Felix and Ashura - Mirador AU

[wishmadeinfire]

Ashura looked up at the great beast of stone that was the Mirador. Admittedly, the whole thing scared him, but did not frighten. He could feel this presence about it, like it was a dragon squatting over its hoard, waiting for the unsuspecting knight to come so it could chomp their head off. It was perhaps not the best way to view his new home for

Comments

[wishmadeinfire]

Ashura's retinue had been afforded a moment to compose themselves once dismounted. His servants and brought over bowls of water with which to wash his feet and hands, dabbed sweet oils on his throat and attached some of his more regal jewels he had not worn on the road. It had taken them moments to do it up, and now he glittered with gold and rubies. His hair was like the night sky studded with red stars, his ears equally encased in gold, and around his throat sat his golden torque with its half-fist sized sphere ruby. He had changed his over robe, a thing of red, white and gold, custom stitched to look like flames licking at the hems. A black and gold obi around his waist held it together, a golden link chain there as well, knotted into the shape of a sakura blossom.

All in all Ashura was an impressive vision, and his androgyny only added to the mystique. Of course this was precisely what he wanted as he entered the chamber, his feet making no sound on the cold stone, though his guards behind him did make a bit of a clatter with their sandals, his advisors wisely quiet for the moment.

Ashura expertly ignored the rest of the court present to greet him, walking up to Stephen. He bowed his head slightly in greeting, since Stephen outranked him on technical terms or so his advisors told - "Lord" amounting to "King" for Ashura's understanding. Being Ashura was still a Prince only, he must show at least some deference.

"It is a pleasure to be here, Lord Stephen," he greeted careful to keep some of his musical tones in the words, but not roll them and muddle them terribly. "I traveled long to get here, and now that I am here I find the journey worth it just to see such a place as this."

Nicely done, he thought to himself.

[lord_wizard]

Years at court helped Felix perfect the art of staring without making it obvious. The appearance of the ambassador was unexpected. The sheer number of gold and jewels that dangled from him put nearly half the Mirador's court to shame. He wasn't even entirely sure what to make of the unusual clothing. It was not quite gown, not quite robe, and made it very difficult to tell what sort of person wore it, though he carried himself with the stork-like precision and grace of royalty. Felix was barely sure that this was even a man.

Unflappable as always, Stephen nodded and replied, "Prince Ashura. We are gratified you could come. Marathat will be even more grateful to gain your country's aid, should you deem us worthy. I am sure we have much to offer each other and much to discuss in the coming days."

He gestured aside at the two other men. "This is Lord Giancarlo, head of the Curia. If there are any special arrangements you require, please let him know. And this is Lord Felix, also of the Curia. He has graciously agreed to be your guide while in the Mirador. I am sure there is much you wish to know about us outside of our negotiations, so if there anything you wish you know, he is the man to ask."

Giancarlo and Felix both bowed, though Felix could not help himself from tracing the intricate stitching on Ashura's robes with his eyes.

[wishmadeinfire]

It was precisely the effect Ashura wanted. He could not come in demure, with his head bowed and scraping. He had to come in with his spells out, so to speak and let everyone know he had power, appeal, and strength. His eyes cast over those gathered on the dais, pausing to take in the forms of Giancarlo and Felix, though they rested perhaps a bit longer on Felix than they did anyone else. But not long enough to be overly noticeable before his gaze went back to Lord Stephen.

"I appreciate the concern your subjects show for me," he smiled, moving his hand slightly in a gesture meant to replace the bow of a head without showing the same subservience. "I will be most grateful for their help, though I hope I do not impose to heavily upon them."

He offered everyone a tender smile, and not a few ladies and men swooned (and still others glowered at him, as some might with envy over the jewels and intricate metal work that adorned him and his looks). If he saw these he made no mention of them, though his personal guard gave the ugliest looks a harder stare than those that seemed merely interested.

"If it pleases the Lord, I would wish to retire to my rooms and bathe and rest from my days of travel. We might start discussions in the morning, when we are all well rested and fed and with our minds towards business."

[lord_wizard]

"An excellent suggestion. Considering the length of your travel, I have no doubt some rest is well earned. We hold in court in the mornings. You have no obligation to attend, though you may if the fancy strikes you. Otherwise our talks will convene thereafter. I believe Giancarlo has arranged a bank rooms in the Mother of Pearl Corridor for you. We weren't sure how many you would require," Lord Stephen said glancing at the other wizard who bowed again.

Felix barely held back his glare. The hall in question was adjacent to the one that held his own rooms, and he was more than sure that this was not an accident.

"Everything should be in place and dinner will be brought your rooms as soon as you wish it," Giancarlo said, stepping forward.

"Lord Felix can show you the way," Stephen added pointedly.

Secretly bristling, Felix stepped forward and nodded, though he could not quell the hum of interest that arose his mind at this mystery of a man. The fact that he claimed to be a Prince was not surprising. He wasn't at all surprised, however, that Stephen had kept the title to himself until now. Mélusine was touchy about royalty ever since the coup.

[wishmadeinfire]

Ashura had been breached on the touchy politics of this Melusine, and while his country had once been content to pretend they hardly existed as more than a backwards race, his father's councilors decreed that with the Melusine's intriguing magical properties were now to interesting to ignore. Thus the reason for his visit, hidden beneath the mask of wishing to open trade routes and agreements. His golden gaze slide over Felix, not dismissing him out of hand, but it was only a small glance, his gaze never resting anywhere for overly long except on Stephen.

"Again, thank you for your hospitalities," Ashura inclined his head slightly and turned to Felix. "Lead on, Lord Felix," he said, his lips quirking in a little smile that glittered in the back of his eyes, behind him some of his guard shuffling as they prepared to follow their Prince and charge, and of course so scout the areas they would be walking through.

[lord_wizard]

Felix nodded and swept past Ashura as if he did this sort of thing every day. Giancarlo followed at the back of the group, quietly discussing things with the prince's advisors. The two wizards were their only escort. The Mirador's guards were nowhere to be seen. It was something the Protectorate took advantage of that the Mirador's labyrinthine passages served as it's own sort of protection. Any would-be spies were more likely to get lost or run straight into a guardsman rather than find what they were looking for.

[wishmadeinfire]

Ashura made mental note of this, and tried not to think of this as somehow being imprisoned in a palace of stone. The whole thing made him shudder, so locked away from nature, but he had to do what he had to do. Instead of comparing differences, he needed to look at similarities. At least the court politics and games were the same - in general feel if not total practice.

He lengthened his stride slightly to come closer to the red haired wizard, a part of his mind admitting the man was attractive and glad for it, but he did not let that rule his actions and words.

"Master Felix, if you would be so kind to show us to rooms and bath chambers? I fear the crust of the road is deeper in my skin than a rudimentary wash can get at."

[lord_wizard]

Felix turned his head and affected a warm smile he didn't entirely feel, though he was so good at the practice that only people who knew him well would notice. It wasn't the prince's fault - Felix simply hated being beholden to anybody. Stephen was a kinder master than Malkar ever was, but that did not mean he enjoyed it.

"Please, Lord Felix is fine. We'll be at your rooms shortly. The servants will gladly arrange a bath for you there. There are larger public baths located in the Arcane and various places outside the Mirador, but I'm sure you'd rather prefer the privacy," he said, with the unspoken implication that a person of Ashura's status would not deign to bath with peasants.

[wishmadeinfire]

Which was true enough. As a younger man he had bathed with the guards after practice, but as more of his princely duties were brought down on him he had to start taking on those airs. So no, no public baths. That the other would assume so was a bit jarring, but he knew why. In truth he had liked the companionship in the baths with the soldiers and missed it, but his duty and his station was his duty and his station. Nothing for it.

His eyes continued to glide around the halls, measuring them with those golden orbs. His pupils had widened some to allow in more light and he saw better than anyone would suspect and more than he was going to say. It did not make navigating this place any easier, but it was something at least to be able to see. Already he was feeling the press of stone down upon him, making him uncomfortable, but he hid that well.

"That would be appreciated," he said with his carefully crafted aloofness as his eyes slid over a tapestry, taking it in and dismissing it in one go. "Does his Lordship want us to dine with him this evening or shall I and my retainers take out meal somewhere else? A garden would be preferable."

[lord_wizard]

A grin curled at the edges of Felix's lips at someone calling Stephen 'his Lordship'. He couldn't wait to spread that around amongst his friends later on. Their reactions might even make this farce worth it.

"I believe the Lord Protector made mention of you taking your time to become acquainted with the Mirador before we dispense with the necessary politics. I think that can wait for a day, don't you think?" he said, giving the Prince another sideways glance that seemed vaguely flirtatious. Not that he was actually trying - it was simply how he conducted himself.

"If a garden pleases you, however, you might find the Queen Madeline Garden to your liking. It's located on one of the rooftops. I am sure Giancarlo could arrange for your dinner to be conducted there," he continued, then added as they rounded a corner, "Here we are."

The hallway here was paneled in dark wood inlaid with mother of pearl in delicate leaf patterns. The vaulted ceiling was plastered with a pale pink that shimmered dully in the candlelight like a young pearl.

[wishmadeinfire]

Ashura understood his blunder the moment the other subtly corrected him and berated himself. How could he have made such a foolish blunder? he would need to watch himself from now on when he spoke - these Miradorians and their bloody language and titles and such.

He nodded his head to the suggestion of the meal. "Yes, that sounds lovely. Perhaps you might join us, Master Felix, and educate us further on this city of yours." Which, he knew the other could not in any way politely refuse.

He looked about the hall, memorizing the inlays and patterns before turning to the doors. His guards went past him and opened the doors, peering into them first and clearing the rooms before allowing their Prince within. Ashura glided in like a dream figment, looking about and deeming it suitable with a dismissive flicker of his eyes.

"And my bath?"

[lord_wizard]

Felix gave a small start at the invitation, then followed Ashura to the doorway but stopped there.

"I'd be honored and delighted, your Lordship," Felix answered.

Behind him, Giancarlo was directing the remainder of the Prince's entourage to the adjacent rooms, nothing but a quiet chatter in the echo of the hallway.

"The pages will have that ready for you shortly, I am sure. They're dependable little things, I assure you."

[wishmadeinfire]

Ashura nodded, accepting all of this with good grace and went into his room, a dismissal if every there was one, his body servant following in with a glance to Felix and nothing more.

The servants did indeed come and fill a bath, a small blessing Ashura was eternally grateful for. With the help of his body servant he was able to wash the last of road dust and stench from his body. He had never thought he would be clean again at the rate their train had been going.

His hair was combed and braided and knotted atop his head, dotted with silver pearls from his. As always he wore his ruby torque and for the occasion of a simple dinner Ashura was adorned in green, white, and gold. And yet for all to him it was simple, he still put many of the Mirador ladies to shame with the silks and jewels and delicate stitching of leaves and herons across his robes.

He exited the room where waiting guards led him up to the rooftop gardens where he had requested to take his supper, wondering if the red headed mage would be joining him or not.

[lord_wizard]

This particular dinner, though closer to a manner of course for Ashura and his retainers, was already a subject of gossip by the time the prince himself made the trip up the long winding staircase to the gardens. Of course, the guards and pages were instructed to keep the curious away, but that didn't stop a number of better-informed servants and courtiers from coincidentally being seen in Gustuvus's throne room on the ground floor, as if there was any reason to be there except to catch a sight of royalty - even a foreign one.

The pages had somehow located a long table and set up near the middle of the gardens, laid it with a snow-white tablecloth and polished silver cutlery, and lit up the whole area with tall stands of candles. It was a wonder nothing like this had been ever been done before - effect was rather stunning and vaguely romantic. It assured Stephen would scoff over such a thing, but he didn't speak for the rest of the nobles.

Felix arrived, as requested, not long after Ashura, greeting him with a bow before he moved to take a seat for himself.

"Well, it seems the pages have outdone themselves," he said, casually reaching for a glass of wine.

[wishmadeinfire]

The prince had to admit the set up was nothing short of amazing. He had not expected something like this to be thrown together, even if he had taken over an hour to enjoy the sensation of getting clean and being clean. He stared about in quite curiosity, though inside he was left wondering how it was even possible. Behind him his guards entered the area and took up positions, fading into the background with practiced ease, but always at the ready to defend their young prince. Though truth be told he did not need any protecting such was it was - he could defend himself nicely.

Ashura came to the table and sat, smoothing his robes, the firelight glinting off the gold and emeralds in his hair and on his ears.

"I must admit, your hospitality is proving most generous," he said, taking a glass of wine and sipping.

[lord_wizard]

Felix smiled over the rim of his glass, "The Mirador is happy to have you here, so it's the least we can do to make your stay more comfortable, especially since you've come so far."

"Besides," he continued, setting down the glass and leaning back in his chair as the pages began to arrive with their meal, starting with a delicate salad, "we could use a little shaking now and again. Nobody has used this garden as the setting for a dinner since it was build, that I am aware of. You might be dangerously close to setting a new trend, your Lordship."