❣ Chile in a Photography ❣
occasionally subtle
No title available
Kiana Khansmith
NASA
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda
Not today Justin
i don't do bad sauce passes
almost home
Cosmic Funnies
Xuebing Du
Misplaced Lens Cap
izzy's playlists!
noise dept.
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
blake kathryn
Product Placement
Show & Tell
No title available
Three Goblin Art
seen from Australia
seen from United States
seen from Colombia
seen from United States
seen from Hong Kong SAR China
seen from Spain
seen from Malaysia
seen from Ireland
seen from India
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from Malaysia
seen from Brazil
seen from China
seen from Ireland
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Australia
@kinglucerys
( WAGNER MOURA, HOMOSEXUAL, CIS MALE & HE/HIM) — by the grace of the gods, old and new, i present to you KING LUCERYS SOLLIA of SOLLIA. the gods have blessed us with their presence for 54 years. the people of the kingdom have known them to be JUST, NOBLE, WARM, and while it is not always shown to the masses, it is said they can also be PROUD, BRASH, VAIN. what will their tale in the story of metia be? only they can write it, so let’s see how their legend unfolds.
he knew this was an inevitability. if he were a better prince, a better man, or a better son, he would have told his father himself. he knew his reaction would be like this. they'd fought claw and tooth over any instance that could jeopardize lucealyx, or any of the sollian son's, health. he waits for his time to speak, when his father has gone from anger to affection to resignation. that's when the prince of the sun strikes most deftly.
"papa," the name he uses behind closed doors, when it's just family. he is not king or father, but papa, affectionate, loving. "i fought and survived battles in a war. i went toe to toe with soldiers who had years of experience on me and i survived." his own hand comes to rest on lucerys' shoulder, smiling at his father, looking him in the eyes. "this is more assured than war. it is my duty and my honor to show them what sollia stands for, what we are trained for and what i, crowned prince of the sun throne, have to offer."
his hand moves to cup his father's cheek, the smile still on his face. "stand with me, papa, your support is the one thing that will give me an edge in battle. i fight to make our people proud, but i fight to make you proud more than that."
Lucealyx is a smart boy, smarter than Lucerys was at his age perhaps. And he had learned a long time ago the soft spots his father had, calling him papa in that tone... Lucerys sighs, but he can't say it doesn't work. "You did survive, and I was against risking your life then. Why would I be alright with you doing it now?" He shakes his head, Lucealyx lays the trap and sets it off around him.
There is reason in his words and yet he went behind his back, behind his king's back, endangering himself and their very line in the process. Must his children truly rebel now that they are finding footing in this unsure peace?
He presses a kiss to his son's cheek, pulling him into his embrace like he always had done. Hand caressing the strands of his hair, how could he bear anything happening to him? "We must present strength, but do I need to allow you to endanger yourself for it my son?" He asked, torn between duty, between war readiness and love. Lucerys had always been a conciliator, a ruler meant for peace but forced to wage war. Lucealyx was born amidst blood and death, a child of war and yet he would, their god willing, rule in times of peace. They were often at odds with each other, even if rarely in a fight. "You make me proud already, my boy, cease this madness. Do not force me to stand and watch them come for you." He had no taste for it, fighting in such a way had never been a pleasure of his, and save for a few favored warriors he did not much care to watch others do it either. To see his son face man or beast? That was a lot to ask of the sollian king.
where: astere, argonia when: the earliest fashionable time to arrive who: attendees, host
finally seen in a light that felt like himself, and not like he was formed into a reflection of some previous ruler's husband, baltasar was out in force at the next event to occur. logically, he should be concerned; no news came from the investigation of the attempted murder. but he felt too free to not make a showing.
with the title of queen, went the long robes and hanging sleeves. working (and paying) his tailors overtime, baltasar stood regally in some slightly more rakish attire, inspired by his golden days as a man leaving his mark upon numerous noble necks and backsides. a vest that swung low down his chest, enough chains and necklaces to create a chorus as he moved to fill that gap, and fitted pants tucked into strong boots. let none look at baltasar sollia and see the queen -- only the prince-consort.
even the way he moved seemed with renewed confidence; lifting something to inspect it, returning it to its (assumed) place.
"--you've been staring." whether or not the person he addressed was, baltasar found it more fun to assume, and put said person on the back-foot. "were you waiting for a question, or simply basking in my presence?"
the king approached slowly, hands behind his back. his guard a few steps behind, never far anymore. it was the perfect occasion, he'd thought, amidst the chaos or not, to make it known there was no longer a queen of sollia, but rather his prince consort.
he was undeniably concerned with matters of security but he could not deny the way this livened up balthasar, made him acquire a lost glow that he remembered from their youth.
he looked just like he did, the galant noble, heatbreaker. dangerous and seductive. "i should think it is my god given right to stare, and admire, and bask in the presence of my husband." he said, approaching further, arms enveloping his husband, tempted to reach for his stomach but refraining, let him enjoy the moment of being free, let him be the one to hold his king for a change. "wouldn't you agree, prince consort?"
"Just so that we both agree that I am beautiful." he couldn't hold back the comment and briefly raises his hands up defensively before settling back deeper into his chair. He could read his father, mostly. The king was an expert of keeping his collective cool when Solan knew that his second born would have more than earned a backhand if one was delivered to him. While the prince was trying to relax and not snark, shock ran through his system once more when the king declared that he was not to mingle with Augustus again.
"Excuse me?" his brows furrowed as he leaned forward. "That-" he began until he was cut short by the shouting of his father. A rarity for the king to raise his voice; even Uriel was taken aback and stunned into silence. It had been some years since he was screamed at such a level. Then the threat of being shipped back home. It was something he would have jumped at the opportunity for just the other night. A certain variable had changed that and now the king was trying to keep him away from that person.
"I have been behaving. I had a genuine good time with someone after you insisted I mingle and now you're trying to leash me. I'm assuming you've already tried to do the same to Andres as well." He knew his brother well enough. They were different in their interests and mindsets but the one thing they shared was that the desire to travel and thrive without too much restriction.
"I get that you're shaken up by what happened but be more reasonable, Papi. Where is Papa?" he asked looking around as if he hoped his other father would materialize and actually be in his corner. "Reconsider your stance."
Lucerys scoffed, of course he would mock such an important conversation. Let his vanity get the best of him. As if he wasn't sufficiently convinced of his own beauty; Lucerys and Balthasar had made no unbecoming children, let it be said, but need he affirm it at every chance he got?
"I am not leashing you, I am protecting you. All of you!" He was growing agitated again, bursts of emotions were not something he prided himself in but what could he do faced with such challenges?
"You will do as you're told, you will behave and leave only when we allow, with whom we allow... and I shall not hear of you having a dalliance with another prince. There are proper ways of courting my son."
The matter offended him greatly. To think of his son, away with some prince... They could at least do it the right way. "Your Papa will agree, I assure you."
if andres had a cooler head, if he was in a place where he was willing to see reason, he could’ve heard his father’s words for what they were. but he was feeling hurt, slighted, on the defensive despite technically being the one in the wrong. instead of hearing that lucerys fondly reminiscing on early days, he focused on how those memories were from when he was young- the youngest at the time. instead of processed that his father cared for him and wanted to protect him, he heard that he was a number, probably expected to add to the collective sooner rather than later. it wasn’t fair, and deep down the son knew it. but he was far too lost in his own emotions to acknowledge it. lucerys got it out with loud words and andres dealt with his own by making his exterior thicker than dragon hide.
his glassy eyes met the king’s own and he nodded. he nodded because understood even if he didn’t want to, even if he internally wasn’t going to acknowledge it. he nodded because it was easier to do than saying something he didn’t want to, at the moment. most importantly, he nodded because he wanted the conversation to be over.
lucerys, for all his dreams and his ambitions, knew when he was not going anywhere. he caressed his son's hair, gently, placing a kiss on his forehead as he remained close.
"i hope you will take my words to heart." he said, keeping his son's gaze as he held him close, refusing to let him ignore his father and close down but at the same time giving him the time he might need. there had been no lessons on how to be a father when lucerys was learning how to be king. especially not on how to be a father of four.
from the single flame that kept the sollia house alive, to a flock of dragons soaring across sollian skies. and at the head, a king leading the way blindly.
"i love you my son." he whispered at last. ready to leave him be if that is what he wished. "remember that."
The swell to his ego at the words was mirrored by the swell of his pants. Neither of witch was something he had ever bothered to hide. Head rolling forward as the other kept his work up his body relaxing under the touch. That part of him that was still haunted by the war made him tense for just a moment wanting to make sure a weapon was near by incase the other turned on him. One expertise touch to his shoulders and that worry had been all but pushed away. Another deep moan left his lips as he the other pushed another knot away from his aching back and he looked up at him. "Then show me what a million Solian nobles would throw themselves on a sword for." His hands moved to his own pants pulling away his belt and letting his cock free. He wasn't sure how far they could push this. Two kings falling into bed would be a rumor that would spread like wildfire. "Then im going to bend you over the desk and send you back to your queen limping"
There was a lot that ran between them. History and war, familiarity, alliance. Bonds of duty and blood and ambition. He could feel the tension building, and easing up hands touching the warrior king with appreciation. Lucerys might never have become quite a warrior but he'd always appreciated them. To hear his fellow king moan under his hands to see him swelling for him and praising him...
He did not know how many men would throw themselves at a sword for this, but he did like to listen to it as his thoughts were focused on another, far more pleasing sword.
It wasn't wise, to lay with another king, yet Lucerys could hardly deny there had been something brewing between them for a while now. And he could hardly walk back on his word. He swallowed, lowering his head to capture Bradford's lips in a kiss. "If that's what it takes to ease your mind, consider myself in your service tonight." He whispers, hand closing around the king's cock, gently stroking it as his thumb toyed with the glans, spreading around the moisture at the tip. "My husband would understand." He is not so certain, but it makes him feel a little better as he kneels down in front of a former enemy, a hand spreading his thighs while the other strokes him. His eyes never leaves Bradford's as he takes his cock into his mouth. First gently, a mere kiss, a reach of his tongue to taste what has been so freely offered, and then hungry like the dragons they rode he pulls more into his mouth, delights himself with the king's reactions as he gives himself freely to him. Concerned only with his pleasure, the taste of cock and the thrill of such a bold encounter between two of the most powerful men present at the concord clouding his mind to the whispers that might follow.
Truly, he would gladly ignore them for more of Bradford's cock.
@kinglucerys
As they sat at the table for their evening meal, the Hand sitting close to his King's side, the nobleman couldn't help but feel a bit... uneasy about the situation at hand. Sitting in a dining hall within a castle that lied in a once-extinct - or so they thought - kingdom, Gabriel certainly felt on edge as he picked at his dinner. Was he being paranoid? Possibly, but he also knew that it had to have been no coincidence that Argonia suddenly rose from the ashes like a phoenix shortly after the life of a foreign royal was nearly taken during the Dove Concord. It was too suspicious, and he had a feeling that this inclusion of the Argonian's was nothing but a trap.
"I don't like this, your grace," the Hand spoke as he turned to look at the King, setting his utensils aside. "I cannot help but feel we walked right into a viper's pit, waiting for them to strike..." The sense of unease was one that he couldn't shake, though he hoped that he was just overreacting and that he wasn't right... that this wasn't some sort of trap laid out by the Argonians. "I suggest we ensure that there is a member of the guard with you and your family at all times... But also... I think it might be wise to begin considering securing alliances with the other kingdoms. Surely they, as well as I, are of the belief that something isn't right here in Argonia."
Lucerys did try to enjoy his dinner, Gabriel at his side made it easier, he trusted and enjoyed his hand's company more than most and oftentimes they were too busy with official matters to simply enjoy each other. It was no time for enjoyment, truthfully, but he did try until his hand voiced the concerns he had himself. He patted Gabriel's hand, a sigh leaving his lips as he cleared his throat.
Why couldn't they be in Sollia right now? "You know I share the sentiment." He said, nodding to his suggestions. He had his guard loyally at his side and he made sure the princes and the prince consort all had their own arrangements but he appreciated the concern. "You must be protected as well. There is Sollia in your blood and you're my hand besides," he tightens his grip on his hand, "no ill shall come to you, cousin."
"As for the other kingdoms, I believe I can reach an agreement with the Valtolian king." He did his best not to let his skin flush at the memory of the man, and why he felt like he held some sway there. "I did my best to solidify an alliance when we were their guests. Furthermore, I would believe all of us are wary of a new player with unknown intentions walking into the board like this."
He leaned closer then, food pushed aside as he found his cousin's ear. "We should be careful with our words though, we are guests in this strange land and it is unwise to assume they are not just as wary of us. Mistrust breeds dangerous things, cousin."
for: @kinglucerys where: themys, argonia
It was late and Regulus was going to take any opportunity to go out and explore this world he knew virtually nothing about. Sure, the colosseum was fun and all but Regulus was someone who liked to get out and explore the world around him. With the guards on watch near every door, it would be tough but Regulus had done it before. Notably back in Veneca during the Dove Concord.
As he made his way down the hallway and past a few Sollian guards, Regulus thought he was in the clear. That was until he ran into a familiar face.. the King. Not sure if he just had bad luck tonight or maybe Lucerys predicted Regulus would try and get Lucerys to sneak out. "Your Majesty," he stopped, bowing before the older man.
being in a strange kingdom, with strange people around him and the memory of a prince wounded still fresh on his mind made the king restless. worry seemed to claw at him with every passing moment and distractions came and went far too quickly. it was hard to sleep, even if he did trust his guard there was always the chance of something, or someone slipping by.
he knew right away as he found the young man skulking around that he was not who he was hoping to see. "Lord Baliss." he greeted shortly, eyes following his bow. caught in the act it seemed, he shook his head, "I hope you are not here to tempt the prince away when I've gone to all the trouble of making sure they stay safe in their quarters for the evening."
he was not often found lecturing his subjects like a disappointed father but sometimes... he sighed, "Come, I can't allow you to disturb them but perhaps we can entertain each other safely for the night." he pulled the wandering lord into his room, offering him a seat as he poured him a drink, robes tied around his waist for modesty as he looked at the young man once more. "What do you make of this new land?"
@kingdomcrows
Lucerys barged into the prince's room with barely a thought, door slamming shut behind him as the king marched to him, uncaring if the prince was sleeping or awake, bathing or with company. "Did you think I would not hear of your plans, prince Lucealyx." He asked, hands on his hips as he looked down at his son.
"Did you believe I would not be informed my son wishes to risk his life in a kingdom we believed gone until recently?" He shook his head. Reaching for his shoulder as a burst of affection cut through his anger. Barely, but there. "My dear son, I've made it all too clear you and your brothers are far too precious for me to ever risk. Don't make me regret allowing you to come." The fact he had to discover this from his lord commander! What would his father had done, had the hope of the Sollia house risked himself like this back then?
He let his mind wander for a moment. Did he want someone else looking into this. He had given the Bergian family full reign cause it was there kid, but did he want another kingdom poking around. Bradford knew he didn't give the order but there could people in his land that didn't think peace was right what if was one of them. "A friend," He finally spoke, "Not much a third a king can offer at the moment no offense." A little on the harsh side given the exhausted tone his voice took on. Shoulders rolling under the other's touch as he let his eyes fall closed. The relaxed groan that rose up from deep in his belly was unintentional but showed just how much he needed this moment of comfort. Tact had left the king in the small hours of the day exhaustion taking it's place. "Suppose you cant offer a pretty face looking up at me from between my legs can you." A small laugh as the indecent request left his mouth. "this back rub is good enough though you can go a little harder im not made of glass."
Lucerys nodded, a friend then, his duty as king would come even if not now or in the way his fellow king wanted. Their duty had demands that would not wait for them, but for a moment they could let it aside and reel from the events that put everything they worked for on the precipice of failing. The sound coming from Bradford's lips startled him, but he made no comment or move to pull away, it seemed like the king needed that.
Given this all happened on his house... Lucerys could understand. This was not a side to him he had seen, not even on the lounge where they let masks aside, this was much more raw, and he did not think the crudeness was the kind of joke he would share without intent, rather a sort of tired honesty that left Lucerys' mouth gaping slightly.
He obeyed, hands digging harder into his shoulder as he rubbed the tension away as best as he could. There were not many man who could say they've felt his hands working their muscles like that, but he did not think to deny Bradford that. Besides, he had enjoyed the sounds he made quite a bit. "I can tell you are not." He had never hidden how he admired the large muscles the other king carried, his strength, and it did not go unnoticed how in return Bradford implied he was pretty once more.
"As for your other request," He chuckled, as if it was indeed a joke among men, "the only face I could offer to place between your legs is my own." He had nothing to gain from this, but it would be a lie to say he hadn't wondered what it would be like over the days before tragedy struck. "Think that would that satisfy you, your highness?" His thumbs made quick work of particular tense spot as he brazenly offered himself, the tension in the room much more pleasing than the one they'd been carrying so far.
"I'd say given how high strung everyone is now, humor is perfect and needed." He retorted back under his breath. He raised his hand to his mouth, biting upon his thumb as a way to silence himself. He could tell that one too many slick comments would tip the king into a tranquil fury.
There was a tug at his own heart hearing his father voice the 'what ifs' that Uriel himself had when he thought of his brothers. "Well, past incidents have led me to think I'm too pretty to actually want to harm." After all, he had escaped a crew of pirates...after relieving them all, but still, he wasn't actually injured when he could have been thrown into the sea maimed or worse.
"I did request for us to return home, Papi. Before any of this had happened." He felt the need to point that detail out after being told to take higher precautions. "Though, I am torn. Yes, someone is out and about with intent to kill, but I am grateful to have stayed..." He was, of course talking about his brief time with Augustus. Which apparently the King already knew about.
"...I...what is there to talk about? He was a gentleman. I was a gentleman. At least we have each other for alibis." A long sigh mixed with an aggravated moan escaped the prince as he was now effectively to be under heavy surveillance.
"Can I be honest, Papi? I'm not sure I want to go anywhere here in Valtolia? If I'm to be targeted for murder, I'd rather they'd actually finish the job, but they can't even do that correctly here."
His glare would have been enough to burn a lesser man in the spot, it seemed though it was not quite enough for his sons. He could not keep them locked away, as it were, nor he had found make Saul restrain them with his presence. Other knights might be swayed, seduced, incompetent. And so the king worried still.
"Uriel..." he said simply, "pretty won't keep you from getting killed, or worse. And pretty won't be on the table if they maim your beautiful face." Harsh words, harsher truths. It brought him no pleasure, none of this did. It all was falling apart under his hands no matter how tightly he clutched. He needed to get his sons away.
The protests, the excuses, it all made his head ache terribly, and he reached for a drink to settle his stomach while Uriel babbled. "I am sure you are."
"I hope you enjoyed, you are not seeing him again." He got out between sips of his drink, "not here. and do not think he will see you without approval, if a prince is courting you he needs to do it right."
It displeased him to even think about. Curse these damned foreigners, cursed be the moment he brought his sons. "Enough!" He shouted at last, clutching the glass on his hand but not hard enough to break it, yet. Enough Sollia had died during his lifetime, he could not, would not allow any more. "This is no laughing matter. Another word and you'll be sent back home at dawn." He would see to it himself.
"You'll behave, prince Uriel, there is no more room to missteps."
He almost can't believe the king is so visibly upset. While he has seen Lucerys in many situations, moments where his sons' lives were at risk are a new thing for both of them, but he doesn't comment on that. Instead, he just nods along, listening to his worried voice. Saul had already taken care of the princes — put his best men guarding their rooms, as well as sending for more knights to escort them back to Sollia. Saul understood the danger they were under right now and wasn't playing games.
Except that the king might disagree with that.
Once he's done, hands on his shoulders, Saul looks down, heavy in his armor, feeling like he must disappoint the man he swore loyalty to, but he must. "I am afraid I can't do just that, your majesty." His vows were clear, and had swore to mantain it even if the King didn't want to. His job as Lord Commander of Sollia was to protect the King. To assure the safety of the Royal House, yes, but he, Saul, was supposed to protect the King. The only man allowed to disobey the King's orders, they said...
"I have knights at the prince's doors, your majesty, and I have men coming to get us out of the city as soon as possible, but-" he pauses, hesitating a little, "I can't leave your side, your majesty, you're well aware of that."
A king was bound by duty, to his people, to his realm. A knight was bound by honor, by code and oath. Saul had once saved him when he was not bound to, not truly, the king was a scrawny thing and his dragon not battle ready. Swords familiar on his hand, but not as much as a quill, and his use of them often left his instructors wanting--he was too precious to risk, even then on that battlefield it was a hard negotiation to make. He had only lived to become king because Saul had saved him, and he'd admired the man ever since.
His refusal to a direct order then came as harsh as a slap. The king did not drew away, but a silence followed. Were it anyone else he would perhaps shout, demand, but he knew Saul better than that. "My sons... Saul." He said simply, after a second of heavy quietness. It was hard to tell which of them was frozen worse by their bonds, duty and honor.
"Who can I trust with them but you?" He had never been a man to beg, but he would if he thought that would dissuade his loyal knight. He placed his head on his shoulder, usually more mindful of protocol, in private he was freer with Saul, but this was far from the moments where he could slip away from the formalities of being king, from the weight of his crown and enjoy a moment with his protector.
Yet here he was, falling apart on his arms. "You know I would never..." To order him to go against his oath was to go against his honor, to put him at risk should anyone come for the king, and to betray the things he admired most in Saul, the things that made him the only choice to lord commander. "Is there nothing I can do?" He whispered to himself, the cold armor digging into his skin, the warmth of Saul's skin the only thing keeping him from drowning in his own despair at that moment.
"I never understood my father better." He whispered quietly, half ashamed of how he clung to the knight. This... was not part of his duties. "And I've four sons, instead of a single one."
he tried to remember himself, enough to lean back and meet saul's eyes. to fall back on his authority and away from the vulnerable spot he'd been placed in "If you stay, I want you here, not outside." He demanded, but from his voice, to his proximity, to his request, all of it said man, father, friend and almost none king.
"my love--"
lucerys' bravery on the topic was to be lauded. "I will be the one bearing our sons. from now, until our final days." he wouldn't be so bold as to try to take that much from the king. "I only meant that, in delivering your princes, it is my gift to you." baltasar did love their sons -- but bearing them was a labor indeed. one he, at first, endured. but as time and familiarity came, and he saw each one bloom into a man of their own right, baltasar began to regard it with a bit of...curiosity. who would the next one become? what would solan deem fit to bless their line with this time?
kissing his king, being kissed, baltasar let out a somewhat pleased sigh. let the other kingdoms watch, bear witness, to what he's built. at first with guile, then with patience, and eventually, with love.
"I've heard word of some baths. there's also some dark and secretive hallways. and, last of all, there's our palatial quarters as granted to us by our so gracious hosts." how he'd manage to get his hands on a potion? well.
one of their mages should have something on hand, after all these years of working under them.
"now, I absolutely believe in making a scene. so I recommend you rip something replaceable. maybe my cape, or one of the sleeves. I'll go sleeveless for the rest of the week. then we make to leave."
lucerys chuckled, "you bear them so well." he says, eyes moving up and down his body in a brazen way that he tried to hold back most of the time. "and you've given me gifts that most men would only dream of."
"even when they give us headaches..." his laugh is a pleased one, shared with his husband in a kiss. refusing to get away now that his husband accepted such displays. the whispers would come, but they could do no harm to dragons.
"we have not fucked in a bath for a while..." and so publicly, not since they left home, where people knew to avert their eyes when they got heated. it was perhaps the promise of a new heir, it spiked a fire that he could not fan out.
"you really want a scandal my love?" his lips quirked up in amusement, but his hands moved, deft and clever. he was no strong warrior, and though at times that came into question, this he knew he could easily do. ripping away the sleeves of his husband as another heated kiss was shared, exposing his skin as he let the fabric fall down to the ground and his clever hands lifted to his chest, ripping slightly at the fabric there too, like he resented the very thought of them being in his way as his hand felt up the strong chest beneath.
"is that good enough, or must i expose myself as well before we make our exit?" his grin was wide and unrestrained, eyes stuck on them all over the place as he started to guide his husband, his closest ally, away. solan willing, when they emerged, there would already be a new dragon waiting to hatch.
"...you'd be fine," he said quietly, almost like he was afraid to say it. his father was a formidable man and talking back to him when he was already incensed felt foolish even if he was sure the most that would come from it was more yelling and tighter restrictions. but andres persisted, anyway. "you've got three other sons. you don't need me."
he loved his younger brother and he knew his parents loved him but after all those years of being the youngest, there was still a little bit of that fourteen-year-old andres that had felt like he'd been replaced. he had, in a way, even if it wasn't in any that was actually important. but he'd never put a voice to those words. this was probably the closest he'd ever been to that.
but he bowed deep and moved to go sit in a chair on the other end of the room. he'd follow the command, as that's what the king decreed. he even kept proper posture and looked straight ahead at the wall, his expression as blank as he could manage it.
the words startled the king more that he could have prepared for. eyes widening instantly. lucerys was not an only son, that much had been clear to him, even if none of his siblings survived long. he was the last hope of the great house of sollia for decades. he did not know, as such, what it was like to grow with others who could take on the mantle of his duties, his destiny. he was never left to ponder over it as andres was, he was to be the king, he needed to be the king. his father prepared, protected, raised him for such.
it was a big leap from that to thinking he was expendable however, and he could scarcely believe any of his children would think that, say that to him.
"i need all of you." he said, "we need all of you." he shook his head in a fit of rage that had nowhere to go. not when andres folded into himself, defiance of a kind he had never expected. his husband might be better suited for this.
"you might never wear my crown, but you are my son." his voice was loud, but not angry. footsteps heavy on stone across the room. "you are no less important than your brothers, even if you had..." he hesitates, unsure of how his plans, his desires will cause in his snow. "more of them."
"you are my boy, the one who sat in my lap for weeks during council meetings before you lost interest, the one we've had to chase around every nook of the castle." he holds his son's face between his hands, "you all are what i hold most dear. there was a time where you could count on the fingers the remaining sollia alive, i will not have our house back in those dark days. if any harm comes to you, they will face the wrath of our dragons like no one has before," he meets his eyes, and his tone is no longer heated but instead calm, almost cold. "do you understand son? you will not be harmed, you will never be replaced."
As soon as the King had noted his presence and acknowledged his skill with people, the Lord couldn't help but give a nod as a twinge of a smile pulled upon his lips. Of course, it had taken years upon years for him to be able to cultivate the ability that he had, to become adept at working people in a way to get what he wanted - truces, trade deals, alliances - because it had been expected of him by his father because at one point in his life, he had once been considered to be the King's future Queen and he had to know how to play the role at court.
Of course, war changes things and when his elder brother was slain in a battle, it was up to him to be the ruling lord of his house.
But still, it enabled him a way to be able to help his king - his friend, his cousin - all these years.
"I've known you how long, cousin? As good as I am at working people, I know you well enough to know when you are put in a position you would rather not be," Gabriel stated simply, hint of humor to his tone as he spoke to the King with a familiarity that most never saw given that Gabriel always referred to the King as his King when he was around him. "And as your hand, I am to be where you need me to be."
Pausing, the Lord Hand made a small click of his tongue as he put his hands behind his back. "But I must also admit, your grace, that I did speak with Uriel before I found you. I had to instruct him to remain on his best behavior, to ensure that he doesn't wind up ruining the reputation that you, I, or our ancestors built... He was not receptive to the criticism, of course, but I felt it... wise to remind him that what he does doesn't just reflect upon himself, but the family and the kingdom as a whole."
the king smiled, gabriel knew him well, better than most even. it was hard hiding such things from him, and perhaps it was well that both his husband and the one who once had been promised to him were so apt at not only reading him but reading others as well. where would he be without them?
"far too often i am put in positions i would rather not be, my dear," he said softly, patting his shoulder as he looked towards the room, where nobles mingled, ignoring them for now. "and if i need you by my side?" he had never taken well to being away from gabriel, his closest friend from birth, almost a brother, almost a husband. "we work better when we are close, you know that, cousin."
he sighs at the mention of his son, love of his life, even when he brought headaches such as the current one. "yes, a reminder we all have tried to impart upon him. we can only hope and trust that he will act in all our best interests. we cannot lose sight of more pressing matters over worry of his behavior, i'm afraid."
"and i..." duty demanded he mingled, and spoke and promoted his kingdom. he was ever dutiful as the king, yet all he wanted now was to share a drink, and to enjoy his time with his cousin. "i must go back at some point, but for now let us just appreciate the moment. tense as it may be, we have seen little peace in our lives my cousin, let us test its strength for an hour or two."
"until then," baltasar echoes. solemn, and dutiful, but true. he'd first moved to comfort the king with deliberate and well-aimed touches, but before long, the king was soothing himself with the same. holding baltasar, feeling baltasar. as if he was reminding himself that baltasar was sitll there.
the same baltasar that could read a room of rivals well enough to disqualify or disinterest or disentangle enough rivals to be able to out-perform the rest. if he couldn't at least somewhat read his husband, would he be the man his husband married? that, and children were always at the head of head-of-house's minds. either minding them, or making them.
baltasar found himself surprisingly, and initially irritatingly, proficient in both regards.
"whatever new title we may find for me, I will still be your husband." duty, honor, debt to fate repaid but never in full. "and a king's husband bears his sons." simple truths. "--though, I wouldn't go as far as saying you're giving them to me. I see it more as, me giving them to you." humorous pedantics. baltasar wasn't carrying children for his own sake. he did it for lucerys. "the gift is yours to claim. your legacy."
of which baltasar was pleased enough to be a happy, well-fed, well-cared for, and well-understood, underscore.
he smiled, hand caressing hair and cheek, nose brushing against his husband's. "always." he assured him, or himself, or perhaps both of them. he did chuckle at his explanation, semantics not the thing he was worried about.
"if it comforted you, i'd try my hand at giving them to you but i'm afraid i'd be less blessed than you in that regard, that and the council might protest vehemently at that breach in protocol." he was also all too happy to do his part, and have baltasar bearing his heirs. it was duty yes but for him it went way beyond that.
"thank you, husband." he whispered, mouth claiming baltasar's in a kiss. they might at this point be making a scene, quite the picture where they were, but that was the last thought in his mind. "you've done your duty." he reminded him, four sons, a glorious future for their house, the loves of his life. "this is for me, and i hope... for you as well, your satisfaction is as important to me as mine." if that was not part of it, then perhaps he'd need to find other ways to give it to his husband.
"perhaps we should start trying," he teased still locked in his embrace, "or at least move this elsewhere if you do not want to entertain the other courts too much."
andres had heard what happened to prince iskander. he'd heard a version of what the letter had said. most importantly, he'd heard that his family had been looking for him and was already prepared for at least one of them to be furious with him. he didn't have an excuse or an alibi that would calm his father. so... he just told the truth. there was no need for the game where he verbally danced and distracted his way around saying what he was up to.
"I'm... I'm sorry." the words were quiet. he knew he'd messed up. even for it being the rare occurrence it was, andres didn't like the sound of his father yelling or, even worse, being disappointed in him. “I went to get something to drink and I saw a book about- it doesn't matter. but I wanted to see if I could find where it came from. and then... I got turned around and everything started happening outside.”
and then he closed his eyes and braced himself for what was definitely coming next.
the rage that bubbled within him was one rooted in frustration and concern. fear, where hope had begun growing from the twisting wreckage left from war.
"we are not home!" his tone rose once again, "i've done my best to shield you from the harsh realities we have lost too many, wounds like that do not close in a matter of years. some would like nothing more than your head on a spike next to mine."
he turned away, visions of his father's worried face. of the responsibility resting on his shoulders, the fear of anything happening to him in a time where he was the sollia's last hope. he had more children now, a future for his house and yet.
"what would do if anything were to happen to you?" he asked quietly. refusing to look back at him. he needed to send the princes back to sollia, where they'd be safe.
"you're not to leave this room, and if you do, know you'll have a guard a step behind and no more. at all times." he finally faced the prince once more, "this is no longer a time for liberties and indulgence, my son."
