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 Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 8:31 pm
** Meme Pear **
Meme couldn't help but laugh a little at Martha's frustration. "Don't worry Martha. I warned him that once the funeral is done I'm going to keep him in his room to rest and take care of himself." he said a little sternly, knowing how worried Martha was about Rufus' health.
}{ Kuro Suji }{
Kuro turned to look at Rufus and gave him a respectful bow. "Sire, King Lionel's messenger is here with a letter for you to read. It just so happens King Lionel still expects you to marry Helena and is on his way for the ceremony as we speak."
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Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 8:14 pm
~~~ Rufus Arthur Rayne ~~~
 Rufus groaned openly. He turned to Helena, smiling. "No offence meant, Princess. But I have a feeling I know roughly what the letter says."
"Please, take Troy with you." Rufus murmured, watching as she nodded stiffly and fighting another groan. Wonder what the man did this time? He held out his hand for the letter as she left.
Twenty-one.
Prince.
Next In Line.
Soon-To-Be Wed.
Trapped.
Cook nodded. "I'll help you with handcuffs if needs be! Clean ones, with padding so he can't get infected or hurt himself - because we know, he won't want to stay still for that long!" She beckoned Meme over. "The soup will need a few moments to heat - could you find Master Liam? He's run off somewhere, probably the stables. He looked anxious about Akito..."
Helena smiled back, secretly agreeing with his groan. "That is alright, Sire. I shall go pack - I shall leave with the messenger."
When Troy's name was mentioned, she froze for an instant, wanting him with her... and yet worried he'd insist she marry Rufus if he returned to her father's side. Still, she nodded and then left.
The messenger was shocked by Rufus and Helena's familarity, but decided he would be welcomed if he could report their comfort in each other's company to his King. He handed the letter to Rufus, keeping silent other than to bow to him.
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 10:44 am
** Meme Pear **
Meme laughed a little at Martha's ideas, though he wasn't making fun of them, he rather found it funny that she was so frustrated with Rufus. He imagined that if he tried to help Rufus' health for as long as her that he would be frustrated too. "Alright, I'll go back to the stables and look for them!" he said happily, making his way out of the kitchen at the same time that Helena and a strange man exited the dining room. Meme gave a bright smile to the serious looking man and continued his way to the stables.
}{ Kuro Suji }{
Kuro took a seat at the dining table and gave a heavy sigh. "What are we going to do Rufus? With Lionel on his way, we have no way to intercept him and even if we did I doubt he would listen to us." he said softly, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 7:02 pm
~~~ Rufus Arthur Rayne ~~~
Rufus shrugged. "We trust that Helena loves her Bodyguard and that the King treasures her happiness above all else. What else, exactly, can we do? We don't want a war; I can't marry Helena; I have a picnic with the journalist and local vicar tomorrow lunchtime; and I haven't planned the funeral. Or eaten yet today."
Twenty-one.
Prince.
Next In Line.
Soon-To-Be Wed.
Trapped.
Cook sighed and started heating the soup.
Liam was pacing in the stables. He might be young, but he knew he should be at home to help. Instead he was waiting to hear from Akito and Julian.
The messenger noticed Meme and wondered at his bright smile, but he shrugged it off: clearly, the boy was just friendly. He was probably a new servant, learning the ropes, and hadn't yet mastered the 'solemnly silent' attitude yet. He followed Princess Helena, hoping to talk her out of leaving.
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 7:15 pm
** Meme Pear **
Meme continued to the stables and found a very nervous looking Liam. "Liam, the cook needs to see you...Are you okay?" he asked softly, wondering what he could be nervous about at such a young age.
}{ Kuro Suji }{
Kuro smirked a little. "Exactly....you're already married to Meme....If we showed him the marriage certificate, surely he would understand. And he knows that you wouldn't be able to undergo a divorce...and if the vicar found out surely there would be a public outcry and we can't have that." Kuro thought out loud, trying to help solve the situation.
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 7:29 pm
~~~ Rufus Arthur Rayne ~~~
Rufus nodded wearily. "They'll find out soon, but I'd rather make an official announcement and re-do the wedding first. That way, the Vicar can't claim I'm living in sin - any more than 'usual', anyway - and the people will see that Meme is one of their own. I can't afford for it to get out that my marriage was, essentially, a case of mistaken identity."
Twenty-one.
Prince.
Next In Line.
Soon-To-Be Wed.
Trapped.
Liam jumped when Meme appeared. "I'm worried. I don't know why it's 'bad', but Julian said that Dad's done 'it' again. Akito went home to talk to Dad, but... but I don't know how they are!" He turned towards the doorway, hoping they'd come back soon. "I don't want Akito to fight with Dad again."
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 7:41 pm
** Meme Pear **
Meme couldn't help but feel concerned about what Liam was talking about. "When they fight....does your dad ever....hurt Akito? Or do they just yell a lot?" he asked softly, hoping it was the latter. Akito had already been through so much, another physical fight would probably land Akito back in the hospital.
}{ Kuro Suji }{
Kuro gave a soft sigh, Rufus wasn't always as smart as he came across. "And if King Lionel tells the public about this little 'act of mistaken identity' both kingdoms will blame him as well. They'll think him mindless for allowing someone so feeble to impersonate his daughter. He will have no choice but to keep this secret from the public as well." Besides, the sooner they told Lionel the faster this would all be done and over with.
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 8:12 pm
~~~ Rufus Arthur Rayne ~~~
Rufus shook his head. "And if he calls our bluff? Points out that his people will appreciate his allowing his daughter her love match, whilst ours - especially if it's known we hid the marriage - might think I've been possessed by the devil? Or that I'm like my father, attacking young men? That vicar wouldn't take much convincing."
Twenty-one.
Prince.
Next In Line.
Soon-To-Be Wed.
Trapped.
Liam frowned at Meme. "Akito always sounds sleepy, but I don't think Dad would hurt him. Besides, they're so cute we have to keep them!" Liam said earnestly.
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 8:25 pm
** Meme Pear **
Meme gave a soft sigh. "I'm sure they will be alright. I will go check on him later okay?" he asked with a little smile. "Come on, lets go see what kind of goodies Martha's cooked up for us." he said a little excitedly, hoping Liam would come with him without a fight.
}{ Kuro Suji }{
Kuro gave a soft sigh. "You're right Sire. Forgive me for arguing. What do you propose we do? Lionel will be here in three days time expecting a wedding. We can't keep a King waiting, you know that."
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 8:46 pm
~~~ Rufus Arthur Rayne ~~~
Rufus scoffed. "You shouldn't apologise for advising me, Kuro. But he can't expect a wedding in three days time. He'll want me to be coronated, and that messenger was at pains to point out that he wants to attend the funeral. To pay his 'respects', and no doubt reassure me that I am nothing like my father - with him gone, so is Lionel's main objection to the marriage." He sighed, feeling exhausted. "'It'll be a wonderful match'," he quoted, deliberately imitating Lionel's voice strangely - they'd only met once, when Rufus was eight or so.
Twenty-one.
Prince.
Next In Line.
Soon-To-Be Wed.
Trapped.
Martha looked up as Meme and Liam came in. "Good timing. The soup's done, the bread rolls are ready and the biscuits are just out of the oven!" She beamed, setting up a tray for them and piling Rufus' dishes with food.
Liam blinked, glanced at the stables one last moment... and gave in. They didn't have much food at home, and if someone offered to feed them then they should say thank you and eat up! He smiled and went with Meme.
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 6:40 pm
** Meme Pear **
Meme smiled when the food was ready and took the rolls and biscuits off of the tray, handed them to Liam. "Why don't you help me? I'm sure Rufus would like to see you too." he said happily, trying to keep the young boy's mind off of Akito and his father. He entered into the dining room with the soup and placed it on the table. "We come bearing food!" he said with a smile but there was a tension in the air that Meme didn't really care for. "Whats wrong?" But the answer he received didn't settle with him very well.
}{ Kuro Suji }{
Kuro nodded. "Quite right Sire." he said softly, relaxing a little when he heard Meme come in, though he wasn't sure if he should be the one to tell him what was going on. His Master had enough things on his mind and didn't think he should have another. "King Lionel is on his way expecting Rufus to marry Helena."
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 7:48 pm
~~~ Rufus Arthur Rayne ~~~
Rufus couldn't help it: he glared at Kuro. Surely there was an easier, more gentle way to break it to Meme? One that allowed him to eat food first - his stomach suddenly recoiled and he winced, hoping no-one noticed. When Liam spoke his piece, he nodded subtly to Kuro; he and Meme needed a moment.
Once he was alone with his husband, he reached for Meme's hand and gently tugged him closer. "Meme, it will be alright." he murmured, watching him closely.
Twenty-one.
Prince.
Next In Line.
Soon-To-Be Wed.
Trapped.
Liam put the rolls down beside the rest of the food, happy until he noticed the tension - he might only be a boy, but he'd seen similar tensions at home recently. On instinct, he dashed to Kuro's side and tugged on his sleeve. "I need to talk to you!" he stage-whispered, thinking Meme and Rufus might need to speak alone.
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:07 pm
** Meme Pear **
Meme was starting to have doubts about this whole thing. He thought that once Lionel saw what kind of person Alaric was that he wouldn't want his daughter anywhere near this place. He thought it would all be done with Alaric gone but it just seemed to drag on. Meme was starting to think that maybe it was doing more damage than good to stay married to Rufus; after all this all basically started because of his own curiosity and look where it was getting them. He wanted Rufus to eat though, so for now he put on a brave face and squeezed Rufus' hand gently. "I know it will. You need to eat though. I'm not letting you leave this room until you eat!" he said sternly, sitting down and stuffing his own face with a roll to keep the pain from showing.
}{ Kuro Suji }{
Kuro caught the glare but didn't shrink away from it, apparently he wasn't helping as much as he though. He was glad that Liam required his assistance though, he would make it up to Rufus somehow. Kuro placed his hand against Liam's back gently and brought him out of the dining room. "What do you need my help with?" he asked politely, getting down onto his knee so he was at the child's level, or at least somewhat at his level.
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:35 pm
~~~ Rufus Arthur Rayne ~~~
Rufus took what was left of the roll from Meme's hand and put it on a plate, ignoring the overflowing plate that was clearly meant for him as he held Meme's hands in his own. "I'll eat everything on that plate, but not before we've had a talk."
He took a deep breath and sighed softly. "I know we didn't plan to get married, and I know half the town won't understand why I married a man or why I stayed married when I found out the truth. But I won't force you into anything, including a divorce.
Helena doesn't want to marry me, and I don't want to marry her either. What I do want is to try and make our marriage work; to publicly announce that you're my husband."
Twenty-one.
Prince.
Next In Line.
Soon-To-Be Wed.
Trapped.
Liam hesitated. "Mister Kuro... you're Akito's friend, r-right?" he murmured, biting his lip. "I don't think I'm supposed to say anything, but I think he might need your help."
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:46 pm
** Meme Pear **
Meme blushed when the roll was taken from him, was he really that bad at hiding his real feelings? Or was Rufus that good at detecting his hidden feelings? "Thats....flattering but this is all happening because of me. If I hadn't sneaked in here and impersonated a princess you wouldn't have even noticed someone like me." he said softly, taking his hands back for a moment. "I just....can't help but wonder if my being here is only making things worse. It's already hurting you physically, you're so preoccupied with trying to keep everyone happy and holding together a kingdom that you're forgetting to take care of yourself!"
}{ Kuro Suji }{
Kuro's heart skipped a beat, count on him to take his eyes off Akito for one second. "What's going on? You can tell me. You won't get in trouble, I promise." he assured, hoping Akito wouldn't be hurt more than he already was.
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