Thread - Siblings

[alteanprincess]

Cast: Lady Elice and Prince Marth of Altea
Duration: October 05
Synopsis: Per Marth's request to see his sister, she offers to him her apartment number, even though she likely does not know what an apartment number actually is. It seems it will be a simple discussion over tea that Marth is bringing.
Additional: Not applicable.

Comments

[alteanprincess]

She had only first begun to imagine how Marth must have felt, trapped in a world that he truly did not belong in. She had heard enough from the man of the Great Room of White to know how drastic the variation would be carried between this... habitat and her home of Altea.

Had they been at the palace, she would have readily offered the knock with her voice, a sign that it was open and that the one on the other side was more than free to have entry. It did not seem that it would be appropriate, however, and for that reason, Elice approached the door herself. Her hand examined the handle when she took a hold of it, marveling in the architecture used to create it. It was fine, well-molded, expert craftsmanship.

Her eyes, not so different from her siblings looked over Marth, from the toes of his boots, up his form, and stopped upon his face. He did look older. Perhaps. Logic stated that he would be older if time passed as it did, but what she saw was the brother she had implanted in her memory. She made a note of the tea, a note that he wore her tiara still, a note of his apparel. Was he... attempting to make this as comfortable for her as possible? Elice was touched.

She curtsied to him, holding her nerves responsible for such formality with her brother. She was aware that was not necessary, but there was a possibility that he would not be comfortable with seeing his sister. Not yet, perhaps. It would but take him some time to grow accustomed to her presence. That did not mean, however, that she could not grace him with a kind smile, the same one that she would offer in their home.

"Marth, how wonderful it is to see you. Please. Come in." A hand lifted and as she stepped to the side, she offered him entrance.

[alteanprince]

It was as if everything of the past two years no longer mattered, that he was still the 18-year-old prince that his older sister had remembered. He gripped the box a bit then gave in.

He flung his arms around his older sister, about to cry from the happiness of seeing her again. "I've missed you so much, more than words or actions could possibly describe." He held her tightly, as if letting go would destroy the illusion which stood before him. But if this were some twisted illusion, it was certainly real, down to the sweet smell of her hair.

[alteanprincess]

To say surprise did not hold her would not have been true. It reminded her of when Marth was younger, before he had the confidence to believe in his own strength. There were those times when he would fall down and injure himself. To run crying to his sister, who would address his wounds with her staff and silence his tears with the simple upturn of her lips. Surely, she could not do the same in this moment. He was older, and yet it seemed as though he still viewed her in that same light.

He had not been exaggerating in the least. He had missed her. He had longed to see her. Unsure of what to do initially, her instincts kicked in again. Her arms enfolded him against her to soothe him. His actions held her at bay, in terms of responses from the tongue. Then she spoke again, heartfelt and caring, placing aside her own minimal and meager uncertainties.

"I am quite pleased to see you as well," she said as her smile grew. "It is rather nice to be so appreciated."

[alteanprince]

Marth finally released her from his grasp. "It's been so long, it's so wonderful to see that you're real and not an illusion created by my mind." It had happened before and it was absolutely horrible.

"Ah," he suddenly interjected. "I brought some berry tea. It's very different from Altean tea and quite delicious." At this point, he truly couldn't remember what Altean tea tasted like, but he knew this wasn't it. He'd discovered that when he first tried it long ago.

[alteanprincess]

Ah... Air. How pleasant. Elice took in his words carefully. He was concerned about her being his reality? Was that really the way of it, then? She nodded slowly with understanding lingering within her eyes. "I would assure you, I am most certainly here." She tapped her fingertips together to reassure him.

When he spoke of the tea, she nodded once more, "Yes. You did say you wished to have some tea with me." Offering her right hand, she smiled again, "Allow me to prepare some for us. I would take in some delight to be able to do so." His sister had no qualms with preparing tea for the two of them. She would actually enjoy it quite a bit. It seemed he hadn't seen her for while, after all. Perhaps he would like it as well.

[alteanprince]

"I would love that, thank you," Marth replied cheerily. Normally he would object, but he knew objecting to his older sister often didn't work.

There was so much he wanted to ask her. How long had it been since the war? How were the restorations going? So many words swam through his head, but at the same time, he was filled with such happiness and joy to see her again. It was as if he were finding her once again, rescuing her, although this time, he was the one who was kidnapped.

[alteanprincess]

She took from him the tea, observing his immobile state. He must have been deep in thought. If he wasn't already, she knew him well enough that he would be later on. Beckoning for him to follow her, she carefully made her way into the kitchen. While she was adept in a variety of fields, she did find herself entirely confident in a place of culinary expression.

Reaching for the tea kettle that had been placed aside for her arrival, she filled it and rested it upon the orange and blue flames of a stove. "Please. Sit and make yourself comfortable. We are family. You deserve to be at ease, more than you obviously have been."

[alteanprince]

More than he had been. True Marth had been rather stressed lately. The fiascos with the loss of inhibitions. He took a seat on the couch. "I do suppose these past two years have been rather... trying." It was nothing like war or ruling a kingdom but instead all about interpersonal relationships.

[alteanprincess]

It was hardly her position to ask him of what had occurred in her absence. She only knew it had bothered him. As a result, she would need to do all in her power to lift his spirits, if even a little. Bringing down a couple of teacups for the two of them, she sought for sugar, lemon, honey, and cream next.

"I could imagine," she began in that tender tone. "I do hope you will fare better. I also hope to be of some help."

[alteanprince]

"I hope so too," Marth agreed, looking down a bit. "Love is still so difficult to deal with. It's so confusing and fickle."

Even after all the time he had, it still pulled at his heart. The confusion and the pain he'd been through... But now Elice was here, everything was better. At least for now.

[alteanprincess]

Love? Elice paused for a moment and she smiled a little to herself. So that was what it was. Love, indeed, was a complicated field of study. She wondered a little to herself if she had that special feeling for anyone. Well... Perhaps she did. His sister coloured vaguely and she turned to look at her brother.

"There are many different types of love, Marth. I would imagine why that is so convenient to label it as 'fickle'. Everyone views love in a different perspective, so while you may see it that way, whoever it is you may be speaking of, may not see it the same way. I am sure you know this."

He was such a kind boy. She had known he would grow up to be this way. A hand extended and she lovingly brushed her fingertips over his cheek. It was to be a comforting gesture, one she used when he was younger.

[alteanprince]

He looked up at her with his deep blue eyes. She always knew how to make him feel better, just by a touch. It was as if she held some mysterious power over him. How he missed her so much.

"It's something so different, I never expected to encounter it here," Marth continued. "And in the end, I suppose I wasn't quite ready for it."

[alteanprincess]

No matter how old he may have been, she was still seeing the eyes of a young boy who scarcely knew anything about the world. He was still growing. What a difficult time he must have had.

She wondered if he had meant Sheeda. She could remember the princess' fascination for her brother as well as her uncertainty and the admirable restraint she held. Elice had never said a word, as she believed her position was in no way to interfere in that sort of subject.

"I have heard that you have little ability to determine when, where, and with whom you may 'love' someone or 'fall in love'. That is what makes it so miraculous and very much an enigma." Her hand lifted to his hair line, and she stayed for only a moment before withdrawing at the sound of her kettle, vying for her attention. "You will know when you are ready. Until then, all you can do is simply hope for the best. You are very good at this. I hold faith in you."

[alteanprince]

Marth wanted to believe that he had matured, at least a little in the two nonexistent years he'd been here, but perhaps in truth, he hadn't changed one bit. He'd loved, he'd lost, and he was back where he first began.

"It is so horribly confusing," Marth agreed. "It's as if loving your kingdom and the people is completely different than choosing a queen to love and hold dear 'til time slowed to an end."

[alteanprincess]

Elice chuckled softly. She peered over her shoulder at her younger brother and fingered her chin for a moment. "Very good. That is correct. There is a difference between the love you have for Altea and its citizens, than the love you will have for your future queen. It would be no different for me. There is, however," she began with a smile, "nothing wrong with either type of love."

Turning towards him once more, she inclined her head and tapped her fingertips together in a contemplative fashion, "There is not one better than the other, for the matter of perspective differs. For some, they would consider loving their home, their land, as more important than any other thing. For others, they would consider that loving their other half is just as important. It does not make the former wrong should the latter occur. It does not make the latter incorrect with their feelings and thoughts if the former occurs."

She lifted an eyebrow vaguely, "Does that help ease you a little?" He had difficulties finding the difference between those types of love, it seemed. He was still young, however, though not much younger than her. How she found herself so wise, Elice did not know.

[alteanprince]

In a sense, it did. His confusion was perhaps coming from how long he had suppressed his emotions. The only ones which never could be bound is his love for his people and his desire to protect.

"A bit yes," Marth replied. "You always know how to make everything better."