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

[It's fine, murder is off the table for now. Gaius has more pressing things to worry about.]

You're right.

[His first instinct is not to chase those complicated emotions. He finds he's been doing a lot of not chasing Jusis' feelings today, but that's probably for the better. It's not fair to act like they're close just because of their bond. Still, they only have tonight to talk before the deed is done, and it feels wrong to go through with this when so much needs talking about.]

...Do you think you'll be unhappy?

[Jusis is trying his best. But talking to someone his own age like they're friends is still foreign to him, let alone someone he's got as weird and complicated a relationship to as Gaius.

Again it's a blunt question he doesn't know how to answer. He hasn't actually tried considering if he'll be happy. It's been three weeks but they've been a busy three weeks. When he has had time to think it's been too wonder how to ease Gaius into this life and whether he can get away with sending Gaius home six months out of the year forever for diplomatic relations or some other excuse.

Not because he wants to get rid of Gaius but because he automatically assumes Gaius is going to be miserable and homesick. He would be, if he were leaving such a warm family.

So the question stops him in his tracks briefly before he starts walking again.]

There was always the possibility I'd be married off for politics. And I'm not involved with anyone.

[He says slowly. So Gaius doesn't think he's breaking Jusis up from some relationship or preventing him from marrying for love or something.]

My duty to my kingdom doesn't change, I'll just be given new responsibility. And I don't think you're difficult to get along with. You're a kind and honorable person, there's no reason we shouldn't be able to coexist.

What about you? It's a bigger change for you.

[Not that it matters if Jusis or Gaius would hate this, they're still going to go through with it.]

It is a lot. But I wasn't involved, either, so I guess I'm not losing that much. It's not like I'll never see my family again...

[Just. Not very often, as far as he's been told.]

I do wish it wasn't necessary. But all in all it's the best possible outcome, so I'm going to try to make the most of it. You're a good partner to have, I think. And there are a lot of new things for me to see and tell everyone at home about. I'm sure I'll find plenty to like about it if I keep an open mind.

[He's not supposed to call it "home" anymore, but he has a feeling Jusis won't care in the slightest.]

[Jusis doesn't particularly expect Gaius to think of the country he's been used as a political pawn for as home, no.]

You're very optimistic.

[It's not a criticism. He's just a little impressed. He wishes he could see things that way, but he's a bit more negative. He's trying to be openminded, it's just hard to like his future being dictated by fate and politics. But politics was probably always going to play a part for him.]

It's very different from your home. [There he agrees.] When things settle down you can explore more. I can't imagine you won't be popular.

Edited 2018-05-30 02:09 (UTC)

You continue to think surprisingly well of me...

[And Gaius continues to be oblivious to his own perfection. It's actually kind of embarrassing.]

Thank you.

[It's not like he's forgiven Gaius for trying to kill his brother okay! He's just trying to make the best of it, and Gaius is hard to dislike.]

You don't make it difficult.

[It's almost irritating! How perfect Gaius is! Almost, but not really because he's too perfect to even be irritatingly perfect.]

Neither do you. Inherent problems aside, I'm glad you're the one I'll be swearing to.

[Way to make him blush softly in surprise and confusion, Gaius. He knows it's just meant in a general way that they seem to, kind of??, get along. But it's still something to hear on the eve of your wedding to a really hot guy.]

I suppose. Has anyone ever told you that you're a bit embarrassing?

Edited 2018-05-30 03:41 (UTC)

Not particularly.

[And you haven't even met Rean. This is nothing.]

I just don't want us to go into this with the wrong idea about eachother. Honesty is the best policy, in my opinion.

[There's honest and then there's being Gaius!]

It's not as if I disagree.

[You just don't have to be so... Nice.]

Is there anything else you wished to discuss tonight?

[He'll talk if Gaius wants to, but they're approaching their rooms.]

Hmm... Nothing that can't be discussed tomorrow.

[He shrugs, fairly satisfied for now. They'll have plenty of time to chat in the near future, he's sure.]

This is goodnight, I suppose.

Goodnight, Gaius.

[Jusis heads to his own room, leaving Gaius to spend the night in his own empty chambers.

The next morning Gaius is served breakfast in his room but also accosted by an army of servants. If he thought he was scrubbed to death yesterday he emerges from the bath shining today. And then there's the dressing. His outfit is stiff and formal but also quite beautiful, though it takes three people and an hour to pin him into every layer and do his hair up while his coach goes over the ceremony with him again.

Jusis is receiving similar treatment not far away, but they won't see each other for another hour or two, as there's a parade through town to the chapel. Gaius goes with Rufus and Jusis rides next to his father. Everyone looks regal and resplendent, and the church is decked out in the most fancy way possible, while people in the streets throw flowers and seem quite happy for the royal holiday.

The church is packed by nobles, foreign dignitaries, and Gaius's own family. The ceremony is exactly as it was coached to Gaius, while Gaius stands next to Jusis in front of an altar and the king, reciting their vows. The parade back is met with more flowers and before Gaius can talk to Jusis he's whisked away to have some of the more ceremonial bits of his custom removed(like the cape) before he's unleashed in the great hall in a slightly more mobile, pared down wedding outfit.

His family is there, and mostly Jusis leaves him alone to talk to them. There's some crying and hugging, and then everyone is seated for a formal dinner. It's already been long and exhausting but they've still more to do, and at some point Jusis takes Gaius to meet a few lords who seem quiet friendly and eager to talk about horses or his homeland, and then he's introduced briefly to more lords and titles are given and Jusis quietly assures Gaius he can have a study guide for memorizing them later.

Jusis himself is stuck fielding the other nobles so Gaius is left in peace with his family some more, and then there's the long after party and dancing and socializing.

Jusis doesn't complain for as long as Gaius wishes to stay in the party, though technically at this stage they can leave. He wants to give Gaius as much time to his family as possible, though in all honesty he's stressed and exhausted. Today, at least, the nobles are all on relatively good behavior, most of them aren't so shameless as to be catty on the very wedding day. But Jusis doesn't trust that to last the more the wine flows.

Still, he stays in the party as long as Gaius does, trying to avoid socializing and pretty much failing as he fields congratulations and small talk that seems endless.]

[Everything about the wedding is beautiful, in an opulent, over the top way. To Gaius it's absolutely dizzying, but not enough so to completely distract him from nerves.

He manages not to flub it, though he wouldn't think to credit his own grace. It's just all the studying. He moves in all the right ways, says all the right things, and it's all perfect and romantic except where it sounds nothing like him. The vows are exactly as is appropriate for this political situation -- pretty, formal words praising Jusis, his king and his country, and expressing how dedicated he'll be in serving all of the above. There's nothing so grotesquely unbalanced as to cause insult to Gaius' family but there's no doubting this alliance is leaned heavily in the king's favor, and that Gaius is meant to be thoroughly loyal. It puts a bad taste in his mouth, but it could be a lot worse, so he smiles through it.

His smile is perhaps most dazzling when they're presented to the crowd as a wedded couple, but Jusis can feel Gaius' heart clench, hearing his name with his family stripped from it, replaced with a title he doesn't even understand.

He would have spent as much time with his loved ones as possible regardless, but he's extra determined about it after that. He doesn't know how much he'll get to visit but just in case it's not much he wants to make the most of this. He likes the people Jusis introduces him to, though. Hitting it off with someone other than Jusis definitely helps the homesickness.

He keeps at it til quite late. As Jusis might have expected he is remarkably good at charming anyone he talks to, and he likes being social. Small talk doesn't grate on him and he gets plenty of it, not just because he's royalty now but because he's so visibly foreign, and so is his family. They're easy to find, too, given his father is even taller than he is and his brother has nearly caught up.

Eventually they're all tired out though, and Gaius comes to find Jusis feeling much more cheerful than during the ceremony. He's had a few drinks but not enough to do more than add a glow to his cheeks and dull his nerves. His outfit has gotten a bit crumpled, and hair is starting to come loose from all the pins, falling messily around his face.]

I'd ask if you're ready to head out, but you look like you were ready three hours ago.

[Jusis wore out his politeness hours ago, that's for sure, and he's been nursing a glass of wine and basically being prickly at anyone who approaches until people have left him alone for at least an hour or two. He feels tired and grumpy across the link but he's trying not to put a damper on Gaius's own mood. The prospect of escaping the party, finally, does a lot to cheer him up, too, and he sets his wine down.]

I don't like parties much, but you seemed like you were having fun.

[And he couldn't leave alone, not today. He doesn't really resent having to stay longer, it'll be a while before he can send Gaius to his family again, so he wanted them to have as much time as possible. He's just not a social butterfly. In comparison, Gaius is already exceedingly popular with everyone who has talked to him.]

If you're ready to go, though.

[He's already heading out. Back to his rooms... His and Gaius's, now. He just wants to change and read a book or something, or maybe just sleep.]

Ready enough.

[He follows Jusis, feeling mostly content. There's a lot he's worried about, but the party resolved some of his fears so it's better than it was yesterday.

It's weird to think of himself as married, though. He's watching Jusis closely from behind, and with a few glasses of wine under his belt it's pretty easy to admit that he's lucky in ways some people might really appreciate.

He picks up his pace, just to keep himself from looking too hard at certain Jusis bits. Instead he plants himself at his side, elbows brushing a little mostly unintentionally.]

It was a better day than I thought it would be.

[Jusis has been doing his best to think of being married as a title and little more otherwise he'd be a bit more... Freaked out isn't the right word. It's weird though, even convincing himself it's a title and contract and political nonsense, it's still being married. He's been trying not to think about that really.

He is unfortunately aware of Gaius brushing elbows with him, but at least Gaius staring at his ass went unnoticed. He probably wouldn't know how to react to Gaius checking him out.

As it is he's at least glad Gaius seems relatively happy now and not exuding the sharp misery Jusis could feel across the kingdom just a few days ago.]

That's good. I believe this is the sort of day you're supposed to remember fondly, after all.

[It's said dryly, maaaybe half a joke. After all it wasn't much of a choice or romantic but... He's still glad Gaius feels better.]

I might, actually.

[It really wasn't that bad. Whether it becomes a fond memory, though, depends on how the relationship plays out.]

You were more radiant than I imagined, too.

[He didn't know how to respond?? He bristles on reflex, but he can tell the teasing isn't even mean spirited so he doesn't know what to do if a biting response isn't appropriate.]

You've clearly had plenty of the wine.

[He's going to ket them into his rooms as a distraction from having to respond to a sincere nice person, obviously the worst thing.]

Not that much. Is it really hard to imagine I find you attractive?

[He's had just enough that he can ask that question without being too embarrassed.]

[It's fine Jusis can be embarrassed enough for both of them. Why does Gaius ask questions like this??!]

I...

[No. Actually. No. No. He's not dealing with this gay panic!!]

Your things should all be here, I'm getting changed.

[He's going to grab his nightwear and flee behind a dressing screen.]

[Well that was a reaction. Gaius cant help it -- he bursts out laughing as Jusis tries to escape.]

And surprisingly shy, too...

[Never mind him thinking Gaius was nice, Gaius is clearly the biggest menace he's ever met in his life.]

I'm not shy.

[Snaps the guy hiding as he strips.]

You just have no shame.

[Jusis is definitely shy.]

What shame is there in liking someone? You're a good person, and you're good-looking. It's normal to be into that, isnt it?

[Why does Gaius make it sound so reasonable and Jusis so...Not? Terrible. He sighs aggressively and presses his knuckles to his forehead, not that Gaius can see.]

Very well. Fine. I accept the compliment. Can we move on?

[He's going to die. Maybe if he just accepts it Gaius will let him live. Because this is getting successively more direct than 'radiant'. Attractive. Good looking. Into. Help him.]

You can have the bed, I was going to take the sofa anyway.

I'm taking up your space already. I'm not taking your bed too.

[We can move on, sure. To this equally embarrassing and frustrating subject. Also Gaius is now just trying to figure out where they put his things so he can also get out of the wedding finery.]

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