(no subject)

[eiattu_pride]

The past few days have been quiet, and people are noticing. The princess doesn't say much to her husband, the count doesn't joke anymore or make the princess laugh at inopportune moments. Rumors are floating around of marital non-bliss, and Rial isn't sure whether or not to believe them.

He knows one  thing, though. It's getting harder and harder to pretend that there's nothing wrong.

And that's why he's up again. It's 0200 hours and he's sitting on the couch, staring at that wedding holo like he's done for the past few nights. He needs to tell Plourr, needs to talk with her. He knows this.

He can't make himself get off the couch and wake her up.

Maybe tomorrow, he thinks, or maybe the day after.

Maybe never.

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[eiattu_pride]

He carries her back to to bed, and slips down next to her, pulling the blankets over both of them and pressing a light kiss to Plourr's forehead.

"Goodnight."




It's an hour or so later that Rial wakes up, starts to sit up, eyes already going to her, making sure that Plourr's there, alive, breathing.

[fighting_mad]

She is sprawled gracelessly on her side, unmistakably alive--still with a hint of sunburn across her nose and cheeks from the hours she'd spent riding several days earlier--and breathing slowly, evenly.

[eiattu_pride]

Rial sits up, leaning back against the bedstead, and watches her, automatically counting her breaths.

Not fixed, yet.

But better.

[fighting_mad]

"Rial," Plourr says, eyes closed. "Quit it."

[eiattu_pride]

Rial starts, a guilty expression flashing over his face - and then he relaxes, and chuckles, lying back down.

"As you wish, my princess."

Yeah.

Better.

Rial sleeps with one hand holding her own, and a quiet smile on his face.

Better.