03-07-2019, 11:10 AM
Sviko has a calm about him that has followed him out of the liquidy-soft womb. It is likely a result of being the youngest and smallest of the triplets, coming last after the brawny warrior-sister and the roving honey-tongued brother. He figured he’d find his place as something other than the last and least likely in due time. Until then, he was first and foremost, a prince lacking arrogance and thinking that he rebelled by wandering off and doing the opposite of what they had come to expect of him - staying put.
He is unaware of her titles beyond the fact that his mothers entrusted his birthplace to her and some other to govern. It doesn’t even occur to him that she could lead a rebellion against his mothers to make her land first and great again. Not that Hyaline wasn’t great still but he marveled sometimes, at how fast his mothers gave it up to take over the Cove. They had their reasons, he supposed, such as avoiding the plague but plague has found them even in the safe spaces.
No matter, she is here and so is he and their titles are just that - titles, dry as dust in the mouth and meaningless in as free a place as the meadow. She keeps from touching him; a fact he finds curious, but guesses that she is infected. Sviko knows the risks he takes, that was all part of his small rebellion. Both his siblings had contracted the disease, should he be any different? Probably, good obedient Sviko doesn’t catch the plague or stray far from the Cove’s magic protection. But he has!
“Good,” he murmurs, giving her a quick once-over that confirms his earlier suspicion: she is plagued. Still, he’ll take his chances as he gives her a charmingly roguish smile. “And yourself?” He is emboldened; by what, he cannot say, as he leans in and runs his lips over her cheek in a meaningless greeting. It could be mistaken for a kiss, but he’s not so free and careless with those like his brother.
He finds him nodding his head in agreement, certainly echoing her sentiment about a change in scenery. “The very same,” he answers, not the least bit careful in divulging why he has left the Cove behind. “Change was needed. The Cove is too sheltering at times, almost stifling and slow.” He speaks his truth because that is how the Cove is to him now - stifling and slow, no new blood or very little of it, and always his mothers gone or enraptured with one another.
By now he is looking past her like she’s not even there, but he hasn’t forgotten that she is there. He is hyper-aware of her in the corner of his sight as he gazes at the far-off horizon like it has the answer to a question he hasn’t even asked. “Just needed something different…” he mumbles, falling back on an old boyhood habit before his blue eyes find her face again. Unlike her, there is nothing dark or strenuous in his life to prompt this adventure but he doesn’t pry into her reasons for being away from the lake of his youth or the mountains he remembers.
@[Kensa] she makes him write novels lol