It had been far too long.

Elpis stepped out of the deserted capital to enter the fields of rockblooms and starfruits to walk in peace on her homeworld, sullen and somewhat wiuthdrawn as she looked into thick flowers, moving sdlowly as her thoughts filled her mind. She really wanted a drink, and nobody was going to give it to her here -- a curse and a blessing, but then, there was also noone to listen to her woes. There was never anyone to listen to her woes, and the fact drew her to a silence that oft preceded tears or screaming.

She faulted herself. Joseph dumped hewr. Her father abandoned her. Her twin and little brother no longer wished to speak to her, and although her uncle Tom and Sami tried speaking to her, Elpis felt broken and lost, and had taken up the timerr-dishonored tradition of booze, but she didn't like much more than Jack Daniels and she didn't like much more than occasional booze. So she threw herself into her home business. Her wallet loved it, but her heart was still ashen and broken.

She'd outstrippewwd them all to protect her loved ones, and now? It bit her in tyhe a**. She didn't know if she could talk to Subra or Lysithea or Adria bout it, either, She was in it alone, for now, and the senshi hoped some time offworld would afford her comfort, tyhe woman sighing as she withered in the space she stopped in.

"I always thought the Elpine General was always strong in the face of conflict."

His voice cut the woman's thoughts and she turned to see a beaming man. He was kind, smiling softly as he approached. The man was bedecked as befit a warrior, with thick black robes anmd furs, a mess of blonde hair framing a smiling face. He was drtessed as an offworldfer, one of those her aides had sent portraits and pictures to seeking potential matches, and yet unarmed.

A warrior, the same. Elpis blinked despite herself.

"I beg your pardon?" She responded. He grinned.

"You have my pardon, dear lady. But that sulking doesn't match the rumours. Is aught troubling you?"

Oh. Oh he was a clever one, he was, and Elpis blinked.

"Well I'm only mortal. And one undrer stress to wed. and all they saty is 'oh, how inappropriate, how unladylike, for a woman to hold suchj power! What man would wish for that?' all the time and my aides tell me 'maybe downplay the strength'. I can't and they know it."

"People often make assumptions about things they can't understand./" He responded, then smiled, just a little bit. "I happen to think a strong woman... They're a blessing and a virtue."

Elpis blinked.

"I'm a soldier. I was trained since I was old enough as a soldier. becoming the leader ill suits me." Elpis sighed. "So many rules and worries and things -- I don't want to reign, I--"

"A soldier!" He visibly swooned. "Those portraits and missives never said!" He crooned, and Elpis at last paused, blinked, and motioned.

"You're a prince?" She asked. He never ceased his smiled.

"I, dear lady, am a warlord from quite far, and I am enchanted to meet you." He finally stepped closer, taking her hand and kissing her fingers softly, and Elpis repressed the fluuster building in her chest as he slooked her in the eyes and sat up slowly.

"I... I didn't know someone came." Elpis stammered. He smiled.

"?"Only just. I slipped away from my noisy entourage to wexplore, and here I find one of the rarest, most beautiful flowers in the galaxy. How lucky am I, to bask in her light."

This time, Elpis turned a deep crimson as he chuckled.

"One of?" Shw whispered.

"My, yes, my lady. In my culture it is unknown for the Warlord to have only one bride, and it is unknown for the Warlord to seize his consorts' lands."

"Brides... Oh." Elpis felt the red fade and she blinked. "But then is..."

"It is not a matter of 'not enough'. My family is known for polyamoryu. Many loves. Each rests beside thje next in equal measure, and all work together. My great grandsire held brides from five stars, and a couple grooms. I assume your peop[le see it differently, of course?" He seemed used to explaining, and Elpis nodded.

"We... Well, it happens but the former Royals didn't practise it for fear of complication in inheritance and popularity. I never considered breaking the tradition... Hm." Elpis looked thoughtful, before the man rteached, drawing her close with merriment dancing in his eyes.

"Perhaps you mighht." He cooed. Elpis blinked, turning red again when he leaned in and kissed her. "Strength in any form is... Very attractive. Of mind, of will, of body... You're a difficult woman to not ravisdh already, my lady. Might -- might you grant me time in your presence, at least?"

"I... oh... uh... okay..." Elpis was as wide eyed as she was in her first battle and he held her to him, breathing softly before kissing her softly -- on the lips, and the neck before leaning back, faintly pink himself before she touched him.

"Let me... Let me show you around."

Her fingers raised to her lips as the memory cleared. She remembered the war when her people misstored his proposal gift, she remembered the pain, the death.

He'd never given up. He'd loved her from the start, and tears came to Elpis' eyes as she rem,embered their meeting before fingers trailed to the Warlord's Proposal she wore, and she closed her eyes, shoulders shaking.

A little piece of him was with her even now, and she let herself reach for the fweeling of tenderness and compassion he'd shared, as she cried. Those who left her...

Only saw through one lense. A lense even in a new lifetime she couldsn't share, and she wept for one who understood, and for want of stteady and solid love and understanding.

For want, perhaps, of one who might understand -- but for now, she was glad of rthe memory. It could help her with a start.