[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Qw4DIJg.png[/img]
Collab between [@Queen Arya] and [@c3p-0h]
[sub]Location: The Aurelian Guard Camp[/sub]
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The Champion's eyes flicked over to approaching footsteps, her attention stolen from the Prince and Princess as they entered the tent. It only took a brief moment for her gaze to flicker over the man, and evaluate him as an incoming irritation. Something about the way he carried himself, an… ego perhaps? A mannerism that reminded her of the various men who'd so often strutted around as if the world revolved around them. Mentally, she braced, wondering if this would be the type to demand work from her or the type to try to take her home. 

Still, none of these thoughts showed past neutral expression. 

As he finally drew near and spoke, the Champion already felt irritation creeping in. The Lunarian, no doubt with both his attitude and lack of recognition for a Champion, started in with not-so-subtle undertones about the Prince.

[color=daa520]”Perhaps.”[/color] She said, keeping a neutral tone even as her gaze added a condescending nature to her words. [color=daa520]”Such behavior has more to do with the Princess’ will, as opposed to the Prince.”[/color] Dyna replied simply, finding irritation in both his jab at the Prince and implication that the Princess had no will of her own…

This was going to be a [i]dreadful[/i] conversation no doubt.

Amber eyes narrowed slightly as Elio took her in – her look so aggressively Aurelian it bordered on offensive, her practiced posture, how her gaze flicked over him like they were taking stock before turning away again. Her words washed over him, with their carefully restrained bite.

The corner of his mouth twitched up.

She was new to Dawnhaven, Elio could figure that much – he would’ve heard about someone being blinded by the reflection off her armor by now if she’d been here more than a week. And what did [i]this one[/i] know of the Lunarian Princess’ will? Most [i]Lunarians[/i] barely knew a thing about her. The King and Queen were practically forces of nature, a felling earthquake and the first sunrise of the year – but it was like Princess Amaya barely existed at all. Hell, Elio had probably seen her more in the two months he’d spent in Dawnhaven than he had his entire [i]life[/i] in the capital. 

Briefly, a memory flickered. It drifted through him like the biting winter air. 

Elio folded his arms, leaning casually against a nearby tree as he kept his attention on the Champion. He wondered idly at that careful control of hers. 

It wasn’t like he had anything better to do as he waited for the royals to finish up with the Commanders, unless he wanted to barge in and interrupt. 

Which, hey, could be fun.

[color=darkorange]“You’re probably right,”[/color] Elio said with a shrug. His voice carried the same lightness, the same subtle layer of humor as he poked at her. [color=darkorange]“The Princess is probably a consummate shut-in, and discovered the thrill of near death experiences. Seems she can’t help but chase the next one.”[/color] 

The fun thing about having sex with lots of unhappy wives was that one learned to notice the same patterns popping up over and over again.

[color=darkorange]“Makes much more sense than a domineering husband.”[/color]

Or a straying one, keeping her close to compensate for a guilty conscience. 

Dyna listened to the man's words, realizing he'd be one of those to try to play word games with her, feeling innately more clever and superior. [color=daa520]”I [i]meant[/i] that her will might have been to go out today. For whatever reasons, I will not pretend to know them.”[/color] She said bluntly, finding herself wondering if it was worth it to continue dealing with this man, or simply excuse herself to the temple already.

Elio’s smile grew the slightest bit as some of that decorum of hers slipped away. His eyes caught on an emblem shining against her armor – the Church of Aelios. He wondered what she [i]did[/i] know.

[color=darkorange]“Isn’t that what they like to teach in all the churches, though? [i]Pretending[/i] to know? Something both kingdoms have in common, at least.”[/color] Perhaps not one of his subtler jabs, but if it cracked her enough to crack [i]him,[/i] all the better – Elio was still feeling a little pent up. And maybe that armor was actually [i]worth[/i] something. Her stance was promising at least, and the way she kept her attention on him even as she feigned indifference. [color=darkorange]“Right up there with inscrutable heirs to the throne.”[/color]

Dyna’s body tensed for half a second, barely noticeable before she reigned in control as the man jabbed at the church. Yet, the Champion bit her tongue. Playing into his games could only serve to spell trouble for her, and so Dyna shook her head in response. [color=daa520]”An… interesting point of view. I’m afraid we don’t agree on that, and I have other tasks I should be attending to. Excuse me.”[/color] Dyna said, not allowing anything beyond a cold professionalism to show in her voice as she moved to step past Elio. 

Any longer, and she’d start considering the merit of striking him.

Elio didn’t respond, unmoving as he leaned against the tree. His eyes weren’t on the Champion as she navigated the space around him – they instead caught on a flicker of movement in the distance.

The door to the Commander’s quarters opened and out stepped the royal couple. 

Astaros was such a shining golden Prince that it was a [i]cliché.[/i] His immaculate hair glinted in the firelight as he held the door open for his little wife and escorted her down the path. His face was stern and pensive. Hers was cool and relaxed. Elio took her in for a moment – it was rare to see her at all, let alone with so few others around. 

She was beautiful, there was no denying that – and seemingly devoid of inner thoughts. A carefully painted doll, draped in lace and silk, with a blank face and pretty eyes. Elio liked to think he was fairly good at reading people, if only to better find ways to get under their skin. But the Princess always seemed so… carefully calm. Elio felt a familiar curiosity stirring – along something a little more devilish. 

The image shifted. He saw wide eyes, bright and blue. Too overwhelmed to be cautious. Too young to be guarded.

His gaze flicked away from the Princess – to find her husband glaring at him. Elio’s smirk grew. Stifling a laugh, he looked back to the Champion as she passed his space. But he’d caught the way the Prince had begun to move the Princess in a wide arc around him

There’d been a tension there, in their bearing – in the way he practically seemed to [i]hover[/i] over her, her hand tucked against his, walking closer together than strictly necessary. The scant few times Elio had seen them in public together, there’d always been a stiffness in the space between them. They’d given a stilted performance of a relationship, like each touch was something to be suffered through and carefully measured. But now…

[color=darkorange][i]Feeling a little possessive?[/i][/color]

[color=darkorange]“Another commonality,”[/color] Elio finally murmured to the Champion’s retreating figure. He stayed motionless and mountainous as the different figures orbited him, careful to not venture too closely into his space. Then he was alone. Leaning against the tree, he watched the snowflakes fall and replayed the sight of the royal couple in his mind.

Elio pushed himself upright, idly rolling his shoulders. Then he made his way down the path towards the Commander’s quarters. It was time to get that [i]gardener[/i] a different plot of dirt to plant himself in – or at least to bury him under.

He had work to do, too.