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[peoplepleaser]

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[peoplepleaser]

Kabru was also expecting to have to do more convincing-- it's almost a little embarrassing to be congratulated instead. "Thank you." He says, idly rubbing at his cheek with the back of one finger as Yaad fetches some paper and gets to writing-- his face feels a little hot for some reason. (The blush is faint, but visible.)

He nods, expression shifting to something more serious. No time to think about how this is definitely real, he's going to be married to Laios. They have to plan out all the courtship steps of getting there first. "Of course. My thought was to present it as a love match... that would help to mitigate any rumors of political maneuvering. I think there are two paths to truly selling that narrative-- either a very extensive courtship period that goes above and beyond, or a very rushed one." He can feel his face heating up again at the implications of his own words. "Like we can't stand to wait. It's not like either of us can be pregnant, so no one's going to think it's because of that."

[monotropic]

Laios cannot look at Kabru right now, focusing on reading Yaad's handwriting upside-down. When he'd thought about courtship he'd imagined stately, orchestrated, public displays with minimal feeling behind them. Presenting gifts, walks with a chaperone, dancing together. A "rushed" "love match" gives him some totally different ideas, and now Kabru isn't the only one blushing.

He keeps his voice steady, his smile neutral: "There are a lot of other kinds of scandals that aren't pregnancy," he muses, since he's been basically memorizing all the possible ways to slip up at court. "I'm willing to do whatever you two think will help this go smoothly." The back of his neck is prickled with sweat.

"A scandal..." Yaad has political acumen and plenty of training in the same, but he has also been frozen in the stasis of being a young man for a very long time, so it's hard to say if he even recognizes their uh, mutual enthusiasm for this idea for what it is just yet. "That will be up to you. But I can certainly write out what would be expected of a royal courtship, and we can decide where it is acceptable to take shortcuts."

[peoplepleaser]

"Let's try to avoid scandal if at all possible. There will be enough inherent to this move, we don't need to add more." Kabru replies, leaning over the desk to look at what Yaad is writing down as more in-depth plans start to form in his mind.

They hash out the full plan over the next few hours-- the general timeline, all the big events they'll need to hit, and a few smaller moments in-between each to help sell the romance. "Secret" romantic rendezvous for them to be caught together by particularly gossipy members of castle staff, gifts of flowers and poetry-- and of course, there will have to be a ball, and they'll have to dance. Since Laios is already king, he'll be taking the male role in their courtship, leaving Kabru to be the one being pursued.

Meaning, anyone who actually knows Laios will likely be able to tell he hasn't come up with all this on his own. They agree upon being able to tell the people they're closest to their plan, so long as those who are told can be trusted to keep it secret. Kabru would prefer that as few people know as possible, but... Laios is a terrible liar. As is the rest of his former party, so it's probably a good thing the only other one that lives in the castle full-time is Marcille.

For his part, Kabru only tells Rin and Mithrun. While he still keeps in contact with the rest of his former party, none of them have close enough business with the castle for it to really matter if they know the truth or not. It's been a while since he's seen Rin give him such a painfully judgemental look. The former Canary captain just gives him a deadpan congratulations and assures him he won't pass the truth on to the Western elves. Kabru's almost certain he's not bothered to pass any sort of intelligence onto them that isn't monster-related, which is just fine.

The early stages of their plan go off without a hitch-- it's little things at first. Rather than eat a light lunch at his desk, Kabru joins Laios in the gardens every afternoon if the weather permits. When they go out for a drink at one of the taverns in town, they sit closer together than they had before.

It's after one of those tavern outings that they make one of their more risqué moves-- both of them, appearing to be drunk, "sneaking" off together to Laios' room. Kabru is barely tipsy-- he's better able to moderate his intake, and it's not hard for him to act drunker than he actually is. He places a hand on Laios' arm to draw his attention, then leans in close with a flirtatious smile. "We should head back now-- Jehane should still be guarding your wing, but we might miss her if we wait much longer." Guardswoman Jehane is not a huge gossip, but her wife is... and she tells her wife everything.

[monotropic]

Laios is growing increasingly more used to having Kabru in his immediate space. So when his arm is touched he doesn't startle, just leans into it. Doesn't have to fake his own bright look in return, dazed by that playful smile. He's got a solid alcohol tolerance but it always leaves him flushed, pink to his ears and around the back of his neck, down the long column of his throat, which only adds to the flustered affect.

At odds with it all is his low, serious: "Let's go." Nods. Slips two fingers into Kabru's palm, just while they work their way through the crowded tavern and out into the street.

(When Laios told Marcille he said, "I need your help coming up with romantic courtship ideas for me and Kabru," and she was sweetly helpful for about two whole ideas. Then Laios' asked for some confusing clarification and she asked increasingly peeved questions as she unpicked the whole thing back to Laios in Kabru's rooms the night of his return concocting this scheme.

Once they got past the outrage, she suggested huffily, "You had better start at the beginning when you tell Falin!" and also, "I'll ask Izutsumi to go looking for Senshi. I bet he'd want to come to your wedding... even if it is a sham." With an accusatory finger to the center of Laios' chest.

He's still thinking about it. The beginning. Is there a point that could accurately be called that, without going all the way back to when he found Kabru's corpse in the dungeon?)

The royal quarters are a series of interconnected rooms surrounded by a guard corridor, designed for the royal family to be able to relax and work without having to undergo public scrutiny or worry about assassination attempts. Jehane is right near the entrance to Laios' bedroom, doing a shift changeover with a second guard in a quiet voice. They both turn to greet Laios formally when they see him, and he realizes he's still holding Kabru's hand, drops it quickly.

[peoplepleaser]

Kabru's heart tries to pull some acrobatics in his chest at the mere thought of holding Laios' hand in public. They'll certainly be able to do even in the middle of the day completely sober once they're married, won't they?

No, he has to focus. They have a show to put on, after all. He's so caught up thinking about it all that he doesn't think to let go either. Well... all the better! It will just feed the rumors, if anyone saw.

Kabru tries to disguise the way Laios immediately drops his hand with a wave. "Good evening! Thank you for your hard work!" He tugs at Laios' arm again, trying to make it look like they're both far more drunk than they actually are. "His Majesty had a few too many, so I'm just making sure he makes it to his rooms alright..." He says with a laugh, guiding Laios past the two guards. "Have a good night!"

As soon as Laios' door is shut behind them, Kabru drops the tipsy act, though his face still feels oddly hot. "That should be more than enough. Good job, Laios." He knows this sort of thing does not come easily to the other man.

[monotropic]

Laios leans a shoulder against the door for a moment, like he thinks he might be able to hear the guards talking about them, and then Kabru says that and he turns back with his gaze lowered and kind of smug. Good job is a lot, he's not emotionally prepared for good job right now. Presses both his shoulders back against the door. The bar was noisy, crowded, and he feels the quiet in here as a stark contrast.

Laios' room is tidy in a way that speaks to his personal preference rather than just the royal staff. He doesn't really occupy much more than half the expansive bedroom, hasn't decorated the it beyond a few personal touches — his armour on a stand in the corner with Kensuke on the stone wall by it; letters and souvenirs on his work desk alongside more official correspondence he owes a reply; mementos of the dungeon, mostly from trips before that final push to save Falin; several fluffy pelts carpeting the stone floor. Plenty of books, even though he's not a reader by choice. There's just a lot to learn.

"And then it's... Maria, on sixth shift, catches you sneaking out?" This whole plan didn't really deserve the good job, it's mostly about enjoying spending time with Kabru and then letting people jump to the wrong conclusion, both of which come easy. They've reached the part he's actually nervous about. "You can borrow something to sleep in, if you like."

doesn't deserve the 'good job' but his tail is still wagging about it... okay laios

[peoplepleaser]

Kabru is a little surprised (and relieved) that none of the "trophies" Izutsumi or Mithrun bring back for Laios have made their way into his bedroom... except maybe some of the pelts on the floor that Kabru is deciding not to examine too closely. He's never actually been in here before, and it's an interesting glimpse at a side of Laios he hasn't had the chance to see until now.

He doesn't snoop, though, instead turning his attention from looking around the room back to Laios when he speaks. "Yes, that's right."

Right... now comes the part Kabru has specifically avoided thinking too much about. Spending the night with Laios. Some day in the near future, he will have to do this every night. His own things, minimal as they are, will be moved into this room, and he won't have to borrow anything from Laios to sleep in because all of his own clothes will be here. Maybe he'll even feel comfortable enough to sleep just in his underwear as he normally does at some point.

Not tonight, though. "Oh, sure. Thank you." He sits on the end of the bed, assuming Laios doesn't want him just digging through his wardrobe, gaze drifting over the titles on the nearby bookshelf. Signs of the work Laios has been putting in. "It might take me a bit to get to sleep... I hope I don't keep you up."