Evan blushed at that and wrapped himself around Marius, cuddling him, putting his face in Marius's neck a bit before lifting it. "If you're cold, why don't you wrap up in my blankets hm? Instead of me?" He chuckled, and decided to give Marius a slight kiss on the cheek, right above the mask.
You're… warmer. Marius huddled a little closer to Evan with his eyes closed, trying to keep himself from purring weakly. As much as he hated to admit it, he felt safe here. He was warm and secure in Evan's arms. You'd better not tell anyone about this. Not even Evelyn.
"Swear on my life I won't. Want me to pet you Prince?" He asked gently, as he grabbed a blanket which he draped over his own shoulders, and then wrapped it around the both of them. He then turned Marius so his back was up against Evans chest. "Hold the blanket please? Just for a moment."
Marius flushed a bit and nodded weakly at Evan's first question. When he was asked to hold the blanket, he did, although he appeared to be a bit confused. What are you doing? He asked curiously.
"You'll see." He smiled and tightened the blanket around himself, then swaddled Marius up in the blanket with a smile. "Just getting us comfier sweet thing, that's all. Don't want you getting cold. And I need a free hand to pet you with." He smiled and began to stroke his head softly. "Do you mind if I give you a few more kisses? On the cheek? I wouldn't dare remove your mask, I understand that since you can't speak…it's a privacy thing. I'll let you come to that decision if you so wish in your own time."
I… uhm… I-I don't mind… He closed his eyes and leaned into Evan's hand when the other began petting him, purring weakly. "Mmm…" He hated to admit how nice this felt, even to himself, but it was blatantly obvious how much he liked it. He found himself flushing again when Evan said he wouldn't try to take off his mask, not sure why he liked that, but knowing that he did.
He gave him just two, not wanting to push Marius too far. He sighed, and smiled. "It's nice to see you like this. Not angry, at peace and content. I'm glad I'm your peace if I'm going to be honest. And I'll always be honest with you Marius. Always." He began to rock Marius a bit, he was just so tiny in his lap.
Well, you're… less obnoxious than everyone else. You actually respect my personal space. Marius sighed a bit. Evelyn barges in on me all the time and leaves those stupid spider traps everywhere or dangles those stupid ventriloquist puppet things over my bed when I'm sleeping… she thinks it's funny when I'm angry but it's honestly kinda exhausting.
"Yeah? She just doesn't like mean people. So she likes to show em what for and teach them lessons." He shrugged. "You learn to love her. Besides she says you never got to never know her. Maybe once you do you'll find you have something in common."
Well, maybe I wouldn't be so 'mean' to her all the time if she wasn't constantly trying to piss me off. Just because I'm short doesn't mean it's cute when I'm angry… Marius huffed a bit and huddled a little closer to Evan. And she's too loud for me…
"Yeah true. She's a very loud person in general. Makes a great bard though. I can't deny that. She also just hates it here. She wants to be back home. Originally she was too be Marianna's bard but she saw one as unnecessary since I am her greatest entertainment, and so she was sent to you of course as a present. I remember it very well. Evelyn cried a lot more then I did. We're actually really close and very similar, suprisingly. I'm just all the sides of Evelyn she doesn't show, and vice versa. She actually really likes space, and books, and the rain. But. I do have to agree with her. You are cute." He said this shyly, looking away. "E-even when you aren't mad."
Marius sighed softly and closed his eyes, leaning into the petting a bit more. I'm not cute… I'm intimidating. All the people are terrified of me. I'm gonna be king. I'm gonna have power. I just… I dunno… I'm an asshole most of the time but that doesn't mean she has to exploit the few fears I have. I don't exploit hers, after all.
"You could. Besides she's only afraid of abandonment and tornadoes. So uh, good luck?" He laughs a bit. "And yes you are. I love your eyes most of all. When they aren't hooded in anger, full of true anger, or knitted together in confusion. And I like your intelligence. The way your mind works. And I just think you're so angry because people haven't taken the time to learn you like how you want people too. And respect you. Which is why you want people to fear you. Because you're short, people take you at a disadvantage, calling you cruel names. I think that's unfair to you and who you are. Height or status doesn't matter to me, instead your heart and what's inside. The story. If you were a peasant or a god I'd still treat you the same."
Marius flipped over to bury his red face in Evan's chest, his ears flattened back against his head. He tucked his head under Evan's chin to feel more secure. He was used to having a big hat covering his head, after all. Well, people know what happens when they undermine me and insult me… He growled a bit, though the noise was more unnerving than actually scary. He wasn't trying to scare Evan, after all. The people are right to fear me.
"I guess so. If I were king with you, I'd try to make them understand in other ways but eventually one gets exasperated with such a task. I guess eventually I'd be angry like you as well. Evelyn is like you in that way. Spiky and mean, but she isn't introverted like you are so it comes off as more of a playful crude jokey nature. I don't blame her though, considering her past." He smiled and leaned down, kissing Marius's nose. "You don't mind me calling you Mari do you?"
"Mm…" Marius flushed at the soft kiss and curled in on himself more, purring lightly. No, I've gotten used to it… I've had far worse nicknames. He closed his eyes as he started to relax again, his breathing more easy than before. I have to marry Marianne soon…
"But that's in the future. Focus on the now. You're safe right now. Don't stress so much about it." He began to give Marius the best headscritches he could, smiling at the purring. "And I'm glad I don't bother you. I wouldn't want too. I'm not cruel like that."
I don't wanna marry her… but I have to. And I'll be expected to get her pregnant. I don't wanna have sex with her any more than I want to marry her… Marius sighed, remaining relaxed only because of Evan's petting. I don't really want children either, but I need an heir…
"I'll help you raise them. I'm really good with kids. Raise them as my own. I'm better with babies and Evelyn is EPIC with toddlers. I promise you,you aren't alone. Stop worrying so much right now Marius. That's at least a month away. You can always love without being married, if you fall in love with someone."
I don't wanna be a dad… I'm only eighteen. I don't want to be a dad regardless of how old I am! He whined shakily as he huddled up with Evan. It'll expect me to spend time with it and I just… I can't. I don't like kids…
"You could be a horrible dad and be ignorant and neglectful. Also most people have a kid by the time they are 18. Most royalty anyways."
Marius sighed softly. I know, but still… I don't want kids. I'd be a terrible father and I can't see Marianne being a particularly good mother, to be honest.
"Hey hey hey. Relax. Get lost in my hands for a bit okay? For now you aren't a prince or a king. You're you. I am not a page I am me." He sighed and kissed him all over his cheeks. "You are cared about. With…with me. Rest assured."
Marius whimpered quietly, wrapping his legs around Evan's waist to pull himself closer. But I can't do that. I can't forget about my responsibilities, Evan. In only a week or so, I'll be married to some random queen I don't even care about, and I'll be expected to produce an heir and to be a good king and stuff… I just… He groaned in frustration and buried his face in Evan's chest again.
"Yes but that's in a week. Don't go worrying yet. I promise good sir. I will be here by your side. Besides if you don't want the child unload it on Queen Crystal. She'd just adopt it basically, and take care of it as her own. It's what she has done for a lot of us. Marianna will neglect it probably. But nonetheless. I'll be here for you." He sighed. "Prince, may I admit something to you?"
Marius looked up at Evan curiously, his form lightly trembling. What is it? He asked, shifting around a bit. Honestly, he was still stressed and conflicted. Not having to take care of the child himself would be preferable, obviously, but Queen Crystal didn't live in the castle with them and he wasn't sure if they'd be allowed to send the child away to her or not.
"I…I do believe that I experience the…the symptoms of being in love. When I am around you. At least they are starting. My heart if you can feel it is thudding and sometimes my words are hard to come when around you. You do not have to feel the same. But. I believe honesty is the best policy, and it is out of the best respect for you of course. I will do nothing but be kind towards you, and treat you the same but a bit more reserved as to overstep your personal boundaries." He said this while looking away from Marius.
Marius flushed as he listened to Evan talk, his own heart feeling like it was going to thump out of his chest. I… um… I believe I'm experiencing the same, but I don't really know for sure… like I said, I.. I've never really loved anyone before, so I don't exactly know what I'm doing… He sighed shakily and looked away as well.
"Marius? May I kiss your lips? Or. Is that too far?" He asked gently, looking down at the small man in his lap. He felt afraid and at peace with Marius in his lap, and he really was handsome. A bit angry but he could understand WHY, and his sister definitely was not helping the situation. "I know the mask is sensitive so, even if you never kiss me. Or never even want me around that's okay. I'll still care for you." (When they do kiss, I am going to let you describe what the sort of magical spell break looks like. )
(Alrighty lol)
Um… I… I-I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that just yet… Marius replied weakly, tugging his collar up to hide his face a bit as he looked away. It's no fault of yours, I assure you, I just… I've never showed anybody before and I really don't think I'm ready for that…
