[Log, Day 3] I drove seven hours all day to see you, the least you could do is be home

[schrien_die_raben]

Rue awoke to the sound of crows tapping at her window, as she had for the past several nights. She had thought by now she would be able to sleep through it, but the longer she refused to respond to them, the louder and louder they seemed to rap at the window. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up, sparing a soft smile for the prone form of the prince next to her. At least someone here could sleep through it.

As she opened the window, letting the birds flutter in around her feet, she breathed in the cool morning air, her irritation fading a bit. Perhaps that other princess was right. They wouldn't be so bad after a little training. But first...

"Mytho," she said gently, crossing the room to sit and lay a hand on his shoulder. "It's time to wake up."

Comments

[princenopants]

Gold-tone eyes slowly opened as the sleeping princess woke. Much like a doll that was just freshly wound, there was a bit of stiffness that somehow still managed to be graceful as he slowly sat up, the ever present button down shirt slipping half off one shoulder, hair somehow perfectly unmussed.

[schrien_die_raben]

Every morning he somehow broke her heart all over again, but Rue tried to ignore it as she began pulling his clothes out of the armoire.

"Fakir's going to be here soon, so get ready, okay?" she said, laying out a fresh tunic and tights for him.

[princenopants]

"Fakir is...?" Mytho blinked. He wasn't so dull as to not recognize the tension between his Knight and Princess, and even without his heart, he knew it was strange for Rue to invite Fakir over.

[schrien_die_raben]

"You're going to stay in his room for a few days, while I sort out my...situation," she said, looking over at the birds, who cowered a bit on their makeshift perches.

[princenopants]

Blink blink. "They aren't the right ravens...." he pointed out, missing the point.

[schrien_die_raben]

"No, but I still don't want them near you," she said, grabbing him to unbutton his shirt. If he was just going to sit there instead of getting dressed she may as well hurry it along. "You never know what those nasty birds might do."

[loyalbeyonddeath]

Every morning, Fakir tried to assure himself that he would grow accustomed to getting dressed in what felt like the costume for a particularly faithful and well-funded production of Hamlet. So far, it hadn't happened. He walked down the long corridor feeling like a fool. Luckily Rue's spontaneous closing of the wing meant nobody saw him.

He rapped hard on Rue's door, already impatient.

[schrien_die_raben]

"Just a minute," Rue called impatiently, still trying to pull Mytho's shirt off. If she could get him in his tunic, than it would at least look like she tried to get him ready.

[loyalbeyonddeath]

"I guess the princess has the privilege of getting up a little late?" Fakir called. He crossed his arms over his chest and stepped back. Impatient or not, he didn't want to open the door and catch Rue dressing.

[schrien_die_raben]

"As a matter of fact, I do," she said huffily, finally managing to get Mytho into his tunic. Looking down at herself, she sighed as she realized that she'd neglected to dress herself. "And you never told me exactly how early you would be."

[loyalbeyonddeath]

Fakir shrugged even though he knew Rue couldn't see it. "I've already eaten breakfast; this isn't very early for me. Should I have brought you some?"

[schrien_die_raben]

"Of course not," Rue said, grunting a little as she pulled her corset around herself. It was a great deal more effort than she expected to do it alone. "A lady doesn't dine in her bedroom."

[loyalbeyonddeath]

"You could always eat in the hallway," Fakir offered. "And it's been at least two minutes. I've been very generous."

[schrien_die_raben]

"If you can take two minutes to get dressed then it's no surprise the way you look every morning," she retorted. "Just hold on."

[loyalbeyonddeath]

Smoothing the front of his tunic self consciously, Fakir was silent for a moment.

"Is Mytho awake, at least?"

[schrien_die_raben]

Silently, she ordered Mytho to put on his tights.

"Of course he is. That's why it took so long, I had to get him ready first."

[loyalbeyonddeath]

"He's always compliant and fast to get dressed with me," Fakir said. This was not entirely true, but somehow saying it pleased him.

[schrien_die_raben]

"The school uniform was less... complex," Rue said, looking down at her own array of petticoats in dismay. "He's probably not adjusted to how involved these costumes are."

[loyalbeyonddeath]

"I've pared mine down to the bare essentials, but I don't think it's endeared me to anyone here," Fakir said. "Before long whichever snotty woman writes gossip on the town signboard will have something up about a half-dressed knight."

[schrien_die_raben]

"Can you believe what they've said about me?" Rue said, buttoning her dress and whirling about to stand in front of the mirror. It was a little plain for her, but she doubted Fakir would notice or care. "As if trying to keep myself safe is a whim!"

[loyalbeyonddeath]

"I'm sure they just don't understand your situation," Fakir said, hoping Rue might hurry along a little faster if she were pacified. "Not everyone is lucky enough to share a hallway with you."

[schrien_die_raben]

Sighing, Rue threw open the door, nudging a few crows out of the way as she stepped aside to let Fakir in.

"Those poor peasants just don't understand a thing," she said, sitting herself down on the edge of the bed next to Mytho. "They probably don't even realize that they're in danger as well."

[loyalbeyonddeath]

Fakir regarded the crows with the same cautious distaste people reserve for particularly dirty stray dogs and stepped into the room.

"I'm sure they have some idea," Fakir said. He beckoned to Mytho. "Come on, time to go."