Ablutions I
Day 57 - 5:07 AM: The Weller-Gurrier Quarters
[Previous threads are with Yozak, Cheri, & Murata.]
It was morning--early morning. Far earlier than than most people in the Palace usually got up.
He buttoned up his shirt, staring straight ahead into the mirror with unseeing eyes. He'd never realized that his uniform had quite so many buttons before. There was an unusual weight in his pocket this morning--a warning of things to come. It had been quite a while since he'd squirreled away the collar within his somewhat daunting collection of pillows where Yozak could not find it, but he was strangely glad he did. Not because he wanted it, but because it reminded him, and he thought he was going to need that for the next few days.
Because this was the day Belal was set to arrive.
He and Yozak had not discussed it. In fact, they'd been careful not to. No one had said anything to him about it, and he'd made himself intentionally busy to avoid the pitying and uncomfortable looks and evasions of his family. Lawrence had taken the liberty of posting a guard at their quarters last night atop Conrad's own orders to increase the presence of the guard all over the palace. Yozak seemed to approve, so the brunet had made no effort to protest the measure. It also helped that he was a bit in the other guard's debt. Lawrence had held things together to a surprising extent in his absence, which had significantly cut down on the workload he'd been afraid he'd find upon his return. The man had always been useful, but now he was quickly occupying the space Till had vacated so violently nearly two months past.
Two months . . .
He adjusted his cuffs and frowned slightly at his reflection. Behind him, Yozak rolled over, a hand reaching out towards Conrad's empty side of the bed. The older man watched the redhead's reflection for a moment as he found the pillow Conrad had left for him and pulled it close, looking unhappy with his substitute lover. Conrad pressed his lips together and turned away from the vanity to pick up the small mess their activities had created last night before heading into his study.
The pillow thing was becoming a habit, but Conrad had found that if he didn't leave something behind when he left the bed, Yozak would inevitably wake up and there was not sense in both of them loosing sleep. Especially given the late night workouts Conrad has been putting Yozak through. While he may not have particularly want to discuss the issue looming over them both, that is not to say that Conrad is opposed to the relationship-reaffirming powers of sex. If Yozak wondered at the sudden increase in his sexual appetite, he didn't ask--in fact, he seemed rather enthusiastic about it. Small gifts, Conrad supposed.
It did not dampen the other man's little frowns of disapproval when he woke up to an empty bed, though. Conrad could offer him nothing but a wan smile and a cup of coffee at those times. The increase in his work hours had been good for him, though. Gwendal was probably thrilled about it all the paperwork he'd been handing in early, and his father was taking the opportunity to trounce him quite soundly at swordplay on a daily basis now. Dan Hiri had been the only one to force Conrad into a conversation regarding their impending visitor.
"You're frightened."
And Conrad had not had the heart to bicker with him about it. His silence had prompted the human to actually halt their sparring and watch him with eerily sharp eyes for a moment.
Then: "Look, Conrart, you have nothing to worry about. Regardless of what those idiots at Court say, if he tries to take you and you don't want to go, then you're not going."
And that was that. Somehow, the man's rather black and white approach to things had been heartening. If Dan Hiri had decided that that was the way that things were going to be, then that way the way that things were going to be and not even death was going to stop him. If nothing else, then watching him make a huge scene would be entertaining.
Conrad sat down at his desk and turned around in his chair to stare out the window. The sky was a bruised color, indicative of the coming dawn. He settled back comfortably to watch it. Experience had taught him that sleep would elude him, but he really had nothing else to do right now.
Besides, today was a new day . . . Even if it was promising to be a terrible one.
[Previous threads are with Yozak, Cheri, & Murata.]
It was morning--early morning. Far earlier than than most people in the Palace usually got up.
He buttoned up his shirt, staring straight ahead into the mirror with unseeing eyes. He'd never realized that his uniform had quite so many buttons before. There was an unusual weight in his pocket this morning--a warning of things to come. It had been quite a while since he'd squirreled away the collar within his somewhat daunting collection of pillows where Yozak could not find it, but he was strangely glad he did. Not because he wanted it, but because it reminded him, and he thought he was going to need that for the next few days.
Because this was the day Belal was set to arrive.
He and Yozak had not discussed it. In fact, they'd been careful not to. No one had said anything to him about it, and he'd made himself intentionally busy to avoid the pitying and uncomfortable looks and evasions of his family. Lawrence had taken the liberty of posting a guard at their quarters last night atop Conrad's own orders to increase the presence of the guard all over the palace. Yozak seemed to approve, so the brunet had made no effort to protest the measure. It also helped that he was a bit in the other guard's debt. Lawrence had held things together to a surprising extent in his absence, which had significantly cut down on the workload he'd been afraid he'd find upon his return. The man had always been useful, but now he was quickly occupying the space Till had vacated so violently nearly two months past.
Two months . . .
He adjusted his cuffs and frowned slightly at his reflection. Behind him, Yozak rolled over, a hand reaching out towards Conrad's empty side of the bed. The older man watched the redhead's reflection for a moment as he found the pillow Conrad had left for him and pulled it close, looking unhappy with his substitute lover. Conrad pressed his lips together and turned away from the vanity to pick up the small mess their activities had created last night before heading into his study.
The pillow thing was becoming a habit, but Conrad had found that if he didn't leave something behind when he left the bed, Yozak would inevitably wake up and there was not sense in both of them loosing sleep. Especially given the late night workouts Conrad has been putting Yozak through. While he may not have particularly want to discuss the issue looming over them both, that is not to say that Conrad is opposed to the relationship-reaffirming powers of sex. If Yozak wondered at the sudden increase in his sexual appetite, he didn't ask--in fact, he seemed rather enthusiastic about it. Small gifts, Conrad supposed.
It did not dampen the other man's little frowns of disapproval when he woke up to an empty bed, though. Conrad could offer him nothing but a wan smile and a cup of coffee at those times. The increase in his work hours had been good for him, though. Gwendal was probably thrilled about it all the paperwork he'd been handing in early, and his father was taking the opportunity to trounce him quite soundly at swordplay on a daily basis now. Dan Hiri had been the only one to force Conrad into a conversation regarding their impending visitor.
"You're frightened."
And Conrad had not had the heart to bicker with him about it. His silence had prompted the human to actually halt their sparring and watch him with eerily sharp eyes for a moment.
Then: "Look, Conrart, you have nothing to worry about. Regardless of what those idiots at Court say, if he tries to take you and you don't want to go, then you're not going."
And that was that. Somehow, the man's rather black and white approach to things had been heartening. If Dan Hiri had decided that that was the way that things were going to be, then that way the way that things were going to be and not even death was going to stop him. If nothing else, then watching him make a huge scene would be entertaining.
Conrad sat down at his desk and turned around in his chair to stare out the window. The sky was a bruised color, indicative of the coming dawn. He settled back comfortably to watch it. Experience had taught him that sleep would elude him, but he really had nothing else to do right now.
Besides, today was a new day . . . Even if it was promising to be a terrible one.