tornado with pretty eyes and a heartbeat

"My King don't you feel it is best to - wait until the prince arrives?"

King Henry narrowed his eyes, goblet raised in a private toast. "Wait? You've got lip talking to me like that. I AM the king around here. Not you you fucking -!"

"Having a bad day old man?" Callum's voice entered the throne room in pace with his steady stride. The prince's boots made a prominent echo on the marble flooring. The halls themselves matched with a particular sheen; gold inlay made it's mark with white sculptures, rafters running into endless ceilings above. The castle itself is a wonder. Architects dream of handling its secrets. The original died hundreds of years ago but yet it still stands as it was originally built.

Prince Callum loved his home. Despite his desire for travel and adventure this is where he always wishes to wind up. What better place? Some fond memories are here. Others - hold an edge of tragedy. The Prince is no longer wed. His first wife died of illness seven years prior to this current day. Elyse came from another realm. Beauty some could not understand. Exotic in their eyes but in his she was everything. Now he is a widowed prince with a father being reckless with his liquor and his foul mouth it would seem.

"Callum!" the king rose to his feet, sloshing the alcohol all over the floor. He stepped down ignoring the mess and drew his adult son into a bear hug. "Bout time you showed up! I was beginning to think you fucked off for good. Might've found a new lady to keep you warm, eh?"

"No such luck or folly, Father." The Prince took his words with a grain of salt. Most who knew King Henry best should use that. Otherwise they would find too much offense in the drunken king's slurring. Today he is far from stable. "Watch yourself. I don't want Sir Josh yelling at me." The king's advisor would have plenty to say. "You have been listening to him I hope."

"Bah. I listen," King Henry waved it off, lifting his goblet back to his lips to finish what was still inside. "Seems I'm running low.. Come join me. You're back home. The Kingdom missed their favorite son."

Callum glanced over to his father's personal manservant. He gave the prince a return glance but nothing more. "Well I hear there's a gypsy caravan camped outside Father Malcolm's church. He is none too happy."

"He's with a stick up his ass lately," the king sat down, shaking his head. "No matter. I hear some news of new arrivals or some such. Knights? Whatever it is, you can handle it." Waving off duties onto Callum is becoming a constant solution. King Henry would rather have his feast and drink than deal with Josh's problems. It would already seem that the prince is taking on the role of king with the man still seated on the throne.

"If that is what you will," Callum gave a nod, nearly mocking his idea of staying in to drink.

"Don't give me shit, Callum," the king countered but shut up when another party entered. "What's this?"

The Prince turned at the white cloaked Knight. Still wearing a helm on their head, the figure reached up to cross arms in greeting. Callum smiled, clearly aware of who. "Word of my bravest of Knights is always priority."

In response the knight withdrew the golden helm, revealing long hair tied out of the way. "Sir North your highness. I come to look at the new recruits. On your behalf."

"The king accepts," Callum answered as he already was given the reins. "I will meet you down there." Sir North bowed to the prince and king, shifting her helmet beneath her arm as she walked back down the corridor.

King Henry hummed. "For a knight she has a nice ass. Shocked you haven't bedded that one."

The Prince shook his head, smiling. "You are as bad as they say...King Henry."

"It all came in the same lot for a reason." Callum scooped up some of the spilled packing and dropped it back inside the box. "Same estate. Owned by a wealthy woman who recently passed away. All of this is from her personal collection. Divided. Sold in separate auction lots. This one just happened to have the best piece of the entire thing."

Putting hands on his hips, he contemplated, looking at the cabinet again. If it's rusty it can be opened without much force. Hopefully without damage.

"Time for me to get my tools out."

Having them nearby in a cabinet for trickier shipments, Callum set the tool bag up beside the box. "You should see me on location," he teased with a full smile. "Soon I hope." Hinting to them going on one of his excursions together he would make it a date. Treasure hunting and romance. The perfect mix.

A small hammer and screw driver made up his chosen tools for this operation. Simple but effective in most cases. "No sarcophagus. No need for the big tools. But I need to make sure I don't break anything. Lowers the value." Lining up the flat end of the screwdriver with the lock, he gave a few light taps with the hammer. "Excited?" Asking with a smile, he had to admit he was really interested on what was inside. Maybe nothing at all. Always a possibility but the thrill of discovery is still the same. No matter how many times he has unlocked something. No matter how old he gets. The excitement never changes.

Dust popped out from the top with the lock coming loose. Callum set the hammer and screwdriver aside. Sliding his fingers along the seam, he managed to pull free one of the doors. He paused, looking over to her. "Magic touch." Getting them both open revealed that this cabinet was not empty after all. Reaching in for an old goblet, he turned it over, sliding a thumb over the gold surface. "This is old. Not sure the date but -" His hand shifted in for a coin. A penny dated 1920. "Guess it was for the contents not the box itself. 1920. Goblet's older than that. Aged patina, still make out the gold under it though." Oddly there were to locks of hair neatly tied with string. Something he isn't sure about handling right now but the candlestick holder in there appeared to be old like the goblet. ".... dry rosebud?" Callum showed her the bundle of it next. "All of it looks randomly placed but look at this." Setting the other objects back, he pulled out a granite slab. Some kind of carving etched across it like runes. "I think that's Hebrew."

Callum took the opportunity when she was occupied with the pottery to slip arms around her waist. Dropping his head down atop her shoulder, he smiled as she admired the piece. "It is the oldest piece I managed to find. This one I decided to keep for my personal collection. Greece gets me all the time."

Maybe not as much as she does. He held her a moment longer. Then he let go, pointing to the ceramic plate. "Part of the lot. Also this necklace." Another item he didn't pay much attention to. It's typical jewelry of a later period in Mongolian history. The auction package had a variety of culture but the wooden box still mystifies him right now.

"Everything is accounted for except that."

Callum nodded to the cabinet. "I don't have much information on it. The doors are locked. I need to dig through the shipping boxes and see there was a key misplaced." As for the object itself it doesn't seem to date back as far as the other items. It's impossible for it to.

"It looks like a wine cabinet," he guessed, running fingers against one of the carved bundles of grapes. "Simple but detailed carving. The only ornament to the thing. Could make a storage unit."

He went over to the boxes. Digging down through the styrofoam, he knew there must be something. It wouldn't just come like this unless they sold it as is. "I'm starting to think it has no key. I don't want to break it to get it open...."

xxx Connection Update

He thought for a minute on who else to invite besides the obvious. Maybe he will ask his brother. It could be an interesting way for Eloise to spend more time getting to know his family.

"You know let me give Connor a call," he decided, placing one more kiss to her lips before reaching his phone again. "Just in case he's interested."

An update on his food order popped up in a text. In process of delivering their Greek experience right to his door. "Our food is close. Let me make this quick then." He smiled, standing up to his feet and dialing.

"Hey, Connor, it's your twin brother, Callum. Yeah I'm alive. Imagine that?" Callum laughed, moving out into the foyer. "No, things are great. Really great actually with Eloise. Without her I would be stressed with bioTech. It's nice to come home knowing she's around. No, I -" He glances back to make sure she can't hear. "She''s the one. I can't see my life with anyone else. I told you it was serious."

A few comments from Connor on how he's glad things are going well for him only left some questions in Callum's mind. He realizes that Connor is making moves himself. They both ended their college careers at the same time. Five years ago.

"Well Eloise had the idea for everyone to go on a trip," he gave an explanation to the abrupt phone call. "Disney trip. No, her friends are great. I know most of them pretty well since I started dating her.... are you sure? Can you make time....? Alright. Talk to you later."

Callum paused, looking up at the knock on his front door. He answered it with a smile receiving his food order. Already paid for on the app; Callum shut his door and came back into the den with their food. "Hey, El. Looks like Connor needs to check his schedule first. He said hi though."

Pre-production a lot of the time meant meeting co-stars for the first time. This would be no different. A luncheon for cast and crew took place within the banquet room at Scarlet Pictures. Having worked with Corvus DeVille in the past, Callum is aware of the producer and how he handles things. However, he is about to meet the actress who will be playing opposite him in an important role.

Pandora Johnson is a name he is familiar with in the horror sphere. She began her career early. Callum knows how different it is for child actors. When they become adults seeking and obtaining adult oriented roles is not easy. Even if there is all the talent in the world they want to get out and spread.

He smiled coming up to her. Portraying his little sister in this suspense drama automatically put him in a particular role. Callum has been around in this business longer than her. If anything he can be polite and help her with whatever they need to build on this script.

The thrill of a treasure hunt always grabs Callum Anderson's attention. Able to afford some of the bigger mystery lots was always a plus. He knew what he wanted. Searching for old, sometimes traditional pieces but mainly his heart rests with Greek relics.

Finding a clay pot dating back to the Byzantine era became his holy grail. The auction bid went up to a staggering $1.4 million dollars. Thankfully for him he found it a steal as that is not the only piece that came with the lot. He paid top dollar for the master craft work but an added bonus.

One such bonus he left for last. As it was bigger than the rest, Callum needed to get the pot on display. Giving it a prominent place in his main artifact room when he walked through the door; he carefully settled a glass case around the object. Though the art on it is faded a bit due to time, he can still make out the depiction of Athena. The goddess of war. They could make a representation of bloodshed so beautiful. Ancient Greece had a way about them.

He smiled. Giving a nod of his head there is no denying how lucky he is to have gotten this one. Another part of the purchase is a ceramic plate. Designed much the same way but not as old. Hand painted bronze and gold.

Picking it up and sitting it on a shelf with other collectibles, Callum turned now to the box remaining. With a box cutter in hand, slicing the blade through the tape, his brow furrowed digging through packing popcorn. The bits of styrofoam threatened to spill all over the floor. Giving a heave of the object inside unsettled and overflowed several pieces over the box rim.

Callum lifted the wooden box in his arms. It was heavier than expected but he managed. Setting it on a table, he smoothed a hand down the front. A bundle of grapes carved onto each door. Giving it the look of artistic handles; other than that it was old, a bit worn and plain for the auction it was included in.

When he pulled at the doors they became stuck. "Damn," he muttered, sliding fingers along the edges before he felt a small lock. At the top holding the front doors together is a rusted keyhole. That's why it won't open. Gotta be a key. But he'll deal with that idea later.

"Eloise! Come look at the find I bought!" His smile brightened as he wanted her to see the ancient Greek pottery, turning his back on the locked wooden box.

Anonymous asked:

A jack-in-the-box tune plays faintly in the background slowly growing louder as if something is moving closer.

Callum recently returned from a trip across the pond. Getting in the thrills of famous English and Scottish auction houses. He had a few things bid, bought and shipped. One of those is definitely not what sounds like a jack-in-the-box. When he started going through things the sound randomly caught his attention. It didn't belong in his house. Antiques are one thing. He had no use or interest in the object that would be emitting that melody but it forced him to stop what he was doing, dig through and search other rooms.

The shipments are in one place. He would not have anything else scattered he didn't know about. What is that then? Unless someone is playing a joke but who and how would they get inside here. His security alarm never went off or reported anything.

The idea of her with someone else also hurt him. Then why would it matter if he said so? He had been seen in the public eye with a few other women. Even ones who he was not involved with but tabloids always assumed. As careful, as private as he tried to be they still stretched for the easiest piece of news.

All that mattered to him in this very moment though had nothing to do with press or projects. Instead it all had to do with her. The woman he loved. Still loves. Has there really been any other who held him that way? No, there hasn't and there won't be.

"Gen, I'm - sorry." Callum meant it more than he could verbalize. He wished he could do more. To erase it and go back to the start? Yes. He's been wanting that for too long.

Nodding at her suggestion of something hot to drink, Callum took her hand. "Hot cocoa sounds nice. We can share the experience. Warm drinks. Warm company. You. Me." With one motion his arms slid around her waist, pulling her closer and enabling him to embrace her how he used to. All cuddled p to his chest. His arms full of her warm body, he held that frown as her words cut deeper into him.

"Nobody was ever you. Nobody ever could be you. I'm sorry I hurt you that way. I thought I could move forward. Each time," Callum continued, giving a pause as he let his words sink in, "It didn't last for me. Because something was missing." The palm of his hand slid up against her back. Massaging in a comforting way, he inhaled her perfume. She smells one way. She feels one way. She is one way. The way he remembered when they were together last. Nothing could top her. Not this career, not winning an award. What's the sense if he cannot share his accomplishments with her? Forever the one who got away or the one who chose to stay behind while he blew off to travel the world of Hollywood.

"I thought you would have moved on too. When I came here. I expected that but I still wanted to see you again. Hold you again. Is that alright?" Callum wondered, lifting her head up by her chin. His fingers curled with the delicate curve of her jaw. Allowing his thumb to swipe beneath her bottom lip, his fingers danced up to wipe her tears away.

Callum dipped down. Way down to bring his lips to hers. A short peck. A brief one to test how she felt. But he let it happen. He let his resistance go. Another kiss, the second tasted sweeter at the texture of her lipstick smooth, rich on a plump mouth. In a kiss he expressed all those feelings, desires he still wanted to pursue with her. 

Anonymous asked:

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

"Travel we shall," he agreed, rising up from the stone seat. "I will make sure to have your kingdom among our travels. So you may see your parents." Homesick touches him at times. Even when he enjoys to move so much. If he may offer her any gift it is the promise of home. "Never fear that you will be lonely. I am here."

With a smile he reached into his cloak. Presenting her with a small present, Callum hesitated a moment. The brooch now nestled on his palm shined of gold and diamond. A wedding gift. One he hopes she wears for their ceremony.

Callum took her hand. "This belonged to my grandmother." Explaining the significance to the item, the king set it into her palm. “She once handed it down to my mother. To wear for the royal wedding with my father. Once she passed it was left in the care of my father's personal jewelry box. Now I would like to give it to you. So it may bring you joy, importance in our union. A swan is the most delicate of birds, most prized here in my kingdom. I see you as a beauteous swan."

There is more to the gift. It is a passage. Down to each bride. His first wife did not receive this. His mother was still alive at the time. Therefore she continued to wear it. Callum wants to continue the tradition. He never thought he would until now. "One day you may give it to one of our children."