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[princeofwhores]

[His Highness and supreme ruler of Tel Maran, crown prince of the Dal'Anor Empire; the Emerald Prince himself is looking.... rather terrible.

In fact, he's not been seen for quite some time, and when he's finally stepping out of his room, he looks a lot thinner. The prince appears sickly and tried, and he walks like he's in his own world, taking a break once before the stairs to catch his breath.

So how about them curses? They tend to suck.]

Comments

[princeofwhores]

[He sighs, wiping his mouth with a disgusted look. The pain didn't seem as agonizing when close to her like this, though.... but he was most likely just fooling himself.]

We are said to die on our 25th year. That is unless we find someone who truly loves us.

[Fairytaaaaale.]

[heresyandlace]

[a sad little 'tsk']

It really is a hopeless curse then, isn't it?

[probably not the right thing to say to someone, but...]

[princeofwhores]

Yes.

[Someone doesn't believe in true love, so he surrounds himself and thrives on physical love.]

[heresyandlace]

[well... that makes two of them. how sad.]

...Where were you trying to go? [glancing down the stairs]

[princeofwhores]

...we were on our way to the kitchen.

[So hungry in the middle of all the pain.]

[heresyandlace]

Ah, let's go then.

[he gets a smile, and she moves to the side so that he's one arm leaning well around her shoulders. She's got you, dear prince]

[princeofwhores]

[He appreciates that, ma'am. A lot, actually, since it makes it possible for him to keep some of that already bruised pride.]

You are kind to us.

[heresyandlace]

[she's much stronger than she looks, but she'll let him support as much of his own weight as he wants to, and generally acts as if she just happens to have her arm around him as they're walking]

I think you've bought a little kindness for all that flattery.

[princeofwhores]

[Oh Tek, you're a pridesaver.]

Flattery? My lady... nnn... all I have said is the truth. We only praise your beauty and cleverness.

[heresyandlace]

See? Just like that.

Keep that up and I just might make you lunch.

[or... more like find lunch and bring it over, since actual cooking is not exactly one of her strong points]

[princeofwhores]

[He smiles through the pain, covering his mouth for a moment.]

We would be eternally grateful, desert moon.

[heresyandlace]

[once they're approaching the kitchen--] What would you like, if I can find it? [--and subsequently warm it up for him, at most]

[princeofwhores]

Anything touched by your hands would be lovely.

[He's still a mess of cold sweat and pain, but can he stop his flirting? Nope.]

[heresyandlace]

[and oh, how she appreciates it. It puts her in a generous mood.]

Don't say that, because then you'll end up with a bowl of cereal and you'll be sorry.

[princeofwhores]

We do not know what that is, but we would eat it.

[He coughs again, fingers prickled with black stains.]

...for you are so kind to us.

[heresyandlace]

[as much as she's enjoying cozying up to your dying self, don't cough on her, okay?]

That isn't a very princely thing to say, is it?

[holding the door open for both of them]

[princeofwhores]

[He's doing his best not to. He's a gentleman.]

Starving men say the same words, be they royalty or peasant.

[heresyandlace]

[she leads him over to the table, allowing him to find his own seat from there]

When's the last time you ate anything?

[princeofwhores]

[He slumps into a chair so heavily that it creaks under him.]

Two days ago... maybe three. We do not remember.

[heresyandlace]

[digging through the cabinets, she finds a can of nice meaty soup. This, at least, she's figured out how to open and make. And the stove? What a convenient invention! So, she gets that started while they talk]

You should have said something sooner. No one should go hungry like that.

[and, as someone who loves food, she really does mean that]

[princeofwhores]

We could not get out of the bed.

[He sighs and closes his eyes for a moment. The pain had been unbearable, but the hunger had won out in the end.]

[heresyandlace]

[once the soup is warming, she returns to his side. Sliding into a seat beside him, she reaches out to stroke his pretty hair.]

Keep your book nearby next time, someone will surely come to help if you say something.

[princeofwhores]

[He leans a bit into her touch, gritting his teeth as the pain shoots through him again.]

That would have been bright... though we are a proud man. Asking for help is not easy.

[heresyandlace]

Letting yourself get to this starved state is just as much of an indignity.

[and then... ah, she can't help herself anymore. she wants to play.

bringing her hand to rest against the side of his face now--] ...I'd like to try something.

[princeofwhores]

...that is true. We were foolish.

[He blinks a bit when she touches his face, and looks a bit confused.]

...what is it that you wish to try?