between love and hate

Kit Porrras 32 Bodyguard

[lesamishqpromo-blog]

Magic has been around for generations. In most places, it’s said to be difficult, that you must command the magic within you, that only the written spells are proper and powerful. It must be learned in a book, in a classroom, and never mind those who say otherwise.

Some know better though. Some know that magic can guide you just as much as you guide it, and there is nothing more beautiful than when it flows from your fingertips, or your mouth, or wherever and however else it comes to you. They know that magic learned from a book is cold and dead. Paris is the place to go if you are one of these. Whether you join those below in the dark magic of the catacombs, or the street performers above who play with light and color as if it’s their calling, Paris has a place for you.

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[kitporras-blog]

Kit knew as soon as he’d done it that it was stupid. It was just encouraging himself, overstepping bounds that he’d already leapt over. But he’d gotten the picture from a cousin of a cousin, the group chat he’d been added to and never bothered to leave erupting into a chorus of hearts. It hadn’t taken much longer to message the guy he barely knew and ask a few questions, arrange a short plane ride. And now here he was, leading a dog that had failed it’s training to Ella’s room. It was still a good dog, it just tended to follow it’s own commands instead of anyone else’s. Which made it perfect, and he didn’t bother to knock before opening the door. “Ella, I got you something.”

@prncssellahalder

[kitporras-blog]

crownprincessuly‌:

Uly turned her head at that reaction, studying him a moment before emitting a soft laugh. “You know, Ella said you were the person to call for a good time… I assumed she was joking.” Uly shook her head ruefully at the thought, passing off her empty glass before folding her arms over her chest. “Dangerous reputation to have, you know.”

Kit wasn’t going to admit the little bit of hurt that shot through at the idea that Ella had decided that was his reputation. It wasn’t like he’d tried to make it anything else. “Ella doesn’t joke with strangers.” He finally said with a wry smile. “Is that so?”

[kitporras-blog]

crownprincessuly‌:

“I don’t doubt it.” Uly mused with a faint smile, peering briefly over at the bodyguard before returning her attention to the fire. Might as well see his reaction, just for fun. “Besides, not sure it would have worked out between us. Apparently, Princesses need to date other royalty.” 

As much as she wanted to turn her head and see his expression, she kept her eyes on the fire and finished the last of her glass.

He honestly thought he was better at assessing people than this, but apparently not. At least it explained him getting turned down so quickly. But he was fine with friends. He needed a few more of them if he was going to be stuck here much longer. “Who said anything about dating, Princess?” He finally teased, a smirk settling on his face.

[kitporras-blog]

ofseverine‌:

“hey! listen, it’s a long story, okay? but. can you hand me that? I’d get it myself, but…” But from their place up on the ledge, it wasn’t a convenient reach. It had been awkward enough to get up there once, and while getting down would be no problem, getting back up might prove to be, and they couldn’t lose this view.

“Uh, sure?” Kit said, leaning to grab the pen and hand it up to them. “You need some help, or were you trying to imitate a gargoyle?”

[kitporras-blog]

prncssellahalder‌:

“You look like you lost a fight with a lawn mower.” If she insulted him enough, it was easier to act like it was true. Draining the last of her coffee, Ella held out her mug to him in a silent, pleading sort of way. “Fuck you. I do what I want.” He could tell her what to do, sure. And most of the time she actually listened, but it wasn’t because she had to. 

“You look like a hobbit.” He rebutted. Maybe not the feet, but she was short enough to be one, and he would never stop mocking her for it. It was easier that way. “Sure, and you can refill your own coffee, as someone who does what she wants.” He pushed the cup back towards her.

[kitporras-blog]

prncssellahalder‌:

“Bitch, I’m the only one that can fire you.” She crossed her arms and glared. They were both right, in this matter, though she would never admit it. “I should have let my father fire you. Then I wouldn’t have to put up with your stupid smug mug. And you can’t tell me what to do.” 

He would never admit she was right, she would never let him live it down. “My mug is beautiful, don’t lie like that.” He shot back. “I can, actually. It’s at least half of my job. The better half of it, actually.”

[kitporras-blog]

crownprincessuly‌:

Uly smirked at his forwardness, a slight widening of her lips as her hands delved into the warm comfort of her pants. She faced him for a moment, studying him before emitting a soft laugh and shaking her head. “Had you asked me that same question a month ago, I’d have answered very differently.” She mused somberly, turning back towards the campfire. The warmth on her face was comforting, staring into the flames as her night vision was obliterated in those glowing embers.

“The former, I suspect.” Still smiling she snatched another drink from a passing servant, downing it in one swift tip. The burn as it passed down her throat was like a comforting old friend, welcoming her back. It was just her luck that the cute guys hit on her now, the moment she couldn’t do anything about it. Life hates me, I swear. That or it’s just one hell of a cock-block.

Uly shook her head ruefully at the thought, grinning to herself. “Though I’m sure I could find some particularly easy friends of mine.”

Too bad, she was pretty, and had a good sense of humor. Both things Kit tended to look for in a date. But he wasn’t about to push, and so he just shrugged. “Well, let me know if that changes.” He suggested easily, handing off his empty glass to the servant. Which, servants, at a bonfire? Ridiculous. This whole thing was.

“Thanks, but I think I can find someone on my own. I’m not quite that desperate.” He said in a teasing tone. He wasn’t trying to be rude, he just preferred to meet people for himself. Usually he went for easy, just because he didn’t have time for a relationship, but sometimes it was fun to dream.

[kitporras-blog]

crownprincessuly‌:

“Amen to that.” Uly mused, lifting her now empty glass in salute to his praise of the aforementioned liquor. “They’ve got the money to pay for it, after all.”

Uly found herself warming to the man, a smile residing comfortably on her lips for the first time in recent memory. It hadn’t been forced there, but had simply been scrounged from the depths of her personality at some point throughout the friendly, natural conversation. If he’s as good with his gun as he is with his words, Ella shouldn’t get so much as a scratch Uly thought idly, her grin widening at the thought as she passed her glass off to a passing waiter.

Uly absently retrieved a notepad from her back pocket - an old military habit she’d never managed to shake - before writing down a series of digits on a loose page torn out moments later. “My number, though you didn’t ask.” She mused, holding out the slip to him with a warm smile. She needed more friends, especially ones that didn’t treat her like royalty.

Don’t fuck this up, Uly.

“Better them than me.” Kit agreed, raising his own glass. It was an actual glass too, which was ridiculous, in his opinion. They were on the beach, plastic was acceptable, after all. He had to wonder if half the people here had ever even drank from a plastic cup.

He smiled, tucking the slip into a pocket. “I was getting around to it, trust me.” He said, glancing away before he looked back at her. “Is that a let’s be friends number, or is it a call me for some fun number?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. He was old enough to be done with dancing around what the other one wanted, it was simpler to just ask in the long run.

[kitporras-blog]

cassandraxdraculesti‌:

She was startled to see that the man seemed as though he had settled in before her - she could have sworn the clearing was empty when she first arrived… Shaking her head as though to clear it, she smiled again, relieved to know she at least hadn’t interrupted him or offended him. “Thank you! Music is kind of my escape, you know? I don’t terribly mind all the people milling about, but at the same time it occasionally gets to be too much.” Cass nodded toward the sketchpad in his hands, an eyebrow quirking with interest. “I take it you had much the same idea as me?”

“I understand.” He said with a nod and a wry smile. There were far too many people in the castle, and around it. He was far more used to their little castle, where he could escape home if needed. “I did. I was hoping for something more interesting than flowers to draw, but here we are.”

[rickywhittledaily-blog]

[kitporras-blog]

prncssellahalder‌:

“Fucker.” She thought about throwing her other shoe, but she knew he would duck that one too. She could tell him to go get it, of course, but for all his talk he was not that devoted. Her eyes narrowed into slits, like if she glared hard enough, she could set him on fire. “You’re fired.” She snapped, knowing he wouldn’t believe it for a second. 

“You can’t fire me. Besides, you’d miss me too much if I left.” He teased easily. She’d already revealed that much when her father tried to fire him, she couldn’t convince him otherwise now. “Also, I don’t think princesses are supposed to throw shoes.”

[kitporras-blog]

crownprincessuly‌:

Less uptight than normal was definitely right. Though most of Uly’s opinions of royalty were flights of fantasy borne from novels and movies, she did recognise from recent experience that most gatherings of the aforementioned people tended to be more… clinical. They all followed the same pattern: meet, exchange pleasantries, present a friendly facade, depart on some excuse of business… repeat steps one through three. “Pleasantly… normal. I agree.”

Uly sipped her drink once more as Kit spoke about Ella, her eyebrow perking. The statement of independence definitely matched the brunette princess Uly had met prior. Hell, it was probably an understatement. “I suppose that is just a rumour, then. She must keep you busy.” She murmured, finishing the last of her drink with a backwards tilt of her head. Gods, how she’d missed proper alcohol… not that bubbly water served at royal functions. For a long few silent seconds, she stared into the bonfire crackling ahead as his laugh echoed inside her head. Such a genuine sound.

“You been a guard long?” She inquired, turning her head towards the man, looking into his eyes with an inherent curiosity.

“At least the drinks are good.” He shrugged. It figured that they’d have the good stuff, they could afford to pay for it, and he wasn’t about to pass it up. Not when there weren’t a lot of people here who would question him. Half of them were intimidated, the other half were too good to even look at him, and he was perfectly fine with that. 

“Busy enough. I spend half my time trying to get her out of her room.” He shrugged. Maybe it wasn’t technically his job, but he got bored easily, and Ella needed to socialize more. The country wasn’t going to love a queen they never saw, and he knew there was the potential for them to love her. 

“Seven years. Six with Ella.” It occurred to him a little too late that he should probably be referring to Ella with her title, but the damage was done at this point. Besides, it happened, and another bodyguard should understand that.

[kitporras-blog]

crownprincessuly‌:

“Maybe. But the right people are so hard to come by.” Came Uly’s stoic reply as her gaze turned to the crackling bonfire, the equally warming drink raising to her lips. She knew it was probably unladylike to drink, being a crown princess… but she also found that she didn’t particularly care. She would regret that later, no doubt.

When the bodyguard spoke about Ella, Uly’s smile widened just a fraction. Her suspicions confirmed. Ella didn’t tell him about me. He thinks I’m just another bodyguard. 

This is an opportunity, if there ever was one.

At his question about her own ward, Uly took a split moment to think. She’d been on protective detail only once before and she always found that guards enjoyed gossiping about their wards. If Uly wanted to find out anything interesting about her new friend Ella, she needed to not kill this conversation in the water. But could she lie like this and not make the guard hate her when he found out? He would eventually find out, after all. So far all she had done was agree with his guesses. She hadn’t lied, so to speak.

“Not here. Just enjoying a night off.” She managed, keeping her face neutral as she studied the flames. She took another warming sip as an excuse to busy her hand and conceal a portion of her face. Not strictly a lie, but not the truth either. Wow, I’m becoming a royal. The thought was not particularly comforting.

Regardless, Uly already found herself disappointed. Ella’s vehement denial of the bodyguard’s romantic capacity had made Uly suspicious… but given his friendly attitude and vocalised opinion, Uly suspected there really was nothing going on behind closed doors. Unfortunate.

“I hear the Crown Princess of Andora is a bit of a manhunter… you managing alright, as her guard?” Uly mused with a playful grin. It wasn’t difficult to shift into the relaxed persona of an off-duty bodyguard. Hell, chatting like this felt more natural than acting the part of Crown Princess.

“They can be. But sometimes you find them in the most unexpected places.” He said with a wink. There was nothing saying that he couldn’t have a little fun in his off time. It wasn’t as if Ella was going to leave whoever her future husband was in favor of him, and he wouldn’t want that anyways. She was going to do what was best for their country, so he was going to do what was best for him.

“It’s a nice night, isn’t it? Less uptight than normal.” If he’d had to sit through another ball, standing on the sidelines, he was going to go insane. Mostly having to watch Ella stumble through conversations. At least while she was dancing it was hilarious, watching the way the men tended to flee after a bit, trying to protect their poor feet. 

Her comment caught him off guard though, and a laugh escaped before he could stop it. “Ella? No. If she spent the rest of her life without a man looking at her, she’d be perfectly happy.” Of that, he had no doubt. She was independent, and preferred it that way. This whole mess was her worst nightmare, of that he was sure.

[kitporras-blog]

crownprincessuly‌:

Uly found herself enjoying her own solitary company more than that of those around her at the campfire. So many faces she didn’t know, so many people she didn’t recognise… but felt like she should. They were all conversing like distant friends. They’d spent their entire lives learning about the political climate in other countries, learning about interpersonal relationships between the various assorted monarchies. They knew each other, if not directly than through their research and lessons. Uly had none of that.

Uly found her eyes drawn instead to the invisible line a few steps outside the warm glow of the campfire, separating the royalty from their guards. Suited individuals here and there, hands behind their backs, ready. They were far more her people than the royals ever would be… and yet she knew she needed to adjust. I need to be royalty… my country needs me.

“Are you enjoying the fire?”

The words snapped Uly from her thoughts as she lifted her gaze to the approaching man. Dark skin, sculpted stubble and a refined suit all gave her hints, however it was the way he stood that made her realise who he was. The way he kept his body in a loosely ready posture, legs spaced, chin up. Kit. Ella’s bodyguard.

“The Fire? Yes. The company is a touch chilly, though.” She mused softly, taking the drink with a brief nod of thanks. Something felt different about the way he was talking to her. Oh. After the recent days being addressed as royalty by complete strangers, being spoken to normally had caught her off guard. He doesn’t know who I am.

The thought was oddly refreshing.

“Aren’t you on duty? Who’s your ward?” She mused demurely, a slight lie in pretending not to know he was guarding Ella. Maybe I can be a royal, after all.

“Maybe you just haven’t been talking to the right people.” Kit suggested, taking a sip of his drink. The royals were more than a bit chilly, judging from his previous experience, but the others were less so. As long as you found someone who didn’t take themselves too seriously, at least. But that was always the interesting part. She seemed better than some at least, she had taken the drink.

“Ella, of Andorra. She thinks she has snuck by me and back into the castle, so I am off duty now.” He said dryly. Ella thought she was sneaky, but he knew her too well to assume that she was still here now that he’d taken his eyes off her. “What about you?” He asked, glancing around to see if any of the royals were in her immediate sightline. She hadn’t seemed to be following any one specifically, which was half the reason he’d felt confident in approaching her.

[kitporras-blog]

Kit honestly had been having fun. His main goal for the night had been to drag Ella out, and he had done that before promptly losing track of her. Granted, it was mostly due to him getting distracted by a fun conversation with a cute blonde who ended said conversation by asking what country he was prince of and promptly walking away without an excuse when he told her he was a bodyguard.

So now, here he was, watching the rest of the royals and doing his best to figure out who was a royal and who wasn’t. It was starting to get easier, he could see the mannerisms and ticks that marked those who’d grown up with the affectations of royalty. Ella didn’t tend towards most of them, but she was definitely one of a kind, he’d already established that.

Finally, he was sure that he’d found someone who was not a royal, and was attractive. She carried herself like a lot of the people he knew, like she’d been in more than a few fights and lived to tell the tale. He’d be willing to bet she was security, and he scooped up an extra drink to offer her as he walked over. “Are you enjoying the fire?”

@crownprincessuly

[kitporras-blog]

prncssellahalder‌:

“You fucking,” there was no insult worthy of what she felt, so instead she slipped her shoe off her foot and chunked it as hard as she could at his head. She knew he was going on just because she hated it. “My country is the size of that shoe, how about you calm the hell down?” 

He laughed as he ducked the shoe, well aware she wouldn’t be going easy with the throw. “Your country is still strong. The strongest. No one else can match it.” He parroted what he’d heard her father say more than once, rolling his eyes as he did.