musekickers box

Eating at the same table as Harmonia was a lot more stressful after the poisoning incident. And that was happening a lot more since Ajax had decided after the poisoning that Shrike would no longer eat alone in his room. And as Harmonia often joined Ajax in meals as well, being one of the more cared for of Ajax's wives, it was hard to avoid seeing Harmonia.

Shrike could tell she wasn't pleased about seeing him more from the way her upper lip had a slight sneer each time she saw him at the grand table. Shrike wasn't pleased to see her either.

The atmosphere was already toxic just by sitting there. He thought that if he had to be here for too long that he just drop dead. How he was expected to choke down food in this environment, Shrike had no idea. He was trying to eat still even so. 

He had just forced down a piece of some sort of fancy fish dish that he did not recall what it's proper name was, when Harmonia reached a arm across the table and towards Shrike. She was holding a small, cylindrical container of sorts in her hand. Said hand was making a path to Shrike's food. Shrike froze.

Was she actually going to try and poison him right here at the table in the open? Shrike was about to call her out for this when Harmonia spoke ever so nonchalantly. 

"Salt?"

Oh. Right. Salt at the table was a thing. He was feeling a little stupid now. From the big smile on Harmonia's face he could tell that she had known just what Shrike had been thinking.

Mind games. Wonderful.

"I think I'm good." Shrike replied, voice tight.

Harmonia was still smiling as she placed the shaker down. And Shrike thought he would end up breaking the spoon in his grip from how tight it was.

For his part Ajax had said nothing. Even though Ajax knew full well how Shrike felt about Harmonia. And of what he suspected her of. He had brought it up to Ajax early on in his poisoning recovery. The one and only time Shrike attempted to turn to his captor for anything. As much as it killed Shrike inside to do so.

"Harmonia did it." Shrike had said flatly.

"The issue is still being looked into-"

Shrike could not believe what he was hearing. Clear denial. Shrike threw his arms up in the air in frustration. 

"Come ON! It was Harmonia! You have to know that! She seems like someone who has a cookbook of poisoned meals."

"Just because-"

"Has anyone else who met her ended up poisoned?" Shrike asked.

That did make Ajax pause. Shrike was sure at that moment that he was starting to get through to him on this subject. Again, he was disappointed.

"As said, it is being looked into."

Shrike just about snarled.

"Fine. Denial. Just great. If I die because of her I'm haunting you. And you'll hate it because I can be a BITCH!"

With that Shrike stormed off, not even waiting for Ajax's reaction to that out burst.

Shrike would have to look out for himself it appeared. And he had done so as well as he could so far.

The next time that Shrike ate at the same table as Ajax and Harmonia, the air still felt heavy with that poison that was Harmonia's clear hatred and jealousy of him. At least she wasn't glaring at him out of the corner of her eye anymore. Maybe Harmonia was starting to ease up on her hatred? Maybe she realized that Shrike was not a threat to her and that-

"By the way, I have a gift for you."

Shrike thought for a moment that Ajax was addressing Harmonia. After all, she was the head wife. Why would he be addressing him? But when there was a stretch of silence and he saw that Harmonia was staring at him, Shrike understood it wasn't Harmonia he was talking to. He looked up to Ajax with shock.

"Wait... you're talking to me?" 

Ajax did not reply to Shrike. Perhaps thinking Shrike's question silly or meaningless. A server approached from Shrike's right, a small, black gift box in hand. They placed the box on the table in front of Shrike.

Shrike looked down at the box. He couldn't help but feel a ball of dread in his stomach. He did not want to open this. He wanted nothing from Ajax after all. And there was a fear that he would find something terrifying. Horrifying options flashed to mind and it only made that ball of dread bigger.

"Open it." Ajax said, spoken with a slight weight of annoyance.

Shrike silently prayed to the colors that there was nothing bad in this box, and with slightly trembling fingers, opened it.

Prayers were answered in that what sat in the box before him was just a piece of jewelry. A small, red, tear drop shaped jewel, on a silver colored chain. At the very least something Shrike would look at more with apathy rather then terror. And at first he truly did not care about the unwanted gift at all until he realized that there was still a problem in getting this gift. 

That problem being that Harmonia had witnessed it. Her expression was practically blank. Hiding what she thought about the scene playing out in front of her. Except for the few seconds of a sharp glare that was gone quick as it had appeared.

Well just great.

Shrike wanted to just turn down the offering. For one thing he had no interest in jewelry. Even if it were from someone he actually liked he would not be a big fan of it. He also did not want to give Harmonia more fuel for her perception of Shrike moving in on her territory.

It was too late to not make her upset now. Her gaze was barely on Shrike but he swore he could feel her burning hatred on him still.

"Why don't I help you put it on?"

Shrike hesitated.

"I'm not exactly-"

Ajax was already moving away from the table, to head over to Shrike's chair. He reached for the necklace gift, still behind Shrike and arms reaching on either side of Shrike. Shrike kept still, keeping his gaze down. Trying so hard to not shake. Ajax picked up the necklace and ever so gently, much more then he ever been with Shrike himself, put it onto Shrikes neck.

Once it was on, Ajax did not draw away from Shrike. Not right away. His hands lingered on Shrike's shoulders. 

"Lovely." he said.

Shrike kept his gaze ahead.

"What do you think Harmonia?" Ajax asked, finally looking away from Shrike.

Harmonia smiled sharp as ice.

"I think it suits him."