:: The Joust of Riley's 17th Year ::
Feb. 2nd, 2026 11:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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gremlinhausIt was the first time that Riley had been on the field, he'd trained hard for this. Very hard, all around him the area of people watched from their stands and seats. His armor gleamed pristine, the visor over his head, the jousting javelin tucked firmly underneath his arm.
Riding astride on his stallion, he galloped toward the ready line as the Games Crier spoke out his name. "Sir Cyril of House Valiase and his opponent Sir Germaine Moreau, please take your positions." and then Riley was in place, his heart thundering in his ears even while all around him the stadium turned as silent save for a few coughs here and there. The horn was blown and then he dug his heels in, pressed himself forward and started.
Grounding himself into the saddle, his eyes never leaving his opponent. Pounding hoofs the only thing to break the silence. That moment of fear, the way his stomach hit his throat and made him choke, so close so close. Held Breath. And then the sound of armor where he prepared for anything. No thinking, nothing-- head empty.
A clatter behind him as he charged forth. He had expected weightlessness, pain, but nothing as he made it to the end and he turned his horse around to see the attendants on the field rushing to Sir Germaine's side to help him from where he had stopped. Already they were assisting him off his horse, medics and his page. And then the crier called out.
"The Winner, Sir Cyril of House Valiase!" and the crowd went almost wild. Somewhere in the stands, he knew that his father was smiling approvingly, but his eyes did not search for his father. But a pair of eyes that he knew quite well, sitting in the royal box. There he could see them there, clapping along with the crowds-- his father not too far away from King Etienne itself.
A polite smile at his father and his King. And then his eyes searched out his best friend Guillaume with a far more shy smile; he was handed a rose by his page and there was a moment where he tried to figure out what to do with it.. he knew what to do, give it to a young lady of the court as was the proper procedure. A look at best friend, fleeting before he cantered his horse up to one of the young ladies of the Court and he handed her the rose.
--
Parties were like this, the celebrations were massive and with no expense spared. Now Riley could have found much more useful things to spend money on than a fountain of champagne and one of matching chocolate side by side-- but he did not make the rules nor did he hold the purse strings, so he held a glass of wine and watched the dancing.
He'd already done the required dancing with the young lady he'd given the rose to, also had been grilled on his mother on if she would make a suitable 'wife' for him. He did not care either way, if they arranged it then they did, it was not uncommon for parents to arrange matches for their children though he'd heard Guillaume state that his father the King was attempting to change that, to make Olympia more accepting. Trying to bridge the gap between Sylvia and Olympia, attempting to give women more rights.. everything that most Lords balked at (including Riley's father).
It felt like a fairy tale that was told, a fairy tale where magic existed and where women could be knights, where a marriage was only dictated by love. it was such a beautiful fairy tale, but Riley heard his father speak in contempt of such things, and Riley was not sure of the country was ready for that yet.
Riding astride on his stallion, he galloped toward the ready line as the Games Crier spoke out his name. "Sir Cyril of House Valiase and his opponent Sir Germaine Moreau, please take your positions." and then Riley was in place, his heart thundering in his ears even while all around him the stadium turned as silent save for a few coughs here and there. The horn was blown and then he dug his heels in, pressed himself forward and started.
Grounding himself into the saddle, his eyes never leaving his opponent. Pounding hoofs the only thing to break the silence. That moment of fear, the way his stomach hit his throat and made him choke, so close so close. Held Breath. And then the sound of armor where he prepared for anything. No thinking, nothing-- head empty.
A clatter behind him as he charged forth. He had expected weightlessness, pain, but nothing as he made it to the end and he turned his horse around to see the attendants on the field rushing to Sir Germaine's side to help him from where he had stopped. Already they were assisting him off his horse, medics and his page. And then the crier called out.
"The Winner, Sir Cyril of House Valiase!" and the crowd went almost wild. Somewhere in the stands, he knew that his father was smiling approvingly, but his eyes did not search for his father. But a pair of eyes that he knew quite well, sitting in the royal box. There he could see them there, clapping along with the crowds-- his father not too far away from King Etienne itself.
A polite smile at his father and his King. And then his eyes searched out his best friend Guillaume with a far more shy smile; he was handed a rose by his page and there was a moment where he tried to figure out what to do with it.. he knew what to do, give it to a young lady of the court as was the proper procedure. A look at best friend, fleeting before he cantered his horse up to one of the young ladies of the Court and he handed her the rose.
--
Parties were like this, the celebrations were massive and with no expense spared. Now Riley could have found much more useful things to spend money on than a fountain of champagne and one of matching chocolate side by side-- but he did not make the rules nor did he hold the purse strings, so he held a glass of wine and watched the dancing.
He'd already done the required dancing with the young lady he'd given the rose to, also had been grilled on his mother on if she would make a suitable 'wife' for him. He did not care either way, if they arranged it then they did, it was not uncommon for parents to arrange matches for their children though he'd heard Guillaume state that his father the King was attempting to change that, to make Olympia more accepting. Trying to bridge the gap between Sylvia and Olympia, attempting to give women more rights.. everything that most Lords balked at (including Riley's father).
It felt like a fairy tale that was told, a fairy tale where magic existed and where women could be knights, where a marriage was only dictated by love. it was such a beautiful fairy tale, but Riley heard his father speak in contempt of such things, and Riley was not sure of the country was ready for that yet.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-20 03:51 am (UTC)And Riley would accept any sort of new position where he was required to be in attendance to the crown prince constantly.
"Mmmm on your side, Liam-- I want to cuddle up with my arms wrapped around you." that was a command, but it was a gentle and thoroughly loving one.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-20 04:09 am (UTC)Then Riley spoke and he refocused on the immediate present. Yes. Good.
Liam would've complied no matter what the tone honestly, but it was so very Riley, a command spoken as if it were made of something soft and warm. He shifted onto his side, all too happy to live his little spoon fantasy in the right here and now.
"I'd like that too," he murmured, ready to welcome Riley's arms around him, to cozy his way backwards against him. They were both still entirely naked, nothing to possibly get between them. So perhaps it was a bit of mischief in him that had him deliberately wiggling his ass back against Riley.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-20 02:40 pm (UTC)The surge of mischief and Riley groaned. "Love, My Prince? I thought we were going to sleep?" he said with the barest hint of amusement. then in a way that was infinitely loving, "Perhaps I should call you brat prince..." though let's be real, Riley knew that the other man had always been the one to get into trouble and he'd followed on the waves of it.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-21 01:11 am (UTC)He glanced back, all smiles and near beatific innocence. A brat? Who him?
Liam couldn't stop the laugh, quiet, but it shook his shoulders as he tried to stifle it. "Perhaps you should," he agreed. Another wiggle to make sure there was no doubt that Riley was exactly right in his assessment. "I expect I'll need you to keep me in line. I'm sure you're up to the task."
no subject
Date: 2026-02-21 01:20 am (UTC)This moment though, may it be immortalized in gold forevermore; those soft sweet memories that would be laced with regret and other such things; a reminder never to take anything for granted. "Go to sleep..." he said this and firmed his arms around Liam. "Maybe you will cause chaos in the morning, that is entirely possible." he would expect nothing less from his Prince.
But he would meet it gladly, just like he loved the dawn.
"There is no way that I could ever keep you in line, I will only fall behind and make sure that I offer support to you as you do whatever it is that you please."
no subject
Date: 2026-02-21 04:11 am (UTC)"What dangerous permission," he murmured lowly. A breath and then set his hand atop of Riley's arm where it rested around him.
"But very well. Sleep it is." He could be sensible, when he had to be. But much more importantly. "I love you, Sir Cyril, my brave knight. My Riley."
no subject
Date: 2026-02-21 04:36 am (UTC)He would've gladly laid down his life for Liam, would have submitted himself to the chaos of any shenanigans, as long as it made Liam smile.. nothing else mattered except for his love, the circle of his heart, the joy that he had found in his own duty.. and through that he felt so much love that was just for Liam.
He had no room for anything else.