Fabien Geroux

The Italian could not imagine the dilemma that all three of them were in because of this new arrangement. She had known Grace and Fabien from when she was a bambina and bonded with them so she emphasized strongly for them too. “But you are best friends. I am sure nothing could change that, even if things are a little strained now.” Though she wanted to ask why he would not consider asking for a change in betrothal as the oldest Rossi had mentioned, she dared not ask. Instead she was surprised when he apologised which she thought was a little odd. “You are not doing anything, Fabien. You’re my friend too. I guess you might need someone to talk to anyway and I might not be able to help but I can listen.”

.

“You are far more optimistic than I am” said Fabien. He was grateful for her words, but wasn’t nearly as confident in his friendship with Luka as Laela seemed to be. “Still, its nice to hear that someone has hope this will all turn out okay.” He gave her a small smile. “So thanks for listening without judgement.” Not everyone would have been nice enough to do the same. He cleared his throat, then said “Anyway, is there anything I can do to return the favor? I can at least offer to listen if you have anything you need to talk about as well.”

“They are. But I don’t outright blame them for it. I don’t excuse it by any means,” she defended. It seemed as though they would agree to disagree there. But it made Grace a little twitchy to think what some of the royals would do once they were confirmed in their position of power. “And what is it that you want, Fabien?”

Fabien sighed, shrugging is response to her question. “I don’t know what I want” he admitted. “But I would have liked the chance to figure that out for myself.” Between his parents and the pirates, he’d been stripped of the ability to make most choices for himself. “I want to be happy, I guess. I want you to be happy too.” 

Looking around Arielle spotted Fabien coming towards her and a sincere smile showed up her face as he waved. “Well maybe about two years?” she replied to the prince she knew on her trips to France. They were both crowned royals and since their countries were one next to another, it was frequent that they visited each other and with time, they knew each other pretty well. “I’m enjoying food and drinks so it’s going pretty good. How about you?”

“I think that’s about right” he agreed. “Its been hard to keep track, if I’m honest.” On the island, Fabien found it difficult to keep track of the days. He knew it had been a while since he was kidnapped, though, so two years sounded accurate. “I’m trying to enjoy myself” he said agreeably. “I’m hoping the alcohol helps with that.” Despite the party, Fabien couldn’t forget that at the end of the day he was still being held hostage.

There was nothing Arielle hated about summer. Well maybe mosquitoes, but that was it. It was one of her favorite seasons along with spring so to say that the Belgian princess was enjoying it, was something obvious. You could see it on her sight, the glow that emanated from the feeling of the weather on her skin, the endless nights she’d sit on the beach to enjoy the summer breeze. Yes it was one of her favorite seasons. And the party…she was lately enjoying the events the Tulach threw to get relaxed and to bond. That was why she was standing on a corner, glass in hand and looking around, enjoying the view. 

Fabien had finished the drink he had in his hand and decided to grab another. On his way to the table where the drinks were, he spotted Arielle in a corner. Waving, he headed in her direction. Once he reached her, he said “I feel like its been a while since we saw each other last.” The two royals had countries that were right next to each other, so Fabien liked to think he knew the princess fairly well. “How are you enjoying the party today?”

     𝐍𝐈𝐊𝐊𝐈 𝐍𝐎𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐃, alcohol makes every party feel better. Once he inquired her smile increased. ❛ I did! Easy peasy! ❜ She giggled proudly of herself for sneaking into the cinema, with Isak. Sneaking at the theaters with a man as big as Isak, it’s a masterpiece. The brunette had to make this comment, making her eyes-rolls. ❛ Mon amour, you only live ONCE in your life, don’t let the things ruin your good time. Also, you’re young ONCE too. ❜ Nikki got lucky twice, so far. One for slapping a pirate (Miles), that happen to be a TULACH without getting any punishment, and now this. The Russian knows she shouldn’t test her lucky, because ‘the lucky’ didn’t knock on the same door twice. Probably she won’t tell her baby sister, or Vasilia would die in heart attack with Nikki’s shenanigans. 

“Well, as long as you didn’t get caught, I suppose no harm came from it” Fabien said. Then he shrugged. ‘I’ll try to have a good time” he promise her. “But we’ll see how it goes.” Fabien was very much aware that life was short, but he didn’t want to do anything stupid that would cut his life any shorter. “Anyway, how about we both get ours a drink?” he suggested. “In my experience, these parties are more fun when you have plenty of alcohol in your system.”

         𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄, 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐄 into Fabien, one more time. Her ex-boyfriend... Hopefully, they don’t get into the topic where she doesn’t know if she was fighting him or discussing him. She flashed a delicate smile. ❛ I definitely am, Petit Gateau. ❜ She blows kisses to him, teasingly. The blonde approaches of the brunette, before ruffling his hair. ❛ Alcohol.  ❜ And then… ❛  So, Fabs. I think I regretted not making a bet with you the last time. I went to the cinema here, and it was showing Meet Joe Black. And sure, I sneaked there inside without being caught.❜ Nikki is almost a professional at being sneaky, due to the antics she used to do in the winter palace.  ❛ Ha, HA, ha!  ❜ She stuck out her tongue for him.

Fabien’s smile grew wider as she called him by the pet name she had for him. Even thought they weren’t a couple anymore, the prince still enjoyed Nikita’s company. “Alcohol makes every party about a thousand times better” he agreed. “Especially one around here.” He couldn’t imagine having to party with the pirates while sober. “You did?” he said in surprise. The smile disappeared from his face. “That sounds dangerous.” Who knew what the pirates would do if they found out a royal was sneaking around the island in places she wasn’t supposed to be.

Teddy had found the effort that had gone into the Valentine’s Day event particularly impressive but that seemed, in some sense, to pale in comparison to the sheer excitement in the air where the bonfire was concerned. It was, once again, a welcome change to have something to celebrate if only for a night and he was already on his second drink and enjoying the pleasant buzz of alcohol that felt just a bit stronger than anything he was used to; then again, he mused, he’d been borderline sober before he’d been brought to the island and his body evidently hadn’t adjusted to his previous distaste for alcohol. He turned around at the sound of footsteps behind him and raised his drink with a broad, easy grin, “It is a good party, no? I’m surprised by how much everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. Reminds me of university,” He said cheerfully. “Are you having a good time?”

Fabien was already on his second drink and was feeling a little less grumpy than usual, thanks to the alcohol in his system. So he’d started to mill about with the other party-goers, looking for anybody he wouldn’t mind talking to. Spotting Teddy, he approached his future brother-in-law. Raising his own drink, he said “So far it seems like a decent party.” If there was one thing these pirates seemed to do well, it was throw a party. “It seems a little odd the pirates want us to have fun right now, but I’m not going to say no to the chance to drink.” He hadn’t had any since the Valentine’s Day several months ago. He laughed and nodded his head. “It reminds me of university too.” If Fabien was honest, he missed those days. Everything seemed so much simpler back then. “That remains to be seen, but things seem promising” he said in response to Teddy’s question. “How about you? Are you enjoying yourself?”

           NIKKI COULDN’T BELIEVE WITH HER EYES, and the blonde a tad tipsy of alcohol already. But this isn’t some imagination, there is ACTUALLY, slip n slide; and she couldn’t help her tone went high-pitch level. ❛ Yetzeeeeh! ❜ Clapping her hands, and running over the beeline, and then she walked backward when was her turns, and throws herself with everything, enjoying the slides. Her body and her clothes were wet due to her activity. And she was all messy, but she doesn’t care. She is having her moment on this thing.

Fabien glanced up from where he’d been watching a pair of royals play volleyball to see his ex-girlfriend sliding across the beach. Laughing at her reaction, he said “I take it you’re having a good time today?” He was doing his best to enjoy the day, not wanting to put a damper on anybody else’s good mood. “How have you been holding up?” he asked her.

“I would tell it, in detail, but I feel as though I need a little privacy,” he teased, wiggling his eyebrows because he was most definitely teasing him. He wanted to get a rise out of Fabien, wanted him to know that he was undoubtedly joking. He had, and never would have, an interest in his fiance. “What’s wrong, Fab?” he asked. “Trouble in paradise?” He took a piece of fruit and popped it into his mouth, laughing softly. “You know you can talk to me about it, if you wanted to.” 

Fabien laughed at that. “Since when are you shy?” he asked his cousin. At Casimir’s question, Fabien took a sip of his drink before he spoke again. “Its not exactly easy being betrothed to somebody when she’s in love with your best friend.” Grace had been angry with him at first, but now she just seemed sad. As for Luka, the two princes had not spoken in some time and Fabien was positive his friend was still furious. “As if we didn’t have enough things to worry about right now without this on top of it.”

“I don’t mind comedies. As long as they actually are funny and not overtly vulgar.” While she found Monty Python humorous, things like The Hangover did not amuse her. “Only the ones who have actively hurt us. I don’t think they’re all inherently evil.” After all, who could blame them? They hadn’t asked for a death sentence right off the bat for simply existing. “Little girls dream of a happy ending and the ‘romance’ of an arranged marriage, but they’re not…perfect.” How long ago had she dreamed that her betrothal to Luka was a happy ending? 

“They’re all responsible for kidnapping us” he pointed out. “A crime anybody deserves to end up in prison for.” Add to that the fact that kidnapping royals could be considered treason, and Fabien had no sympathy for the pirates. He believed they had made their choices and now had to live with the consequences. “Nothing in life is as perfect as we imagine it might be” he said. “I suppose everyone wants what they can’t have.”

“It was bound to be a bit of a mess, no? My brother is a good man but he doesn’t always think things through and abdicating and returning to the throne has thrown a wrench in quite a lot of things even before Grace and I were kidnapped,” Teddy replied, sniffing briefly as his gaze shifted towards Fabien, bright and full of sympathy. “Have you spoken to Grace much, lately? In general, I suppose, or about this specifically? We can’t always choose the way things happen to us but I’m a firm believer in the fact that we can always try to make the best of the situations we’re presented with. It may take time but things will be alright. I think so, anyway.” He paused for a moment before a slow, sheepish smile bloomed on his features, “I’ve really just proved myself to be the naive little boy of our friend group, haven’t I?” He joked, mussing his hair with one hand as he laughed in earnest.

“It is a fine mess he landed us in” said Fabien in agreement. “Not that I don’t think Grace will be a great queen for my people. But what kind of relationship can we have when she clearly loves somebody else?” He shrugged at his own question. Then he said “We’ve spoken a little. I think she’s over being mad at me for not telling her, but she’s still clearly upset about the betrothal.” And there was nothing Fabien could do about that. Especially not while trapped on an island, cut off from his parents. “But I’m glad at least one of us is optimistic this will turn out okay” he added, giving Teddy a small smile. “Maybe a bit. But I’m just happy you’re not mad at me, so you won’t get any complaints from me.”

The fact that he was stressed should not come as a surprise especially after knowing what Luka had told her. But she was not so insensitive to bring it up when he had not. Perhaps he came to the hot springs to run away from the problems that plagued his mind. Except he brought it up so there was no reason for her to tiptoe around the issue anymore. “I just heard about it.” She told him honestly before letting out a soft sigh. “I wish I could do or say something that could help, Fabien. Everyone is so worried about this and I feel quite helpless.” And she dared not even think about how either parties who were caught in this arranged betrothal mess feeling. “Have you spoken to mi fratello since?”

“There’s really nothing any of us can do about it” Fabien said with a heavy sigh. “Especially not while we’re trapped here and everyone has no idea if we’re even still alive.” At her question, he shook his head. “I don’t think that would be a very good idea.” He was positive Luka was still upset and didn’t want to make things worse by having the two of them get into a fight. “Sorry” he added. “I didn’t want to drag you into our mess.” She didn’t need to hear about his issues with her brother.

Matt grinned at this because Fabian was right. You do need at least two but with Matt’s determination and energy level he could probably knock himself out on his own. Flailing limbs have a way of doing that. “Consider it one of my many talents.” he laughed with the prince and went around towards his drink cart. “Sure. Not like I’m going to get you plastered.” He picked through the bottles and said, “It depends what you like. I’ve got rum, whiskey, vodka. There’s some bourbon, too.” He’d offer the aguardiente and tequila but that was more for shots than actual drinks. Well….he could always make a tequila sunrise but that was too much work. Also he doesn’t have any grenadine. Matt picked up the bourbon and poured himself a glass. “There’s beer in the fridge if that’s more your speed.” 

“One of many?” Fabien said with a grin. “You really don’t have much an ego, do you?” he teased. Then he said “Whiskey sounds perfect right about now.” Fabien wasn’t going to get wasted, of course. But a drink or two would help him feel less awkward about being in a pirate’s villa. And since the royals didn’t get to drink that often, he figured he should make the most of it while the pirate was offering. “I did develop an appreciation for beer during my university years” he added. “But I think I need something a little stronger tonight.” 

The sound of his boots scuffing against the planks of the dock at the edge of the island was one that brought Alec Tulach equal parts comfort and misery— being on the sea was in his blood but he had avoided joining his family long enough and he could admit that he missed them far more than he might tell them ( far more than he’d tell Emerson, at any rate, because she’d never let him hear the end of it ). He nodded briefly to one of the mates unloading the cargo they’d brought along with them before he whistled sharply and smiled when his dog Penelope trotted up to settle at his feet– her tail wagging eagerly when he reached down to give her an affectionate scratch behind the ears. “Home sweet home, eh, my girl?” Alec murmured, the rolling burr of his accent thick and present for the first time in months. It felt comfortable, at least, not to disguise the parts of himself that came the most naturally.

“We should check in, eh?” He asked, blue eyes flickering towards Penelope whose tail was still wagging happily. She barked twice and Alec grinned as he reached for the rolled spliff tucked behind his ear and lit it– taking a slow drag as he patted his thigh to encourage Penelope to follow him and pushed away from the docks towards the center of the cluster of buildings that made up the island’s infrastructure. It was only a few minutes before a large building came into view and Alec found himself lingering outside with the cigarette hanging from his lips as he crouched to give Penelope proper attention before a shadow fell over him, “The smoke botherin’ ye or something? Or is the dog that’s caught your eye?” He raised his gaze with a broad smile, “Or d’ye want a puff? Ask real nice, now– I don’t give this up for just anyone.”

Fabien had been sitting on the porch of the big house, watching the people who were walking around the island. It was one of the things he’d gotten into the habit of doing since coming to the island, if only for lack of anything else he could do. Spotting someone he hadn’t seen around here before, he decided to approach him. The other man was probably a pirate, since Fabien did’t recognize him and he had a dog with him. In which case the royal thought it was better to figure out the other man’s personality now, rather than later. After the pirate spoke to him, he said “No particular reason. Although now that you mention, you do have a rather eye-catching dog.” He glanced down at the animal. “What breed is she?”

Casimir came up to where his cousin sat in the mess hall, taking the plate of food in his hands and placing it down on the table in front of him. Popping a piece of fruit into his mouth, he chewed and swallowed it before even greeting his cousin. “I saved your fiancee from being locked in a closet the other day,” he told him, a teasing smirk on his face as he watched for Fabien’s reaction to the story. “I was a real hero. She might be in love with me now.” He picked up another piece of fruit and brought it to his mouth, smirking wider as he chewed. // @princefabien​

Looking up as he heard Casimir approach him and sit down across from him, Fabien gave his cousin a smile. “Oh yeah?” he said in surprise, his eyebrows raised. “I feel like there’s a whole story there I need to hear.” Then he groaned. “I know you’re joking, but that’s the last thing I need to hear right now” he said. “Besides, don’t you have your own fiancee to worry about?” Last he heard, his cousin and the Scottish princess were head over heels for each other. He was happy for Casimir, glad at least one of them had a betrothal that would work out well.

Fabien was surprised that the other prince was speaking to him right now, and let silence hang in the air for a moment before he replied. Finally he said “What makes you think I feel any differently? I told you before, you’re my best friend and I didn’t ask for a betrothal to Grace.” There was nothing any of them could do about it, anyway. Especially not while they were trapped on this island.

Fabien laughed at that. “That makes two of” he admitted. “Although I suppose the complexities that make use hard to understand are also what make us interesting.”