:: The Joust of Riley's 17th Year ::

[eblouissant]

It 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.

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[eblouissant]

It was mutual, because Riley was in that same boat with his lover-- the two of them untouched for years-- and now his own prick was twitching in that mouth, and he could feel himself twitch, and his balls were full and heavy-- filled with seed that had been storing up.

With one fell motion he swallowed all of Liam down.

There was that choke but also perhaps a bit of muscle memory, the moment that he took all of Liam in, he released and it was not even something he was consciously aware of except it happened, like a wave that rolled through him.. but maybe it had been that gasp and whimper.

So patently Liam that made him come apart at the seams.

[giveanything]

There it was. Liam muffled another low sound as he felt Riley's seed spill into his mouth. He swallowed around him, eager and making no secret of this. He'd missed. He'd missed all of this so much, this intimacy and closeness. How strange to feel alive again, to be alive again.

And knowing that he'd brought Riley to his climax, that was enough to tip Liam over the edge that that talented, hot mouth had brought him too. Another plea and he came hard, years of pent up emotions tumbling out of him, all of him, all the sorrow and grief and yearning and joy and relief and love. So fucking much love.

Eventually once he was certain that Riley had finished, he drew back slowly, panting softly, a low whine catching in his throat. "Oh love..."

[eblouissant]

At least they hadn't been caught and that was a gift in and of itself-- because their first times he really did want it to be private. He felt the onslaught though deep in his mouth and he swallowed it as best as he could but there was bound for some to get out of the way, though he tried his absolute and utter best to field every last drop.

He let out a sigh of contentment and then pressed a kiss to the inside of that thigh, very gently and then he reached up and wiped the back of his hand over his mouth to catch the straggling.

"That was... it's been so long."

Since he'd come that hard, it had felt like he had been the physical representation of a firework.

[giveanything]

Liam took a moment to remember how breathing worked, and once he'd managed that he moved to reverse his position. Licking his lips, chasing the taste of his lover's release, even as he resettled himself so that he was facing Riley properly, settled in way that had him straddling Riley's hips and looking down at him.

He set a hand against the other man's chest and nodded. "A very long time. I'd nearly forgotten..." how good it could be, how Riley made him feel so much -- pleasured and wanted and desirable, loved. All those things wrapped up in something more that didn't have words in any language that Liam knew to fully describe it.

His fingers trailed down Riley's chest once more, down to his cock, but this time he just, ever so helpfully, set about tucking him safely back inside his trousers and fastening them back up. There. Respectable once more.

[eblouissant]

Liam was taking care of him now, when it really should be Riley taking care of him; his cock was becoming a big sleepy, tucking into itself and making itself smaller after having come like that, and was easily put back to bed by Liam.

And in return Riley reached to right the other man with sure and steady fingertips. "I want to do more.. but I think we will need a bit of..." there was a pause as he heard footsteps come up the steps and he let out a soft 'damn' underneath his breath but.. he did not make a move to dislodge Liam.

The wooden door opened, there was a pause as a figure came into the doorway, tall and slender, clad in hard travel leathers, and then a voice that cleared.

"Ummm.. Riley?" And that caused Riley to shift to look past Liam and at Kay'dia, offering a look like he had been just caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "I.. this is a surprise that we never discussed the possibility of."

"This is a very old friend of mine, very old and very intimate friend."

"Ah..." the connection made.

"Liam, he's going to he traveling with us for the foreseeable future."

Kay'dia of the Leaf green eyes, looked directly at Liam and how he was straddling Riley. "Well, I know this isn't a Olympian thing as I don't thing that this.." she motioned, "Unless this is a close male friendship ritual." You know just two bros.

[giveanything]

Liam managed just enough grace to look fairly sheepish, though there was no denying that he also looked, well, happy, even if the shadows of that night terror still lingered in his eyes. It was at least consigned the edges, to be ignored until it faded from memory. Hopefully. The smile on his lips touched his eyes too, softening that dark gaze as it roamed over Riley's face. "Mm me too... and we will. But we have tomorrow." They actually had tomorrow. The future was uncertain and terrifying, but they had a future now. They had each other.

The sound of the door opening had Liam freezing though, like a deer caught out in the open by something with teeth and claws. He forced himself to take a breath. To not immediately recoil. To not reach for cloak and mask. Riley had told him that his roommate would be coming. It was fine. This was a friend of Riley's. They were still safe. Breathe. Act normal. He almost remembered what that looked like. He could do this.

That didn't stop him for making a grab for Riley's hand and holding on tightly, a lifeline that he hoped would keep him from fracturing.

Liam hesitated, glancing over his shoulder at the woman. Even if his heart was still racing, he managed a smile, the expression faintly apologetic but making a decent go at looking less panicked. "I apologize for the unannounced company. I didn't expect to find Riley when I came here." But fate had been so indescribably kind to him tonight. "My plan had been stowing away with the bear accessories."

Not the best laid plan, admittedly. At the mention of close male friendship ritual, a laugh slipped free before he could stop it. "Oh, no, certainly not." Nothing bros about this. "Riley has been the keeper of my heart since I was old enough to have any thought of love. Olympian laws wouldn't approve of a stitch of this, which is a failing on its part. It has a few of those, actually." A few that ought to be fixed.

He gingerly moved so that he was no longer straddling Riley, settling to a seat beside him instead. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

[eblouissant]

The woman walked in and then sat down on the bed opposite, evidentially still processing this, though she did not say much of anything except to lift her hand in a very formal and very elven greeting. In the soft glow of the lamps she was elven, her tipped ears rising and those features were very pronounced and sharped; it's a wonder that people in Olympia were still able to deny the existence of magic when people like her existed.

But it really went to show that Olympia was really good at avoiding or explaining away magic as anything save for perhaps a grand illusion.

"Ah a mate then." she said this carefully and then nodded. "I am Kay'dia-- I am Sun Guard to Riley's Moon Guard, he has never mentioned anything about you." this was not said in a tone that was condemnation, but simply as a matter of fact.

"It is because it is a.. long story and a bit painful." he said this carefully, not wanting to offend her by not being forthcoming.

"Secrets are secrets for a reason, I am not offended about it; there are other people in this caravan who would be more offended than I.. such as Sagé who has been hitting on you for years, but now it makes sense why you you have never caved, the Bard can be very convincing." and then back to Liam.

"If you hurt him, I will put a shaft through you.. and not the one you are accustomed to." everything that Kay'dia said was matter-of-fact, this one just as much even though it was absolutely a threat.

[giveanything]

"Mate isn't the word we'd use but I think that captures the essence of it, yes." Sorry Riley, Liam had decided they were mates now. It sounded good to him, the sense of benign bound and belonging to one another that came with the connotation of the word.

He smiled though at the bit about Riley never mentioning him. He'd pretend that didn't sting just a little bit but he understood. He was gone, and the wound torn into both of them had been deep and unhealed. "Well. I've been rather dead the past decade, so far as anyone knew so that may have something to do with it."

His eyebrows rose slowly at the mention of this Sagé. Interesting. Not that Liam would have begrudged Riley for moving on. He'd have wanted him to be happy more than anything else, and if he'd discovered him alive and with someone else it would have broken his heart yes, but he'd have been happy for him too.

He looked surprised at the casual death threat and that earned a bright smile in her direction. "I never want to be the cause of any pain for him. I've... done enough of that I think." A somehow subdued and rueful look at Riley. He knew how badly it had hurt him to think Riley was dead, and he imagined that his love had felt that too.

Instead of sinking into those darker thoughts though, instead he leaned close and stage whispered to Riley, "Do I come across as a bottom?" Shafts and all. And for the record. He identified as a switch. And as a problem.

[eblouissant]

"Well my love.." Riley whispered back, "I have been threatened by her shaft before so." he said this quite carefully, "Though I suppose she never used the word 'not the shafts I'm used to' so." he also knew that Kay'dia could hear this, judging by the subtle twitch of her finely tipped ear and the way she was repressing a smile at that.

Riley was not going to say that he rather thought that Liam was more Sage's type-- powerful, but that was neither here nor there, it was likely that Liam would find out that for himself at a later point in time when the bard found out he was a Disposed King.

"So now, how are we to do this?" Kay'dia gestured toward Liam and toward Riley before motioning around them to the Caravan.

"I would think.." Riley said this carefully, "We would do this as we normally do, with myself sleeping during the morning while you take your shift and then you sleeping half the night while I'm on patrol." there was a soft snort at the term 'sleeping' which Kay'dia was not even bothering to hide.

"As long as you two do not utilize my bed in any way shape or form, then we are good."

[giveanything]

Well my love. Liam could feel himself melting at the words. It'd been too long since he'd heard that sweet voice calling him love. He'd missed it. He'd missed it so much, being Riley's love. But he also laughed, ducking his head. "Well, I'm in good company if you've been threatened by the shafts too."

He listened at the proposed solution before holding his hands up in the universal gesture of innocence. "Wouldn't dream of involving your bed. That would be poor manners." And if nothing else, Liam was a well mannered dethroned prince in hiding. Those lessons had stuck well enough.

Though, all hoking aside, he did add. "Riley is aware already, but it seems wrong not to be honest about the fact that my being here isn't exactly... safe. For anyone. If I'm discovered with you while we're still in Olympia, it won't end well for anyone. And I don't want to put anyone in danger for my sake..." Especially not Riley. "But I don't know where else to go."

[eblouissant]

"Oh, I think that that would amuse the impresario even more, the level of danger so I don't think it'll be much of a problem." Kay'dia, which really to Riley seemed about right. He did not think that he would be bothered about it whatsoever, might even enjoy it a little bit (as disturbing as that was). "And good, as long as you stay away from my bed, we're good."

And then Kay'dia managed to give a very subtle smirk.

After all Kyrians were not shy nor were they prudes in the slightest.

"Kay'dia has a point.. the Impresario is, he's interesting." the tone of Riley's voice denoted a bit of weariness at having to deal with him, and the resolve to not approach if absolutely certain of it. "I think that we need to see if we can figure out where Sir Dumas went, and then start there." Riley said, perhaps the start was finding Patrick..

Before Liam's demon master did.

[giveanything]

"This Impresario sounds... kind of insane." You know, but also interesting. But definitely insane. Still, he would be grateful not to be turned out and left on his own. At least while they were still within the city, within the borders of what had once been his home. His kingdom.

Riley brought up a good point, and he nodded. He hadn't known where they were going. It was better that he hadn't, better that Patrice was far away and out of harm's way. Better than Liam couldn't have accidentally betrayed him to anyone who might have wanted to finish the job of destroying the family of King Etienne entirely.

That said, Liam knew Sir Dumas. He'd also been an excellent student of politics, especially with his hopes of actually bringing Olympia out of its dark ages and finding it a more active part of the international stage. So if he had to guess. "I think Sylvia's the best bet. They'd stand out too much in Kyria. Sylvia... they could blend. And the Kirklands have always rule family. If Sir Dumas had connections beyond Olympia anywhere, that'd be the place."

[eblouissant]

"Then we should head there, if at all possible." he considered it, "I wonder if we can get the Caravan to change it's course." he thought about this carefully, of course he did because he trusted the Caravan and knew there was safety there for at least a little while. He didn't know what strange magic that leader of the Caravan wielded but it felt formidable in comparison.

"You can talk with him, I'm sure if you convinced him it would be 'entertaining' enough." Kay'dia offered.

Riley exchanged a look with Liam, a 'see this is why he is insane because it's always about amusement' but he then continued. "We could talk to him, though I would rather not do it alone so.." and he glanced over at Liam who was after all the born diplomat.

[giveanything]

Liam looked at Riley with a slow raise of his eyebrows because yup, clearly this Impresario was at least a little insane. But maybe that would work in their favor for this, because it was an insane situation they were in.

He reached over to take Riley's hand, nodding. He'd help with the talking. He ought to make this leader of the Caravan aware of what he was agreeing to anyway, since that really only seemed fair. His presence was not without risk, after all.

Tightening his fingers around Riley's he glanced back towards Kay'dia before asking, a wry twist to his words, "Do you think he'd find a plot to reclaim a stolen throne and take down a sitting false king entertaining enough?"

[eblouissant]

Actually, Riley would let Liam do all of the talking, because it was Maduin-- and really? Liam should know what he was getting into, and also Riley already talked to the man enough as it was so he just gave his lover a comforting hand squeeze.

Kay'dia inclined her head consideringly.

"Actually, I think he would. The novelty would appeal to him, and as long as he was guaranteed some sort of chaos?"

"He enjoys stirring the pot quite a bit." though maybe Riley would be not so keen on making deals with Maduin if of course he knew he was fae. But hey, the Knight didn't so maybe it was just Liam's lot in life to step into this.

[giveanything]

"All right. Then we'll talk to him. Whenever you think is the right time."

Was there a better time for this conversation than others? Liam didn't know. After all, he'd never met this Impresario, and he had no actual idea what he was getting into. There were hints from what Riley and Kay'dia were saying though.

He sounded like the sort who'd fiddle while the world burned, if it were interesting enough. And if he knew how to play the fiddle.

He tipped enough to lean into Riley. As long as this Maduin wouldn't turn him over immediately to the Crown, he supposed he could roll with whatever else came.

[eblouissant]

There was really no warning for Maduin except for that he was insane, other than that it was completely and randomized as to what he could or would do. Just depended on the day of the week as well as inherent mood that the other man would be in. Riley glanced over at Liam, and then back at Kay'dia-- "Probably not tonight, he is usually very very tetchy when it comes to the fallout over interacting with people for an extended period of time."

"We could hide you here until we get out of Faori proper." Kay'dia said this thoughtfully. "And then revel you once we are out on the road. It would at least give you time to get out of the city in case he decides that his whims doesn't want to pick up a stranger."

[giveanything]

Liam nodded. It was a sound plan really. If this Maduin wanted him to leave the caravan, he would, but it would be so much better if that were when they were beyond the city limits. So Liam would stay hidden until then, and try not to interfere too much with Riley's life and schedule, and to stay out of Kay'dia's way as well, given that she was being very understanding about him bunking up with her roommate.

He supposed they were lucky that her timing hadn't been a few minutes earlier. That would've made for an even more awkward introduction.

"I'm grateful. I don't really have the words to express how much." To this elven woman he'd only just met. And to his Riley. He let his gaze trail back to his knight. "And... I hope he lets me stay. I want to learn about this caravan, the people here. They've been your home, and I'd like to know about the life you've led while we were apart."

[eblouissant]

The elf lifted her head in acknowledgement.

"Well, I'll let you say, this is the first time I've seen him smile with his whole mouth." she gestured toward Riley who at the moment was lowering his head to rest against the other man's shoulder, locks of blonde scattering against dark fabric. "Dare I say he's prettier when he smiles?" of course Kay'dia meant it as a tease.

Being that she had been told that three times already today that she should 'smile' more by Olympian men who did not know what was good for them.

"Either he lets you stay or I leave with you." this was said in a way that brooked no complaint whatsoever, the knight had already made his decision, and it was very hard to veer the other man away from the path when the mind was made up.

"That being said, I think I'll leave you both alone tonight, I can bunk with Eden-- you both probably have much to catch up on." if you caught her drift.

[giveanything]

"He's always beautiful," Liam murmured softly, glancing down at where Riley rested against him before turning back to Kay'dia, "But he does have a stunning smile." The most stunning. It was one of Liam's favorite things to see, the way Riley's entire face lit up in a soft, gentle glow, warm and bright like clouds clearing and the sun coming out.

His hand tightened around Riley's at his lover's reassurance. He knew Riley would stay with him even if he wasn't allowed to remain with the Caravan. But Liam didn't want to drag Riley away from people who he cared about and who cared for him.

"I feel bad putting you out of your room, but... I think you're right. We do have a lot to catch up on." Drift caught, yes.

[eblouissant]

"I have something to smile about again." he said this quite seriously even as he squeezed that hand right back, allowing himself to rest. Though he did flush at the drift which had also been caught on his end. "I mean, I would like some time alone but I do not want to be an imposition.. and i will only allow it if you allow us to do something for you in return."

And well Riley would insist.

"Both of us can take over your morning chores tomorrow so that you do not have to wake up quite so early?"

That felt like it wouldn't be amiss; what Kay'dia did was tend to the horses and get then fed and watered, so doing such a thing would allow her to be able to lounge about a bit more.

"Well, I won't refuse if you want to give me an hour to sleep in.."

[giveanything]

There was Riley saying words that simultaneously broke and remade his heart. But oh he understood that too. He was happier in the few hours of this evening than he'd ever hoped to be in all the years that had laid themselves in between him and Riley.

He was quickly nodding in agreement with Riley's offer to Kay'dia.

"Happily. It'll be nice to feel like I'm pulling my weight, at least a little." His father had at least raised Guillaume and Patrice to understand that there was reward in working hard, that even royal hands could and should pitch in where they were needed. Liam had no idea what these chores were, but he trusted Riley to know whether he'd be a help or a hinderance when he'd offered.

Horses would be a good fit. He knew how to tend to them, so he'd actually be helpful, hopefully.

[eblouissant]

"Then we will, I cannot forsee either of us being of much sleep with still being in Faori." And Riley wanted to put as much space as he could between them in the capital city, he had already sowed a few seeds of possibility and the common man was usually good at watering and letting unrest grow.

And to find Patrice and Sir Dumas? That should be the priority.

"Great, then you both have fun and I will enjoy my bed for an extra hour." That would also likely prove Liam's usefulness. She reached into one of the makeshift drawers and pulled out a pillow case and started to shove some of her things in there for an impromptu slumber party.

[giveanything]

Liam was in agreement. He had to find Patrice and Sir Dumas, reassure himself that they were still alive. He knew that his brother likely thought him dead. Everyone had, with the sole exception of his demonic master. What would Patrice say when he found out? It would be a complicated discussion, given the price that Liam had so willingly paid to ensure Patrice's safety.

But that bridge could be crossed when they came to it. First came getting out of the city in one piece.

Well, okay, first involved trying to disappear into Riley's embrace for the rest of the night one way or another, or all ways, all the ways together that they could possibly think of. "Thank you. For this, and for keeping care of Riley all this time."

[eblouissant]

"I hardly took care of him, I just did my job." Kay'dia said matter of factly even she she finished gathering up her things and then made her way the short distance to the door. "Really if I'm being honest, he's probably one of the most well-organized and thoughtful person in this caravan, and it was he who was taking care of all of us like he needed it to fufill a purpose or something similar."

And then she glanced over at the two men.

"Enjoy your time alone, let me tell you it is really hard to get a moment alone together otherwise.. so think of it as a gift."

"It is true.." Riley said with the hint of a wry smile. "No privacy in this place, whatsoever."

And then Kay'dia was gone, leaving the two men alone.