eiattu_pride | (no subject)

(no subject)

Rial's working, stretched out on the couch and staring at a datapad. Totally not actually comprending anything.

He wonders briefly where Plourr is, and whether or not he can convince her that they should have another holiday.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Rial, I'm going to smack you."

"If you say so, my princess."

But she just laughs instead and kisses his throat.

Rial laughs as well, ceasing his petting to hold her tightly.

"I love you so much. You know that, right?"

Her lips still.

"I know."

She curls her arms around his neck.

"Just don't do that petting thing. It's creepy, husband."

He laughs, now, and holds her.

"I promise."

"Good."

"You know," she says, at length. "I can't be the princess forever."

"Well, that won't be for a while."

He's very determined to not think about it.

"I mean, eventually, there has to be someone officially on the throne, rather than being the heir to it."

"Yeah..."

He's got his eyes fixed on the ceiling.

"And when the time comes, it would be pretty spaced for the empress's husband to be only a count, don't you think?" She's starting to smile a little into his shoulder.

"Um. No?"

Ahhhhhh.

"Shut up, I'm asking if you'll take the throne with me."

"Okay?"

Her smile fades.

"That's not exactly a resounding response."

"Oh, kriff, Plourr, of course I'll do it."

He tilts her chin up, and looks her in the eyes.

"It's just a lot to think about."

"Why?" she asks defiantly. "It's not like we would have duties any different than what we do now. It's just a title." That's what she keeps trying to convince herself of, anyway.

"Yeah, I know. It's just - oh, forget it."

He tugs her down again.

She raises herself back up on her elbows. "It's just what?"

"Nothing."

Count Zen, calm and refined, looks back at her.

And Princess Cranky, worried and a little upset, looks back at him.

"If you have reservations, I'd rather hear them than have them go unsaid, Rial."

"I'm nervous, okay?"

He growls low in his throat and tilts his back, away from her.

"I don't like the responsibility that comes with a title."

"But it's the same responsibility you have now," she says, stung by the moving away from her. "Probably even less, because I'll be here to share it."

"But people don't think like that."

He sighs.

"Count is a lot different from emperor. And besides - Emperor Rial Pernon? It sounds funny."

"Who cares what they think? And it doesn't," she says stubbornly. "It sounds dignified."