#magicalshift

@magicalshift​​ :    graves is awake and reading by lamplight in the atlantragroud lounge when rielle returns in the early hours of the morning; of course, it's no surprise to graves. he knew about rowan's set. that rielle would sneak out to go was par for the course."you could've told me," he says as he looks over from his book, grey eyes cast in shadow. "instead of letting me worry when you didn't answer any calls or messages." if something had happened to rielle...

If he’s being honest, Rielle mostly regrets going out tonight. Sure, it’s always nice to see live music, especially from an artist who’s he’s actually invested in. But nothing had gone as planned. He’d slipped up, blown his cover, & not even halfway into the setlist the crowd had gathered around him instead of the actual musicians. Before he knew it Rielle was getting swarmed with people asking for his picture, asking his autograph, & even asking him to get on stage with the band. 

It didn’t matter how nicely he refused, it didn’t matter that all he’d wanted was a night to have fun. All he is to anyone is his voice. All he’s ever been to anyone is his voice. The only one in the room who maybe would have been different was too hurt seeing his brother take away his moment to see how much it hurt Rielle too. Rielle still hurts remembering the look on Rowan’s face as Rielle yet again makes another scene before leaving the club. 

Despite his early departure, Rielle’s still late getting back. He’d gone out to forget his problems, & he wasn’t intending on going home until they’re forgotten. But the effort doesn’t do much good when Rielle steps foot in the dorm & he’s given a reminder of every problem he’s ever had in the form of Barney Graves sitting on the other side of the room. 

“  Could I?  ”  Danger quivers in the prince’s voice as he speaks. Everything he’d been keeping in tonight bubbles in the pit of his stomach, threatening to boil over. “  So you could tell on me to Raphael again?  ”  

It’s been months since either of them had brought up the topic of his eldest brother. After Rielle had forgiven Graves for his betrayal of his trust, they’d both agreed not to talk about it. & they hadn’t...not until now at least. “  Well you can tell him that he’ll be pleased to know that I had an awful time. I know that’s the only thing either of you care about. As long as I’m not having fun you’re happy, right? Are you happy, Graves? Huh?!  ”

Piper’s eyes widen at the accusation — well, no, it’s very much not that, and they realize that as soon as their head lifts to actually look at him properly.  Oh, god, he’s sort of familiar, isn’t he?  The many faces from their youth tend to blur together, but the story brings back memories of grey eyes and the absolutely explosive (  literally  ) tantrum they’d thrown.  It had been worse than most of her others, at least prior to Jean, and so the memory clings just a bit.

And, yet, the surprised reaction need not mean guilt; what brother wouldn’t be surprised to have his HORRIBLE SISTER brought into the equation?  So Pearce constructs a shallow smile that’s half - apology for his sister, half - teasing for nothing at all.  “Oh, god, you met my sister, huh?”  She laughs and it’s all HIM, and a hand raises to push her bangs back from her forehead.  “Piper, yeah.  My twin sister.  Stupid, naive, childish, useless and annoying...”  They could go on / just like their parents could.  Ugly, pathetic, unnecessary child.  Worthless thing.  No one will want you so what good are you to us?  “Lighting an entire room on fire sounds about right.”

ABOUT GRAVES :     “  Graves is the most boring person I’ve ever met in my life.  ”  There’s a brief stretch of silence that suggests that this is all the prince has to say on the matter. But after a moment Rielle continues.  “  His idea of an exciting night is staying in with a book & a cup of tea. Seriously it’s impossible to take him anywhere! We can’t even go sailing because he always ends up puking all over the place. ”

ABOUT GRAVES - CLOSENESS :     “  A lot of people think it’s weird that I hang around a fuddy duddy like Graves. He’s not the kinda guy people would expect as Rielle Nerites’ best friend. But Gravy's never been that. He’s just Rie’s friend. He’s never treated me different or made me feel bad for being who I am. So maybe he’s not the perfect poster member of my posse. But he’s the perfect best friend.  ”  Certainly better than Rielle deserves.  “  Don’t tell him I said that though, kay? I’ll never hear the end of it.  ”

@magicalshift​ :    " if you fall and break your royal neck... i'm not taking responsibility. " it's the only warning rielle gets as graves watches him climb the tree, his own feet planted firmly on the ground beneath.

❛   oh, gravy boat you’re such a buzzkill!   ❜  despite his words, the prince doesn’t look bothered in the slightest. in fact the eleven year old prince beams at the other boy as he sits himself down on one of the higher tree branches. rielle lets out a laugh, shifting himself until he’s hanging upside down from the branch by his legs. 

he’s never really had the chance to do something like this before. the other times his mother has brought him to visit the surface, he was under constant supervision & was forbidden from doing anything unprincely. technically rielle is being supervised now but the young prince already deems the young graves’ supervising much more tolerable. even if he’s a bit stuffy he doesn’t yell at rielle when he does something he shouldn’t. nor does he seem super keen on winning his favor either. which is unlike most people the merman is forced to hang around. therefore even within knowing the other a short while, rielle decides he likes barney graves. 

the prince decides to swing back & forth from where he hangs, taking great delight in the way graves’ expression twists in concern & worry. rielle laughs, feeling on top of the world both physically & mentally as he swings a bit faster.  ❛   you know you should try this some time! it’s a bit of a head rush but it’s really fun! who knows maybe it’ll even help with your -- whoa!    ❜  

there’s a great snapping sound as the branch rielle’s resting on splits in two, leaving the boy to tumble down to the ground with a hearty thud. he lands flat on his back, already feeling the impact bruise him. graves lets out a gasp, wide gray eyes searching over rielle’s face to check that his companion hand’t been severely harmed. “  are you alright?  ”  the twelve year old asks, concern & genuine fear lacing his usually steadfast demeanor. 

rielle opens his eyes, simply staring back up at the other with a stunned expression on his face. & then the prince bursts into laughter.  ❛   that was so fun! haha, you should’ve seen the look on your face! you looked like you were gonna pee your pants!   ❜ 

               graves scowls. “  that’s not funny! you almost gave me a heart attack!  ”

    ❛   but i didn’t break my neck see! i’m fine!   ❜  to emphasize this rielle quickly stands.

graves sighs, reaching to take rielle’s wrist so that he may lead him back towards the beachside castle, looking incredibly irritated as he does so. “  let’s get you back inside. maybe you haven’t broken your neck but we can’t rule out a head injury. ”  the boy then mumbles something under his breath rielle can’t quite make out past “ -- acting like this.  ” perhaps if it were a different circumstance this indignation would have hurt the younger’s feelings. however rielle is only relieved that graves is willing to call him out to his face. which isn’t something that can be said of the merchildren he’s hung around. perhaps humans are kinder in that regard. 

❛    graves i’m back!   ❜  the prince calls from the top of the staircase having just snuck back into the dorm through climbing an open window. he then moves to unceremoniously slide down the railing. rielle lands on his feet, beaming before rushing over to his best friend’s side. ❛   i have something to tell you! but first --- you have to promise you won’t get mad.    ❜

@magicalshift​​ :    graves is doing his best to focus on the book he has open, electing to pay no mind to the twin of rielle's boyfriend he's been practically abandoned with. very cute, rielle, graves thinks drily. he was dragged off-campus with the promise of it being a fun outing and a chance for graves to really meet jade finally, and the fact that the twin was coincidentally also coming along was conveniently left out... " if you don't mind, " he says to floyd, excusing himself into a mental leave to read.

graves may have excused himself from floyd’s attention, but floyd has yet to relinquish his newfound interest in the other. the eel scoots closer, carelessly draping an arm around the elder’s shoulder. on grave’s other shoulder floyd places his chin, peering curiously at the book he’s holding. ❛    eh? what’s that ya readin’ barnacle?    ❜  its hard to say whether floyd has a sincere interest in the book or merely takes enjoyment in bothering graves. perhaps both as he inches even closer to him.