[OOM] Eiattu - Private Office

[fighting_mad]

Chin in her hands (both hands; it's a thing that she thinks bears repeating), Princess Isplourrdacartha Estillo glowers down at the open datapad and stack of rifled-through flimsi sheets on her desk. The night sky of Eiattu is beautiful behind her, stars glittering in the black sky, the outskirts of the city bright and cheerful, but Plourr is not bright or cheerful, nor is she glittery.

Absently sticking one hand through the holo representation of Eiattu IV revolving on the edge of her desk, its princess looks about as happy as the stuffy portraits of her stuffy ancestors hanging on the office walls.

Comments

[eiattu_pride]

That's a perfectly acceptable reward, he decides, just before kissing her long and sweet.

Breaks away for just a moment, "If I shoot someone, it's your fault."

[fighting_mad]

"I will gladly accept any and all responsibility just as long as I don't have to sit in a room with the planning committee without anyone to discretely roll my eyes and yawn at," she says seriously.

[eiattu_pride]

"Agreed." This might even be fun. If he's lucky.

[fighting_mad]

It's a distinct possibility. Plourr has, after all, proved herself a master of silently mocking dull people during horrific conferences and meetings and state dinners, and Rial is usually the one on the receiving end of that prowess.

He's also usually the one left having to hide laughter with coughs and harrumphs, and the one enduring odd looks.

"Good," she says, and she pulls away and walks back to her desk, picking up her datapad. "Then you can help with this." She hands the 'pad to him. "They want us to make decisions on what the crowns will look like." Her expression is equal parts incredulous and 'they've got to be kidding me, right?' and -- slightly uncertain. "They tell me the old ones were lost." She holds the datapad out to him. The screen displays a dizzying array of options and sample pictures.

[eiattu_pride]

Rial stares.






And, slowly, begins to back away. "Ah - another time, yes? I forgot to feed my fish."

[fighting_mad]

"You should try coming up with excuses that could possibly be true, once in a while."

[eiattu_pride]

He looks shifty. "What if I have a fish?"

(he doesn't)

[fighting_mad]

"You don't."

[eiattu_pride]

"I don't."

D:

[fighting_mad]

She is still holding out the datapad.

If there is any possible way to hold out a datapad aggressively, Plourr is doing it.

[eiattu_pride]

Plourr, Rial feels, can do a lot of things aggressively.

"Well, you've got to pick one out too."

[fighting_mad]

She can. Also, having the use of both arms is very useful for things like holding something with one hand and setting the other hand on your hip.

It's a beautiful thing.

But she lets her hand fall, holding the datapad against her leg. "I haven't decided yet, honestly," she says slowly, and she levers herself up and takes a seat on the edge of the desk.

[eiattu_pride]

"Any favorites?"

Rial reluctantly moves away from the door, walking forwards and taking a seat next to her, up on the desk.

[fighting_mad]

She glances at him quickly and she flips open the datapad again and, with a tap of the stylus, zeroes in on two images. "If I had to choose anything, it'd be this," she says, pointing at the image on the left. It's a simple circlet, silver-colored; a slightly thicker version of what she wears (very rarely) now.

If she were being entirely honest--and she isn't--it really isn't something befitting her upcoming title.

"But," she says, and she doesn't bother to point at the other option; just looks at it.

"This is close to the crown that was lost when the Prims took power. What all of the old empresses wore." A moment passes. "What my mother wore."

[eiattu_pride]

Rial doesn't say anything for a moment, looking at both. After a time, he reaches out and squeezes her hand.

"Whichever you think is best."

He'll let het decide on this one, really.

[fighting_mad]

She wraps her fingers around his hand.

"It feels weird," she says finally, still looking at the datapad screen.

[eiattu_pride]

"What do you mean?"

He glances away from the datapad, at her.

[fighting_mad]

"Empress Isplourrdacartha," she says, her voice tinged with self-mocking humor. She drops it after a moment, watching her thumb smooth along the edge of the 'pad. "It was never supposed to be more than princess. I hear 'empress' more and more these days, and I always think people are talking about Mama."

[eiattu_pride]

Rial doesn't really know what to say. So he just nods, and squeezes her hand.

He was never really supposed to be emperor.

[fighting_mad]

Plourr snaps the datapad shut and leans against her husband.

She rests her head on his shoulder.

[eiattu_pride]

He slips his arm around her shoulder, sighing quietly.

"It'll be okay."

[fighting_mad]

She smiles very faintly.

"Never said it wouldn't be."

[eiattu_pride]

He smiles too, just a little.

"But it's still nice to hear."

[fighting_mad]

She nods, though her cheek is pressed against his shoulder, so it's really more of a slight bob of her chin.

"We're going to do well."

'We.' She has no idea what she'd do if she were doing this alone, the way she thought she would be when she first returned to Eiattu. No idea how she'd get through.

[eiattu_pride]

Well, Rial's here, now, and he's going to stay here. They can get through it together, laughter, tears, and all.

He smiles, and it's a little more real this time.

"The best ever."