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Silanos had escaped the palati as fast as he were able. Never in his years would he have anticipated being glad to be given the chance to deliver missives, and yet here he was, clutching a couple under his arm and walking possibly faster than he had in a week just to escape the palace.
He had vastly underestimated how wearisome it was being expected to be present for whatever nonsense Prince Vangelis had him doing. The man kept long hours, and for his sins, Silanos was expected to be ready for the duration, just in case the Kotas man thought of something he wanted. It was simultaneously the most dull and exhausting way he had ever spent his days.
Dull because there was a lot of hanging around, exhausting because he had to be hanging around, and because it also seemed to be an expectation that he would train when Vangelis trained. On top of that, the Captain Nike appeared to like him even less than Maleos had, and Sil found little respite even when he was free of the Prince’s company. More than once, he’d caught himself teetering on the edge of sleep when he was on his feet, blinking frantically to try and jar himself back to wakefulness, digging his nails into his palms.
Letting himself rest whilst residing in the barracks of the Red Knights was far from easy, and so he snatched it in little bursts, unsatisfying and yet just enough to keep him going. He’d dreamt only once, he thought, and didn’t think he’d screamed, just awoken in a cold sweat and sat trembling like a baby for half an hour afterwards. He’d gotten up and spent the rest of the night sat by the dying fire in the kitchen, smoking the little leaf he’d managed to sneak in with him.
His perpetual state of weariness meant the fresh air was welcomed then, and it didn’t hurt that one of the missives would take him to the home of someone he wouldn’t mind seeing. Silanos made that his last call, hopeful that Leto would be there even if the missive was addressed to her brother. He hadn’t seen her since she’d showed up at the barracks that day, hadn’t managed to accept her invitation to tea, and Silanos found himself looking forward to the opportunity to see the woman. Spending time with her was oddly easy, and now he had even more motivation to do so.
It had become apparent that the Captain Maleos had a soft spot for the master informer’s sister, and Sil wasn’t above using his friendship with Leto to rile the soldier who’d delighted in making his life a misery. It wasn’t exactly a hardship to flirt a little, even if he had no intent on following through. Let Maleos think he might, would serve him right.
With a yawn stifled behind his hand, Silanos approached the manor that the family called home and gave a rap upon the door. He tapped the missives idly against his thigh as he waited for someone to answer, wondering for a moment what they might be concerning before deciding he didn't really care and raising his eyebrows at the delay in the door opening. Did they have servants? He’d be pissed if there was no response, guessing it wouldn’t be acceptable to just leave the letters. Pushing an impatient hand through his hair, he reached forward to knock again, only to pull back when he heard movement inside. Straightening up out of his ever-present slouch, Silanos attempted to look presentable.
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Silanos had escaped the palati as fast as he were able. Never in his years would he have anticipated being glad to be given the chance to deliver missives, and yet here he was, clutching a couple under his arm and walking possibly faster than he had in a week just to escape the palace.
He had vastly underestimated how wearisome it was being expected to be present for whatever nonsense Prince Vangelis had him doing. The man kept long hours, and for his sins, Silanos was expected to be ready for the duration, just in case the Kotas man thought of something he wanted. It was simultaneously the most dull and exhausting way he had ever spent his days.
Dull because there was a lot of hanging around, exhausting because he had to be hanging around, and because it also seemed to be an expectation that he would train when Vangelis trained. On top of that, the Captain Nike appeared to like him even less than Maleos had, and Sil found little respite even when he was free of the Prince’s company. More than once, he’d caught himself teetering on the edge of sleep when he was on his feet, blinking frantically to try and jar himself back to wakefulness, digging his nails into his palms.
Letting himself rest whilst residing in the barracks of the Red Knights was far from easy, and so he snatched it in little bursts, unsatisfying and yet just enough to keep him going. He’d dreamt only once, he thought, and didn’t think he’d screamed, just awoken in a cold sweat and sat trembling like a baby for half an hour afterwards. He’d gotten up and spent the rest of the night sat by the dying fire in the kitchen, smoking the little leaf he’d managed to sneak in with him.
His perpetual state of weariness meant the fresh air was welcomed then, and it didn’t hurt that one of the missives would take him to the home of someone he wouldn’t mind seeing. Silanos made that his last call, hopeful that Leto would be there even if the missive was addressed to her brother. He hadn’t seen her since she’d showed up at the barracks that day, hadn’t managed to accept her invitation to tea, and Silanos found himself looking forward to the opportunity to see the woman. Spending time with her was oddly easy, and now he had even more motivation to do so.
It had become apparent that the Captain Maleos had a soft spot for the master informer’s sister, and Sil wasn’t above using his friendship with Leto to rile the soldier who’d delighted in making his life a misery. It wasn’t exactly a hardship to flirt a little, even if he had no intent on following through. Let Maleos think he might, would serve him right.
With a yawn stifled behind his hand, Silanos approached the manor that the family called home and gave a rap upon the door. He tapped the missives idly against his thigh as he waited for someone to answer, wondering for a moment what they might be concerning before deciding he didn't really care and raising his eyebrows at the delay in the door opening. Did they have servants? He’d be pissed if there was no response, guessing it wouldn’t be acceptable to just leave the letters. Pushing an impatient hand through his hair, he reached forward to knock again, only to pull back when he heard movement inside. Straightening up out of his ever-present slouch, Silanos attempted to look presentable.
Silanos had escaped the palati as fast as he were able. Never in his years would he have anticipated being glad to be given the chance to deliver missives, and yet here he was, clutching a couple under his arm and walking possibly faster than he had in a week just to escape the palace.
He had vastly underestimated how wearisome it was being expected to be present for whatever nonsense Prince Vangelis had him doing. The man kept long hours, and for his sins, Silanos was expected to be ready for the duration, just in case the Kotas man thought of something he wanted. It was simultaneously the most dull and exhausting way he had ever spent his days.
Dull because there was a lot of hanging around, exhausting because he had to be hanging around, and because it also seemed to be an expectation that he would train when Vangelis trained. On top of that, the Captain Nike appeared to like him even less than Maleos had, and Sil found little respite even when he was free of the Prince’s company. More than once, he’d caught himself teetering on the edge of sleep when he was on his feet, blinking frantically to try and jar himself back to wakefulness, digging his nails into his palms.
Letting himself rest whilst residing in the barracks of the Red Knights was far from easy, and so he snatched it in little bursts, unsatisfying and yet just enough to keep him going. He’d dreamt only once, he thought, and didn’t think he’d screamed, just awoken in a cold sweat and sat trembling like a baby for half an hour afterwards. He’d gotten up and spent the rest of the night sat by the dying fire in the kitchen, smoking the little leaf he’d managed to sneak in with him.
His perpetual state of weariness meant the fresh air was welcomed then, and it didn’t hurt that one of the missives would take him to the home of someone he wouldn’t mind seeing. Silanos made that his last call, hopeful that Leto would be there even if the missive was addressed to her brother. He hadn’t seen her since she’d showed up at the barracks that day, hadn’t managed to accept her invitation to tea, and Silanos found himself looking forward to the opportunity to see the woman. Spending time with her was oddly easy, and now he had even more motivation to do so.
It had become apparent that the Captain Maleos had a soft spot for the master informer’s sister, and Sil wasn’t above using his friendship with Leto to rile the soldier who’d delighted in making his life a misery. It wasn’t exactly a hardship to flirt a little, even if he had no intent on following through. Let Maleos think he might, would serve him right.
With a yawn stifled behind his hand, Silanos approached the manor that the family called home and gave a rap upon the door. He tapped the missives idly against his thigh as he waited for someone to answer, wondering for a moment what they might be concerning before deciding he didn't really care and raising his eyebrows at the delay in the door opening. Did they have servants? He’d be pissed if there was no response, guessing it wouldn’t be acceptable to just leave the letters. Pushing an impatient hand through his hair, he reached forward to knock again, only to pull back when he heard movement inside. Straightening up out of his ever-present slouch, Silanos attempted to look presentable.
No sooner had Magnus returned from Taengea did he manage to seem just as absent as he had while he was away. Much to the surprise of both Magnus and Leto, their parents had traveled back to Chaossis for a brief time to reestablish connections with their former apprentices and journeymen to contribute to the weapons end of the war effort. With Magnus consistently in and out throughout the day, it left Leto with much of the management of the city manor in her hands.
All the while, she found herself preoccupied with various civic duties by using her limited connections but moreso her writing and logistical skills to help deliver information and inventory supplies. Fortunately, that did not involve frequent outings, but it did manage to increase the number of missives that arrived at their home daily.
It felt nice, in a way, for some of these missives to be addressed to her and to feel like there is some sort of purpose for her mind to be pressed toward. Yet, even with the servants working through their daily tasks in the household, it was often lonely at home without something to occupy her.
Passing from one room to the next in search of yet another bottle of ink, having gone through her own stores and been threatened with a silent yet fully understood glare from Magnus when seeking to borrow some of his, Leto set down to the front parlors rifling through the drawers of older furniture to see if one had been errantly stashed away.
It was then that there was a knock at the door, and a rather long pause to follow. Well, given the proximity, it would not be the end of the world if she answered her own door. Closing a drawer, she crossed to the entryway. Being in her home, she was comfortable in that her hair was loose and unbraided around her shoulders. As she knew of an event to attend later in the afternoon, she had donned a lavender-grey chiton given to her by Lady Iolanthe in her visit to Arcanaes, with a few simple silver and leather ornaments to them. The skirts of it swirled around her legs as she stepped into the entry way, her fingers deftly unlatching the locks in place as she opened the door.
Her expression shifted from surprise to a smile as she opened the door to allow herself to curtsey properly.
"Lord Silanos! This is unexpected," she smiled, a laugh in her tone as she glanced down to see the missives in his hand. A singular brow raised at the curiosity, but she would not question it as of that moment. After all, he could explain it himself on his own time, but for now, she was to host. Stepping aside so that he could cross through the doorway, she offered in a cool, teasing tone, "Have you recovered from your injuries, my lord?"
Her nose flared slightly in a silent laugh as one of the servants approached only moments to late to do her task in opening the door. Leto closed it behind her.
"Lord Silanos, a moment's rest from your duties?" she asked, her voice oddly honeyed compared to the tones he would be used to hearing from her. It was at least a small ruse to keep the servants from immediately suspecting anything afoot. Keeping a cordial and distanced expression, Leto turned to the serving girl and added, "Rhea, some water and fruit for refreshment, in the courtyard, please."
The curious look given by the servant, well...that would have to be addressed at some point. It was no secret that Magnus had full knowledge of what went on under his roof, and that the servants were well paid to not only do their duty but to inform on any and all happenings in their city manor. Still, with the events that had come to pass, there was enough yarn to spin a solid story and explanation to Magnus later on.
It would be horrid hospitality to leave a noble lord outside without offering some sort of refinement, right? He would believe that, to an extent. And if not, well, she could plead ignorance and apologize. Forgiveness had its place, as well as permission.
Once Rhea had stepped far enough away, Leto turned her glance back to Silanos with her usual half-smirk, as she guided them toward the courtyard through the next set of doors.
"You did not happen to bring a bottle of ink along with you by any chance, did you?"
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No sooner had Magnus returned from Taengea did he manage to seem just as absent as he had while he was away. Much to the surprise of both Magnus and Leto, their parents had traveled back to Chaossis for a brief time to reestablish connections with their former apprentices and journeymen to contribute to the weapons end of the war effort. With Magnus consistently in and out throughout the day, it left Leto with much of the management of the city manor in her hands.
All the while, she found herself preoccupied with various civic duties by using her limited connections but moreso her writing and logistical skills to help deliver information and inventory supplies. Fortunately, that did not involve frequent outings, but it did manage to increase the number of missives that arrived at their home daily.
It felt nice, in a way, for some of these missives to be addressed to her and to feel like there is some sort of purpose for her mind to be pressed toward. Yet, even with the servants working through their daily tasks in the household, it was often lonely at home without something to occupy her.
Passing from one room to the next in search of yet another bottle of ink, having gone through her own stores and been threatened with a silent yet fully understood glare from Magnus when seeking to borrow some of his, Leto set down to the front parlors rifling through the drawers of older furniture to see if one had been errantly stashed away.
It was then that there was a knock at the door, and a rather long pause to follow. Well, given the proximity, it would not be the end of the world if she answered her own door. Closing a drawer, she crossed to the entryway. Being in her home, she was comfortable in that her hair was loose and unbraided around her shoulders. As she knew of an event to attend later in the afternoon, she had donned a lavender-grey chiton given to her by Lady Iolanthe in her visit to Arcanaes, with a few simple silver and leather ornaments to them. The skirts of it swirled around her legs as she stepped into the entry way, her fingers deftly unlatching the locks in place as she opened the door.
Her expression shifted from surprise to a smile as she opened the door to allow herself to curtsey properly.
"Lord Silanos! This is unexpected," she smiled, a laugh in her tone as she glanced down to see the missives in his hand. A singular brow raised at the curiosity, but she would not question it as of that moment. After all, he could explain it himself on his own time, but for now, she was to host. Stepping aside so that he could cross through the doorway, she offered in a cool, teasing tone, "Have you recovered from your injuries, my lord?"
Her nose flared slightly in a silent laugh as one of the servants approached only moments to late to do her task in opening the door. Leto closed it behind her.
"Lord Silanos, a moment's rest from your duties?" she asked, her voice oddly honeyed compared to the tones he would be used to hearing from her. It was at least a small ruse to keep the servants from immediately suspecting anything afoot. Keeping a cordial and distanced expression, Leto turned to the serving girl and added, "Rhea, some water and fruit for refreshment, in the courtyard, please."
The curious look given by the servant, well...that would have to be addressed at some point. It was no secret that Magnus had full knowledge of what went on under his roof, and that the servants were well paid to not only do their duty but to inform on any and all happenings in their city manor. Still, with the events that had come to pass, there was enough yarn to spin a solid story and explanation to Magnus later on.
It would be horrid hospitality to leave a noble lord outside without offering some sort of refinement, right? He would believe that, to an extent. And if not, well, she could plead ignorance and apologize. Forgiveness had its place, as well as permission.
Once Rhea had stepped far enough away, Leto turned her glance back to Silanos with her usual half-smirk, as she guided them toward the courtyard through the next set of doors.
"You did not happen to bring a bottle of ink along with you by any chance, did you?"
No sooner had Magnus returned from Taengea did he manage to seem just as absent as he had while he was away. Much to the surprise of both Magnus and Leto, their parents had traveled back to Chaossis for a brief time to reestablish connections with their former apprentices and journeymen to contribute to the weapons end of the war effort. With Magnus consistently in and out throughout the day, it left Leto with much of the management of the city manor in her hands.
All the while, she found herself preoccupied with various civic duties by using her limited connections but moreso her writing and logistical skills to help deliver information and inventory supplies. Fortunately, that did not involve frequent outings, but it did manage to increase the number of missives that arrived at their home daily.
It felt nice, in a way, for some of these missives to be addressed to her and to feel like there is some sort of purpose for her mind to be pressed toward. Yet, even with the servants working through their daily tasks in the household, it was often lonely at home without something to occupy her.
Passing from one room to the next in search of yet another bottle of ink, having gone through her own stores and been threatened with a silent yet fully understood glare from Magnus when seeking to borrow some of his, Leto set down to the front parlors rifling through the drawers of older furniture to see if one had been errantly stashed away.
It was then that there was a knock at the door, and a rather long pause to follow. Well, given the proximity, it would not be the end of the world if she answered her own door. Closing a drawer, she crossed to the entryway. Being in her home, she was comfortable in that her hair was loose and unbraided around her shoulders. As she knew of an event to attend later in the afternoon, she had donned a lavender-grey chiton given to her by Lady Iolanthe in her visit to Arcanaes, with a few simple silver and leather ornaments to them. The skirts of it swirled around her legs as she stepped into the entry way, her fingers deftly unlatching the locks in place as she opened the door.
Her expression shifted from surprise to a smile as she opened the door to allow herself to curtsey properly.
"Lord Silanos! This is unexpected," she smiled, a laugh in her tone as she glanced down to see the missives in his hand. A singular brow raised at the curiosity, but she would not question it as of that moment. After all, he could explain it himself on his own time, but for now, she was to host. Stepping aside so that he could cross through the doorway, she offered in a cool, teasing tone, "Have you recovered from your injuries, my lord?"
Her nose flared slightly in a silent laugh as one of the servants approached only moments to late to do her task in opening the door. Leto closed it behind her.
"Lord Silanos, a moment's rest from your duties?" she asked, her voice oddly honeyed compared to the tones he would be used to hearing from her. It was at least a small ruse to keep the servants from immediately suspecting anything afoot. Keeping a cordial and distanced expression, Leto turned to the serving girl and added, "Rhea, some water and fruit for refreshment, in the courtyard, please."
The curious look given by the servant, well...that would have to be addressed at some point. It was no secret that Magnus had full knowledge of what went on under his roof, and that the servants were well paid to not only do their duty but to inform on any and all happenings in their city manor. Still, with the events that had come to pass, there was enough yarn to spin a solid story and explanation to Magnus later on.
It would be horrid hospitality to leave a noble lord outside without offering some sort of refinement, right? He would believe that, to an extent. And if not, well, she could plead ignorance and apologize. Forgiveness had its place, as well as permission.
Once Rhea had stepped far enough away, Leto turned her glance back to Silanos with her usual half-smirk, as she guided them toward the courtyard through the next set of doors.
"You did not happen to bring a bottle of ink along with you by any chance, did you?"
Silanos had not expected for Leto to actually come to the door and had been busy constructing a reason to ask for her even though the missives he held were addressed to her brother. But all of his clever excuses fell away in place of a shocked look, quickly replaced by a grin as he took in the sight of his..friend. Because that was what they were now, it had been made official in writing after all. “Good Day to you, Leto.”
The last time he had seen Leto had been when she had turned up at the barracks that day and had he been a different sort of character, Sil’s pride might have stung still. He was not one to bear grudges though, at least not where pretty girls were concerned, and so he met her loaded question with a wry look.
“That scratch? Yes. Though your Captain friend was less kind after you’d departed” he said lightly, though there was a hint of a bite in the latter. He’d known when he did it that Maleos would not take well to be dumped on his ass in the dirt in front of Leto, and wisdom had cautioned against each and every goading little remark he made afterward too. But Silanos had resolutely ignored that, and done it anyway, and it had come back to slap him in the horrendous night of drills that he’d endured. Sort of endured. Right up until the point his legs had given out and he wasn’t enduring anymore but just lying like some wretched broken thing in the dark.
He still thought it had been worth it though, he mused, as he stepped past Leto in the cooler confines of the house, glancing around at the place she called home. He glanced at her from beneath an arched brow at the sudden change in her tone, but then took in the servant too, and so made his response just as proper. Let it never be said Lord Silanos of Valaoritis could not act the part of a proper Lord when he so wished.
“That would be most welcome” he replied, flashing a wide smile full of white teeth at Leto. “If I am not keeping you from anything” He glanced dismissively at the servant before following his hostess through the hallway of the house and into a bright courtyard, where sun bounced off the stones and magnified the heat. At Leto’s words, Sil shot her a look.
“No. Would you have me go and fetch you some as well as delivering your letters?” he said, with a long-suffering sigh. “ I will do it, and gladly. You have no idea, Leto, at how tedious this new punishment is. And yet tiring. And did I mention tedious? No kisses are worth this”
And then he paused for a breath, glanced at her and smirked. “Or ..at least none I’ve had the pleasure of yet. Let's never say never.”
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Silanos had not expected for Leto to actually come to the door and had been busy constructing a reason to ask for her even though the missives he held were addressed to her brother. But all of his clever excuses fell away in place of a shocked look, quickly replaced by a grin as he took in the sight of his..friend. Because that was what they were now, it had been made official in writing after all. “Good Day to you, Leto.”
The last time he had seen Leto had been when she had turned up at the barracks that day and had he been a different sort of character, Sil’s pride might have stung still. He was not one to bear grudges though, at least not where pretty girls were concerned, and so he met her loaded question with a wry look.
“That scratch? Yes. Though your Captain friend was less kind after you’d departed” he said lightly, though there was a hint of a bite in the latter. He’d known when he did it that Maleos would not take well to be dumped on his ass in the dirt in front of Leto, and wisdom had cautioned against each and every goading little remark he made afterward too. But Silanos had resolutely ignored that, and done it anyway, and it had come back to slap him in the horrendous night of drills that he’d endured. Sort of endured. Right up until the point his legs had given out and he wasn’t enduring anymore but just lying like some wretched broken thing in the dark.
He still thought it had been worth it though, he mused, as he stepped past Leto in the cooler confines of the house, glancing around at the place she called home. He glanced at her from beneath an arched brow at the sudden change in her tone, but then took in the servant too, and so made his response just as proper. Let it never be said Lord Silanos of Valaoritis could not act the part of a proper Lord when he so wished.
“That would be most welcome” he replied, flashing a wide smile full of white teeth at Leto. “If I am not keeping you from anything” He glanced dismissively at the servant before following his hostess through the hallway of the house and into a bright courtyard, where sun bounced off the stones and magnified the heat. At Leto’s words, Sil shot her a look.
“No. Would you have me go and fetch you some as well as delivering your letters?” he said, with a long-suffering sigh. “ I will do it, and gladly. You have no idea, Leto, at how tedious this new punishment is. And yet tiring. And did I mention tedious? No kisses are worth this”
And then he paused for a breath, glanced at her and smirked. “Or ..at least none I’ve had the pleasure of yet. Let's never say never.”
Silanos had not expected for Leto to actually come to the door and had been busy constructing a reason to ask for her even though the missives he held were addressed to her brother. But all of his clever excuses fell away in place of a shocked look, quickly replaced by a grin as he took in the sight of his..friend. Because that was what they were now, it had been made official in writing after all. “Good Day to you, Leto.”
The last time he had seen Leto had been when she had turned up at the barracks that day and had he been a different sort of character, Sil’s pride might have stung still. He was not one to bear grudges though, at least not where pretty girls were concerned, and so he met her loaded question with a wry look.
“That scratch? Yes. Though your Captain friend was less kind after you’d departed” he said lightly, though there was a hint of a bite in the latter. He’d known when he did it that Maleos would not take well to be dumped on his ass in the dirt in front of Leto, and wisdom had cautioned against each and every goading little remark he made afterward too. But Silanos had resolutely ignored that, and done it anyway, and it had come back to slap him in the horrendous night of drills that he’d endured. Sort of endured. Right up until the point his legs had given out and he wasn’t enduring anymore but just lying like some wretched broken thing in the dark.
He still thought it had been worth it though, he mused, as he stepped past Leto in the cooler confines of the house, glancing around at the place she called home. He glanced at her from beneath an arched brow at the sudden change in her tone, but then took in the servant too, and so made his response just as proper. Let it never be said Lord Silanos of Valaoritis could not act the part of a proper Lord when he so wished.
“That would be most welcome” he replied, flashing a wide smile full of white teeth at Leto. “If I am not keeping you from anything” He glanced dismissively at the servant before following his hostess through the hallway of the house and into a bright courtyard, where sun bounced off the stones and magnified the heat. At Leto’s words, Sil shot her a look.
“No. Would you have me go and fetch you some as well as delivering your letters?” he said, with a long-suffering sigh. “ I will do it, and gladly. You have no idea, Leto, at how tedious this new punishment is. And yet tiring. And did I mention tedious? No kisses are worth this”
And then he paused for a breath, glanced at her and smirked. “Or ..at least none I’ve had the pleasure of yet. Let's never say never.”
Leto's smile could not be quelled as the young lord stood in her doorway, particularly when he seemed surprised to have seen her standing there. Ah, he must have expected a servant. He would have been greeted by one if she had not been just feet away when he knocked. Still, a change of pace and a breath of fresh air at her doorstep - a visitor for herself and not for Magnus - was well received.
His sharp reply at her question should have stung but instead, she found an almost boyish humor to how he reacted to having been pushed beneath Maleos' pressuring. After all, she saw the Captain completely differently than Silanos did - in many ways now.
Once he was ushered into the manor, Leto could not help but watch his reactions and expressions. Few that she knew had ever stepped into their manor, which she thought impressive for people of common birth. Did he think so as well? Then again...why was she concerned if he felt impressed at all? With all the time she had spent around nobility lately, she had come to terms with the fact that appearances were important, but ultimately, bloodline was more of a factor in all things.
"No, not at all," Leto replied, the courtieresque tone to her voice as she spoke, eyeing the turn of the servant around the corner as she added, "Simply looking for a bit of ink. Between my brother and myself, we are running through quite a bit - him with all his affairs, and myself with organizing some supplies to be taken for the war."
Once the steps of the servant were fully away, Leto's expression slipped into something a bit more comfortable, listening to her friend's lament about his new position. Leto was only faintly aware that Silanos had entered into Crown Prince Vangelis' service, to put it lightly, though she could only piece together small bits at a time. Round eyes sought him out of their corners and through lashes as she entertained his moaning for a moment before directing him to a seat in their courtyard.
Her hand extended for the missives just as he made mention of kisses, at which her eyes quickly narrowed.
Did he somehow know of the moment she shared with Maleos at the Temple of Ares? Gods, there had been not a soul there on that day! No, he could not possibly know. Still, her eyes blinked a few times and she offered a slight laugh in feigned bemusement as she took the missives from him, immediately turning her attention to the markings on their exterior.
"Ah, never say never, indeed," Leto teased, her eyes still on the missives a moment before glancing up at him, "You have yet to meet the Egyptians. Perhaps His Highness will see your...proclivities as an asset and have you kiss an Egyptian princess to end the war early, no?"
It was all in jest and ended quickly as Rhea returned with some light refreshments - a plate of fruit and cheese as well as two pewter goblets of a watered-down wine. Smiling at the servant, Leto caught her with an eye that secretly said none of this was to be repeated to Magnus. After all, Leto could talk herself out of things better if loose-lipped women under her roof kept their mouths shut.
Once she was out of sight, she gestured for Silanos to have a bite or two.
"How are you?" she started, the usual words holding a bit of a deeper meaning than simply a greeting, "The war party leaves soon. Is there anything I can help you with?"
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Leto's smile could not be quelled as the young lord stood in her doorway, particularly when he seemed surprised to have seen her standing there. Ah, he must have expected a servant. He would have been greeted by one if she had not been just feet away when he knocked. Still, a change of pace and a breath of fresh air at her doorstep - a visitor for herself and not for Magnus - was well received.
His sharp reply at her question should have stung but instead, she found an almost boyish humor to how he reacted to having been pushed beneath Maleos' pressuring. After all, she saw the Captain completely differently than Silanos did - in many ways now.
Once he was ushered into the manor, Leto could not help but watch his reactions and expressions. Few that she knew had ever stepped into their manor, which she thought impressive for people of common birth. Did he think so as well? Then again...why was she concerned if he felt impressed at all? With all the time she had spent around nobility lately, she had come to terms with the fact that appearances were important, but ultimately, bloodline was more of a factor in all things.
"No, not at all," Leto replied, the courtieresque tone to her voice as she spoke, eyeing the turn of the servant around the corner as she added, "Simply looking for a bit of ink. Between my brother and myself, we are running through quite a bit - him with all his affairs, and myself with organizing some supplies to be taken for the war."
Once the steps of the servant were fully away, Leto's expression slipped into something a bit more comfortable, listening to her friend's lament about his new position. Leto was only faintly aware that Silanos had entered into Crown Prince Vangelis' service, to put it lightly, though she could only piece together small bits at a time. Round eyes sought him out of their corners and through lashes as she entertained his moaning for a moment before directing him to a seat in their courtyard.
Her hand extended for the missives just as he made mention of kisses, at which her eyes quickly narrowed.
Did he somehow know of the moment she shared with Maleos at the Temple of Ares? Gods, there had been not a soul there on that day! No, he could not possibly know. Still, her eyes blinked a few times and she offered a slight laugh in feigned bemusement as she took the missives from him, immediately turning her attention to the markings on their exterior.
"Ah, never say never, indeed," Leto teased, her eyes still on the missives a moment before glancing up at him, "You have yet to meet the Egyptians. Perhaps His Highness will see your...proclivities as an asset and have you kiss an Egyptian princess to end the war early, no?"
It was all in jest and ended quickly as Rhea returned with some light refreshments - a plate of fruit and cheese as well as two pewter goblets of a watered-down wine. Smiling at the servant, Leto caught her with an eye that secretly said none of this was to be repeated to Magnus. After all, Leto could talk herself out of things better if loose-lipped women under her roof kept their mouths shut.
Once she was out of sight, she gestured for Silanos to have a bite or two.
"How are you?" she started, the usual words holding a bit of a deeper meaning than simply a greeting, "The war party leaves soon. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Leto's smile could not be quelled as the young lord stood in her doorway, particularly when he seemed surprised to have seen her standing there. Ah, he must have expected a servant. He would have been greeted by one if she had not been just feet away when he knocked. Still, a change of pace and a breath of fresh air at her doorstep - a visitor for herself and not for Magnus - was well received.
His sharp reply at her question should have stung but instead, she found an almost boyish humor to how he reacted to having been pushed beneath Maleos' pressuring. After all, she saw the Captain completely differently than Silanos did - in many ways now.
Once he was ushered into the manor, Leto could not help but watch his reactions and expressions. Few that she knew had ever stepped into their manor, which she thought impressive for people of common birth. Did he think so as well? Then again...why was she concerned if he felt impressed at all? With all the time she had spent around nobility lately, she had come to terms with the fact that appearances were important, but ultimately, bloodline was more of a factor in all things.
"No, not at all," Leto replied, the courtieresque tone to her voice as she spoke, eyeing the turn of the servant around the corner as she added, "Simply looking for a bit of ink. Between my brother and myself, we are running through quite a bit - him with all his affairs, and myself with organizing some supplies to be taken for the war."
Once the steps of the servant were fully away, Leto's expression slipped into something a bit more comfortable, listening to her friend's lament about his new position. Leto was only faintly aware that Silanos had entered into Crown Prince Vangelis' service, to put it lightly, though she could only piece together small bits at a time. Round eyes sought him out of their corners and through lashes as she entertained his moaning for a moment before directing him to a seat in their courtyard.
Her hand extended for the missives just as he made mention of kisses, at which her eyes quickly narrowed.
Did he somehow know of the moment she shared with Maleos at the Temple of Ares? Gods, there had been not a soul there on that day! No, he could not possibly know. Still, her eyes blinked a few times and she offered a slight laugh in feigned bemusement as she took the missives from him, immediately turning her attention to the markings on their exterior.
"Ah, never say never, indeed," Leto teased, her eyes still on the missives a moment before glancing up at him, "You have yet to meet the Egyptians. Perhaps His Highness will see your...proclivities as an asset and have you kiss an Egyptian princess to end the war early, no?"
It was all in jest and ended quickly as Rhea returned with some light refreshments - a plate of fruit and cheese as well as two pewter goblets of a watered-down wine. Smiling at the servant, Leto caught her with an eye that secretly said none of this was to be repeated to Magnus. After all, Leto could talk herself out of things better if loose-lipped women under her roof kept their mouths shut.
Once she was out of sight, she gestured for Silanos to have a bite or two.
"How are you?" she started, the usual words holding a bit of a deeper meaning than simply a greeting, "The war party leaves soon. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Oblivious to how Leto was paying attention to the shift in his expressions, Silanos had cast no more than a cursory glance around the house he was led into. Unless the floor had been littered with straw or something else so obviously different to his expectations, then he was unlikely to pay much heed to what furnishings they had about the place. When the young woman explained her need for ink though, the Lord shot her a skeptical look.
What was Leto doing for the war effort? It felt like all he had heard was talk of war, and to find it here as well? Sil gave a slight nod to acknowledge he had heard but did not invite further detail. Talk of Leto’s brother made him a little uncomfortable too, and he glanced around them briefly as if to check the master informer wasn’t lurking in the shadows somewhere. “He isn’t home, I take it? Your brother?”
Never mind that the missives he held were for the man, Sil’s hopes had rather focused on the fact that he would likely be off doing whatever the hades spying type things he usually did, and that Leto would be here instead. Outward appearances suggested his wish might have been granted, but he thought it better to check.
After a bit of melodramatic griping - an artform Sil had perfected over recent weeks- the Valaoritis Lord was glad to accept the proffered seat, though he looked momentarily confused at the glare he was sent. Leto was not usually so prudish that talk of kissing would earn him her reproach. He handed over the missives with a questioning look, but she just gave an awkward laugh and left him bemused. Odd girl.
It was his turn to narrow his gaze next though, and Sil gave a dark chuckle. “ Oh. I don’t believe that Prince Vangelis would view anything I can do as an asset” he remarked, still all too able to recall the man’s sword leveled at him and that very real moment where he thought the man was going to run him through with it.
The return of the maid with refreshments seemed a timely diversion then, and Silanos accepted the cup of wine, eyeing it a moment before he pushed it back at the servant “Just water please”. A condition of his punishment, and one that the young Lord had not dared to flout yet, was that he was not supposed to drink alcohol. Watered wine seemed harmless enough but he didn’t want to take any chances and risk finding himself back on the end of that blade. It had made everything that much more difficult. Folding his hands in his lap as he waited for the girl to return with a beverage he was allowed, Sil looked at Leto and gave a shrug at her words.
“Oh you know. About as well as can be expected when one is a glorified slave.” he said, in a tone that suggested more humour than he actually felt about the situation. It was better, he could admit, that what could have come out of that meeting with Vangelis but Silanos had endured a tough few weeks, and there seemed no respite in sight. Not with war looming, and this insistence that he accompany the Prince’s party to Egypt.
As if she read his mind, Leto’s words turned in that direction too and Silanos sighed. It would not be the done thing to express honestly how reluctant he felt towards going, and so he smirked at her and thought he might try and summon one of those pretty blushes of hers. “I don’t know, Leto. Is there anything you can help me with? I will be away a long time, stepping into the jaws of death themselves. Really, it's only the thought of such treasures at home worth protecting that gives a man the strength to go.”
He had not forgotten how the young woman had looked at Captain Maleos, nor how she had provoked the first glimmer of personality he’d seen in the morose man. There was a small part of him that thought he would flirt with Leto just to spite the man, to pay him back for those night drills. It would do no harm, and it wasn’t a hardship. He liked seeing her get riled up. “Though of course, I’m sure you’ll be sweetly waving goodbye to yourother friend will you?”
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Oblivious to how Leto was paying attention to the shift in his expressions, Silanos had cast no more than a cursory glance around the house he was led into. Unless the floor had been littered with straw or something else so obviously different to his expectations, then he was unlikely to pay much heed to what furnishings they had about the place. When the young woman explained her need for ink though, the Lord shot her a skeptical look.
What was Leto doing for the war effort? It felt like all he had heard was talk of war, and to find it here as well? Sil gave a slight nod to acknowledge he had heard but did not invite further detail. Talk of Leto’s brother made him a little uncomfortable too, and he glanced around them briefly as if to check the master informer wasn’t lurking in the shadows somewhere. “He isn’t home, I take it? Your brother?”
Never mind that the missives he held were for the man, Sil’s hopes had rather focused on the fact that he would likely be off doing whatever the hades spying type things he usually did, and that Leto would be here instead. Outward appearances suggested his wish might have been granted, but he thought it better to check.
After a bit of melodramatic griping - an artform Sil had perfected over recent weeks- the Valaoritis Lord was glad to accept the proffered seat, though he looked momentarily confused at the glare he was sent. Leto was not usually so prudish that talk of kissing would earn him her reproach. He handed over the missives with a questioning look, but she just gave an awkward laugh and left him bemused. Odd girl.
It was his turn to narrow his gaze next though, and Sil gave a dark chuckle. “ Oh. I don’t believe that Prince Vangelis would view anything I can do as an asset” he remarked, still all too able to recall the man’s sword leveled at him and that very real moment where he thought the man was going to run him through with it.
The return of the maid with refreshments seemed a timely diversion then, and Silanos accepted the cup of wine, eyeing it a moment before he pushed it back at the servant “Just water please”. A condition of his punishment, and one that the young Lord had not dared to flout yet, was that he was not supposed to drink alcohol. Watered wine seemed harmless enough but he didn’t want to take any chances and risk finding himself back on the end of that blade. It had made everything that much more difficult. Folding his hands in his lap as he waited for the girl to return with a beverage he was allowed, Sil looked at Leto and gave a shrug at her words.
“Oh you know. About as well as can be expected when one is a glorified slave.” he said, in a tone that suggested more humour than he actually felt about the situation. It was better, he could admit, that what could have come out of that meeting with Vangelis but Silanos had endured a tough few weeks, and there seemed no respite in sight. Not with war looming, and this insistence that he accompany the Prince’s party to Egypt.
As if she read his mind, Leto’s words turned in that direction too and Silanos sighed. It would not be the done thing to express honestly how reluctant he felt towards going, and so he smirked at her and thought he might try and summon one of those pretty blushes of hers. “I don’t know, Leto. Is there anything you can help me with? I will be away a long time, stepping into the jaws of death themselves. Really, it's only the thought of such treasures at home worth protecting that gives a man the strength to go.”
He had not forgotten how the young woman had looked at Captain Maleos, nor how she had provoked the first glimmer of personality he’d seen in the morose man. There was a small part of him that thought he would flirt with Leto just to spite the man, to pay him back for those night drills. It would do no harm, and it wasn’t a hardship. He liked seeing her get riled up. “Though of course, I’m sure you’ll be sweetly waving goodbye to yourother friend will you?”
Oblivious to how Leto was paying attention to the shift in his expressions, Silanos had cast no more than a cursory glance around the house he was led into. Unless the floor had been littered with straw or something else so obviously different to his expectations, then he was unlikely to pay much heed to what furnishings they had about the place. When the young woman explained her need for ink though, the Lord shot her a skeptical look.
What was Leto doing for the war effort? It felt like all he had heard was talk of war, and to find it here as well? Sil gave a slight nod to acknowledge he had heard but did not invite further detail. Talk of Leto’s brother made him a little uncomfortable too, and he glanced around them briefly as if to check the master informer wasn’t lurking in the shadows somewhere. “He isn’t home, I take it? Your brother?”
Never mind that the missives he held were for the man, Sil’s hopes had rather focused on the fact that he would likely be off doing whatever the hades spying type things he usually did, and that Leto would be here instead. Outward appearances suggested his wish might have been granted, but he thought it better to check.
After a bit of melodramatic griping - an artform Sil had perfected over recent weeks- the Valaoritis Lord was glad to accept the proffered seat, though he looked momentarily confused at the glare he was sent. Leto was not usually so prudish that talk of kissing would earn him her reproach. He handed over the missives with a questioning look, but she just gave an awkward laugh and left him bemused. Odd girl.
It was his turn to narrow his gaze next though, and Sil gave a dark chuckle. “ Oh. I don’t believe that Prince Vangelis would view anything I can do as an asset” he remarked, still all too able to recall the man’s sword leveled at him and that very real moment where he thought the man was going to run him through with it.
The return of the maid with refreshments seemed a timely diversion then, and Silanos accepted the cup of wine, eyeing it a moment before he pushed it back at the servant “Just water please”. A condition of his punishment, and one that the young Lord had not dared to flout yet, was that he was not supposed to drink alcohol. Watered wine seemed harmless enough but he didn’t want to take any chances and risk finding himself back on the end of that blade. It had made everything that much more difficult. Folding his hands in his lap as he waited for the girl to return with a beverage he was allowed, Sil looked at Leto and gave a shrug at her words.
“Oh you know. About as well as can be expected when one is a glorified slave.” he said, in a tone that suggested more humour than he actually felt about the situation. It was better, he could admit, that what could have come out of that meeting with Vangelis but Silanos had endured a tough few weeks, and there seemed no respite in sight. Not with war looming, and this insistence that he accompany the Prince’s party to Egypt.
As if she read his mind, Leto’s words turned in that direction too and Silanos sighed. It would not be the done thing to express honestly how reluctant he felt towards going, and so he smirked at her and thought he might try and summon one of those pretty blushes of hers. “I don’t know, Leto. Is there anything you can help me with? I will be away a long time, stepping into the jaws of death themselves. Really, it's only the thought of such treasures at home worth protecting that gives a man the strength to go.”
He had not forgotten how the young woman had looked at Captain Maleos, nor how she had provoked the first glimmer of personality he’d seen in the morose man. There was a small part of him that thought he would flirt with Leto just to spite the man, to pay him back for those night drills. It would do no harm, and it wasn’t a hardship. He liked seeing her get riled up. “Though of course, I’m sure you’ll be sweetly waving goodbye to yourother friend will you?”
Leto was secretly overjoyed to have a visitor, not that she was restricted in her movements throughout the city, but seeing just the same few faces at home could grow tiresome. It was particularly lonesome when the servants in the house preferred to treat her as if she were not commonborn herself, a result of her brother's ambition for them to be groomed and ready for some barony he set his eyes upon. A fresh face in these walls and within the courtyard was welcome.
"No, the Kotas are keeping him quite busy with the preparations, and I doubt I shall see much more of him once the King and Crown Prince depart as he will be found all but adhered to Prince Zanon's side to assist with multiple investigations." Leto rambled a moment, immediately stilling her tongue a moment ensuring that she did not let too much spill from her lips. Granted, it would have been no secret to Silanos, if he was so attached to Prince Vangelis.
It was only confirmed by his scoff, with blended an apologetic yet amused expression on her face as she nodded to the servant to dismiss her once the refreshments arrived. "What a shame, that would be an excellent report to read. You should still try it. It is your skill after all."
Leto's brows pricked up but she said nothing as he requested water instead of wine. The servant obliged and departed again and her eyes lingered on him a moment before they moved the conversation along.
Then, he smirked, and the tone of his voice shifted, causing that unfamiliar fluttering sensation at the base of her throat to return. It was distracting, and she glanced away and busied her hands with plucking a few grapes from the bunch that was on the tray, dipping them into a small dollop of fruit puree - satisfying her sweet tooth and distracting from his words slightly.
What he talking about her?
For a moment, her mind took her on a journey, thinking of the various gifts that had been exchanged between them, almost like a game to tease the other one in one way or another. Secret messages in the form of objects that led them to think of one another. And now, despite the teasing tone his words took, Leto could not help but overanalyze the issue - a fault she and her brother shared with their overactive minds.
That fluttering, confused sensation seemed to blow through her mind, like a breeze that blew leaves aimlessly down a path. Normally a logical and solid woman, Leto had a romantic streak within her, fueled by years of solitude reading every sort of book she could get her hands on, supplemented by Magnus' generosity.
However, she could not let herself give in to such flattering words, despite how the pink flush on her pale skin betrayed her. After a quick inadvertent, flutter of her eyelashes, she tried to match his tone with her own teasing - because that's what he was doing, right? Teasing...right?
"Oh, I know nothing about being a 'treasure' in that instance, but if I can ever get my hand on some ink, I will spare a bottle just for you, if you need such bolstering," she swore, lifting a grape as if it were its own wine chalice in a toast of reassurance.
Then, he spoke of Maleos, and her expression shifted, brows morphing through a few different shapes - irritation, then curiosity, then mild assessment.
"Lord Silanos," Leto started, her tone half-teasing and half-prying for a true answer, "If I did not know any better, I would say that sounded a lot like jealousy." A grin barely masked the sharp, prying gaze that she pinned him with. Particularly now that she and Maleos had shared their own small confessional at the Temple of Ares, she felt the care she confessed to him - in her own way and in not nearly as many words as he confessed to her - being tugged and mirrored towards the same she realized that she felt for Silanos.
"Am I not allowed to wish for the safe return and wellbeing of those I care about?" Leto was mostly curious as to why Silanos had such a visceral response to Maleos, and consistently brought him up each time they were together. It brought up the same question she held before, and left a fluttering in her chest that she wished she could bat away. Instead, she swallowed and feigned teasing confidence in her tone as she asked, "Would you prefer I had a farewell wave only for you?"
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Leto was secretly overjoyed to have a visitor, not that she was restricted in her movements throughout the city, but seeing just the same few faces at home could grow tiresome. It was particularly lonesome when the servants in the house preferred to treat her as if she were not commonborn herself, a result of her brother's ambition for them to be groomed and ready for some barony he set his eyes upon. A fresh face in these walls and within the courtyard was welcome.
"No, the Kotas are keeping him quite busy with the preparations, and I doubt I shall see much more of him once the King and Crown Prince depart as he will be found all but adhered to Prince Zanon's side to assist with multiple investigations." Leto rambled a moment, immediately stilling her tongue a moment ensuring that she did not let too much spill from her lips. Granted, it would have been no secret to Silanos, if he was so attached to Prince Vangelis.
It was only confirmed by his scoff, with blended an apologetic yet amused expression on her face as she nodded to the servant to dismiss her once the refreshments arrived. "What a shame, that would be an excellent report to read. You should still try it. It is your skill after all."
Leto's brows pricked up but she said nothing as he requested water instead of wine. The servant obliged and departed again and her eyes lingered on him a moment before they moved the conversation along.
Then, he smirked, and the tone of his voice shifted, causing that unfamiliar fluttering sensation at the base of her throat to return. It was distracting, and she glanced away and busied her hands with plucking a few grapes from the bunch that was on the tray, dipping them into a small dollop of fruit puree - satisfying her sweet tooth and distracting from his words slightly.
What he talking about her?
For a moment, her mind took her on a journey, thinking of the various gifts that had been exchanged between them, almost like a game to tease the other one in one way or another. Secret messages in the form of objects that led them to think of one another. And now, despite the teasing tone his words took, Leto could not help but overanalyze the issue - a fault she and her brother shared with their overactive minds.
That fluttering, confused sensation seemed to blow through her mind, like a breeze that blew leaves aimlessly down a path. Normally a logical and solid woman, Leto had a romantic streak within her, fueled by years of solitude reading every sort of book she could get her hands on, supplemented by Magnus' generosity.
However, she could not let herself give in to such flattering words, despite how the pink flush on her pale skin betrayed her. After a quick inadvertent, flutter of her eyelashes, she tried to match his tone with her own teasing - because that's what he was doing, right? Teasing...right?
"Oh, I know nothing about being a 'treasure' in that instance, but if I can ever get my hand on some ink, I will spare a bottle just for you, if you need such bolstering," she swore, lifting a grape as if it were its own wine chalice in a toast of reassurance.
Then, he spoke of Maleos, and her expression shifted, brows morphing through a few different shapes - irritation, then curiosity, then mild assessment.
"Lord Silanos," Leto started, her tone half-teasing and half-prying for a true answer, "If I did not know any better, I would say that sounded a lot like jealousy." A grin barely masked the sharp, prying gaze that she pinned him with. Particularly now that she and Maleos had shared their own small confessional at the Temple of Ares, she felt the care she confessed to him - in her own way and in not nearly as many words as he confessed to her - being tugged and mirrored towards the same she realized that she felt for Silanos.
"Am I not allowed to wish for the safe return and wellbeing of those I care about?" Leto was mostly curious as to why Silanos had such a visceral response to Maleos, and consistently brought him up each time they were together. It brought up the same question she held before, and left a fluttering in her chest that she wished she could bat away. Instead, she swallowed and feigned teasing confidence in her tone as she asked, "Would you prefer I had a farewell wave only for you?"
Leto was secretly overjoyed to have a visitor, not that she was restricted in her movements throughout the city, but seeing just the same few faces at home could grow tiresome. It was particularly lonesome when the servants in the house preferred to treat her as if she were not commonborn herself, a result of her brother's ambition for them to be groomed and ready for some barony he set his eyes upon. A fresh face in these walls and within the courtyard was welcome.
"No, the Kotas are keeping him quite busy with the preparations, and I doubt I shall see much more of him once the King and Crown Prince depart as he will be found all but adhered to Prince Zanon's side to assist with multiple investigations." Leto rambled a moment, immediately stilling her tongue a moment ensuring that she did not let too much spill from her lips. Granted, it would have been no secret to Silanos, if he was so attached to Prince Vangelis.
It was only confirmed by his scoff, with blended an apologetic yet amused expression on her face as she nodded to the servant to dismiss her once the refreshments arrived. "What a shame, that would be an excellent report to read. You should still try it. It is your skill after all."
Leto's brows pricked up but she said nothing as he requested water instead of wine. The servant obliged and departed again and her eyes lingered on him a moment before they moved the conversation along.
Then, he smirked, and the tone of his voice shifted, causing that unfamiliar fluttering sensation at the base of her throat to return. It was distracting, and she glanced away and busied her hands with plucking a few grapes from the bunch that was on the tray, dipping them into a small dollop of fruit puree - satisfying her sweet tooth and distracting from his words slightly.
What he talking about her?
For a moment, her mind took her on a journey, thinking of the various gifts that had been exchanged between them, almost like a game to tease the other one in one way or another. Secret messages in the form of objects that led them to think of one another. And now, despite the teasing tone his words took, Leto could not help but overanalyze the issue - a fault she and her brother shared with their overactive minds.
That fluttering, confused sensation seemed to blow through her mind, like a breeze that blew leaves aimlessly down a path. Normally a logical and solid woman, Leto had a romantic streak within her, fueled by years of solitude reading every sort of book she could get her hands on, supplemented by Magnus' generosity.
However, she could not let herself give in to such flattering words, despite how the pink flush on her pale skin betrayed her. After a quick inadvertent, flutter of her eyelashes, she tried to match his tone with her own teasing - because that's what he was doing, right? Teasing...right?
"Oh, I know nothing about being a 'treasure' in that instance, but if I can ever get my hand on some ink, I will spare a bottle just for you, if you need such bolstering," she swore, lifting a grape as if it were its own wine chalice in a toast of reassurance.
Then, he spoke of Maleos, and her expression shifted, brows morphing through a few different shapes - irritation, then curiosity, then mild assessment.
"Lord Silanos," Leto started, her tone half-teasing and half-prying for a true answer, "If I did not know any better, I would say that sounded a lot like jealousy." A grin barely masked the sharp, prying gaze that she pinned him with. Particularly now that she and Maleos had shared their own small confessional at the Temple of Ares, she felt the care she confessed to him - in her own way and in not nearly as many words as he confessed to her - being tugged and mirrored towards the same she realized that she felt for Silanos.
"Am I not allowed to wish for the safe return and wellbeing of those I care about?" Leto was mostly curious as to why Silanos had such a visceral response to Maleos, and consistently brought him up each time they were together. It brought up the same question she held before, and left a fluttering in her chest that she wished she could bat away. Instead, she swallowed and feigned teasing confidence in her tone as she asked, "Would you prefer I had a farewell wave only for you?"
The Valaoritis Lord relaxed a fraction once assured the master informer was not going to appear from the shadows at any moment.He had no argument with the man but he knew Magnus to be close with Prince Vangelis, who was most certainly not Silanos’ greatest fan. It was probably better he wasn’t here.
He shook his head a little at Leto as she went on, a quirk of his brow that said ‘really?’ so he didn't have to when she made passing reference to his penchant for illicit kissing. On one hand, he was glad that she could at least joke about it, and didn't think he was too much of a cad to deal with. She was refreshing like that. But equally, given his current circumstances, Sil did not much want to be reminded of why he’d ended up there, and so he gave a dismissive sort of snort and instead asked the servant girl to bring him water. Because that was his life now, drinking like a peasant.
It was an easy distraction then, to turn thought away from his own misery and instead take some fun in flirting a little with the woman before him. Older than him, but Silanos didn't doubt she was fairly untried when it came to the things that mattered, so it didn't take much of a suggestion of anything to throw her off. He laid it on thick, grinned at her and ended with a little teasing jab at her ‘friendship’ with the soldier. He had not intended to arm her with a method to get at him, only it became quite apparent in the next moment that he had.
At first, he was pleased by the idea that she might take the time to write to him, though if he had his way he would be staying behind anyway and there would be no need. But his plans in that regard had yet to bear fruit so Sil just winked at her. “I always enjoy your letters, Leto”
What he hadn’t prepared for was the ridiculous assumption she made next, and Sil gave a half choked laugh that was more of a splutter than he would have liked. “Oh my. We are feeling full of ourselves aren’t we? Yes. Yes of course. I’m jealous of your dreary soldier friend and the torrid and impassioned common-born love you two clearly share” he drawled “Far be it from me to stand between two so overburdened with ardent affections. I mean...it was clear the way you two awkwardly shuffled around each other at the training ground. No room for me there”
He laughed dismissively and rolled his eyes at her as he reached to pluck a grape from the bunch on the platter before them, chewed it obnoxiously loudly. As if he’d be jealous of that moron. Only..he realised that there had been an unkind cast to his words that he would not usually have directed at Leto, and he felt edgy and irritable.
Fucking ridiculous
He wasn’t jealous.
But as he looked over at the dark-haired woman opposite and felt his throat close up around the apology he wanted to speak, Silanos was gut punched by the fact that maybe he was.
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The Valaoritis Lord relaxed a fraction once assured the master informer was not going to appear from the shadows at any moment.He had no argument with the man but he knew Magnus to be close with Prince Vangelis, who was most certainly not Silanos’ greatest fan. It was probably better he wasn’t here.
He shook his head a little at Leto as she went on, a quirk of his brow that said ‘really?’ so he didn't have to when she made passing reference to his penchant for illicit kissing. On one hand, he was glad that she could at least joke about it, and didn't think he was too much of a cad to deal with. She was refreshing like that. But equally, given his current circumstances, Sil did not much want to be reminded of why he’d ended up there, and so he gave a dismissive sort of snort and instead asked the servant girl to bring him water. Because that was his life now, drinking like a peasant.
It was an easy distraction then, to turn thought away from his own misery and instead take some fun in flirting a little with the woman before him. Older than him, but Silanos didn't doubt she was fairly untried when it came to the things that mattered, so it didn't take much of a suggestion of anything to throw her off. He laid it on thick, grinned at her and ended with a little teasing jab at her ‘friendship’ with the soldier. He had not intended to arm her with a method to get at him, only it became quite apparent in the next moment that he had.
At first, he was pleased by the idea that she might take the time to write to him, though if he had his way he would be staying behind anyway and there would be no need. But his plans in that regard had yet to bear fruit so Sil just winked at her. “I always enjoy your letters, Leto”
What he hadn’t prepared for was the ridiculous assumption she made next, and Sil gave a half choked laugh that was more of a splutter than he would have liked. “Oh my. We are feeling full of ourselves aren’t we? Yes. Yes of course. I’m jealous of your dreary soldier friend and the torrid and impassioned common-born love you two clearly share” he drawled “Far be it from me to stand between two so overburdened with ardent affections. I mean...it was clear the way you two awkwardly shuffled around each other at the training ground. No room for me there”
He laughed dismissively and rolled his eyes at her as he reached to pluck a grape from the bunch on the platter before them, chewed it obnoxiously loudly. As if he’d be jealous of that moron. Only..he realised that there had been an unkind cast to his words that he would not usually have directed at Leto, and he felt edgy and irritable.
Fucking ridiculous
He wasn’t jealous.
But as he looked over at the dark-haired woman opposite and felt his throat close up around the apology he wanted to speak, Silanos was gut punched by the fact that maybe he was.
The Valaoritis Lord relaxed a fraction once assured the master informer was not going to appear from the shadows at any moment.He had no argument with the man but he knew Magnus to be close with Prince Vangelis, who was most certainly not Silanos’ greatest fan. It was probably better he wasn’t here.
He shook his head a little at Leto as she went on, a quirk of his brow that said ‘really?’ so he didn't have to when she made passing reference to his penchant for illicit kissing. On one hand, he was glad that she could at least joke about it, and didn't think he was too much of a cad to deal with. She was refreshing like that. But equally, given his current circumstances, Sil did not much want to be reminded of why he’d ended up there, and so he gave a dismissive sort of snort and instead asked the servant girl to bring him water. Because that was his life now, drinking like a peasant.
It was an easy distraction then, to turn thought away from his own misery and instead take some fun in flirting a little with the woman before him. Older than him, but Silanos didn't doubt she was fairly untried when it came to the things that mattered, so it didn't take much of a suggestion of anything to throw her off. He laid it on thick, grinned at her and ended with a little teasing jab at her ‘friendship’ with the soldier. He had not intended to arm her with a method to get at him, only it became quite apparent in the next moment that he had.
At first, he was pleased by the idea that she might take the time to write to him, though if he had his way he would be staying behind anyway and there would be no need. But his plans in that regard had yet to bear fruit so Sil just winked at her. “I always enjoy your letters, Leto”
What he hadn’t prepared for was the ridiculous assumption she made next, and Sil gave a half choked laugh that was more of a splutter than he would have liked. “Oh my. We are feeling full of ourselves aren’t we? Yes. Yes of course. I’m jealous of your dreary soldier friend and the torrid and impassioned common-born love you two clearly share” he drawled “Far be it from me to stand between two so overburdened with ardent affections. I mean...it was clear the way you two awkwardly shuffled around each other at the training ground. No room for me there”
He laughed dismissively and rolled his eyes at her as he reached to pluck a grape from the bunch on the platter before them, chewed it obnoxiously loudly. As if he’d be jealous of that moron. Only..he realised that there had been an unkind cast to his words that he would not usually have directed at Leto, and he felt edgy and irritable.
Fucking ridiculous
He wasn’t jealous.
But as he looked over at the dark-haired woman opposite and felt his throat close up around the apology he wanted to speak, Silanos was gut punched by the fact that maybe he was.
For the briefest moment, Leto felt encouraged to tease him a bit more, adding in something about how no one could ever tell where her brother was lurking. She could, of course, but not wishing to accidentally summon him to appear in this instance, Leto kept her lips pressed into an amused smile before lifting the watered wine to her lips.
A truer smile crossed her features as he mentioned liking her letters. There was no denying the feelings were mutual there. "Then, rest assured, I will keep to them as often as I can, along with whatever small trinkets will survive the journey."
It was quick reference to their tendency to send once another gifts by post, usually one of a clever or teasing variety - a doll that teased her hair, a book of myths that matched the stars. If he was leaving the Colchian shores for a while, she could perhaps summon some small thing here and there to remind him of home. Yes, he had his family that would likely mail him, but he was an unmarried noble who was currently in a less-than-noble standing. While he was far from being in the right, Leto considered him a friend enough to at least keep him from feeling completely outcast. That's what friends did - lifting one another up when they felt down.
"It is not a demand," Leto added, her humor leading her to glance away to keep from meeting his gaze as she tried to redirect her attention away from the fluttering feeling she felt beneath her ribs when he looked at her like that, "But I would not complain if you managed to return similar such trinkets from Lands Afar. I can add them to your collection."
It was then that the mood shifted, Silanos having taken off on a minor ramble about Maleos, Leto responding with what she initially intended as a jest that very quickly became a deep burning curiosity. Especially has he began to elaborate. His voice was broader in a way that made her shift back and away in her seat a moment in surprise. Her expression contorted from jest into a furrowed brow and a surprised, crooked lift of her upper lip in confusion and minor disgust at his tone.
That was a surprisingly strong reaction. It was unexpected. Oddly enough, when unexpected things occurred, Leto's initial reaction tended to be to laugh. An uncomfortable and confused laugh in this moment as he went on a moment, whipping out words that she, as much as she hated to admit it, would have never imagined Lord Silanos saying. Yes, he likely received far more of a formal education than she ever did, but he did not seem the kind to absorb most of what the tutors offered. Those words, though, she had learned from her ravenous reading in her seemingly perpetual solitude that persisted til recent years.
"...'common-born love'...I-" Leto repeated, in a tone that would have been incredulous and angry, if not for an unnamed feeling in her chest that felt an awful lot like guilt keeping it from being so strong. Leto was coming to realize that processing feelings was not a strong suit of hers, as she thought on the last interactions with each of the men - standing entirely too close in the training ring to Silanos...and wrapped deeply in a kiss with Maleos outside of the Temple, looking over the Aegean.
The edge to his voice seemed to have laid bare something in Silanos that she had not ever imagined to see from him. He seemed angry at her in a way, but the way he shifted towards eating with attempted nonchalance meant it was not true - maybe it was truly a joke as well? Gods, it would be so much easier if that were the case...but her mind swirled as she suspected that may not be the case. Uncertainty painted the lines of her face as she began to fidget and roll the goblet of wine awkwardly in her hands.
And now to make it worse, the near-panicked tightening of her throat made her wonder - did she want him to be jealous? Did she...want that? Guilt and feelings of anxiousness swirled in her stomach at the selfish thought and she glanced around the courtyard aimlessly a moment, her tongue running a few uncertain circles against the roof of her mouth a moment as if trying to weave words together that would keep this from dissolving into something irreparable.
Already her heart journeyed with one man across the sea....it would not do to risk letting it journey with another as well. Was that even possible? No, she could not consider it. Everything she felt and shared with Maleos was so deep and steadfast and secure...but Silanos made her feel something as well. Different, but...something strong.
Clearing her throat lightly, she attempted to regain some composure, despite glancing to see his own torn expression and meeting his gaze for only the blink of an eye before glancing back around as if counting the columns in the courtyard. Lifting the goblet to her lips, she spoke almost solemnly, "I apologize if my actions offended, My Lord."
Then she took a swig to keep from elaborating further.
It would be up to him to decide what he would accept the apology for - her clearly displaying her affection for Captain Maleos, for teasing him so blatantly just now and being 'full of herself' out of her station....or for accidentally tearing away a veil that neither of them knew that had been in place.
Unable to leave that moment lingering and desperate to try to dispel the uncomfortable unspoken static in the space between them, Leto offered, "Would you care to take some of this with you? I can have Rhea prepare..."
Her hand moved forward towards the tray incidentally at the same time as his, only for her to still immediately as her fingertips touched the back of his hand. Her eyes flicked up to his immediately and held their gaze, unblinking.
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For the briefest moment, Leto felt encouraged to tease him a bit more, adding in something about how no one could ever tell where her brother was lurking. She could, of course, but not wishing to accidentally summon him to appear in this instance, Leto kept her lips pressed into an amused smile before lifting the watered wine to her lips.
A truer smile crossed her features as he mentioned liking her letters. There was no denying the feelings were mutual there. "Then, rest assured, I will keep to them as often as I can, along with whatever small trinkets will survive the journey."
It was quick reference to their tendency to send once another gifts by post, usually one of a clever or teasing variety - a doll that teased her hair, a book of myths that matched the stars. If he was leaving the Colchian shores for a while, she could perhaps summon some small thing here and there to remind him of home. Yes, he had his family that would likely mail him, but he was an unmarried noble who was currently in a less-than-noble standing. While he was far from being in the right, Leto considered him a friend enough to at least keep him from feeling completely outcast. That's what friends did - lifting one another up when they felt down.
"It is not a demand," Leto added, her humor leading her to glance away to keep from meeting his gaze as she tried to redirect her attention away from the fluttering feeling she felt beneath her ribs when he looked at her like that, "But I would not complain if you managed to return similar such trinkets from Lands Afar. I can add them to your collection."
It was then that the mood shifted, Silanos having taken off on a minor ramble about Maleos, Leto responding with what she initially intended as a jest that very quickly became a deep burning curiosity. Especially has he began to elaborate. His voice was broader in a way that made her shift back and away in her seat a moment in surprise. Her expression contorted from jest into a furrowed brow and a surprised, crooked lift of her upper lip in confusion and minor disgust at his tone.
That was a surprisingly strong reaction. It was unexpected. Oddly enough, when unexpected things occurred, Leto's initial reaction tended to be to laugh. An uncomfortable and confused laugh in this moment as he went on a moment, whipping out words that she, as much as she hated to admit it, would have never imagined Lord Silanos saying. Yes, he likely received far more of a formal education than she ever did, but he did not seem the kind to absorb most of what the tutors offered. Those words, though, she had learned from her ravenous reading in her seemingly perpetual solitude that persisted til recent years.
"...'common-born love'...I-" Leto repeated, in a tone that would have been incredulous and angry, if not for an unnamed feeling in her chest that felt an awful lot like guilt keeping it from being so strong. Leto was coming to realize that processing feelings was not a strong suit of hers, as she thought on the last interactions with each of the men - standing entirely too close in the training ring to Silanos...and wrapped deeply in a kiss with Maleos outside of the Temple, looking over the Aegean.
The edge to his voice seemed to have laid bare something in Silanos that she had not ever imagined to see from him. He seemed angry at her in a way, but the way he shifted towards eating with attempted nonchalance meant it was not true - maybe it was truly a joke as well? Gods, it would be so much easier if that were the case...but her mind swirled as she suspected that may not be the case. Uncertainty painted the lines of her face as she began to fidget and roll the goblet of wine awkwardly in her hands.
And now to make it worse, the near-panicked tightening of her throat made her wonder - did she want him to be jealous? Did she...want that? Guilt and feelings of anxiousness swirled in her stomach at the selfish thought and she glanced around the courtyard aimlessly a moment, her tongue running a few uncertain circles against the roof of her mouth a moment as if trying to weave words together that would keep this from dissolving into something irreparable.
Already her heart journeyed with one man across the sea....it would not do to risk letting it journey with another as well. Was that even possible? No, she could not consider it. Everything she felt and shared with Maleos was so deep and steadfast and secure...but Silanos made her feel something as well. Different, but...something strong.
Clearing her throat lightly, she attempted to regain some composure, despite glancing to see his own torn expression and meeting his gaze for only the blink of an eye before glancing back around as if counting the columns in the courtyard. Lifting the goblet to her lips, she spoke almost solemnly, "I apologize if my actions offended, My Lord."
Then she took a swig to keep from elaborating further.
It would be up to him to decide what he would accept the apology for - her clearly displaying her affection for Captain Maleos, for teasing him so blatantly just now and being 'full of herself' out of her station....or for accidentally tearing away a veil that neither of them knew that had been in place.
Unable to leave that moment lingering and desperate to try to dispel the uncomfortable unspoken static in the space between them, Leto offered, "Would you care to take some of this with you? I can have Rhea prepare..."
Her hand moved forward towards the tray incidentally at the same time as his, only for her to still immediately as her fingertips touched the back of his hand. Her eyes flicked up to his immediately and held their gaze, unblinking.
For the briefest moment, Leto felt encouraged to tease him a bit more, adding in something about how no one could ever tell where her brother was lurking. She could, of course, but not wishing to accidentally summon him to appear in this instance, Leto kept her lips pressed into an amused smile before lifting the watered wine to her lips.
A truer smile crossed her features as he mentioned liking her letters. There was no denying the feelings were mutual there. "Then, rest assured, I will keep to them as often as I can, along with whatever small trinkets will survive the journey."
It was quick reference to their tendency to send once another gifts by post, usually one of a clever or teasing variety - a doll that teased her hair, a book of myths that matched the stars. If he was leaving the Colchian shores for a while, she could perhaps summon some small thing here and there to remind him of home. Yes, he had his family that would likely mail him, but he was an unmarried noble who was currently in a less-than-noble standing. While he was far from being in the right, Leto considered him a friend enough to at least keep him from feeling completely outcast. That's what friends did - lifting one another up when they felt down.
"It is not a demand," Leto added, her humor leading her to glance away to keep from meeting his gaze as she tried to redirect her attention away from the fluttering feeling she felt beneath her ribs when he looked at her like that, "But I would not complain if you managed to return similar such trinkets from Lands Afar. I can add them to your collection."
It was then that the mood shifted, Silanos having taken off on a minor ramble about Maleos, Leto responding with what she initially intended as a jest that very quickly became a deep burning curiosity. Especially has he began to elaborate. His voice was broader in a way that made her shift back and away in her seat a moment in surprise. Her expression contorted from jest into a furrowed brow and a surprised, crooked lift of her upper lip in confusion and minor disgust at his tone.
That was a surprisingly strong reaction. It was unexpected. Oddly enough, when unexpected things occurred, Leto's initial reaction tended to be to laugh. An uncomfortable and confused laugh in this moment as he went on a moment, whipping out words that she, as much as she hated to admit it, would have never imagined Lord Silanos saying. Yes, he likely received far more of a formal education than she ever did, but he did not seem the kind to absorb most of what the tutors offered. Those words, though, she had learned from her ravenous reading in her seemingly perpetual solitude that persisted til recent years.
"...'common-born love'...I-" Leto repeated, in a tone that would have been incredulous and angry, if not for an unnamed feeling in her chest that felt an awful lot like guilt keeping it from being so strong. Leto was coming to realize that processing feelings was not a strong suit of hers, as she thought on the last interactions with each of the men - standing entirely too close in the training ring to Silanos...and wrapped deeply in a kiss with Maleos outside of the Temple, looking over the Aegean.
The edge to his voice seemed to have laid bare something in Silanos that she had not ever imagined to see from him. He seemed angry at her in a way, but the way he shifted towards eating with attempted nonchalance meant it was not true - maybe it was truly a joke as well? Gods, it would be so much easier if that were the case...but her mind swirled as she suspected that may not be the case. Uncertainty painted the lines of her face as she began to fidget and roll the goblet of wine awkwardly in her hands.
And now to make it worse, the near-panicked tightening of her throat made her wonder - did she want him to be jealous? Did she...want that? Guilt and feelings of anxiousness swirled in her stomach at the selfish thought and she glanced around the courtyard aimlessly a moment, her tongue running a few uncertain circles against the roof of her mouth a moment as if trying to weave words together that would keep this from dissolving into something irreparable.
Already her heart journeyed with one man across the sea....it would not do to risk letting it journey with another as well. Was that even possible? No, she could not consider it. Everything she felt and shared with Maleos was so deep and steadfast and secure...but Silanos made her feel something as well. Different, but...something strong.
Clearing her throat lightly, she attempted to regain some composure, despite glancing to see his own torn expression and meeting his gaze for only the blink of an eye before glancing back around as if counting the columns in the courtyard. Lifting the goblet to her lips, she spoke almost solemnly, "I apologize if my actions offended, My Lord."
Then she took a swig to keep from elaborating further.
It would be up to him to decide what he would accept the apology for - her clearly displaying her affection for Captain Maleos, for teasing him so blatantly just now and being 'full of herself' out of her station....or for accidentally tearing away a veil that neither of them knew that had been in place.
Unable to leave that moment lingering and desperate to try to dispel the uncomfortable unspoken static in the space between them, Leto offered, "Would you care to take some of this with you? I can have Rhea prepare..."
Her hand moved forward towards the tray incidentally at the same time as his, only for her to still immediately as her fingertips touched the back of his hand. Her eyes flicked up to his immediately and held their gaze, unblinking.
He had a bad habit of running his mouth at the best of times, and it was unfortunate that the tendency only seemed to increase when he felt someone pushing at his comfort levels. Somehow, Leto had done just that.
Silanos knew he enjoyed her company, made no secret of that. She was funny, less pretentious and uppity and sensitive than a lot of other women could be. It was more like hanging around with a friend. She slept on the beach and climbed through his window and sent him children’s books and hadn’t balked when he confessed his mistakes to her. And he’d decided pretty early on in their acquaintance that she wasn’t his type. Her eyes were too far apart and her hair was crazy. Besides, Sil wasn’t in the habit of actually spending time with girls he wanted to fuck. That was too much like hard work.
He didn’t like Leto like that.
Yes, he’d flirted with her, because it just sort of came as easy as breathing to the Lord, and once he’d figured out that Maleos had eyes for the woman then it seemed a simple way to stick two fingers up at the man who’d made his life such a fucking misery. Silanos might have gone out of his way to flatter Leto and make her blush then. But he hadn’t...he didn’t…
He wasn’t fucking jealous.
Only watching her now as she recoiled from his harsh words, Silanos felt like he’d been unnecessarily unkind. And maybe it was because the idea of her having feelings for that dull soldier pissed him off. Sil stared hard at Leto as he scrutinised his own feelings in a way most unlike him.
“I’m not offended Leto” he snapped, when she stammered her way through the words, irritation easier to accept than whatever the fuck else this was. Gods. Why did she have to go and make things weird. He reminded himself that they had lived through much more awkward situations than this, but for some reason this felt different. Like she’d taken something she shouldn’t have, pulled it out of his unwilling grasp.
Still, he swallowed, not liking the way her eyes wouldn't meet his, like she was afraid of saying something that would provoke a similarly scathing response. Sil sighed, deliberately loud and long.
“Sorry...that was harsh. Don’t take it personally. I’ve not been sleeping well”
Not lies, but half truths mean to deflect and diffuse the situation. Gloss over his reaction. Put them back on course away from that..blip. He could fake it a little while until he could get away from here and think it through properly.
It seemed a reasonable plan. He took a sip of water and reached for a fig. Casual. And it probably would have been fine had she not done the same, and for some inexplicable reason instead of pulling back he’d turned his hand and caught her fingers with his own. Silanos just stared at their joined hands as if he couldn’t figure out how it had happened.
“Why do you even like him anyway”
He hadn’t meant to say that. Because, he didn’t care and it didn’t matter that he was still holding her hand, and fuck it he was still holding her hand. He let go, and Sil knew he couldn’t look up then. Somehow the question had bubbled up unbidden and he really wanted to hear her answer so he could work out if Leto and Maleos were more than friends.He pressed his lips together to stop himself saying anything else that was so dumb, but didnt stop listening for her answer. It suddenly meant a lot.
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He had a bad habit of running his mouth at the best of times, and it was unfortunate that the tendency only seemed to increase when he felt someone pushing at his comfort levels. Somehow, Leto had done just that.
Silanos knew he enjoyed her company, made no secret of that. She was funny, less pretentious and uppity and sensitive than a lot of other women could be. It was more like hanging around with a friend. She slept on the beach and climbed through his window and sent him children’s books and hadn’t balked when he confessed his mistakes to her. And he’d decided pretty early on in their acquaintance that she wasn’t his type. Her eyes were too far apart and her hair was crazy. Besides, Sil wasn’t in the habit of actually spending time with girls he wanted to fuck. That was too much like hard work.
He didn’t like Leto like that.
Yes, he’d flirted with her, because it just sort of came as easy as breathing to the Lord, and once he’d figured out that Maleos had eyes for the woman then it seemed a simple way to stick two fingers up at the man who’d made his life such a fucking misery. Silanos might have gone out of his way to flatter Leto and make her blush then. But he hadn’t...he didn’t…
He wasn’t fucking jealous.
Only watching her now as she recoiled from his harsh words, Silanos felt like he’d been unnecessarily unkind. And maybe it was because the idea of her having feelings for that dull soldier pissed him off. Sil stared hard at Leto as he scrutinised his own feelings in a way most unlike him.
“I’m not offended Leto” he snapped, when she stammered her way through the words, irritation easier to accept than whatever the fuck else this was. Gods. Why did she have to go and make things weird. He reminded himself that they had lived through much more awkward situations than this, but for some reason this felt different. Like she’d taken something she shouldn’t have, pulled it out of his unwilling grasp.
Still, he swallowed, not liking the way her eyes wouldn't meet his, like she was afraid of saying something that would provoke a similarly scathing response. Sil sighed, deliberately loud and long.
“Sorry...that was harsh. Don’t take it personally. I’ve not been sleeping well”
Not lies, but half truths mean to deflect and diffuse the situation. Gloss over his reaction. Put them back on course away from that..blip. He could fake it a little while until he could get away from here and think it through properly.
It seemed a reasonable plan. He took a sip of water and reached for a fig. Casual. And it probably would have been fine had she not done the same, and for some inexplicable reason instead of pulling back he’d turned his hand and caught her fingers with his own. Silanos just stared at their joined hands as if he couldn’t figure out how it had happened.
“Why do you even like him anyway”
He hadn’t meant to say that. Because, he didn’t care and it didn’t matter that he was still holding her hand, and fuck it he was still holding her hand. He let go, and Sil knew he couldn’t look up then. Somehow the question had bubbled up unbidden and he really wanted to hear her answer so he could work out if Leto and Maleos were more than friends.He pressed his lips together to stop himself saying anything else that was so dumb, but didnt stop listening for her answer. It suddenly meant a lot.
He had a bad habit of running his mouth at the best of times, and it was unfortunate that the tendency only seemed to increase when he felt someone pushing at his comfort levels. Somehow, Leto had done just that.
Silanos knew he enjoyed her company, made no secret of that. She was funny, less pretentious and uppity and sensitive than a lot of other women could be. It was more like hanging around with a friend. She slept on the beach and climbed through his window and sent him children’s books and hadn’t balked when he confessed his mistakes to her. And he’d decided pretty early on in their acquaintance that she wasn’t his type. Her eyes were too far apart and her hair was crazy. Besides, Sil wasn’t in the habit of actually spending time with girls he wanted to fuck. That was too much like hard work.
He didn’t like Leto like that.
Yes, he’d flirted with her, because it just sort of came as easy as breathing to the Lord, and once he’d figured out that Maleos had eyes for the woman then it seemed a simple way to stick two fingers up at the man who’d made his life such a fucking misery. Silanos might have gone out of his way to flatter Leto and make her blush then. But he hadn’t...he didn’t…
He wasn’t fucking jealous.
Only watching her now as she recoiled from his harsh words, Silanos felt like he’d been unnecessarily unkind. And maybe it was because the idea of her having feelings for that dull soldier pissed him off. Sil stared hard at Leto as he scrutinised his own feelings in a way most unlike him.
“I’m not offended Leto” he snapped, when she stammered her way through the words, irritation easier to accept than whatever the fuck else this was. Gods. Why did she have to go and make things weird. He reminded himself that they had lived through much more awkward situations than this, but for some reason this felt different. Like she’d taken something she shouldn’t have, pulled it out of his unwilling grasp.
Still, he swallowed, not liking the way her eyes wouldn't meet his, like she was afraid of saying something that would provoke a similarly scathing response. Sil sighed, deliberately loud and long.
“Sorry...that was harsh. Don’t take it personally. I’ve not been sleeping well”
Not lies, but half truths mean to deflect and diffuse the situation. Gloss over his reaction. Put them back on course away from that..blip. He could fake it a little while until he could get away from here and think it through properly.
It seemed a reasonable plan. He took a sip of water and reached for a fig. Casual. And it probably would have been fine had she not done the same, and for some inexplicable reason instead of pulling back he’d turned his hand and caught her fingers with his own. Silanos just stared at their joined hands as if he couldn’t figure out how it had happened.
“Why do you even like him anyway”
He hadn’t meant to say that. Because, he didn’t care and it didn’t matter that he was still holding her hand, and fuck it he was still holding her hand. He let go, and Sil knew he couldn’t look up then. Somehow the question had bubbled up unbidden and he really wanted to hear her answer so he could work out if Leto and Maleos were more than friends.He pressed his lips together to stop himself saying anything else that was so dumb, but didnt stop listening for her answer. It suddenly meant a lot.
Leto felt as if her stomach had turned into the sea, churning endlessly as wrath and guilt and hurt and crashed against one another. Perhaps what irritated her the most was the fact that she could not define clear and logical lines between the words passing between them and the feelings she felt. Entire tomes were written to categorize things in nature and in literature, guidelines for following the gods, actions and outcomes. Yet, in this moment, she could not think through what she was feeling but only felt it at full capacity.
Her eyes kept away from him at first for fear that whatever expression she held might betray her thoughts to him. Their closeness had been almost instantaneous from the moment they met, and for a moment, Leto felt utterly stupid at how blind she had been to the impact each of those things had in her life. Silanos made her smile and made her think, not to have her sharp wit and tongue outdone by his. They were of different ages and stations, but that never seemed to matter whenever they were together in the room with one another.
Leto wanted to call that friendship and was terrified that under it all, there could have been something more. For being considered smart for her station and her gender, Leto felt like the stupidest person in the world for missing what must have been obvious signs.
He snapped in frustration, then followed with an apology and a tired excuse. That was when Leto's eyes flashed over to look at him, like a predator finding another weakness. She was upset at the light he decided to shine on her feelings for Maleos, which was none of his damn business in the first place, but more upsetting now was the fact that he had shown such a weakness and then attempted to cover it up. No, that would not do. If he wanted to speak so plainly of what she hid, then he would need to do so as well.
"You will wear those words out before long," Leto murmured, cooly, taking a bitter sip from her drink, "But, if I know something about you Silanos, is that you do not often say things you do not mean. So, why start now." It was not a question to be answered, instead the moment was filled with the tensions of hurt feelings and unspoken issues. Her offer to have Rhea prepare something for him to take along was as close as she was going to come to a dismissal, polite and courteous as a hostess to a Lord in her own house.
The moment their hands touched, it all came to a stop. Stunned, her eyes stared at the union of their hands. Somehow, it felt closer and more intimate than even laying in his arms on the sands of the beaches all those weeks ago. Everything came to a stop and her mind raced through the meanings, through the scenarios from stories and myths about moments such as these. It then raced along like lightning, carving a path in a different direction, jagged and bright - and terrifying as she thought of it.
In that moment, her mind took her away from the courtyard where they sat, away from the guilt she had held for even considering it for a moment. Her mind was all anticipation as her eyes lifted, unblinking, to see his face as if some sort of explanation would exist there.
Then, he had to go and ruin it.
Leto's mouth opened, but nothing came out. Her lower lip wibbled slightly as she tried to even figure out how he could ask such a thing. Then, like the tug of a thread, it all tightened into a cohesive thought...or a finished statement...
"Why do you even like him anyway... ...instead of me?"
It was a wild journey for her mind to reach that point, filling in blanks that were not hers to fill. But the realization of what brought them to that moment - every step along the way that put them here - was almost overwhelming. Leto had to take a moment to remember to breathe. When she did, she began to speak, "Silanos...I..."
Then, he pulled his hand away.
Some strength returned to her will in that moment. Anything she was nearly about to say or to ask was redirected, particularly as Silanos took his turn at avoiding her gaze. Frustration built in her and she withdrew her hands into her lap, taking a moment to reorganize her words.
"It does not matter, does it," Leto started, her voice collected and smooth, though veiled too thin for the burning tone in her voice to be hidden, "That's not really what you want to know, anyway." She may not have been the Master of Secrets like her brother, but she held the same determination to have someone speak plainly and tell her what she wanted to know. Slowly, each word exacting in reaching that purpose, "What is it, exactly, that you are asking, Sil?"
There was a fire in her that needed this to quell it. If she did not hear him speak something plainly and settle this, it would burn her up inside.
Damn all the impossibilities of the logic behind acting upon any of it - that was not where her mind was right now. Damn the selfish fact that she wanted to know now more than anything, despite the guilt it would cause her over Maleos to know if these feelings had some weight behind them. Damn it all, really. She should have never let him in...in every meaning of the phrase.
But, it was too late for that now.
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Leto felt as if her stomach had turned into the sea, churning endlessly as wrath and guilt and hurt and crashed against one another. Perhaps what irritated her the most was the fact that she could not define clear and logical lines between the words passing between them and the feelings she felt. Entire tomes were written to categorize things in nature and in literature, guidelines for following the gods, actions and outcomes. Yet, in this moment, she could not think through what she was feeling but only felt it at full capacity.
Her eyes kept away from him at first for fear that whatever expression she held might betray her thoughts to him. Their closeness had been almost instantaneous from the moment they met, and for a moment, Leto felt utterly stupid at how blind she had been to the impact each of those things had in her life. Silanos made her smile and made her think, not to have her sharp wit and tongue outdone by his. They were of different ages and stations, but that never seemed to matter whenever they were together in the room with one another.
Leto wanted to call that friendship and was terrified that under it all, there could have been something more. For being considered smart for her station and her gender, Leto felt like the stupidest person in the world for missing what must have been obvious signs.
He snapped in frustration, then followed with an apology and a tired excuse. That was when Leto's eyes flashed over to look at him, like a predator finding another weakness. She was upset at the light he decided to shine on her feelings for Maleos, which was none of his damn business in the first place, but more upsetting now was the fact that he had shown such a weakness and then attempted to cover it up. No, that would not do. If he wanted to speak so plainly of what she hid, then he would need to do so as well.
"You will wear those words out before long," Leto murmured, cooly, taking a bitter sip from her drink, "But, if I know something about you Silanos, is that you do not often say things you do not mean. So, why start now." It was not a question to be answered, instead the moment was filled with the tensions of hurt feelings and unspoken issues. Her offer to have Rhea prepare something for him to take along was as close as she was going to come to a dismissal, polite and courteous as a hostess to a Lord in her own house.
The moment their hands touched, it all came to a stop. Stunned, her eyes stared at the union of their hands. Somehow, it felt closer and more intimate than even laying in his arms on the sands of the beaches all those weeks ago. Everything came to a stop and her mind raced through the meanings, through the scenarios from stories and myths about moments such as these. It then raced along like lightning, carving a path in a different direction, jagged and bright - and terrifying as she thought of it.
In that moment, her mind took her away from the courtyard where they sat, away from the guilt she had held for even considering it for a moment. Her mind was all anticipation as her eyes lifted, unblinking, to see his face as if some sort of explanation would exist there.
Then, he had to go and ruin it.
Leto's mouth opened, but nothing came out. Her lower lip wibbled slightly as she tried to even figure out how he could ask such a thing. Then, like the tug of a thread, it all tightened into a cohesive thought...or a finished statement...
"Why do you even like him anyway... ...instead of me?"
It was a wild journey for her mind to reach that point, filling in blanks that were not hers to fill. But the realization of what brought them to that moment - every step along the way that put them here - was almost overwhelming. Leto had to take a moment to remember to breathe. When she did, she began to speak, "Silanos...I..."
Then, he pulled his hand away.
Some strength returned to her will in that moment. Anything she was nearly about to say or to ask was redirected, particularly as Silanos took his turn at avoiding her gaze. Frustration built in her and she withdrew her hands into her lap, taking a moment to reorganize her words.
"It does not matter, does it," Leto started, her voice collected and smooth, though veiled too thin for the burning tone in her voice to be hidden, "That's not really what you want to know, anyway." She may not have been the Master of Secrets like her brother, but she held the same determination to have someone speak plainly and tell her what she wanted to know. Slowly, each word exacting in reaching that purpose, "What is it, exactly, that you are asking, Sil?"
There was a fire in her that needed this to quell it. If she did not hear him speak something plainly and settle this, it would burn her up inside.
Damn all the impossibilities of the logic behind acting upon any of it - that was not where her mind was right now. Damn the selfish fact that she wanted to know now more than anything, despite the guilt it would cause her over Maleos to know if these feelings had some weight behind them. Damn it all, really. She should have never let him in...in every meaning of the phrase.
But, it was too late for that now.
Leto felt as if her stomach had turned into the sea, churning endlessly as wrath and guilt and hurt and crashed against one another. Perhaps what irritated her the most was the fact that she could not define clear and logical lines between the words passing between them and the feelings she felt. Entire tomes were written to categorize things in nature and in literature, guidelines for following the gods, actions and outcomes. Yet, in this moment, she could not think through what she was feeling but only felt it at full capacity.
Her eyes kept away from him at first for fear that whatever expression she held might betray her thoughts to him. Their closeness had been almost instantaneous from the moment they met, and for a moment, Leto felt utterly stupid at how blind she had been to the impact each of those things had in her life. Silanos made her smile and made her think, not to have her sharp wit and tongue outdone by his. They were of different ages and stations, but that never seemed to matter whenever they were together in the room with one another.
Leto wanted to call that friendship and was terrified that under it all, there could have been something more. For being considered smart for her station and her gender, Leto felt like the stupidest person in the world for missing what must have been obvious signs.
He snapped in frustration, then followed with an apology and a tired excuse. That was when Leto's eyes flashed over to look at him, like a predator finding another weakness. She was upset at the light he decided to shine on her feelings for Maleos, which was none of his damn business in the first place, but more upsetting now was the fact that he had shown such a weakness and then attempted to cover it up. No, that would not do. If he wanted to speak so plainly of what she hid, then he would need to do so as well.
"You will wear those words out before long," Leto murmured, cooly, taking a bitter sip from her drink, "But, if I know something about you Silanos, is that you do not often say things you do not mean. So, why start now." It was not a question to be answered, instead the moment was filled with the tensions of hurt feelings and unspoken issues. Her offer to have Rhea prepare something for him to take along was as close as she was going to come to a dismissal, polite and courteous as a hostess to a Lord in her own house.
The moment their hands touched, it all came to a stop. Stunned, her eyes stared at the union of their hands. Somehow, it felt closer and more intimate than even laying in his arms on the sands of the beaches all those weeks ago. Everything came to a stop and her mind raced through the meanings, through the scenarios from stories and myths about moments such as these. It then raced along like lightning, carving a path in a different direction, jagged and bright - and terrifying as she thought of it.
In that moment, her mind took her away from the courtyard where they sat, away from the guilt she had held for even considering it for a moment. Her mind was all anticipation as her eyes lifted, unblinking, to see his face as if some sort of explanation would exist there.
Then, he had to go and ruin it.
Leto's mouth opened, but nothing came out. Her lower lip wibbled slightly as she tried to even figure out how he could ask such a thing. Then, like the tug of a thread, it all tightened into a cohesive thought...or a finished statement...
"Why do you even like him anyway... ...instead of me?"
It was a wild journey for her mind to reach that point, filling in blanks that were not hers to fill. But the realization of what brought them to that moment - every step along the way that put them here - was almost overwhelming. Leto had to take a moment to remember to breathe. When she did, she began to speak, "Silanos...I..."
Then, he pulled his hand away.
Some strength returned to her will in that moment. Anything she was nearly about to say or to ask was redirected, particularly as Silanos took his turn at avoiding her gaze. Frustration built in her and she withdrew her hands into her lap, taking a moment to reorganize her words.
"It does not matter, does it," Leto started, her voice collected and smooth, though veiled too thin for the burning tone in her voice to be hidden, "That's not really what you want to know, anyway." She may not have been the Master of Secrets like her brother, but she held the same determination to have someone speak plainly and tell her what she wanted to know. Slowly, each word exacting in reaching that purpose, "What is it, exactly, that you are asking, Sil?"
There was a fire in her that needed this to quell it. If she did not hear him speak something plainly and settle this, it would burn her up inside.
Damn all the impossibilities of the logic behind acting upon any of it - that was not where her mind was right now. Damn the selfish fact that she wanted to know now more than anything, despite the guilt it would cause her over Maleos to know if these feelings had some weight behind them. Damn it all, really. She should have never let him in...in every meaning of the phrase.
But, it was too late for that now.
He’d narrowed his gaze at her when she pushed aside his apology, never mind the fact that she was probably right. That easy familiarity they’d found with one another worked against him now, and he found himself resenting the assumptions Leto made. Why was she pushing this?
His jaw worked because the compulsion to say something in response was there, that she didn't know him as well as she thought she thought she did, that he quite often said things he did not mean, but Silanos set his teeth and what eventually came out, that question, was entirely not what he intended.
That he’d surprised himself with it would have been clear to Leto had he deliberately not kept his face tipped down, staring at where her hand lay in his and quietly reeling from the fact that it felt...nice. This was so much worse than other shit he’d gotten himself into. He couldn’t blame it on alcohol when there was just water in his cup. He couldn’t pass it off as being delirious from lack of sleep because he’d slept better of late than he did usually. This was an entirely new level of dumb, and he pulled his hand back almost sharply.
In the ensuing silence, he looked for something flippant to say that would restore order to this conversation, but because the world was just enjoying fucking with him, his mind went blank, and he was just left chewing on the inside of his cheek until Leto spoke up. And as he lifted his gaze to find hers, Silanos was reminded exactly who her brother was, the woman’s voice falling sharper, keen-edged.
He wasn’t going to be fucking interrogated.
“What? Why do you assume I’m asking anything other than what I’m asking? Did you sit in the sun too long today or something?” he retorted defensively before he heard himself and forced a laugh. “Have you been following Magnus around and now you’re playing master informer? Well sorry to disappoint sweetheart but there is no great mystery to unravel here. What you see is what you get”
He smiled but it was brittle, not his usual easy grin, and not enough to pass muster with one who knew him. Silanos could feel it, and it ratcheted up his discomfort. He tried to turn the focus back on to Leto.
“I don’t get why you’re so reluctant to talk about it. I mean, if you like him, why so reticent?” He shrugged as if it were inconsequential. “Admittedly I don’t see the appeal, but I can see why he’d be a good match for you. He’s a Captain...reasonable social standing. I’m sure you’d be very happy together.”
In throwing the conversation back towards Leto, he was trying to buy himself some respite, but to his chagrin, Silanos found his own words picking at the feelings that the woman had so ungraciously called to light. They tasted bitter on his tongue, and were more costly than he’d anticipated. He didn't really want to think about her and Maleos. Why the fuck had he ever brought it up. Now everything was weird. He stood abruptly, jaw set and with an unfamiliar scowl on his face.
“I should go. I shouldn’t have stayed as long as I have already. Give those letters to your brother, won't you?”
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He’d narrowed his gaze at her when she pushed aside his apology, never mind the fact that she was probably right. That easy familiarity they’d found with one another worked against him now, and he found himself resenting the assumptions Leto made. Why was she pushing this?
His jaw worked because the compulsion to say something in response was there, that she didn't know him as well as she thought she thought she did, that he quite often said things he did not mean, but Silanos set his teeth and what eventually came out, that question, was entirely not what he intended.
That he’d surprised himself with it would have been clear to Leto had he deliberately not kept his face tipped down, staring at where her hand lay in his and quietly reeling from the fact that it felt...nice. This was so much worse than other shit he’d gotten himself into. He couldn’t blame it on alcohol when there was just water in his cup. He couldn’t pass it off as being delirious from lack of sleep because he’d slept better of late than he did usually. This was an entirely new level of dumb, and he pulled his hand back almost sharply.
In the ensuing silence, he looked for something flippant to say that would restore order to this conversation, but because the world was just enjoying fucking with him, his mind went blank, and he was just left chewing on the inside of his cheek until Leto spoke up. And as he lifted his gaze to find hers, Silanos was reminded exactly who her brother was, the woman’s voice falling sharper, keen-edged.
He wasn’t going to be fucking interrogated.
“What? Why do you assume I’m asking anything other than what I’m asking? Did you sit in the sun too long today or something?” he retorted defensively before he heard himself and forced a laugh. “Have you been following Magnus around and now you’re playing master informer? Well sorry to disappoint sweetheart but there is no great mystery to unravel here. What you see is what you get”
He smiled but it was brittle, not his usual easy grin, and not enough to pass muster with one who knew him. Silanos could feel it, and it ratcheted up his discomfort. He tried to turn the focus back on to Leto.
“I don’t get why you’re so reluctant to talk about it. I mean, if you like him, why so reticent?” He shrugged as if it were inconsequential. “Admittedly I don’t see the appeal, but I can see why he’d be a good match for you. He’s a Captain...reasonable social standing. I’m sure you’d be very happy together.”
In throwing the conversation back towards Leto, he was trying to buy himself some respite, but to his chagrin, Silanos found his own words picking at the feelings that the woman had so ungraciously called to light. They tasted bitter on his tongue, and were more costly than he’d anticipated. He didn't really want to think about her and Maleos. Why the fuck had he ever brought it up. Now everything was weird. He stood abruptly, jaw set and with an unfamiliar scowl on his face.
“I should go. I shouldn’t have stayed as long as I have already. Give those letters to your brother, won't you?”
He’d narrowed his gaze at her when she pushed aside his apology, never mind the fact that she was probably right. That easy familiarity they’d found with one another worked against him now, and he found himself resenting the assumptions Leto made. Why was she pushing this?
His jaw worked because the compulsion to say something in response was there, that she didn't know him as well as she thought she thought she did, that he quite often said things he did not mean, but Silanos set his teeth and what eventually came out, that question, was entirely not what he intended.
That he’d surprised himself with it would have been clear to Leto had he deliberately not kept his face tipped down, staring at where her hand lay in his and quietly reeling from the fact that it felt...nice. This was so much worse than other shit he’d gotten himself into. He couldn’t blame it on alcohol when there was just water in his cup. He couldn’t pass it off as being delirious from lack of sleep because he’d slept better of late than he did usually. This was an entirely new level of dumb, and he pulled his hand back almost sharply.
In the ensuing silence, he looked for something flippant to say that would restore order to this conversation, but because the world was just enjoying fucking with him, his mind went blank, and he was just left chewing on the inside of his cheek until Leto spoke up. And as he lifted his gaze to find hers, Silanos was reminded exactly who her brother was, the woman’s voice falling sharper, keen-edged.
He wasn’t going to be fucking interrogated.
“What? Why do you assume I’m asking anything other than what I’m asking? Did you sit in the sun too long today or something?” he retorted defensively before he heard himself and forced a laugh. “Have you been following Magnus around and now you’re playing master informer? Well sorry to disappoint sweetheart but there is no great mystery to unravel here. What you see is what you get”
He smiled but it was brittle, not his usual easy grin, and not enough to pass muster with one who knew him. Silanos could feel it, and it ratcheted up his discomfort. He tried to turn the focus back on to Leto.
“I don’t get why you’re so reluctant to talk about it. I mean, if you like him, why so reticent?” He shrugged as if it were inconsequential. “Admittedly I don’t see the appeal, but I can see why he’d be a good match for you. He’s a Captain...reasonable social standing. I’m sure you’d be very happy together.”
In throwing the conversation back towards Leto, he was trying to buy himself some respite, but to his chagrin, Silanos found his own words picking at the feelings that the woman had so ungraciously called to light. They tasted bitter on his tongue, and were more costly than he’d anticipated. He didn't really want to think about her and Maleos. Why the fuck had he ever brought it up. Now everything was weird. He stood abruptly, jaw set and with an unfamiliar scowl on his face.
“I should go. I shouldn’t have stayed as long as I have already. Give those letters to your brother, won't you?”
This could not happen. There were many reasons - the divide in their social ranks, her feelings for Maleos, the fact that Silanos would leave in the morning with an uncertain return. Even their ages! Yet, in those moments where their hands touched, connecting them, all of that went out the window. Leto felt a demanding and uncertain want in her chest, particularly as her eyes looked up from their joined hands to see his face, just before that connection was broken and reality sank back in.
Why could she not have just kept her stupid mouth shut?
All her life she had been scolded for the bluntness of her tongue and the tactless approach she took when facing things head on, even more so when she had the intellect to back it up. It was because her mind needed to sort through the probable answers to find the true one before taking some sort of action. Not that it was needed, especially not in this.
At the keen cut of her words, Silanos reacted as predictably as anyone would - recoiling.
Leto was used to the sarcastic bite to his words, bearing them coolly as she watched him react. Her brows pinched down and together as he mocked her for emulating her brother, ‘playing’ Master Informer. His words did not hold the scathing that he wanted them to, even as he dismissively tossed about the word ‘sweetheart’ as if to patronize her for her sex.
Oh, had she been born a man! Not only would she have lifted the hand she wanted to take across his face to smack that tone out of him and have it mean something, but gods willing, she would have never been in this situation in the first place. If anything, they could have both had what they wanted - companionship with each other, smiling and laughing without any of this damned tension.
But, that wasn’t the case and they passed the point of no return.
What did catch her off her guard for a moment was when he turned the questioning back to her, putting her on the defensive without a moment to think through her response. Already heated from the fact that she very specifically was not talking about Maleos. By the gods, she hated it when Silanos made a good point…
“For the same reason I do not talk about midnight rides or climbing in windows, you dolt. No one needs to know of it until I figure out what….it is…”
It was a pained confession. Leto did not like not knowing things. Worse off was the fact that she was not even certain which part she was talking about - her feelings for Maleos or whatever this was. And she realized that the moment the words left her lips. Squaring her jaw as she realized it, she immediately threw up a defensive wall of words, once again trying to deflect the target of the conversation away from these raw, unfamiliar feelings by quietly sniping, “You know all about having something to hide, don’t you?”
It was made worse when he began to point out how good of a pairing she and the Captain would make, and there was a burn in her cheeks that was somewhere between anger and shameful knowing. Yes, she was more than aware of all this, and if Silanos were not the one pointing it out, she could agree with it aloud. Instead, she quietly bit out, “Stop it.” Then glanced away.
In that moment when she looked away, the Valaloritis lord stood and instinctively Leto stood as well, as he made his excuses.
“Wait-” she stared to say before snapping her mouth shut. There was no real reason for her to tell him to wait. He was right - he had been here far too long for a message delivery, and if too much more time passed, there would be more than just Rhea among the house staff that she would need to keep quiet.
“I’ll escort you,” she stated, as if that were her reason for the word - to be a good hostess. Straightening herself and folding her hands in front of her, she started towards the door, giving one side-eyed glance over her shoulder as they approached it. With her back to him, she blinked rapidly a few times trying to figure out how to fix this.
It had to be now. When she saw the soldiers away at the docks in the morning, there would be no way to reasonably explain someone like her approaching him or Maleos or anyone for that matter without raising suspicion with her brother - which was never a good thing.
Unfortunately, by the time they reached the door, she had not wrestled with her thoughts enough to put together the perfect remedy. With her hand on the door, she swallowed a moment, opening her mouth for something to tumble out - an apology, a confession?
“You better write to me,” she stated, a simple and quiet demand that still bore the lingering of the raw and uncertain feelings that she had over this entire situation. If anything, this would buy her some time to take all of her thoughts and process them logically. She could take all the time she needed to draft it out - though, she could be done with it as early as the morning, she thought.
Because right now, as much as it burned her on the inside, she did not know her own mind. Even less so as they stood still at the doorway, a step too close. Leto looked at him again, her face keeping it’s composure, but her eyes betrayed the facade.
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This could not happen. There were many reasons - the divide in their social ranks, her feelings for Maleos, the fact that Silanos would leave in the morning with an uncertain return. Even their ages! Yet, in those moments where their hands touched, connecting them, all of that went out the window. Leto felt a demanding and uncertain want in her chest, particularly as her eyes looked up from their joined hands to see his face, just before that connection was broken and reality sank back in.
Why could she not have just kept her stupid mouth shut?
All her life she had been scolded for the bluntness of her tongue and the tactless approach she took when facing things head on, even more so when she had the intellect to back it up. It was because her mind needed to sort through the probable answers to find the true one before taking some sort of action. Not that it was needed, especially not in this.
At the keen cut of her words, Silanos reacted as predictably as anyone would - recoiling.
Leto was used to the sarcastic bite to his words, bearing them coolly as she watched him react. Her brows pinched down and together as he mocked her for emulating her brother, ‘playing’ Master Informer. His words did not hold the scathing that he wanted them to, even as he dismissively tossed about the word ‘sweetheart’ as if to patronize her for her sex.
Oh, had she been born a man! Not only would she have lifted the hand she wanted to take across his face to smack that tone out of him and have it mean something, but gods willing, she would have never been in this situation in the first place. If anything, they could have both had what they wanted - companionship with each other, smiling and laughing without any of this damned tension.
But, that wasn’t the case and they passed the point of no return.
What did catch her off her guard for a moment was when he turned the questioning back to her, putting her on the defensive without a moment to think through her response. Already heated from the fact that she very specifically was not talking about Maleos. By the gods, she hated it when Silanos made a good point…
“For the same reason I do not talk about midnight rides or climbing in windows, you dolt. No one needs to know of it until I figure out what….it is…”
It was a pained confession. Leto did not like not knowing things. Worse off was the fact that she was not even certain which part she was talking about - her feelings for Maleos or whatever this was. And she realized that the moment the words left her lips. Squaring her jaw as she realized it, she immediately threw up a defensive wall of words, once again trying to deflect the target of the conversation away from these raw, unfamiliar feelings by quietly sniping, “You know all about having something to hide, don’t you?”
It was made worse when he began to point out how good of a pairing she and the Captain would make, and there was a burn in her cheeks that was somewhere between anger and shameful knowing. Yes, she was more than aware of all this, and if Silanos were not the one pointing it out, she could agree with it aloud. Instead, she quietly bit out, “Stop it.” Then glanced away.
In that moment when she looked away, the Valaloritis lord stood and instinctively Leto stood as well, as he made his excuses.
“Wait-” she stared to say before snapping her mouth shut. There was no real reason for her to tell him to wait. He was right - he had been here far too long for a message delivery, and if too much more time passed, there would be more than just Rhea among the house staff that she would need to keep quiet.
“I’ll escort you,” she stated, as if that were her reason for the word - to be a good hostess. Straightening herself and folding her hands in front of her, she started towards the door, giving one side-eyed glance over her shoulder as they approached it. With her back to him, she blinked rapidly a few times trying to figure out how to fix this.
It had to be now. When she saw the soldiers away at the docks in the morning, there would be no way to reasonably explain someone like her approaching him or Maleos or anyone for that matter without raising suspicion with her brother - which was never a good thing.
Unfortunately, by the time they reached the door, she had not wrestled with her thoughts enough to put together the perfect remedy. With her hand on the door, she swallowed a moment, opening her mouth for something to tumble out - an apology, a confession?
“You better write to me,” she stated, a simple and quiet demand that still bore the lingering of the raw and uncertain feelings that she had over this entire situation. If anything, this would buy her some time to take all of her thoughts and process them logically. She could take all the time she needed to draft it out - though, she could be done with it as early as the morning, she thought.
Because right now, as much as it burned her on the inside, she did not know her own mind. Even less so as they stood still at the doorway, a step too close. Leto looked at him again, her face keeping it’s composure, but her eyes betrayed the facade.
This could not happen. There were many reasons - the divide in their social ranks, her feelings for Maleos, the fact that Silanos would leave in the morning with an uncertain return. Even their ages! Yet, in those moments where their hands touched, connecting them, all of that went out the window. Leto felt a demanding and uncertain want in her chest, particularly as her eyes looked up from their joined hands to see his face, just before that connection was broken and reality sank back in.
Why could she not have just kept her stupid mouth shut?
All her life she had been scolded for the bluntness of her tongue and the tactless approach she took when facing things head on, even more so when she had the intellect to back it up. It was because her mind needed to sort through the probable answers to find the true one before taking some sort of action. Not that it was needed, especially not in this.
At the keen cut of her words, Silanos reacted as predictably as anyone would - recoiling.
Leto was used to the sarcastic bite to his words, bearing them coolly as she watched him react. Her brows pinched down and together as he mocked her for emulating her brother, ‘playing’ Master Informer. His words did not hold the scathing that he wanted them to, even as he dismissively tossed about the word ‘sweetheart’ as if to patronize her for her sex.
Oh, had she been born a man! Not only would she have lifted the hand she wanted to take across his face to smack that tone out of him and have it mean something, but gods willing, she would have never been in this situation in the first place. If anything, they could have both had what they wanted - companionship with each other, smiling and laughing without any of this damned tension.
But, that wasn’t the case and they passed the point of no return.
What did catch her off her guard for a moment was when he turned the questioning back to her, putting her on the defensive without a moment to think through her response. Already heated from the fact that she very specifically was not talking about Maleos. By the gods, she hated it when Silanos made a good point…
“For the same reason I do not talk about midnight rides or climbing in windows, you dolt. No one needs to know of it until I figure out what….it is…”
It was a pained confession. Leto did not like not knowing things. Worse off was the fact that she was not even certain which part she was talking about - her feelings for Maleos or whatever this was. And she realized that the moment the words left her lips. Squaring her jaw as she realized it, she immediately threw up a defensive wall of words, once again trying to deflect the target of the conversation away from these raw, unfamiliar feelings by quietly sniping, “You know all about having something to hide, don’t you?”
It was made worse when he began to point out how good of a pairing she and the Captain would make, and there was a burn in her cheeks that was somewhere between anger and shameful knowing. Yes, she was more than aware of all this, and if Silanos were not the one pointing it out, she could agree with it aloud. Instead, she quietly bit out, “Stop it.” Then glanced away.
In that moment when she looked away, the Valaloritis lord stood and instinctively Leto stood as well, as he made his excuses.
“Wait-” she stared to say before snapping her mouth shut. There was no real reason for her to tell him to wait. He was right - he had been here far too long for a message delivery, and if too much more time passed, there would be more than just Rhea among the house staff that she would need to keep quiet.
“I’ll escort you,” she stated, as if that were her reason for the word - to be a good hostess. Straightening herself and folding her hands in front of her, she started towards the door, giving one side-eyed glance over her shoulder as they approached it. With her back to him, she blinked rapidly a few times trying to figure out how to fix this.
It had to be now. When she saw the soldiers away at the docks in the morning, there would be no way to reasonably explain someone like her approaching him or Maleos or anyone for that matter without raising suspicion with her brother - which was never a good thing.
Unfortunately, by the time they reached the door, she had not wrestled with her thoughts enough to put together the perfect remedy. With her hand on the door, she swallowed a moment, opening her mouth for something to tumble out - an apology, a confession?
“You better write to me,” she stated, a simple and quiet demand that still bore the lingering of the raw and uncertain feelings that she had over this entire situation. If anything, this would buy her some time to take all of her thoughts and process them logically. She could take all the time she needed to draft it out - though, she could be done with it as early as the morning, she thought.
Because right now, as much as it burned her on the inside, she did not know her own mind. Even less so as they stood still at the doorway, a step too close. Leto looked at him again, her face keeping it’s composure, but her eyes betrayed the facade.
He could see where his words landed, needle-sharp, deliberately antagonistic and yet somehow Silanos did not feel satisfied at his success. He just felt like coming here at all had been a bad idea, that it all taken a turn somewhere and was now freefalling into something undesirable. And when Leto started talking and trying to answer him, he just felt like shit for having called her out on something she didn’t want to talk about. Never mind the fact that he didn’t want to hear it.
It’s not the same. It’s not the same as us. Words that he managed to bite back just in time before he poured oil on a fire, though Sil couldn’t subdue the irritation that she was drawing parallels between fun they had shared, and whatever her thing with Captain Dullard was. Jaw flexing, he looked away from her, focusing on a small statue that sat by an opposite window, finding the placid expression the thing wore annoying too.
“Right yeah” he answered when she sniped back at him, refusing to acknowledge her triumph at needling him right back, though it fucking did. Trusting Leto with everything he’d done hadn’t been a small thing, and he didn’t much enjoy it being turned against him, even if he’d goaded her first. It didn’t stop him going back at her though, and it was the quiet ‘Stop it’ that had him come to his senses, stand abruptly to leave.
What did it even matter if she wanted to pursue something with Maleos? She was of common birth, she was old, she wasn’t his type. His gaze wandered over her as if to reassert such things, but Silanos didn’t know why his stomach felt hollow and his cheeks hot. Lifting his eyebrows at her request he wait, the young lord hesitated, only to let out a dismissive sort of snort at the predictable words she eventually followed the request with. Glaring daggers at her back as she moved ahead of him, he was regretting not just shoving the letters on the front step and leaving. This was supposed to have been a pleasant interlude to his afternoon.
There was a loaded silence as he followed her back through the house to the front door, and Silanos would not have been surprised if there had been no further words between them, given how chill the atmosphere had become, but when Leto paused before opening the door for him to leave, she proved him wrong again.
Silanos let his eyes settle on her face, not unaware than he’d stopped so the toes of their sandals might almost touch, so he could see all too clearly the uncertainty in her gaze that was a mismatch for the carefully neutral expression. He searched her face for something more, though Sil wasn’t sure whether he wanted a reason to lean in or move away. In the end, he settled on a half-assed smile and let his gaze drop to his feet.
“Sure Leto. I’ll write to you. We’re friends aren’t we and that’s something a friend would do” The words were dry, flat. Drawing lines because fuck if he wasn’t feeling like they’d trampled all over them somewhere. He waited for her to open the door and moved past, careful to give enough space that they didn’t accidentally come into contact. And he thought he was being sensible with the deliberately casual “You take care now” that he threw over his shoulder as he left.
It didn’t explain why he felt so wretched about it though.
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He could see where his words landed, needle-sharp, deliberately antagonistic and yet somehow Silanos did not feel satisfied at his success. He just felt like coming here at all had been a bad idea, that it all taken a turn somewhere and was now freefalling into something undesirable. And when Leto started talking and trying to answer him, he just felt like shit for having called her out on something she didn’t want to talk about. Never mind the fact that he didn’t want to hear it.
It’s not the same. It’s not the same as us. Words that he managed to bite back just in time before he poured oil on a fire, though Sil couldn’t subdue the irritation that she was drawing parallels between fun they had shared, and whatever her thing with Captain Dullard was. Jaw flexing, he looked away from her, focusing on a small statue that sat by an opposite window, finding the placid expression the thing wore annoying too.
“Right yeah” he answered when she sniped back at him, refusing to acknowledge her triumph at needling him right back, though it fucking did. Trusting Leto with everything he’d done hadn’t been a small thing, and he didn’t much enjoy it being turned against him, even if he’d goaded her first. It didn’t stop him going back at her though, and it was the quiet ‘Stop it’ that had him come to his senses, stand abruptly to leave.
What did it even matter if she wanted to pursue something with Maleos? She was of common birth, she was old, she wasn’t his type. His gaze wandered over her as if to reassert such things, but Silanos didn’t know why his stomach felt hollow and his cheeks hot. Lifting his eyebrows at her request he wait, the young lord hesitated, only to let out a dismissive sort of snort at the predictable words she eventually followed the request with. Glaring daggers at her back as she moved ahead of him, he was regretting not just shoving the letters on the front step and leaving. This was supposed to have been a pleasant interlude to his afternoon.
There was a loaded silence as he followed her back through the house to the front door, and Silanos would not have been surprised if there had been no further words between them, given how chill the atmosphere had become, but when Leto paused before opening the door for him to leave, she proved him wrong again.
Silanos let his eyes settle on her face, not unaware than he’d stopped so the toes of their sandals might almost touch, so he could see all too clearly the uncertainty in her gaze that was a mismatch for the carefully neutral expression. He searched her face for something more, though Sil wasn’t sure whether he wanted a reason to lean in or move away. In the end, he settled on a half-assed smile and let his gaze drop to his feet.
“Sure Leto. I’ll write to you. We’re friends aren’t we and that’s something a friend would do” The words were dry, flat. Drawing lines because fuck if he wasn’t feeling like they’d trampled all over them somewhere. He waited for her to open the door and moved past, careful to give enough space that they didn’t accidentally come into contact. And he thought he was being sensible with the deliberately casual “You take care now” that he threw over his shoulder as he left.
It didn’t explain why he felt so wretched about it though.
He could see where his words landed, needle-sharp, deliberately antagonistic and yet somehow Silanos did not feel satisfied at his success. He just felt like coming here at all had been a bad idea, that it all taken a turn somewhere and was now freefalling into something undesirable. And when Leto started talking and trying to answer him, he just felt like shit for having called her out on something she didn’t want to talk about. Never mind the fact that he didn’t want to hear it.
It’s not the same. It’s not the same as us. Words that he managed to bite back just in time before he poured oil on a fire, though Sil couldn’t subdue the irritation that she was drawing parallels between fun they had shared, and whatever her thing with Captain Dullard was. Jaw flexing, he looked away from her, focusing on a small statue that sat by an opposite window, finding the placid expression the thing wore annoying too.
“Right yeah” he answered when she sniped back at him, refusing to acknowledge her triumph at needling him right back, though it fucking did. Trusting Leto with everything he’d done hadn’t been a small thing, and he didn’t much enjoy it being turned against him, even if he’d goaded her first. It didn’t stop him going back at her though, and it was the quiet ‘Stop it’ that had him come to his senses, stand abruptly to leave.
What did it even matter if she wanted to pursue something with Maleos? She was of common birth, she was old, she wasn’t his type. His gaze wandered over her as if to reassert such things, but Silanos didn’t know why his stomach felt hollow and his cheeks hot. Lifting his eyebrows at her request he wait, the young lord hesitated, only to let out a dismissive sort of snort at the predictable words she eventually followed the request with. Glaring daggers at her back as she moved ahead of him, he was regretting not just shoving the letters on the front step and leaving. This was supposed to have been a pleasant interlude to his afternoon.
There was a loaded silence as he followed her back through the house to the front door, and Silanos would not have been surprised if there had been no further words between them, given how chill the atmosphere had become, but when Leto paused before opening the door for him to leave, she proved him wrong again.
Silanos let his eyes settle on her face, not unaware than he’d stopped so the toes of their sandals might almost touch, so he could see all too clearly the uncertainty in her gaze that was a mismatch for the carefully neutral expression. He searched her face for something more, though Sil wasn’t sure whether he wanted a reason to lean in or move away. In the end, he settled on a half-assed smile and let his gaze drop to his feet.
“Sure Leto. I’ll write to you. We’re friends aren’t we and that’s something a friend would do” The words were dry, flat. Drawing lines because fuck if he wasn’t feeling like they’d trampled all over them somewhere. He waited for her to open the door and moved past, careful to give enough space that they didn’t accidentally come into contact. And he thought he was being sensible with the deliberately casual “You take care now” that he threw over his shoulder as he left.
It didn’t explain why he felt so wretched about it though.