"Hmm. Interesting." He said with a nod. "Back home, mine was always Marin, which is a story of a wizard and a dragon. But, that's for a different day. Why do you love the stars so? Why do they make your angry temper go silent?" He asks, scooting just a bit closer to Marius.
Hmm? Marius glanced up at Evan curiously at the question. Well, I dunno… they've kind of just always calmed me. Whenever I was ever stressed, I'd just come up here and sit for a while, looking at the stars. I guess I subconsciously started connected it with a relaxing, safe place to be. People don't usually bother me when I'm up here.
"Does it annoy you that I'm up here with you? Or that I'm with you in general?" He asked quietly. "I do understand people want personal space and want to be alone. I don't want to be treading on any tails so to speak."
Well, you piss me off sometimes, but I invited you up here, so… Marius shrugged a bit, keeping his eyes on the stars. Honestly, I have mixed feelings about you. I don't know how to explain it. It's frustrating and confusing to not know what's going on, of course, but I have to deal with it anyway. I just met you and you've already gotten me to willingly spend time with you. That's not something I generally do, you know.
"Oh I know and I deeply appreciate it. Some say love feels like that. Maybe you're in love. Not to press anything on you of course but from all the teachings I know. Maybe that's it. And it's Evelyn that gets me into trouble all the time. I love her though. Did you know she had a twin?"
Love? I… I doubt it. I've never been in love before. Why should I start now? Marius flushed and closed his eyes, shaking his head a bit with a shaky huff. And no, I didn't know Evelyn had a twin. I generally avoid talking to her about her personal life since she'd never shut up.
Evan reached over and flicked Darius on the head. "Be kind to my sister. I adore her very much and she's not that talkative. Anyways,now is as good as any to fall in love. I've fallen in love before and it definitely feels like this from…from my experience. Your heart skips beats when they're around, miss them even for mere minutes if they're gone,and you fall for the stars in their eyes." Those last words made him stare straight into Darius's eyes. "And since you've never felt it before how would you know what love is and isn't?"
(*Marius)
Hey! Marius looked over at Evan and put one hand on his own forehead, huffing a bit. Don't do that… He tried not to think about the 'symptoms' of love that Evan was describing, and especially trying to put it out of his mind that he was experiencing them. What's the point anyway? I don't get to love. I'm forced to marry Marianne and there's nothing I can do about it. That's just how it is for me, Evan. Falling in love would only complicate things, and love isn't really my thing anyway…
"Love is everyone's thing Mari." (Like Mar like how Mars is pronounced,and then ee) "Well. Most people's things. Love leaves you confused and with a need to be near the person and share things with them you otherwise wouldn't. And I'll do what I please,star eyes."
You can't just do what you please because I'm above you and can have you killed, but sure. I guess if you put no value on your life, you can do what you want. Marius closed his eyes again and sighed, obviously conflicted. He really didn't understand how he was feeling. The frustration was even creeping into his calm demeanor.
"Oh Mari you wouldn't do that." He said in soft tones. He then scooted over again. Their legs were touching but that's it. Evan then let him be alone with his thoughts as he put his face in his arms.
Marius fidgeted with his hands a bit, clenching them and unclenching them into fists while he tried to decide how he was feeling. You… you don't know that. I've done it before. He let his ears droop a bit as he sighed, clearly getting more tense.
"True. But I don't think you'd do that to Crystal. That'd start a war. Torture as you may but don't kill." He said with a shrug,still relaxed. He then scooted close enough so their hips were touching, putting his head on his shoulder.
I don't know what I want, okay? I don't… I'm not used to this. I don't know what's going on. Marius sighed in exasperation, trembling lightly. It's stressful…
"So is life. Just take this moment and this space to think for awhile. It's good to think. It grounds you really well." He yawned a bit and smiled, nuzzling into Marius a bit, unable to help it. He was cute, and warm, but quite the bit of a spitfire. He didn't really understand why people hated Marius so much, Evan just couldn't see what everyone else saw.
Marius hesitated before huddling up with Evan, curling his tail around himself a bit. I don't like thinking about this kind of thing… He sighed softly.
"We all have to do things we don't like, especially things that are difficult. Then again. Nothing that's worthwhile ever comes easy." He sighed. "Do I bother you being like this?"
I don't think so… Marius fidgeted a bit, looking away from Evan. I'm just sick of this… I hate thinking about emotional stuff. It's not really my thing.
"Emotions are good and important to keep track of. Good mental health is a wonderful thing." He nodded. "I have a feeling you may be thinking about it a lot more. And I seem to be bothering you. If you ever want your space please, let me know. I'm not as mean as you think I am." He said with a shrug.
No, I want you to be here. You know more about this shit than I do. Marius curled up a bit and rested his head on Evan's arm. I just honestly don't know what to do…
"Well. Ask me anything. I will try my best to answer you. It's good to learn stuff like this." He grabbed his knapsack and dug in it, and pulled out a journal. He flipped through it to a blank page and began to write in it. "Don't worry I'm not writing about you. It's like my personal learning log. Things I've studied and gotten to know on my travels. I'm writing about the culture in the village, and sort of how the power system works here."
If you say so… Marius sighed softly, considering for a few seconds as he fidgeted with his hands. Um… how do you know if… if you're in love? He asked tentatively. God, this feels stupid… I-I should just leave…
"No don't. You're new to this. It's okay. Trust me. Well usually you can't stop thinking about them. You love all of them, from the smallest little winks to maybe a big rolling laugh, to the things they do for you. Usually your heart skips beats when they are around, make you blush. Maybe you steal things of theirs with their scent which brings you peace, or want to show them things otherwise personal to you. It's a strange feeling but it brings oh so much joy."
Marius flushed a bit Evan talked, subtly glancing down to the blanket Evan had given him when he mentioned stealing things for their scent. But that all sounds… weird. Love is weird. I dunno if I like it… He huffed a bit as he held the blanket closer to his chest.
"It's not weird. It's natural. And amazing. I've only fallen once. Broken hearts are…hard. And maybe you help them through their confusion with things, out of love. Wanting to be there and comfort them, in times of stress and uncertainty, such as now. And a need to touch too. To just be close." He sighed. "You find yourself staring into their eyes, or even wanting to take care of them when they are hurt, or just. Help in any way. Love has many different definitions and being shown. I think in time you'll find to like it."
Marius sighed again and buried his face in the blanket, drawing in its scent. Evan was right about it calming him… but Evan was also right next to him. He had the source of the scent right next to him, but he was too nervous to get any closer. But it's weird… I'm not supposed to love. I have to marry Marianne regardless of whether I love her or not, which I obviously don't… almost all marriages with royals are arranged and we just deal with it.
"Do you know just how many kings and queens marry for power and have secret lovers? I will always be her page until either she gets too annoyed with me and kills me or I die of old age." He wrapped an arm around Marius and pulled him into his chest a bit. "I do apologize but you're hiding in the blanket and that scent will fade faster the more inhale. If you keep close to me you won't wear it out as fast. Do forgive me."
Marius flushed red when Evan called him out and kept his face hidden in the blanket. I-I'm not-… I… I d-don't… uhm… He turned his ears back a bit and stopped trying to talk to Evan. He was honestly just embarrassing himself and that was only making him more flustered.
(AWWWW FRUSTRATED BEAN!) Evan's arms immediately unwrapped from around Marius and he scooted away a bit. "I am so sorry I got caught up in the moment and wasn't thinking about your personal space. I am deeply sorry Mari." He blushed immensely, not wanting to push himself too far at all.
N-No, wait, I… uhm… Marius hesitated before crawling back into Evan's lap and hiding his face again. I'm… uhm… cold… He lied weakly, his ears turned back. And you smell nice… This comment he kept only to himself although it was pretty obvious that he was thinking it considering the way he kept his face in the blanket.
