  maleficient  had  not  stopped  looking  for  the  young  prince  and  he  had  his  eyes  and  ears  all  around,  catching  them  going  back  to  the  palace.  heartbroken  by  exchanging  one  cage  for  another,  aurore  hid  in  his  room,  wanting  to  be  left  alone,  but  evil  found  him  once  more  and  lured  him  upstairs  where  a  spinning  wheel  awaited  him.

soft  whispers  drew  him  closer  and  closer  and  the  young  prince  reached  out.  the  spindle  pricked  his  finger  and  as  the  first  drop  of  blood  fell,  the  curse  took  hold.  he  collapsed,  his  breathing  slow  and  steady  as  sleep  claimed  him.  the  godfathers  had  been  searching,  but  unfortunately,  they  found  the  young  prince  too  late.  distraught  and  unsure  how  long  it  would  take  for  true  love  to  find  young  aurore,  the  godfathers  enveloped  the  entire  castle  within  an  enchanted  forest,  its  thorns  impassable  to  all  but  those  brave  enough  to  seek  the  sleeping  prince.  within  the  halls,  time  slowed  to  a  crawl,  ensuring  aurore  would  awaken  as  youthful  as  he  had  been  the  day  he  fell  asleep.

the  prince  lay  in  deep  slumber  for  years,  his  face  serene  -  untouched  by  the  passing  of  the  years.  the  kingdom  whispered  his  story  far  and  wide,  many  ventures  to  find  him,  drawn  by  the  tales  of  his  beauty  and  grace,  but  none  who  attempted  to  breach  the  thorns  ever  returned. 

and  so…  ends  the  tale  of  aurore,  the  sleeping  prince,  for  his  story  is  not  one  of  endings  but  of  beginnings.  somewhere  beyond  the  forest’s  edge,  his  savior  may  yet  be  born,  their  destiny  entwined  with  his.  until  that  day,  he  dreams,  unbroken  and  unbowed,  waiting  for  love  to  stir  him  from  his  slumber.

until,  seven  years  later  -  once  more  on  his  birthday  …  someone  beats  the  odds  and  wakes  the  sleeping  beauty. 

[thrcughthewccds]

Titus lights up at the questions, excited to share his love of cooking and baking with someone new. Titus thinks anyone who learns to bake is better off in life, even if they struggle with it like Naveen did at the start.

"I do this pretty much every day," Titus explains between showing Ari the steps. "It's a great way to start the day and means later there's something sweet to have. Plus, it's the best-selling pastry on my menu for a reason."

They mix the ingredients slowly, making sure everything is mixed properly.

"It'll need just a couple of hours to rest. That way, it has the fluffy texture it needs. Otherwise, it'll be too dense and won't be a beignet."

Titus watches Ari's arms as they mix. Strong though still delicate somehow.

"Did you bake a lot before?"

[beautyawoken]

ari  didn't  really  have  to  do  too  much  growing  up,  he  had  the  three  godfairies  doing  most  for  him.  he  had  his  own  duties,  yes,  but  not  baking,  so  this  was  all  fairly  new  to  him  &  he  was  excited  to  learn,  in  case  the  many  questions  didn't  make  that  obvious  enough  yet.

"you  sell  your  bakery?"  that  explained  why  he  was  so  good  at  it.  doing  what  he  loved  every  day,  the  young  prince  couldn't  help  but  envy  the  other.  he  didn't  even  know  what  he  wanted  to  do  with  his  life  yet.  or...what  he  could  now  that  he  had  all  this  responsibility  shoved  upon  him.

he  helped  where  he  could,  always  careful  to  follow  instructions  if  given  &  otherwise  just  observing  with  a  little  glow  in  his  eyes.  the  explanation  made  sense  in  a  way  &  he  made  sure  to  remember  it  next  time  he  tried  baking.  it  was  relaxing  in  a  way,  mixing  all  the  ingredients  together.  knowing  he  would  end  up  making  something  only  fueled  him,  lost  in  the  process,  titus'  words  pulled  him  out  of  it.  "no..  not  at  all.  i  grew  up  in  the  forest,  we  didn't  bake  often.  i'm  not  sure  where  our  food  came  from,  truth  be  told.  they  didn't  tell  me  much,  but  i  loved  gathering  mushrooms  in  the  forest."

[timedandtaled]

Rüya's brow furrowed a little, and he scratched at the end of his beard, humming tunefully in thought. "I...am unsure if I can tell you that, not because I'm not allowed, I am, I just-" he hummed again, "I'm not sure exactly how to explain it all in ways that a human would understand." He took the space next to Ari, kept his hand locked with the younger mans. "I think, for you, if everyone fell asleep at the same time, they dream at the same time, but for me it all works a little differently. I could witness a mean dream himself from pauper to prince over the course of years in a dream, but barely a second has passed. It's different for me."

Surprisingly, he enjoyed the other man's enthusiasm, and his curiosity towards Rüya and his abilities and his role in the world. The Guardians knew all this, and they were the ones he spoke with the most. "I wouldn't allow you to be trapped with nightmares. If it meant I had to stay with you the entire time, I wouldn't have allowed it." He smiled, and then chuckled, slowing falling back until he was lay in the bed. "Another complicated question I'm afraid. One day I just...was. The moment the first sentient being closed their eyes and started to think of their future, their hopes and their wants, I was there. And the next. And the next. And for every being after."

[beautyawoken]

he  understood  there  were  limitations  to  ...everything,  including  his  brain  apparently,  but  curiosity  had  got  the  better  of  him  regardless.  "does  time  pass  differently  for  you...  always?"  did  it,  right  now?  did  he  sense  anybody's  dreams  right  now?  "how  do  you  know  who..  you  watch,  why  do  you  watch  dreams?  is  ...  is  that  your  duty?"  how  did  it  work?  did  he  accompany  everybody's  dreams?  "could  you  stop  if  you  ..wanted?"  stop  seeing  &  visiting  dreams.  how  did  he  live  his  own  life  if  he  kept  visiting  other  people...?  "i'm  sorry.  that's  too  many  questions."  he'd  never  met  anybody  like  him;  his  acquaintances  were  all  pretty  much  human  as  far  as  he  knew,  so  rüya  was  different  from  them  all.

"thank  you."  that  made  him  smile.  he  ..  felt  safer  than  ever,  knowing  he  wouldn't  have  to  worry  about  his  dreams  no  more.  did  that  mean  he  saw  him  &  phillip  dance  in  his  dreams?  probably.  when  the  other  laid  down,  he  followed,  rolling  onto  his  side  so  he  could  keep  watching  the  other  with  a  glow  in  his  eyes.  this  was  so  different  from  everything  he  knew.  he  thought  finding  out  maleficient  was  a  dragon  &  had  cursed  him  already  had  been  a  lot,  but  this...  was  so  much  more.  "so...  you're  old.  you  don't  look  that  old."

[hexcharmed]

"   ah, i think that's quite normal thing to feel. especially coming from a deep slumber.   "           phillip says, shooting his smile back at him, trying for a joke. well, at least a half joke. with regards to him, he's done his best to be the best prince his kingdom could want, with even his father telling him how proud he was of the man he has become.    "   and you have been good to us, to me. and we are just happy you are back.   "

but after his imprisonment, the doubts has began to creep back in. of what his strengths truly are, and how much can he actually give up for someone. he would happily give up his life for ari, that he is sure of. but can he also do the same for everyone else?

at the feeling of ari's hand against his, phillip was suddenly woken from his thoughts ... and silently scolding himself for letting his mind wander. and when his focus was returned to ari, his gaze wanders to the canopies of the trees above them, casting a beautiful pattern down the track and into the clearing. he can only smile and nod at his words, because it was true for him, too. his favorite memories were here, too.    "   i can't believe it, too. for the longest time, i was convinced you were really just a dream to me.   "

before he could even say anything else, phillip shushed him and pulled him into a gentle embrace.    "   you don't have to thank me. saving you was the best thing i have ever done in my life.   "    he says, before giving him his own chaste kiss on ari's forehead.    "   and i will do it again in a heartbeat.   "

pulling away, his lips the bloomed into a wider smile, trying for cheeky and mischievous like when they first met.    "   anyway, if we are to revisit memories, i think it would be better to start from the beginning.   "    and then he was pulling ari into the woods, to where they can hear a creek gurgling soundly.    "   this is where i first heard your voice.   "

[beautyawoken]

"i'm  happy  to  be  back.  i  mean...  i  didn't  know  i  was  gone,  so  i  assume  i'm  happy.  i  know  i'm  happy  to  be  here  with  you."  he  wouldn't  want  to  be  anywhere  else.  he  didn't  know  what  the  world  was  like  for  those  who  didn't  sleep,  maybe  he'd  find  out  -  maybe  not.  either  which  way,  he  knew  he  had  to  make  the  best  of  his  life.  "it's  so  strange  to  know  i've  missed  so  much  even  though  i  wasn't  really  gone."  it  was  complicated,  but  he  also  knew  there  was  no  use  in  dwelling  on  the  past.

he  was  here  now.  he  was  awake  &  free.  his  second  chance  at  life;  a  proper  life,  not  one  locked  away  in  a  cabin  in  the  woods  with  only  himself  &  the  godfathers  for  company.  he  was  in  good  company  right  now,  the  best  company  he  could  wish  for  -  even  though  phillip  seemed  to  battle  his  own  demons  at  times.  seeing  him  drift  off,  his  eyes  hollow  when  he  did,  made  him  curious  &  scared,  but  ...  mostly  curious.  "i  did,  too.  it  felt  too  good  to  be  true.  you  felt  too  good  to  be  true."  though  he'd  never  given  up  hope  that  he  would  meet  the  man  of  his  dreams  one  day.

this  only  proved  that  hope...  was  powerful.  or  maybe  it  had  just  been  their  destiny,  he  couldn't  tell  &  it  didn't  matter,  because  ari  had  no  intention  of  wasting  this  wish  he'd  been  granted.  he  felt  at  home  in  phillip's  arms,  more  so  than  he'd  ever  felt  in  his  very  own  bedchambers  at  the  palace.  if  able,  he'd  sleep  nowhere  else  ever  again.  "i'd  never  take  it  for  granted;  take  you  for  granted."  arms  wound  around  his  prince's  body,  his  apparent  pain  still  not  forgotten,  so  he  didn't  squeeze,  but  he  held  onto  him  lightly,  his  eyes  roaming  up  to  meet  phillips'  when  they  parted.  "i'll  do  my  best  so  you  never  have  to  again.  i  don't  want  to  riddle  your  life  with  hardships."  if  anything,  he  wanted  to  make  it  easier.  gentler.  sweeter.

"wai—"  he  was  pulled  up  &  towards  the  clearing,  though  still  unsure  if  his  prince  was  okay.  he'd  ask  later  then.  the  birds  immediately  began  to  chirp  when  ari  set  foot  into  the  clearing,  dancing  on  their  branches,  a  few  squirrels  peeked  out  of  their  trunks  up  in  the  trees,  soft  coos  &  squeaks  filling  the  air  around  them.  ari  understood  them.  "i've  missed  you  all,  too."  he  beamed,  at  them  &  his  prince,  their  hands  entwined  forever  more.  "yes."  he  turned  back  to  phillip  then,  stepping  closer  to  lean  against  his  chest,  their  hands  above  the  man's  heart.  "i  was  singing  with  the  forest  that  day.  i  often  did.  in  a  way,  the  animals  were  my  only  friends  since  the  fairies  didn't  want  me  to  meet  anybody  else.  though  i'll  admit,  i  never  expected  to  find  you  here."

[beautyawoken]

[timedandtaled]

"I can only apologise if that does not make complete sense to you," he nodded respectfully, "my role in the grander scheme of the universe can be complicated to those not well versed in it. But," he nodded again, "you deserve the best explanation I can give."

Ari was a sweet soul, Rüya knew that perhaps better than anyone. He had seen inside the young mans head, into his subconscious and into his dreams. Some may say that Rüya knew Ari better than anyone. "I do not need your thanks," he gave Ari's hand a gentle squeeze, "but I appreciate you giving me them anyway. It is my role as a Guardian to ensure dreams are safe, and yours were no exception."

Again, Rüya nodded. "I see your dreams, each and every one of them. I can observe them from afar, or partake in them if the dreamer allows it of me. And yes, I see everybody's dreams." Rüya lead Ari back into his chambers, letting his hand go so that he could take a seat on the edge of the bed. "I apologise if this feels like an invasion of your privacy. Ones mind is the only place that is truly private, and I am happy to keep distance now that your curse has been broken."

[beautyawoken]

"if  you  see  my  dreams,  or  rather  ..everyone's,  how?  so  many  people  sleep  at  the  same  time.  how  do  you  see  them  all?  doesn't  it  get  overwhelming?"  he  understood  this  was  far  greater  than  anything  he  knew,  which  -  he  felt,  already  was  quite  a  big,  because  their  world  had  magic  &  curses,  fairies  &  dragons,  but  clearly  there  was  much  more  out  there  in  the  world  &  part  of  him  wanted  to  know  more  about  it  all,  see  other  kingdoms  who  were  different  from  his  own.  maybe  rüya's.  it  was  fascinating  to  hear  about  the  man's  abilities,  to  know  that  someone  like  this  existed  -  someone  to  watch  over  them  all  when  they  slept....  incredible.

he  let  the  other  lead  him  inside  &  sat  down  on  the  bed,  but  scooted  aside  so  he  could  pat  the  free  space  next  to  him.  "sit  with  me,  please."  he  wanted  to  know  more.  "no,  no.  i  mean  -  maybe  it  is,  but  i'm  grateful  regardless.  who  knows  what  dreams  i  could've  been  trapped  with  when  the  curse  took  hold  of  me."  what  if  he'd  been  trapped  in  years  of  nightmares,  who  would  he  be  now?  "were  you  born...  like  this?  how  does  it  work?  do  you  know?"  he  couldn't  help  it,  he'd  always  been  far  too  curious  for  his  own  good  &  this  was  clearly  no  exception.

[beautyawoken]

[beautyawoken]

[endiness]

[shujubeelamoglia]

André Lamoglia

Photography by JR Studio

[beautyawoken]

[teeny tiny plotting/starter call? i need more threads lol.]

[timedandtaled]

This was always a tricky situation to be in, and Rüya hated being caught like this. The last time he had been so personally involved in someone else's story, things had not ended so well, and the entity now known as Pitch Black had been released. The prince was different story, a different case altogether, and Rüya was at least optimistic that this human wouldn't fall off the rails.

"I do not know you personally, but I see the recognition on your face. Forgive me if this tale is a little much to understand, but I assure you I mean no harm and no ill-will." He offered a smile, and reached to take Ari's hand. "Across time and realms I have many names, but I am Rüya, Guardian of Dreams. Some call me the Sandman. Your particular scenario gave me cause for concern, so I have been watching you both in the real world, and within your dreams. We conversed a few times, but I know dreams can be fuzzy once you awaken."

[beautyawoken]

there  was  something  about  this  man  that  felt  familiar,  but  ari  couldn't  quite  put  his  finger  on  it.  wasn't  the  first  time  that  happened,  but  he'd  not  felt  this  close  to  the  truth  before  while  ..  oh  so  far  away  at  the  same  time.  he  looked  at  him,  no  fear  or  hesitation  on  his  face  because  he  found  neither  within  his  heart  when  he  saw  the  stranger.  there  was,  maybe  the  hint  of  hesitance  when  the  man  reached  for  his  hand  while  speaking  of  tales,  but  he  let  him  pass  regardless,  curiosity  definitely  getting  the  better  of  him.

but  his  explanation  -  as  sparse  as  it  was,  made  sense.  it  all  clicked  into  place;  why  he  felt  like  he  knew  him,  why  the  other  had  been  here  while  ari  napped  &  why  he  claimed  they  met  before  -  even  if  only  in  a  dream.  truth  be  told,  ari  didn't  remember  most  of  his  dreams  since  he  woke  up  from  cursed  slumber.  he  used  to  remember  them  all,  met  his  prince  within  one,  the  love  of  his  life.  but  ever  since  he  opened  his  eyes  after  he'd  been  thought  lost  ..  nothing.  "i  thank  you,  rüya.  knowing  you  watched  over  me  means  a  lot.  i  may  not  remember  my  dreams,  but  i  remember  the  way  you  make  me  feel.  safe.  so,  thank  you."  one  of  his  hands  came  to  rest  upon  the  other's.  “you..  see  my  dreams?  do  you  see  everybody's  dreams?”

[supfag-archives]

ANDRÉ LAMOGLIA

[hexcharmed]

"   my father was actually being kind this time, giving me very little royal responsibilities ...   "           phillip says, wincing a little when a shot of pain hit his side. not strong enough to incapacitate him ... just enough to make him visibly flinch and to remind him of the real reason why he was not allowed outside of the palace grounds. with a soft sigh, he then ran a hand around his torso, until he can feel the bandages underneath his shirt. he then gave them the best smile he can offer, as to not have them worry about him.    "   so, i am yours for as long as you want me ... ari.   "

he won't even lie about it: it was euphoric, finally having a name for the man of his dreams. he knows their name, of course, having heard of it since he was a child. but to hear it coming from him, with that melodic voice that he carries so well, it felt entirely different. entirely new, as if he was meeting him for the very first time again.    "   ari, ari, ari ...   "    phillip repeats. and god, he really hopes that the other find him weird for it. but he is trying to catch up from the last seven years that he didn't get to say, or even hear it.

"   what a beautiful name. and i am phillip ... that's it, just phillip.   "    he laughs softly. even for just a day, he wanted to simply be them: just phillip and ari. the juvenile prince who was curious about a song he heard from the forest, and the young cottage boy picking berries in the woods.    "   you need not to be formal with me.   "

at ari's signal, he then patted samson on the side before whispering in his ear.    "   you heard that, boy? we gotta keep up.   "    which samson took as a challenge, neighing loudly before cantering after the other a little too fast and almost tipping phillip over.

soon, there was only silence between them as they rode on, watching as the open clearing of the kingdom slowly gets busier and wilder as they near the forest. he got so used to the thorns and the vines that once surrounded this kingdom, he almost forgot just how beautiful it was. he decided to break the silence then.    "   so ... how have you been, ari? i'm certain all of these are pretty confusing to you.   "

phillip already recognized the place before they even got there, and he can't help but chuckle when the realization finally kicked in. taking their hand with a princely bow, he the leapt from his saddle and then patted samson on his flank. in two clicks the horse was gone, and will only return on his call.    "   it's just as beautiful as i remember it.   "    he says, taking a deep breath to allow the good memories in. of them dancing hand and hand, and singing the same song they heard in their dreams.    "   are we here to ... chase after memories?   "

[beautyawoken]

how  did  he  do  it?

how  could  phillip  be  this  way  while  making  it  seem  ..effortless?  he  was  beautiful,  inside  &  out  -  just  being  in  his  vicinity  brought  this  feeling  of  joy  to  him.  his  prince  didn't  even  have  to  do  anything;  he  had  to  merely  exist  within  his  sight  &  ari  knew  he'd  die  the  happiest  prince  in  the  world.  how  lucky  he  was  to  have  been  born  into  this.  the  only  good  thing  about  it  all  was  phillip.  bright,  wonderful,  brave  &  wonderful  phillip.  who  saved  him  from  endless  sleep  &  the  cruel  claws  of  a  dragon.  how  could  he  ever  pay  that  back?  could  he  even?  well,  he  would  ..  try.

he  couldn't  fathom  the  hardship  his  prince  went  through  to  save  him.  he  couldn't  begin  to  imagine  &  for  both  their  sakes  he  wouldn't  let  imagination  feed  him  any  sort  of  fantasy.  he'd  ...  get  the  true  story  one  day,  he  hoped,  though  he  wouldn't  push  for  it.  he  wanted  them  to  respect  each  other's  boundaries.  he  wanted  phillip  to  be  happy,  not  to  feel  trapped  &  cornered  with  him  when  their  betrothal  had  originally  been  decided  without  their  consent.  phillip  seemed  not  to  be  bothered  &  ari  knew  he  wasn't  either  for  he'd  met  the  man  of  his  dreams  -  literally  &  knew  he  wouldn't  want  to  spend  the  rest  of  his  life  with  anybody  else.

"phillip."  the  young  prince  agreed,  smile  tugging  hard  on  his  lips  even  though  he  tried  not  to  grin  like  an  idiot.  part  of  him  wondered  what  would've  happened  if  ari  hadn't  become  a  prince  -  what  if  he'd  remained  the  cottage  boy  gathering  berries  in  the  forest?  would  phillip  have  chosen  him  still?  but  it  didn't  matter,  because  their  love  was  meant  to  be  from  the  day  he  was  born  &  the  kiss  (which  ari  barely  remembered  unfortunately)  only  proved  it.  true  love's  kiss.

ari  liked  the  idea  of  it  being  just  them.  phillip  &  ari.  even  if  only  for  a  few  hours  -  up  to  half  a  day.  he  wanted  to  get  to  know  the  other  properly  &  it  felt  like  he  couldn't  when  they  were  at  the  castle  with  someone  fussing  over  either  of  them  constantly.  besides,  this  place  was  where  they  met.  it  ...held  a  special  place  in  his  heart.  he  just  hoped  the  other  would  feel  the  same  when  he  saw  it.  "oh,  i'm  alright."  he  shot  the  other  a  smile,  "i'm  not  quite  sure  what  i'm  supposed  to  do  half  the  time,  but  everybody  has  been  so  good  to  me.  like  you."  he  really  couldn't  complain  too  much.  he  wasn't  sure  if  he  liked  being  a  prince  just  yet,  but  he  knew  he  liked  parts  of  it,  certain  perks  of  it.

"it  is."  the  young  prince  chimed  in,  holding  onto  phillip's  hand  even  after  he  was  off  the  horse,  remembering  that  face  he  made  earlier  &  making  a  mental  note  to  gently  prod...  later.  if  his  prince  was  in  pain,  he  wanted  to  know.  maybe  he  shouldn't  have  taken  him  out  here,  maybe  he'd  ...  been  too  selfish.  shaking  his  head  a  little  at  himself,  he  gave  that  hand  a  squeeze  &  made  his  way  towards  the  clearing  they  danced  the  day  away  on.  "my  favorite  memories."  admittedly,  he  didn't  exactly  have  too  many,  but  this  definitely  had  been  the  best  day  of  his  life.  "i  still  can't  believe  you  found  me,  that  we  found  each  other."  leaning  just  a  little  against  phillip's  side,  ari  sighed  softly.

head  tilted  up  to  look  at  his  face  while  he  brought  phillip's  hand  up  against  his  own  lips,  "with  the  celebrations  and...  and  everything,  i  don't  think  i  really  had  the  time  yet  to...  i  just...  thank  you,  phillip.  thank  you  for  saving  me."  lips  pursed  against  his  prince's  hand,  chaste  kiss  pressed  against  it.

[thrcughthewccds]

"It's a type of pastry," Titus explains, washing his own hands. "Fluffy and light and heaven on earth."

Titus' gaze does flick to admire Ari's arms and hands. While not as rough worked as Titus', there's still obvious strength in them gained from him growing up outside of the palace.

Titus grins hearing they have plenty of time. "Perfect because we will have to let the dough rest and chilled a bit before we bake them. Plenty of time to do other activities."

He winks at Ari. Then he begins to guide the prince on the process of making beignets.

[beautyawoken]

pastry,  oh  he  liked  the  sound  of  that.  he  used  to  watch  the  godfairies  bake,  but  neither  of  them  were  really  good  at  it,  so  he  ...wasn't  either,  but  very  eager  to  learn  &  excited  to,  too.  he  could  just  be  ari  for  a  little  while.  he  liked  that.  he  did  have  strength  in  him  even  though  it  probably  didn't  match  the  other's  -  or  most  other's.

"do  you  do  this  often  at  home?"  did  he  cook  &  bake  frequently?  for  someone  or  just  himself?  "how  long  does  it  need  to  rest  and  why?"  how  did  he  learn  all  that?  ari  wanted  to  know  everything  about  the  other  &  why  he  did  what  he  did.  people  fascinated  him,  they  really  did.  he  wanted  to  meet  them  all,  learn  why  they  were  who  they  were.

[timedandtaled]

Something about human architecture absolutely fascinated Rüya, and lurking outside the chambers of Aurore gave him ample time to observe and record. Everything in his own realm was so organic, the dream sands that constructed his personal space always flowing and shifting. It was...curious to see things so static yet still so intricate. With hard work, the ideas in someone's head could become reality, he knew that better than anyone.

Despite being outside the room, the moment Aurore awoke, Rüya felt it in his being. The prince was safe, and that should be his cue leave but his actions were slow, the door opening before he had a chance to demanifest, the prince almost walking straight into him. Rüya reached out to grab the young man before he stumbled backwards, a firm grip on his arm. Rüya shook his head. "Not lost. Waiting for you to wake. Kept you safe, but I can go now." He nodded once, and smiled.

[beautyawoken]

he  hadn't  expected  anybody  to  be  standing  right  in  front  of  the  door,  so  he  was  taken  aback  for  a  moment,  glad  for  the  man's  assistance  in  holding  him.  when  he  felt  steady  on  his  feet,  he  looked  up  &  found  himself  lost  for  a  little  moment.  he'd  not  seen  the  man  before...  he  thought,  but  he  felt  drawn  to  him  regardless.  he  appeared  calm  &  ari  felt  comfortable  in  his  presence.  "you  waited  for  me?  but  how  did  you  know  i  was  sleeping?"  had  he  been  seen  entering  the  guest  room?  probably.  "wait,  don't  go  yet."  he  was  curious,  he  had  so  many  questions.  he  didn't  know  half  the  people  he  felt  he  should  know.

"do  you  know  me?  i  don't  think  i  know  you."  he  was  still  getting  used  to  the  whole  prince  thing.  what  did  it  even  mean  to  be  royal?  he  felt  so  lost.  "i'm  ari,  what's  your  name?"

[beastlyfay-deactivated20250101]

"Oh they're here for the prince alright. To gawk, to gossip, to measure him against their expectations to see if they find him wanting." Adam clicked his tongue, looking around the room, eyes narrowed, sizing everyone up. A few guests flinched when he did. Adam had a wild look about him, even when dressed up in velvets and leathers, his deep blue doublet shining. His eyes moved back to the stranger and his expression softened. "They want to see if they can get one over on him ever. Princes tend to be...naive...I was once."

Bringing a glass of wine to his lips, Adam took a tip, his eyes not moving from the other before he licked his lips. The other had a bit of that, he could sense it, almost smell it. A sense of wonder about the world that hadn't been marred yet. When asked about his own court, Adam shook his head gently. "A story for another time, perhaps. Don't want to bore you, especially so early into the evening. I fear you may find a reason to excuse yourself."

When Ari revealed who he was, the realization clicked immediately and he nearly spilled his wine before he collected himself. Way to put his paw into his mouth. He instead fixed a little smile on his face and reached out to take Ari's hand, kissed the man's knuckles and gave a terribly practiced bow. "My apologies, Ari. Sometimes to wine gets me talking. It's damned good." Adam cleared his throat.

[beautyawoken]

"oh."  ari  swallowed  hard  against  a  sudden  lump  forming  in  his  throat.  to  measure  him?  to  find  him  ...wanting?  was  it  really  like  this?  were  these  people  here  ..betting  against  him?  were  any  of  the  wellwishes  even  real?  could  he  trust  anybody?  well,  this  man  seemed  honest.  his  gaze  followed  the  other  man's  around  the  room,  watching  those  his  eyes  fell  on  fret,  but  when  he  looked  back  at  him,  he  couldn't  really  understand  what  they  saw,  but  that  didn't  matter.  he...  was  not  naive,  was  he?  was  this  really  how  the  kingdom  (&  others)  thought  about  him?

feeling  a  little  ..deflated,  one  of  his  hands  held  onto  the  wrist  of  the  other  in  front  of  his  hip.  he  couldn't  even  deny  it,  he'd  seen  so  little  of  the  world  &  hadn't  really  met  many  people.  he  grew  up  with  only  the  godfairies  around  him.  maybe  he  was  naive.  there  was  so  much  he  still  had  yet  to  do  &  see,  but  he  could  now,  right?  he  believed  in  it.  "you're  not!"  his  hands  found  one  of  the  other's,  holding  it  between  his,  "you've  not  bored  me  for  a  second.  i  much  enjoy  your  company."  he  ..felt  seen  &  heard  for  the  first  time  today,  like  someone  saw  ari,  not  the  prince.

he...expected  that  reaction,  but  it  still  pained  him  to  see.  he  never  wanted  to  be  the  reason  someone  was  uncomfortable.  letting  the  other  turn  the  tables,  his  hand  now  taken  instead  &  even  kissed,  he  felt  guilty.  "you  don't....  it's  okay,  you  didn't  do  anything  wrong."  little  sigh.  "i'm  not  really  sure  how  to  do  this.  how  to..  be  a  prince,  i  mean.  were  you  born  one?  did  you  always  know  how?"