“Brother.” Marx greeted, clapping his shoulder with great affection and enthusiasm. “Today will be an eventful day for you I fear,” He spoke in a grave voice yet his coppery eyes gave away his amusement. “Already our three sisters have schemed up quite the party for your birthday. I expect it to be something befitting of Nohr’s prince.“
He scanned his surroundings in an casual fashion, wanting to ensure they were truly alone. "Perhaps I am early in doing this first but I found this recently and felt.. That I should give this to you.” His smile softened and he held up a book. Old as it appeared-it still was well kept and bound. “I wonder if you remember.. A time when you were a lad and wanted me to read you stories. This was mine initially.. But now I want to give it to you. This is for when you wish to relax as you like-away from tomes and to a time we were both children..”
It feels as if centuries had passed since he read that tale to his younger brother. A time when they had a chance to be boys, before being overwhelmed with their respective roles. Their father had stopped celebrating their birthdays the way they used to-happy and festive.
With his passing, now Marx wants to return his family to that place of happiness. Of family and peace. “Happy Birthday little brother.” He placed a kiss to his brother’s brow, knowing full well he was no longer a child, but unable to let himself part just yet with the memory. “May your next year be just as joyous.”
Stepping back, he glanced back at the door. “Now then, shall we head off to our next battle?”
The prince tenses upon the sudden contact. Not because he minds the contact (usual he does, but his brother is an obvious exception to the rule) but because it was unexpected. Contact between them has happened quite often, a hug is not quite uncommon as well, but rare. Usually reserved for when either of them would return from the battlefield unharmed or special events like one’s birthday. “ Brother, ” he speaks as he fixes his posture and turns around to face his older brother. “ As long it is not a repeat of two years ago I am content with whatever it may be.”
“ Brother... this present is well
I’m not certain if this childish material is still worth to read ”
The prince did not want to sound ungrateful after all he would be content with whatever his siblings would give, but this was well... unusual to say the least.Taking the book in his hands he remembers the times they would spend together reading it. It were better times and at the same time so much worse. Those moments were the light in the dark, but those moments are long gone now. “ Of course, I remember, you would even do an impression of Ms Medici, ” He always gave her the voice of a witch, which she essentially was.
The memory of it causes the corner of his lips to twitch upward slightly. Even now the memory of those voices are golden, he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. “ Actually, I’ve changed my mind ” maybe it was worth to keep after all, who knows perhaps he will be able to read it to his son or daughter some day and carry on the tradition. “ Thank you, brother. ” Returning the older’s smile with one of his own as the elder pulls back from the quick kiss that is placed on his brow.
He sighs, “ I just arrived and you’re already speaking of battles. ” the corner of his lips twitched into a slight smirk, “ Then I am counting on you to get me out there alive ” they’ve never been party people.
