#alfithread

[courtiings]

@metianfolklores

Alphaeus already had enough on his plate lately, and the events that transpired at the ball in Valtolia only plagued him further. If the Bergian prince —not even the presumptive heir to the throne– could be in such immediate danger, what did that mean for himself? What if someone had designs on his life?

All this fear about being married off to another kingdom... if he would even survive that long to be married.

He felt, quite simply, frightened and afraid. As though he were still a child. Alfi needed the assurance of daddy to ease his trepidations.

"Father...?' Alfi meeps, peering into his father's chambers to check if the man had not yet fallen asleep. Unlikely given this hour, but still worth a try. "Are you awake...?"

[courtiings]

@poweir [ for lian ]

Alphaeus most certainly did not want to compete in the colosseum games. He abhorred violence, and would have much rather spent his time in Argonia doing literally anything else.

(This seemed to be one major point of distinction between he and his father, and his brothers for that matter as well.)

There was, however, one fighter he held some interest in. The one he ran into a bit earlier, while he trained for the event. Tried as he might, he could not get the handsomely threatening (and threateningly handsome) man out of his head. The way he so easily attacked the sandbags, wielding his weapons as though they were tools of his trade, sweat glistening down his muscular physique—

And then Alfi slams into another person, seemingly also en route to their designated seats. Typical clumsy Alfi.

"Oh, I am so sorry—" he says, immediately apologizing. "I am such an fool, I should have seen you coming... are you alright? Did I hurt you?"

[courtiings]

@powerforgcd [ for: your choice ]

Alphaeus knew why he was here, surrounded by all these young royals and nobles at a social event being held ahead of the colosseum fights in Argonia. With him now being of prime marrying age, he needed to get married off as soon as possible — preferably to an Argonian according to his father.

Why couldn't he just... get to hang out? Like other guys his age did? This blew. He knew he needed to find a way out, at least so he could catch his breath and refill his social battery. Scurrying out of the first door he could find, he glanced at the gorgeous night sky, almost feeling as though he needed to wish on a star to magically change his circumstances...

And then he realized he was not alone out here.

"Oh, hello," he says to them, offering a friendly, if wary, smile. "I did not realize I was intruding on your space... I could go, if you'd like..."

[courtiings]

@poweir

With all on his mind, especially after the events that transpired in Valtolia, to say Alphaeus felt plagued would have been an understatement. Worrying about his future in terms of marriage was one thing, saying nothing of now also having to be afraid for his mortality...

He wanted to talk with his mother. He always knew what to say in times like these. Even more so than Aurelius did. Such was a queen's lot in life — being fiercely eloquent and sensitive in ways their husbands needn't.

Finding Sorian in his bedchambers, where he —what else— primped and preened himself in front of a vanity, Alfi knocked gently, hovering at the door.

"Mother," Alfi begins, "can you tell me the story of how you met father again? I know you are likely bored of it by now, but... I want to hear it. Since I am to be married soon enough myself, and..."

"I am afraid I will be miserable with whichever man I am arranged to be with. I want to know I will be alright, as you were..."

[courtiings]

location: the party or at least what was left of it after the ~incident. somewhere away from the scene of the crime but close enough that people are still gagging and such

So much for Alfi's "coming out" party. No, tonight was not specifically for the young prince, but the House of Myre sure would have liked for it to have been. With the peace concord bringing all of Metia together, the gala would have been a great opportunity Medes.

Specifically, to find a vacant prince from another kingdom who would take his hand in marriage. All for the sake of diplomacy, of course. With the long war over and the people of Metia attempting to get along, intermingling would be inevitable, and Medes knew they had a valuable proposition on their hands.

A prince capable of natural birth.

Naturally, Alfi felt like a commodity because of it; a body whose only purpose was to be sold to the highest bidder and used as breeding stock to propagate a royal bloodline. (Not for a crown prince, of course, but another superfluous spare like himself.) But his feelings did not matter, and he knew that.

In any event, though, tonight had taken an unexpectedly scary turn, but Alfi hadn't the faintest clue why, leaving him scrambling for answers. Where was his father? Mother? Brothers? Anyone? Twenty years old, preparing himself for a life of being a trophy, and yet he could not manage to speak up loud enough to fend for himself—

Oof. Smacked right into a perfect stranger amid the rushing and chaos, nearly pushed to the floor below him. Clumsy.

"I'm sorry—" he apologizes, feeling meeker than ever. "What is happening? Why is everyone so shaken?"