[hider=Evening Sola 22, 1739: Callum & Riona Part 1][center][h1][b][color=00F8FE]Callum[/color] & [color=DAF6C7]Riona[/color][/b][/h1][/center]
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The night wrapped the old cottage in a comforting darkness, broken only by the gentle glow of oil lamps and candles illuminating the rough-hewn interior. Inside, the scent of aged wood and the faint aroma of herbs lingered in the air, filling Riona with a sense of nostalgia. This was the place she once called home, the former abode of the late Royal Gardener, and now it served as a safe space for her and Callum to delve into their magical studies.

The wooden floor creaked under her footsteps as she moved across the house to retrieve and set down various supplies, handwritten notes, a stack of books, and bundles of scrolls, onto a large, sturdy wooden table close to the hearth where a cauldron was suspended above the flames.

With meticulous care, Riona arranged the items on the worn table, which itself bore the marks of countless experiments, heated debates, and shared laughter. While reaching for a slate board and chalk, she was distracted once again by the beautiful nail art on her fingertips, a delightful reminder of the time she and Sadie spent together pampering themselves. A smile curled on her lips. Though she knew that, as a servant, the nails wouldn’t last long, that only deepened her appreciation for them.

A noise from outside diverted Riona’s attention from her hands to the front door. She stood motionless, her gaze fixed on the entrance, until she heard the familiar sound of a key sliding into the lock. Only one other person had the spare key to the house. She relaxed.

Callum paused at the door, checking again to make sure no one was following him. He’d spent a good bit of time walking around the palace grounds, not close enough to the gates for anyone to think he was leaving. Just a long, moonlit, walk to clear his head. Constantly checking to make sure no one was tailing him and continued wandering until he was absolutely sure. Only then did he head toward the house of the Royal Gardener.  

He fumbled with the key, a combination of shaky hands and nerves. Maybe he should’ve had a drink or two beforehand, just to settle things. Maybe he should be concerned that he didn’t feel normal if he wasn’t drunk. Instead, he blamed the day's constant presence of watchful eyes, that was what wasn’t good for him, that’s what kept him rattled all day. Another thing he could hate Alibeth for. 

He opened the door, walked inside, and relocked it behind him. The near silence save for the creaking of old doors and floorboards soothed his nerves to murmur. Old buildings could be trusted, they betrayed those who tried to sneak about within them. Only one other person made the floorboards creak here. He looked from Riona to the items carefully arranged on a table. He pulled a glass jar of geshrow root from his pocket and added it to the table. 

[color=00F8FE]“Seems like you’ve got something planned.”[/color] Callum attempted to smile, teeth clenched a bit too hard and corners of his mouth struggled to lift. He gave up and looked at the cauldron above a steady fire, wondering what might bubble inside it, trying to clear out the rest of his thoughts. 

[color=DAF6C7]“What.”[/color] With a swift motion, she tossed the slate and chalk onto the table. [color=DAF6C7]“The.”[/color] Each step she took as she moved around the table picked up speed. [color=DAF6C7]“[i]F**king.[/i]”[/color] She marched purposefully toward Callum. [color=DAF6C7]“[i]Hells.[/i]”[/color] When he got into arm’s length, her hands shot forward, seized his head, and yanked it closer to hers. [color=DAF6C7]“[i][b]Cal.[/b][/i]”[/color] Riona cast a fierce gaze upon the bruises that decorated his face, rotating his head as though she were an appraiser inspecting an object but lacking the delicate touch needed for such an occupation.

[color=DAF6C7]“Well,”[/color] she began, her voice filled with sarcasm, [color=DAF6C7]“I [i]had grand plans[/i] to create a revolutionary lozenge that could provide all the necessary daily nutrients for people struggling to eat. But why bother with innovation when we can just focus on healing potions and salves, especially when one of our primary test subjects almost always shows up beaten like a punching bag?”[/color]

Drawing Callum’s face even closer to her nose, she sniffed, which caused Riona’s scowl to deepen. [color=DAF6C7]“Seeping with alcohol.”[/color] And burnt sugar. 

[color=00F8FE][i]Would’ve just stayed home if I knew I was in for another lecture.[/i][/color] He didn’t say that aloud, Callum didn’t even roll his eyes, some people didn’t deserve his rudeness. Instead, he offered a simple admission, [color=00F8FE]“did another stupid thing.”[/color] He knew that was far from a satisfying explanation but he wasn’t sure how to explain himself without sounding stupid. He tried to pull his head away as soon as the sniffing started. [color=00F8FE][i]Seeping in alcohol? That was dramatic.[/i][/color] But he didn’t comment on that either. He didn’t want to start an argument, didn’t want to ruin how peaceful this place usually felt. 

She relinquished his head only to snatch his hands and glare at them instead. The hands quivered within her own. Aside from a few skid marks here and there, the skin on his knuckles was smooth as it was pale. Proof that Callum not once threw back a punch against whoever beat the living crap out of him. His nails looked like they were a nail bite away from extinction. Her thumb traced the mark on the palm of his hand.

Riona’s head snapped up to look at Callum. Without words, the lowly maid [s]asked[/s], [s]demanded[/s], [i]commanded[/i] the Gods-Damned-Third-F**king-Prince-of-Caesonia to explain himself. The bruises; the smell; the cut. Anything. Everything. 

He tried to pull his hands away too but Riona’s grip was stronger. His hands were inspected as Cal simply gave up on trying to think up a way to explain last night without sounding stupid. It was stupid and he didn’t regret it either. 

[color=00F8FE]“If a beating is the punishment for taking people to secret parties, it only seems fair that I get punished too. Right? So I made it happen. And, added bonus, it kind of helped clear things up for me. Now I know for sure; every good thing I thought I saw in Alibeth was a lie. Better not to believe in a lie right? Had to do it.”[/color] He shrugged, it wasn’t the outcome he’d hoped for but it was what he’d come to expect. 

Riona’s eyes remained on him, stunned, as heat began to rise within her. A wave of anger swept over her, directed at the people who hurt Callum, including Callum himself. She was frustrated by his stupidity, but was equally frustrated that his sister ran to the other extreme. Princess Anastasia didn’t think what happened, or what almost happened to Darryn, was enough to punish herself. It was all about making her feel better. The older Princes’ did nothing to help the situation in any way and Riona’s hate for Queen Alibeth reached new heights. To make matters worse, Lady Morrigan’s haunting voice echoed in the back of her mind telling her something Riona tried to ignore. More than that, she resented herself for even caring. There was sadness there too, though, causing her eyes to sting and her heart to ache, as if being pricked by thousands of tiny needles.

The blend of anger and sadness made Riona’s expression harder to read. Her muscles couldn’t decide which emotion prevailed. She turned slightly away from the source of her conflicting emotions and began kneading the tension knotted in her facial muscles.

[color=00F8FE]“And as a weird guy I met in an alley pointed out, punishments don’t mean anything if I don’t suffer through them, so no healing, and I would much rather help you end starvation.”[/color] He tried to smile again but the intensity of Riona’s glare stopped him. 

[color=DAF6C7]“How convenient that drinking doesn’t count as soothing your suffering.”[/color] She snapped before taking a deep calming breath. Riona didn’t want to be like this with him. Not here where all the troubles outside were supposed to stay outside. But the smell that Callum was giving off reminded her too much of the Gardener. 

[color=00F8FE]“Yeah well it doesn’t make me feel any better, just more normal.”[/color] He said it softly and with the difficulty of ripping up a firmly rooted weed. More than he wanted to admit to was pulled up with it. [color=00F8FE]“And sometimes it just helps me not reach for anything worse.”[/color] He stared awkwardly at the fire again, needing to think of something else to talk about. 

[color=00F8FE]“Why was Morrigan snooping around my room?”[/color] He asked trying to change the subject. 

[color=DAF6C7]“Aside from making us feel uncomfortable and sniffing out for weaknesses? … I don’t know. To make me leave sooner?”[/color] Riona rubbed her arms absentmindedly. [color=DAF6C7]“She summoned the servants who were assigned to the ballroom to check that we weren’t consuming anything besides water.”[/color] Now that she thought about it, that might’ve been why she wanted to try making the lozenge in the first place. 

[color=00F8FE]“I’m sorry they, we, are all so awful.”[/color] And that was really all he had to offer, apologies that amounted to nothing. He could ask why but the answer would just boil down to Morrigan just enjoyed being cruel, and the ball had been a disaster, if she even needed a reason. He vaguely remembered being told to get down off a table and shouting about cake. Was this his fault too? Maybe he didn’t ask because he was afraid of the answer. 

Riona visibly flinched when Callum corrected himself. “They” was back to “we.”

[color=00F8FE]“Well I know who’s winning prettiest nails today. An unbroken streak of victories.”[/color] He looked back at Riona and gestured at her hands. It was an easier thing to say than 'please don’t be mad at me.' [color=00F8FE]“Was today a better day?”[/color] 

Watching Callum fumble his way out of the awkward conversation, Riona felt the heat subside and she deflated. Her facial expression softened, and her tone became gentler. [color=DAF6C7]“It’s not that impressive when you have a saboteur on your team, you know. You still beat me in the ‘better skin’ category.”[/color] She lifted her rough hands to show the much more appealing nails, [color=DAF6C7]“Sadie and I did our nails today. Maybe we should have you do yours too. Then maybe you’ll think twice about chewing them down to stubs. That or maybe I’ll paint your nails with the nastiest tasting polish ever. Something that’ll make you puke every time your mouth touches them.”[/color] 

[color=00F8FE]“You think I need more puking? And of all my bad habits, that’s what you're coming for? Nail biting, strange choice.”[/color] Cal joked, and he smiled because it did sound like she had a good day. He looked at her hands again, [color=00F8FE]“hmm, yes, very gross, Hands that have done work, terrible.”[/color] 

Riona paused. Being able to spend time with Sadie reminded Riona how much she valued the friendships she had, even though they got in the way of her goal in the long run. Sadie always managed to quell the ugly thing inside her. Without the blazing heat, the black smoke, there was clarity and there was one simple fact.

[i][color=4E0E04]Are you forgiving them?[/color] The force that wrapped her hands around young Callum’s neck, those many years ago, asked.
[color=DAF6C7]No, never.[/color]
[color=4E0E04]Then why?[/color]
[color=DAF6C7]Because.[/color] The frail boy slowly blinked his eyes open. Even through the fever induced haze, his blue eyes focused onto her. He watched her, seemingly unfazed by the situation, as if he expected some day this day would come. And he looked so alone... like her. Ríoghnach snapped her hands away. [color=DAF6C7]Because he’s not them. None of them are, yet.[/color][/i]

If she allowed it, he’d continue to divert the conversation farther away, so if she wanted him to know, she had to say it now. Before the inevitable flames returned. [color=DAF6C7]“Let’s make this absolutely clear. I’m angry at you,”[/color] she said simply without preamble, [color=DAF6C7]“because you hurt my friend.”[/color] Her voice slightly quavered saying the word, but rushed to cover it up. [color=DAF6C7]“My study buddy, my partner in crime, and an esteemed member of ‘The Only Person I Hate More Than a Danrose is Myself’ club.’”[/color] She puffed her chest out as she folded her arms over them in defiance. [color=DAF6C7]“You hurt Cal, Callum, and I reserve the right to be pissed at you for it.”[/color] Though her glare returned, it was nowhere close as intense as it was moments ago. [color=DAF6C7]“If you got a problem with that, you can go suck an egg or whatever.”[/color] 

[i][color=DAF6C7]“...because you hurt my friend.”[/color][/i] Callum nodded. That was fair, he had hurt Darryn, and she was right to be mad at him. Wait, Darryn was in the club too? [color=DAF6C7]“You hurt Cal…[/color] He was stunned for a moment, unsure of how to react to the rest of that. Was he the friend? Allies, sure but friends? That was supposed to be off the table. It was better that way, he was a bad friend to have. Riona also cared more about him, as an actual person, than his own mother ever did, and had been the most consistent positive force in his life. The word for that didn’t seem to matter, everything else was already there.

[color=DAF6C7]“If I’m being honest, a morbid part of me is kind of proud of you. What you did was stupid and ineffective, don’t get me wrong, but it showed you cared and tried to take responsibility… That’s more than any of the other lot ever did.”[/color] While she was mainly referring to the Danroses, she was also disappointed by the other nobility. Each and every one of them had the power to protect and they failed to use it for the people who needed it most. Now they pretended the whole Darryn incident never happened and continued to focus on having a good time, pursue courtships, and forget. 

[color=DAF6C7]“But… I…”[/color] Riona searched Callum’s face, [color=DAF6C7]“I sometimes wonder if you’re just using us as an excuse.”[/color]

That question stung, it prodded uncomfortably close. It wasn’t an unfair question either; he could understand the doubt. [color=00F8FE]“As an excuse? For what?”[/color] He asked softly and shrugged. If he had to, he could probably name a dozen different excuses for anything he’d ever done. [color=00F8FE]“An excuse to do stupid things? I do stupid things on whims. An excuse not to act? I was scared, I’m not anymore. I figured it out last night; I’m not afraid of them, or of losing them, anymore.”[/color]

[color=DAF6C7]“Were you holding back this entire time? That actually explains a lot.”[/color] It wasn’t a serious question. Even from their conversation during the ball alone, she knew that Callum had been clinging onto hope for some of his family. It might’ve been the only thing preventing him from taking more drastic actions against them.

[color=DAF6C7]“We don’t want a martyr, Callum, we want change. You punishing yourself for every wrongdoing against every single commoner isn’t going to cut it. You’re just one man, and there’s lots of us. You can’t actually take on all the injustices done to us by the Danroses. It’s impractical, temporary, and, quite frankly, insensitive—it makes it sound like you think that your suffering will fix things because you’re more valuable as a person than all commoners combined.”[/color] Riona remained surprisingly calm while she spoke. [color=DAF6C7]“If you can’t see that, then you were never doing this to help anyone, you’re only doing this for yourself.”[/color] 

[color=DAF6C7]“So really, Callum.”[/color] The question that had been circling around her head ever since Lady Morrigan gave her opinions about what Callum wrote. [color=DAF6C7]“How serious were you when you carved those words on the wall? Did you just write that in the spur of the moment or was it a vow? … How far are you willing to go now that you aren’t scared anymore?”[/color][/hider]