Actions Are Truth

“Words were another sword for the man who wielded them well.” “The reflex of fear was soon replaced with another, more useful emotion. Rage.” Elder and generally better sibling to Elizabeth Queen: Better looking. Better sense of humor. Better hair. Better eyes. Better ass. Better everything really. . .

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

"I know I’m going to have to…" she trailed off again, lost in thought. She knew for this, she was going to have to be the strong, supportive one, and she was trying. But sometimes she would be struck with the thought that one of these days she could wake up with a knife to her throat and a dead Max besides her… and it disheartened her, until she realized that they were at Hogwarts and would be safe. But it would be a relief if Jac was really able to get rid of this looming figure of a man. "I just want him better.. and realize I have to do whatever it takes to get him there."

She arched an eyebrow at him. the only faintest smirk playing at her lips. “You had a crush on me? Jac Dupont, now Queen, actually had a crush on someone? I’m shocked.” Liz nodded as he carefully pulled himself away. “Yes, I probably should.” She looked down at the watch she was starting to get used to attached to her wrist. “He should be almost done this session.” She looked back up at him and faintly smiled again. “I guess I’ll see you later. Good luck planning..” She nodded towards him and turned starting back up towards the castle. 

[the-lost-monarch]

"You'll get there." He said with a slight nod of his head. To her smirk he rolled his eyes. "What can I say I was young and impressionable. Why else do you think I hated you even more after Heist." He tsked a little but his eyes were glittering with their old mischief. "But I suppose I understand now." He paused. "And for the record I've had many crushes throughout my entire life."

He nodded as he stepped back letting her go. "Hopefully." He didn't follow her back to the castle - for now he decided he needed some time to just collect his thoughts and so he turned slowly and set off to walk around the lake.

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

"I know he is. If he wasn’t, he simple wouldn’t be here," she said, her voice edging on melancholy. Then she sighed and nodded. "I know. And I do. I just hope my giving him hope that this is going to work and my constant support is actually going to produce… something. It would hurt to see him disappointed at himself for not being able to.. I just don’t to see him hurt again."

"See we may actually be twins after all," she teased lightly, knowing that it was still odd to think about. But slowly the idea had grown on them in the summer. "No dwelling at all. Not that it wasn’t a good time." But now her heart and mind and soul belonged to Max and herself. She rested against him, sighing, though it was one of relief. "Don’t get yourself killed. Not only because that would mean that he would gloat in his victory. I’d rather not go to another funeral in such a short timespan. I think two was enough." Which was her own way to say that she was going to miss him and that she didn’t want him to die because, after all this time, she finally cared about him.

[the-lost-monarch]

"It will, you just need some patience too and I know that it isn't a typical trait of the Queens to have that but you're going to need to find it and implement it if you're going to get him better." He sighed his eyes drifting away from her. "He just needs time remind him why he's doing this. . . Keep the determination he had at the beginning going. Don't let that fire go out even if it's down to a cinder."

A chuckle escaped his lips at this teasing. "We might be. That we might." He was well aware where her heart lay though for a moment he pursed his lips. "Gods it's probably terrible that I used to have a crush on you." He shook his head a little holding her against his chest. "I'll try not to." He murmured. "It's easier said than done but I'll try." He could read between the lines enough to know what she'd meant and he carefully broke away. "You should probably be getting back to Knightboy."

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

She frowned. “I hope to… but he’s still not progressing near enough as we’d like him to.. and Madame Pomfrey’s still unsure of whether the little strength that is left in his legs… It’s still unclear whether he’ll walk again. But there’s always time…” Liz shook her head, obviously still worrying about it, as she would until Max showed a great amount of progress. “You will be missed though. Maybe not by many… only a few people ever are missed by many. But I would miss you and so would Heist.”

"Sadly, there are people who are not in their right mind." She seemed about to flinch away from his hand, but stilled herself and lightly smiled up at him. "I was either live through it or die.. and I’m not one for death. I’m glad that out of everyone it might have been it was you too, even if that makes our history a bit fucked up." Oddly she found it in herself to chuckle faintly. But soon that was cut off by the shock that played around her features at him pulling her into a hug. But all she did was wrap her arms around him and hug her back, surprising even herself.

[the-lost-monarch]

"Give him time. He'll get there. If there's one thing I haven't seen in that lad is that he's a fighter. . . If anyone can do anything it's him. You've just got to show him that you've got faith in him and it'll work miracles." And he believed that one to be true, he'd seen some amazing feats occur by a simple act of faith in another person. "I'll be missed that's all that matters."

"They may not be, good thing we are." He kept a light grip on her shoulder as he stood there returning her smile faintly. "Yet another thing we have in common. . . Survival's in our blood and you'll survive. No matter what obstacle you face." He paused and shrugged slightly. "The universal taboo. I won't dwell on it if you don't. But I'll give you that you were good." He chuckled along with her before he found himself hugging her. He knew that he'd miss her, after their summer he'd become more attached than he'd care to admit to Liz.

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

"As long as your careful.. if you die… I ‘m fucked," she said simply. There was also the fact that it would be sad if he died, but plain and simple is that if he died, she was the only one left, making it impossible for her to escape. "Then get rid of him. He deserves to be dead… much worse than dead. And then teach the world that the Queens aren’t a family ruled by their fury and cruelness, but their cunning and intelligence, like it always should have been." She shook her head. "I doubt they’ll need compensation, just continued work. I only say them, because I am sure of their loyalty… they hate him as much as we do, only stayed on for my sake, even if they could do little than treat my wounds.."

"It’s just that no one here understands.. you finally do. Max knows, but only from a prisoner’s viewpoint. But to live in what you are supposed to be able to call a home, but not be able to sleep easy for the fact that he  might enter the room at any moment. You witnessed that.” She nodded, her face cold and steely, not looking anywhere in particular: an effect of the aftermath was that Liz was unable to sorely concentrate on anything unless with extreme effort. “I don’t envy you, with the job you are about you undertake… but you’ll do good at it.”

[the-lost-monarch]

"I'm sure you'll have your Knight back on his feet to look after you if I fall. I'll just be a lost monarch." He nodded his head. "I will, for both our sakes and remind the world what a family like ours should be." He shrugged his shoulders. "They'll be compensated either way. I'll look after those who help me.

"No one in their right mind would envy me." Jac sighed to himself lightly raising a hand to rest on her shoulder. "You know for the record, if I got to choose anyone for a sister. . .  I'm glad it was you. Not many would've gotten through that hell for nearly seventeen years." And for once in his life he pulled her into a hug not saying anything just a sign of gratitude.

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

"Oh you will. But if anyone can do this, it would be you. and no one else. But be careful.. I know he doesn’t particularly trust you, he told me when he was trying to brainwash me over the summer." She shuddered at the thought of that, freeing her arm from his and rubbing the other with it. "So he might be trying his own countermove, you can never be sure with him." She seemed to think about something for the movement, then nodded. "There’s two guards in the manor, Cook and Damien. They are the only two who don’t belong to him; they were our mother’s men before she died and they’ve only stayed on to protect her offspring, meaning me.. and now you. Just tell them I sent you and they’ll most likely guard your door as well as a loyal wolf."

She was slightly sad that Jac wouldn’t be staying at Hogwarts, oddly enough. But it was a smart decision. “Nor do you really need the tests with the job you’ll have now.” A faint smile passed her lips as he tapped his head. “Oh yes. There is that. That must be useful.”

[the-lost-monarch]

"Exactly. . . I'll be careful. I'm well aware that he doesn't trust me but that doesn't particularly matter. All I need is to be in the same room as him for no longer than two minutes." He said simply he let her free her arm. "He can try but I'm moving in with checkmate." He murmured more to himself his eyes flickering to a point far over the lake. "I want to be rid of this. Prove to the world what being a Queen means. Properly." He listened to her list off the few people in the manor who would help him out. "I'll keep that in mind, I'll be sure to compensate them all for their help. . ." He made a mental note of that one.

He noticed the look on her face as he looked back to her and smiled faintly. "Don't worry, you won't be rid of me for too long." He nodded a little. "Super useful. Especially for remembering escape routes and textbook pages."

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

She felt partially angry with herself but it was foolish anger. As much as she wanted fight back for herself, be like Jac who was even going as far as to kill their father, there was just no way she could. Even before she had too physically weak to do it, it was the matter that her will was weak. Stabbing her father had only been a act of fury, and Liz had no fury stored up.

At one point in time, she may have been skeptical. Asked him whether she had to sell her soul to actually receive what he was offering her. But now there was an understanding between them and she just nodded gently. “I can do that. Thank you. And I wish you luck.” She closed her eyes, as if she needed to rest them, but it was clear that she was still paying attention. “I supposed you wont be back after he’s dead. With all of the responsibility.”

[the-lost-monarch]

The difference between then was that Jac had all the energy and anger in his life to fuel this. Only now he'd been claimed and then kicked down? There was no way that the fury that had built inside of him was just going to go away. Jac was a person of action and this required action he knew he could and was going to take. He'd fought and he'd fought hard and he would keep on fighting whatever system was in place until he was in a position that he wasn't being manipulated - he was the manipulator.

He was being plain for once and it was evident, it was a take it or leave it but you'll profit either way type deal that he'd extend only to her. "I have a feeling I'll need it. . ." He turned to face her for a moment seeming to contemplate something. "I'll have it organised that I'll finish off studies at home - I'll blame business as the guise it's not as if I need much effort in tests anyway." He lightly tapped his head. "Eidetic memory."

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

Money would be a thing she would always need and she had always though that it was something was assured even if Jac was the one to inherit the business, as if it was type of reward for living through her pathetic excuse for a life. But once the idea swirled in her head, it was not the money that made Jac’s idea seem good to her. Her father would be dead, if everything went as planned. The monster that had towered over her for her entire life gone. The nightmare that didn’t lurk in the shadows but out in public, able to take her away from anywhere she might have been. She knew Max had said that he would never like anyone take her away from him, but there wasn’t much that he could really do if her father fancied taking back his favorite toy…

Liz stopped walking, musing over his idea quietly, her eyes locked on some point in the distance until she broke from her reverie. “I can’t do anything if you are already set on killing him… but nor would I try to stop you if I could. Everything would be better off if he was dead….” She nodded her head thoughtfully. Max might not like the thought of her even occasionally going back to help out now and again, but Liz also knew what she was good at. There was no point putting those skills to waste. “And I don’t see a problem about giving you occasional help… it would put those lessons to good use I suppose.”

[the-lost-monarch]

He'd end up giving her money anyway even if she didn't give him the help he needed in return. He'd do it out of the fact he now understood the life she'd been put through. All that time left with that hellish creature that pretended to be a father. He was set on removing that particular problem though - from both of their lives and sooner rather than later. It was true that he was determined and that nearly always meant success for Jac whenever he set out on one task or another.

As she stopped so did he, though his eyes never left her awaiting her verdict on the idea he'd thrown down. "I'm set, it was more of a proposal that if I succeed I'll give you everything and more than you've ever had just for some infrequent advice on thing." He was speaking matter of factly. He nodded his head. "Great. I go back in a few weeks. So I have time to get a plan together."

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

Liz was proud of Jac whenever he stood up to their father, whenever he fought back, even if he never won the fight. In Liz’s mind it proved that other people could fight back, would fight back, even if she didn’t. Couldn’t. She didn’t even mind the fact that whenever Jac fought back and actually did some damage, that her father would still be so angry after Jac that he would come after her. That was just life, something that she had to make the best of.

Soon her mind cleared and she realized that this had been what she wanted. She cared about the money, but the money went with being Queen and if she was Queen… well that and having Max didn’t go hand in hand in her mind. “So, your planning to kill him,” she said quietly, not a question, just a statement. The man who seemed so invincible to her.. dead. It was.. a thought, neither lovely nor bad. “You would have it in your power to reconstruct it, yes, and you would have the skills you picked up in the underworld to aid you.” When he extended his offer, she looked at him. IN matters of this her voice would, should have taken a business-like edge, especially with Jac. But the summer had changed them and her tone was just vaguely curious. “What would a little help now and then mean? Just so that it’s clear.”

[the-lost-monarch]

He'd never managed to have long enough with the other man in order to do any real damage but he'd noticed that during their meetings when it was just the pair of them alone their father took a habit of leaving the guards outside or dismissing them entirely. He knew that he could manage this and if he did he probably wouldn't benefit but at least he'd be doing one honourable thing.

He knew that the money would always be a thing would want to keep some tab on and so it seemed like a good solution. "I'm planning on killing him once everything is in order. I'll write you an owl from the manor once it's done and if you don't hear anything. . . Well you know what'll have happened." He smiled a little sadly but eventually shrugged. "I'd need your opinion from time to time, you know how it's run from the top I know how it is through and through. But I could always use a different perspective on this. . . Nothing that'd put you in danger just the occasional meeting. So your thoughts?"

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

Their father was just trying to do exactly what he had done to Liz to Jac, thinking that it would work. Beating him into submission, where he was afraid of what would happen if he opposed he. But what he hadn’t realized was that Jac and Liz were very different. Liz had grown up with his beating, twelve years of being his punching bag when he was angry with her had almost brainwashed her into thinking, not that the beating were good, but that she deserved them and it was normal. So where he was often used to Liz crumpling into broken silence for a while after each beating, Jac had frustrated him.

She looked at him in surprise at his words. A flash of anger went through at the revelation that she was being written out, that Jac was getting everything. All those years of preparation, of lessons, of having to leave with her father and she was getting nothing. But that was only an instant of anger before her brain corrected itself. That meant that she wouldn’t have to worry about being Queen. All she’d have to worry about was getting Max better. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t feel cheated. But she continued to listen quietly, to his idea, a look of thoughtfulness passing across her face. “You are going to… Really? Do you think you can do it?” 

[the-lost-monarch]

He knew just what their father was attempting to do, he was trying to mould Jac into what Liz had become whenever he was around. But being obedient and conforming to set rules just wasn't Jac's fashion. The only rules he lived by was that nothing is true and that everything is permitted, Then there were the tenants of the Court itself. Of course he abided by those but to be subserviant to a man he didn't deem worthy as a leader? That was never going to happen. So the first time their father had went to beat him he'd fought - and he'd fought well. He'd broken two of the man's fingers before he'd been wrestled by guards to get his real beating. It had taken five other men in total to subdue him completely before any punishment could be given.

He didn't look content or discontent with what he'd just told her. He knew she'd be angry of course she would but he was willing to extend some what of an olive branch to her. "I could do it easily. If there's any one thing I learnt on those streets it's how to kill and get away with it. It was kill or be killed and I don't intend on letting the latter occur any time soon. . ." He was quiet again. "If I took control I could restructure it. . . I know it inside out - having gone from the bottom to the top I know more about the actual function of things. . . But it would leave me with the finances." He looked at her as they walked. "Which would mean that I could reinstate your inheritance if not for a little help now and then." And that was the branch he was offering.

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

The beating were lessons, that was what father had always said. And she thought, naively thought that after his niceness when she had been locked in the the cells was going to stay. But she had been wrong.. it had lasted a week and the change wasn’t even subtle or slow, it was instantaneously. The accidental shattering of wedding china of her parents and the world of pain and beating she had been raised in returned. She had picked up the shards of china until her hands bleed and even then her punishment had only begun… But Liz was already damaged, already broken and scared for so long. She had always been punished. Always had been meant to be punished. But Jac… It was different to see Jac being punished as well.

The fact that he was her brother was a hard one to really grip, still being odd to think that she had one, really. It had always just been her, always alone, everything being her responsibility and her fault. She hadn’t wished her family upon anyone.. even Jac. “If he was gone…” she echoed thinking about it. If he was gone, she could go to sleep at night not worrying whether or there was going to be a knife at her throat and Max dead again at her side. There would be no threat to her happiness.. but.. She shook her head as if trying to clear it. “It he was gone, we’d have to divide out responsibilities that we have to the company between us… But he would have to be dead for that to happen. He’s still perfectly healthy; he isn’t going to die like grand-pere did.”

[the-lost-monarch]

His attempts to get out of the mansion were the reasons for the first few beatings, but it was when he'd been caught trying to contact some of his other friends that the last one had come. That had been the last straw and it had set him down a war path and he wasn't turning back any particular time soon. It'd ended up pushing him (surprisingly) closer to Liz. In such a way that whenever something occurred the pair often sought out the other.

He walked alongside her in silence letting her mull over the idea he'd put up for discussion. His eyes studied her thoughtfully for a few moments as though anticipating what she was going to say. He was fed up of the rules and regulations and the only way he could see it changing was if they changed just who was in charge of it all. "No we wouldn't." He shook his head. "That's why I'm bringing this up. He's summoned me back to the mansion. . . He's cutting you out and making me the next heir. . . If he dies. I get everything." He didn't seem happy about it but he didn't seem opposed to it either. "My proposition. Call it what you will. Is that when I go back." He glanced around quietly before looking back to her. "Is that I kill him and take control." He went quiet again knowing she'd understand what that would entail for her future.

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

Liz had heard the sounds of his first beating, had scurried away from them in fear that their father would came after her next. It never did stop him from coming after her. At a point in life she could have laughed at Jac, would have commented how it wasn’t funny now, not something to make light of, but that was when her entire life was fueled by hate. By then, she wouldn’t have wished that kind of treatment on anyone else. 

She had seen Jac rarely, though that wasn’t of itself odd. Liz spent most of her time out of classes in Max’s chambers or by his side, if she wasn’t she was typically doing something to better herself, whether it be mentally or physically. When he said him, she understood who he had meant, and a slight shudder passed through her body but she pressed on. He still haunted her in nightmares, chasing her, cornering her; he was still a pennant figure. “You know how powerful he is.. whatever he wants he can get.” She looked over at him. “But why bring him up. What does it have to do with your idea?”

[the-lost-monarch]

He'd learnt his lesson but it had taken three beatings for him to finally come to understand that this was the life he'd been dragged in to and he didn't appreciate it. He'd drag himself up though, bloodied and bruised he'd force himself to walk back with his head held high though with each day another piece of him had been chipped away. Slowly wearing thin the mask he wore away.

He didn't want to impose himself on to her, he was still finding it strange that she was his sister the idea in itself was still unfamiliar and strange. His jaw was set slightly as they walked he nodded his head. "I know how powerful he is. . . But what if he were gone?" He let the sentence hang in the air.

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

Liz and Max weren’t the only ones that the summer had affected, Liz noticing the differences in Jac not for the first time. He hadn’t adjusted well at being stuck in that house… It was a certain thing that you never got used to unless you were born into it. His ease and aloofness had faded, leaving him slightly tense, but, as Liz had appreciated during the summer, the lack of his aloofness had made him more tolerable to be around.

When he proffered his arm, she stared at it for a few moments before talking it. “Sure,” she said, starting walking away from the castle, picking up his hints that this was to be private and unheard of by other ears. “So, is this an idea.. or a proposition?”

[the-lost-monarch]

After spending nearly all of his life outside and on the streets being confined within the walls of a house for extended amounts of time just didn't do wonders for Jac. But he knew that if he acted out it would just end up worse on his behalf. He'd learnt that lesson quickly enough after the first beating he'd been given when he'd tried to sneak out via the woods near to the manor. Ever since he'd been more alert and a lot more on edge. Being a thief he'd learnt to sleep lightly and even the slightest sound had woken him in the manor and it wasn't appreciated.

He craved his freedom and now that he was out and at Hogwarts he was making every use that he could of it. He'd sleep outside, study outside anything and everything had to be done outside. He waited until she took his arm before starting away from the castle. "Both. . . I know you want freedom as much as I do. But you're still worried about him." He still refused to refer to the man as his father even now. "True?" He was making a statement he knew was right but he just needed to know she'd listen to what he had to say rather than wasting breath.

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

Liz did look better, still thin and slightly wispy, but she had been steadily building back up her appetite with Max’s help, which would soon become noticeable on her figure. The main difference would be her demeanor, instead of being defeated, scared and breakable, her held herself with a little more grace, a little less unease. Slowly, Liz was strengthening and in time would become less faded and more there.

Her eyes flickered over him, as if studying him but it was only an effect of the aftermath of the summer. It was less of a twitchy look than normal for her. But seeing his smile, sent a faint trace of a smile across her lips. “Well you said it was important.” 

[the-lost-monarch]

He could tell simply by looking at her that she was slowly becoming more herself and he knew that was down to Max. He'd go over to the infirmary when he built up the courage but for now he needed to deal with Liz. His shoulders were tense and his features drawn but the slight smile made him resemble the boy he used to be - a lot more outgoing and wayward. The one that had charmed her on their very first meeting.

"Yes. . . I did." He mused but glanced up at the castle warily. Turning slightly he proffered her his arm. "Walk with me? I have an idea you might be interested in hearing about." He wasn't going to speak in the castle where anyone could overhear. This was meant for Liz's ears only.

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

When she had first received the letter from Jac she hadn’t been sure whether or not she should go. It wasn’t because she thought harm was going to come to her, the summer had made it clear that he didn’t care about harming her, learning that he was the one who had gotten her up to her room after their father left her batter and broken on the floor. It was more of the fact that with Max now around and her having sunk into the nice sense of protection, she didn’t want to have reminders of that life. But in the end, she decided she ought to go, just to listen to what her brother might say.

She left Max in the careful hands of Madame Pomfrey, who had taken on the responsibilities as Max’s physical therapist, still trying to figure out a way for him to get back up and on his feet. Typically Liz stayed for them, sitting out of the way but always there, but this time she explained to Max where she was going and who she was going to be with. He didn’t seem too keen on the prospect but reluctantly let her go, though if he would have said no she would have listened.

Now she made her way down the staircase down to the courtyard, only a few moments late taking her usual slowness while walking down stairs. She looked at Jac silently for a few moment before nodding at him in greeting. “Good evening.”

[the-lost-monarch]

He'd maintained his distance from Liz out of respect for her and Max just a small thing he knew would be appreciated after everything that had occurred from the summer up until now. Occasionally he went up to the infirmary in order to see how Max was doing from afar of course but it seemed like the other boy was doing better now. Though there wasn't much progress there was some.

As Liz came into view he straightened, his face was fairly calm but for once he wasn't bothering to cover up his emotions. He was glad to see her, she was starting to look healthier again. Especially after the times he'd gone to keep her company for a little while when he'd needed an escape as much as she. In a way the summer had given him a new perspective on things. He smiled faintly inclining his head in response to her own. "Evening Liz. . . I'm glad you could make it."

[the-lost-monarch]

Business Proposal : Jac and Liz

He'd written Liz a letter and asked of her to meet him down in the court yard at exactly 7PM on the dot to take a walk to the lake. He'd purposely made sure that it was clear that this was something she would want to do but been sure to omit the details about just what he had in mind.

He'd walked down to the courtyard ten minutes early and as the clock tower chimed seven times to signal the beginning of their meeting he wondered whether or not she really would come. It'd been rocky to begin with but after Max's capture he'd . . . He'd come to realise that even if they had their arguments and general lack of understanding he still respected her. That respect extended to Max, the boy who'd died in order to be with her.

Jac knew that such opportunities and people were rare to come across in life and that when and if you did - you had to grapple them and hold them down so they wouldn't just float away and Liz had finally gotten what she'd worked for. Even though he'd never admit it he was proud of her and hence - that was the basis of their meeting today. He intended on setting her free completely from the bindings of being a Queen whilst shackling himself to the responsibilities instead. Hearing a set of footsteps Jac glanced towards the stairwell pushing himself off the wall.

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

Welcome Home| Liz & Jac

[iamthequeenofmywalls]

She stared at him, uncaring and cold. “Well I wish you luck in your endeavor of escaping. That would be a waste of a head, which is why it wouldn’t end up on a pike. No that’s not how they do things here. Just make sure that when you escape you never make it back here again.” She knew that Jac probably wasn’t fooled by it; he had seen them at school. But she had to keep this up, so she could keep it up in front of everyone all summer.

"That’s the only reason I am ever lucky in life, because I’m useful and hold some value to someone. I’m glad you’ve realized my use," she said, turning away from him and pulling her covers up over her, tired of being home already. She wanted Max besides her to cuddle up to, but for now all she had was her dog and he would have to make do.

[the-lost-monarch]

"Indeed it would seem that I would require it. . . If I don't manage it I suppose you'll be seeing me soon enough." He knew that it was an attempt in vain but it was worth an attempt he supposed. He just wanted to go back to his old life not this fancy stuck up facade he'd have to put on every day. The idea was tiring to say the least.

"Of course I realise your value, never underestimate the cards you have in your hand." He hummed thoughtfully casting a final look over his shoulder at her before walking off down the corridor. He wasn't sure what to make of all of this just yet so for now he decided to wait it out.

[philin24luk]