Right Hand of Aurelius

ulysses sighed, closing the doors behind him and giving himself a second to relax the tension in his muscles. at last, he had some time for himself. he turned around with a grin, having made sure amare was waiting for him.

"a drink?" he offered, walking towards the cupboard left for him with drinks he had replaced for ones from home. he was friendly, he was charming but they were in a strange land and the intentions behind their invitation still left open to interpretation. there was money to be made, but that had never meant trusting where it came from for ulysses.

"I have not tried to charm. My job is to advise. I leave the charming to my younger cousins." He chuckled, squinting at Ulysses. "Well. I suppose there is one person I have been trying to charm for the last few years. Hopefully, he will pass me my drink after I accept his offer. And speaking of offers...any established trades with our new...land of mystery?"

The crown prince of Medes couldn't help but be amazed at the beauty of Argonia, from its buildings to its culture, as he found himself standing in one of their ancient cities. Before now, Argonia had only been a thing of history books, a warning of what could happen to kingdoms that didn't thrive and prosper, but now... now it was something that he wanted to learn more of. Not only so he could better understand the other inhabitants of the continent of Metia, but also to simply learn - he had already learned the Sollian tongue, after having found it beautiful the first time he had heard it, and he was brushing up on Bergian culture as well - so to find out that there was this kingdom hidden away from them? It was intriguing, to say the least.

Of course, he could tell that the atmosphere was tense. There had been some evidence that had some people speculating Medes' involvement in the Bergian prince's assassination, and he knew that eyes were upon the Myre family as everyone wondered what would they do next - and as his father's golden prize, the one set up to take his spot on his father's throne when it was his time to wear the Medesi crown, he knew that he would have to navigate this and remind people of who they were. Generous, friendly people that only wanted the betterment of their kingdoms, and another war would only be detrimental to that.

Still, advice was something that the prince knew he still needed - even if he was reaching his thirtieth nameday within just a few more years, he knew he wasn't too old to seek out counsel. And with his brother busy, Augustus decided to seek out the next best thing. His father's own counsel, Amare.

That being said, he did not particularly care for the sudden reveal of Argonia's existence after it seemed they'd been left in the passage of time. Not to mention after an assassination attempt.

But no...that was a little TOO on the nose. Conspiracies ran though the Prince-Lord of Il Mare's mind but he was to always tread carefully and in favor of earning more love for his kingdom.

He had broken away from the king and queen to explore a little on his own. Going through a local farmer's market, he found some fruits that he'd never seen on the island or on his travels abroad to the the other kingdoms. He was tempted to try it and purchased it. The exchange made just as he heard the voice of his younger cousin addressing him.

"I will always have time for you." he speaks, smiling back at the prince while reaching within his own turquoise robe and removing the mermaid figured dagger. "Walk with me." he gestures with a nod of his head. The blade is inserted into the pink hued fruit as he starts to cut into it's flesh. "What weighs on his highness's mind and/or heart?"

the hand of the king held onto the past, onto the former and bygone lacework of scars that had once marred their nation, ones aurelius would never fully forget but learnt how to overlook, even rebuild over. it was not amare’s fault. even aurelius had frequent dreams of his own about flames over ruffled seas, ships torn asunder like mere wooden toys.  yet his iron will refused these ghosts of the past from haunting him out of his mission. out of his ambition. 

“medes is our prize, as well as our land to tend to,” aurelius answered the other calmly, looking over at their coast, plentiful in trees and carpeted by golden sands. “she is my first and final love, amare. i do what is best for her. so do you. that, i will never, ever doubt nor question.” he turned back to look at the other, stared wordlessly as amare dropped one knee. 

aurelius accepted the gesture, then patted his shoulder as an invitation to rise, to stand. “we will navigate through this together. remember, the word of this council is a choir, sang as one.”

"Navigating as we always have. Just a different ship from then. You remain my captain." He smiled fondly as he reminisced the travels in their youth. Those of trade and treasure; freedom on the sea that they could not have as duties of the Medesi court and war always sank their hooks into their lives.

The king's hand that had rested on his shoulder prior was taken by Amare; brought to his lips as he kissed Aurelius's knuckles. "My similar sentiments on the love for our kingdom. Know that my heart will always be tender for you, too. That won't ever change. No matter how unruly the turbulence of the storms we face ahead."

"Perhaps then you should think less of me." He whispered, their breaths mingling, the heat of his body making it difficult to deny what was already clear to both of them. As well as to certain members of the court.

The mention of loss was whirlpool straight out of Blacktyde, it threatened to drag him under, to swallow and leave him under the sea, just as it almost had back then. He did not want to speak of that. Not now, maybe not ever, much better to think of Amare's body, his heat, his perfume, the way their beards rubbed against each other most entincingly, a promise of what it would feel like...

He felt the hardness against his leg, let it rub across his own. Lips grazing, testing, tempting. He wanted to mark Amare, so that it'd be known he was, in a way, spoken for. He would not mention the suitors he'd been responsible for scaring away, no need for that if they were stupid enough to give up so easily.

Even with those words, he pressed him further against the wall, against himself. Lips brushing together once more. "If you say so, my prince." He said slowly, and then even slower released his hold on the other's body. Though there was still little space between them, Amare was freer than ever to slip away, to make themselves presentable again if he so wished.

Eyes may have been on them but so be it. He was positive something else would happen to make their attention and gossip stray from the affection that Amare could no longer hold back. He stepped back into Ulysses' s personal space, planting a soft kiss upon the Lord's lips, holding it for a few beats before needing to pull away. Any more time spent and there wouldn't have been able to break away. Not without leading to a sensual show right there in that corner.

Elegant is not what he'd call the things that happened back at home, but then again, they would never aspire to that in the first place. "They're far more fun, though, don't you think?" He much rather the loud music and dancing than the courting and muttering around people that happened here. "Maybe we are the only ones who feel the joy of being alive..." he wasn't philosophical in any context, but maybe when missing home, he got close to that sentimentalism.

He smiles and shakes his head, playing down, "Why you say that? Is it that obvious?" He was quite lonely in Valtolia, yes, but he didn't expect that to be written all over his face. "There's no one here for me..."

"I would not say that they don't experience the joy of life. They've just dedicated their culture to other crafts. " His concern of Valtolia's martial might grew out of respect and knowing the strength of their men's dedication to warcraft than jovial dancing on the shore.

"I would never rule out the possibility of finding someone. Or If I can impart my personal experience; the people you're meant to connect with always seem to arrive when you're not actively looking." He rests a hand on Orion's shoulder, grinning cheekily.

"A fine young man like yourself? Someone will succumb to that charm of yours once you decide to engage with it."

While he had been raised in a court himself, all of the excess of the Dove Court was starting to get to him. Sure, he appreciated how people came together and what that meant to their country, but they must have a better way to do that...

Maybe that's why he's been drawn to people from his homeland, looking for a little bit of agreement, them saying, yes, I feel out of place too. Maybe it wasn't too much to ask...

"We're both a long way from home..." he strikes up the conversation with the Hand of the King. Sure, he's a noble — from a prestigious House at that — but he doesn't have the diplomacy chops that his brother does, so even this feels clumsy and out of place. "I mean, good evening, sir," he corrects himself, "A very elegant ball..."

"That we are a long ways. Does that bother you?" He asks with a raised brow. The Prince-Lord of Meropa had spent his youth sailing the seas in expanding trade and briefly within naval conflicts during the war. A week for honoring the treaty between the kingdoms was nothing in comparison to months and years spent on native and foreign waters.

"Quite elegant. It's not quite like the celebrations we have. I still applaud their efforts." He chuckled. The ball was far more tame in comparison to the Medesi carnivals held throughout the calendar right before storm season. A change of pace but no complaints at all. His silent stress remained on any potential political scandals to break out among all five royal courts present.

"If you are not enjoying yourself, we'll, hopefully that'll change. Who knows, you may find someone that will make it difficult for you to leave." He smirked.

was it the gold, the influence, the seat in blacktyde? amare had prestige, yes, but his father... was it the challenge? the thrill? was it perchance himself? his size, his charm, his wit. the question remained unanswered so far.

he licked his lips, "have i scared away your other suitors?" the notion hardly displeased him. they had no formal commitment, no attachment of legal bind, only flirtations, only wooing, yet it pleased him; the notion of a claim over lord il mare.

"an old widower like me?" he chuckles, all too close to amare's ear, "why, you must think too highly of me, kind sir." his hands were not shy, the way his body glued itself to amare's, finding the nearest corner to give them the barest illusion of privacy. he did not truly wish to ruin his reputation, or cause any rumors to grow more than they should.

"on that we agree," he said, low with how close they were, hardly need for more, "war is lucrative, but it makes life hard to enjoy. and we..." he lets his lips brush amare's, "we deserve to enjoy life to the fullest, don't we amare?"

he did not yet kiss him, but their bodies were entangled, their breaths mingled, their eyes locked in an intimate encounter. he could devour amare without laying a hand on him, could set the place on fire simply staring into his eyes across the ballroom as they were wont to do.

His gaze remained intimately locked, as were their bodies blatantly, suggesting that the exchange between the two men was far from casual. Thank the gods they were tucked away from the main sea of eyes. Only those who purposely sought them out would track the duo interlocked in their corner.

"If I didn't think highly of you, I wouldn't be fighting off the urge to tear every piece of fabric off of your being right now." He remarks bluntly. Although he had to also share his viewpoints in Lord Blacktyde's widower status. Amare sighed, letting his breath roll against the other's lips and jaw.

"Time does alleviate loss; the time requires varies from soul to soul. Trust me. I can understand mourning lost love." Amare's loss had not been a victim of mortality, but manipulations of the court. Yet over the years, he had learned to press on, letting go of what would have been to focus on what was.

"We deserve to enjoy our lives, yes. You also deserve to be properly cared for, Ulysses. When your heart is ready to open and accept that." Their lips and noses grazed. The heat between them spiked and Amare was thankful of the robes draped over him to hide his own steadily swelling cock, though the Master of Coin could certain feel tge throbbing pushed against his upper thigh.

There was an opportunity to truly light the ball ablaze in throwing away all caution in favor of finally giving in right then and there, but restraint was something the Prince-Lord of Meropa had taken years to master.

"This is not the time or place to truly begin enjoying each other."

“then sollia  will  be  the  first  one  we  break  bread  with,"  he  replied,  leaning  sideways  against  the  stone  railing  and  folding  his  tanned  arms.  “i've  told  dear  kovider  of  this,  but  sollia's  aerial  might  and  our  naval  strength  would  be  unstoppable  should  war  break  out  again.”  fire  and  steel,  iron  and  flame. 

his  smile  wavered  slightly  at  the  talk  of  the  princes.  his  prizes,  his  glorious  sons.  “this  is  why  we  shall  dout any  spark  of  war  before  it  can  catch.”  the  king's  gilded  look  turned  itself  onto  the  other,  heavy.  “for  you,  no  conflict  at  the  dove  concord,  no  spying  or  espionage  without  my  knowledge.  do  i  have  your  promise?” 

It was just their given history with the dragonic kingdom; it was a hefty agenda to tackle. Amare had lost friends and allies, thanks to Sollian assault to their ships in years prior. There was so much pride to be swallowed in order to be fully committed to offering an olive branch.

A silent sigh left him as their eyes met along with the king's personal instructions for him. A promise requested to not let his own personal conspiracies lull him into funneling intel.

"I not go with intention of shaking the table at which we all will dine. However, do know that you and our family have and always will be my first concern. I will always act in favor of what I believe is best for us..." He felt it needed to be stated. It was his own personal clause for a promise made. The Lord of Meropa closed distance as his hands lifted to rest upon Aurelius's shoulders; gaze locked in as Amare let silence linger before he ultimately gave a nod of compliance. The last thing he needed was strife between his cousin and himself. He fell back in line, steadily lowered to one knee before Aurelius.

"...but your word is final, My King. I shalt not make any moves without your permission."

Arriving at the Dove Concord, right in the heart of the ball, the crown prince of Medes knew that he had made an entrance for his rather late arrival - but it wasn't his fault that the ocean had decided to test how seaworthy his ship had been, so it wasn't as though his parents or his court could be too mad at him, right? After all, arriving late was better than not arriving at all, and he still had time to work his way through the crowd, kissing the right hands and rubbing the right shoulders... and getting a lay of the land.

That was why, after finding his parents - and his brother - the prince set out on a course to find one of the more important people in his father's court - his hand. The man was, of course, more than just a member of the court, as he was family, and Augustus knew that he could count on him and his counsel. And he was sure that when it would be time for him to become King, he'd make that transition easier as well - so he knew that he could trust his counsel and his wisdom when it came to the lay of the land.

"Lord Hand, cousin," Augustus spoke as he approached the Medesi nobleman, a hint of a smile pulling at his lips - not enough to have his dimples etching into his cheeks, but enough that one can see the whites of his teeth - and he moved to wrap an arm around the nobleman. "It's good to see your face. The seas were rough... I hadn't thought I'd make it in time but as you can see... Your crown prince is here to gift the rest of the court his presence... So tell me... where should I start? Which noblemen or royal shall I try to win the heart of?"

The relief upon Amare's face was potent; the corners of his eyes wrinkled, and the brightest smile the lord had all evening appeared when he was embraced by the prince. The hug returned, and a kiss to Augustus's left temple, he focuses on his future king.

"Took you long enough, dear boy. I feared I was going to have to swim out there and drag you back to land myself." And he absolutely would have. He knew the waters around Medes like the back of his own hand. "I am just glad to know you and your men are safe. Maybe next time, postpone your voyages to where they don't clash with important dates..." It was worded as a suggestion... though he hoped Augustus would take it as a demand.

"As we try to continue weaving peace, your mother and father will be looking to you and your brothers to aid in ensuring Medes is well represented at the table with the other kingdoms..." He trailed off as his smile shrank, and he gave a dry laugh. Augustus had so much of his father in him; so eager to charm a spell on the court.

"My prince, all I can tell you is focus on enjoying yourself." He wanted to groan. Now he was starting to sound like their King. He was glad Aurelius was not there in the moment. The jests would flow to well for some time. "Should your heart connect with anyone, it will obviously be discussed." He then squints as his tone deepens and becomes more serious.

"Just don't bring any Bergians or Valtolians home, hm?" He then switches to a smile, eyes closed as he pats Augustus on the back.

aurelius  knew  the  cost  that  another  conflict  would  have.  and  it  was  not  a  cost  he  felt  too  eager  to  bear  once  again.  “all  the  kingdoms  have agreed upon  peace,  il  mare.  a  betrayal  of  that  agreement  would  be  treason,  both  upon  the  kingdom  and  its  ruler.”  he  stood  up  in  a  swirl  of  silks  and  swaths,  just  as  a  salty  breeze  rose  from  the  sea  cliffs  below  to  meet  them. 

after  a  moment  of  contemplation  with  his  eyes  set  on  the  endless  horizon  of  blue  ahead,  aurelius  asked,  “who  are  your  top  suspects?  those  bergian  meatheads?  the  sollian  dragon-kissers?” 

"You should know that I suspect everyone. However, yes I am wary of the dragon-kissers. Take away a dragon's limbs and wings, they're merely overgrown serpents. However, while we we may have been aligned, I always have my eyes to peer through the peacock's waving of colored fanfare to mask and distract from their malice." After all, the ones hosting this concord had a history of attempting to lay claim to territories outside of their already massive kingdom.

He began to step forward, letting his robes of gold, aquamarine and royal blue flow behind him until he stood a step behind Aurelius, with his own gaze set on the outstretched seas.

"This is the only time I would actually want to be wrong. By all means, if this is truly a new era for the world; a chance for trade to flow and our kingdom to prosper and flourish, that is what I desire." He finally takes a step up to the King's side, reaching to rest a hand upon his shoulder. Amare simply smiled; eyes softening as they always had for his dearest cousin and life-long confidante.

"Not to mention I also worry for the princes. Your sons deserve to live out the rest of their youth in the peace we ourselves were robbed of by external and internal sabotage."

"Of course." He nodded, seeing through the false cheer put on for others straight away, "There is much cause for celebration, isn't there?" He would raise his glass, had he any.

At the words, and then a soft touch to his chin he closed his eyes, enjoying the moment and the contact with Amare. As the moment passed he looked around, all too aware of where they were and the rumors that might spread, truthful or not. "You should be careful, Lord Il Mare." He whispered as he stepped closer, standing over the lord with a serious look on his face, but a softness in his gaze. "People might think you are courting a spot as my wife."

"We both know if you wanted a spouse, the spot would be filled by now." A noble of Ulysses's status and influence not having anyone attached to his arm only proved his disinterest considering how many social climbers were in their midst on a daily basis. Yet despite the other lord's warning, it was Ulysses who reached out to take hold of Amare. The gesture earned a snort but the Hand of the Medesi throne made no attempt to pull away.

"We can hope for the upswing of quietude for all our sakes. Would be nice to sail our seas freely without worry. I've seen enough warships in this lifetime." he leans more into the other's personal space, caution tested though what damage could such rumors of their entanglement cause? They were of the same kingdom, both eligible and single, both serving his majesty Myre.

"We all deserve to seek out our own happiness, even if just for a fleeting moment, no?"

It couldn't be that simple, and mostly it wasn't. He was far too aware of the games being played, but there was money to be made and agreements to be drafted, in service of his king, here he was... and so was the hand of the king.

"Il Mare." He greeted, shortly but with a smile reserved for few. "I cannot complain, it cannot be said we'd be as well received just a few years ago. I've managed to settle a few accords that had been on hold for years. Quite profitable for the king."

Which was why Amare muffled a snort at Ulysses, mentioning the popularity. "I am merely here in support of his majesty." He said in a lowered voice. That answer would tell Ulysses of the Hand's presence here had been business only, and there was no pleasure to be had nor did he have any intention of lowering his guard for it. Yet he followed up...

"But I also could not be more merry for the celebration." There were ears and eyes about, feigning amusement was often part of the job. He had enough practice growing up at Aurelius' side and laughing and the most unamusing of folks who believed they were overly clever in their jests.

"My spirits are lifted ever higher now that I am in your presence." The expression in his eyes soften, proving that the words were genuine. His hand lifted, letting his thumb stroke gently over the other's bearded chin.

"And what of you? Are your expectations met so far?"

the  praise  from  amare,  however,  earned  an  appreciative  chuckle.  “it  is  as  if  i  am  a  seasoned  warrior,  amare,”  the  king  jested,  leaning  forward  to  pluck  a  grape  off  the  silver  tray  of  fruits.  “you  need  to  learn  how  to  relax.  argentus  must  take  after  you."  always  so  studious,  always  hellbent  on  countermeasures  and  tactics.  after  years  and  years  of  warfare,  aurelius  thought  it  was  time  for  them  to  unwind. 

“shall  i  order  you  a  flagon  of  wine?  or  beer?”  aurelius  asked  with  a  edge  of  amusement.  “or  would  a  few  hours  in  our  finest  pleasure  houses  do?” 

"We've always had open words, cousin. And as I told you years ago, my tongue will not be held simply because of your title." Standing upright, he turns away from the balcony and steps deeper into the sun room. Just as Aurelius grabs the grape, the Lord of Il Mare swipes it from the king's grasp. His expression was serious; almost as if he were about to scold him until the grape now held between his fingers is pressed against the king's lips to feed him.

"I have no need for booze or whores, though let's set it on the backburner." He swipes at the tray of fruits again, pinching a slice of melon to toss into the air before catching it with his teeth and consuming it.

"Preferrably after we return from the potential den of wolves in Valtolia."

Nick Sagar