Swan Prince

He wandered into the stall looking over the trinkets and wearables. What was drawing his eyes was a dragontooth necklace, though when the keeper spoke up, Cygnus immediately turned his attention to the other. "I'm curious to see that book. You already have quite an exquisite display." he says while steadily closing distance. "Do you offer arrow quivers?"

He wanted to ready his bow. He wanted to shoot to prove a point that he would have been good enough for the battles. However, Cygnus only proved that their father was right: how his heart was the softest of their family. How could he kill a fowl for sport? Nothing had changed since the days he begged his dad not to harm the animals on hunting trips...

"I'm sure there's more than enough poultry in the kitchens. No reason to take their life." He shrugged, looking away to avoid any possible disappointment that could be stirred in his brother's eyes.

"Prince Rohan. He did have a horrible attitude. From his comments, I personally got the vibe that he's just still bittered from battle. I reminded him that Casther and Valtolia weren't enemies anymore. Then, someone gets stabbed on the grounds of our home during a function we were hosting." He looks up, seeing his brother's growing, and a faint smile appears on his face as he views the creature.

"I feel foolish. Especially since I had briefly also gotten into it with the prince who had been assaulted." Even if he was commanded to drink, thinking about those nights prompted Cygnus to reach regardless to take a pull of the wine.

The crup sniffed at his boots, its tiny paws pattering against the stone, and Iskander’s fingers twitched with the instinct to reach down, to scratch behind its ears. Instead, he merely watched as it abandoned Cygnus without hesitation, no sense of loyalty at all. A traitorous little thing.

Roderik was also possessed with these notions of desirability and want. In due time both Cygnus and Iskander's brother would be married to some lord, having his children and doing their duty. "We're not prizes, Cygnus." Iskander stated with a roll of his eyes, "We're currency, the sooner you realize that you'll be better off." There was nothing romantic about being told who to marry but Iskander's Mother was right, they did this for duty - because it was right, because they had to.

“Well,” Iskander drawled, finally tearing his gaze from the creature and back to Cygnus. “You’re learning, then. That’s something, isn’t it? If I’m to be a lesson, I’d hope it’s a useful one.” His voice was light, but there was a weight beneath it, something knowing.

The way Cygnus spoke - so quick to assume fault lay within himself, to dissect his own charm as if rejection was a flaw rather than an inevitability - made something twist in Iskander’s chest. It was not sympathy, not exactly. A pang of recognition, perhaps that the prince was still somewhat naive and not entirely self-aware.

Iskander exhaled through his nose, gaze fixed on the distant city lights. “I dance, I indulge in conversation, I entertain invitations to supper - but don’t mistake obligation for desire.” His fingers tapped idly against the railing before he turned his head slightly, giving Cygnus a pointed look. “And for the record, kissing a man you’ve only just met, in front of an audience no less, isn’t charm. It’s spectacle.”

"I am not currency. My parents would never." To be sold off to a lord like some trinket for coin? Sure, he'd heard of it happening within the courts, but Cygnus genuinely believed that the King and Queen would not pawn him off. If anything, they had to be fishing for a proper queen for Sirius to marry.

"...Besides, if I were to be paired with anyone, I'd want a genuine connection. Worse case scenario: Imagine actually finding a genuine connection with someone and being told you can't be with them because you're obligated to marry another simply for clout of the court? That would just be..." his face twists to mild disgust at the idea.

"How else was I suppose to interpret your request that I entertain you by finding you wine and whores? I suppose it's nice to know you'd rather lay with whores than accept my affection in a moment of weakness." He throws his glance back to stare at Iskander. As much as he wanted to keep blaming the other, Cygnus couldn't help but start seeing how he was at fault in his behavior.

"You don't like spectacle? Well....I shouldn't have put you on the spot....I'm sorry....that you were alluring to me while we danced. I'd take back the moment if I could spare us both of this exchange." Mainly for his own sake, of course, but eh. He supposed putting Islander on the spot was a little much. He supposed he should be grateful that it wasn't more of a scene. He supposed...

"...." it finally donned on him, as of a candle had been lit in the void of his despair born of bruised pride. "...Oh my Lunan, you actually cared enough to come out here and check up on me?" He blinks and hangs his head. Yes, Iskander had said as much himself but time was needed to process through his own mental gymnastics to reach logic.

Meanwhile, the crup had made an assessment of his own jumping on his find legs, those forepaws pressed to the Bergian prince's shins. A demanding bark was given to this new human in his presence. Those twin tails wagged in excitement while the brown puppy eyes were on full display to amplify the adorable visage.

"Rolo, come here," Cygnus commanded with a soft snap of his fingers. After all, maybe the other prince wasn't the type to care for animals. He looked back up to Iskander again. A DEEP breath was needed to fully admit fault.

"Forgive my brashness of the other evening and this one."

brass, silver, gold; all were metals, all would be melted, poured, pounded and molded into shape. there were only so many strokes left on his oar, to row against a more turbulent tide; should he be overwhelmed by rapids, he'd do the respectable thing, and ditch.

at least cygnus could make himself laugh. argentus gave a grin at that, and rowed on.

"we didn't ask for this, as much as the fisherman's son didn't ask for the rod, or the shepherd didn't ask his father for a flock." gaze going back towards the ball; his break was short, but maybe he should be diving back into the waters sooner rather than later. "I can say I've tried to talk on the field. it... didn't often work." young as he might be compared to some others, argentus was still a bladed prince. he'd painted his share of decks and beaches red. "it just made the hard part even harder."

but neither of them were there for that. as easy as it might be, to paint over the recent years in smearing watercolor, argtentus didn't have to rise to it, or fall to it. instead, he huffed, and collected himself. "If we have the opportunity, then it's on us to take it." that's a point he could pull from this, and work with. "I'd put it to a toast, but I left my glass inside."

"It's not just us that deserve peace. Sometimes I think our kind shows little consideration for others we share the world with." He carefully lowers his hand back to the fountain and allows the duckling in his palm to swim back to its mother and siblings. He was sure he'd see them another day on a retreat to the gardens.

"Unfortunately, since my family is playing host, I have to pop in and be seen every now and then." He was sure no one outside of the Valtolian king's court actually cared, but he'd rather be careful for now than get an earful later.

"Enjoy the rest of the evening. If we don't cross paths again during your stay, I'll be sure to write." The prospect of a pen pal was nice; someone to communicate with outside of Valtolia as a step in the directory of spreading his wings into the world. Cygnus smiles and bows before tucking his arms behind his back and making haste to return to the ballroom.

"He is the perfect partner, indeed. Genuine...leads no one on. It is why I am here with him. I know where I stand...while in that ballroom?" He shook his head, sighing as he wavered between aggravation and self-consciousness. He truly had inherited more from his father than his mother in terms of preference for being direct rather than the mental gymnastics that took place between the houses across the kingdoms.

"I have no bandwidth for the games played within these courts. I definitely do not need games from you." To be sly and witty was not in Cygnus's nature. Some said that wearing his heart on his sleeve was a gift, though it left him vulnerable to being a fool to drown in a sea of pretentious snakes as well.

"Just five more days, Rolo. " he now spoke down to the crup in a babyish tone of affection; a soft bark answered, earning the crup a soft kiss between his ears. He shot a glance back to the Bergian prince: violet-blue gaze enhanced by the silver of the moon above them.

"Now, what is it that led you out here to me? Or are you just simply feeding your amusement like a vulture picking from a fresh carcass?"

Iskander sighed, stretching his arms over the railing, his voice turning softer, distant, as if he were speaking to the night itself. “I don’t play games, princeling. At least, not the ones they do. You could wear your regret better - maybe even apologize.” His eyes flicked toward the grand windows of the ballroom, where silks swayed and false laughter rang like bells. “If you'd prefer I leave you be, I can do just that.” A pause, a glance back to Cygnus, something unreadable in his expression. “But I don’t have the patience to be anyone’s mistake, or be blamed for them either.”

"And I was not going to use tongue. That's a bit too bold for a first kiss..." He scrunched his nose in a prudish way. He may have been naive but viewed himself as somewhat respectful. A boundary crossed with a foot, but courteous not to leap that towed the line too close to assault.

"I apologized to you already. It is just aggravating as everyone assumes you're a prize being vied for, yet the only thing I've to show for these last couple evenings is rejection and the company of my dearest friend to comfort." He was, of course, referring to the crup in his embrace. That was until the cloud of fluff caught a bug of curiosity and sniffed his way towards the feet of the Bergian that towered him more than Cygnus.

"...Potentially former best friend." He quipped and squinted at the crup. An exhausted sigh left the youngest Remes as he arose to his feet and turned to face the horizon of his kingdom with his arms to rest for support upon the balcony.

"You are a mistake; just not necessarily a bad one, I suppose. More of a lesson." He mused, turning his gaze up to the moon. "A lesson I am trying to figure out on what I did wrong to be rebuked. Clearly, I am not as charming as I thought. Something I am to process and live with."

"ARF!" the crup barked to Cygnus and then continued to familiarize himself with Iskander's scent.

"No one asked you, Rolo." the blond prince grumped.

“Trust me when I say it's better that it doesn't include me.” Between parentage that would be considered dubious if he bothered to keep his surname and essentially being a monster to hunt other monsters, he much preferred to control how and when he received attention. But he could sympathize with the prince, given everything happening around them and to him directly.

“Soon enough this'll all be over and you can go find your peace with the bees and the trees.” He dared to reach out and pat Cygnus on the shoulder. “Until then? Do what most of the people in this room do best: weaponize your boredom and find yourself some fun!”

"That was terrible. I'm sorry again." He says looking down to the flooring in brief shame. A smile still ghosted his lips as he found some amusement in how awful it was but his sights raised, looking back out into the ballroom.

The encouragement from Kellen was appreciated; he held still, not shrugging off the other's hand rested on his shoulder. His smile faded as he took in as much of the room his eyes could process. What fun was there to be had aside from dance and potentially awkward conversation when he ended up the partner of someone who hated his kingdom?

"Kellen. Do you ever hold regret for the life you have now?" He asked the witcher. "If you had the opportunity to do it all over...would you trade your power for the mundane?"

but cygnus' summary was apt. argentus' own hands were stained with some amount of blood, his swordwork more deft and tailored to the decks of swaying ships, than more standard fields of battle. looking throughout the crowd, one could imagine other worlds, other futures, where he'd met them with blade raised, rather than coats and respectful bows.

"ease is what I came out here for." watching the hand cradle the duckling, and moving to try to catch any that might try to follow; his palm wasn't so graced, so he left it in the water. "it'd be a shame to hoard it all to myself. now, animals, though... at sea, if it sees you, it will either try to eat you, or it'll eat your lunch off your plate. even if its mouth can't get wide enough, or jaws squeeze hard enough, they all try regardless." the next sigh was his own. "simple hostility by nature and design, or veils and motives of complex and shifting allegiances?" quite the decision. "I'll face the courts. with the occasional break." the gulls would be waiting for him at home, regardless. "the chance for peace, with the cost being the risk of war. should it not find us again in our lifetimes."

He looks up from the duckling, resting in his palm, and gives a curt nod to the other prince. Perhaps a friendship out if this exhausting week could be potentially forged after all? At least, it seemed like a step in a more positive direction of a night that had otherwise been draining on his soul.

"Are you suggesting when sailing, I pack enough lunch to throw at the creatures so they'd eat that instead of me? Then, enough to share who are just feeling peckish and end up over indulging?" It was a silly jest though it made the youngest Remes laugh heartily. A gut of laughter that filled what had been the otherwise hollow mood he'd been carrying.

"When you word facing the courts like that," he shook his head and could see the same sentiments for himself. He may have been lowest in rank of the royal family, but there was still a part to be played when it came to maintaining the treaty.

"We do have an opportunity to understand one another more than the generations before us. How many lives could have been spared over the decades if they'd put aside their egos and just conversed like this."

“How noble of you,” he murmured, stepping closer, resting his elbows against the balcony’s edge. The moonlight caught in the raven of his hair, turning it as as liquid as the evening sky. “Though I hardly think fresh air will be enough to cleanse you of your sins, dear Cygnus.” It was light, a little jest to try and balm whatever wound had been laid across the royal's ego.

His gaze flickered down to the crup in Cygnus’ lap. “I see you’ve found the perfect partner for the evening. Soft, loyal, and unlikely to make the first move.” His lips twitched, his voice dipping into something amused and dry. “I didn't follow you out here to stand alone -" well, he wouldn't be entirely alone if Cygnus left, but that'd assume the crup wouldn't follow after him. There was a sigh that followed on the cusp of what might be an explanation, or if nothing else an understanding. Cygnus was not the first and if the amount of times Iskander's backside had been cupped was any indication, he wouldn't be the last of the evening.

His fingers tapped idly against the stone railing. “Frankly, I'd be more offended if you hadn't tried to kiss me,” A beat. A smirk. “now chin up, we're too young for frown lines."

"He is the perfect partner, indeed. Genuine...leads no one on. It is why I am here with him. I know where I stand...while in that ballroom?" He shook his head, sighing as he wavered between aggravation and self-consciousness. He truly had inherited more from his father than his mother in terms of preference for being direct rather than the mental gymnastics that took place between the houses across the kingdoms.

"I have no bandwidth for the games played within these courts. I definitely do not need games from you." To be sly and witty was not in Cygnus's nature. Some said that wearing his heart on his sleeve was a gift, though it left him vulnerable to being a fool to drown in a sea of pretentious snakes as well.

"Just five more days, Rolo. " he now spoke down to the crup in a babyish tone of affection; a soft bark answered, earning the crup a soft kiss between his ears. He shot a glance back to the Bergian prince: violet-blue gaze enhanced by the silver of the moon above them.

"Now, what is it that led you out here to me? Or are you just simply feeding your amusement like a vulture picking from a fresh carcass?"

"father reminds me that I could be wed to a king one day, and while I appreciate the ambition, I'm more worried about knowing who to talk to about everything we're going through. we second sons, we silver prizes." a touch of a smirk, and a crease of his eyes, as he regarded cygnus. "maybe a bit further than second." being the last in a veritable pile of princes likely felt a different kind of worse, but that wouldn't keep him from at least offering an ear.

his excitement got the best of him as he accepted the bread, and started placing little pieces in the way, rather than trying to scatter it.

"come just after the storms," he offered. "all the fisherfolk have all their boats just sent out, or preparing to go. it's like the islands were holding their breath, only to exhale, and blow all the ships out to their bounties." a pleasing thought, and an even more pleasing image. "at least these ducks aren't trying to throw rings at us like a game at a faire, to 'win' us like some kind of stuffed poppet?"

"Ships launching? That sounds breath taking to see. To sail is also on a list of experiences I want to have. Do you sail? If so, how often?" he asked.

"Everything we are going through. As in, how we were born when our kingdoms wanted to destroy one another and now we're to smooth things over with trades and arranged engagements..." He spoke in a more deadpanned tone. Overly simplified, yet summed up how he viewed their circumstances.

"I trained in hopes of serving in my kingdom's military. Because it seemed like some sort of direction. I could be a warrior prince just as my father a war king. Yet, he demanded I remain off of the battlefield. Now instead of having served my country and potentially dying fighting on behalf of it, I die a slower death trying to maintain cordial repertoire with every guest and noble I interact with." he quickly throws a quick glance up towards the Medesi Prince.

"Let it be on record, our time right now doesn't feel like a chore at all. It's nice to feel at ease. " he reaches out a hand, allowing one of the tiny yellow fluffs to waddle up and hop into his palm. "I'm slowly starting to realize animals in general seem to be better company than most humans. They are who they are, no facades or ulterior motives. They either accept you or they keep their distance. Unless they want to make you their prey. I don't think we will have to worry about that with ducklings."

𓆰 "how will that look to our people, and our neighbors, if i give you special treatment just because you are my brother." baylyn countered playfully before quickly relenting with a roll of his eyes and a smirk. "who are we kidding, you know you are my favorite." nudging the bedroom door to close behind him with his foot, he made his way over to sit on the end of cyngus's bed.

"that i struggle to believe." he mused as he lifted the stolen bottle to his lips and pulled the cork free with his teeth, spitting it out and discarding haphazardly on his brother's floor before taking a sip. "surely you must have some men vying for your attention. just look at you," he hummed. "beautiful, brilliant too, and a bit stubborn at times. any of them would be lucky to have you; and i know you're talented." of course, the compliments felt a little too genuine so he had to sneak in a playful, brotherly barb. "bonus, you aren't a total bore to talk to which is surprising given you look like you would be." as far as he was concerned, cygnus was set up to have the easiest future. there would be less pressure on who he married, and who he spent his time with in general, and he would have more choices laid out before him in how he wanted to live his life. he could have many lovers if he wanted, he should, but the idea that his brother was already fantasizing about running away made his chest tighten. baylyn wanted him to have his freedoms, but he didn't want that. "well whatever it was you were thinking about had you kicking your feet like a schoolboy in love. it was cute..."

taking another sip of his wine, he then passed the bottle for cygnus if he wanted it. "if it makes you feel any better i did try to get away to find you. too many people wanted my attention though and, well, between us i might have also found myself a bit distracted with a few as well..." he teased.

"tonight was interesting?" he questioned, his voice softening as he looked over at his brother, "or you met someone interesting?"

"I was thinking of a fantasy...because reality can be exceedingly disappointing." he admits as his tone shifted to one wavering in melancholy though he pushed his vocal chords to pursue a more apathetic vibe.

"Of course they want your attention. Along with physicality, you offer power in your future. You are the one wanted and desired, Baylyn. I do not fault those who dare to pursue." he reaches for that pillow again, this time hugging it for self-conscious security as he rolls onto his side, leaving his face to bump into his older brother's hip momentarily before scooting over just a bit to make Baylyn's lap a headrest while the younger prince held onto the pillow. He dismissed the offering of wine with a wave of his hand.

He had his older brother. Even if they had their occasional banter as siblings did, Cygnus knew Baylyn was like a walking diary. He could share his feelings and experiences to an extent while having an open ear for the other's advice if any. He did have nearly ten years of life experience on him.

"I tried my hand at showing someone I was interested in them after they flirted with me. And was made a fool when he rejected me. So my attention is just to be toyed with." He wallowed in his naivety, even cringing as he played the scene again in his mind. "And don't get me started on that royal arsehole, Prince Rohan. I approached with friendly intentions to ensure he was well and I was given attitude." the younger Remes thought he was keeping his frustrations in check, though the vein throbbing on his right temple and his lips twisted into a pout stated otherwise.

"So you found me wishing my pillow was some noble of an uncharted land where I can run away and not have to deal with any of this concord nonsense. Casther. Sollia. Bergia. Medes. TO HELL WITH ALL OF IT." he shouted, chest heaving as he panted heavy for a few beats and then promptly cleared his throat.

"...I'm fine. Though I fear I may be falling ill tomorrow and won't be able to attend the ball."

"You are my father. I feel as if you are obligated to such flattery." He knew he was blessed with the king's and queen's genetics to look like the fair handsome prince that he was. He also knew that looks were not all that mattered when it came to these international affairs.

"Even if I am as beautiful as you claim, it matters not to those who detest me simply because I have your blood in my veins. Most of them care not of who I am as a person. They only see me as your son and that is enough to dismiss me." All he could do is shrug as if he was accepting of the situation. He had the fire to battle soldiers. Not snotty nobles and their prejudice against his bloodline and kingdom.

Rohan had never been a particularly outgoing or friendly person to begin with, some say he was born with a scowl on his face for being disturbed from his rest within his mother's womb. But after witnessing the war and being a victim of it? That only seemed to make him more callous and off putting to others, tonight felt like some kind of cruel joke.

"Tell me, did you fight in the war?" Rohan didn't have time for formalities, he was too drunk right now to care. "Any of my brothers could tell you I've never particularly been the type to party," he finished his glass before looking for one of the hovering trays to grab another one. "especially if it's in the hall of a former enemy."

"I'm surprised you aren't off with one of the Medesi or Bergian princes right now."

"Former enemy being the crucial label." he added with a heavy sigh and a roll of his eyes. How was he to be courteous against someone so...aggressively abrasive?

"No, and I'm surprised that you are still upright with how much alcohol is on your breath, but here we both are your majesty. How about we lay off the attitude a little? There is no need to create animosity. It is unneeded."

"No harm, no foul." He looked up, pointing at the decorations hanging from the ceiling. "Other than whatever happened to the poor birds that got plucked for that. But I'm doing just fine. The event's not about me so I get to sit back and watch."

He leaned in a little to give a sense of comfort and familiarity. "And what about you? How many people have been throwing themselves at you for valuable attention?"

"The event is about all of us? That would include you. Or, I would assume it would." He knew of how nobles looked down upon Witchers; enhanced warriors dealt with for merely their skill. "If it were up to me it most certainly would." he added quickly to clarify. Perhaps it was his naivety; though he had no reason to look upon anyone in service to his family and kingdom as less than. Not when someone like Kellen was responsible for keeping the territory safe from fiends.

"Tut tut." he answers the witcher with a brief scrunch of his nose and a chuckle that melted into a soft frown. "You are not the first person to ask me a variation of that inquiry. Each time I have to laugh. It is not my attention that is valuable nor is it sought. I am merely just an ornament here like the fowl dangling above us." he sighs, throwing a side-glance at Kellen's way.

"I think I actually prefer the peace of the wilderness to all of this." he openly admits. "Let that be a secret between us, yes?"

the prince was immediately enchanted. mouth slightly slack, if not even agape, dark eyes soft, maybe even shining in the moonlight.

"--I am," once he'd regained himself. "did I give it away?" the mirth in his grin, likely from being so effectively disarmed, hopefully aided in the jest. "cygnus remes, I'm argenus myre." he tipped his head to the side. "second son of aurelius myre. if anyone asks, I'm doing my duty-- meeting those who would be my peers. since it's better to get a first impression like this, than with our parents' hands pushing on our backs." all that being said, his focus was drawn back to those adorable ducklings...

"Funny you mentioned meeting peers. I was asked to do the same. 'The war is over. You should make friends.'" It was a paraphrased comment of what his father told him but the message was clear enough. He agreed that this sort of meeting was less stressful than having the surveillance of their parents and courts.

"I thought this year would be easier. They always say the third time's a charm. Yet it just all inevitably feels forced." He notes the direction of the other's gaze. How it's softened as he looks upon the ducklings.

"Would you like to feed them too?" he asks, breaking off another chunk of bread and offering it to Argenus. "I can guarantee, they make better company than most of the bodies back in the ballroom." he jests, mostly.

"One day, I actually hope to do journey to Medes. I've heard it's absolutely gorgeous there."