▇▇▇ 𓆩 ♡ 𓆪 ... for @fawnedat !
the sky has opened up, buckets of water pouring down from dark, traitorous clouds. thunder rumbles in the distance, and light flashes dangerously close to their carriage. simon shivers, pulling back the curtain to peer out the window and attempt to gather his bearings. he and his new wife are bound for clyvedon estate on their honeymoon. he has not said much to her since they exchanged vows before her majesty the queen, and he's successfully avoided much eye contact. neither of them wanted this, after all, and he imagines that he is as much an inconvenience to her as she is to him. fingers tap restlessly on his knee, foot bouncing up and down as he has found himself entirely unsure of where they are. and by the way that the driver is making a sharp turn, jostling them aggressively to one side, he thinks he is not the only one feeling uncomfortably lost. knuckles reach out, tap tap TAPPING on the wooden panel separating them. ❝ excuse me! how much further to sussex? ❞ he waits what he deems the appropriate amount of time before he is tapping again, louder and faster this time. ❝ excuse me! ❞
moments later, the carriage is jerking to a halt, and after several agonizing minutes, the door is flung open. ❝ apologies, your grace. the roads are flooded, and our path is blocked with debris. we must continue onto clyvedon at first light. ❞ the driver steps aside, letting a small, charming inn come into full view. ❝ there is a room available for you and the duchess. ❞ jaw clenches tightly, cheeks hollowing out as he flies out of his seat and past the driver. ❝ very well, ❞ he grinds out as he storms into the inn and up to the elderly woman at the desk. he demands another room, one for each of them, but as fate would have it, there is only the one. by the time he has finished arguing and reaches the room, both elain and their bags have already arrived. and still, he does not speak to her. he does not speak as they flit around the room, peeling off layers of wet clothes while he is careful to give her privacy. he does not speak through dinner, quietly shoveling spoonfuls of mystery stew into his mouth before retiring without a word. he only speaks when night has truly fallen, and he can no longer avoid the situation as he'd hoped to.
⊹ ˚˖⋆｡ [ ELAIN ] and [ SIMON ] must share a bed during their trip - neither of them sleeps much because they’re too aware of the other’s presence.
❝ i shall take the floor, ❞ he offers, lest she begin to get any fantastical ideas of what their wedding night will look like. they've only just met, and he has no intention of siring an heir tonight. or ever, for that matter.
