[OOM] Eiattu - Palace

[fighting_mad]

Plourr ducks out of the abandoned wing of the palace.

No, that's not entirely right; it's closed-off, not voluntarily abandoned. Boarded and locked up twelve years ago. She still hasn't been able to discover who ordered it closed, but she suspects the Grand Duke had a hand in it. No matter how shaky her relationship with him may be, she knows he loved his nephew, her father. She knows he was fond of her mother and her sisters.

Plourr goes there still, sometimes. The apartments are lifeless, barely touched over the years, but it's hard not to feel closer to her parents when she can sit on the edge of their bed. When she first went, it was to grieve. To rage that they had left her with all this shavit. Later, it was to find quiet, some momentary peace; to remember. But today, it is to express gratitude, and to tell her parents-- maybe they hadn't chosen so badly for her after all.

The palace is quiet. So is the city. Plourr saw the last of the summit attendees off earlier in the morning and now Eiattu rests and recovers from the stresses placed on her fledgling government and recently-repaired capital. The planet's princess, too, is ready for a rest, even if it's only for a few days and even if it's while fulfilling royal duties.

Of course, that doesn't mean she has to dress the part. It is a mini leave, after all. So Plourr's comfortable, casual in tight gray trousers, black pilot boots, a purple tunic with the sleeves pushed up to her elbows, and a black vest. The blaster strapped to her leg is authoritative, but she's relaxed as she steps out into the corridor.

Comments

[eiattu_pride]

"I've said my goodbyes."

He grins at her.

"Time to get it over with before I change my mind."

[fighting_mad]

Plourr solemnly hands over the shaver.

[eiattu_pride]

Rial takes the shaver from her, and inhales.

"Right."






It's all over a few minutes later, and he's experimentally moving his jaw, feeling his upper lip.

"Huh."

[fighting_mad]

Plourr studies him closely, head tilted to one side, and then-- she would kiss him, but she's occupied with staring.

"Damn, Pernon," she says softly.

[eiattu_pride]

He eyes her.

"Is that good?"

[fighting_mad]

She leans over and rests her fingers on his chin, running her thumb across his upper lip, and the way she's smiling is probably a good indicator of her feelings. "You look," she says, "so good."

[eiattu_pride]

He grins quietly, and there's the very hint of a blush there.

"I feel kind of naked."

[fighting_mad]

She slides over across the counter. "But you look fantastic naked," she murmurs, slow grin separated from his mouth by just millimeters, "so really, there's nothing to be ashamed of, there." She presses an experimental kiss against his top lip, and the grin widens.

[eiattu_pride]

Now there's a real smile, and he slides a hand around her back, runs his fingers through her hair.

"So you approve?"

[fighting_mad]

She smiles at him. "Very much so."

[eiattu_pride]

"Spectacular. You can break the news to my father."

[fighting_mad]

Plourr laughs. "No, I can't. I can come with you, though, if you'd like. Or you could blame it on me; it's not like your parents can dislike me much more than they already do."

She grows a little more serious, settling her arm around his neck. "Why would your facial hair really matter to the Duke, Rial?"

[eiattu_pride]

"'s a good idea."

Rial shrugs, shifting until he can lean on her.

"He likes me to be traditional. And he hates change - 's just a thing, really."

[fighting_mad]

"Mmm, well, it's an age of breaking tradition for Eiattu, I think," she says, letting her forehead rest against his. "And I, for one, like you either way, but the untraditional is nice."

[eiattu_pride]

Rial laughs softly, and ducks his head to kiss her.

"Change is fun."

[fighting_mad]

"I like your attitude, my count." She leans and kisses him again, eyes closing. After a moment, she slides off the counter against him, standing at his height thanks to her boots.

Plourr shoots him a small smile that is absolutely unmistakable in its intentions. "Let's get out of here and maybe I'll demonstrate just how much."

[eiattu_pride]

"That sounds quite sensible."

Rial grins, and bows.

"Lead the way."

[fighting_mad]

"And I'm nothing if not sensible," she says, slipping her hand into the crook of his elbow and tugging him into the hall, picking up the shaver with her free hand.

[eiattu_pride]

"Oh, no."

Sereneface!

"That's why we have to remove all your weapons during diplomatic functions."

[fighting_mad]

She smiles, and maybe she would laugh, but she's ducking away from him, into the door to the bedroom that was once her parents'. She leaves the door half-open.

[eiattu_pride]

Rial leans on the wall next to the door, running his hand over his face and musing to himself.

You're one lucky bastard, Pernon.

[fighting_mad]

Plourr is back a moment later, shaver nowhere to be seen. "Come on." Their voices ring through the emptiness, and it feels weird to hear anything besides quiet footsteps in the deserted apartments. But maybe it's a good kind of weird.

And maybe she walks a little closer to him than is strictly necessary.

[eiattu_pride]

Rial slips an arm around her waist, presses a light kiss to her forehead.

Doesn't say anything, but maybe doesn't have to.

[fighting_mad]

Her smile is small, but there. It takes a moment, but she leans against him as they walk back through the dusty living space, the foyer, and out into the abandoned corridor. She keys in the code to lock the doors and then she turns and kisses him gratefully, gracefully.

[eiattu_pride]

And Rial kisses back, holding her tight.

"Love you."