The Next Morning
Mish-shy's servants roused both De and Rhion around midmorning in anticipation of the tailor's arrival. The boy Correth had been the first to appear, standing at the end of the bed just long enough to stir its occupants with his mere presence.
It worked. Finally Rhion propped himself up on his elbows and bid the boy a fairly cheerful "Good morning" even though he looked far from rested. The youthful vigor his immortality had sealed upon him precluded bags under his eyes, but didn't stop him from yawning prodigiously several times before voicing his greeting.
The boy promptly responded in kind---to the polite greeting, not the yawns--and then dropped his gaze to the floor. He moved around to De's side of the bed first and laid down a pair of drawstring pants.
De glanced at Rhion, surprised at his fussing, and was even more taken aback to receive a lewd grin and a nudge in the ribs. Well! He remembered---kind of---that they'd had sex and lots of it, but Rhion behaved like they'd been screwing for days! He frowned, a bit worried that maybe it was true?---then shrugged. Who cared? He felt wonderful! But Rhion being human probably got tired more easily. He didn't look unhappy though.
"May I assist you, Master Damian?" The servant boy's soft voice jerked De's attention back to the present and the prince voicelessly scolded himself for his wanderings. It was foolish to worry about things such as memory (or how delectable a freshly awakened Rhion looked) when he obviously had no control over either situation. Not with an audience anyway.
De uncurled from his present position and tried to make his way out of the luxurious bed, his first attempt was unsuccessful. Rhion wasn't cooperating at all as De made an attempt to free their intertwined legs.
In fact, he was managing to tangle them together more securely, with an innocent look on his face that wouldn't have fooled a child.
For a moment De was tempted to anger but somehow realized the human wasn't being insolent or disrespectful he was simply (what was it they called this? Playing?)
That was it. Rhion did this---playing---thing a lot.
~ How strange these creatures are to take pleasure in such trivial things! ~
Rhion smiled wider then, apparently pleased for some reason beyond the young prince, and unceremoniously flopped back down. He smiled mischievously---actually laughing a bit as he waited for De to wiggle his way free.
Oddly enough, this was something Damian could get used to---this weird closeness. It didn't matter than he failed to understand it---only that he desired it. Of course he wouldn't be letting on anytime soon.
He scowled, made a few mild attempts at cursing and wisely commented on his companion's childish nature before gaining his freedom.
De was triumphant so he turned to gloat as was only natural in a vampirc society but Rhion didn't look beaten at all, in fact he looked equally triumphant.
To De's amazement he smiled one of those weird smiles---the ones that De had previously associated only with his mother's memory---and then without any warning at all reached across the distance to touch a stay bit of raven dark hair that lay against the young vampire's cheek.
De froze for a moment as Rhion pushed the arrogant lock away, tucking it safely behind an ear. He felt somehow flustered by those strong fingers drifting so gently across his face. It was an intimacy that he'd rarely known and one that make him react without knowing why.
He pulled away, might have actually blushed before making his way completely off the bed. "Well, are you going to lay around all day, human?" It was rudeness and he knew it but as usual this human didn't react as he should.
"I suppose, we are a lazy lot, us humans." De recognized this, it was sarcasm and that he could deal with. What he didn't recognize was the softened edge of it, the playful innuendo that danced behind the appropriately delivered words.
More human strangeness!
"I've been told." De commented flatly.
"I'm sure you have." More sarcasm.
De gathered some things, slipping the makeshift blade sneakily inside the folds of the newly delivered pants when the servant boy's attention was elsewhere. Rhion frowned but said nothing as he watched them move about the room barely avoiding collision.
De was obviously preparing for a bath and Correth had no problems about helping him out---explaining all the hidden cabinetry with swift efficiency. Rhion noticed that neither of the boys exchanged actual looks during their conversation and when De was finished he waved the boy away as though this lack of manners were commonplace.
Then without further comment he gathered up the pants and disappeared out the door.
Correth seemed to think De's actions were perfectly acceptable. He moved to Rhion's side of the bed and repeated the scenario on the older boy, offering up a variety of help, some of it sexually suggestive. Rhion grinned slightly and winked, refusing all Correth's help but with a cheerful friendliness that took away any sting from the rejection. "If I'd gotten up with a hangover---maybe! But I'm more than capable of dressing myself this morning, thank you kindly for the offer though! And anything else, pleasant as it might be, I'm too tired to take advantage of right now."
Correth nodded after a pause, since Rhion seemed expecting a response. The blond boy was glowing with good cheer and a hint of mischief, and obviously wanted the whole world including the servant to share in his fine mood. It was hard to remain solemn in his presence, that was for sure!
A few minutes later Rhion was dressed in his last fresh leathers from his pack, and De was stepping back into the room, dark silky material hanging low on his hips and his hair shiny and wet from a shower.
"The tailor has arrived as master Damian requested, he's waiting in the outer corridor. Once we have readied you both I will send him in."
Rhion nodded and thanked the boy with a charming smile. De mouthed a halfhearted acknowledgment, far from any kind of gratitude and Rhion frowned. "You're not much of a people person are you?" he stated bluntly in a low voice.
"What?" De asked, a little confused for a second but Rhion gave him time to work it out and after a few long seconds he did look toward the boy. "Oh." He paused seeming to think it over for a few moments before turning back to Rhion. "Your house only keeps paid servants, right?"
Rhion looked exasperated at the question. "Indeed! But paid or not you could at least be courteous." De stared at Rhion for a few seconds but didn't seem to get offended. Nor did he say anything, he simply turned and started searching the drawers until finally Correth took pity on him and appeared by his side.
"May I help you to find something, Master Damian?"
"A brush---I was looking for a brush." The boy disappeared for a few moments before returning with said item in hand. De smiled, looked directly at him and actually said the words "Thank you." In the most sophisticated way imaginable, it was almost too much!
Rhion stared at the difference, but realized almost instantly that he'd just given the boy a lesson in behavior and De had accepted it exactly as if Rhion were his teacher. De, taking his advice without complaint or insult? It was pleasant---and kind of scary! Rhion dipped his head to hide a pleased grin, then thought "to hell with it!" and beamed openly. He felt too damn good this morning to act cagy! Let the boy know he approved, what harm could it do? Rhion suspected that approval was something De needed more of, much as he would deny it.
"Shall I brush your hair, perhaps tie it back for you?" For a moment it looked as if De might decline, his whole body going slightly rigid at the offer. He took a noticeable breath, seeming somewhat uneasy at the idea of being touched by the servant boy.
This reaction was strange considering his previous people's indulgence in their kind. Rhion made a mental note to see if he reacted similarly with the tailor. This was the first time he was able to observe De with others in a semi normal situation.
Maybe the boy had a problem with those he thought beneath him. Somehow Rhion doubted it, it certainly fit with some of the vampires he'd known but somehow it didn't seem to fit De. Something about the way he carried himself seemed to suggest he was equally unsociable with everyone.
After a few tense moments De seemingly surrendered, but his tension remained evident as he silently took a seat in front of the vanity in their room. He was utterly silent as the boy did his work, his eyes, locked not on the boy (as it should have been if he were worried about a possible threat) but on some fixed point on the wall.
Correth seemed pleased to find De's hair tangle free and ran the brush through it a couple of extra times just to feel the weight of the dark silk against his hand.
Rhion hadn't missed the slightly awed look that spilled across the boys face when he'd first touched it, he mighta felt the same if he hadn't been so angry at the time. And since then it had become an extension of De himself---just another of the boy's peculiar traits. Something uniquely De, that soft fall of darkness that Rhion loved to rub his cheek against, breathing in its exotic scent---
Oops! Good thing he was already dressed! Rhion shifted his stance casually, trying again to look innocent. It was pretty peculiar, but the wild night they'd shared hadn't worn him out a bit, not in THAT way at least. Well, one couldn't screw every minute of the day and mundane things must be attended to as well, Rhion told himself sternly. But damn, Correth could have waited one tiny hour more to come waltzing in with all this helpfulness!
"Do all vampires have hair such as this?" It was a tentative question but obviously one the servant boy simply had to ask. For a moment De hesitated, eyes drifting back to the mirror and Correth's reflection.
"No." The simple word was spoken softly and with a kind of disappointment. Perhaps someone had teased him about it before? Hard to believe such a thing was teasing material among vampires, but apparently it had happened, why else would he act so? Rhion now pushed down a different urge, which was simply to walk over to De and hug him.
"It's glorious, I'd give anything to have hair like this." Correth seemed to pick up on De's tone and measured his response appropriately. When De's shoulders loosened up, having perhaps taken the boy's comment in a positive way Correth continued his work. He quietly brushed through and then braided the long locks in silence tying them off with a bit of dark blue almost black silk before rising.
He turned to Rhion and offered the same attention, which again Rhion declined. "Thanks, but this stuff isn't watered silk like some people's hair---it needs some effort to show it who's in charge!" He took the brush from the servant with a friendly laugh, and to De's amazement the composed boy actually returned a glimmer of a smile. Well, he'd never denied Rhion had charm to spare when he put his mind to it. He just wished a little of it would rub off on him. Sometimes he felt so outa place in this world.
"Is there some protocol for dealing with these kinds of servants?" Rhion looked over at De who was crossing the room, finally coming to sit on the side of the bed nearest him to pose his question.
The blond gave this serious thought for a few seconds, frowning slightly not with annoyance but in deliberation of the correct answer. For De to ask him for an opinion on a code of behavior was unusual enough to where Rhion wanted to choose his words with care. "Ummm, not so much a protocol as a kindness that should be extended to all people, especially those under the ownership of another." The look Rhion was getting actually made him a little nervous. De was seriously listening to what he was saying and trying to incorporate it into what he'd been taught in the past.
"So this falls under the gentleman rule, then?"
"The what?" Rhion asked not quite understanding---or at least not sure that De did.
"The gentleman rule---to be more than the substance of what's generally expected---to extend courtesies not because we have to but because it's the right thing to do."
"Yeah, that'd be it." Rhion paused, a little surprised to hear such a statement fall from De's lips. "Umm, where'd you---learn?---" De nodded. "Something like that? Pardon my bluntness but it doesn't seem like a lesson the mighty Leviathan would teach."
"Mystic," De answered simply, offering no defense on his father's behalf.
"Ah! It figures. I mean---your teacher, I remember you mentioning him, I think. The gentleman rule---I like that! But also, De, everyone is a person, even servants. Treat them that way, you might be surprised what they can teach you. Plus hirelings and slaves have enough to deal with; I feel obliged, to offer them a bit a friendliness to compensate."
For a moment De seemed to consider this, his expression somber as he toyed with one of the fringes on the bedspread. He wasn't really looking at the heavy black and brown material, more fooling with it outa habit.
"I see." There was a brief pause before De raised his eyes and smiled gently toward the older boy. "You're very noble, Rhion. It's a fine quality in a man." It was an obvious compliment mixed with a fair amount of admiration. And its delivery, not a gaming move at all. It wasn't something Rhion would have expected outa De at that moment or any other moment! He gaped like a fool. Insults he had a comeback for, but praise from this source left him rattled, admittedly!
Before he could find a decent comment Correth appeared, motioning in a few other nameless servants who brought with them hot coffee and breakfast foods. "I had them bring a little bit of everything, having no knowledge of your preferences." De adjusted his position nervously, turned back toward the servants and shrugged off any softness that had been lingering in his expression.
Rhion shook off his stupefaction, silently cursing the servant boy for his bad timing. Well, too late to hug De now; make the best of it, Carlonday! "So this place provides room service as well? How quaint!" Rhion commented at a normal volume, seeming actually on the verge of chuckling now at some private joke.
The servant as well as De actually glanced at Rhion's smiling face, both looking equally puzzled at his increasing cheerfulness. "Oh never mind." He waved at both the boys still laughing to himself a bit as he took a big swig of coffee. "Not bad."
De followed suit but pretty quickly abandoned the coffee for one of the sweeter concoctions offered.
Rhion watched as De sampled many of the foods, but only chose to eat the heavily sugared items. On occasion he'd quietly passed things Rhion's way, the look on his face bordering on revulsion. It was as if he preferred to keep certain things a good distance away from his nose.
"Is there something about this one you don't like?" Rhion asked as De handed him a bowl of softened grains. "I noticed you only smelled it."
"It has nutmeg."
When De offered nothing further Rhion pressed on. "You don't like nutmeg?"
"I don't like the smell of it."
"You haven't even tried it---?"
"No. Not like that---the smell, it makes the food unappealing. In the very depths of its fragrance it smells like death." Rhion just stared at him, sniffed the bowl and then shook his head indicating he didn't get it.
"Prepared bodies smell like that." De seemed to think that Rhion should understand and was at a loss for words when he didn't.
"If I may sir?" Correth inquired of Rhion who nodded curiously.
"Vampires adorn their dead with such spices to keep them from crossing over, they believe that they will eventually revive if left in the death sleep long enough---nutmeg is one of many spices used in the ritual."
De didn't say anything and Rhion wondered what it was about the subject that tied the boy's tongue so expertly.
"Hmmmm-thank you, that's enlightening!" Rhion eyed De humorously. "Well, now you finally make sense to me, in that small area at least. And since I might want to steal a kiss later---" Rhion put the grains aside firmly, delighting in De's faintly ruffled look. "No nutmeg for me either, though I like the taste!"
Correth smiled again, though only faintly and to himself. He moved to get rid of the offending bowl, snagging it without disturbing the couple he attended. He quickly handed it off to a servant who waited outside the bedroom whispering a new command to him. "Remove the nutmeg from the prince's kitchen, and change the Dinner menu to include several items from the dessert list."
When Correth turned he realized that at least De had heard him. The boy was eying him closely but quickly adjusted his gaze back to the meal at hand and Rhion once he'd been caught staring.
Quietly Correth moved back to their bedside, busily watching both De and Rhion's choices and taking mental notes of what future breakfast should consist of. Near their finish he moved forward. "Do you desire anything different on tomorrow's breakfast menu?"
Rhion smiled. "Indeed---a fully stocked kitchen so I can cook it myself." Both De and Correth turned to stare at Rhion. "What?" Rhion paused. Then snorted humorously at the way they gaped at him as if he'd encountered such looks before. "The kitchen's fully functional and I don't really care to be waited on hand and foot---no offense, Correth."
"Isn't that a lot of work---cooking so many meals in a day?" De honestly looked shocked at the mere suggestion of such a thing.
"Ah, sir!" Correth carefully interrupted. "My apologies master Damian but the prince---well there's an entire kitchen devoted to royal meals---you needn't stress yourself with meal preparation."
Rhion sighed, then chuckled. "No one EVER believes me; I'm beginning to feel downright eccentric! It's no stress, I enjoy cooking. It's fun for me. And believe it or not I'm good, dammit!"
"You enjoy it??" Correth sounded more shocked than De looked. "Oh-of course---ummm, shall we prepare a schedule, I mean if there are some meals you'd like to have brought in or---Is the chef not to your liking?"
"Oh no, the chef's fine. I just have a certain way of preparing meals and the boy here is finicky as hell---but I'll let you know when we need meals brought in."
"I'm not finicky!" The shock had worn off but still De was in no mood to fight, when Rhion grinned at him and winked he simply stared, fumbled with another bite or two and then pushed away the tray.
"I'll have this taken out for you." With a snap of his finger servants quickly appeared clearing the plates and disappearing out the door.
"We've brought most of the items on the list that our king supplied, you'll find them in the pantry---fresh meats and produce are delivered daily to those who---! Actually use their kitchens." When Correth caught the look on Rhion's face he quickly tried to explain. "Few in the palace actually make use of their kitchens beyond snacks--- unless they have a chef among their family. I just assumed when I saw the list that you liked to---dabble---a hobby perhaps since you're Carlonday royalty." A nervous smile followed. "My apologies."
"You don't need to apologize; I know I'm daft! And I'm very happy with the size of the kitchen," Rhion soothed the boy, as if sensing Correth was still unsure if Rhion was displeased with the service and was just being courteous about it. "But dammit, I'm not gonna let it go to waste just to be properly noble! I'm sure most nobles you know of probably 'dabble" in art or music; I cook, but it's not entirely the same thing since I'm good at it! And I didn't bribe and wheedle the Carlonday chef outta his secrets to let them get rusty when I have a chance to play chef in a civilized environment instead of over a pot in the wilderness. And you ARE finicky, De---but I don't mind."
Rhion gave De a warm, velvet-gold smile that wasn't entirely connected to the boy's tastes in food.
"You'll have to have dinner here sometime," he continued with mock sternness, speaking to Correth. "I refuse to be branded as a noble 'dabbler' by thunder. I'll make you eat those words!" He then proceeded to laugh at his own silly joke. His mood was too damned good really!
"Sir!" The boy looked taken back, whether it was by the idea of being cooked for or concern over Rhion's skills was unclear. "Of course sir---whatever you desire."
"Have you been assigned to us?" De's voice was just a tad bit snippy as he eyed Correth's verbal exchange with Rhion.
"Yes, Master Damian---during the days. The nights have been given to Snowangel and Whisper."
"So they've assigned us shifts, then?" Rhion laughed at the thought.
"Ummm, only until you've acquired your own household----If you'd prefer I could have an assortment of servants brought for your inspection. You could choose from the graduate list at the Shyle training academy or from the gifted of the city."
"No!" De quickly snapped! Near panic filled his voice before he caught hold of it. "No thank you. Maybe at a future date." De was lightning quick to decline the offer, it made one wonder about the boy's past experiences with servants.
"If someone would care to show me how things work, I'd be happy to deal with---!" Rhion waved his hand in the air. "Anything that needs dealing with, in running our household! We don't need a servant for every little thing, I wouldn't think." Or want, he added silently. The less noses in our private lives the better!
"I believe between Correth and myself we could enlighten you to the workings of a demon lifestyle. It's quite organized really, I doubt you'll have much trouble adapting." There was a short pause as De rose to his feet, and eyed the new arrival harshly. "Deathwalker, at your service, lord prince."
