In which Syn rethinks some decisions and contemplates what going home means now
also the last of the prompts! who knows what we'll get next week ahaha
work that out when we get there, right?
(actually we're taking a break next week because I am Out of Town and that lined up rly nicely. I'd say planned, except I was sure this was supposed to go up when I was away^^;)
~~
They had known, conceptually, that this was going to be hard. Alone in an enemy country, pretending to be someone they’re not. Lying.
Admittedly, they were good at that. Their shapeshifting gave them an edge, of course, but–
“Val.” Someone thumped their shoulder.
Syn snapped back to attention. “Sorry sir.”
“Is this a case of working you too hard or not enough?” Jaiel shook his hand out as if he’d actually hurt himself. “I can never tell with dragon touched.”
“We aren’t a monolith,” they replied.
“Yes, I suppose you aren’t.” He returned to the couch, sprawling across it on his front. His wings were half open, one over the back of the couch and the other draped onto the floor, the feathers in disarray.
Syn resisted the urge to tart grooming them, as they had done since meeting the prince. They didn’t need to give the wrong impression.
They didn’t need to carve themself out a place any more than they already had. This was a job, this wasn’t – they weren’t here to make friends.
Bad enough that Bryn was making inroads for them, carving them out a space in the dragon touched community.
Syn always felt a little like a fraud, but it was getting worse than ever with each gathering they turned up to.
2You’re not listening, are you?” Jaiel asked. “Really, Val, if you’re going to be so unresponsive, I might as well have asked for Neryd today.”
“Sorry sir,” Syn repeated, dragging their attention back to him. “I’ll do my best not to let it happen again.”
“Yes, see that you don’t.” Jaiel gave them a reproving glance, propping his chin up on his palms. His foot rotated aimlessly in the air. “You’re right, though. All this waiting around is boring. Perhaps we should find some way to amuse ourselves, hm? Keep us alert?”
“We aren’t to leave this room until summoned,” Syn said, keeping their voice level.
“No, we just have to be here when they call for us.” Jaiel twisted to his feet and stretched. “Think outside of the box, Val.” He made a vague attempt to tug his shirt and waistcoat back into neatness.
“And if we are not in here when they call for us?”
He dropped his hands back down and made a face at them. “Oh, you’re no fun today.”
“My apologies, sir.”
He laughed, slinging an arm over their shoulder. “Oh, Val, you’re far too good. Don’t you know a little youthful rebellion is good for the soul?” He frowned, studying their face. “How old are you? I can never tell with the scales.”
Syn fought to keep their face expressionless, though the urge to roll their eyes was immense.
Jaiel snorted and let them go. “Keep your secrets, then.”
The hardest part of their job, Syn reflected, was not the subterfuge or the constant lying or being separated from their friends and family. It was not responding to Jaiel’s absolute bullshit with the mockery and teasing it deserved.
They didn’t even have anyone to complain at about it, either. Not safely.
2val.”
They snapped back to attention as the door opened.
Jaiel laughed. “Oh, alright. Is it time?”
Miseidon nodded. “They’re waiting for you now.”
“Oh, well, if they’re waiting for us.” Jaiel tucked his wings into his back. “Let’s see what they want, hm, Val?”
His feathers were still in disarray, but he didn’t care and no one would dare comment on it.
Syn walked behind him and did their best to push down the urge to attempt a fix themself. It would not be welcomed.
Or maybe it would, and that would create a whole different problem.
Miseidon knocked on the door of the war room, waited a beat for some signal Syn didn’t catch, and pushed it open for them.
“Prince Jaiel. Our apologies for keeping you waiting.”
Syn flicked glances around the room as best they could without being obvious. They hadn’t had a chance to be in here before, and it would be of great use if they could get information back.
“Oh, we’ve had a grand old time just whiling away the hours, haven’t we Val?”
“Yes, your highness.” Syn answered, dipping their head in a bow to the room at large.
“So,” Jaiel clapped his hands, striding forward to the end of the table, “what have you got for us today?”
His father cleared his throat. “Jaiel.”
“Father.” Jaiel rested his hands on the table. “I hope you aren’t about to waste my time with trivial updates.”
“Your bodyguard should not be in here. Dismiss them.”
Syn tensed but started to step back.
Jaiel stopped them, spreading one wing out at their back. “Oh? We trust them with my life but not our plans? Wherever I go, they will be going as well, I hope you realise.”
Syn froze, hyper aware of his feathers brushing against them.
“He will be taking an escort with him,” said one of the advisors, “of which they will surely be a part.”
“Yes, father, do you care so little for me that I must change my bodyguard to suit your whim? Val and I get on so well.”
Syn chanced a look at the table. A map of their two countries, the dragon touched mountains at the edge. It showed the roads, the rivers, the cities, and the forests in detail, the checkpoints marked with miniature battalion. The sea coast had a few ships, some towers, but was largely free.
“It is a diplomatic mission, your majesty.”
“A dragon touched may give the wrong impression.”
Syn didn’t frown. They’d heard some stories of the fighting prowess of dragon touched – it was part of why they’d chosen the form – but every dragon touched they had met had been nothing like that. It was only a small sample and the stories had to come from somewhere, but–
“Very well,” the king was saying, in response to something Syn had missed, “they may stay. But this is in strictest confidence. Not one word of this is to leave this room until you are on your way. Is that clear?”
“Yes, father.” Jaiel folded his wings back in.
“Your majesty.” Syn bowed.
“Verial has been asking for an opening of trade routes, which they claim will be beneficial for both countries.”
A buzz of laughter rippled through the room.
Syn was alert, awake, focused. Every inch of them locked in on what the king would say next.
“In the spirit of such overtures, we thought it best to send you, Prince Jaiel, to head the talks. To show how serious we are.”
They were going home.
“Father, that sounds terribly dull. It won’t be all board meetings and business lunches, will it?” Jaiel scowled. “I hope not.”
They were going home.
“You will not be going alone. I will send some of our top diplomats with you, and a strong guard presence. Do not do anything to upset the talks.”
“Of course not, father, I wouldn’t dream of it.”
… Fuck, they were going home. Not as themself. As part of a diplomatic party from a country they had a tenuous relationship with.
“Was this really all you had us waiting for?” Jaiel said, in sulky tones that suggested it could have just as well been a message.
His father raised his eyebrows. “I was expecting to have to convince you, not this… ready acquiesance.”
“Ah, well, that is all Val’s doing. They’re a good influence.”
“Is that so.” The king turned his gaze on Syn. “You are not long in our court, are you?”
“No, sir.”
“They have worked well on their own merit. A perfect guard,” said Carrisan.
“Yes, you’re not too mad I stole them from you, are you?”
“Of course not.”
“I am grateful for the opportunities afforded to me.” Syn bowed, keeping their face blank against the internal screaming. “I hope to do you proud.”
“Keep my son alive. Do your job, and do it well.”
Syn raised themself back up, slowly. Their job was going to get so much harder.
Loving Dorn Il-Khan from Baldurs gate enhanced version. Can’t wait till Jaiel can date him in the second one. They will be good evil husbands together. Gonna have to draw them some things...
Night Drive Radio Mix — 52 - She Used To Love Me A Lot
NIGHT DRIVE RADIO MIX / 52 - She Used To Love Me A Lot by Night Drive Radio on Mixcloud
01. JOHNNY CASH - She Used To Love Me A Lot (Elvis Costello Mix)
02. JAIEL - Pressure
03. FLAMINGO - Heavy Steps
04. METRONOMY - Reservoir
05. A. G. Cook - Keri Baby (feat. Hannah Diamond)
06. LAFAWNDAH - Butter
07. HUIAS - Dealer
08. BEN KHAN - Youth
09. BIPOLAR SUNSHINE - Where Did The Love Go (Kirk Spencer Remix)
10. ST VINCENT - Digital Witness (DARKSIDE Remix)
11. FRANSKILD - Clockworks (Riton re-rub)
12. THE ACID - Creeper
13. JOAKIM - On The Beach (CFCF Remix)
14. De̊ǰa - Heavy Water
15. M83 - Wait (Kygo Remix)
Who is Jaiel? With no information floating around about her, Jaiel and her stunning debut track Pressure will keep the listeners at the edge of their seat! With a shivering voice recalling to mind female monsters like MIA or Janelle Monae and with a dub infected production marrying the electrified minimalism of Fatima Al Qadiri's strangeness and the otherworldly, psyched groove approach of an emerging future pop rough diva, 2014 could well be stigmatized by this shockingly talented artist!!! Or maybe artists????? Who knows?
