t h o r n in the chest . . . [odette ~]

[Mimi]

Rian paced back and forth in his bedroom, bathed by the midnight moonlight in one step and out of it the next. He couldn't sleep. He hadn't had a decent night's sleep for...how long? A fortnight? No, longer...a month? Two? Time was starting to blur together for him; he wondered if all condemned people felt the same way. There were preparations to make, though, and he hadn't really started on any of them. For example, who was to take care of his mare? Who was to take care of his hunting dogs? Then again, he supposed he didn't want to look suspicious...

Rian sighed in frustration and ran a restless hand through his hair. That damned woman! To pull such a stunt at the last minute! His father was surely furious; he'd sent word out almost immediately, but a messenger hadn't returned yet. He'd also requested for the court doctor's discreet presence, but who knew if the man would oblige? His duties were first to the King and Queen, second to their children.

Shaking his head, Rian pressed a hand against his chest in an almost helpless manner. Sometimes it spiked, sometimes it dulled, but the ache was always there like some phantom or longstanding regret. He winced as it worsened and fell against the window sill, his fingers tightly gripping the cool stone.

What could he do? Sneak out into the stables this late at night and retrieve his last flask? Someone would most definitely see him, and if that someone were Odette...well...

Even though it was well past the proper time for a young lady to be out and about, Rian really wouldn't have been surprised if she slept in the stable with that wild beast of hers. He almost laughed at the thought if he weren't currently in the throes of an incurable sickness. (Why was he suddenly thinking about her anyways? He supposed it just went to show how irritating that woman really was...)

Rian stumbled to his bed and groped at the handkerchief on the bedside table. He couldn't hold back coughing anymore; he just hoped no one would be walking past as he suffered through it. The relief would only be temporary, but Rian was starting to grow desperate.

He started off quiet, but the coughing very soon escalated into hacking (as it usually did), and the handkerchief turned from a pure white to a bloody scarlet.

"Dammit," he muttered in between breaths; there was more blood than last time.

He needed to send for a servant - anyone; he needed that last flask, and after it was gone...? Well, he'd think about that when the time came.

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[ollie]

[/i] -- which meant that if it wasn't the princess calling for her, she wasn't available. But, alas, her father didn't seem to care whether or not she was the princess's lady in waiting or a hag at the dock; when he wanted her to do his bidding, she had to be available. Just like that.

Men.

With that angry thought in her mind, she glanced at the woman that had come to her door -- a poor, quiet maid that didn't want anything to do with Odette and her family, but had been called upon all the same. "He says he'd like to you look attractive, m'lady," the woman said meekly, her voice wavering like a mouse. Odette's mouth was set in an angry, thin line, and she waved the poor woman off.

"I can dress by myself, thank you," she replied, glancing at the dress that had been left at the foot of her bed. Sent from her mother, most definitely, and while a pretty dress in all sincerity, it was more than just flattering -- it was along the lines of desperate. But she dressed, pinning pieces of her hair back on either sides of her temple with pearl clips. She looked at herself in the mirror and paused, wondering exactly what was her mother's hook.

The dress hung close to her torso and along her hips, though belled out slowly, cut in the front to show the mostly sheer white fabric that covered her legs. The dress itself was made of a pearly lilac fabric for the most part, with a pale yellow trim, and fake flowers sewn into the back of the skirt. It cut somewhat low in the front, showing only the top of her cleavage, but still, it was notable enough for Odette to consider changing.

And then, remembering the many times she'd been caught wearing something her mother did not permit (and the scolding that followed) she decided against it.

Entering the halls (barefoot, mind you, as Odette always was at night), she studied the doors she passed, counting them until the prince's door. Hearing the hacking, she grimaced, and waited until it ended before opening the door, only standing in the doorway at first.

"My father told me you need assistance," she said quietly, voice softer than before as she noted the bloody handkerchief in his hand. Maybe there was more to the prince than she'd first seen... not that she was getting her hopes up.

( ooc ) if the speaking is in that funky green color, it's by another woman, if it's in a bluish color, it's by a man, and if it's pink, it's by odette. just so it's easier to read. /lazy.

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[Mimi]

Rian closed his eyes, setting both hands in front of him on the gold-threaded bed covers and taking care to not stain them with the handkerchief. He sighed as he dipped his head and tried to force his breathing back to normal. In, out... In, out, but each breath was raspy and...well, unseemly. It made Rian want to stop breathing altogether, and just as he was contemplating how he'd go about doing that, a quiet voice at the door interrupted his thoughts.

He frowned, immediately crumpling the suspect kerchief in his hand. Who could it possibly be? Did he really not notice the door opening? And more importantly, had she noticed his little fit and the blatant evidence it left behind?

Slowly, he pivoted on his left foot to greet (or rather scold) the intruder, but the words stopped in his throat. In fact, he nearly choked on them and induced another coughing fit.

Odette! Out of all the ladies-in-waiting, servants, and staff, she had to suddenly appear? He would have taken anyone else, even the Princess!

...Well, it seemed they'd lied; there was no such thing as a merciful God.

He turned fully around and attempted to lean casually against the bed. It turned out to be more of an awkward pose, however, instead of a causal lean. "D-didn't --"

Rian cleared his throat to get rid of the guttural and sickly undertone. It didn't work.

"Didn't anyone tell you it's improper to visit a young man's bedchamber in the dead of night?"

The edge of his lips jerked up to try at a half-hearted smirk, but it seemed the effort was a bit too much for him at the moment. He broke down in another fit, this one much quieter and shorter than the other.

He scowled and wiped his forearm across his chin. When he brought it away, blood was streaked across the tanned skin. Aw, hell.

"What do you want?" he asked curtly, not even trying to hide his illness anymore.

He threw the hankerchief back to his original post on the night stand and took out another from his inside coat pocket. Rian hadn't changed; what was the point when he couldn't sleep?

Brushing the new kerchief against his mouth, he glared at Odette as if to say "can't you see I'm in the middle of something?"

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[ollie]

[/i] bad -- he had, of course, been the one to say the sexist remark. But just as her embarrassment surfaced, her not-so-far-behind temper rose inside, and the look in her eyes hardened.

"Didn't anyone tell you it's improper to visit a young man's bedchamber in the dead of night?" he asked after composing himself, and she felt like snapping back, but she had a feeling that was probably going to be unhelpful towards their situation. She watched him fall into another fit, crossing her arms.

Well, if he could be an ass towards her, she could be impassive. And she watched him cough, until her expression softened and almost drooped on her face. Finally, she sighed and closed the door to his bedroom, leaning back against the wall.

"What do you want?" he asked, and this time she planned on replying.

Straightening from the wall, she passed him to the room she assumed to be the washing room. Finding a basin of poured water and washing cloth, she wet the cloth before squeezing any excess water out. She returned, watching him for a moment before closing most of the distance, stopping a step or two away. "Why don't you stop trying to think of retorts to whatever I say and lay down? I think that's what you're supposed to be doing in the dead of the night, anyway," she replied, taking his hand and holding out the arm he'd used to wipe off his mouth, rubbing off the blood.

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[Mimi]

Rian had been too preoccupied to notice much Odette's changing temperament. His eyebrows drew into a frown as he stared out the window, his gaze distant and almost melancholy. This was what happened when he grew too tired to keep up his defenses, and it irked him to no end that Odette was there to see him so. But...he couldn't help it; his weary body was too worn down. Three years fighting on the front, and now this? He shook his head slowly; he didn't need a doctor, he needed an apothecary.

At the sound of the closing door, however, he snapped his head in Odette's direction and narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. It wasn't exactly that he didn't trust them to be in a room alone together, but...

He'd learn a few years ago that such a situation never yielded anything favorable. The last time he found himself behind closed bedchamber doors with a woman...well, he regretted it. Rumors spread like wild fire, and in a fortnight's time, his father had called him in to ask if he'd impregnated anyone. It took months to clear up the situation and even then, Rian never really gained back his reputation.

So it was perfectly understandable that he tensed at the thought of being alone with Odette, but he kept silent, not much wanting to argue over a door.

He watched as she swept past him and by chance caught a whiff of aged leather on her that could have only come from a worn saddle.

Rian stared at her passively as she stepped closer. His eyes flicked to the washing cloth for a split second before returning to her face. "As should you," he muttered in response and flinched a bit at her touch.

"So, the Lady Odette has a gentle side, does she?" he asked in a bit of a teasing tone.

A few seconds later and his arm had visibly relaxed compared to the tenseness it'd been in when she'd first started.

He huffed a bit under his breath. "I find it hard to believe that your father sent you at this ungodly hour to assist me..."

His frown deepened. Had he really been so loud as to disturb her father?

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[ollie]

[/color] as it seemed more like a passing thought than a real comment. She had never really understood men and what they did, even the simple things like their mutterings to themselves. She raised her eyes back to his face, though, when he spoke again. A softer side? Odette found it almost hurtful that he seemed to think that she could never be gentle, if that was what he was aiming at when he’d said it.

“I believe that women, as a general rule,” she said carefully, “are famous for being soft. Or am I not a woman in your eyes, Prince Rian?” There was no edge to her voice, nor any sort of slyness; it was simply a question, because it had been bothering her that he kept speaking to her as if she were a fellow man, or even something lower. Something… inhuman, maybe.

“I find it hard to believe that your father sent you at this ungodly hour to assist me…” He sounded almost childish—snotty, even, as he said it, like some sort of denied brat. She rolled her eyes, and wiped off his mouth with the cloth now, since it was garishly red from his coughing—or, rather, hacking.

As she rolled the idea around in her head, she shrugged mutely. She wasn’t sure what to think of now, as her father hadn’t told her how he knew the prince was ill. His father seemed to know everything, she supposed, and lowered the cloth as she had no use for it any longer. Finally, she realized exactly where Rian’s room was situated, and glanced at the wall opposite the washing room’s door. “My father’s men are all over,” she answered, “and one of his favorite little spies live beside this room. He’s probably listening now, which means he also knows how rude you’ve been to me when all I’ve wanted to do is help.” Now, she smiled softly, as if she was in the middle of a conspiracy.

Glancing about the room again, she realized just how suspicious this would look to an onlooker—and in the castle; there were plenty of eyes to spare, even in the dead of night. Without asking him whether or not they should, she went to the window, closing the curtains. Right now, everyone would be asleep, and if she closed them as soon as possible, there was less of a chance for anyone to even consider her being in his room. Turning towards him, back to the curtains, she looked to him. “Since I now know you’re ill, and am now playing nurse,” she said in a whisper, “how ill are you, Prince Rian?”[/size][/ul][/justify]

[Mimi]

Rian bristled a bit at her question. What did she mean by that? Well, of course he saw her as a girl - er, woman. What else could he possibly see her as? He rolled his eyes and nearly scoffed. Women and their absurd questions. He didn't think he'd ever be able to understand them, and he was somewhat glad that he probably wouldn't have the time to.

He kept quiet, not exactly sure that question really deserved an answer, and if it did, well, he'd be damned if he knew what to say. Besides, wasn't the answer obvious? ...unless she was confused about her own gender or something of that nature...

Rian drew back a bit when she briskly swept the cloth over his mouth and followed up by wiping his other arm across it again to disperse the extra moisture.

He followed her eyes to the wall and blinked. Ah, so that's why. Well, he supposed that was some relief. At least he wasn't so loud as to be heard throughout the castle, but he didn't know if he exactly liked the idea of a courtier of Odette's father listening in on them right now.

"Hm," Rian muttered and ran his free hand through his hair for the fifth time that night, "Well, I just hope he's not a gossiper then. And rude, m'lady? Help or not, I believe one is obliged to at least knock before trespassing."

"Hey, what are you...?" he trailed off, seeing her pull the curtains close. Shame, he actually took some comfort in the night sky and moon.

"You know, it'd look more suspicious that you are closing the curtains now. It'd be smarter to leave them open; it shows we've nothing to hide."

Despite saying that, he made no move to re-open the curtains and simply shrugged at her subsequent question, leaning further into the bed. He contemplated whether or not he'd answer her. Not answering her and telling her to mind her own affairs would only serve as another splinter in their already fragile relationship. Considering she and the Princess seemed to be rather close, it'd be in his best interest to befriend Odette. If the way to a man's heart was indeed, as they said, through his stomach, then the way to a woman's was through her friends.

He rolled the thought around in his head for a few silent moments before sighing and pulling his legs up onto the bed. Rian placed his hands behind his head and set it against the multitude of idle pillows.

"I've a few months, or so I was told. One month at the least; two, three, maybe even four if I'm lucky. I don't know; the court doctor failed in anything specific...he's rather incompetent, really..."

He frowned a bit at the mention of the court doctor, who he'd never really liked. Maybe he shouldn't have told the whole truth, but he didn't really see any point in lying. Besides, it wasn't like she much cared. He didn't think he'd be going overboard if he went as far as to say she hated him.

He continued talking in a business-like manner with closed eyes. "But, you will not be telling anyone else what I've just told you. My own family does not know, and I don't intend on telling them until I am on my deathbed," he finished firmly.

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[ollie]

[/color] she replied coolly, “unless you’d like all of the castle and country to know that you cough so badly you bleed.” She didn’t say it loudly, but there was a warning tone in her voice – a dangerous one, for sure, since she was the only one other than his doctor that knew of his illness (if you don’t count her father and his brown-nosing entourage).

She took a seat at the foot of his bed, crossing her legs, which was visible through the sheer fabric in the front. “Your deathbed, if I’ve listened correctly to everything you have said about your illness,” she began, leaning against a post of the bed leisurely, “is not very far away. Especially if you continue to put all your energy in spiting me. All I’m trying to do is keep you from coughing, and look at that – you haven’t had a fit since we began speaking. Maybe being friendly would do you some good.”

She doubted he had a true friendly bone in his body, but didn’t remark about this; instead, she went back to looking around the room, noting that he was a prince and even she had a better room than him. “And, anyhow, I believe you have to win over the princess. This room is horrendous, for instance, in comparison to the rooms of all the princess favors. I hear Berlus has a better one.” Yes, those bothersome rumors – though, it wasn’t a rumor; maids that spoke with her family had told her parents so.

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[Mimi]

With the velvet curtains drawn shut, the room had noticeably darkened, and Rian failed to notice Odette's blush. The lull of her voice, however, was indeed something calming, and Rian found himself at more ease than he'd been the past half year. It wasn't exactly the notion of marriage that irritated him, however, it was the thought of, well, putting himself at the discretion of a woman, having to woo said woman, and now, having to woo said woman for seven days. He honestly wished his father would simply drop the elaborate front and invade, but Rian was not dense enough to think such a tactic would suddenly work when it hadn't for the past decade.

"Hm," Rian murmured in response, "I'm only afraid that others will think we were hiding something else."

Rian re-opened his eyes as he felt the bed shift and drew up to lean back on his elbows. He stared at Odette sitting on the foot of his bed, and, despite her words which were unfortunately true, he couldn't help but stare at her like she was an intruder. He quirked an eyebrow at what she said next and gave a quiet hmph.

"I'm not trying to spite you, Lady Odette. You just don't seem to like me...but I know when to concede despite what you may think, and you are correct; I haven't coughed since talking with you - that is unless you include the very beginning - and maybe I should be friendlier."

He shrugged, showing that he didn't take much to the latter idea but wasn't completely opposed to it either.

"And you can kindly keep those comments to yourself, m'lady. I don't care much for rumors even if they are true unless they are to my direct detriment."

A few more seconds of silence, and Rian cleared his throat. "Do you intend on sleeping here tonight, Lady Odette? If so, I'm afraid we'll have to work out a some sort of arrangement?"

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[ollie]

[/color] she laughed, obviously amused. While she disliked the prince for all intensive purposes, she would be lying if she said she didn’t find him entertaining – but that was also because he was constantly snapping back at her. Most were caught off-guard and stopped trying long ago; but Rian was constantly coming back for more. And that amused her. “I don’t like you because you’re so rude to me simply because I’m a woman, it seems. And the fact that you put up such a façade in front of the princess, I promise you I will not let her even consider falling in love with such a pig like you.”

So, yes, she did dislike Rian, but it was hard not to with the way he spoke to her, and how he quickly put up an act in front of the princess. It didn’t mean much, since he was such a shit actor. “A rumor is untrue. But trust me; if I do spread something about you,” she replied as she stood, “it will be very honest.” With that, she headed to the door, as she did not intend on sleeping here, and when she had been reminded by what the prince had said, she decided that he could hack himself to death in the night for all she cared. Her father was an imbecile to send her here to this rude boy of a prince.

“I don’t intend on sleeping here, no,” she replied, opening the door, “and I’ll be relieved if you cough until you bleed out tonight, Rian. That would be one hell of a blessing for me and the princess, and thus the country.” With that, she swept out, hardly glancing back. She had some sleeping to catch up on.

(ooc) wow that was crappy and short.

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[Mimi]

Rian croaked out a half-chuckle. "Constant fighting? Are we fighting, Lady Odette? I wasn't aware. I thought we were simply having some...thoughtful conversation?"

He found it very...ironic that two people as different as they could still share a laugh - albeit somewhat forced maybe - in such a situation as the one they were in. He, set to die in less than a half year's time, and she, determined to retain her independence in a society that degraded females.

...Maybe, just maybe, in another life, Rian and Odette could have even been...friends?

Well, if she were a man in that other life, of course. Women were totally insufferable, and that was definitely something that wouldn't change no matter what the era or society. Yes.

Rian smirked slightly at her insults. He didn't take insults into much consideration, especially if they were from women. (Though not many women dared insult him, so the fact that Odette could so openly slander him made him want to laugh and laugh heartily.)

"Well, Miss, if you do not like my conduct, then you can easily remove yourself from my presence. And have you ever considered that perhaps my attitude towards the princess is not a facade?"

Alright, well, that was an outright lie, but there was always that possibility. He fancied himself quite the capable actor, thank you very much, and that possibility was more than likely with his outward bearing.

"I shall keep my ears and eyes open, then, Lady Odette."

He smiled charmingly in her direction and swung his legs over the side of the bed, planting them firmly on the carpeted ground as he made to get up and see her out.

"Goodnight, Lady Odette," he affirmed instead of spitting back a retort to all the lovely words she left him with. He watched her sweep away, shaking his head almost scornfully at the confidence just seeping from every pore of her body.

Once she was out of sight, Rian gently closed his chamber door and sighed, leaning against it with closed eyes for a few moments before striding wearily to his bed and gingerly lying down.

He re-assumed his original position, with his clothes still on, as his eyelids fluttered shut. No, he wasn't going to sleep; besides, the sun would be up in only a few hours time. He'd just, as he called it, "rest his eyes".

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