Chapter 3
You are going to kiss her tonight.
You're going to--
A small prick in your side causes you to hiss lightly, putting your tailor immediately on guard. A small 'it's nothing' and the little brown-haired man resumes his work.
Your mother is hosting a ball for the royal family's procession, and naturally it falls to you and your breathtakingexquisite blushing bride to appear at her side for the festivities.
The urge has lingered since your lapse in control that night in the study (and to be painfully honest, a good time before), but the desire to kiss Kanaya has been building steadily as you spend more and more time together of late. You don't wish to avoid her--as you've seen how she worries, and hurting her is the farthest thing from your mind. You're not sure that separation would help this growing frustration anyway.
So, you've given up on whinging and fretting over whether she will return your affections. You're just going to find a quiet moment, press your lips to hers, and hope.
You're terrified.
You're terrified.
At least John will be pleasant company.
- - - - - - - - - -
Rose is troubled by something, and she will not tell you what.
She has been terse and reserved of late--moreso than usual, anyway. You were worried that she was falling ill, and expressed as such, until she very clearly explained that no, that was not the case. "Not that I'm averse to your attentions" she had added with what for her might be described as a roguish grin, and you quashed your blush by reminding yourself that Rose had simply taken up harmless flirting as her most recent method of attempting to burrow under your hide. It was uncannily effective.
As usual, you ignore the twinge in your vascular pump as it arises almost on cue whenever your thoughts wander to Rose.
Returning to your point. By your experience, and taking Rose at her word (though a dubious endeavor at times) that she is not ill, you can find only one answer as to her troubled demeanor:
Rose has flushed affections towards someone.
It hurts to think about, but you're not surprised. You've seen the signs before, and you suppose that she is 'near that age' by human terms. The same could be said about yourself, were you not so fixated on your Human Husband.
The question is: who is it?
- - - - -
Alright you admit it, you might occasionally slip down to the kitchens in the night and have a small snack from time to time. While the constant parties and banquets after your marriage were fine while they lasted, the usual three daytime meals for humans isn't really enough for an alternian's physiology.
"So you're the one who swept my little prickly pear off his feet." You hastily look up from your meal to find David, Rose's... human moirail? Cousin, you remember--leaning in the doorway, head cocked slightly and arms crossed. He continues, "We haven't gotten the chance to speak properly yet, have we?"
"We haven't." You motion across the small table for him to take a seat, returning to your grubloaf. He strides across the room to sit as you smile at your little internal joke. "I'm surprised you came looking for me at this hour." Having to sleep less than humans and meant that despite your diurnal schedule, you tended to stay awake far later into the night than even most of the servants. "I hope you weren't searching long?"
He shrugs lightly, "First place I looked, actually." He answers your raised eyebrow with, "I would find Aradia in the kitchens or the storerooms most of the time as well. Speaking with the cooks, enjoying the company, having seconds or thirds after a meal--you know I'm surprised alternians aren't larger, the way you seem to put it away."
David then continues on a tangent about giant trolls and cooks and fires that you don't really understand enough about to care about, so you interject with "Might I ask what sent you after me, Viscount Strider?"
"--Just Dave, please. My brother's the one with the interest politics, and I'm more than fine leaving it to him." You nod slightly and he continues, "I'm just curious to meet my favorite cousin's new bride properly. See how you're faring with the whole 'stranded in alien territory' thing."
You chuckle, "Better than some. From what I've heard, Dame Megido has had quite an adjustment phase."
"That's Dame Strider, now, but yes--Do you know her?"
"She and I shared a mutual friend." You don't add that not being in contact with many of your old friends and acquaintances is one of the struggles you face here, but Dave nods almost imperceptibly in what you guess might be understanding. You're getting better at deciphering masks, you think.
"She's an odd one. To be honest I'm not sure what I should do with her--besides the obvious."
It takes a moment longer than you'd like to catch his meaning, and almost choke on your food when you do. You wave off his almost instant lunge for water as you recover.
"Didn't mean to surprise you there."
"It's fine." You take a drink from your cup to help ease the coughing.
"So. You two gone at it yet?"
And now you're choking on your drink.