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All things considered, Augustus was exhausted. Upon hearing his mother call him, however, these things faded. Not entirely, but enough. She need not worry herself with her child’s ineptitudes. “Yes, Mama.” The address is incredibly informal, but the customary bow, at least, is not. At her request to join her, he nodded readily. He’d always much preferred spending time with his mother, both as a child and even now. Where his father had always felt like more of an agitator, his mother had always been the peacekeeper, and kept him far more at ease. “I agree, it is quite nice. I would be glad to accompany you.”

            IT  WAS  A  MOTHER’S  BURDEN  TO  CARE  .  in  more  ways  than  the  queen  would  care  to  admit  ,  she  worried  for  her  children  .  she’d  tear  herself  asunder  to  see  them  happy  and  yet  ,  it  was  all  to  no  avail  .  perhaps  that’s  why  victoria  took  so  well  to  augustus  .  they  were  her  first  born  .  they  took  all  her  wrongness  within  her  and  made  it  their  own  .  she’d  blame  herself  for  it  all  .  for  making  augustus  so  susceptible  to  illness  because  of  her  own  fragilities  .  to  loving  them  perhaps  too  much  .  everything  she  felt  was  in  excess  and  it  maimed  her  inside  and  out  .  so  ,  these  small  breaks  of  peace  were  of  great  solace  .  she  would  savor  her  time  .  “  so  be  it  ,  ”  victoria  fell  into  step  alongside  them  ,  “  do  tell  me  ...  how  are  you  faring  ,  darling  ?  it’s  as  if  we’ve  hardly  spoken  in  weeks  .  ”

maxim watched his mother’s face brighten at the mention of anastasia and it made his stomach twist a bit— he’d never been exceptionally close with his mother like auggie had, and despite his father picking favorites, he was never close to him either. any praise he could manage to scrape from the deepest pits of his father’s affection, it was always for things maxim didn’t really care about— it was what geoffrey cared about. it wasn’t news for maxim to realize that despite all the attention he received from his father, his kingdom, he really just had the loneliest childhood he could think of when auggie shut him out. physically, he had everything, but emotionally? well.

he gave her a coy smile, as if his charms could manipulate his own mother. “well, you see, that’s the thing,” he leaned forward more in his chair to adjust, “they didn’t… have the means to spend on nicer– newer, newer. clothes. and.. you know how anastasia is,” he laughed, crossing his arms over his chest. “so it might have been…. a hefty amount, that’s all i’m saying.”

            VICTORIA  HAD  WANTED  FOR  NOTHING  all  her  life  ,  but  she  fully  understood  what  it  was  to  need  .  to  need  someone  you  could  depend  on  when  things  went  awry  .  to  need  the  love  her  mother  could  never  afford  her  .  steaming  mug  is  lifted  from  the  saucer  ,  a  sip  drawn  of  the  brown  liquid  as  if  to  brace  herself  in  thought  .  “  i  understand  ,  darling  .  ”  victoria  finally  resounded  ,  as  if  to  offer  some  consolation  to  both  herself  and  her  son  .  and  yet  ,  she  still  pecks  for  answers  .  victoria  knew  the  french  well  enough  to  know  their  circumstance  ,  but  the  matter  was  entirely  different  when  their  financial  matters  had  bled  over  into  her  own  .  if  she  were  to  support  maxim  fully  ,  she  needed  the  whole  of  the  truth  .  mere  slivers  would  no  longer  appease  her  .  “  maxim  ...  how  much  did  you  spend  ?  ”

Ji hu had been taking inventory, carefully noting what he’d managed to get on his last trip with Nik, and what he may need to send for, should this summit be projected to take too much longer. It was a bit tedious, and admittedly he was glad for the interruption. He looked up, hearing Fei call him. A question? “A question I can give a definite answer to, or a question in which you just need to be heard?” Especially in their teenage years, he had learned that sometimes she just needed someone to hear her, and didn’t necessarily want him to approach a situation with a pragmatic eye.

            FEI  FOUND  HER  SOAP  BOX  in  artistry  .  the  licks  and  dapples  of  pigment  across  canvas  and  tapestry  could  foretell  both  the  vast  and  the  minute  .  the  beauty  of  whim  captured  at  a  still  .  “  perhaps  a  touch  of  both  ?  i  want  your  opinion  on  something  —  a  painting  .  ”  the  canvas  had  been  tucked  beneath  their  arm  ,  cloaked  in  velvet  .  “  i  know  it’s  not  of  your  expertise  but  —  ”  a  step  forth  into  their  father’s  domain  ,  eyes  can’t  help  but  to  wonder  ,  no  matter  how  familiar  the  surrounding  .  “  i  value  your  opinion  .  ”  the  velvet  is  undone  and  the  swathe  of  fabric  is  carelessly  dropped  to  unveil  the  painted  canvas  to  her  father  .  it  was  an  unfinished  portrait  of  him  .  painted  on  a  whim  as  she  oft  had  .  “  what  do  you  think  ?  i  made  it  in  your  likeness  ,  after  all  .  ”

he sighed, a silent notion that he hated that victoria was right. maxim wasn’t ready yet. geoffrey believed he would be easier to get ready than augustus, but, he was still young. still, his children is older than he was when he inherited the crown. “they have to be ready, my love. someone has to take my place one day.” he moved to lay down, looking up at his beautiful wife. “well, you may find out soon the apology didn’t go as expected. augustus will be starting his kingship training.” he made clear to state augustus to show he wasn’t forcing maxim into this too. maxim may not be ready but geoffrey has disillusioned himself into thinking he was closer than augustus was. “if i cannot mold him into what i want him to be at least he can mold into the king he needs to be for his future,” if he repeats that enough maybe he will believe it and not just say it for his wife’s sake.

            “  DARLING  ...  ”  a  palm  snakes  upward  to  cup  his  cheek  in  her  palm  ,  something  bridling  beneath  the  softness  of  her  touch  .  a  bitter  truth  threatening  to  grace  lips  tucked  upward  into  some  feigned  smile  .  “  augustus  shall  never  be  the  ruler  you  desire  .  ”  they  both  knew  it  .  she  was  not  made  to  rule  .  augustus  was  hardly  made  to  live  ,  how  could  she  properly  lead  the  country  in  the  absence  of  their  parents  ?  it  certainly  was  no  task  that  could  befall  maxim  ,  either  .  the  royal  children  were  not  mere  swords  they  could  hone  to  their  liking  .  for  when  one  edge  of  the  sword  was  turned  toward  another  ,  there  was  one  still  facing  you  .  there  was  self  destruction  in  this  creation  .  “  do  as  you  so  please  ,  but  rest  assured  ,  augustus  will  merely  rule  for  the  sake  of  appearances  .  ”  in  truth  ,  bedivere  would  have  the  true  reigns  on  the  country  .  if  geoffrey  couldn’t  determine  that  much  ,  perhaps  he’d  been  disillusioned  beyond  consolation  .

closed starter: @dcrlingest​

location: marguerite’s drawing room

MARGUERITE WATCHED AS her servants placed a table for two in her drawing room. she’d requested a private supper with her eldest daughter. she liked keeping tabs on all of her children, yet some she deemed needed a little extra involvement than others. with ana’s betrothal going as well as being betrothed to an englishman could go, she had her sights set on her beloved yet rebellious annette. she poured herself a glass of french wine she’d specifically brought with her on the trip to switzerland ( she’d rather join the nunnery than drink anything but the best french wines ) while she waited for her daughter.

she turned as the door opened, a smile pulling at her lips as her eyes scanned the princess before her. “ah, annette. ma chère. it’s been too long. you must be keeping busy. working towards a possible engagement, perhaps?” the words are sweet as ever, though the look in the queen’s eyes is anything but. she was well aware of her eldest’s - ah - aversion to the notion of marriage. marguerite always secretly admired her daughter for being so headstrong. this was no longer the case, as it interfered with the family’s core values. MONEY. 

            IT  WAS  HARDLY  AN  INVITATION  ,  much  more  a  summoning  at  the  beck  and  call  of  her  dearest  mother  of  which  annette  had  no  opt  to  refuse  .  as  if  she’d  ever  consider  it  .  refusal  of  her  majesty  the  queen  ?  no  less  her  mother  --  she  couldn’t  have  imagined  it  .  so  she’s  all  bent  at  the  knee  in  greeting  ,  bowing  with  the  grace  of  a  swan  dancing  across  clear  water  .  “  maman  ,  ”  honeyed  lilt  in  greeting  ,  though  annette  can  feel  the  tension  winding  her  taut  the  moment  mahogany  gaze  lifts  to  meet  her  mother’s  .              nonetheless  ,  countenance  is  a  cordial  one  ,  coy  smile  etched  onto  alabaster  features  .  she  knows  that  look  in  her  mother’s  eyes  well  and  it  would  do  the  eldest  princess  well  to  appease  her  .  “  i’m  unsure  busy  is  the  word  for  it  .  though  i  can  assure  you  i’ve  been  well  involved  with  both  the  festivities  and  political  engagements  the  summit  has  offered  me  .  ”  no  mentioning  of  the  romantic  .  as  far  as  annette  was  concerned  ,  the  state  of  the  nation  ,  lest  her  mother  intended  to  marry  her  off  before  the  end  of  the  summit  were  far  more  pressing  .  

abel couldn’t seem to wipe the grin from their lips, and for once it wasn’t something wicked or cunning. despite the circumstances that surrounded them, they couldn’t help but think that this was the feeling they’d longed for when they decided to get married so long ago. this was the normalcy they wanted to feel, dancing amongst strangers with the one they love as if they, too, were just a regular person wanting to escape from the trials and tribulations of everyday life.

instead the feeling was always fleeting. it came and went like waves, and abel knew as soon as their night full of contentedness with salma ended, it would simply be on to the next thing that made them bleed. “it’s not right to make promises you can’t keep,” they said, fully aware of the irony of the words coming from their mouth, as if their moral compass was working just fine now of all times. still, abel took her hand and lead her into the crowd, pulling her near once they were surrounded by people they didn’t recognize. clearing their throat, they took her hand. “you may need to lead.”

            for  once  abel  had  been  steered  by  that  thing  throbbing  in  their  chest  rather  than  their  skewed  moral  compass  .  salma  most  evidently  couldn’t  hide  her  surprise  ,  both  aware  of  the  irony  .  had  only  they  spouted  that  same  mouthful  years  ago  .  it  could  have  saved  them  both  the  hurt  of  standing  before  one  another  as  if  all  that  history  hadn’t  been  weighted  heavy  between  them  .  as  if  salma  were  nothing  more  than  their  wife  ,  both  in  attendance  of  a  royal  event  they’d  happen  to  slither  their  way  into  .               head  cants  ,  a  loose  curl  falling  slightly  out  of  place  to  frame  the  side  of  her  visage  .  she  nearly  wants  to  reel  from  their  grasp  ,  instead  she  leans  into  and  offers  a  stint  of  a  laugh  .  that’s  what  this  all  was  ,  right  ?  one  ,  large  joke  .  “  is  that  right  ?  it  seems  you’ve  finally  come  to  your  senses  after  all  these  years  ...  are  you  ill  ?  ”  salma  almost  reaches  to  feel  their  forehead  with  the  back  of  her  palm  .  the  pains  of  muscle  memory  after  years  of  tending  them  like  roses  in  her  garden  .  always  trimmed  and  sure  to  never  be  overwatered  .  some  part  of  her  wondered  if  they  would  have  given  her  the  same  treatment  had  it  been  the  other  way  around  .  her  palm  webbed  in  their  larger  one  ,  salma  led  them  onward  into  a  slow  paced  waltz  .  “  very  well  then  .  ”  

nikau found himself leaning against a nearby desk, folding his hands in his lap as they stared at him. shockingly he wasn’t bothered by it, the curiosity in her gaze was more familiar than he cared to admit, so instead of focusing on that, he focused on the words they spoke. “yes i’m sure he does,” nikau mumbled, smiling at fei with all the warmth of a someone simply humoring a child. call it instinct.

nikau cleared his throat, his expression not changing very much as he continued speaking despite them bringing it to his attention once more. “speaking of your father,” he tilted his head to the side curiously, not knowing if he was even correct in his assumption that she was ji-hu’s child. there were plenty staff in each kingdom, but everything certainly lined up right, didn’t it? “what exactly is it that he does here?”

            fei  observed  as  the  stranger  shifted  in  stance  ,  traversing  from  the doorway  to  a  recline  upon  a  nearby  desk  .  she  returns  the  smiling  gesture  out  of  half  humility  and  half  decorum  .  “  he  is  an  apothecary  .  ”  she  states  matter  of  the  factly  ,  it  was  likely  their  father  had  treated  his  fair  share  of  attendees  at  the  summit  ,  perhaps  this  man  was  one  of  them  .  a  step  forth  and  their  gaze  narrows  once  more  ,  arms  folded  jut  of  their  hips  time  .  “  why  ,  do  you  know  him  ...  ?  ”  the  look  of  a  true  conspirator  ,  she  tilts  her  chin  upward  in  jest  .  “  are  you  perhaps  some  sort  of  ...  decrepit  informant  ?  ”  a  beat  ,  then  a  palm  raised  in  forgiveness  .  “  --  no  offense  by  the  way  .  ”

“i look the same as i always do, mother,” he sighed, but nonetheless he reached up to smooth the messy blond locks on his head down at least a bit to try and please her. he could look perfect in every aspect but if a single hair was out of place, he was sure to hear about it— it was one thing from his childhood that never changed. maxim bit his lip contemplatively, but gave in and took a seat across from her. he shrugged, “it was fine,” he missed his own bed more, though. somehow he always felt infantilized when around his parents, especially his father. hence why he was in his mother’s chambers instead. “as i’m sure you’re aware, i attended the ball with anastasia,” he began, gauging her expression. “and i wanted to ask you if you’d be willing to be the one tell father about…. well. about the amount of money i spent on her.” what was the point in sugarcoating it? he would hear about it either way. it would surely be less of a blow coming from her lips instead of his own.

            she’d  spent  her  childhood  locked  away  ,  in  a  home  that  raised  her  rather  than  parents  .  it  was  those  stone  walls  of  the  estate  that  taught  victoria  to  listen  and  how  to  behave  like  a  proper  young  lady  when  the  adults  came  filing  in  .  to  be  see  ,  but  not  to  be  heard  .  a  luxury  victoria  insured  would  never  be  deprived  of  her  children  .  they  each  had  their  own  voice  and  no  one  could  take  that  away  from  them  .  not  even  geoffrey  .  so  what  if  she  wanted  them  to  be  presentable  ?  if  victoria  hadn’t  spotted  it  first  ,  the  king  certainly  would  have  made  a lecture  of  it  .  turning  a  minute  thing  into  a  teachable  moment  .  the  mentioning  of  the  french  princess  does  much  to  appease  her  though  ,  victoria  was  the  one  who  organized  their  union  ,  after  all  .  “  ah  ,  anastasia  !  quite  the  darling  ,  that  one  .  ”  she’d  known  her  since  she  was  just  a  girl  ,  “  well  a  gift  or  two  is  customary  ,  max  ...  ”  a  beat  ,  as  if  to  recollect  on  the  knowledge  of  their  financial  disparities  .  “  ...  but  how  much  did  you  spend  on  her  ?  ”

a bit of sun was always good for the soul. angel would prescribe it whenever he could. it wasn’t like royals actually followed through with his orders, of course. this afternoon was perfect for gathering much needed supplies for his workspace. his satchel was full of lavender, and other herbs used for different balms and potions. as he walked, he noticed a young woman laying in the grass. how unusual. he supposed he should make sure that she was okay. however, he wasn’t expecting her response to him to be so…brash. “last i checked, the royal lawn does not belong to you, your highness. nor does the sun.” 

            ANNETTE  WAS  THE  product  of  a  playground  kingdom  where  the  world  could  be  her  dominion  had  her  parents  willed  it  .  this  plot  of  grass  could  have  very  well  been  her  own  had  she  married  into  the  swiss  family  .  alas  ,  she  was  but  a  spinster  lying  in  manicured  grass  she  didn’t  nor  wished  to  own  .  ❝  it  would  certainly  be  presumptuous  of  me  to  lay  claim  to  astral  territory  ,  wouldn’t  it  ?  ❞   a  grin  threatens  to  tug  at   the  corners  of  rouged  lips  as  she  challenge  them  loosely  .  chin  lifted  to  fully  meet  his  gaze  for  a  moment  before  pushing  herself  upward  with  her  elbows  .  ❝  though  ,  if  you  insist  on  blocking  the  sun  ,  may  i  ask  what  brought  you  over  ?  ❞

maxim’s naturally fast paced footsteps echoed throughout the hall of the palace, his own guard’s struggling to keep up with him as he made his way for his mother’s chambers. he’d just barely woken up, but he knew one of the only times he’d be able to find his mother alone would be during her mornings. as always, he looked the perfect prince he was so used to being named save for the messy tousled hair that was seemingly the only part of him that was never put together. he strode into her room with ease, curtsying and greeting her with a tight lipped smile. he hadn’t planned on staying, but. well. “your majesty,” he greeted, “well, i–” he spoke as if in a hurry, as if she didn’t have the time to speak to him despite her offer. he stayed standing. “i just wanted to…. ask you a favor. it’ll be quick, nothing huge, really.”

            ❝  you  look  terribly  disheveled  ,  darling  .  ❞  it  was  hardly  a  feat  to  analyze  her  son’s  appearance  in  the  moment  ,  especially  having  witnessed  a  similar  image  so  many  mornings  before  .  though  ,  she’d  at  least  expected  he’d  be  dressed  and  groomed  appropriately  by  this  time  of  day  .  perhaps  she  would  make  it  her  duty  to  assign  him  a  new  attendant  .  ❝  were  you  well  rested  ?  ❞  she  finally  inquired  ,  smile  faltering  at  the  corners  warily  .  it  was  in  her  nature  to  worry  ,  perhaps  it  was  one  of  the  few  things  her  mother  passed  down  to  her  .  maternal  instinct  —  no  matter  how  overbearing  .  ❝  sit  and  i  just  might  hear  you  out  .  ❞

he leaned into his wife’s kiss and shook his head. “augustus is not ready to rule,” he wanted to believe maxim was but if he was honest his children were not ready. besides, he knew no matter who took the throne that annoying twink they employ will be the one really in charge. “they are still under the idea they are permitted to act and say whatever they please despite how it looks. maxim, however, knows what it means to be responsible.”

            THE  TWO  COULD  agree  on  that  account  ,  aug  was  certainly  unfit  to  rule  .  ❝  no  darling  ,  i  am  afraid  max  does  not  .  ❞  victoria  asserted  softly  ,  lifting  her  head  from  the  pillow  that  cradled  her  mane  of  blonde  waves  to  face  her  husband  .  had  he  not  been  so  wrapped  up  in  his  contending  with  their  first  born  ,  he  might  have  been  able  to  see  it  .  even  if  maxim  presented  otherwise  ,  victoria  knew  it  was  to  appease  his  father  .  ❝  you’re  trying  to  mold  our  sons  into  something  they  very  likely  never  will  be  .  ❞  fit  to  rule  .  an  effort  that  took  root  in  their  adolescence  no  longer  held  the  same  effect  in  adulthood  .  their  children  had  their  own  minds  now  and  trying  to  shove  them  into  their  own  preconceived  notions  of  what  their  parents   wanted  them  to  be  —  needed  them  to  be  —  was  no  longer  an  effective  tactic  .  perhaps  geoffrey  would  have  to  become  the  change  he  wanted  to  see  in  them  .

when the french queen had received the invitation for tea from victoria, she didn’t even hesitate in her response ; accepting the invitation at once. entering the tea room, a warm smile graced marguerite’s face as she approached one of her dearest friends, “ victoria, “ her french accent thick as she moved further into the room, giving the other queen a bow in greeting.“ it has been too long. it is so wonderful to see you, “ 

            ❝  FAR  TOO  LONG  indeed  ,  ❞  victoria  concurred  ,  usual  demure  lingering  in  her  tone  .  a  palm  is  gestured  toward  the  camel  back  sofa  adjacent  to  her  ,  bidding  the  other  to  seat  herself  where  she  might  be  most  comfortable  .  table  already  set  by  the  scullery  maid  ,  victoria  seized  her  own  piping  cup  of  tea  ,  bidding  a  thankful  nod  to  the  young  woman  whom  served  them  before  allowing  her  sights  to  retract  back  over  to  the  french  queen  .  ❝  i  presume  you’ve  settled  in  well  ?  i  must  say  ,  the  royal  family  have  been  most  gracious  hosts  .  ❞ 

for.   angel  @ofdevotiions​

where.   field  near  the  palace  gardens  .

            THE  WARMTH  of  the  sun  against  shut  eyelids  was  a  welcomed  comfort  following  the  festivities  of  the  prince’s  birthday  celebration  .  quite  frankly  ,  annette  had  still  coming  down  from  high  of  it  all  .  what  better  way  to  remedy  herself  in  preparation  for  another  weeks  effort  at  the  summit  than  a  bit  of  sun  ?  had  only  she’d  known  her  time  alone  would  be  stamped  out  before  high  noon  .  an  eye  is  winked  open  to  peer  upward  at  whomever  chose  to  disturb  her  .  a  huff  follows  ,  ❝  go  away  .  ❞

nikau didn’t bother hiding the slight surprise on his face at the mention of the joseon dynasty— he’d never met any children from any of the kingdoms that weren’t royals. a painter? how old was she, anyway? an alarm bell rang in his mind, though– ji-hu mentioned he’d brought his child with him, didn’t he? nikau didn’t know why the thought of meeting them like this seemed too easy, but he also had no idea what to expect. it certainly wasn’t this.

he narrowed his eyes. an interesting face? “an interesting face? is that a compliment?” he spoke his thoughts aloud, a certain amusement in his tone because what an odd thing to say. ji-hu had an odd child. nikau supposed he did once as well, though. he took a slight step into the room, a newfound intrigue for the conversation despite the way they looked at him like he was under a microscope. he could postpone his search for the king for now. “some would say i do. do you always talk this much?”

            FEI  NARROWED  her  eyes  as  well  ,  as  if  to  welcome  herself  into  whatever  challenge  she’d  convinced  herself  he  had  ensued  with  them  .  ❝  sure  ...  ❞  fei  retorted  ,  tone  unassured  as  their  newfound  acquaintance  took  a  step  further  .  they  hadn’t  meant  it  as  a  compliment  but  it  certainly  wasn’t  an  insult  either  .  if  he  wanted  to  interpret  it  as  a  credit  to  his  appearance  ,  so  be  it  .              ❝  yes  ,  actually  .  i  take  great  pride  in  my  ability  to  convey  every  passing  thought  in  conversation  .  my  father  says  it  is  a  great  attribute  of  mine  .  ❞  it  was  one  of  their  greatest  and  perhaps  worst  qualities  .  never  quite  knowing  when  to  keep  things to  herself  .  fei  simply  had  to  be  heard  .  even  so  ,  they  were  proud  of  the  notion  and  that  much  was  made  evident  by  her  brimming  expression  .  they  finally  blink  away  the  silence  on  the  other’s  behalf  ,  ❝  ...  you’re  doing  the  face  again  .  ❞

there was no varied or viable reason abel could have ever come up with to explain the situation they were in now. they could not pinpoint an exact shift or change in their timeline that set them on this path, the path where they were mingling with rich nobles and royalty, their wife on their arm. even when they lived their short life together, there were certainly no fancy gowns or expensive jewelry. a comfortable live they lived, but by no means extravagant. it suited salma, though abel wasn’t sure just how much it suited them.

abel hummed, tilting their head to the side as if debating her inquiry. “married criminals,” they tested the words on their tongue aimlessly, two versions of their life they’d never expected to meet, though it seemed they never truly separated at all, did they? she was watching them every step of the way, even when abel was too blind to see her. it was unnerving to have someone see you when you think no one ever really has before. it’s different when you give half truths and lies about who you are— but when someone sees you at your most vulnerable it’s enough to make you second guess everything you’ve ever done.

abel pulled her against their chest as she turned to face them, one hand finding the side of her face gently. their thumb smoothed over her skin like it always did, finding its usual home against the softness of it. abel nodded, speaking softly. “yes, i suppose they can,” they agreed for once, pressing their lips just barely against the corner of her mouth. “can we coexist on the dance floor, then? i’ve heard it’s rude to keep your hosts waiting. they’ll surely be expecting us.” even so close, abel couldn’t help the sarcasm in their tone and the teasing smile working its way through their words. 

            THEY  WERE  merely  swine  in  the  slaughterhouse  of  love  .  do  not  run  from  this  killing  .  as  if  salma  would  let  them  slip  out  of  her  palms  so  easily  .  not  again  .  ❝  it  has  a  nice  ring  to  it  ,  does  it  not  ?  ❞  cheshire  grin  sprawls  across  tawny  visage  ,  something  mischievous  glinting  behind  her  dim  gaze  .  she’d  never  considered  herself  to  be  a  criminal  .  no  ,  that  sounded  wrong  .  debauched  .  not  quite  a  proper  fit  for  what  she’d  been  tasked  with  .  rather  ,  the  woman  considered  herself  an  agent  of  change  .  a  bringer  of  chaos  had  she  willed  it  .  after  all  ,  she  only  ever  gave  people  what  they  deserved  &  as  far  as  she  was  concerned  ,  that  was  hardly  a  villainous  offense  .              ❝  so  long  as  you  intend  to  behave  yourself  ,  ❞  she  spoke  into  the  embrace  of  the  roughness  of  their  palm  against  her  crimson - rouged  cheek  .  ❝  they  can  wait  all  night  as  far  as  i’m  concerned  .  but  i  suppose  you’re  right  ...  it  would  be  impolite  .  ❞  she  concurred  ,  satiated  by  their  previous  agreement  .  for  once  ,  abel  could  put  their  pride  aside  to  agree  with  her  .  some  part  of  her  wondered  if  they  were  ill  .  fingers busy  undoing  the  stolen  article  of  jewelry  hung  from  her  neck  ,  disposing  of  it  into  her  hand  satchel  before  hooking  her  arm  around  theirs  .  ❝  lead  the  way  .  ❞

for.   @cftragedy​

where.   ji - hu’s  private  apartments  .

            KNUCKLES  ROUNDED   into  a  loose  fist  offer  a  knock  on  the  bedroom  door  as  forewarning  of  her  approach  rather  than  a  request  to  be  let  in  .  fei  could  manage  that  much  .  ❝  hello  ...  ❞  their  voice  called  out  into  the  room  ,  she  quite  liked  the  sound  of  the  echo  that  reverberated  in  the  quiet  .  ❝  father  are  you  in  ?  ❞  a  few  steps  further  and  they  finally  meet  his  gaze  ,  quite  visibly  busied  with  something  .  ❝  oh  —  ❞  a  beat  ,  ❝  i  have  a  question  for  you  .  ❞