Romayne Vitalis

¼ ROLEPLAYS →  of dragon riders

Ed felt the air go out of him, his mouth falling open into a gape.  All the same, his imagination took off as he pictured those Southern Islanders being held in arid dungeons, lips parched for water, chapped and bleeding, being led to some grisly site for horrific punishment…Nervously, he laughed.  “I can’t imagine many attempt it, in that case.”  Ed cleared his throat and glanced away.  He was acting guilty.  He knew he was acting guilty.  But he was not.  “Funny, that’s just what Old Tom told me the Queen would do to me for pilfering, the first day I started work here.”  He was still clutching the cloth.  “Good job I’m not a thief, then, eh?”  He laughed.  “I’ve only so much skin to go around,” he added with a bright laugh.  Realized it wasn’t funny.  Shook his head.

Ed broke out into genuine (relieved) laughter at the sound of Romayne’s own chuckle.  “Oh, gods, you, you really had me going there,” he added, pointing at him.  He’d been perfectly serious about Old Tom’s threat.  He wondered, now, if either threat were true.  He decided not to test the theory, regardless. 

Realizing he was still clutching the cloth, he held it out to Romayne.  “I, uh, I did only mean to fold it, I swear,” he began.  “But it’s very beautiful and…the symbols…Is it true you worship the wind and the, uh, the earth, and such?” he added, gesturing first skyward and then earthward.  “I mean, that’s not really so different from Aragothi tradition, if you think about it.  We believe, you know, that the Creator formed dragons and what are dragons if not flame made flesh?”  Realizing he was prattling, he scrunched up his face and shook his head at himself.  “Not that…that would be any business of mine, Your Grace.”

“Men can be foolish when they are blinded by greed … or hunger. There were more attempts than you might think to steal what was mine away from me, despite the punishment. Your own good queen has was to execute pirates for stealing from her and they were not deterred by this possibility. To some, the promise of such a reward outweighs the risk of a horrible death.” Sometimes the life that was being left, was already a fate worse than death. Romayne sat the Queen’s council and although his position there held no real power, he heard and saw a great deal. The citizens of Aragoth were suffering under her rule, just as others had suffered under his own brother.

He titled his head, “Tell me, is there a thing here, amongst my treasures, that you would risk your life for?” He knew it would be a slightly uncomfortable question: say nothing and risk offending him; name something and raise suspicion … but Romayne couldn’t resist a bit of fun.

EXCEPT FOR THE WEDDINGS/FUNERALS/TRIALS BYEEEEE Romayne’s probs like ‘at least they have a lot of free entertainment around here’ jk jk ;DDD  Oh, yeah, I def do think he hangs around to ~attend on~ her majesty etc and hahaha omg I feel like he won’t??? know??? what???? to make of Romayne hahaha like Tristan is honestly so reserved most of the time and Romayne is…noT and he’s like ‘omg’ but I mean he’s also bffs w Arthur so like I do think he does tend to drift towards strong personalities it’s just w a lot of head-desk moments ;DDDD

ALL I HEARD IS YOU LIKE BRUNETTES IM SCREAMING tristan is like ‘idk what i expected’ tbqh and like trying???? to talk him out of it and I feel like it’s a total disaster #facepalm  I love it hahahaha

Ed Browne wanted to see the world.  He dreamed of traveling to every distant stream and tree, of vast deserts and far-flung seas.  He dreamed of emerald isles and mirror-like lochs.  He dreamed of mountains and of valleys and of icy crags.  There was no part of the world that did not appeal to his curiosity and, never having seen anything outside the capitol, he idealized them all.  Ed recalled the first time he had spotted Romayne Vitalis, dressed in outlandish garb, sporting an exotic accent and he stared, for he had never seen the like.

Recently, Lady Genevieve Beaumont had brought an atlas (which apparently belonged to Lady Lynessa, having once been a possession of the Fontaines - the one-time prized possession of Lady Ophelia, he thought he had heard someone say) to show her cousin, Princess Helena.  While they were out taking tea on a veranda, Ed had crept over to take a look.  It was perhaps the most beautiful book Ed had ever seen, all elaborate drawings and edged in gold.  The whole of the world spilled out before him on its pages and, as Ed traced his finger along the map, he saw brook and bird and bear in his mind while taking in the detailed drawings.  It was from this map that he had learned where the Southern Isles were, that they were desert isles, and that it would cost him more than a lifetime’s worth of his current wages to ever get there.

Rather than despairing, however, it had merely strengthened his resolve that Ed would find other occupations on the side to earn a little more.  He would not forfeit his dream.  The other thing it had done, however, was assure him that it would be some time before he would ever go much of anywhere and so, he knew, he must abide his time, for now, here.

These thoughts were at the forefront of his room, just now, as he had been sent to straighten Romayne’s chambers while he was out taking the air.  In Romayne’s case, he had always heard, this could be rather an ordeal as the place often was in a bit of a disarray.  It was rumored that, though promised to the Queen, he entertained many guests in his chambers at night (mostly of the female persuasion), but it was not Ed’s place to judge, particularly when he did not know the truth of the matter.  What he did know was that this was his first time trusted with such an important task as attending on the Price of the Southern Isles, himself.  That was usually entrusted to servants considered to be of a higher caliber than himself, but what with the upcoming trial of none other than the Duke of Raimbeaucourt, himself, many of them were otherwise engaged at present…leaving Ed to this.

The room didn’t look so bad, Ed noted as he slipped in (having knocked to verify that Romayne was not there), but there was a chest whose lid was thrown open.  From it folds of luxurious and colorful silks poured and jewels and precious metals, beaten into exotic designs, were housed.  These, he realized with glorious excitement, were genuine articles straight from the Southern Isles.  Ed’s eyes widened with wonder at the spectacle.  I’m just going to put the fabric back inside, he told himself.  And then close the lid.  That’s all.  

Kneeling before it, Ed stretched out his hand towards the closest item - a fine yellow satin embroidered with elemental insignias.  His throat caught in his chest, remembering something he’d read, once: The heretics of the Southern Isles worship none of the true gods, but rather bend the knee unto the heathen elements of wind and fire, of earth and water.  Lifting the item, he ran his fingers admiringly over the stitch-and-bead work, the fine softness of the fabric…and heard a creak behind him.

Still Romayne couldn’t resist scaring him a little: it had been a long, uneventful day (in a long series of uneventful days). When he first arrived, there was enough to occupy his days from weddings to murders to funerals -- but things had leveled out since then and his time as a glorified prisoner was starting to grate on him.

“Do you know what we do to men who try to steal from princes in the Southern Isles?” He asked, striding into the room with an authority he hadn’t exserted since he arrived here. He bent down to the servant’s level, “I would have your skin peeled from your bones.”

HonEStLY tho smh hahaha I feel like everyone who knows the truth is just waiting hahahaI think it’s known that he works for the queen, but I think he just appears to be some sort of guard or consultant or something I doubt ppl know he’s an assassin???? But I could def be wrong that’s frankly probs a call for Tina in terms of how open Rowena would be about it. But I’m guessing discreet? At least I know that’s what Cassius would counsel hahaha

Romayne trying to get him to smile!!!! Dgjoydvnj I feel like that is such a disASteR waiting to happen I love it!!!!! Like 1) Tristan is confident he’ll have to kill this guy asp 2) why smile when you can mourn?????? 3) pls don’t try to get me laid it might back it somehow even less likely that ophelia will want me dgitddfgj I need this hahaha

okay cool yeah but that makes total sense!!!! and like, yeah, as i was saying to u as cordelia, I feel like romanye is all about chatting it up with new people that he sees around b/c that’s like the most??? excitement ??? he gets (i mean except for all of the weddings/funerals/trials that have been going on since he got here but y’know). and since i can see tristan kinda hanging around in case the queen has need of him sometimes??? i can see romanye trying to hang out with him???? and trying to get him to liven up and be bros and LAKJSDLFJALFJALKFJALKFJALFKJ OMFG 

tristan: noooo i don’t wanna get attached to u b/c i’m probs gonna kill u also please don’t buy me a prostitute im in love with a fontaine that i have no chance with and i just wanna pine hopelessly #bye” ;DDD

Honestly Cordelia is the same and Arthur’s kill stare will probably only encourage her tbh (given that…she doesn’t know that he’s literally actually murdered someone yknow)!! She’s always a lil rebellious but esp now that everyone’s freaking out bc of Celia and Jon she’s like I DO WHAT I WANT smdh

Anyway I think she would genuinely enjoy Romayne’s pov on things!!!!!!! He’s so new and exciting!!!!!! And she’d love to live in the freer world he describes!!!!! Not having any experience of the reality of it she totally idealizes what he hears and!!!! excitement!!!!! She wants to live like that (aka her perception of how that’d be hahaha) and she’d be all Morris moss voice: ‘every value I’ve ever held is being questioned and im loving it!’ Smdh she’s like ‘I’m so glad we’re going to be cousins! We’ll have so much to talk about!’ And meanwhile the entire house of arrington is screaming hahaha

oMGGGGGG I hadn’t even considered that arthur’s kill!stare is super legit since he literally just killed someone who was gonna move da moves on cordelia hahahahAHAHAHAH (ngl while arthur is mostly like NO ONE LOOK @ ME I DEF DID NOT DO IT part of him kinda wants to be all SEE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN U TRY TO GET WITH CORDELIA AND I’M NOT OKAY WITH IT BACK OFF ASSHOLES ;DDD) 

alTHO tbh arthur’s death stare would probs only encourage romanye as well????? even if he knew how serious it was #facepalm 

Cassius hated weddings.  He also hated funerals and galas.  He hated all functions, really, anything that required turning out for idle chitchat with a populace he neither knew nor respected was wroth his time.  Yet still, to this day, if Rowena Godiva called, Cassius came.  These days, it was more habit than anything.  While he still felt a deep passion for her, it was turned now half to hate and, while he would never thoroughly cleanse himself of the all-consuming love he’d once felt for her, most of ithad turned sour and disillusioned far too soon after he’d served the purpose for which, he know understood, she’d selected him from the start.

She had fascinated.  Engaged and enchanted and enthralled.  She’d invited him into the labyrinth of her personality…only to abandon him there to despair.  And despair he had.  For fifteen odd years he’d been caught in the web of her betrayal, and for fifteen years he’d rued the day he’d given all he’d ever had for a chance at happiness with her.  Oh, he’d given in, too.  In his idle moments he liked to lay the blame at her feet - and certainly without her subtle manipulations he never would have done it - but he wouldn’t have caved if there’d not been something in him willing to do so.  He’d wanted her, he’d wanted to be consumed, to give his all and prove his worth and strike and succeed.  He’d wanted those things.  To prove himself and be found worthy.  

But he’d wanted less noble things, too.  He’d wanted to prove himself not only worthy, but superior.  And he’d cheated to achieve that end.  He’d wanted power and passion and he’d wanted to wash away the hot despair of failure, that menace which had haunted him his whole life long.  Instead of chasing away his phantom, he’d courted it and now it hung heavy at his ear and whispered sweet nothings in his ear.  He lived in perpetual horror of the ghost he’d made.  He had thought his success would prove sweet, but it proved the thwarting of all he’d thought he’d wanted - and soon the sweetness turned sour.  Even the things - even Rowena - he’d once loved, he grew to hate, poisoned by the horrors he known: the horrors he’d wrought.

He watched the bride now with faint disinterest, his eyes trailing motion more than anything.  Avelina served a strong, strong wine and he felt half-heady with it.  He ought to have known, really, that such a woman as that would not serve something light, but he’d underestimated her.  He suspected it had not been the first time.  He’d underestimated her and overestimated himself and the wine had gone straight to his head.  He’d have been glad of it, perhaps, had he been anywhere else.  But he had a job to do now.  By his own making, he was the last of the Dragonriders, and he ought to conduct himself as such.

It wasn’t until Romayne Vitalis spoke to him that he processed how far gone he was.  Framing an appropriate answer seemed foreign, when all he wanted to do was scream, but instead he tempered himself and spoke levelly, which was a small accomplishment in itself.  It was almost as though Avelina had hoped for fireworks at this wedding, serving so strong a drink.

“I believe every wedding around the world is intended to be joyous on some level,” began Cassius, cautiously.  “Smiles do not always arrive at intent upon execution, however.”  I am not a man for smiles, he thought.  Not now.  He smiled.  “Nothing particular troubles me,” he added, fixing Romayne with a long, hard look.  “But I doubt I shall smile at your wedding, either.”  He doubted anyone would, least of all Romayne.  

Once, he’d have half died of jealousy.  Had Rowena introduced him too soon after the Purge, in fact, Cassius might have murdered him on the spot, knowing all he’d given for a chance at that fate, but now…?  Now, oh, a part of him half-envied Romayne for always he’d held fast that dream - perhaps it wasn’t for naught!  Perhaps, still, their love would flourish! - but even then, he knew still, he loved Rowena no more than she loved him.  Oh, he’d loved, but too quickly after that night he’d realized he loved a shadow, a figment, an imaginary woman who no more existed than a unicorn.  

For the sake of that deceit, he’d destroyed everything and everyone he’d once loved, intoxicated by a fantasy.  He wished she’d enchanted him - perhaps he could live with himself more easily then - but he’d known what he was doing and he’d pursuied it.  And he’d gotten only disappointment, rejection, horror in return for the price he’d paid.  But it wasn’t really a price he’d payed - oh, he’d payed substantial interest in regret, but - it was a price he’d exacted from all of Aragoth, plunging them into the hellscape that was the choice he’d made.  All for a mistaken belief in a false fairytale.

He wondered if Romayne understood the trap into which he walked, or if he too had been fed the lies he’d all his life wished to hear.  He didn’t envy him, though he did half-hate him for reminding him of what had once been, but he pitied him more than he could ever say.  I’ve walked that road before, he would never say.  I’d do anything to go back.  

“And you, Lord Vitalis?” inquired Cassius.  “Does this spectacle inspire you with joy?”

“You doubt it?” Romayne asked, raising an eyebrow, “Why should I not smile on such a happy occasion?” Grinning broadly, even now as he asked the question. Cassius was not wrong, however. Romayne was not looking forward to marrying the Queen. But being her husband would certainly have its advantages. For one, he would get to fuck her. And another, he would get to taunt Cassius about it. 

He didn’t like Cassius Montagu from the moment he’d first heard stories about him. And now, having met him, he liked him even less. He could have perhaps given his past betrayals if he had, at the least, taken advantages of the power and position he had gained for himself. But he did not even do that. He tore down all those he had loved and now he lived a miserable existence. 

So what had it all been for? 

“I shall have the most beautiful and the most powerful woman in all of Aragoth as my wife. I could not think of a reason more deserving of a smile. Of course, the wedding itself interests me much less than the wedding night.” 

He looked around him. The wine was strong, even by Romayne’s standards, and he suspected that it was the wine (and not much else) that made everyone around them look so pleased. The mood the night before had been tense after the altercation between Jon Valles and Alexandir Godiva. It had been clear then (and while less so now, it was there if you knew what to look for) that no one particularly cared for the groom. 

The only two people who seemed happy was the couple, themselves.