Level_5

[Skybreaker] Envieux [Level_5]

That's alright: half the fun is getting them to get along.

[Skybreaker] Envieux [Level_5]

Lol, cute! That's so cool when that happens. <3 And anything Whimsicott-related is definitely something I agree with, so go for it! It'll be excellent!

[Skybreaker] Envieux [Level_5]

"Of course it's safe," Augustine replied, fighting the giddy urge to laugh as Cassius surged into the air. The great wings stirred on either side and wind ripped past so quickly Augustine almost couldn't breathe -- and he did laugh, then, as thrilled as a five-year-old. He would never tire of flying, or of the sickening lurch in the pit of his stomach at each ascent, and the summer greenery rolling away like an emerald carpet far below never ceased to be beautiful. Yes, this was a good errand to bring Frey on. Anything that prompted Frey to think beyond himself was a worthwhile pursuit, determined though the boy was to hate everything and everyone.

Asbel, on the other hand, gasped as the dragon soared up and up and up -- and while he managed to keep from putting his arms around Frey's waist, he did twist his finger's into the flight harness at the younger prince's back, knuckles just as white as his rival's. He'd never flown before -- and certainly not this high. With the sorcerer's plucking his flight feathers, he'd only ever been able to hop and flutter like a glorified barn rooster. This height was dizzying, and the sun seemed brighter and warmer, even as the wind threatened to flay the skin from his bones. The ground flew past in a flurry of flowers, trees, and picturesque houses as small as child's toys, and despite himself, Asbel redoubled his hold on Frey's harness and leaned sideways to have a better view of the kingdom as he'd never seen it before.

"We'll be up here until after lunch," Augustine called over his shoulder, "and then we walk, so enjoy the ride while it lasts."

[Skybreaker] Envieux [Level_5]

Ha ha, my favorite pastime. :)

[Skybreaker] Envieux [Level_5]

Compromise, then, was evidently not an option. Asbel closed his arms all the more tightly around the pack in his arms and bit down on the slow tide of anger that began to burn through his veins. What did Frey gain by being so rude to someone who was trying to be politely friendly? And why such mockery? Always, []always[/i], why such mockery?

But the phoenix kept his mouth closed and refused to rise to any of the baiting so abundantly set forth by the youngest prince. He was correct -- surely he was correct -- in his assessment of Frey's fears. There had been, for a moment, so much anger in the prince's expression; those eyes had burned like wildfire (a beauty -- and a danger -- not lost on Asbel). So whatever snide remarks Frey made about strawberries, Asbel still retained an upper hand.

Perhaps that was what bothered the prince: the fact that someone had found him out. But revenge seemed petty now, with such a monumental errand looming ahead, and Asbel shrugged off, for now, thoughts of an abuse of such power. Frey was a tyrant, but Asbel would not lash out in anything but self-defense.

He followed Frey outside and found his heart lodged in his throat. Beyond the pen, Cassius had already shifted into the much larger, green-and-black winged behemoth that was his natural form, and the dragon stood patiently while Augustine fastened the harness into place and tied their packs to the creature's sides. "Climb up," the eldest prince insisted, taking from Asbel the last pack and nodding at the saddle in place on the dragon's back. "I'll sit in front, you two sit behind."

"No bickering," Cassius added in a deep, deep rumble, fixing Frey with one large brown eye. "And be patient."

Dragons always made Asbel uneasy, though he did not quite know why, and Cassius had never paid him much attention. Surely this was... this would be just a harmless flight. The phoenix took a breath, hauled himself up onto the creature's back, and sat stiffly at the far end of the saddle. Augustine leapt into place at the front, and pulled his harness on before twisting to help Asbel with his. The phoenix sat as still as one of the sacks of provisions, as wary of those nearly invasive hands as he was of the dragon.

"Come on up, Frey," the general called then, turning again to his brother still on the ground. "You sit behind me. You both should have an excellent view."

[Skybreaker] Envieux [Level_5]

Aww, cute! As in the people in the north are not getting along with each other?

Also, naturally, Frey and Asbel should definitely be stuck in a tent together.

[Skybreaker] Envieux [Level_5]

At the question, Cassius smiled, but did not answer directly. "You will see soon enough what flying is like, Prince Frey."

The change of subject was neatly timed, however, as Augustine entered moments later, Asbel tagging along behind.

"Good morning brother, Cassius," Augustine began by way of introduction. He smiled at both, and half-turned to give the phoenix behind him the pack he had been carrying. "I have our provisions and supplies sorted, and all that remains is to get going."

Asbel hovered uncertainly in the doorway, anxious to stay close to Augustine now that a dragon and the demon of a prince were so close by, and his gaze skated nervously in Frey's direction once and then again, though he refused, for the moment, to speak to the prince when they had ended on such poor terms the night before.

Either oblivious to this or disinterested, Augustine hefted the flight harness. Cassius moved to join him, and between them, they managed to carry the leather contraption out outside. Asbel hesitated: he would rather have followed the prince out, but if he was going to be trapped with Frey for the next few weeks, something had to be said, and now, while they were alone, was a better time than later.

The phoenix squared his shoulders and tilted his head back to disguise his internal uncertainty. "Frey," he began, voice low and steady, "if your family does not know that you are afraid of the dark, I will not tell them or exploit you, but please, I--" the please caught in his throat-- "please do not... startle me."

[Skybreaker] Envieux [Level_5]

Asbel, too, was well aware of Augustine's reputation, but as the priest bid him silent farewell and left the room, the phoenix felt his heart kick its way up into his throat. The eldest prince and the youngest were so different. Even after seventeen years of living with them, of growing up with them, Asbel couldn't quite believe how different the two were. Something had clearly happened to set Frey on the wrong track, but with the wreck of a conversation last night, Asbel was no closer to knowing what that was. He was afraid to find out: what if, for example, there was nothing that had turned Frey into a monster and the young man had simply been born sour? What then? There was no hope for someone like that, and if the kingdom ever fell to him, then... the gods help them.

But the phoenix shouldered his small shoulder-bag of possessions and, for one of the few times in his life, left his room. He knew approximately where the dining rooms were, and there had been no time for any of the servants to bring him breakfast, so he would have to improvise.

He pushed into the heat and bustle of the palace kitchens and sidled through crowds of servants in search of fresh fruit or vegetables or even bread, if they had nothing better. He found nothing, but after long, uncomfortable minutes trying to slip through the crowd without touching anyone, a hand grasped his arm and tugged him sideways, and Asbel found Augustine.

"Good morning." The eldest prince smiled in easy kindness, and Asbel (despite himself) flushed pink. Thankfully, Augustine did not seem to expect a response, and he dropped an apple into the phoenix's hands and, a hand still on his arm, guided his new travel companion out of the kitchen and into the castle proper and toward the gardens that would, presumably, lead to the dragon pens.

"I am glad I found you, Asbel. I didn't have time last night to arrange for travel rations, and I was worried you might not know where to find us this morning. Fortuitous that I bumped into you before you got lost. I am sorry you haven't had more time to eat this morning; if you are still hungry, I have some extra supplies packed. You will not go hungry today."

Gradually, the phoenix relaxed in the midst of the ice-breaking conversation, pleased that his attack of shyness was not as awkward as he had feared, and that Augustine's hand on him was so warm and light -- again, so unlike Frey's aggressive attacks.

---

Even after years of Frey's company, Cassius never knew quite what to do with the boy. Frey had such fierceness in him, but also such fear -- an Achilles's Heel that could drop him in a moment. Certainly that was what had happened last night, when he'd felt Frey's brief plummet into anxiety like a tickle on the back of his neck. Now, with the boy so near, the gathering panic caught in his own throat like an improperly-swallowed seed.

"Scared for what?" he asked softly, or as soft as he could manage with a voice that invariably rumbled like a minor earthquake. He folded himself across from the youngest prince, hands in his lap, leaning forward with unblinking brown eyes to return Frey's fixed gaze. What could the prince be afraid of, that his brother and brother's companion could not protect him from? And what could frighten the little demon, who fought so stubbornly and with such strength against the entire world? "This is a small errand, whatever the oracle has said. It will be a good trip."

[Skybreaker] Envieux [Level_5]

You would have been safe: I've only seen one episode of Naruto and I wouldn't have caught you on it lol. But I do definitely like this direction, heck yes.

[Skybreaker] Envieux [Level_5]

Also, I have to say -- I feel so bad for Prince Frey. :( What a miserable curse -- life-threatening nightmares every night. No wonder he's such a defensive, short-tempered little demon. When he and Asbel are close enough for aid and comforting hugs, I will be most happy. <3