"I've kidnapped you, m'lord." [ ♠[Rin]♠ + Noise Prince ]

[Noise Prince]

Glen himself, while could speak formally enough with his betters, wasn't particularly well educated. He was a trained soldier, after all. He was literate, but he could not read with great ease or write very beautifully. It was one thing he was insecure about when he was assigned this task, that there would be a gap in what they would be able to talk about. Of course, what was important was that he kept his lord safe, and brought him home, but he still hoped that Nero would view him favorably. Fortunately, they haven't had a moment where their educational backgrounds had caused any friction yet. He wondered if Nero might use a literary reference Glenn wouldn't understand, and think less of him, though. Maybe it already happened and he hadn't realized. It wasn't very useful to think about such hypotheticals, though. Getting lost in his own thoughts is what allowed Nero to slip from his side earlier.

 

Nero seemed lost in a train of thought when Glen asked him for his preference. When he spoke, there was something regal in his tone and his word choice. Glen wondered if he had been thinking about something poetic when he interrupted him. He watched as the lord gracefully moved to the window, staring out. The soft light formed a white line over the bridge of his nose and his over his lips.

 

"That sounds perfectly normal, m'lord," Glen told him. "It's natural to want to engage in the unfamiliar once you're exposed to it, I believe." He stood from the bed, feeling he'd established that he'd be sleeping there. "We could go out again, this time really see the square,"

[♠[Rin]♠]

As Glen's words reached him, the tension on Nero's shoulders eased up a little. He moved to make eye-contact his dialogue partner in a polite manner. How could such a pure soul be told to kidnap someone? While this man over there must live for his masters, Nero slowly but surely questioned loyalty. What did it bring at this point when it came to committing crime?

 

The look in Nero's eyes softened a little. He watched Glen raise to his feet, and even if he was so good-natured, his trained body, his appearance altogether, surely gave the counterpart a feeling of insecurity. The smile on his face was true, but it wouldn't be easy to knock him out. In a fight, he must be perfect.

 

"I would be delighted to look around here with you."

[Noise Prince]

Glen smiled and nodded, looking towards the pack, wondering if he should fish out the wallet in case Nero wanted to buy something. He decided against it. It was better to save it, and if Nero really had his heart set on something he saw, they could buy it the next day, most likely.

 

"Then we'll go back out to town," Glen replied, and he took a band from his wrist and pulled his hair back, tying it close to the nape of his neck, and tight. He was going to be especially vigilant, so he wanted his hair out of the way as well. He smiled again to Nero, offering his arm. It was a friendly gesture, one Glen wouldn't feel comfortable with if they weren't going to be going out in public, where they were to blend in behaving as friends, not master and servant, not capturer and captive. Plus, it would keep him close.

[♠[Rin]♠]

The noble's eyes followed everyone of Glen's movements attentively, not exactly like a predator but most likely like a prey. Even if his expression was more or less emotionless, it was hard to hide the wish to go back 'home'.

The soldier surely did still look as handsome as before even with his hair bound back. Nero really wondered if he had a woman waiting at home for him. Or even a child. He was young but strong and surely busy. Whether his family would be just as kind as he was?

 

They eyes once more met and Glen offered Nero his arm. However, it took the younger one a second to understand and the realisation forced a pink shadow on his cheeks. He didn't intend to be impolite, though. Maybe such a thing was normal here?

Nero stepped forward and tenderly laid his hand around Glen's elbow and linked arms with the soldier, his glance ahead of them. Nobody needed to notice his embarrassment.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

The noble's eyes followed everyone of Glen's movements attentively, not exactly like a predator but most likely like a prey. Even if his expression was more or less emotionless, it was hard to hide the wish to go back 'home'.

The soldier surely did still look as handsome as before even with his hair bound back. Nero really wondered if he had a woman waiting at home for him. Or even a child. He was young but strong and surely busy. Whether his family would be just as kind as he was?

 

They eyes once more met and Glen offered Nero his arm. However, it took the younger one a second to understand and the realisation forced a pink shadow on his cheeks. He didn't intend to be impolite, though. Maybe such a thing was normal here?

Nero stepped forward and tenderly laid his hand around Glen's elbow and linked arms with the soldier, his glance ahead of them. Nobody needed to notice his embarrassment.

[Noise Prince]

Glen felt a heat rise in his cheek as Nero put his arm in his, so careful and tenderly. He led him back down the stairs and back out onto the roads outdoors, trying to shake off the feeling. It was still as lively, despite it being the evening, which was great, because many shops in town would still be open with these crowds. He took them further into town towards the center where they would find the market. There were a few permanent shops in town, of course, but the spirit was the temporary merchants who flowed through and set up tents and booths for a few days. The market wouldn't be as crowded at this time of day, which was preferable for looking around.

 

Merchants made eye contact, but none really made a special effort to draw the two in, or the others lingering about. They likely had a long day, and if they were satisfied with their sales, and there were still potentially interested customers, they could afford to relax their pitches. Glen couldn't ask for better conditions for Nero. He probably wasn't used to markets, or merchants like this, and might be intimidated or easily swayed by an aggressively persuasive merchant, so this would be a more relaxed setting for his first exposure.

[♠[Rin]♠]

They left the inn and went back outside. Glen led him and he did it in a comfortable pace, Nero found. He looked around, his eyes moving from one side to the other. Especially when they reached the market. The noble didn't feel too comfortable in his situation, surrounded by so many people, though it was bearable and he wanted to make the best out of it. Maybe he wouldn't get a chance like this again.

 

Whenever he had the feeling someone looked at him a little too long, the grip of his fingers around Glen's arm tightened a little, though his strength was nothing compared to the soldier's, so he doubted it would hurt or anything. Nero couldn't believe how much and how many different things were being offered here. Food, clothes, jewellery, things he hadn't even seen before... And were those people over there sewing carpets and curtains?

 

As something caught his eye, the noble halted. A little insecure, he tilted his head as he fixated his glance on a market stall whose boxes were filled with water. Each one had a few of the same sea animal species in it. Fish, crabs, starfish, ...

Nero moved a little towards the stall to inspect the boxes better. Suddenly, a goldfish jumped out at him. Completely taken aback, the noble stumbled to the side and blinked.

What the... ?

[Noise Prince]

Glen was a good deal taller than Nero, and he had noticed the difference in their gaits early in their travels, so by the time they linked arms, he knew the pace he walked at and matched it. He didn't want to be dragging him around, after all. He led him out to the temporary marketplace, where a surprising number of people were still shopping, but less than if they came in the afternoon. It was good to have a good number of people around, though. If they were too memorable for being the only people lingering at the end of the day, then it might cause trouble later. 5

 

While it was his job to be vigilant with Nero, Glen found himself mostly enjoying watching Nero's expressions as he looked around. His fingers would cling onto him when he became alarmed by someone looking at him for too long. Most of these were merchants, contemplating whether to entice them over or not. They were obviously travelers, and travelers came in two types; frugal, and souvenir-hunters, so it was a gamble who you were trying to sell to.

 

Nero stopped, resulting in a ceased Glen as well, when he caught a fish merchant's stall. Glen walked with him a little, letting him slip from his arm to get a closer look. Glen would have assumed that Nero had seen these, that fanciful animals were brought to him at the castle. The look on his face said otherwise. Or maybe this was his first time seeing these creatures alive. Glen heard a soft splash, and Nero jumped, and he instinctively marched to his side.

 

"Oho, making an impression on the little goldie, huh?" The merchant with sun weathered skin remarked. "They can get pretty feisty for being tiny little things."

[♠[Rin]♠]

Nero looked up towards man behind the stall, catching his composure. "Yes, I guess. It does seem amiable, though." He admitted, finding the fish indeed adorable. However, he only remembered eating parts of fish so it was new to him that living creatures were being sold. Like... pets?

It was still embarrassing to be be scared by such a sweet creature and he just hoped Glen wouldn't laugh at his disability to cope with things considered normal among the folk.

 

The noble stepped a little back and folded his hands in front of himself. It was a little awkward, especially since he didn't know what exactly to do. He had never bought anything, merely asked maids and servants for things. And he had never talked to a merchant either. His glance lifted and met Glen's face. "Would you like to look around further?" This was probably the best way to get away.

[Noise Prince]

Glen relaxed a little as the merchant spoke to them so merrily. And he didn't laugh at Nero, of course, but he did find his reaction very charming. He might have never seen such a thing before, so it was natural that they were going to surprise him. For someone who had never seen a live fish before, they must be very strange looking, as well. He nodded, understanding that Nero was hoping for a way out of this situation. The merchant hadn't been aggressive of course, but he would still be interested in trying to sell to them, so it really was best for Nero to avoid any pitches- unless it was something he might genuinely want to buy. He took Nero's arm in his again.

 

"Yes, let's go ahead and move on," He said, smiling softly. He turned to the merchant and gave him a small nod. The man's face fell for a moment when he realized they weren't customers, though his grin returned out of politeness, showing off the extent of the roundness of his rosy cheeks.

 

"You both take care now," He told them as they left, turning his attention to other approaching potential customers.

 

They passed a number of different booth and stands with various wares, like potters, a fabric merchant, as well as a booth with exotic animal parts, for luck in various ways, in love, in wealth, etcetera. Glen didn't subscribe to such ideas but they were growing in popularity in this area of the country. Maybe Nero was a fan of them, as well.

[♠[Rin]♠]

Nero politely thanked the man and followed Glen by his side. A silent sigh escaping his lips. That had been scary... sort of.

However, the awkwardness left just as quick as it had arrived earlier. As they went along, the noble made sure to keep a firm hold on the soldier's arm, hoping it wasn't too tight or anything. He didn't intend to hurt the other or even corner him in any way, he just feared getting drawn in by all the eyes looking at them. Besides, he couldn't let Glen believe that he genuinely wanted to escape. That would make things even more difficult in the future.

 

The animal parts, may they be stuffed or not, didn't draw Nero's attention very well. He had seen many of those around in the palace, though for some reason it disgusted him. He hadn't seen many animals alive, though he preferred watching them in that state rather than using what God gave them as some kind of decoration. Other nobles thought differently, that was for sure. However, one thing did spark his interest, and it was a chess board. Not an ordinary one; the figures looked so shiny and were semi-transparent. Were they made out of milk glass?

The raven stopped for a moment, softly tugging on Glen's sleeve, before he lifted his glance to meet the other's shining eyes. "Do you know chess? Would you be interested in a game against me?" he asked carefully, a soft tone lingering in his voice.

[Noise Prince]

Glen led Nero away, and he felt Nero cling to him tightly. While he seemed more at ease once they had left the booth, it was almost as if he was tethering himself to his captor, like he might float away. While it would be ultimately futile, it wouldn't be a bad idea to try to use the marketplace to try to get away from him. It was, after all, not very crowded, but there was a lot of things going on with the booths, empty or half empty boxes, displays, large goods, plenty of things he could take advantage of. But it was nice to know that Nero was either too naive to think about utilizing this, or that he genuinely didn't want to get lost again. Glen didn't believe Nero was suddenly fine with his situation, but maybe he realized it was safer to stay with him.

 

Nero, surprisingly, didn't seem interested at all the the fad items laying about the various merchants. Many of these were trends with the upper classes that was now spreading to the lower. From Glen's experience this meant that the nobles would find a new thing to enjoy and these animal body parts would become a purely lower class trend. Glen couldn't tell if Nero had already moved on to the next interest, or merely was never interested at all. But soon there was something that he finally found fascinating enough to approach again. Glen couldn't be sure what he was looking at, since the merchant sold a number of toys and games. It wasn't until Nero took his sleeve and looked up, and asked him to play chess. Glen's eyes widened, a bit embarrassed. He did know how to play, but he wasn't that familiar with it, and wasn't very good. He wouldn't be a very formidable opponent. But he agreed.

 

"Alright, let's have at the game," Glen told him with a smile.

[♠[Rin]♠]

Nero was briefly confused as he observed the expression of shock which lingered on Glen's face for a moment. Though, it was replaced by the usual amiable smile, this time, however, accompanied by a sweet faint red shimmer on his cheeks. It left the noble in a stare for a second, before he came back to reality and nodded in appreciation. His eyes glimmered, filled with excitement for spending time with his favourite game and someone who wasn't forced to do it, like servants.

 

"Thank you."

 

Nero let go of the soldier's sleeve and approached the merchant carefully. He may really not be humble, but shy and polite. And he relied on Glen knowing how to handle things, really.

[Noise Prince]

"Of course," Glen responded with a gentle nod, and he took a seat opposite of Nero. He sighed quite noticeably, he didn't even remember what color went first. Well, regardless of color, it seemed only proper for Nero to take the first move. He racked his memory for the rules he could recall. It had been almost a year since last time he sat to play a game of chess. Pawns were easy, of course, and he knew knights had that angled movement path. But which piece moved straight, and which diagnal? He always mixed those two up. He'd have to be careful, and observe Nero carefully so that he didn't accidentally embarrass himself and betray his inexperience.

[♠[Rin]♠]

Nero gladly took a seat, his back straightened and his shoulders pulled back. No matter how much Glen tried to blend them in, the noble was most likely not going to abandon his manners. The Wehs hadn't been overly kind to him throughout the past several years, however they had educated him well. He understood the sense behind it. Who would want a stupid pet? To that family and also to his own he was nothing more than a mere political tool and there was nothing to do about it. Glen showed him kindness naturally and what it meant to have someone truly like you - if it wasn't show, that is. No, Nero doubted it was. The soldier acted genuine. Even if Nero was still wary and kept his guard up and also even if there was still this tension between the duo, they did enjoy each other's company to a certain degree. Was it questionable?

 

Nero moved his first piece. White started, always, though it didn't mean much. If one was good at this game, it didn't matter who started and how many pieces the person had. In fact, Nero had started playing this game in the hope of fleeing from the usual, boring daily life inside a golden cage. He wasn't one to complain, really, nor did he have the right to, but dreaming wasn't forbidden, right? Chess didn't mean war strategies to him, it was more a way of doing something out of the ordinary. Fighting someone just in theory, without any consequences and without any worries. Something unusual mixed with complexity.

 

 

 

@

Please Register/ Sign In, in order to see the links.