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Arien looked over again when Ryn stepped to his side. Honestly, the entire outfit screamed concubine. Sex toy.
Arien leaned towards Ryn, assessing his he was holding himself. He couldn't help it; it was how one had to be in court.
"Are you alright with it?" He finally asked, concern on his face.
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Even though Ryn didn’t even believe it was his own opinion to be fine, he replied, “Yes. It’s alright.”
He was Arien’s. Wouldn’t it be the king’s choice what to put him in? The bracelet said it all.
Just to further convince Arien, Ryn stood up straighter, holding his arms behind his back. He was being promised so much… he figured he would not give Arien a problem to worry about.
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Arien looked at Ryn, the concern still showing on his face.
"If you're truly fine with the outfit, then… Don't be afraid to ask for things. I don't want you to be uncomfortable here. Don't forget this is just so you have a better place to stay." Arien could already see it happening. He could see Ryn giving up what he wanted just because Arien was the king. He didn't want that.
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“I’m alright with it, don’t worry. It’s much better than what I had before. I’m just thankful for it all,” Ryn responded, although as he kept speaking, his voice seemed to grow softer. He still wasn’t going to ask about anything. No, not until he was more comfortable here. Perhaps when he grew closer to Arien, he wouldn’t care. But… that was assuming he got close to the king. He didn’t necessarily find that happening, considering all he felt like now was a toy.
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Arien turned fully to Run now, letting Rio deal with getting to the fitting room on his own.
"Ryn," he said gently. He reached out, lightly taking Ryn's hand in his own. "This is your home now, too. And I don't want you to feel like you should have to do anything just because of me. If you don't like the clothes, we can get you different ones. I swear, it's not a big deal. You don't have to do anything you don't want to, Ryn."
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Ryn was certainly mesmerized by the sincerity in the man’s voice. No one had ever spoken to him this nicely. This honestly.
The boy let out a diminutive nod, staring at his hands.
“I thank you for that— truly do,” he replied, gaze still elsewhere. “It’s just been a while since I’ve had something other than… rags, really. I’ll get used to it. I promise.”
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Arien kept Ryn's hands in his, lifting them up a little.
"You don't have to if you don't want to," Arien said softly. "I know this outfit is very… Sexual, in nature. We can get you something more tame if you want to. Something that doesn't hug as tightly and show so much skin." Arien couldn't help but be concerned with how Ryn was holding himself, with how he was acting. He knew this was a lot to take on, and he didn't want Ryn to feel like his only purpose now was too be a- a plaything.
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But isn’t it my job to walk around like this? he asked himself, locking his jaw. Although with Arien’s words, he found their suggestion more and more appealing.
Finally, he gave in, offering a small nod.
“Then I’ll take you up on that, thank you, sir,” he replied, golden eyes still locked on their hands. He looked extremely passive, the loose shirt falling just slightly as he sighed.
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Arien nodded, glad Ryn was finally giving in. He didn't want Ryn to have to force himself to embrace the life of a concubine. It was just a cover story, after all.
"Let's go get you some better clothes, then," he said softly. He pulled one of his hands away from Ryn, slipping it around him. He gently started to lead Ryn back to the fitting room. This time, Arien opened the trunk.
"You can wear whatever you want to," he assured softly.
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“Thank you, again,” he said softly, finally meeting Arien’s eyes. He felt like he was a broken record, just saying ‘thank you’ over and over again. But what else could he do? What he was being offered was insane to him.
He gingerly pulled forth some smaller clothes, still a white shirt but this time accompanied by looser-looking crimson slacks. He gave another look up to Arien before disappearing behind the screen, and coming back a few moments later with the previous clothes folded in his arms. These ones fit him much better, and although the shirt still hung looser, it was better than the previous.
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Arien stepped forward, taking the ill fitting clothes from Ryn carefully and setting them back in the trunk.
"Better?" He asked. He was standing right by Ryn, leaving less than a foot between them. He mostly did it to give Ryn an anchor, just someone at least slightly familiar in this place. He thought Ryn looked much better, himself, but he kept his thoughts to himself for now. He didn't want his opinion influencing Ryn's.
"If that all it's for then I'm fine with it I guess." Rio responded, crossing his arms
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Henrietta made her way out of the fitting room, looking at Rio.
"Then put this on," she said. She held out a bracelet just like the one Ryn had, then grabbed Rio's wrist.
"Now let's go get you into some more appropriate clothes for your status."
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“Much better,” Ryn agreed, still adjusting them slightly. The leather band fell loosely on his arm, getting to about his elbow, give or take a few inches. He was very thin, which probably explained both the loose shirts and the bracelet’s cease to stay in one place.
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"I'm glad," Arien admitted softly. Ryn was just so thin, probably from his life in the streets. He looked up when Henrietta dragged Rio into the room. He took Ryn's hand in his own again, leading him out of the room.
"It looks much better on you than the other outfit."
Rio allowed himself to be pulled and put the bracelet on once they got to the room. 'I don't do tight but I can do fitted. I'm not going to take any of my other bracelets or this necklace off so don't try." He muttered, peeling his shirt off and standing with his arms.crossed.
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"Well, how do you feel about loose clothes?" Henrietta examined Rio a moment. If she thought anything of the marks on him, she didn't say anything about them. She dug around in the clothing trunk, pulling out a deep purple shirt that was similar to the first one Ryn had been wearing.
"These are the clothes traditionally wore by the king's male concubines," she explained. "I'm sure he won't mind you being in fitted pants instead of tight, after letting the other change."
"I don't mind a loose shirt but loose pants are not my style." Rio shrugged and grabbed the shirt Henrietta was holding out and put it on.
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Ryn’s heart fluttered nervously at the compliment.
“Th-Thank you,” he mumbled timidly. “It’s much more comfortable, as well. You’re very kind for— well, you’re very kind for numerous reasons. And for that, I thank you… yet again.”
Ryn decided not to focus on the fact that Arien may have been trying to steer clear of Rio for his sake. Was it because Arien didn’t trust that Ryn could handle himself? No, now wasn’t a time to get defensive. The man was probably just getting a feel for dynamics between the two. Honestly, Ryn probably would have done the same.
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"Perfect." Henrietta looked at the trunk again, pulling it a pair of fitted black pants. They were a softer material than the pants Rio was currently wearing.
"You can put these on over there," she said, pointing to the changing area.
Arien gave Ryn a gentle smile. Mostly, he was keeping away from Rio now so Ryn wouldn't feel pressured into telling him something different than what actually happened between the two men.
"You're welcome," Arien said gently. "Now, I believe, we can have some alone time to talk about what you say happened between you and Rio. Shah we take this to our rooms?"
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“Sure, I wouldn’t mind,” Ryn replied, stepping in line with Arien.
In truth, Ryn didn’t have much to tell. It was simple— he had stolen things, fell into running, didn’t realize Rio was trying to kill him, and disappeared completely through the power of talking sweet. He wasn’t proud of it whatsoever, but he knew he couldn’t get in trouble here. Not by Arien, at least. Ryn hadn’t done anything to hinder this empire, so anything outside of it shouldn’t be an issue.
Rio got dressed, tying down any loose ends and ran a hand through his hair before stepping out from the changing room. He rubbed his arm uncertainly before grabbing his gloves and putting them on. "Thank you." He smiled at Henrietta.
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Arien led Ryn through the palace, to a large wooden door. It was carved, showcasing a gorgeous seen of the city as it had been centuries ago. Arien opened the door, revealing a room just as impressive as the door. He led Ryn inside.
"Please, have a seat," he said gently, motioning to one of the elegant chairs by the fireplace.
"You can start whenever you're ready to."
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"You're welcome." Henrietta glanced out of the room.
"The king seems to have left already. Do you need help finding the room you'll be staying in?" She looked at Rio, closing the trunk.
"That would be wonderful, thank you." He smiled and walked towards the door, holding it open for Henrietta before following her outside.
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Ryn hesitantly took one of the seats, glancing around the room before beginning. It was clear as his story went on, he grew more comfortable, to the point where his voice almost sounded casual.
“I don’t exactly know when it started… Or at least, I don’t exactly know when Rio was sent to kill me. In fact, I didn’t even know his name until now. I had spent the majority of my life thieving. I grew up on the streets, just trying to get by,” he mumbled, trailing off slightly, then taking a deep breath. Ryn could be closed off if he wanted, but Arien seemed like someone he could speak to. It was easier, somehow. But then again, being open wasn’t something Ryn wasn’t used to.
“Maybe I stole something that seemed of use to someone else. I can’t remember what it was. I just remembered that someone told me to get it, and in turn, they would promise me they wouldn’t hurt me… anymore. I did as I was told, and perhaps that’s what had aggravated Rio and whoever was on his side. Since then I’ve been running… and it wasn’t until now I’ve ever seen Rio again.”
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Arien listened quietly to Ryn tell his side of the story. He nodded, thinking.
"You did what you needed to to get by," he says, more to himself then Ryn. He thought over the information he had been given, nodding once more.
"I have one more question," he said, definitely to Ryn now. "Earlier, you said you would have done things differently if you had known what would have happened to Rio. What did you mean by that?"
Henrietta nodded. She walked briskly through the halls. She was a shorter woman, but she walked faster then most men. She came to the carved door Arien and Run were behind, bringing Rio to a less elegant door next to it.
"This is were you and the other will sleep, unless the king needs you at night or decides to let you sleep in his room."
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“Well… maybe I would have actually confronted Rio, and asked him what I could do to help him,” Ryn murmured softly, more to himself as he dipped his head. He looked to his hands, cradled in his lap. They were rough from years of mistreatment, but Ryn tried to wear his scars proud.
“I don’t ever want to cause anyone to live a life of pain, even if it means sacrificing my well-being,” he said, the fire beside him flickering in his eyes. Wether is was produced by his own internal emotion, or it was just the reflection, he didn’t know. “I could have offered him something. Just.. something.”
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Arien leaned forward a little as he listened to Ryn.
"Even if doing so would have killed you?" He asked, voice quiet. Being empathetic of others pain was a good thing, but to put everyone above himself..? Arien was surprised Ryn hadn't ended up dead. And the person who had told him to steal the thing, just so they would stop hurting Ryn… It was disgusting. How could any one being themselves to hurt this man?
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“Maybe..,” Ryn said slowly, looking up to Arien. His own eyes locked on the man’s, and he pursed his lips.
“It was a long time ago. Given the circumstances, I may have just let him take my life,” he responded, lacing his hands together. “I didn’t have much to live for then. Based on what he said before… he did.”
