Alternate Future thread: Pat and Metody 31 years on.

[aureliaofarista]

Very late in the reign of Imperatrix Aurelia Aristana, Pat of the Aristan Foundling Guard celebrated her last Lupercalia festival with a foreign guest, one who'd become a lot less foreign over the decades. She didn't dance quite as she used to, but it was still impressive for a woman of 51. She drank with her younger siblings-in-arms and gave the

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[metody_green]

The years have passed by a dream for Metody, bright and chattering and impermanent. Twenty-nine years ago, he left his homeworld for the very last time, forced by his still-young face to go. He has been back a few times since, but never for more than a few yearning moments.

He still wears that young face, smooth and unlined after all these years. And he still has his Pat. His perfect, beautiful Pat.

He sighs, glancing behind him at Arista. "It seems unfair to the rest of the world that one place should be so perfect."

[aureliaofarista]

Pat long ago stopped reflecting on what a mismatched pair they must look walking along together.

Pat smiles. "We're very lucky, yes. And you know you'll always be welcome to visit."

[metody_green]

The most important parts of them match. He smiles at her, reaching for her hand.

"I know. I'm glad of it."

[aureliaofarista]

She'll take it quite happily. "General Dru's always glad to hear it. You can tell because she almost smiles." Pat chuckles.

"That..was a good festival," Pat then says with a certain...decisiveness.

[metody_green]

He laughs. How fortunate that the Aristans had a perfect job sitting there and waiting for some humorless foundling to stumble into it.

"Yes. It was. These past years, they seem more...more golden. Riper. In full bloom, despite it being Spring." He glances at her, then away. There have been moments when it hurt to look at her and see the time in her face.

[aureliaofarista]

"I know what you mean, my barbarian poet," she says softly. Some jokes never get old. Or if they do, people never told Pat.

[metody_green]

"I was very glad to spend the day with you. Thankyou for inviting me." Again and again and again. He squeezes her hand.

[aureliaofarista]

"It was my pleasure. Always." A bit of a breath. "After everything, this walk has taken a bit out of me. May I stay with you tonight?"

[metody_green]

"Of course! Um. Paris or the Nexus?" He has a third place, but that one's just for him. There are no beds to sleep in, but there is an awful lot of bones and teeth.

He slips an arm around her, offering a bit of support.

[aureliaofarista]

"The Nexus would be good, thanks." She'll snuggle slightly.

[metody_green]

Metody's Nexus home is a faintly forboding place, with it's garden of strange plants from his home and the living fence of bone he built to discourage the curious. Most of the plants are quiescent - at home, it's not quite spring - but the moonblossoms are open, swaying gently on their boney stalks, feather 'petals' open to catch the detritus in the air.

The house itself looks like an English country cottage, right up until you realize the round, white stones of the walls bite at each other with empty upper jaws, and each strand of golden thatch is stiffer and paler than straw. He happily ushers her in, then heads straight for his kitchen to make some chai. At least the floor is honest slate.

[aureliaofarista]

Pat's gotten used to the oddity over time. "Mm, chai," she says as she sits down and catches the scent eventually. "You're going to spoil me." She chuckles.

[metody_green]

"Someday, yup." He grins, standing behind her to knead at her shoulders. For now, he's simply content to watch her being comfortable.

[aureliaofarista]

She sighs happily as she relaxes.
"Lord Atticus said the silliest thing the other day."

[metody_green]

"Oh?" Hm. His hands wander from her shoulders. He moves slowly up her neck, rolling little circles with his fingertips on either side of her spine.

[aureliaofarista]

Pat makes several happy, encouraging noises at that before continuing. "Asked me, philosophically speaking, if I'd want a chance to do it over, go back to fourteen and start again." She sighs. Obviously, the man's a fine politician and will do well, but they just don't make royalty like they used to.