Now I'm Trapped Within Your Walls

[traumaticus]

Who: Richard & you
Where: Aldrip & Woods
What: Catch-all for May
Warnings: mentions of dead animals, possible npc death? violence?

(ooc: here's a link to Richard's permission post for the curious)

Comments

[traumaticus]

[Stupid questions get stupid answers!

Richard watches Saralegui move to interact with the sheep at the end of rope, which in return tilts its head curiously as it greets the new human. The sudden reaction from the young king manages to tug a small to his lips.]

What else would it be? There are plenty of them around the meadow.

[enthraller]

[The look he fixes Richard with is layered as hell – confused, exasperated, suspicious that he's perhaps being fucked with. He gestured vaguely at the "sheep" with a frown.]

You heard it, didn't you? It doesn't even sound like a sheep.

[This is incredibly silly but in his defense, sheep are weird where he comes from and the experience was like if you heard a sheep say meow.]

[traumaticus]

[Saralegui's reaction earns an amused raise of eyebrow. Now it's Richard turn to hold back an expression, though with him it's a sneer born from jeer than from frustration.]

My, unfortunately I didn't. I must have missed it, your grace. What did the sheep say?

[enthraller]

[That gets Richard a look, one that clashes with his normal affable persona. He knows what you're doing, dick, and he's a little too taken aback to properly hide his irritation at it.]

Baa. Like a cat.

[traumaticus]

[Sorry. This is first thing he's seen in a while that actually manages to make him laugh, so. Congrats for that, guess? Also, he's starting to believe you live in some kind of topsy-turvy world with all these descriptions you give out.]

I see. I must have spent too much time apart from livestock. Would your majesty remind me of what cats say?

[enthraller]

[He would appreciate the laughter more if it wasn't at his expense!!]

I just told you. I'm not repeating myself.

[He is not going to continue making animal sounds for your amusement, sir.]

[traumaticus]

[C'mon, learn to some sense of humor, Sara.]

Ah. Then maybe it could be that this is a rare species. I ought to ask higher price for it in that case.

[enthraller]

[He has a sense of humor!! He just hates being the butt of the joke!

Saralegui huffs, crossing his arms and giving the sheep a wary look.]

Do what you want. It won't be my fault if you get yourself eaten by some kind of otherworldly man-eating shapeshifter or whatever.

[traumaticus]

[Oh. That actually earns a genuine and open laughter from him. Richard's voice is chimes softly, like a sneering breeze. He shakes his head and lightly pulls on the sheep's leash, signaling that it's time to move on.]

A rather poor demon in that case. I'd imagine that if this truly was a trick of a dangerous trickster it would know to mimic its sound. But if your grace truly is suspicious that little poor me is about to fall a prey to a beast maybe you ought to accompany me and protect me with your sword and wisdom.

[And that's all he says before continuing walking forward!]

[enthraller]

[Saralegui's continued suspicious expression likely only seems more comical at odds with Richard laughing, but it eventually shifts to something more like pouting as he falls into step beside the man – opposite the sheep, making sure to keep Richard between himself and it.]

I'd prefer a demon, honestly. But you'll be sorely disappointed expecting me to play bodyguard. I'm not trained with any kind of weapon or magic.

[It's only half a lie, since he never had to train his magic and it's not really meant for fighting anyway.]

[traumaticus]

[He'd rather face a demon than a sheep? What a strange fellow. Richard is not sure whether he should be impressed by him or not.

Though the following statement does cast a dubious shadow to his mind as he looks at the young king. He can't say that the news came to him as a surprise, the youth hardly looked like a fighter but neither had he, and yet it still dulls the shy feelings of respect he's had towards him. Yet another one of these kings, he thinks to himself and clicks his tongue quietly.]

Then how do you protect your own people if you are an incapable of fight.

[enthraller]

[With Saralegui already in a bit of a mood over the sheep and the still-baffling dismissal of his extremely reasonable disconcertment about it, the clear disapproval is just grating. He frowns slightly but lifts his chin, unashamed.]

Not everything must be solved with fighting. A good king might win a hundred battles, but a great one can give his people a lasting peace without ever waging a single war.

[traumaticus]

King is someone who always must fight.

[Richard can sense the ire growing in the younger man. Well, he supposes it is warranted but this is something that he won't budge on. Not after having to watch Edward IV, the good king of the peace turn into a weak shell of himself during his idle days. All while Richard himself did the dirty work for him and wiped his royal behind from the command.

Of course, it could be that Saralegui was born during time of peace, and thus knows nothing of the horrors of the war. But he is still young, isn't he. Whether he'll learn the true meaning of royalty and King is still left to be seen.] We all must thrive towards peace, but it does not come for free. There is no such thing as a throne that is free of bloodshed.

[enthraller]

[Saralegui's gaze cuts sideways coolly.]

I didn't say there was no bloodshed. Just that it doesn't require fighting.

[He can feel the judgement and it irks him. The idea of making a name for himself via fighting doesn't appeal whatsoever. His father was a war hero, after all, and he doesn't want to live in that man's shadow. Better to succeed so wildly in his own way that people will barely remember his father in comparison.]

If I can defeat an enemy without having to field a single soldier, do you consider that cowardice for not fighting? Or is it power for not having to?

[traumaticus]

[Richard turns to look at Saralegui's directions briefly, staying quiet for a bit as he thinks of his words.]

Fighting does not always mean having to wager on one's body. [There was battles outside of the warzone, after all. The high castles, noble courts, intimate bedchambers. Those were the places where true fighting for a soul happened. That's what Richard had learned ever since his own pact with the devil.]

But what will you do if the enemy army rallies their troops and threaten the peace you've created? Will you fight to protect what's yours or will you hide?

[enthraller]

[Saralegui scoffs, tossing his hair back over his shoulder.]

Do you think I haven't already faced that? I'm young. There are plenty of fools who mistake that for naïveté or vulnerability and think they can take advantage for an easy victory. I've handled all threats smoothly enough.

[traumaticus]

I see. [Well, it is true that the young kings are often in more danger than any those who had been raised to the throne in older age, already gaining experience, wisdom and respect of his subjects. But that didn't make it impossible for the youths to rule and be successful.]

But you did not answer my question.

[enthraller]

[I mean, technically there was hiding the one time. But it was part of a larger scale plan that went smoothly so he's hardly going to treat it as the cowardice this man clearly imagines.]

I'll never go down without a fight. But fighting doesn't have to be quite so literal. I know where my strengths lie and I play to them.

[With a soft huff of breath, he gives Richard a sideways glance.]

But I take it you live on the battlefield.

[He doesn't sound terribly impressed, but not necessarily disdainful either. It's more...dry observation? He hasn't yet decided whether it's boring or worth being excited about.]

[traumaticus]

I never said it had to be.

[There was no place that is free of fighting. The court of the nobles were just as deadly and dangerous as the bloodied war zones. The only thing that truly differentiated was the manner the fighting was carried over. Instead of swords, axes and arrows the battles were won with hushed whispers, secret meetings and scheming behind the closed doors.

Richard returns the dry, unimpressed look at him. The brow above his good eye slightly curling up.]

Aye. Not all of us were blessed enough to be born on peaceful era.

[enthraller]

[Saralegui's eyes narrow slightly, a tight smile with a cutting edge slipping onto his face.]

I'd hardly call my era peaceful.

[And he doesn't appreciate the backhanded nature of that comment, effectively implying he could only succeed without fighting because his world was already peaceful.]

But I suppose I can't blame you for knowing nothing but war. Not everyone can be blessed with the wisdom to end that fighting either.

[traumaticus]

[Oh my? A thin smile spreads on his lips, so clearly full off forced politeness. He holds back a scoff and only bows his head. He's actually somewhat impressed with the wits of the young king.]

Then, I hope that one day your majesty will be able to impart your divine wisdom to a lowly duke, such as myself.

[The sheep lets out a quiet, idle 'baa', reminding the duo of her existence.] How have you found your bearings around this world?

[enthraller]

[Any dignity Saralegui won in that exchange evaporates when he startles at the baa and shoots the sheep a wary look, shifting to better keep Richard between them. Yeah, that thing's still sus. His smile dropping, he sighs.]

I can't really say I have. I suppose the benefit of all that fighting is that you can more easily make use of that experience here. I'm not sure there's much use for my skillset here.

[traumaticus]

Yes. It is vital for one to learned and excel as many varied areas of expertise as possible. Be they king or peasant.

[So, hah. One more point to Richard?] But if you are in need of income I allow you to be my squire.

[enthraller]

[There's a faint twitch at the corner of Saralegui's mouth, irritation at the perceived patronization. Is that even a genuine offer? It feels like a joke.]

My, you can even afford to pay someone a living wage? You really are doing well for yourself here.

[He says it airily, somewhere between polite observation and teasing. It saves him from having to accept or reject an offer that might only have been made in jest – one he wouldn't really want to accept anyway, but he does know he's not really in a position to be picky here...]

[traumaticus]

[Richard just keeps offering Saralegui that fake-polite smile of his, full of insincerity. Yeah, no. Richard offer isn't made in earnest attempts. He'd rather pay his servants to leave him be during the hunt than have them accompany him. Let alone this, fair-skinned, frail bodied young man who does not look like he's ever wielded a weapon in his life. ]

But of course, your Grace. And it would be an honor to see your form improve while also earn a chance to learn from your divine wisdom.