Same. It won't all be perfect though, since Iris will be arrested when they cross into the capital. He'll be torn between the warm welcome and the urgency of getting her out before his father does something rash.
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Bio
Personal Profile
Name: Taylor
Pronouns: They/them
Age: Mid 20s
Relationship: Married (happily, I might add)
Time Zone: Arizona (we hate daylight savings, so it's MST year-round)
Writing History: I've been on a number of different roleplaying websites for over a decade and a half
Hobbies: Writing, fitness, driving/exploring, hiking, camping, traveling, tabletop games, anything NEW (I love trying things I've never done before)
Roleplayer Profile
Format: 1x1s only. Maybe I'll try a group RP again someday, but I've never had one last longer than a few months
Posting Speed: Depending on my schedule, I can usually post at least once per week
Favorite Genres: Modern, Historical, Romance, Action/Adventure, Horror/Dark, Fantasy, Slice of Life, Dystopian, can be convinced to write some Sci-Fi
Hard 'no's: Fandoms. Sorry, but I can't maintain interest in characters/worlds I didn't build with my partner
Template: Public threads or PMs. I prefer to keep all my RPs in one place, so no emails or G-docs or the like
Rating: Comfortable with 18+ content, but it's not a necessity and I prefer not to center a plot around explicit scenes
Level: Advanced. Will consistently provide around 400-700 words per post, but can occasionally leap to 2000+
Character preference: One main character, but large side casts are greatly enjoyed. Because I write long posts, I prefer not to double
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Romantic Relationships: MxF or MxM (currently prefer MxM)
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OOC chat: Yes please! I'm a total extrovert who loves to get to know the amazing minds behind my partners' characters
Most Recent Posts
Cas appreciated that Iris tried to cheer him up, but her words didn’t do much to comfort him. He didn’t believe his father was looking for him at all if he was still continuing on with the war while he was still missing. If the king had been searching, they wouldn’t have nearly lost their lives to those bombers. It had just been a stroke of good luck that Iris’s fever had kept them from walking close enough to have suffered more than a few ruffled feathers. Had she been well enough to keep moving, they might not have escaped with their lives. And there was no telling if they would find themselves in another warzone while they were on the move. He wasn’t sure how many more near-death experiences he could take. Just the thought of it was enough to make him shiver apprehensively.
Similarly, he didn’t care what was going on “behind closed doors.” As far as he was concerned, there was no reason good enough for Atlas to give up on finding his only son after just one week. That he had was proof that he didn’t care about him more than he cared about defeating the Scourge. Cas could understand his father’s urgency, since the rebels were causing so much trouble for the monarchy, but it wasn’t enough to justify putting his life in danger. Knowing that the king was so quick to forget about him left a bitter taste in his mouth that wouldn’t dissipate anytime soon. It was the biggest reason why he felt too emotionally wounded to feel excited about going back to the capital.
Not wanting to argue with Iris about it though, he merely shrugged in response to her question about hope. He had hope. It just wasn’t in the capital. She gives me hope, he thought, glancing at her as they headed out of the room. If he didn’t have her with him, he wasn’t sure what he would have done by now. Granted, he would probably be dead, since she was the one who had freed him from Regis’s basement. However, he was thankful that she was with him when he didn’t have anywhere else to lay anchor outside the walls of the capital. Her presence was his rock until he could figure out where he belonged and what his purpose was.
Feeling a little better with that reminder, he rolled his eyes at her joke. “I prefer the word ‘handsome,’” he gibed in return. “Although I think I’d even fit the bill for ‘rugged’ now.” He brought his hand to his cheek, where the cut was still healing. He was pretty sure it was going to scar. Along with the bruise on his jaw and the thick stubble he was sporting after going over a week without shaving, he would hardly call himself “pretty.”
Following her out of the pub, he stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets and took a look around. To his relief, there weren’t many people outside, so he didn’t feel like he had to watch his back as carefully as he had when they’d first arrived. Relaxing a little, he nudged Iris with his arm. “So, this roadway you’re taking us to,” he started, turning to meet her gaze. “Does it go straight to the capital, or will we be passing through any other districts along the way?” Though he didn’t say it, he was hoping that it was the latter. He still hadn’t made up his mind about going home, so he wanted to stall for more time to think it over.
Similarly, he didn’t care what was going on “behind closed doors.” As far as he was concerned, there was no reason good enough for Atlas to give up on finding his only son after just one week. That he had was proof that he didn’t care about him more than he cared about defeating the Scourge. Cas could understand his father’s urgency, since the rebels were causing so much trouble for the monarchy, but it wasn’t enough to justify putting his life in danger. Knowing that the king was so quick to forget about him left a bitter taste in his mouth that wouldn’t dissipate anytime soon. It was the biggest reason why he felt too emotionally wounded to feel excited about going back to the capital.
Not wanting to argue with Iris about it though, he merely shrugged in response to her question about hope. He had hope. It just wasn’t in the capital. She gives me hope, he thought, glancing at her as they headed out of the room. If he didn’t have her with him, he wasn’t sure what he would have done by now. Granted, he would probably be dead, since she was the one who had freed him from Regis’s basement. However, he was thankful that she was with him when he didn’t have anywhere else to lay anchor outside the walls of the capital. Her presence was his rock until he could figure out where he belonged and what his purpose was.
Feeling a little better with that reminder, he rolled his eyes at her joke. “I prefer the word ‘handsome,’” he gibed in return. “Although I think I’d even fit the bill for ‘rugged’ now.” He brought his hand to his cheek, where the cut was still healing. He was pretty sure it was going to scar. Along with the bruise on his jaw and the thick stubble he was sporting after going over a week without shaving, he would hardly call himself “pretty.”
Following her out of the pub, he stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets and took a look around. To his relief, there weren’t many people outside, so he didn’t feel like he had to watch his back as carefully as he had when they’d first arrived. Relaxing a little, he nudged Iris with his arm. “So, this roadway you’re taking us to,” he started, turning to meet her gaze. “Does it go straight to the capital, or will we be passing through any other districts along the way?” Though he didn’t say it, he was hoping that it was the latter. He still hadn’t made up his mind about going home, so he wanted to stall for more time to think it over.
All these posts are sumbitches xD
I'm really enjoying the budding friendship between Crow and Percy, haha. Although Percy isn't just nice for the sake of it
I'm really enjoying the budding friendship between Crow and Percy, haha. Although Percy isn't just nice for the sake of it
Once they were far enough away from Silverpool that the dim glow of candlelight had faded beyond the trees, Percival asked Crow again where he was going, and the viceroy finally caved. He admitted that he used to be part of a small band of criminals before he’d come to the inner kingdom and that he’d secretly arranged to meet with them before he crossed the border. Naturally, Percy seemed perturbed by the fact that they were on their way to rendezvous with thieves in the dead of night, but to Crow’s surprise, he didn’t try to change his mind. Instead, the knight assured him that even though he didn’t like it, he trusted his judgment and wouldn’t say anything to the others when they returned. He was turning out to be very different than the image the former peasant had had of him when they’d first met.
Crow remembered that when he’d initially talked to Wayne, Robyn and Percy, the latter had been more sympathetic to the people of the outer villages during the war. However, he hadn’t thought that the nobleman would put his faith in a man who used to be a wanted criminal. Tonight, Percival had not only asked for his input about an important concern of his, but he was also willingly trudging through the foliage at his side to meet with people that, for all he knew, could be dangerous. He was quickly proving to be someone that the viceroy felt like he could trust on the trip to Younis and even in the inner kingdom when they returned. He was glad that he’d convinced his father to let him come, even though he didn’t have as much experience as the knights Albin had originally selected. He much preferred to have someone watching his back whom he knew wouldn’t stab it when he turned around.
The two walked for a long time before they eventually neared the fallen tree that Crow had designated as the meeting point, and he slowed his pace to a stop. Beside him, Percy halted as well. “Is this the place?” the knight asked, to which the former thief immediately lifted a finger to his lips to hush him.
“It’s just up ahead,” he whispered in return. Shifting his weight, he added, “I stopped because I wanted to ask you to wait here for me to come back.”
“You don’t want me to come with you the rest of the way?” Percival frowned, though he lowered his voice obligingly.
“It’s better if you don’t,” Crow answered honestly. “I let you come with me this far, but I arranged this meeting to speak with them openly, and they aren’t going to talk if I have a chaperone. If it makes you feel better, you can keep an eye on the area to make sure there’s no one suspicious around though.” He nudged the knight’s arm. “You did say you were here to make sure I’m safe.”
Percival contemplated it. “Are you sure these criminals won’t hurt you if you’re alone?”
“I trust them with my life,” he nodded.
The knight thought for a moment longer before he sighed, “Fine. I’ll wait for you here.”
“Thank you,” Crow smiled appreciatively. “I’ll be back soon.”
Percy grunted in response, and the viceroy made his deeper into the woods alone until he located the fallen tree. At the sight of it, he smiled again, feeling a surge of eagerness bubble up in his chest as he made out three silhouettes standing around the log. He’d expected the thieves to beat him there, since he’d had to wait for his guards to fall asleep before he could sneak out, but he was still excited to see them. And it seemed like they were excited to see him too.
As soon as he stepped into the clearing, he heard an energetic voice cry out his name.
“Crow!” Rikki squealed, leading the charge as she, Alistair and Hazel rushed over to greet him with open arms.
He met them with equal enthusiasm, grinning broadly even though they practically smothered him in their tight embraces. Attempting to wrap his arms around them too, he felt a swell of fondness for the thieves he’d left behind when he’d moved to the citadel. “I missed you all,” he said, foregoing formalities as the words slipped out of his mouth. They didn’t have time for polite exchanges anyway.
“I can’t believe you’re really here,” Rikki shook her head in disbelief. He could feel her trembling as she pressed herself against his torso. Out of the trio, she seemed to have missed him the most. Or at least, her reaction to seeing him again was the most emotional.
“Yeah, we thought you were going to be too busy to visit us,” Alistair agreed, equally as constricting at the viceroy’s side.
“Alright, you two, we should give him some space,” Hazel said, stepping back first and shooting him a wink. “He’s important now, so we can’t suffocate him.”
“Thanks,” Crow rolled his eyes at her snide comment, though he was a little relieved when they gave him room to breathe again.
Once they had put a little distance between them, Alistair whistled. “Wow, you even look like a nobleman now,” he observed, looking over the viceroy’s ensemble with round eyes. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen fabric that expensive. How much do you think it’s worth?”
“I try not to think about it,” Crow admitted a bit sheepishly.
“Who knew you would clean up so nicely too?” Hazel gibed with a smirk. “What did they do to convince you to groom yourself, scamp?”
“They said that if I didn’t do what they wanted, they’d come after you instead,” he said dryly. “You should be grateful. I took one for the team.”
“Forgive me if I withhold my thanks,” she replied, though the smile didn’t leave her lips.
“What do you think of… well, everything?” Rikki asked tentatively. She wore a curious expression, but he could see a hint of concern in her eyes. He guessed she was still holding out a little hope that he would change his mind about the decision he’d made and come back to them.
Offering her a soft smile, he replied truthfully, “It’s a lot to handle, but the pros still outweigh the cons.” Walking with them over to the fallen tree, he went on to tell them about everything that had been going on since he’d left them a month ago. They knew a few of the details because of the letters he’d sent to them, but there was quite a bit that they hadn’t heard. He told them about his training, about the things he’d had to learn about assimilating into noble life and the lessons he’d had with his father and with John. He also talked about his family, how Naida was the only one who had openly accepted him. Subjects of the other affairs at the castle came up as well, including the time the Fischbachs had tried to frame him, the trip he’d taken to Bellmare with Penelope, and the party she had thrown to convince the other nobles to sign her petition. Of course, he also told them that they were officially courting and planning to get married now that he had her father’s blessing. Lastly, he explained that he was in the outer villages because Albin had agreed to negotiate with the Younisian king about ending the war, and he was the representative assigned to make the treaty.
By the time he was done talking, a brief quiet fell over the group while his companions took in the news. “At least it sounds like you never have to worry about a dull day at the castle,” Alistair shook his head incredulously. “I can’t believe so much has happened in just one month.”
“Me either,” Crow exhaled. “But it’s mostly good things. I never expected this to be easy, and now, Penelope and I can finally be together. I’m happy even though we’ll probably have a few more bumps in the road to get past.”
“I’m happy to hear it,” Hazel said supportively. “And I’m happy to hear that you’re already being given opportunities to make a difference. It’s what I was hoping would happen when you told me you were going to be taking this title.”
“It does feel good,” Crow mused. “I’ve never had the power to end a war before. I’m still getting used to the fact that I’m not a thief anymore too. I still flinch whenever I see knights.” He chuckled amusedly. “One of the men I’ve gotten to know at the castle invited me into the barracks outside the castle once, but I couldn’t do it because I still feel like they’re going to pin me to the ground and throw me in a cell.”
“I’m sure you’ll adjust to it soon,” Hazel assured him.
“Maybe,” he shrugged and then smiled at her with interest. “But enough about me. I want to know what the three of you have been up to since I left. Now that I have to at least pretend like I’m an upstanding citizen in this kingdom, I have to live vicariously through all of you.”
The thieves laughed at his joke and proceeded to take turns filling him in on their lives in the outer villages. For the most part, things hadn’t changed. Rikki and Alistair had backed off from the war a bit to focus on making sure they had everything they needed to get through the winter season while Hazel had been gathering herbs before the first snowfall to make and distribute poultices for the people of Myrefall. Once they had finished catching up with each other, they sat for a little while longer, simply chatting and enjoying each other’s company. For a moment, Crow felt like he’d been transported back in time. He and the other thieves rediscovered their rhythm so easily that it almost seemed like they hadn’t been apart for a whole month. It made him nostalgic for the past, but he knew he could never go back. As much as he missed his companions, he had something—or someone—better waiting for him when he returned to the inner kingdom.
So, even though he would have stayed all night if he could, the viceroy eventually forced himself to get up and say his goodbyes.
He embraced each one of the thieves in turn, all of whom were visibly disappointed about parting ways again. “I promise I’ll come back to visit the second I have another chance,” he swore as he wrapped Rikki in a firm hug and then stepped back to look at all of them.
“We’ll hold you to it,” Hazel nodded.
“Yeah,” Alistair agreed with a grin. “You and I still have to have that next wrestling match, and I’m not letting you off the hook.”
“Well, I’m not letting you chicken out either,” he grinned back at his old friend.
“Don’t go away for too long, okay?” Rikki frowned. “I miss seeing your face around here.”
“I’ll do my best,” he promised her. “In the meantime, you had all better stay safe, so I can see every one of you the next time I come back.”
“You don’t have to worry about us,” Hazel quipped. “Now that you’ve moved away, there’s no one around to drag us into any dangerous endeavors.”
“Ha ha,” he rolled his eyes.
After saying a few more parting words, he turned around to head back to Silverpool, while they made their way off to their hideout near Myrefall. As he walked through the woods, he found Percival who was, true to his word, standing almost exactly where the viceroy had left him. The knight was studying the starry sky until he heard the former thief’s soft footsteps in the dried grass. “How did it go?” he asked, turning his head to meet the other man’s gaze.
“Good,” Crow replied, stifling a yawn. He’d been so caught up in talking to his old companions that he hadn’t realized how much time had passed. Belatedly, he felt a twinge of guilt for making the knight wait for so long. “Sorry for keeping you out this late,” he apologized as the noble quietly fell in step at his side. “I wasn’t paying attention to the time.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Percy shook his head. “I was the one who decided to come with you. You had every right to take as long as you needed.”
How is someone this accommodating a knight? Crow thought, baffled by his guard’s congeniality. Percival was certainly the warmest person he’d met since he’d moved into the inner kingdom. “Well, thanks for waiting anyway,” he insisted.
“Of course,” he replied curtly.
Both tired from the late night, Crow and Percy headed back to Silverpool in silence, ready to return to their beds to get what little sleep they could before they left for the border the next morning.
Crow remembered that when he’d initially talked to Wayne, Robyn and Percy, the latter had been more sympathetic to the people of the outer villages during the war. However, he hadn’t thought that the nobleman would put his faith in a man who used to be a wanted criminal. Tonight, Percival had not only asked for his input about an important concern of his, but he was also willingly trudging through the foliage at his side to meet with people that, for all he knew, could be dangerous. He was quickly proving to be someone that the viceroy felt like he could trust on the trip to Younis and even in the inner kingdom when they returned. He was glad that he’d convinced his father to let him come, even though he didn’t have as much experience as the knights Albin had originally selected. He much preferred to have someone watching his back whom he knew wouldn’t stab it when he turned around.
The two walked for a long time before they eventually neared the fallen tree that Crow had designated as the meeting point, and he slowed his pace to a stop. Beside him, Percy halted as well. “Is this the place?” the knight asked, to which the former thief immediately lifted a finger to his lips to hush him.
“It’s just up ahead,” he whispered in return. Shifting his weight, he added, “I stopped because I wanted to ask you to wait here for me to come back.”
“You don’t want me to come with you the rest of the way?” Percival frowned, though he lowered his voice obligingly.
“It’s better if you don’t,” Crow answered honestly. “I let you come with me this far, but I arranged this meeting to speak with them openly, and they aren’t going to talk if I have a chaperone. If it makes you feel better, you can keep an eye on the area to make sure there’s no one suspicious around though.” He nudged the knight’s arm. “You did say you were here to make sure I’m safe.”
Percival contemplated it. “Are you sure these criminals won’t hurt you if you’re alone?”
“I trust them with my life,” he nodded.
The knight thought for a moment longer before he sighed, “Fine. I’ll wait for you here.”
“Thank you,” Crow smiled appreciatively. “I’ll be back soon.”
Percy grunted in response, and the viceroy made his deeper into the woods alone until he located the fallen tree. At the sight of it, he smiled again, feeling a surge of eagerness bubble up in his chest as he made out three silhouettes standing around the log. He’d expected the thieves to beat him there, since he’d had to wait for his guards to fall asleep before he could sneak out, but he was still excited to see them. And it seemed like they were excited to see him too.
As soon as he stepped into the clearing, he heard an energetic voice cry out his name.
“Crow!” Rikki squealed, leading the charge as she, Alistair and Hazel rushed over to greet him with open arms.
He met them with equal enthusiasm, grinning broadly even though they practically smothered him in their tight embraces. Attempting to wrap his arms around them too, he felt a swell of fondness for the thieves he’d left behind when he’d moved to the citadel. “I missed you all,” he said, foregoing formalities as the words slipped out of his mouth. They didn’t have time for polite exchanges anyway.
“I can’t believe you’re really here,” Rikki shook her head in disbelief. He could feel her trembling as she pressed herself against his torso. Out of the trio, she seemed to have missed him the most. Or at least, her reaction to seeing him again was the most emotional.
“Yeah, we thought you were going to be too busy to visit us,” Alistair agreed, equally as constricting at the viceroy’s side.
“Alright, you two, we should give him some space,” Hazel said, stepping back first and shooting him a wink. “He’s important now, so we can’t suffocate him.”
“Thanks,” Crow rolled his eyes at her snide comment, though he was a little relieved when they gave him room to breathe again.
Once they had put a little distance between them, Alistair whistled. “Wow, you even look like a nobleman now,” he observed, looking over the viceroy’s ensemble with round eyes. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen fabric that expensive. How much do you think it’s worth?”
“I try not to think about it,” Crow admitted a bit sheepishly.
“Who knew you would clean up so nicely too?” Hazel gibed with a smirk. “What did they do to convince you to groom yourself, scamp?”
“They said that if I didn’t do what they wanted, they’d come after you instead,” he said dryly. “You should be grateful. I took one for the team.”
“Forgive me if I withhold my thanks,” she replied, though the smile didn’t leave her lips.
“What do you think of… well, everything?” Rikki asked tentatively. She wore a curious expression, but he could see a hint of concern in her eyes. He guessed she was still holding out a little hope that he would change his mind about the decision he’d made and come back to them.
Offering her a soft smile, he replied truthfully, “It’s a lot to handle, but the pros still outweigh the cons.” Walking with them over to the fallen tree, he went on to tell them about everything that had been going on since he’d left them a month ago. They knew a few of the details because of the letters he’d sent to them, but there was quite a bit that they hadn’t heard. He told them about his training, about the things he’d had to learn about assimilating into noble life and the lessons he’d had with his father and with John. He also talked about his family, how Naida was the only one who had openly accepted him. Subjects of the other affairs at the castle came up as well, including the time the Fischbachs had tried to frame him, the trip he’d taken to Bellmare with Penelope, and the party she had thrown to convince the other nobles to sign her petition. Of course, he also told them that they were officially courting and planning to get married now that he had her father’s blessing. Lastly, he explained that he was in the outer villages because Albin had agreed to negotiate with the Younisian king about ending the war, and he was the representative assigned to make the treaty.
By the time he was done talking, a brief quiet fell over the group while his companions took in the news. “At least it sounds like you never have to worry about a dull day at the castle,” Alistair shook his head incredulously. “I can’t believe so much has happened in just one month.”
“Me either,” Crow exhaled. “But it’s mostly good things. I never expected this to be easy, and now, Penelope and I can finally be together. I’m happy even though we’ll probably have a few more bumps in the road to get past.”
“I’m happy to hear it,” Hazel said supportively. “And I’m happy to hear that you’re already being given opportunities to make a difference. It’s what I was hoping would happen when you told me you were going to be taking this title.”
“It does feel good,” Crow mused. “I’ve never had the power to end a war before. I’m still getting used to the fact that I’m not a thief anymore too. I still flinch whenever I see knights.” He chuckled amusedly. “One of the men I’ve gotten to know at the castle invited me into the barracks outside the castle once, but I couldn’t do it because I still feel like they’re going to pin me to the ground and throw me in a cell.”
“I’m sure you’ll adjust to it soon,” Hazel assured him.
“Maybe,” he shrugged and then smiled at her with interest. “But enough about me. I want to know what the three of you have been up to since I left. Now that I have to at least pretend like I’m an upstanding citizen in this kingdom, I have to live vicariously through all of you.”
The thieves laughed at his joke and proceeded to take turns filling him in on their lives in the outer villages. For the most part, things hadn’t changed. Rikki and Alistair had backed off from the war a bit to focus on making sure they had everything they needed to get through the winter season while Hazel had been gathering herbs before the first snowfall to make and distribute poultices for the people of Myrefall. Once they had finished catching up with each other, they sat for a little while longer, simply chatting and enjoying each other’s company. For a moment, Crow felt like he’d been transported back in time. He and the other thieves rediscovered their rhythm so easily that it almost seemed like they hadn’t been apart for a whole month. It made him nostalgic for the past, but he knew he could never go back. As much as he missed his companions, he had something—or someone—better waiting for him when he returned to the inner kingdom.
So, even though he would have stayed all night if he could, the viceroy eventually forced himself to get up and say his goodbyes.
He embraced each one of the thieves in turn, all of whom were visibly disappointed about parting ways again. “I promise I’ll come back to visit the second I have another chance,” he swore as he wrapped Rikki in a firm hug and then stepped back to look at all of them.
“We’ll hold you to it,” Hazel nodded.
“Yeah,” Alistair agreed with a grin. “You and I still have to have that next wrestling match, and I’m not letting you off the hook.”
“Well, I’m not letting you chicken out either,” he grinned back at his old friend.
“Don’t go away for too long, okay?” Rikki frowned. “I miss seeing your face around here.”
“I’ll do my best,” he promised her. “In the meantime, you had all better stay safe, so I can see every one of you the next time I come back.”
“You don’t have to worry about us,” Hazel quipped. “Now that you’ve moved away, there’s no one around to drag us into any dangerous endeavors.”
“Ha ha,” he rolled his eyes.
After saying a few more parting words, he turned around to head back to Silverpool, while they made their way off to their hideout near Myrefall. As he walked through the woods, he found Percival who was, true to his word, standing almost exactly where the viceroy had left him. The knight was studying the starry sky until he heard the former thief’s soft footsteps in the dried grass. “How did it go?” he asked, turning his head to meet the other man’s gaze.
“Good,” Crow replied, stifling a yawn. He’d been so caught up in talking to his old companions that he hadn’t realized how much time had passed. Belatedly, he felt a twinge of guilt for making the knight wait for so long. “Sorry for keeping you out this late,” he apologized as the noble quietly fell in step at his side. “I wasn’t paying attention to the time.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Percy shook his head. “I was the one who decided to come with you. You had every right to take as long as you needed.”
How is someone this accommodating a knight? Crow thought, baffled by his guard’s congeniality. Percival was certainly the warmest person he’d met since he’d moved into the inner kingdom. “Well, thanks for waiting anyway,” he insisted.
“Of course,” he replied curtly.
Both tired from the late night, Crow and Percy headed back to Silverpool in silence, ready to return to their beds to get what little sleep they could before they left for the border the next morning.
Yeah, Cas can force himself to get up when he has things to do, but since he and Iris aren't on a strict schedule, he let himself go a little xD
“That’s good,” Cas replied as he stuffed another forkful of fruit into his mouth. He wanted to help Iris pack up their supplies, since he felt bad that she was doing all the work for both of them, but he needed to finish his breakfast first. He couldn’t be blamed for the fact that he was slow to wake up in the mornings. Since there was no coffee around to kickstart his day, he was hoping that the sugary meal would give him the energy he needed to get out of bed. At least there isn’t a whole lot to do before we leave, he thought as he watched her put the few belongings they had into the backpack. He would have felt a lot worse if they’d had two suitcases full of things that needed to be put up before they hit the road.
He was also glad that she seemed to have fully recovered from the brief illness that had taken her down yesterday. “That’s good too,” he said again, tossing his empty can into the wastebasket and twisting at the waist to swing his legs over the side of the bed. He was still tired, but he knew that lying around would only make it harder for him to wake up, so he needed to push through the bleariness. So, he got up and ambled over to the desk chair, where he’d left his jacket the night before. As he slid it over his arms, he wondered again about where they were going to go now that he was having second thoughts about going home. It sounded like they were close enough to the capital that they could make it there within a day if he said he wanted to return, but… He glanced at Iris. He was enjoying traveling with her so much that he didn’t feel the need to rush back into the arms of people who couldn’t care less if he never came back at all.
When she went over their options, he considered what he wanted to do while he put on his shoes. “We can take the roadway,” he decided with a shrug. “I don’t know anything about this part of the kingdom other than what I’ve seen on paper, so I trust that you know what you’re doing.” Even if he didn’t trust her, it wasn’t like he had a choice. He used to think he knew Aspiria better than almost everyone else who lived there, but now that he’d seen what life was like outside the capital for himself, he didn’t know what the truth was anymore. On the contrary, she had grown up in Tongsen and visited the other districts before, so he assumed she knew the area better than he ever could. If she thought the roadway was their best option, then they would take the roadway.
“Who knows? Maybe they’ll stop coming after us now that it looks like my dad doesn’t care if I come home,” he added. Although his words were nonchalant, he was unable to keep a hint of anger from entering his voice as he addressed the thoughts that had been weighing on his mind. “They have nothing to gain from catching me again, so we might not even have to worry about it anymore.” Righting his posture, he pulled his hood over his head and stepped over to the door. “Are you ready to go?”
He was also glad that she seemed to have fully recovered from the brief illness that had taken her down yesterday. “That’s good too,” he said again, tossing his empty can into the wastebasket and twisting at the waist to swing his legs over the side of the bed. He was still tired, but he knew that lying around would only make it harder for him to wake up, so he needed to push through the bleariness. So, he got up and ambled over to the desk chair, where he’d left his jacket the night before. As he slid it over his arms, he wondered again about where they were going to go now that he was having second thoughts about going home. It sounded like they were close enough to the capital that they could make it there within a day if he said he wanted to return, but… He glanced at Iris. He was enjoying traveling with her so much that he didn’t feel the need to rush back into the arms of people who couldn’t care less if he never came back at all.
When she went over their options, he considered what he wanted to do while he put on his shoes. “We can take the roadway,” he decided with a shrug. “I don’t know anything about this part of the kingdom other than what I’ve seen on paper, so I trust that you know what you’re doing.” Even if he didn’t trust her, it wasn’t like he had a choice. He used to think he knew Aspiria better than almost everyone else who lived there, but now that he’d seen what life was like outside the capital for himself, he didn’t know what the truth was anymore. On the contrary, she had grown up in Tongsen and visited the other districts before, so he assumed she knew the area better than he ever could. If she thought the roadway was their best option, then they would take the roadway.
“Who knows? Maybe they’ll stop coming after us now that it looks like my dad doesn’t care if I come home,” he added. Although his words were nonchalant, he was unable to keep a hint of anger from entering his voice as he addressed the thoughts that had been weighing on his mind. “They have nothing to gain from catching me again, so we might not even have to worry about it anymore.” Righting his posture, he pulled his hood over his head and stepped over to the door. “Are you ready to go?”
Okay! Looking forward to it, but no rush if you can't ^^ I think I'm going out of town for another short trip this weekend for Memorial Day
Yep! I'm glad it worked out better than I thought ^^
And Cas is not a morning person, haha. He wasn't ready for how bubbly Iris is
And Cas is not a morning person, haha. He wasn't ready for how bubbly Iris is
Even compared to when he’d crashed on Maisie’s couch, Caspian slept more soundly than he had in a while. He’d fallen asleep facing the edge of the bed, but at some point during the night, he’d rolled onto his back and then once more onto his other side with his arm draped limply over Iris. The warmth of her body that was pressed comfortably against his sent him into a deep sleep in which he was visited with fleeting dreams that weren’t vivid enough to remember. This was where he stayed until he eventually stirred at the feeling of something gently touching his cheek.
Coming out of the depths of slumber, he shifted and stretched languidly on the bed, reluctant to open his eyes. Unconsciousness had been so pleasant that he would have drifted off again if not for the sound of Iris’s whispery voice beside him. Recognizing belatedly that he was holding her in his arms, a tired smile crossed his lips, and he pulled her to his chest. “Morning,” he murmured back to her. Waking up next to someone else was a brand new experience for him, but it was one that he felt like he could get used to. He enjoyed the way her smaller frame fit against his body as if it was meant to be there.
When she kissed his cheek and said spoke about having breakfast, he yawned and rubbed his eyes with the heel of his palm, already missing her warmth as she got out of the bed. “Okay,” he said groggily, forcing himself to sit up. He’d never been a morning person, but it was even harder for him to convince himself not to sleep in when he’d been so incredibly comfortable just seconds before. I wish we had coffee, he thought, arching his back in another stretch as he tried to get his blood flowing again. Unfortunately, it seemed like coffee was yet another luxury that he wouldn’t be able to have unless he went back to the capital. If there was any in the other districts, he had yet to find it.
Leaning back against the headboard, he took the opened can of fruit from Iris when she handed it to him. “Thanks,” he said appreciatively. Part of him felt a little bad for only giving her one-word replies when she was trying to talk to him, but he needed to wake up a little more before he was capable of holding a coherent conversation. It was a marvel to him that she was already so energetic after she’d just rolled out of bed a minute ago. He was happy to see her looking so chipper though. Compared to the day before, she seemed to be feeling much better. By contrast, he felt like he’d just come out of a coma.
Hoping to catch up to her, he stabbed a piece of juicy melon with his fork and brought it to his lips. “How’d you sleep?” he asked after he’d swallowed the first bite. Privately, he was sure he already knew the answer to his question, since she seemed to be doing well, but he wanted to at least try to reciprocate her friendliness, so she wouldn’t think he was just a grump in the mornings.
Coming out of the depths of slumber, he shifted and stretched languidly on the bed, reluctant to open his eyes. Unconsciousness had been so pleasant that he would have drifted off again if not for the sound of Iris’s whispery voice beside him. Recognizing belatedly that he was holding her in his arms, a tired smile crossed his lips, and he pulled her to his chest. “Morning,” he murmured back to her. Waking up next to someone else was a brand new experience for him, but it was one that he felt like he could get used to. He enjoyed the way her smaller frame fit against his body as if it was meant to be there.
When she kissed his cheek and said spoke about having breakfast, he yawned and rubbed his eyes with the heel of his palm, already missing her warmth as she got out of the bed. “Okay,” he said groggily, forcing himself to sit up. He’d never been a morning person, but it was even harder for him to convince himself not to sleep in when he’d been so incredibly comfortable just seconds before. I wish we had coffee, he thought, arching his back in another stretch as he tried to get his blood flowing again. Unfortunately, it seemed like coffee was yet another luxury that he wouldn’t be able to have unless he went back to the capital. If there was any in the other districts, he had yet to find it.
Leaning back against the headboard, he took the opened can of fruit from Iris when she handed it to him. “Thanks,” he said appreciatively. Part of him felt a little bad for only giving her one-word replies when she was trying to talk to him, but he needed to wake up a little more before he was capable of holding a coherent conversation. It was a marvel to him that she was already so energetic after she’d just rolled out of bed a minute ago. He was happy to see her looking so chipper though. Compared to the day before, she seemed to be feeling much better. By contrast, he felt like he’d just come out of a coma.
Hoping to catch up to her, he stabbed a piece of juicy melon with his fork and brought it to his lips. “How’d you sleep?” he asked after he’d swallowed the first bite. Privately, he was sure he already knew the answer to his question, since she seemed to be doing well, but he wanted to at least try to reciprocate her friendliness, so she wouldn’t think he was just a grump in the mornings.
So, pretty amazing thing happened. The surgeon came in to look at my infection and said it had already healed on its own! I don't need surgery unless it comes back now ^^ He released me with instructions to just keep an eye on the area for the next few months
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