Aulus Acheson & Sekhad

aulus: hi, cecily! how’re you?

sekhad: not that i care

aulus: except that i do

sekhad: but not really

IM ONE TOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! sekhad like!!!!!!!! ‘omg!!!!1 i thought i was alone!!!’ aulus like ‘oh god there’s two of them...’ and cue: absolute chaos™

tfwaulus​:

ldksfjaksldjfjdskjf omgggg if we play this right, this might manage to become the weirdest dynamic we’ve ever written…which is saying a loT tbqh heehee i also feel like aulus will be pulling a james and dropping hella hints that absolutely no one else gets and meanwhile aulus will be sweating and tryna cover it up and…disaster alksdfjlksdflj

alkjflkajflkj OMG!! Also, I feel like Roland does that sometimes, too, and ofc while there isn’t anyone to cover it up for him sometimes he realizes that maybe he’s gone a bIT too far with some of his hints and then backtracks on himself and aljflasjflajf this will be gold!!

ok so 1) im totally open to whatever if one works better for you than the other!!!! 2) imma do some out-loud thinking about aulus’ life story so:

aulus was born illegitimate (which was cool in arkhadel, his home country) and, as his mother, the ruler’s, firstborn, was regarded to be the future ruler of arkhadel.  however, aulus’ mom married ocatavian ramsay and mithiria annexed arkhadel etc when aulus was still pr little (given the ages of his legit siblings), and mithiria now trying to press arkhadel to configure to its own laws...and accept ramsay heirs as their future rulers, smth still hotly dbated!!  as a result of all this, aulus has probs spent time most of his time in arkhadel and a bit in mithiria.  i can also see him occasionally going to aclea and traveling around other nations as well (his mama wants him to drum up support for his own future regime, after all...) so!! that’s him.

now to horatio and roland...horatio is, of course, a drake aviator, so he can whoosh about wherever he likes v quickly...so...tbh actually either way totally works w aulus’ backstory!!  but, this all does mean he’s much more likely to have met horatio, himself, than roland, but if horatio was traveling w some of his retinue including, say, the turners, roland could’ve easily gone w them, too, so...the ol’ switcheroo could also potentially happen in other countries as well so lsdjafkjdsf actually meeting either/or is totally plausible, esp if you think roland has traveled outside aclea w the turners but honestly even if he hasn’t!!  aulus is pr well traveled and, while he probs spend relatively little time in aclea compared to others, he still goes there on occasion, id think

sdkf,sdfkaljsdlf ok so yeah!!!!! having met horatio and roland is totally plausible, but so is having met one or neither of them! so we’re totally open!

so, if pre!sekhad has met roland and/or horatio things might be *drum roll* as follows:

SCENARIO 1: aulus met roland as roland.  ok, so, aulus is pr rich so this makes him a pr good target for any robin hood-ing shenanigans...but he’s also highkey principaled and after taking approx five minute off-road tour of poorer towns/valenmouth slums etc in aclea, he was probs pr disguisted and if he walks in and some dude is stealing stuff that aulus doesn’t need (and frankly probs thinks is gaudy and gross af), he’s probs like ‘wait, you forgot this,’ and tosses him his regency!wallet before roland climbs out the window.  whether or not he saw roland’s face tho idk and/or like roland highway robs him or whatever while he’s riding around tryna get to know the region etc idk but yknow still the same net result.  again, aulus may or may not ever see his face.  alternately: they just met in, like, the market one day or smth and struck up a convo idk but its a more ordinary sort of meeting.  this may or may not be in conjunction w the above...anything’s possible idk

SCENARIO 2: aulus meets roland!horatio.  ok so aulus is a prince, right, so either like he gets a nice lil tour the first time he comes to aclea or horatio is summoned to court to subtly ~show off their drakes to foreign powers~ (septimus like ‘and pls remember to be polite to me bc i have dragons xoxo gossip ramsay), and/or they meet while roland is playing horatio out in the wider world somewhere basically, idk, but however this goes, its actually roland and madness ensues

SCENARIO 3: aulus meets roland AND horatio.  so this gets a part a and a part b.  a) he meets roland as roland and, separately, horatio as horatio (which may or may not include additionally meeting roland as horatio as well) and b) he meets both of them as ‘horatio’

SCENARIO 4: he just plain meets horatio as horatio, no roland involved

SCENARIO 5: he hasn’t met either

so, obv any one of these would shift their dynamic now!  if he has any kind of knowledge of horatio or roland, that has a big difference on their relationship going forward.

SCENARIO 1: he knows roland.  he doesn’t know horatio, so when he meets him...he thinks he ~is roland in disguise and likely assumes there isn’t a ~real horatio and its just roland.  depending on how things go, he may or may not be right in assuming the person he’s met is roland lasdkjfkljdsfj potentially interesting: horatio realizes that this guy clearly knows roland as roland, then giving horatio some potential places he could go w that: either trapping roland and/or aulus, etc.  and/or he doesn’t ~know that he knows roland bc he didn’t see his face, see: SCENARIO 5

SCENARIO 2: aulus probs just thinks horatio’s a little...odd????? bc horatio makes all these jokes about himself but he’s also seen the results of horatio’s actions etc in aclea and he’s not about that lakjsdfkjldsf but also that one time he was told to beat someone to death he ~didn’t or whatever so yeah not #theworst™ but could def be better

SCENARIO 3: def getting weird vibes from this guy: one minute he’s one thing, the next he’s another...aulus himself def won’t be giving ppl those vibes in future, no sir

SCENARIO 4: not a fan, no thanks, pls get better

SCENARIO 5: its open season and everything is possible

Eleanor, at this point, had simply had more than she could take. 

“No, no, no!” Eleanor shouted as she ran down the path that lead from her home to the road. 

“But Miss Eleanor…!” she heard Robert Persimmons exclaimed from behind her. She didn’t bother to look back. She knew if he was even trying to keep up with her that he had to look utterly ridiculous. 

“I’m going to the dragonhold and Mor has told me in no uncertain terms she will eat you if you set one foot inside!” Eleanor hollered over her shoulder as she saw the stone wall that marked the end of the property. 

Her dragon, Morwenna, had said nothing of the sort. The dragon, somehow, seemed to have a sensibility at times that her rider did not. When Eleanor suggested Morwenna make a snack of Mr. Persimmons, her dragon had reminded Eleanor that was a one way trip to a very unhappy ending for them both. 

Robert knew nothing of this, however, and as he was clearly terrified of every dragon, docile or not, she knew even the slightest thought of being eaten by a dragon would be a deterrent. There were not many things that would stop Mr. Persimmons dead in his tracks (save tripping over his own feet!) but mentioning her dragon would at leave buy her enough time to escape from his unwanted attentions. 

Eleanor rounded the corner at a most unladylike speed, not planning to stop until she’d made it to the old oak tree at the bend in the road, but found herself instead slamming headlong into a figure that was just out of sight behind the stone wall that lined their property. 

Thrown off balance, Eleanor tumbled to the ground. Her first thought was that she would have to apologize to Cecily– she’d borrowed one of her dresses and had managed to get it dirty before noon! She only hoped she hadn’t ripped it as well. 

“What are you doing, lurking around our gate like that?” Eleanor snapped at the stranger, pushing herself off the ground and brushing as much dirty as she could off her skirt before she stood. Finally standing back up, she took in the figure before her and let out a heavy sigh. Aulus Acheson, Prince of Voraena, had found another reason to stroll pass the Turner House.

“Your Highness,” she said dully, curtseying in a dramatic fashion worthy of Rober himself. “Forgive me– we are not used to royalty lurking unannounced by our gate,” she continued, her words laced with heavy sarcasm. 

Despite being the baby of the family, Eleanor had always been very protective of her sisters but most especially, even when they were very young, of Lucy. All the Turner girls knew how uncomfortable it made their sister to meet and converse with new people, yet the visiting royal seemed to be insistent on speaking with Lucy whenever he could. 

That, Eleanor supposed, she could forgive. Lucy was, in her opinion, one of the smartest and most interesting people in all of Elsbridge. From all accounts, the prince was well known for his love of books and learning, much like Lucy, and she could only assume the Prince had taken an interest in her sister because of that. What Eleanor could not forgive was the Prince’s unpredictable temperament– which they’d all experienced! From being kind and cordial one minute to sarcastic and sardonic the next, it was like having a conversation with two completely different people. 

Sekhad, however, required no such recovery.  “Lurking?” demanded the daimon, indignantly.  “My dear girl, I do not lurk, such is the domain of petty thieves and failed, would-be librarians,” he added, with disdain towards his human counterpart.  (Aulus sighed.)  “I am most certainly not that.”

He paused.  “As for the reason, a foolish acquaintance of mine had quite gotten it into his head to call upon Miss Lucy but, I must say, I should much rather confer with you.  Of the two sisters, you seem the more spirited, a quality which I find refreshing in any entity.”

“I am always pleased,” interjected Aulus, displaying the strange penchant he seemed to have for constantly interrupting himself.  “For any opportunity to converse with anyone of your family.  It is always a pleasing thing to find likeminded people so far from home, but particularly those with such intriguing life experiences as your entire family may boast.  I have known many wonders, Miss Turner, but to be a dragonrider must, I think, be a thing entirely set apart.  I wonder -- would you someday do me the honor of introducing me to your dragon?  I’ve never seen one up close, little less had an introduction, and I understand they are the most amazing creatures in our world.”

It was Sekhad’s turn to sigh, but, perceiving the danger as Mr. Persimmons’ voice rang out in breathless shocks from somewhere beyond Eleanor, he grimaced.

“Heaven forbid,” Sekhad muttered as she said that Mr. Persimmons would entertain him.  “Miss Turner, if you have mercy upon me, I shall show you the same in kind and, together, we may rid ourselves of your ‘illustrious houseguest’ for the entirety of our interview.  Am I not, after all, meant to be the Prince of Voraena, and you a draconic aviatrix?  May we together not collude and give him to understand that there are secret national matters which we must discuss privily?  What do you say?” he asked, eyes dancing with a strange kind of bemusement all his own.

Bemused, he smiled, casting his gaze out the window before returning his ageless gaze to her.  “I’m afraid you’ve come to much the wrong being for advise,” he purred, eyes narrowing.  “I only ever counsel trouble.  It’s far more interesting, don’t you think?”

His brows arched and he barked out a laugh.  “Keep it to myself?  Where would be the fun in that?  If you did not wish to hear my quips, child, I daresay you would have gone elsewhere.”  He sighed, tapering fingers closing over the edge of the armrest thoughtfully.  “Or perhaps,” he muttered to himself, a mite irritable.  “You really wanted his advice.”  He meant, of course, Aulus who was, in general, far more helpful but, in Sekhad’s immortal estimation, far less amusing.

Standing, he marched over to her, placing both his hands upon her shoulders, his native arrogance shining in his eyes.  “Truly, Arya, you have a soul that longs for more.  Love always betrays us in the end, I assure you.  You were better off before he reappeared.”

Pacing away from her again, he moved towards the window.  His voice, when he spoke, was cold, devoid of its usual color, emotion.  “My advice?  Push him out a window, set him aflame: have your fun and be done with him.  Your queendom is where immortality lies not,” he waved a dismissive hand.  “So-called love.  You can loose your soul in longing for it and, even when you most cling to it, find you never had it at all.”  He turned to face her again, hands locked behind his back, eyes dark and flinty.  “Take it from me.”

As she thanked him, however, his usual languidity rolled slowly over his shoulders once more and, shortly, he laughed.  “Oh, that.  I assure you, Arya, I shall always be there to help you give in to your weaknesses.  I hold nothing with so-called propriety.  It is a sham.  The only truth is inside us, not without.  And, besides, it will make a fine story, if it does get out,” he teased, eyes dancing, now, darkly teasing.  “Even if it does ruin you.”

Sighing as she spoke of her Mr. Clarke, he pressed his eyes shut.  His own love life had created the worst situation for him he’d ever known.  He hoped he did not see her (willingly, no less!) walk down the same path.  Still, her eyes were glowing and Sekhad was not so heartless as he liked to seem.  “Go on, then.  Tell me.  Did you two manage to settle things?  Is he still as dream-worthy as he seemed when you were but a girl?”

Bridgerton Season 2 (2022)

The daimon was silent, just now, a wonderful kind of blessing as far as Aulus was concerned, both from its rarity and from his own particular dislike to the entity in question.  Daylight streamed upon his shoulders with pleasant warmth while a cool breeze kept the temperature quite as he might have wished, and Aulus felt almost like himself again, almost as if his mind and his body were entirely his own.  Oh, that was an illusion he knew well enough, but some wistful part of him indulged it.

As he moved along on his pleasant countryside stroll, he spotted another figure along the path.  The person, it seemed, was a lady.

It’s Lucy Turner, said the daimon within their shared brain, breaking the tranquil silence.

Can’t I have a moment of peace?

Oof, how lovers do quarrel.  I can ask her to go away if she’s disturbing you.

Not her!  You.  Be quiet!

Shall I send a billow of air her way to knock her over that you might gallantly come to her rescue?

What!  No!  Of course not!  Don’t you have any concept of decency?

I’m afraid not.

And, just like that, she was upon them.  Aulus swallowed hard, trying to regain his composure.  He bowed politely.  “Good morning, Miss Turner.  Fine weather we’re having, isn’t it?”

“Though,” drawled Sekhad, aloud.  “I can’t reasonably take full credit for that.”

Aulus fought to keep his expression neutral.  “I was headed to Elsbridge.  I hear there’s a library there, but you might be better acquainted with its contents than I.  Is it a good library, or would I do better to peruse private libraries?  Lady Astley did invite me to look in on hers, one of these days.  What is your opinion, Miss Turner?”

“Valenmouth,” said Sekhad.  “Has an immense library.  But, unfortunately, it is peopled with the constituents of, well, Valenmouth, and I’m afraid I can’t long abide their tiresome backbiting without growing weary.  Can you?”

“Maria was chattering about going through your dresses today. Apparently the fact you spoke to a Prince for all of two minutes necessitates an entirely new wardrobe,” Eleanor as she nearly dragged Lucy down the back stairs. “You have minutes to make yourself scarce lest you spend your entire day at the seamstress!”

Lucy did not need to be told twice, darting through the back garden, her home disappearing from view as she slipped onto the familiar path she often took to the Rebel’s Library.

Maria had been absolutely beside herself with glee after the Astley’s dinner soirée a few nights previous when Lucy had spoken, albeit briefly, with the guest of honor the Prince of Voraena, Aulus Acheson. Despite Lucy’s assurances that their interaction was brief, it had been a daily discussion since the incident occurred.

Lucy didn’t bother to try and tell Maria how odd she found the Prince. At first he had actually put her at ease, his countenance and smile kind. Then, in an instant, he had said something off putting which made Lucy wonder why he had even bothered to converse with her in the first place.

Regardless of the reason, the last thing Lucy wanted was any new gowns. She found anything beyond her daily simple dresses extreme uncomfortable and the thought of what Maria would chose to dress her up in to try and attract the Prince’s attention during his stay in Elsbridge was more than the quiet young woman could take.

It was almost comical that as she made her way down the familiar path she should come across the exact person Maria had set herself in a tizzy over.

Lucy managed what she could only assume was a quite awkward curtesy at the Prince’s greeting. Maria would be utterly joyous if she knew Lucy had come upon the prince entirely by accident, not to mention that he remembered and could recognize her dressed as plainly as she was that day.

Blinking a few times, slightly confused by his statement regarding the weather, Lucy found her voice to reply. “Quite fine weather, yes, your Highness. You have come to Elsbridge at a most lovely time, now that the winter seems to have finally made its departure.”

Lucy herself had been making her way to the rebel’s library, which was much more tolerable in the warm months. She had hoped, perhaps, she would meet Roland along the path so that she might update him of Robert’s antics the night before. To her, there was no greater library in all of Elsbridge but she supposed that was because it was most often empty save herself.

“The Elsbridge library? I suppose it depends on what subject you are hoping to look into…” Lucy had spent many an hour in the Elsbridge library, though not so much as of late as Sebastian Talbot had a knack for finding her there. She was beginning to run out of ways to explain their interactions to her sisters and had taken to simply avoiding him at all cost.

“Regardless, you should take Lady Ashley up on her offer. I’ve had the privilege of visiting myself a number of times and, if nothing else, it is a relaxing place to spend an afternoon.”

And then he spoke of Valenmouth and it’s citizens in such a way that seemed in stark contrast to the pleasant discussion of libraries. Lucy knew she needed to keep her guard up or else she’d leave every conversation with a sense of whiplash.

Biting his lip, Aulus glanced away.  It was his turn to breathe a small sigh and, despite himself, he suppressed a small laugh.  This, he thought with a flash of wry humor, was a truly ridiculous situation.

Turning his glance back towards the lady, he nodded softly as she spoke dully of the weather; somehwat more energetically of the books, though even this was constrained.  He could not particularly fault her for finding all this uncomfortable -- he found it so, himself -- but he hoped that this feeling was more on Sekhad’s account than on his own...a mystery, he conceded to himself, that he was unlikely to uncover so long as this arrangement persisted.

“Oh,” he admitted with a small laugh.  “I confess, I’ve a taste for every subject when it comes to the written word, to knowledge.  What are our lives but an effort to better understand them?  If we do not understand each other, understand the seas and sky and the blades of grass all around us, what have we really achieved?”  He glanced down, chuckled softly.  “But, I suppose, in this particular instance, I’ve the greatest object of better understanding Aclea.”

Sekhad laughed, quirking a brow at her.  “I perceive that my manners are seen here as...strange.  You think me strange, I daresay, Miss Turner?”  His eyes glittered with mischief.

Quickly, Aulus glanced away, grimacing.  “Not,” he added, pointedly.  “That I should consider it my right to pry into the private thoughts and feelings of any other person.”

“A strange notion, no,” added Sekhad, laughing.  “In one who may one day rule others.”

Aulus’ expression was pained.  He could hardly disagree more, but he was conscious that the appearance of disagreeing with himself would make this situation, well, worse, and thus found himself at a loss for words for a moment.

“Or so,” he supplied, at last.  “Some say.  I, myself, view rulers as servants of their people.  But I doubt as I shall ever have the opportunity, myself.  My siblings, I think, will prove far more desirable heirs to my mother’s reign.”

Sekhad’s laugh was satirical but, luckily, he said nothing more on the subject, instead turning his attention to Lucy with a look of bald curiosity.  “What subjects, Miss Turner, most occupy your studies?  You’ve the look, I think, of a hungry mind behind those eyes.  What secrets would you feign uncover?  Histories?  Magics?  Scandals?  All readers wish to know something more, don’t they?”

aulus: pls stoP

So, I feel like Beatrice would definitely like Aulus alot and I can see them being friends! But Sekhad kinda makes things a little more complicated and if she didn’t meet Aulus until he was possessed, I think she’d be a lot more ?!??! about him, for obvious reasons, haha. 

that!! is a great question!! lskdjfasljkd so i do think Aulus visits Aclea every so often and this is def not his first venture here, but generally when he’s here its at court w his mama, which has probs been happening since she married octavian ramsay about...im gonna say 30ish years ago, so yeah!! its v possible that beatrice and aulus ~have met before since they’re both from noble families, etc? its even possible they’ve known e/o for some time, all that considered, in which case bea might be how he met lucy? or at least first heard of her, or whatever?