The chatbox has been hidden for this page. It will reopen upon refresh. To hide the CBox permanently, select "Permanently Toggle Cbox" in your profile User Settings.
This chatbox is hidden. To reopen, edit your User Settings.
Again, she wondered why Irakles would do such a thing, would allow his legacy to fall into the hands of someone outside his own blood. She couldn’t begin to imagine how it rubbed Achilleas or Emilios, to know their father took their birthright and bestowed it upon someone else. Surely, as king, Achilleas could do something to put it back into their hands. If anyone could figure a way out of it, it had to be her husband. With his exacting mind and unyielding sense of logic, she was sure he would find some loophole, some clause that freed him and his brother of such an unfathomable decision. For really, could either of them bear to let control of their Dynasteia linger in Fotios’s hands rather than their own?
Achilleas asked her not to say anything to anyone else, and she nodded quickly in agreement. She wouldn’t have anyway; she didn’t really understand the entire situation, and it didn’t seem to be something that should be discussed lightly at dinner. And, of course, this wouldn’t just affect he and Emilios either; if Irakles handed over control of Dynasteia Mikaelidas in its entirety, not just his line… What then did that mean for Xene, Stephanos, Gianna…?
What a mess.
“I won’t say anything,” she assured him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I wouldn’t even know what to say if I did. That doesn’t really seem like news that should come from me, anyway.”
There was a few minutes of silence as she molded more comfortably to his side again, fingertips doodling idle designs in the hair that grew on his chest. Quietly mulling over his late night revelations, she turned her head up to look at his face, pressing another kiss just beneath the line of his jaw.
“Thank you, though, for telling me,” she murmured, knowing it had to have been been hard for him to reveal such a thing to her, particularly with the effect it must be having on him. On top of everything else that burdened his shoulders, to know of what must have felt like the ultimate betrayal from his own father… She shook her head. “It can’t be easy, carrying something like that around.”
Nothing about life was easy right now, she knew that. Not for him, not for her, not for any of them. But it did seem Achilleas was bearing more than his fair share of those burdens, each week that passed seeming to bring some new horror to light. Not for the first time that night she wondered when it would get easier, when disasters would stop falling on them all like rain. Surely once the war was done, once they settled into their newfound roles as monarchs, once Achilleas figured out how to regain control of his family… Things would be simpler then. They would all find their rhythm. They just had to.
“I admire you, you know,” she said after falling quiet for a few moments longer. “That, no matter what happens, you always seem to be able to keep such a level head. I wish I was more like that sometimes. I’ve always had a hard time dealing with… hardship, without letting my own feelings get in the way.” She didn’t want to bury her emotions, not in the way Achilleas seemed to, but she did envy his seeming ability to compartmentalize them, to make the hard choices without an untempered heart hampering his decisions. It was a good quality for a King to have, she thought, one that perhaps she ought to spend more time cultivating herself.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Again, she wondered why Irakles would do such a thing, would allow his legacy to fall into the hands of someone outside his own blood. She couldn’t begin to imagine how it rubbed Achilleas or Emilios, to know their father took their birthright and bestowed it upon someone else. Surely, as king, Achilleas could do something to put it back into their hands. If anyone could figure a way out of it, it had to be her husband. With his exacting mind and unyielding sense of logic, she was sure he would find some loophole, some clause that freed him and his brother of such an unfathomable decision. For really, could either of them bear to let control of their Dynasteia linger in Fotios’s hands rather than their own?
Achilleas asked her not to say anything to anyone else, and she nodded quickly in agreement. She wouldn’t have anyway; she didn’t really understand the entire situation, and it didn’t seem to be something that should be discussed lightly at dinner. And, of course, this wouldn’t just affect he and Emilios either; if Irakles handed over control of Dynasteia Mikaelidas in its entirety, not just his line… What then did that mean for Xene, Stephanos, Gianna…?
What a mess.
“I won’t say anything,” she assured him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I wouldn’t even know what to say if I did. That doesn’t really seem like news that should come from me, anyway.”
There was a few minutes of silence as she molded more comfortably to his side again, fingertips doodling idle designs in the hair that grew on his chest. Quietly mulling over his late night revelations, she turned her head up to look at his face, pressing another kiss just beneath the line of his jaw.
“Thank you, though, for telling me,” she murmured, knowing it had to have been been hard for him to reveal such a thing to her, particularly with the effect it must be having on him. On top of everything else that burdened his shoulders, to know of what must have felt like the ultimate betrayal from his own father… She shook her head. “It can’t be easy, carrying something like that around.”
Nothing about life was easy right now, she knew that. Not for him, not for her, not for any of them. But it did seem Achilleas was bearing more than his fair share of those burdens, each week that passed seeming to bring some new horror to light. Not for the first time that night she wondered when it would get easier, when disasters would stop falling on them all like rain. Surely once the war was done, once they settled into their newfound roles as monarchs, once Achilleas figured out how to regain control of his family… Things would be simpler then. They would all find their rhythm. They just had to.
“I admire you, you know,” she said after falling quiet for a few moments longer. “That, no matter what happens, you always seem to be able to keep such a level head. I wish I was more like that sometimes. I’ve always had a hard time dealing with… hardship, without letting my own feelings get in the way.” She didn’t want to bury her emotions, not in the way Achilleas seemed to, but she did envy his seeming ability to compartmentalize them, to make the hard choices without an untempered heart hampering his decisions. It was a good quality for a King to have, she thought, one that perhaps she ought to spend more time cultivating herself.
Again, she wondered why Irakles would do such a thing, would allow his legacy to fall into the hands of someone outside his own blood. She couldn’t begin to imagine how it rubbed Achilleas or Emilios, to know their father took their birthright and bestowed it upon someone else. Surely, as king, Achilleas could do something to put it back into their hands. If anyone could figure a way out of it, it had to be her husband. With his exacting mind and unyielding sense of logic, she was sure he would find some loophole, some clause that freed him and his brother of such an unfathomable decision. For really, could either of them bear to let control of their Dynasteia linger in Fotios’s hands rather than their own?
Achilleas asked her not to say anything to anyone else, and she nodded quickly in agreement. She wouldn’t have anyway; she didn’t really understand the entire situation, and it didn’t seem to be something that should be discussed lightly at dinner. And, of course, this wouldn’t just affect he and Emilios either; if Irakles handed over control of Dynasteia Mikaelidas in its entirety, not just his line… What then did that mean for Xene, Stephanos, Gianna…?
What a mess.
“I won’t say anything,” she assured him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I wouldn’t even know what to say if I did. That doesn’t really seem like news that should come from me, anyway.”
There was a few minutes of silence as she molded more comfortably to his side again, fingertips doodling idle designs in the hair that grew on his chest. Quietly mulling over his late night revelations, she turned her head up to look at his face, pressing another kiss just beneath the line of his jaw.
“Thank you, though, for telling me,” she murmured, knowing it had to have been been hard for him to reveal such a thing to her, particularly with the effect it must be having on him. On top of everything else that burdened his shoulders, to know of what must have felt like the ultimate betrayal from his own father… She shook her head. “It can’t be easy, carrying something like that around.”
Nothing about life was easy right now, she knew that. Not for him, not for her, not for any of them. But it did seem Achilleas was bearing more than his fair share of those burdens, each week that passed seeming to bring some new horror to light. Not for the first time that night she wondered when it would get easier, when disasters would stop falling on them all like rain. Surely once the war was done, once they settled into their newfound roles as monarchs, once Achilleas figured out how to regain control of his family… Things would be simpler then. They would all find their rhythm. They just had to.
“I admire you, you know,” she said after falling quiet for a few moments longer. “That, no matter what happens, you always seem to be able to keep such a level head. I wish I was more like that sometimes. I’ve always had a hard time dealing with… hardship, without letting my own feelings get in the way.” She didn’t want to bury her emotions, not in the way Achilleas seemed to, but she did envy his seeming ability to compartmentalize them, to make the hard choices without an untempered heart hampering his decisions. It was a good quality for a King to have, she thought, one that perhaps she ought to spend more time cultivating herself.
Achilleas didn't know what to say either; it was why he hadn't -as of yet - breathed a word of the situation to his cousins. It seemed yet another thing that would seek to divide them: would they blame Emilios and him for having allowed it to transpire? This would impact all of them after all; he knew he would need to address it sooner rather than later. Perhaps after the coronation.
"It is not exactly news I wish to tell either" he admitted before lapsing into silence once more. Theodora's fingers danced across his chest, the warmth of pressed to his side and Achilleas considered how he felt that little bit lighter to have spoken to her, how it felt to have her in his confidence. It was...pleasant, even though the thing they now shared knowledge of was not.
"Mmm" The sound was made low in his throat, an agreement or an acknowledgement wasn't explicit, but it appeared at first as if his shift toward loquaciousness was over, and perhaps unsurprising—little steps. But as Theodora moved to fill the quiet, Achilleas drew a breath that he didn't release, going very still beside her.
He did not feel like he had a level head, and he certainly didn't deserve her admiration. Guilt coiled in his belly like a serpent slipped through his veins and made his skin prickle. She could not have chosen words better suited to remind him of his failings if she had tried. But Achilleas swallowed because he knew that was his own fault. She didn't know.
Didn't know how he'd almost lost it in front of his advisors, or how he'd ended up losing it in instead in front of someone entirely inappropriate. He wasn't sure why it had all come spilling out to Briseis, only that he was glad Krysto had arrived when he had and jerked him back to his right mind. His friend had been harshly honest in his words even without knowing what had transpired between the king and the maid, and it had been a well-timed interruption.
"I'm not so good at it as you think" Achilleas eventually said after a too-long pause, and a sharp exhale. "Not recently. There have been moments where I have…"
Gods, should he tell her? Confess and absolve himself? He wondered if she could feel how fast his heart was racing. He didn't like to lie, but the thought of being honest about his mistake wasn't attractive either, and he didn't want her to think badly of him as she surely would. "I…"
The words were there on the tip of his tongue, primed and ready, but something - cowardice perhaps - had him stop. It had been just a moment's foolishness; it would never happen again. He didn't need to hurt her just because he had been an idiot.
"…am sure there are those who will tell you I have not done such an admirable job of it" he settled on, glad that the darkness hid his expression because he was sure his guilt was written all over his face. He had always scorned those men who let their lusts lead them to behave dishonourably, and now he had to count himself amongst them.
"I think you have been remarkable anyway" He was perhaps over-eager to flatter as if it might make up the wrong Theodora didn't know had been done to her. "Everything at the archontiko...my things just appearing here. I'm assuming you've had no small part to play in that?" She had been gracious and efficient and kind, and he was blessed to have her by his side and in his arms. Turning his face to nuzzle into the dark cloud of her hair, he counted himself lucky once more. "Thank you...for everything you've been doing. And for not holding it against me that I have been so absent."
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Achilleas didn't know what to say either; it was why he hadn't -as of yet - breathed a word of the situation to his cousins. It seemed yet another thing that would seek to divide them: would they blame Emilios and him for having allowed it to transpire? This would impact all of them after all; he knew he would need to address it sooner rather than later. Perhaps after the coronation.
"It is not exactly news I wish to tell either" he admitted before lapsing into silence once more. Theodora's fingers danced across his chest, the warmth of pressed to his side and Achilleas considered how he felt that little bit lighter to have spoken to her, how it felt to have her in his confidence. It was...pleasant, even though the thing they now shared knowledge of was not.
"Mmm" The sound was made low in his throat, an agreement or an acknowledgement wasn't explicit, but it appeared at first as if his shift toward loquaciousness was over, and perhaps unsurprising—little steps. But as Theodora moved to fill the quiet, Achilleas drew a breath that he didn't release, going very still beside her.
He did not feel like he had a level head, and he certainly didn't deserve her admiration. Guilt coiled in his belly like a serpent slipped through his veins and made his skin prickle. She could not have chosen words better suited to remind him of his failings if she had tried. But Achilleas swallowed because he knew that was his own fault. She didn't know.
Didn't know how he'd almost lost it in front of his advisors, or how he'd ended up losing it in instead in front of someone entirely inappropriate. He wasn't sure why it had all come spilling out to Briseis, only that he was glad Krysto had arrived when he had and jerked him back to his right mind. His friend had been harshly honest in his words even without knowing what had transpired between the king and the maid, and it had been a well-timed interruption.
"I'm not so good at it as you think" Achilleas eventually said after a too-long pause, and a sharp exhale. "Not recently. There have been moments where I have…"
Gods, should he tell her? Confess and absolve himself? He wondered if she could feel how fast his heart was racing. He didn't like to lie, but the thought of being honest about his mistake wasn't attractive either, and he didn't want her to think badly of him as she surely would. "I…"
The words were there on the tip of his tongue, primed and ready, but something - cowardice perhaps - had him stop. It had been just a moment's foolishness; it would never happen again. He didn't need to hurt her just because he had been an idiot.
"…am sure there are those who will tell you I have not done such an admirable job of it" he settled on, glad that the darkness hid his expression because he was sure his guilt was written all over his face. He had always scorned those men who let their lusts lead them to behave dishonourably, and now he had to count himself amongst them.
"I think you have been remarkable anyway" He was perhaps over-eager to flatter as if it might make up the wrong Theodora didn't know had been done to her. "Everything at the archontiko...my things just appearing here. I'm assuming you've had no small part to play in that?" She had been gracious and efficient and kind, and he was blessed to have her by his side and in his arms. Turning his face to nuzzle into the dark cloud of her hair, he counted himself lucky once more. "Thank you...for everything you've been doing. And for not holding it against me that I have been so absent."
Achilleas didn't know what to say either; it was why he hadn't -as of yet - breathed a word of the situation to his cousins. It seemed yet another thing that would seek to divide them: would they blame Emilios and him for having allowed it to transpire? This would impact all of them after all; he knew he would need to address it sooner rather than later. Perhaps after the coronation.
"It is not exactly news I wish to tell either" he admitted before lapsing into silence once more. Theodora's fingers danced across his chest, the warmth of pressed to his side and Achilleas considered how he felt that little bit lighter to have spoken to her, how it felt to have her in his confidence. It was...pleasant, even though the thing they now shared knowledge of was not.
"Mmm" The sound was made low in his throat, an agreement or an acknowledgement wasn't explicit, but it appeared at first as if his shift toward loquaciousness was over, and perhaps unsurprising—little steps. But as Theodora moved to fill the quiet, Achilleas drew a breath that he didn't release, going very still beside her.
He did not feel like he had a level head, and he certainly didn't deserve her admiration. Guilt coiled in his belly like a serpent slipped through his veins and made his skin prickle. She could not have chosen words better suited to remind him of his failings if she had tried. But Achilleas swallowed because he knew that was his own fault. She didn't know.
Didn't know how he'd almost lost it in front of his advisors, or how he'd ended up losing it in instead in front of someone entirely inappropriate. He wasn't sure why it had all come spilling out to Briseis, only that he was glad Krysto had arrived when he had and jerked him back to his right mind. His friend had been harshly honest in his words even without knowing what had transpired between the king and the maid, and it had been a well-timed interruption.
"I'm not so good at it as you think" Achilleas eventually said after a too-long pause, and a sharp exhale. "Not recently. There have been moments where I have…"
Gods, should he tell her? Confess and absolve himself? He wondered if she could feel how fast his heart was racing. He didn't like to lie, but the thought of being honest about his mistake wasn't attractive either, and he didn't want her to think badly of him as she surely would. "I…"
The words were there on the tip of his tongue, primed and ready, but something - cowardice perhaps - had him stop. It had been just a moment's foolishness; it would never happen again. He didn't need to hurt her just because he had been an idiot.
"…am sure there are those who will tell you I have not done such an admirable job of it" he settled on, glad that the darkness hid his expression because he was sure his guilt was written all over his face. He had always scorned those men who let their lusts lead them to behave dishonourably, and now he had to count himself amongst them.
"I think you have been remarkable anyway" He was perhaps over-eager to flatter as if it might make up the wrong Theodora didn't know had been done to her. "Everything at the archontiko...my things just appearing here. I'm assuming you've had no small part to play in that?" She had been gracious and efficient and kind, and he was blessed to have her by his side and in his arms. Turning his face to nuzzle into the dark cloud of her hair, he counted himself lucky once more. "Thank you...for everything you've been doing. And for not holding it against me that I have been so absent."
Theodora could feel the way Achilleas froze beneath her hand, the sudden intake of breath that he refused to release. There was a pause as if weighing his words, his breath whooshing out from him when he offered his somewhat lacking response. Was it just a denial of the praise, some false sense of modesty that had him brushing it aside? Was it a sense of discomfort, a reluctance brought about by revealing too much already? Or was it something else entirely?
Somewhat wary of his reply, the queen’s gaze narrowed as it raked over her husband’s shadowed face, Achilleas pausing again as if he meant to say something else. Instead, he simply demurred, insisting that he had not handled things as well as she thought, and Theodora opened her mouth to deny it, to insist how well he was doing. Before she could, though, he was instead turning the conversation back to her, thanking her for what she’d done while he was otherwise occupied.
If it was meant to distract her, it worked, letting his strange response slide and merely chalking it up to his own normal reticence and nothing more. Instead, she smiled at his praise, quietly pleased that he had noticed what she’d been doing, even if he hadn’t mentioned it until now. “It was nothing,” she insisted as he spoke of their things reappearing in the palace, assuming she was the one responsible. “It was the least I could do, really. You have so much else to worry about, I’m always happy to help in the ways that I can. And besides, this way I can arrange things the way I like,” she added with a playful grin, lightly nudging his side. “So really, it was doing us both a service.”
Thank you...for everything you've been doing. And for not holding it against me that I have been so absent.
“I think I’d be a monster if I did hold it against you,” she pointed out, her arm settling around his waist and squeezing lightly. She smiled as he nuzzled into her hair, pressing a kiss to the hollow of his shoulder where her head rested. “But yes. You’re welcome. If there is anything else I can do, you have only but to ask. We’re in this together now, Achilleas. I would not stand at your side and do nothing.”
No matter what other lies or half truths she might have uttered over the course of their engagement and the short time of their marriage, that much was true. Having attained a crown she had previously only dreamed of, she had no intention to sit idle and let that power go to waste. In spite of her lack of preparation, in spite of the circumstances that surrounded them, she was determined that she would do this right. She would be a good and benevolent queen, an honorable wife, and a leader for others to emulate and admire. This was her lot in life now, and she meant to make the most of it.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Theodora could feel the way Achilleas froze beneath her hand, the sudden intake of breath that he refused to release. There was a pause as if weighing his words, his breath whooshing out from him when he offered his somewhat lacking response. Was it just a denial of the praise, some false sense of modesty that had him brushing it aside? Was it a sense of discomfort, a reluctance brought about by revealing too much already? Or was it something else entirely?
Somewhat wary of his reply, the queen’s gaze narrowed as it raked over her husband’s shadowed face, Achilleas pausing again as if he meant to say something else. Instead, he simply demurred, insisting that he had not handled things as well as she thought, and Theodora opened her mouth to deny it, to insist how well he was doing. Before she could, though, he was instead turning the conversation back to her, thanking her for what she’d done while he was otherwise occupied.
If it was meant to distract her, it worked, letting his strange response slide and merely chalking it up to his own normal reticence and nothing more. Instead, she smiled at his praise, quietly pleased that he had noticed what she’d been doing, even if he hadn’t mentioned it until now. “It was nothing,” she insisted as he spoke of their things reappearing in the palace, assuming she was the one responsible. “It was the least I could do, really. You have so much else to worry about, I’m always happy to help in the ways that I can. And besides, this way I can arrange things the way I like,” she added with a playful grin, lightly nudging his side. “So really, it was doing us both a service.”
Thank you...for everything you've been doing. And for not holding it against me that I have been so absent.
“I think I’d be a monster if I did hold it against you,” she pointed out, her arm settling around his waist and squeezing lightly. She smiled as he nuzzled into her hair, pressing a kiss to the hollow of his shoulder where her head rested. “But yes. You’re welcome. If there is anything else I can do, you have only but to ask. We’re in this together now, Achilleas. I would not stand at your side and do nothing.”
No matter what other lies or half truths she might have uttered over the course of their engagement and the short time of their marriage, that much was true. Having attained a crown she had previously only dreamed of, she had no intention to sit idle and let that power go to waste. In spite of her lack of preparation, in spite of the circumstances that surrounded them, she was determined that she would do this right. She would be a good and benevolent queen, an honorable wife, and a leader for others to emulate and admire. This was her lot in life now, and she meant to make the most of it.
Theodora could feel the way Achilleas froze beneath her hand, the sudden intake of breath that he refused to release. There was a pause as if weighing his words, his breath whooshing out from him when he offered his somewhat lacking response. Was it just a denial of the praise, some false sense of modesty that had him brushing it aside? Was it a sense of discomfort, a reluctance brought about by revealing too much already? Or was it something else entirely?
Somewhat wary of his reply, the queen’s gaze narrowed as it raked over her husband’s shadowed face, Achilleas pausing again as if he meant to say something else. Instead, he simply demurred, insisting that he had not handled things as well as she thought, and Theodora opened her mouth to deny it, to insist how well he was doing. Before she could, though, he was instead turning the conversation back to her, thanking her for what she’d done while he was otherwise occupied.
If it was meant to distract her, it worked, letting his strange response slide and merely chalking it up to his own normal reticence and nothing more. Instead, she smiled at his praise, quietly pleased that he had noticed what she’d been doing, even if he hadn’t mentioned it until now. “It was nothing,” she insisted as he spoke of their things reappearing in the palace, assuming she was the one responsible. “It was the least I could do, really. You have so much else to worry about, I’m always happy to help in the ways that I can. And besides, this way I can arrange things the way I like,” she added with a playful grin, lightly nudging his side. “So really, it was doing us both a service.”
Thank you...for everything you've been doing. And for not holding it against me that I have been so absent.
“I think I’d be a monster if I did hold it against you,” she pointed out, her arm settling around his waist and squeezing lightly. She smiled as he nuzzled into her hair, pressing a kiss to the hollow of his shoulder where her head rested. “But yes. You’re welcome. If there is anything else I can do, you have only but to ask. We’re in this together now, Achilleas. I would not stand at your side and do nothing.”
No matter what other lies or half truths she might have uttered over the course of their engagement and the short time of their marriage, that much was true. Having attained a crown she had previously only dreamed of, she had no intention to sit idle and let that power go to waste. In spite of her lack of preparation, in spite of the circumstances that surrounded them, she was determined that she would do this right. She would be a good and benevolent queen, an honorable wife, and a leader for others to emulate and admire. This was her lot in life now, and she meant to make the most of it.