//Welcome back!! also im heavily considering making a comic out of this RP ?? for funsies and if it'd be cool if I credited you as a co-writer ? ;vv;
He glanced at her when she hissed about his pessimism. His blue eyes remained on her for a long moment, silent as he regarded her. He didn't respond to her words - nothing he'd say would make her feel better, but it was quite obvious that there was no possible way of denying that he would not live to be an old man. The resignation in his gaze was heartbreakingly resigned. He was okay with the idea of dying. Hell, truth be told, he didn't mind it. What possibly could he stand to live for with his father dead, his kingdom in shambles and the people he had tried so hard to protect turned against him?
When he touched his face, that hadn't been just an experiment.
That had been an attempt at -
He looked away, taking a deep breath before exhaling slowly. He pushed away those dark thoughts in favor of instead focusing on his mission. Resigned to the inevitability of his demise or not, he wasn't going to quit just yet. He was taking that witch down, and as many of her kin, before he kicked his bucket. He would remind himself of that pact as many times as it took if it meant he'd force himself to take just one more step forward.
He glanced up, feeling a stab to his pride when she reminded him of his uselessness. He opened his mouth to argue, but then noted the smug look in her eye. He frowned, trying his best to look reproachful at her expression - this was not the time to be playing the high horse! - but he couldn't hold that expression for long, and a lopsided smile trickled into his features. As much as it pained him that she had thrown away her life, her future, for a wretch like him...he was happy she was here. Standing by his side. He didn't think he could bear it, never seeing a friendly face again. Plus, of course, Brim was a quick-wit, she would make a great travel companion, whom could share some of the bulk of the journey's hardships - if not most of it - when he needed it. Truly, a great companion to have. A great friend.
He opened his mouth, suddenly overcome with the need to express to her just how grateful he was of her loyalty - how much this meant to him, and how he'd do anything in his power to make it up to her someday, to get her a life she deserved because, truly, if anyone deserved a life of wealth and luxury it was her, but words could not properly define his feelings - the corniness was strong with this one - so he drew a blank and his mouth remained empty.
So, instead, he swallowed his feelings and refocused on the conversation. He looked at her pointedly. "You set a castle on fire, Brim. I don't think a little thievery will do your reputation anymore harm." he said, amusement glittering in his eyes before he shrugged, "besides, maids and servants do it all the time - and you could always hide your face with the cloak." He nodded at her idea of hitching a ride with some merchants, though the idea of his discovery ensuring terror scared him more than the danger of being sold out. Still, they'd cross that bridge when they got to it.
"A hunting cabin sounds great," he said, now only half listening as she talked. They had been walking for a short time down the passage, but as the conversation wore on, Alex's posture began to stoop more and more with weariness, and the occasional stumble was increasing in number with his footfalls. He was already getting tired. The pounding pain in his back going from shrill whistling to deep resounding gongs, the pain coming loud, the echoing throughout his form before resuming once more. He was tired, hungry, sore - and most definitely thirst.
His head was beginning to swim too, resulting in his face contorting with effort in seeing the path ahead and focusing on the conversation at hand. At keeping his thoughts from fragmenting, breaking apart and turning into useless dribble.
But dribble it soon became, as Brim continued talking, mentioning being a little brother figure to her. He barked a sudden laugh at that, his thoughts flashing back to a time when they were children. Little Alex had once been horribly enraptured with his lady-in-waiting, Brim, often trying to impress her with lavish gifts and pretty flowers he found around. Of course, she never quite saw the puppy-love behind his efforts, rejecting him every time with her dismissive "thanks yous" and "stop wasting your money you idiot"
haha, funny, cus now he had so much money at the palm of his hands
HAHA get it - cus, like, his hands MADE the money?
"Aw man im funny," he mumbled, trying to brush away the heaviness in his eyes.
He blinked, realizing after a moment that she was still talking. He struggled for a moment to push aside the random babbling in his head to try and remember what she had been talking about. Something about water and lotion and...honey? "um..." he mumbled stupidly, not quite sure what she was getting at.
All this talk of honey was making him hungry.
He pictured toast, suddenly, with lots of golden honey dribbled over - and eggs! Eggs and sausages and a glass of cool milk all piled high, and though he'd enjoy it very much he'd probably drop a few morsels for the dogs because their big eyes were also so impossible to say no to! He'd sneak his meal into his room, snuggle into his blankets for maximum warmth, enjoying the morning light before it was time for studies.
No, better yet, he'd skip his studies, spend the day admiring the weather and picking flowers -
He'd tell his father how much he loved him on that perfect day, and how they'd make it through these hard times -
Brim would be there, of course, with all her sass - but she'd have wealth, and her own home and not have to serve anyone but herself -
And everything would be great -
Pressing a hand into his eyes, the Prince forced himself to push out of that little bubble of wistfulness, ignoring the grumble in his belly and the wave of stinging that he was greeted with in this version of his world. Determined to stay strong, he played back once more the brief memory of Brim's words until he pieced together what she had said. "I dont't think that could work," he said, his voice strained, each word carefully plucked from the cloud of nonsense trying to dribble out of his weary mind, "cant keep my hands constantly...constantly soaked...but maybe thin gloves...could prevent it spreading faster? um -" he tried to think, but ideas kept slipping through his fingers like wayward sand particles. After a moment of squinting at the path ahead, he sighed and shrugged, "we'll figure it out," he said dismissively.
Looking back at her, confusion knitting his brow, "How...uh how far away is the cabin...by the way?"
(c)trexgirl