It wasn’t fair, Achilleas decided, the way the moonlight seemed to cling to Theodora’s skin and set her aglow. His already flimsy defences against her charm fell away too easily and it was hard to do anything but gawk at her when she approached, the lord giving a nervous sort of laugh when she joked about being a water nymph because it was all too believable at that moment. She was temptation personified and Achilleas was beginning to think himself very foolish indeed for thinking he could just sideline the attraction he felt toward her. He was too slow to react to the water she flicked at him, though it did at least serve to shake him from his stupor, and Achilleas was very aware of her presence as she appeared next at his shoulder. If he turned his head to the side now, she was so close that their lips might meet, and it was that which kept him staring resolutely forward even as he ran a hand over his face to chase the water away.

'What did you see when you looked in the water, my lord? A desk full of numbers and ledgers?’

That had him frown - was that what she thought of him? Dull, she thought him dull and was more taken by Stephanos’ easy wit and casual charm. Achilleas didn’t much enjoy that. Turning his face slightly against his better judgement, he was quick to correct her assertion. “You think that’s all I do? Paperwork?"

Rather obviously, he folded his arms across his chest and flexed. You didn’t get muscles like that waving a quill around. There wasn’t another rebuttal that sprung to mind easily, and it was one of the reasons he disliked these kinds of pointless games. True self? As if the self that he was wandering around every day being was somehow untrue. It made him uncomfortable.

So even when Theodora’s attention swung back toward his cousin, he couldn’t be entirely unhappy about it, glad to have escaped any further scrutiny, and he was unsurprised when Stephanos gave his droll answer. Stephanos was not entirely subtle in his efforts at throwing Theodora and Achilleas together, and whilst he appreciated the thought, Achilleas couldn’t help but think it was just torturous really. He’d set rules around his romantic entanglements for a reason, and they didn't flex to accommodate beautiful young women whom stubbornly refused to stay out of his thoughts.

That reflection was rather jarring when paired with the fact that he was currently naked in a pool with said girl, having snuck away from the social event they were supposed to be attending. But Achilleas told himself, Stephanos’ presence kept anything from becoming...

‘Ah, Achilleas, I’m going to go check and see that we’re not missed. Keep the lady company for a little while, would you?”’

“You’re what?!” Okay, that sounded a little more startled than he might have liked, and the lord cleared his throat and shot a meaningful look at his cousin. “ I think its probably safer to stay where you are,” he said crisply, meaning it was safer for him if Stephanos just stayed where he was. And he kicked over to the bank and held out his hand for the wine. “And you can share that as well after I carried it all the way down here” He frowned at Stephanos when he came closer and he could make out the garish stain on his chiton. “When did you do that?” he asked as he accepted the wine, but Achilleas wasn’t listening for the answer when he turned in the water to look across at Theodora.

“Do you want some wi…” His question cut off as his gaze landed upon her, sweeping down across her face and the pale skin of her decolletage where it lingered a moment longer than was polite. “Uh” The Lord appeared to have lost his train of thought, the wine jug extended out toward Theodora until abruptly Achilleas pulled it back and gestured with his other hand toward the Leventi girl. “Is that...what is that, on your…” Just above your left breast was what he wanted to say, but instead, Achilleas waved vaguely to the small dark shape that stood out in such contrast on the milky pallor of Theodora’s skin.

In the four steps he’d taken away from the Reflection Pool, Stephanos was gloating and patting himself on the back. What a good cousin he was. What an unselfish cousin he was. Leaving Achilleas alone with Theodora in the most romantic of spots; secluded, water shimmering with moonlight and reflections of stars, naked and swimming together. He was the best match maker. “You’re what?!” Achilleas’s alarm bouldered through his thoughts and Stephanos stopped mid stride, squeezing his eyes shut, and hanging his head. With his free hand, he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. That’s it. Next time it would be a tavern and the prettiest whore he could find who wouldn’t let Achilleas say no. If his cousin wouldn’t take the good girls, he’d simply have to locate a bad one.

“You’re going to break my heart, Your Highness,” Theodora pointed out.

“An unavoidable travesty where I’m concerned, my lady,” he was about to keep walking but Achilleas’s latest plea made him stop again.

“I think its probably safer to stay where you are,” Achilleas continued and Stephanos turned around, his expression flatter than it had been all night, even while at the party before he’d concocted this amazing idea that his cousin was RUINING.

“Is it?” he asked tonelessly, approaching the pile of Achilleas’s clothes that lay in a heap on the grassy bank.

“And you can share that as well after I carried it all the way down here.”

“Can I, indeed?” he glanced down at the wine. Stuck on the bank, not in the water with the pretty girl, being fussed at by his cousin, and now he had to share the wine, too? Uh huh...Looking down into the water, he started to grin and say something hilarious to Achilleas but the latter’s frown made him pause and he watched in confusion as Achilleas approached him. “When did you do that?”

“When-” Stephanos glared, pointing a finger. “Now you look here-” he started but Achilleas had already turned back to Theodora which, under usual circumstances, Stephanos would have been fine with. Appreciated even - after all, she was practically naked. It’d be a crime not to look at her. However, Achilleas had ruined his clothes! And didn’t even notice! It was time to man up and -

“Oh!” Stephanos laughed, immediately forgetting, for the moment, his own garment predicament. “Leeches!” he laughed really unhelpfully while Theodora practically screamed and sloshed out of the water in the most unseductive way he’d ever seen, which only made it all the funnier. Her sheer clothing stuck to and trailed behind her almost like the water was trying to keep hold of her.

Setting the jug down, Stephanos knelt next to her and let her try to get the leech first and shrugged at her question of why they were swimming in leechy waters. “I didn’t realize there were any. I haven’t swum in there before,” he added helpfully. “I just kinda look into it sometimes.” Theodora didn’t really appear to be listening. She was examining leeches stuck on her thigh and hip and he spotted another on her back. However, she finally gave up trying to get them herself and looked to him and to Achilleas, begging for help.

Stephanos glanced at his cousin and pressed his lips together hard until they disappeared entirely, trying to keep in his own laughter. Achilleas had leeches in embarrassing places, too. “Yeah, just um...why don’t you sit here, Achilleas and I’ll get to you in a second.”

The prospect, it turned, was much more appealing than the execution. He had Theodora settle nearly between his legs and he leaned forward, looking at the leech, very close. Then he slid his finger beneath the leech’s cold, slimy body. Gross. He looked away from Theo and at the grass, feeling his way to the sucker mouth of the disgusting creature and used his nail to disengage the thing from her. After that, he flung it as far away from them all as possible.

“Oh that’s nasty,” he complained. “I’d rather scrub paving stones….” but at least her chest was clear. He did look to make sure, but considering that she was agitated and sopping wet and cold, he didn’t make a show of it. To get to the one on her hip, though, her dress had to be lifted and his eyes did meet hers at that point. “If you’d lift your skirts so I can get that one?” Not that there was a whole lot of point by now but he did look towards Achilleas so that Theodora could shift herself into a modest-ish position. Not that this was in any way seductive. Beautiful she might be but sopping wet, with her temper flaring, and clearly not up for games, this was one of the least lusty situations he’d ever been in, despite the sheer nature of her clothing. His cousin stood equally wet but even less attractive than Theodora. Actually he was kind of adorable, standing there, holding his penis like that, hiding how cold the air must surely be to him. Stephanos did not make a joke about this, though. He’d lost all humor for this situation when he’d had to grab that gross, cold leech.

When Theodora was ready, Stephanos tried to make this equally unpleasant task quick. He made a face when he had to touch the leech. He wasn’t even thinking of his other hand braced against her thigh. All of his concentration was on the foul creature attached to her and how much he really, really wished he hadn’t suggested swimming. “So gross,” he said as he flung the second one and by now he was so done with all this that he moved Theodora’s leg on the other side of him so that she was highly immodestly spread out but he still wasn’t paying attention. They were out here in the middle of a field, all of them uncomfortable. There was literally nothing sexual about it. On his end, at least.

“Last one,” he muttered. This third one went fastest and he patted the inside of her thigh like he was petting the head of a dog. “All done.” Good girl. He shifted so that he could advance on Achilleas, having entirely forgotten the one on Theo’s back.

“You’re turn, cousin.. Turn.” Yep. Sure enough. Two on Achilleas’s butt - one for each cheek. Of course. “How am I so lucky?” he asked conversationally, not really giving his cousin much of a chance to protest as he grabbed hold of the creature and slid his thumb near to the sucker in order to pry the thing off. “Have you been working out?” He slapped Achilleas’s buttocks like he would a horse’s flank. “Not skipping those squats, are you? Good man. We should go for a run tomorrow, eh?” He moved to the next leech and launched it into the field as well.

“That was positively disgusting. Mind if we all just….not go back to the party? I think I want to drink away this experience.”

If the ground could have opened up in that moment and swallowed her whole, Theodora would have been grateful for it. She wasn’t sure if she had ever been more mortified in her entire life, and the prince’s laughter was not helping. Her glare seethed as he approached her, but she wasn’t about to refuse his help. A stubborn part of her thought about it, that she could just trudge on home and get a servant to help her. But that would involve far too long of a walk with these nasty little creatures stuck to her and in a wet gown, no less. She ought to preserve what little dignity she still had left after all of this.

Begrudgingly, she settled between Stephanos’s legs, looking away from him with a hardened jaw as he plucked at the first one. She released a breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding as it lost its grip, her nose wrinkling in disgust as she watched him flick it away. When he asked her to lift her skirts so he could get to the next one, an irritated glance was shot his way as she tried to decide if he just meant to cop a feel, but he seemed honest enough. Besides, this was hardly a situation that warranted something so playful.

Sighing heavily, she did as he asked, drawing the sodden chiton up her leg and looking away again when he plucked that one away too. He announced the last one and Theo screwed her eyes closed tight as he rid her of that one, scrambling back to her feet as soon as he was done. “Thank you,” she mumbled quickly, a bright shade of red warming her cheeks as she stood away from the two.

It did make her feel a little better, though, that she was not alone. Apparently, Achilleas had picked up a few of his own, surreptitiously watching Stephanos pull the leeches away from his bare buttocks. She even smiled in spite of herself; if nothing else, at least she got to see that.

Mind if we all just… not go back to the party? I think I want to drink away this experience.

“I couldn’t agree more,” she muttered under her breath. There was no way she was heading back to that party, particularly not in this state. Though, after this… adventure… she wasn’t particularly keen on remaining here, either.

Theodora looked up as Achilleas held out his chiton to her, a thoughtful gesture she hadn’t expected. Glancing down at her own soaked and ruined attire, she had to agree with the sentiment. Wandering around like this probably wouldn’t be wise.

“Thank you,” she said shyly, taking it from his hand and turning away, far too embarrassed to be more gracious about it—particularly when he pointed out she had yet another of the wretched creatures sticking to her back. Nodding silently when he asked if he could get it, she covered her face and let him, praying to any god that would listen that they just take her now. How much more of this would she have to suffer?

She was never going swimming again.

As soon as he was done removing the dreadful pest, she muttered another quick ‘thank you’ before walking off a few paces to change her clothing. Turning her back to them—after all that had happened tonight, she was not about to give them some short of show—she made quick work of her soaked garment, drawing it up over her head and hopelessly wringing it out. More than likely, it would just need to be discarded. At least it wasn’t one of her favorites.

Looking doubtfully at the overlarge chiton Achilleas gave her, she pulled it on and hoped it wouldn’t just slide right back off. Taking the fibulae from her own dress, she pinned it in place, belting it tightly around her waist to hold it on. It was far too long, though, and she doubted she would be able to make it back home without tripping over the hem at least a dozen times. Though, with the way this night had gone, it was about as much as she expected.

Without another word, she trudged over to the spot where the jug of wine lay innocuously in the grass, uncorking it and taking a few large swallows before setting it back down. She felt she deserved that much, at least. Side-eyeing Achilleas when he suggested they ought to take her home, she drew herself up with a sniff. “I’m perfectly capable of walking myself home, you know,” she insisted, far too flustered to accept anyone’s offer for anything further, no matter how well-intentioned. Her almost offended, straight-backed stance was nearly comical in the far-too-large chiton, her arms crossed over her chest.

Walking off a few steps as if to prove her point, she immediately tripped over the hem, just as she expected she would, flopping down in the grass as if that had been her intention. “Or I could just… stay here,” she mumbled under her breath, drawing up her knees and burying her burning face between them.

It wasn’t his fault, but as Achilleas witnessed how subdued Theodora was after the deleeching, he somehow wanted to make it better. He was trying to think of something witty to say, something that might make her smile and forget her embarrassment when she muttered an almost inaudible ‘thank you’ and walked away and so he just gave a small nod even though her back was turned.

Talking to his cousin to afford her some modesty, he was regretting this whole escapade. It had clearly not endeared him to Theodora even though he was adamant he didn’t care about that it still pricked at him uncomfortably. The fact that he couldn’t prevent the smile that curved his lips when the Leventi girl reappeared only served to remind him that he was not as immune to her as he’d been trying to be. She looked adorable in the chiton that was too long with her hair all damp, and if he didn’t mind at all that it was something of his that she was wearing, then it couldn’t be helped. He liked her more like this, he thought, because she didn’t need all the finery other girl’s had to drape themselves in to catch the eye.

But he caught himself and tamped the smile down, frowned a little as she took a few long swallows of wine. This misadventure had gone on long enough, and given that Theodora certainly couldn’t go back to the party wearing his clothes, escorting her home seemed the most sensible choice. But when she refused him, the lord blinked a couple of times at the petulant tone, glanced at his cousin to see if he had unwittingly said something offensive. But Stephanos was just looking at him oddly, and so Achilleas shrugged and pretended not to be a little stung by the rejection.

Perplexed by her artless flop into the grass he managed an “ I’m really not sure that..” before his cousin cut him off with a more assertive answer and was pulling Theodora to her feet and motioning to the distant glow of a torch that flickered on the walls of the Palati.

Much as Achilleas didn’t particularly relish the idea of walking through the streets of Vasiliadon wearing the ridiculous get-up he was wearing, the primary concern really had to be to get Theodora home and so he dithered a moment debating whether to offer her his arm before deciding not to and instead stooped to retrieve her wet chiton which he held out toward her.

“Is it salvageable?” He asked, eyeing it doubtfully. “If not it might the better to leave it to save you getting wet carrying it.”

Either way, the three made their way across the darkened meadow toward the wall that edged the palati grounds, and sure enough, as Stephanos had promised, there was a small gate that Achilleas was both glad and perturbed to find unlocked. For their current purposes, it served them well though, and he held the gate open for Theodora and his cousin to pass through before pulling it to behind them and casting a glance up and down the small street they’d emerged onto. With luck, they’d avoid seeing anyone of consequence because they would all be at the party still going on in the palace.

None of this was endearing her to the prince. His opinion of her had been a lot higher prior to this incident. This girl had exactly no chill whatsoever. As soon as something went the slightest bit wrong, instead of maybe laughing about it or letting it slide, no, she’d blamed him. He didn’t hold it against Achilleas blaming him because that’s just how things were. The sun rose, the sun set, and Achilleas would blame Steph when things went wrong. But Theodora didn’t have the grace extended to those related to him by blood. She was just supremely hot and supremely unwilling to laugh, which was a crime, as far as Stephanos was concerned.

He shifted through the grasses, sharing the unhappy scowl that the other two had adopted. Dryer than they were and not boasting leech marks, he was easily the least scathed but definitely not the least unhappy. People usually reacted better to his schemes than this. That being the case, this was all Theodora’s fault. If she’d been a better sport, then they could have been laughing this very moment. Instead she was sulking behind them like some kind of beautiful, mopey shadow. Glancing over his shoulder, his gaze softened a very little bit. Gods but she was gorgeous, wasn’t she? Her and Selene both. Wastes.

Selene was too virtuous to be fun and Theodora too morose. He wasn’t acquainted enough with her other sisters to form an opinion but he was willing to bet that they weren’t much fun either. Woe to the man stuck with any of the Leventi women.

The schlepped through the gate and headed out onto the quiet side street Stephanos had known they would. This area wasn’t unguarded, despite what Achilleas might think. There were guards hereabouts and thereabouts on their patrols but...they might well have come during a shift change...so that was something he’d mention to someone when it became convenient. They moved down the fenceline, until they were shunted out onto the main thoroughfare that would lead to the quarter and the large manors that dominated that area.

Stephanos had about a second’s warning of whispering wings and then something hit his head. It was soft, abrupt, and runny, sliding over one ear and dripping onto his shoulder. He stopped dead, closing his eyes, and sighing through his nose. He kept his eyes closed as he bowed his head and put his hands on his hips, listening to Theodora point out the painfully obvious.

“Yes, my lady, thank you. It might have escaped my notice but for your timely warning.” Perhaps it was beneath him but he didn’t dull the bite to his tone. Bird poop. But then...a grin curved across his lips. He spun on the spot, practically lunged for Theo, and rubbed his head, bird poop and all, straight into her new, borrowed chiton.

“Oh no!” he crowed loudly. “Looks like you’ve had the same luck.” And then he laughed, not thinking about how Achilleas might feel about this chiton being soiled.

It all seemed to happen so quickly, Theodora’s reactions just a moment too slow and a moment too late. When she’d seen what the owl did and spoke aloud, it was simply reaction… it wasn’t meant to rub the incident in the prince’s face, even if there was a vaguely vengeful satisfaction that he was no longer the only one to leave this night unscathed. However, Stephanos didn’t seem to see it that way, and when he suddenly rushed at her, she didn’t have time to move out of the way. Would that she did.

His head nestled quickly into her chest, and her face furrowed in confusion; what in Tartarus did he think he was doing? Was he trying to cop a feel on her, after all, and what sort of timing did he have?! When he spoke, however, she soon realized that wasn’t the case, and wished it had been, as that would have much more preferable to the reality. Taking a step back and shoving at him just as he pulled away, she gasped in shock and furious horror, looking down at the disgusting mess Stephanos had just made on her borrowed chiton.

Oh no! Looks like you’ve had the same luck.

“You wretch!” she practically shrieked as he laughed, shaking with anger. “By the gods, what’s the matter with you?!”

Her face flushed even darker than it was before, nearly every inch of her skin burning with mortification and rage alike. What had she done to him? Was he upset she wasn’t falling over herself with joy after their debacle of an evening? What right did he have to humiliate her like this?! It wasn’t as if she’d called the owl down on his head herself! What sort of instinct possessed a man to disrespect a lady in such a way?! She was hardly the prim and proper sort, but after each indignity suffered this evening, this was the last straw. She was through with all of this, with both of them, with this entire night. This was enough.

Theo only barely restrained herself from reaching out and slapping him as hard as she could across his irritatingly handsome, infuriatingly smug face. Had he not been a prince, she would not have bothered to hold back—would have positively delighted in feeling the sting of his cheek across her palm. But one didn’t simply slap royalty, not unless she was an even bigger glutton for punishment than she already was. But gods, she would not be forgetting this any time soon, no, that was for sure. There were other ways to get him back, subtler ways that would burn more than a slap, anyway.

It’s...not that noticeable? It’s dark, and no-one is around to see. Right, Stephanos?

Bless Achilleas for trying to maintain the peace, but if he thought such weak platitudes would placate her, he was wrong. Her gaze cut to him with a hardening of her jaw, grinding her teeth as she tried to remind herself this wasn’t his fault, and he hadn’t done anything, and of course he would hop to his cousin’s defense, and… oh, what did he know anyway?!

Biting her lip on a scathing retort about how yes, the darkness made her feel so much better about all of this, she turned her glare back on Stephanos. Taking a deep breath and opening her mouth as if she meant to say something else, Theodora snapped it shut and shook her head. No, he wasn’t worth it. This wasn’t worth it. But she was entirely finished with this excursion, and whether they liked it or not, she was leaving. She was not going to suffer this embarrassment any longer, not when she had the power to simply remove herself from it.

“I hope next time it shits in your mouth,” was what she finally did say, her tone sugary sweet as she turned a bright smile on the prince. “Thank you for the lovely evening, Your Highness, and your very kind escort, but I think I’ll be taking my leave of you now.” Dipping into an ironic curtsy, she turned away and back to Achilleas, some of the ire softening from her features.

Plucking at an unmarred bit of the chiton he loaned to her, she made a face and cleared her throat. “I’ll make sure this is cleaned up and sent back to you within the week, my lord. Um… thank you. Again.” Her jaw tightened as she added, a little louder so Stephanos would be sure to hear, “At least some people know how to be gentlemen.”

Attempting a feeble smile, she lifted her hand in a quick wave of farewell and turned in the other direction—blinking away the sudden hot sting of tears in her eyes. Stalking off and away from them, she ignored any attempts they may have made in calling her back, her steps hurried as they carried her further down the path toward home. Perhaps next time she would just feign illness to get out of a party. Seemed a much better plan than the disaster this whole night had turned out to be.

Achilleas cringed a little at the shriek Theodora emitted, for it echoed loudly in the quiet streets, and his efforts to diffuse were as much about shushing her as about trying to protect his cousin from the girl’s ire. Which was rather splendid and awing if was honest with himself, the Mikaelidas man more than glad it wasn’t directed at him.

Only gods, he’d gone and opened his mouth, and Theodora did not seem much calmed by his assurances so that they tailed off when her gaze snapped to him and Achilleas decided as much as he liked his cousin, he wasn’t going to die on this hill for him. The dark-haired lord pressed his lips together and shot a harried look at the prince because really, he hadn’t helped the situation, had he? Stephanos could usually charm his way out of anything, but instead, he’d decided to rub salt in what Achilleas was beginning to see was a case of already injured pride.

When the Leventi girl threw her parting words at the Prince, there was an awkward moment of silence where Achilleas wanted to laugh but didn’t dare in the face of the girl’s anger. So once he’d swallowed the very inappropriate urge, he instead focused on her where she addressed him.

“Don’t worry about it” he said, waving a hand because...well, he wasn’t sure he wanted the chiton back now, actually. But what he was more concerned about was in her previous statement, because even if she was angry, it was foolish to walk the streets alone at such an hour. “But I really must insist..Theodora wait!”

She was already walking away, quickly, and Achilleas turned to Stephanos with an accusing look before he turned and began to jog to catch up with the Leventi girl, only to come to an abrupt halt when he noticed the two men appear up ahead.

‘My Lady, my Prince, my Lord’

He recognised the Dimitrou lords immediately, and Achilleas instinctively dipped into the bow that the Head of House warranted, extending the courtesy to the man’s brother even as he swallowed. This was...less than ideal.

“Lord Gavriil, Lord Dorotheos” He tried to keep the greeting light and unflustered and as if the men had not just walked into a situation which quite honestly did not portray any of them in an incredibly flattering light. That they had absconded from the party was hardly a significant transgression, though Achilleas would rather it wasn’t brought to his father’s attention all the same. That Lady Theodora was with them, unchaperoned, was more of a concern and then, well, he didn’t want to think on their various states of dishevelment. The lord gave a slight tug on the bottom of the himation he wore, which was a little short for modesty’s sake.

He knew Lord Gavriil and his brother well enough from the Senate council to hope that they would not judge too harshly. Still, it did not stop that uncomfortable feeling of being caught by those older and wiser whilst behaving in a fashion that was not becoming of age or station. He hated it.

There was a silence then, one loaded with expectation on the part of the Dimitrou lords and tellingly persistent from the three younger members of this unexpected gathering. Turning to look at Stephanos, Achilleas was looking for his cousin to speak up, but the prince seemed to have lost his tongue in the face of the newcomers. How convenient.

“We were just escorting Lady Theodora home” Achilleas ventured after a moment as he looked back to Lord Gavriil and Lord Dorotheos, only able to see the girl in question’s back and hoping that her expression wasn’t saying anything different. “I’m afraid the Prince’s jesting may have gone a little too far” he added, because it was patently obvious that Theodora was not delighted to be their company at that moment.