Post by Shhasow on Apr 28, 2013 8:31:06 GMT 10
Title: A Meeting of Kings
Rating: PG
Word Count: 572
Pairing: G/R
Round/Fight:1C
Summary: A meeting of kings.
“Why are you sad?”
Roger hastily wiped away the lone tear trickling down his face. He had hardly noticed it, or perhaps he hadn’t cared enough to bother, but now he looked around for the voice that had intruded. Of all the bustling ship workers, merchants, and passengers, no one seemed even to notice his presence (and wasn’t that depressingly familiar, lately), except for one small lanky boy. Lower City, no doubt, judging by his faded and patched tunic.
“What is it to you,” Roger snapped, but it must have been a poor attempt at rancor, since the boy sidled closer, hazel eyes intent.
“I don’t know yet,” the boy said thoughtfully, “but I do know that you shouldn’t be so sad. Things are going to be better for you.”
Roger managed a credible sneer this time. “And what do you know of such things? Who are you, to even talk to me?”
The boy shrugged. “Why shouldn’t I talk to you?”
“Do you even know who I am, boy?” He threw a dismissive hand at the urchin, but he refused to leave. It was not for a Duke to give up his space. “Leave me now, before I call the guard.”
“I don’t know who you are, but I know who you will become. King, like me.”
Roger gaped, but recovered himself quickly. What was one more mad boy on the streets?
Before he could respond, the boy continued. “You will be King, and I will be a different sort of King, and Kings ought to help each other, right?”
The Duke stared. The boy seemed to know an awful lot... how was this possible? “How do you know this - what Gift do you have?”
The boy scowled, indignant. “Nothing, no Gift, I’m not useful like my Ma. I just see things sometimes, and I know things when I see people. Like how I knew Ol Benjy was going to get nobbed by the Guard, or when the baker tries to cheat me and Ma. I try to ignore it, mostly.”
Ah, that explained it. The boy had the Sight. What an intriguing urchin, and Roger couldn’t help the warmth that gathered in his chest. Maybe, just maybe, the boy was right. Of course, he wanted the boy to be right, wanted it more than his mind could grasp, even now.
“But you didn’t ignore it today,” he pointed out.
The street urchin shook his head. “I don’t know, I just thought that you seemed too sad, that it might be fair for you to know before you left for so long.”
Roger raised an eyebrow, more convinced than ever that the kid was genuine. Who else, outside of the Royal Family, knew that he was leaving for Carthak? To be more precise, he was being carted off to Carthak, but still.
“You’re right, boy,” Roger said with a slight grin, one hand reaching down to clasp a thin shoulder, “Kings should help each other out. What’s your name?”
The hazel eyes met his Conte blue. “George Cooper.”
“Well George Cooper,” Roger made a deep bow - and if it was slightly mocking, the street boy would hardly notice, “I will remember you when I return.”
George nodded, and then gave a crooked grin before he twirled away, leaving Roger staring at an empty space, wondering - and hoping - if this hadn’t been some figment of his own mind.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 572
Pairing: G/R
Round/Fight:1C
Summary: A meeting of kings.
“Why are you sad?”
Roger hastily wiped away the lone tear trickling down his face. He had hardly noticed it, or perhaps he hadn’t cared enough to bother, but now he looked around for the voice that had intruded. Of all the bustling ship workers, merchants, and passengers, no one seemed even to notice his presence (and wasn’t that depressingly familiar, lately), except for one small lanky boy. Lower City, no doubt, judging by his faded and patched tunic.
“What is it to you,” Roger snapped, but it must have been a poor attempt at rancor, since the boy sidled closer, hazel eyes intent.
“I don’t know yet,” the boy said thoughtfully, “but I do know that you shouldn’t be so sad. Things are going to be better for you.”
Roger managed a credible sneer this time. “And what do you know of such things? Who are you, to even talk to me?”
The boy shrugged. “Why shouldn’t I talk to you?”
“Do you even know who I am, boy?” He threw a dismissive hand at the urchin, but he refused to leave. It was not for a Duke to give up his space. “Leave me now, before I call the guard.”
“I don’t know who you are, but I know who you will become. King, like me.”
Roger gaped, but recovered himself quickly. What was one more mad boy on the streets?
Before he could respond, the boy continued. “You will be King, and I will be a different sort of King, and Kings ought to help each other, right?”
The Duke stared. The boy seemed to know an awful lot... how was this possible? “How do you know this - what Gift do you have?”
The boy scowled, indignant. “Nothing, no Gift, I’m not useful like my Ma. I just see things sometimes, and I know things when I see people. Like how I knew Ol Benjy was going to get nobbed by the Guard, or when the baker tries to cheat me and Ma. I try to ignore it, mostly.”
Ah, that explained it. The boy had the Sight. What an intriguing urchin, and Roger couldn’t help the warmth that gathered in his chest. Maybe, just maybe, the boy was right. Of course, he wanted the boy to be right, wanted it more than his mind could grasp, even now.
“But you didn’t ignore it today,” he pointed out.
The street urchin shook his head. “I don’t know, I just thought that you seemed too sad, that it might be fair for you to know before you left for so long.”
Roger raised an eyebrow, more convinced than ever that the kid was genuine. Who else, outside of the Royal Family, knew that he was leaving for Carthak? To be more precise, he was being carted off to Carthak, but still.
“You’re right, boy,” Roger said with a slight grin, one hand reaching down to clasp a thin shoulder, “Kings should help each other out. What’s your name?”
The hazel eyes met his Conte blue. “George Cooper.”
“Well George Cooper,” Roger made a deep bow - and if it was slightly mocking, the street boy would hardly notice, “I will remember you when I return.”
George nodded, and then gave a crooked grin before he twirled away, leaving Roger staring at an empty space, wondering - and hoping - if this hadn’t been some figment of his own mind.