aterat | A King Off Balance

Entry tags:

A King Off Balance

Who;Rhy Maresh, Open
What; Tailor Work, A Minor robbery, A Disney Princess Moment
Where; The Tailor Shop, The Markets, The Park
When; Early August
Warnings; None Yet

1. A Stitch In Time... | A Seamstress's Shop
The young woman who watched the counter was sick this morning. It was something Rhy had been informed of when he had first entered and, of course, the other ladies that worked in the shop had a very reasonable expectation of that. There were dresses to be made, suits to be prepared, shirts and blouses and vests. So many different things hat needed finished or prepared or repaired. All in all it meant that the newest hire who was still working on some of the easier skills was watching the counter. So he sat there behind the counter, working on repairing a vest.

Until, that was, the door opened. He looked up with a bright smile at the individual entering.

"Good morning. How might we serve you? Something new to wear? Repairs? Perhaps some lovely embroidery to enhance what you already own?"

2. Light Fingers Cause Problems | The Open Air Markets
Lunch, or nearly that. Rhy had been given leave a bit early from his job to go collect lunch, given he was intending to bring it back to the small tables near his place of work to have lunch with his husband and their lovely pup. Today it was his turn to buy their lunch, and so he had, a basket of small pastries, sweet and savory, a small wedge of cheese, and a small bunch of grapes. This last item was in the hands of the vendor, about to go into Rhy's basket as he took the small purse with the last of the money for lunch in hand as a child ran by.

One second there was a small pouch in his hand. The next just empty air as the child bolted off through the market, with the vendor cursing as the child ran off. And Rhy stood there, shocked.

"Did... Was I just stolen from?"

What a strange and interesting thing!

3. Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear | The Park
A day off. They were not the most common for Rhy, but he did so enjoy when they came. With Llewellyn busy at work Rhy had set himself into the park, another trip to allow their sweet basset hound pup get used to the plant and animal life. The dog was currently napping at the end of his leash, tuckered out from some vigorous sniffing action. Rhy, meanwhile, had settled on a bench with a book in his lap, enjoying the slow progression of a book he had bought.

He didn't even notice the little song birds growing interested until one landed on the top of his book, tweeting at him in curiosity. The man went very still and stared at the little finch, which seemed to have no problem with his presence.

What did he do now? He didn't want to scare the thing. Oh dear.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Oh I do so hope that you will indeed spend the evening praising me and admiring me and being inspired," Rhy laughed before pulling away. He hated pulling away, but dinner was needful.

"Should we eat?"

His hands followed Rhy as the other drew away, hating to let the other go… But he knew the dangers of leaving a stove unattended all too well, and he knew the other had likely been working on something nice for them to eat. “It does smell good,” Llewellyn trailed after his husband to the kitchen. “I think it will go rather nice with this.” He set the wine on the counter, looking for the bottle opener.

“A nice meal, and then I can resume admiring and praising you, hm?” Even if the temptation was rather strong to pull the other close and resume distracting one another.

"I think I made the sauce right this time. Not too acidic, not to sweet," Rhy said, very proud of himself. Other than things like toast and eggs, this had been his project for a while. Make one good red sauce. He's proud of his attempt.

But the wine makes his eyes light up in delight. Yes, he was down for this.

"You must pour me a glass. And yes, admire and praise."

“We’ll soon see, though I’m rather confident that it will be good.” Llewellyn responded, really rather impressed with Rhy’s progress with the sauce thus far. “When you set your mind to something you always seem to accomplish and perfect it.” More praise, of course, because it was already better than some of his unfortunate attempts in the kitchen.

Once the bottle was open to breathe, he moved to the cupboard and plucked a couple goblets from the shelf to set on the counter, “As you wish, my love. Because I do love to see that beautiful light in your eyes when something pleases you.” Llewellyn added with a soft chuckle, pouring the wine out for them both and moving to set them on the table.

"No," Rhy said, his voice soft. Not everything he set his mind to worked. There was, after all, his almost lack of magic.

But he felt better with that.

"Get the table set, I'll drain the pasta."

"Mm... Of course, love. I'll just um- get to that." He tilted his head slightly with concern, it struck him a bit late that perhaps his words had his upon a nerve. There was one thing that perhaps Rhy hadn't and couldn't perfect... Something important to him and his world, but Llewellyn wished there was not such an emphasis on it. Hated that it made Rhy feel like less somehow... The man wished to build the other up, not remind him of things that would lower his spirits.

So he set to pulling down plates and setting the table, placing cutlery carefully next to plates and moving their wine glasses to the table. "There, I believe we're all set... Do you need help with the pasta?"

WEll of course he was less. He would always be less. He lacked a vital part of being a Red Londoner. This was his failure. But he had to let it go. That was not his place at this point.

Soon he came to the table with the pasta and sauce, putting the bowls on the table to serve themselves.

"I have it. There's garlicked bread on the counter. WOuld you fetch it?"

Maybe it was because he'd never known of or had magic himself, but it hardly seemed like something to consider someone a failure for. And... He got prickly with the idea that being different and lacking or not being something the rest of the world valued made you less. It was a common enough mentality in any world, magic or not, and he despised it.

But he listened instead to Rhy, lingering by the table to eye the bowls of pasta and sauce. It smelled very good... "Oh, certainly!" He perked up at the mention of garlic bread. He moved quickly to retrieve it from where it waited, carefully setting it on the table within reach of both of them. "There now... Good food, good wine, and excellent company." He ended with a small, hopeful smile.

[ooc: lol fun fact, I just literally made garlic bread.]

"The best company I have known," Rhy agreed, smiling as he settled next to his lover at hte table, and started to serve them. "And before the little one tries to whine at you, we have indeed already seen to his feeding. He'll lie of course."

Now that statement gets a particularly pleased tilt of his head. The best that he had known? That warmed him in a particular way, made him feel so very different from the days where he felt decidedly unwanted and as though people found his company unpleasant. "Likewise, my love..."

The comment that followed, accompanied by the pup already wandering over to sit at his feet, is enough to make him laugh in amusement. "Oh, of course the little scamp would. He'll use those eyes of his to plead his case too and look more pitiful about it. Clever, though he should know by now that I'm good at spotting a lie. I know as well as he does that you would never neglect him."

"We never do," Rhy agreed with a laugh. "Our lovely little boy. He takes after his father, being so lovely."

And he settled down he started to put food in their bowls. This would work, right?

Llewellyn thanked Rhy as he began dishing out their food, his own hands busying with putting a slide of garlic bread on plates to have on the side. He grinned a little, "You're right, he does take after you with being lovely." Llewellyn countered with a small rise of his brow at the man across from him.

Pretzel was sitting on his hind legs though, nose in the air, as he tried to get a whiff of what was on the table. Lucky he was so short, otherwise he'd be a nuisance.

"I think he takes after you," Rhy countered, laughing brightly at the claim of his husband. Perhaps the sweet pup took after them both. That seemed most likely. "No food for you little one."

WIth that all done he pours the wine and lifts his glass in toast.

"My appetite and your charm, perhaps?" He commented with a small laugh, watching as Pretzel let out a little whine in response to Rhy telling him now. Flopping on all fours again to lie under the table and watch... Just in case, a pup never gave up hope!

His attention slides back to Rhy a moment later, taking up his own glass as he realized his husband intended a toast. "To what are we toasting, a lovely dinner and evening?" He commented with a little smile over the top of his own wine.

"Love and success," Rhy answered quite happily. For wasn't that what he was experiencing thanks to his husband? "That it might help me grow further as a craftsman."

The toast got a soft expression, pleased by the idea. “To love and success, then. That we might continue on the journey of improvement and building out life. Together.” He responded in a quiet tone, raising the glass to Rhy’s.

He had the utmost confidence that Rhy would continue to improve his abilities with sewing and embroidery, Llewellyn felt a swell of pride every time he noticed his husband’s stitch work accenting something. Feeling so very glad when the other expressed excitement over their work and improvements.

"TOgether," Rhy agreed, touching his glass to his lover's. Yes, it was a good toast.

"There is a young man that was impressed by my work the other day. Mono, his name was. I showed him my family crest."

Not that anyone here knew the significance of it.

Pleased with their toast and the thoughts of what they could look forward to together, he took a sip from his glass and listened to Rhy’s explanation. “Is that so?” His brow wrinkled thoughtfully at the name, trying to think if he’d seen the young man before. “Mono… From mónos. Greek, for alone. Means single or one now.” A rather strange name for a child, in his opinion… Not that he wasn’t used to hearing different names now.

“I don’t think I’ve met them? Though if it’s the young man who I’ve heard shadows people around the city, it’s nice to hear he approached you.” Rhy was very approachable, in his opinion. “Your crest is really quite lovely, especially as you’ve embroidered it. I’m not surprised he was impressed by it. I know when I’ve shown some of the things you embroidered for me that people stop to admire them.”

He smiled a little… He was respecting that Rhy was keeping the significance of his crest between them, and would respect that choice. This world was the chance at a fresh start, and if his love wished it, then he would make sure the other had that. His own parents had made that decision themselves once. Sometimes it was necessary.

Alone huh? Well, that sounded about right. Poor kid. But it wasn't like Rhy was a common name either in some places. But it was one with weight in the right places.

"Shadows people? Oh dear, that could be unsafe for him. I hope he is careful."

But he is pleased with the fact that his lover is showing off his skills and it's being appreciated.

"Do you think it's very good? My work?"

“Mm… That has been my concern since I heard about it. Most people are kind here, but it could be unsafe if he follows the wrong person, or if someone gets the wrong idea about why he’s shadowing them…” Some people would presume the kid was out to steal from them… But people liked to make assumptions and think the worst. Even if the boy ever did steal, he could hardly blame him. Sometimes it was necessary when you were young and alone. “But! Perhaps it’s a good sign that he approached you, might mean he’s learning to trust some people and leaving that habit behind.”

The question gets a lighter expression, his tone fond as he nodded. “I certainly do, my love. You stitch such beautiful things, and people always seem impressed when I show them an example like with the handkerchiefs you embroidered for me. They’re pleasing to the eye, and I often find myself running my fingers over them and tracing the patterns when I’m a bit lost.” When he needed something to fuss with, stuck on something, he enjoyed having something to focus on…

"He is very wise of his own," Rhy noted. He had seen children like that before. This one would probably manage on his own.

"Truth told, he helped me when another child stole some of my money. He recovered the money and I gave him part of what I was buying."

Pleasing to the eye huh? And running his fingers over the work?

"Sounds like you're as caught up in my work as you are in me."

Llewellyn listened to the story, a small concerned wrinkle on his brow as he listened. “Did he? That’s quite fortunate in a rather unfortunate situation.” He didn’t like the idea of Rhy being targeted for theft, not at all… Perhaps it wasn’t surprising, and he couldn’t blame the kid… But it just reminded him that this world didn’t seem any better equipped for helping the young to make sure they had what they needed than his own had been. “I’m glad that he was kind enough to help you… I rather wish I could thank him myself, but he tends to keep his distance.”

He took a bit of supper, humming a moment later. “Oh, this is quite delicious.” He offered, smiling a little. The sauce had turned out rather well, in his opinion. His expression shifted though, a soft flush of colour rising in his face at the comment from Rhy. “Hard to not be when it makes me think of you in the first place…” He responded with a glance across the table, eyes dancing.

He set his utensils aside and considered it, though, thinking about how he could explain it better. “And… I suppose I find it helps sometimes. I can get so focused on something I’m stuck on, it just… Helps my thought process to have something to distract from it. To think about and consider. Usually I’ll grab something off a desk or from something nearby, sometimes annoys people. So mm… You’re work actually helps, since it’s usually on my person.” Some of the rather scathing looks he’d gotten over the years were impressive, though he tended to ignore them. He just found he thought better when he had his hands busy and something light to distract him. Probably why he found picking up new hobbies of late had helped as well.

Well how interesting. Rhy was a bit shocked about that. He had a bit to consider from that. At last he put down his own utensils and offered the man a genuine smile.

"I could make another, in my spare time. A handkerchief that is a bit more complex. Flowers like you first gave me."

It wasn’t something Llewellyn shared, not really… His brothers had understood the need to fidget and fuss, but generally, people tended to assume he was being strange or sometimes rude. Talking never did much good, so he kept it to himself.

But with Rhy, things came out more easily, and so it was another small secret shared. Though that didn’t mean he wasn’t a little concerned by Rhy’s rather shocked face at the admission, but the man’s words eased the line in his brow. “Oh- well… If it wouldn’t get in the way of something you’d rather do… I would like that, Rhy.” Something made by his love, with him in mind like that? It would be cherished.

Llewellyn rubbed the side of his cheek with a small, distracted smile on the subject of the flowers that he’d given. Seemed a long time ago now, but he certainly hadn’t forgotten the reaction they’d gotten. “They would look lovely on a handkerchief… Or uh- flowers you might prefer if you’d rather something from your world, of course, my love.”

"I like to have my hands busy in the evenings and you know it," Rhy pointed out to his husband. He often used it to embellish other pieces around their shared space, but he didn't mind making something with a very deliberate and helpful goal.

"I think for you I'll give you ones that mean something more to you."

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