Valen Astor & Star Misch
Collab with a puddle of sins.
“
Here we are.”
Valen stopped short on a nearby hillock, eyes tracing the wooden bridge that led across the lake. The cool night air was easy on his skin, but he still couldn’t shake the buzzing of magic in the air. It felt like the calm before the storm. Absentmindedly, he reached up to adjust the collar of his doublet, inhaling sharply. The fabric felt too heavy and coarse on him; the young lord was unused to the ceremonial outfits of the royal knights of his house. Along with the red and black doublets and matching tassets, the outfit also featured outlines of gold and decorative silver plates around his chest, forearms and belt bucklers. There were simply too many layers, and it felt stuffy. Even the cool night air could not help.
And the soldiers stationed around the bridge most certainly did not.
Frustrated, he let out another sigh, before turning to his companion.
“
Well? Shall we?”
”We shall, Lord Valen,” a teasing voice chimed in, the bright and easy sound of it jarring in such a gloomy place. Star slid carefully off his horse, the winding path having become impassable for a carriage several bells ago. The insides of his thighs screamed pain up and down his body with the movement, but he ignored the lingering effects of the brand. He couldn’t falter now.
Couldn’t falter, perhaps, but certainly could stand still for far too long waiting for the rush of burning agony to pass. He shouldn’t have dismounted so quickly.
“
You…shouldn’t call me that.” -A frown creased Valen’s brows as he adjusted the sword strapped to his belt, the gesture obviously neurotic. He kept his voice low -”
You’re Lord Valen now. I am your knight.”
”Mm, but we’re not with company right now,” the smaller figure of Star Misch had finally recovered from the burst of pain and the mirthful lilt was back in his voice, even if marginally strained. Lord Valen’s personal concubine was dressed to impress in the rich textures and soft fabrics of the nobility, the thick tunic and trousers designed for travel, but retaining the etchings of careful silver and gold that set it apart from the attire of a regular traveler. Any sharp eye would notice the impeccable embroidery across the cloth—florals and lines juxtaposing for a carefully rendered aesthetic only those with overflowing coffers could afford.
Aching from both the residual pain across his thighs and the fatigue of travel, Star stretched slowly, arching his back and raising his interlocked fingers to the dreary sky, palms up.
”Maybe we shouldn’t set such a formal precedent. Let me be an eccentric lord, what do you say?”Valen just let out a long suffering sigh, turning his gaze toward the looming castle and the armed men stationed at the bridge.
“
It’s…Lancelot did mention in his letter that I am to be his diplomat. Be eccentric all you want, Star, but we need to appear at least competent and dependable.”
”Of course, but…I hate these stiff meetings, you know that. Carry me inside?”“
That does not contribute to a respectable image.”
”Neither does falling over. My legs hurt. I’d rather be pampered and made to look less than humiliate myself in front of those hyenas.”Valen’s frown only deepened. But he obliged.
“
Remember Star, you are a lord now. Act like I told you.” -He talked as he walked forward, eyeing the guards in the distance cautiously.
”I know, I know, but it’s not insane for a lord to demand his servant carry him in case his legs hurt. I think. It makes sense to me.”“
True. But…I have to deal with the welcome party first.”
With that said, Valen placed Star back down, then stepped forward and retrieved the letter from his pocket.
“
Lord Valen Astor of Aldebaran stands before you.” -He emulated the booming bellow of the knights from his court, holding the letter up and placing a hand on the pommel of his sword. -”
Make way.”
As requested, the men indeed stepped aside, though they kept their weapons unsheathed. Which spoke a lot about Lancelot’s hospitality.
Valen hoped it would not be a trend.
“
After you, my lord.” -He inclined his head at Star, waiting for him to take the lead.
”The ride here was long and tiring. My legs ache. Sky, carry me.” Star had shifted his weight and corrected his usual lazy posture, looking every inch the petulant, spoiled lord as he emulated a whining tone. The act wasn’t too far off his norm, though, especially where Valen was concerned.
“
As you wish, my lord.” -Valen had to fight the urge to roll his eyes. Then again, it was his idea. Lancelot’s motives were…questionable, to say the least. He would prefer to see the man show his hand first, before Valen showed his.
Keeping up the act of the loyal servant, he lifted Star into his arms and began his slow trek into the castle.
The main room was not hard to find, and the doors were already wide open, revealing a feast in session. Valen placed Star down near one of the empty chairs, then pulling it out to help him sit. Just like how a servant in his court would.
But not a knight. Valen noticed that little detail a bit too late.
His worry was unfounded, as all of the faces in the room were not familiar to him. None of them was a local lord in his land. And so that would make this farce much easier to keep up. But many of them were not…human, though, and that might complicate things.
Still deep in thoughts, Valen took to stand behind Star’s seat, keeping his face blank as he subtly observed the assembled knights.
Star took his offered seat without question, sighing dramatically as he leaned back into the chair. The urge to curl up on Valen’s lap was strong and he had to suppress his usual habit of pestering his lord for his particular style of affection. Instead he stared blankly out the nearest window, doing his best to ignore the wide array of beings already present in the room. Nearby a beast wolfed down food while others conversed quietly and it took Star every ounce of self-control he had not to complain to Valen that he disliked the drab, underkempt castle filled with all manner of the supernatural that he had so persistently managed to avoid for much of his life. It was enough trouble just being a changeling, and then living with what Valen had become—and accepting the situation for what it was.
The two of them had barely found stable footing in the tempestuous relationship they had and instead of working slowly at it, they were here, in some godforsaken palace where the word “decor” was apparently an alien species and the invited seemed less concerned with stable, diplomatic relations and more interested in open warfare. A haziness around the suit of armor in the corner quirked at the edge of Star’s vision and he focused sharply on the window, his usual method when a particularly irritating fae would pester him. It was best to ignore them until they openly attacked, given the wide variety of fae abilites, though avoiding that sort of encounter in the first place was ideal.
Dislike worked its way slowly across his face before he remembered to school it back into neutrality.
”What sort of tea do you think they serve here, Sky? Maybe a cup of aged cinderblock sprinkled with cobwebs and the crumbs of broken twigs?” he joked, looking to levity for some respite from the stress.
“
I’m sure our host is far more generous than that, my lord.” -Valen replied diplomatically, grey eyes lingered just a beat too long on the beastman. Apparently, the name ‘Knights of Evil’ rang true, if the reputation of beastmen was anything to go by. All the more reason for them to tread lightly. -”
He has prepared a feast, after all.” -He made a vague gesture toward the food.
”Always so serious, my knight. But that’s why you’re my favorite,” the concubine smiled, the look mischievous and very much directed at Valen.
”When the formalities are over, I’ll be sure to reiterate in several different ways how much I appreciate you coming so far with me.Valen gave a light cough at that, fighting the urge that threatened to crease his brows.
“
Your favor has already honored me, my lord.”
Star laughed, turning back to the food with renewed interest after seeing just the barest hint of furrowed brows. It took many nights and days with a poker face like Valen to discern any appreciable amounts of emotion, but Star was a master of this craft by now.
Instead he had other fun things in mind.
”My arms are tired from holding the reins, Sky. Feed me.”The urge to frown was there again, but Valen only heaved out a soft sigh instead. This
was his idea.
“
As you wish, my lord.” -He reached for a bunch of grapes, dutifully taking it apart and feeding them to Star.
The changeling ate them with a big grin on his face, and Valen was worried that he always withdrew his fingers a bit too hasty everytime.
