winderlust | i tried to think of a wind pun for this title

[Well that brings up a host of feelings. First is relief. Gaius really thought he'd never see his home again, and his family only rarely. Thinking he might actually get to go back is kind of overwhelming. It makes him feel homesick, too. If he were offered a trip home right this second a big part of him would take it.

But... But his heart is echoing that loneliness that Jusis feels, too. Irrational or not, he wants to stay near him. And it's that that pulls him out of the maelstrom of homesick-hopeful-confused emotion and reminds him why he's here.

He wipes at his eyes and the tears threatening to appear, and shakes his head. He's deeply sad, to his bones, but there's a warm yet steely strength in him, too.]

No. I didn't come here half-heartedly. If our nations are going to find real peace, we need to think of ourselves as friends. Dividing ourselves won't solve anything.

I can't lie to you, so I won't. I want to go home, dearly. I always will. But I can do so much more for my homeland by staying here. I know more than anyone that we won't survive in a changing world by putting our heads in the sand. I have to take the opportunity not just to learn about the outside world but to make myself a part of it. I won't give up my identity, but the best thing I can do for my family, and for the people in this country as well, is do my best to be a bridge between us.

I'm staying. I'm sure as long as I'm with you, this can become "home", too.

[He's so touched it aches, and he has to look away before the feelings overwhelm him. Finally, he takes a breath and looks back at Gaius.]

Well, if that's how you feel, I won't contradict you. But...I can still arrange for you to be able to travel home at your whim. I do not wish you to find this a gilded prison.

[Because for Jusis, it is "you cannot escape your nobility, so wear it with pride" is all he can do as the second prince of this nation. But Gaius shouldn't have to be bound by that, should at least be allowed to escape, if he wishes.]

Thank you. Really.

[It's more than he'd thought to even ask for. Knowing he can go home if he needs to will make staying infinitely less stressful.]

...You should see to it that the person sent back in my stead can come home as well.

[Poor guy. Gaius hasn't met him but he's sure he must be exhausted and covered in sheep's manure by now.]

Hmph, I'm sure it'll do him plenty of good to stay with your family indefinitely.

[He has no sympathy for Patrick. If he could go live on the steppes instead of here, he probably would.]

He's that kind of person, is he?

[Then yeah, Gaius can see it. He can also see his sisters running rings around the man.]

I'm sure they'll treat him well, then. As for me, I'll be content with my lot as long as I have your radiant company.

[The second prince of the great empire yada yada squawks indignantly and tries to dunk Gaius into the water.]

[Gaius doesn't resist -- he just comes back up laughing, and tugs Jusis into his arms.]

What a charming destiny I've been handed!

[A charming destiny who's getting the top of his head shamelessly kissed, because affection and horsing around are great ways to banish lonely feelings.]

Why you--

[He protests, but without heat. He's not used to this kind of affection and horsing around really, and he loves it, loves how it feels to be held by Gaius and treasured by him, he just doesn't know how to deal with it. He's quite awkward.]

Go enjoy the giant bath.

[He grumbles, defeated.]

I am enjoying it.

[He's enjoying relaxing in it while snuggling Jusis, to be specific.]

Are you?

[Do you liiike me Jusis]

[He's pressed against the most manly beautiful chest in all the goddess's creation, naked in a giant, luxurious indoor bath, being showered with affection by a man he finds he loves.

He's going to die.]

I suppose it's alright.

High praise from you, isn't it?

[He's starting to figure that out, and he can't help but think it adorable. He can't help but feel warm and happy when he's touching Jusis, either.]

Hmph.

[Which is just, yes, in Jusis. He doesn't try to pull away. He likes where he is, against Gaius, warm, feeling a million fluttery feelings but none of them very threatening. It feels safe to care about Gaius, now that he's settling into it.]

I like you, too.

[This is so nice. He's gently resting his chin on Jusis' shoulder, feeling content and relaxed and in love in a way that should be alarming but isn't at all.]

If nothing else, I'm truly happy to be with you.

[He's being BRUTALLY MURDERED here. He tentatively wraps and arm around Gaius's waist, trying not to seem tentative, acting like he's totally cool about it.

How is he going to survive if Gaius is always this embarrassing? And yet... He loves it. He likes this open affection so much. It makes him feel warm and wanted and happy and deeply embarrassed. But despite his embarrassment he also has enough self-awareness to not be a total asshole who never responds.

So he has to muster up the ability to say something back because he won't let embarrassment stop him from expressing something important. Doesn't make his words less awkward or embarrassed or a little stilted, but they're genuine.]

I, also, like you. And I'm lucky, that this worked out this way. Being with you makes me... [Wow. It does make him happy. Wild.] It makes me happy too. You're someone I find I cannot resist wanting to see smile.

Fortunately for you, I'm an easy-going guy.

[Contrary to certain moments Jusis has witnessed, but in line with what he's generally shown himself to be. Gaius is adaptable and kind and optimistic, so it's not going to be at all hard to make him smile.

In fact he smiles a lot, even when they leave for their new home. He smiles, and laughs, and makes friends with pretty much everyone he talks to, minus the more snooty in the upper crust. But he's pretty much okay with that too. Some people are rude and he doesn't understand where this class system thing comes from, but he's not going to waste time getting overly upset. He doesn't take it, though. If someone's rude he just calmly addresses it, which tends to send people packing in the face of his honesty.

But then they're home, and Jusis will find that the one downside to Gaius as a husband is that as soon as it's time for the daily grind he disappears. It's not that he's opposed to work, it's just that he has no idea how to do the kind of paperwork they're supposed to do. He's had very little education on it and he's frankly kind of embarrassed to ask. So instead every morning before Jusis gets up, Gaius takes off to go do more hands on helping out in their territory. It's making him popular with the everyman but very unpopular with the majority of the nobility, and it means Jusis is left with extra work, but it also means the land and people as a whole are happier than they've been in awhile.

But today they were supposed to have a fancy dinner party, and Gaius forgot about it. So he's not home by early afternoon when he start be starting to get dressed and learn the names of the visitors -- instead he's out in the nearby fields helping with the planting. Or trying to. He's not used to the kind of agriculture done here, so he's taking lessons from some grumpy old farmer.]

[Gaius being gone for paperwork doesn't bother Jusis. Obviously Gaius is a hands on kind of guy in other areas, and while Jusis finds he's... Kind of swamped with work meant for two, he handles it efficiently enough. And the people love Gaius so much it would be a shame to stop him.

In truth he feels a little envious of his own people now and then, since they see more of Gaius through the day then Jusis does lately, but he's busy settling into the affairs of their province and then it's just a routine to the point that it seems stupid to complain about.

The dinner party is... Well. He wasn't looking forward to it himself, he hates these functions. And when he realizes Gaius isn't around he rides out himself to find him, since it's faster than sending a messenger who will have to track Gaius down, when Jusis can just follow the bond straight to him.

Yet when he finds Gaius he can't bring himself to approach. He looks... At home in fine but hardy clothing, talking to the people, being ordered around by an old man while he, a prince, does farm work. Honestly, if Jusis didn't feel somewhat abandoned the last few weeks, he'd find the scene charming. He does, still, but there's a loneliness that he has to step on before it impacts the bond enough to make Gaius notice. He focuses instead on annoyance, he's always annoyed this time of day, working on paperwork, and he rides back to prepare for the party alone.

It's not meant to be an all night party, just drinking and socializing with the local lords over food, everyone get drunk, talk politics and gossip and go home. Jusis hates it, and he's being as stoic as he's allowed to be as the host. But it's not a good time, it's even less of one as the guests get drunker and their tongues, and the scorn and mocking with them, looser.

No one quite dares to speak unforgivably in front of Jusis, but it's deeply uncomfortable.

As for Gaius, on his way back he'll encounter one of the drunk lords coming home, and he's stopped and surrounded by the lord and his men on horseback, whether or not he himself is riding.]

Why if it isn't the Mud Prince.

[He is in fact riding, which is good because it's easier not to feel intimidated when you're taller. Not that Gaius is easy to intimidate. He's killed men stronger than these many times. But he is sort of irritated. It's the end of the day and he's tired and doesn't want to have this conversation. Still, he keeps a level expression, patient as always.]

That kind of rudeness isn't necessary.

Says the host who won't even deign to meet with his guests. Too busy traipsing in the mud to greet your neighbors. No better bred than your bastard husband.

[...Oh. Oh no. He remembers now, but he's not inclined to freak out so instead he just gives a polite nod. He was told you never bow deeply to someone of a lower rank and he is doing his best to follow customs.]

You have my sincere apologies for my absence. But with all due respect, I don't think you have the right to talk about him that way.

Oh you don't, do you?

[The man laughs, drunken and mean, sidling his horse right up into Gaius's space.]

Unrefined AND simple. No wonder he didn't bring you out. I don't know how things work in your savage little country, but here, just because that boy is half royal doesn't wash clean the filthy common blood in him. What status he enjoys is barely tolerable.

You, married to a mongrel, haven't any standing at all.

Go back to working the field or fucking milkmaids or whatever it is you do, Mud Prince, it suits you more than talking.

[Gaius is very good at being polite but this is really straining his ability to be honest and reasonable and optimistic. No one he's dealt with up til now was quite that aggressive about it, and it's hard not to think about all the not-so-resolved bitterness deep in his heart.

He stays outwardly chill, but back at home Jusis can feel Gaius getting angry -- and if these people have any sense they'll see it in his eyes.]

...In my country, we understand courtesy and respect. I can't criticize your class system, since I haven't lived in it for very long, but it seems to me like you could benefit from some time spent in the mud yourselves.

[He's not trying to make a threat but it does kinda sound like one.]

It's beneath me. But I accept your challenge. It'll be a good opportunity to teach you why nobility stands above. And what it really means to show respect to those better than you.

...Challenge?

[What are you even talking about! He's just trying to be reasonable--]

It wasn't a challenge. It was advice.

A craven as well. Fitting. I've wasted enough breath on you.

[They're leaving!]

[Mrrrgh. He could fight them but it's not worth it so he's just. Gonna go home and find Jusis so he can apologize for being a jerk and not coming home.]

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