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

I'll accept the compliment.

[Even if it's bizarre considering everything.

Or maybe it's less bizarre than it seems. Now that he's actually thinking about it, Gaius can feel it. The fact that his emotions aren't what they would normally be. The fact that he's more comfortable than he should ever let himself be around someone like Jusis. There's a very real sense of a link -- it feels like an invisible cord, slowly winding up and tugging him, gently, towards the man in front of him.

It's an old wives' tale, but Gaius isn't the kind of person to reject something that's right in front of him. There's no real benefit to that, unless he's really completely wrong about the kind of person Jusis seems to be. In fact, it might be helpful to his people, and perfectly pleasant for the two of them.]

Can I tell you a story?

[Honestly Jusis still hasn't considered any reason he likes Gaius so much. He's had enough other things to be freaking out about, lowkey, that not being able to impale this man yesterday hasn't been on his mind as much as it should.

He's flustered, still, but calming down from his gay panic again enough to be curious and intrigued. Gaius is such a good story teller, though he has no idea what he might want to say now that the children are gone, he knows he wants to listen to it, whatever it may be.]

Yes. Of course.

You'll have to forgive me. It's an old one, so I can't give you a good performance.

[Yeah, he can't remember the details. It's not something commonly recited, so even in this culture of oral history he can't "tell the story" properly. But he has to tell it somehow, because just coming out with the hypothesis will sound crazy and probably creepy. But since he isn't reciting anything, his story is a little halting, coming out with more and more visible embarrassment as he goes.]

...A long time ago, when the winds here blew more harshly, it was a much bigger burden to... find the right person. The tribes were smaller and farther out. People died more often. So occasionally two people would be given a guide, that they could find one another across plains and battlefields. Those so entwined would be drawn towards their partner, against all odds, and even against their own desires. Following their call would bring fortune and happiness, but not everyone would accept the pull of fate. To prevent tragedy, the entwined were unable to harm one another by any means, by intent or not. Physically, at least... But the winds don't blow anyone in the wrong direction. They'll make it easier to love, but they won't send you to someone you couldn't--

[Oh now he's speaking in present tense. Oops. Hold on let him breathe--]

...It's something unseen in generations. But when I heard this story once, I was told you could feel it with a touch. Like something rushing into you.

[Kind of like yesterday... He's uncharacteristically flushed and he knows it. This is embarrassing and potentially disastrous, even if he's right, but... It's like he said. The winds don't send you the wrong way. So, hesitantly, he extends his hand in offering.]

[Jusis freezes, when he realizes what Gaius is getting at. Looking very much like a deer in the headlights, not that that concept exists in this world but that's his expression right now.

He's heard a similar story, an old romantic notion of soulmates that is considered as much a fairy tale as legends of fairies. Just because people tell stories of something doesn't make it real.

But when Gaius talks he can't help thinking of yesterday, or the way he likes Gaius on an almost instinctive level, that really isn't at odds with his own inherent social awkwardness.

Honestly a lot is going through his mind, like thinking it sounds impossible and preposterous, and also thinking that what if it's real, and then again, what if it is real, does he want his love life dictated by some fate? On the other hand if fate is picking out partners than he can't complain given Gaius's everything--and why is he still entertaining the idea this could be like some fairy tale, though? Those things aren't real.

And if this is a pickup line it's a very odd one.

Still looking at Gaius's flushed and embarrassed expression he's absolutely charmed, and moved by his sincerity. He can't see any guile in Gaius, no artifice or ill-intention. Gaius really believes this might be some fate-willed meeting and Jusis has to admit he doesn't have a better explanation for yesterday.

At the very least taking his hand to see if there is any sudden mystical nonsense can't hurt. And the idea of rejecting Gaius seems impossible. It can't hurt, Gaius doesn't look like he's intending to set Jusis up to mock him for believing him, or anything cruel like that. And hesitantly he reaches out and takes Gaius's hand, apprehensive. Unsure whether he's more scared of feeling something or more scared of feeling nothing.]

It sounds... Improbable.

[He says cautiously, as his fingers close around Gaius's. Of course his words end just as they touch, and there it is again--not the live-wire jolt of yesterday but something warm, a sensation undeniably real shivering through him, and he almost drops Gaius's hand out of sheer alarm.]

[This time, he doesn't pull his hand back when he feels it. He just inhales sharply, then sits still, at first staring at their hands, then at Jusis' face. He can't deny it. The evidence is right there -- everything from that old story that's almost disappeared from his people's history.

It's honestly a little scary. But looking at Jusis, how could he protest it? Of course he's a pious person, so he wouldn't want to question it in the first place. And maybe it's fate controlling his emotions, to some degree. But even if it weren't Jusis is obviously a good person. He hasn't complained about being here. He's good with kids. He's working hard. Even before they touched, he held onto honour on the battlefield in a way many don't have time to, these days.

So he's not going to protest. He just looks at Jusis with straight-forward, earnest interest and concern. There isn't anything really stopping Jusis from walking away from this, at least for now, but Gaius finds that he doesn't want him to, with an intensity he knows is influenced by something outside of him but that he doesn't care to argue with.]

...Jusis.

[He didn't think about it that much this morning, but now the name feels at home in his mouth. He could say it a thousand times and not wear it out. But he doesn't want the weight of the situation to scare Jusis away, so he cracks a smile, squeezing his hand briefly before letting go.]

Looks like we're in a bit of a bind.

[Haha. Get used to this sense of humor cause you're stuck with it now.]

[It helps. It really does, even though Jusis is groaning and putting his hand over his face at that.

He kind of sinks to the ground next to Gaius after that reaction though, letting his hand fall back to his lap and looking down at it like it's a foreign object. Better than looking at Gaius right now, because he isn't sure what to make of this frankly bizarre situation.

He's not an impious person but he's not like Gaius, he doesn't feel like trusting his life to fate or gods, on any given day. He doesn't have any faith like that.

But if his life has got some fate attached to it, even if his emotions are being manipulated by some unknown power, he really does find Gaius... Kind. Friendly. Relaxing. Sincere. He hardly knows him but he genuinely wants to get to know him. This could be worse, or maybe that's just what it's like to meet your destined partner, someone you can't help but like, fate or not.]

Just so you know, I don't intend to let winds bluster and dictate my behavior.

[He sounds haughty, aloof. But his voice softens a little as he adds.]

But I'm not against getting to know you better.

[He wasn't actually expecting Jusis to rise to that particular challenge, so when he does Gaius bursts out laughing, less about the joke and more about the fact that he made one.]

Well, that's a start.

[He brushes his hair out of his face, smiling at Jusis all bright and sunny and already no small bit infatuated. When he puts his hand down, he rests it with his fingertips just barely touching Jusis'. He wants to chase that warmth, natural or not.]

I'd like to get to know you better, too. I can only pray we'll have the chance to take our time.

[Ugh. That laugh, that smile. It's devastating. He's going to expire on the spot. And then the barest brush of Gaius's fingers has his heart racing like a giddy teenager. Granted he's barely older than a teenager but that's beside the point.

He doesn't pull his hand away, notably.]

Our time... I wonder if we really have that.

[Time, that is.]

Who knows? But I believe this is happening for a reason. It's up to us to determine our path, but I'm sure we're being given a sign that we can do something about this war.

[The winds wouldn't have given this to them for the first time in centuries for no reason. They wouldn't have chosen Gaius and Jusis for it -- two people from such different backrounds, at such a vulnerable moment in time. It feels like there's a responsibility being placed on their shoulders, but that's fine. He wants to accomplish something. And, well... He's only known Jusis for a day, but he's already sure that if he'd killed him yesterday, instead of getting to talk to him, he'd have missed something his whole life, without ever knowing.]

[He frowns a little. Not sure he shares Gaius's optimism, but wishing he did. He wants to believe that they really can do something, somehow. It would be nice to make a difference, or to end the battles entirely.

Gaius's conviction is at least a little encouraging. So maybe he'll let that persuade him to at least hope for a better outcome. A hope he wouldn't even entertain if he'd never met Gaius.]

I suppose we'll see.

So we will. ...I'll have to heal up, first of all.

[As if he forgot he was injured. Why do bodies need time? He just wants to get back to work.]

We can take that time to get acquainted.

[He glances at Gaius's arm, frowning faintly. When that's healed he'll be back on the battlefield. That shouldn't bother Jusis, after all, they just met, it's not like they're friends. Soulmate nonsense aside, he barely knows Gaius. But he wants to.]

...Does it really not strike you as strange? This whole situation? It's still hard for me to take at face value.

Of course it does.

[It's extremely strange, and invasive, and dangerous. But it's there, so he may as well roll with it. He shrugs, calm as ever, but a little tired seeming.]

I really shouldn't trust you, or this bond. I probably should be angrier about not having a say in it, too. But it's already happened, so there's no point in dwelling on it. All I can do is have faith.

[Honestly that's reassuring. Jusis sighs, shoulders slumping some.]

I was afraid I was the only one who found this suspicious. And I'm not sure what I should have faith in.

But...

[He looks away from Gaius and his distracting face.]

The kindness your people have shown me, despite me being a foreign enemy, and the way you seem to be a genuinely good person... I can't really say I don't want to know you more, or end this war if it's possible.

I feel the same way. You're different than I thought someone in your position would be. I'm glad I got the opportunity to find that out. I think...

[He looks up at the unfairly blue sky, pausing and frowning before continuing.]

If I'd known exactly who you were yesterday, not even fate could have stopped me from killing you. I don't like seeing that in myself. In my people. That kind of anger brings nothing but misery. In that way, this whole thing might have been sorely needed.

[He can't help looking troubled and guilty. It's not because what Gaius says is unreasonable, quite the opposite. It's what he expects, and it's entirely reasonable. Not just Gaius but everyone here has cause to hate his family, and even if he's not for the war he feels just as responsible as if he encouraged his father too it. Failing to stop his father lies with him, and he doesn't make excuses for himself like, well, his father would never listen to the bastard son anyway. As a noble, as a prince, he should still have found some way to prevent all this death and suffering.

It's probably an unreasonable expectation of himself but it's one he has.

Yet he also can't promise to fix it, he doesn't know if he can fix anything, and it pains him.]

I hope it's not for nothing.

[He says quietly, instead, because it would be senseless, wouldn't it, for fate to tie this man to the useless prince who can't help him end the war instead of someone more influential, like his brother.]

I want to be able to promise I can help end this war. But raising anyone's hopes falsely seems cruel, and you've been nothing but honest and upfront with me. So I have to tell you I think your winds might be wrong. I may be unable to do anything.

[He tries to keep the misery and self-recrimination in his voice at bay with forced calm but it's there.]

If you could promise that, you'd have done it by now, wouldn't you?

[Jusis definitely seems like the kind of guy who wouldn't just meekly allow that kind of carnage, if he thought he could stop it. But Gaius doesn't know him that well. Maybe he is that kind of guy. Maybe he just doesn't believe in himself. Who knows?]

I'm not expecting miracles from you. I just think we should try. We certainly won't accomplish anything if we give up before we start.

...Very well.

[He would have stopped this war if he could have, but saying so seems too much like empty air to him, so he just avoids replying to that.]

You have a point. But do you even know where to start?

Honestly? I have no idea.

[He's only had a day to start thinking about it, and only a few minutes of knowing Jusis is up for the effort. There's a lot to consider when you have an in.]

What about you? Is there something your father cares about that we could appeal to?

Pride.

[It's said coldly when he meant it to be neutral, and he looks away, frowning, thoughtful.]

I think my brother is the only one who might persuade him. But we'd have to give him something to persuade father with.

I see... I don't suppose asking nicely would help.

[He's joking, but it's a humourless joke. What are they supposed to do? He's clinging hard to the belief that there's a way, but finding that way is bound to be incredibly difficult.]

Do you think your word would have any weight?

[He tries to smile at the thin joke but there isn't much to smile about.]

Maybe with Rufus...

[His father remains another matter. His father is always another matter.]

That's still something.

[Honestly the best route would just be to kill them all, but it would be kind of insensitive to day that, so...]

Will it matter, knowing how you've been treated here? If I go back with you...

It would to my brother.

[Again who can say with his father. The king might just assume it should be natural a prince receives the best treatment.]

It's your brother we need to target, probably. We have time to think, though. I'm not putting any plan in action til I'm at my best.

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