fearlessly | batb part two: electric boogaloo

batb part two: electric boogaloo

[ alisaie is not afraid of the woods.

truthfully, alisaie is not afraid of much at all - not the things that most are afraid of, at least. she does not fear the dark, or wolves, or bandits. she does not fear loud storms or knives in the dark of faerie tale monsters stalking haunted forests. what she fears is being along. grieving. losing those she loves.

and that is why she is here. alisaie has ridden tirelessly through the night, driving baptiste hard over the hard, wintry earth, her breath frozen in her lungs, the frigid wind stinging her cheeks and ears and eyes. alphinaud is her entire world. he is all that she has, all of her family that remains, and the thought of living her life without him, moving forward alone..

she would rather not move forward at all.

and so she will find him, regardless of he consequence, heedless of the potential danger, for without him, she has no life at all.

baptiste remembers the way, and though she can feel the tension and fear in the body of the horse beneath her, still they press on, hooves slamming hard into the earth, empty branches pulling at her hair, whipping over their heads. the forest seems to go on and on, deeper and deeper into darkness and mist, until at long, long last the space opens up, and a dark castle looms ahead, its twisted spires climbing into the gray sky, its gloomy edifice frowning down as she approaches the wrought iron gates choked with decayed vines.

alisaie is not afraid of much, yet still the sight of it sends a chill down her spine.

what is this place? she's heard of no such estate as this - a castle, so close to the village? how have there been no stories? no history? she has ridden less than a day to find her brother, not far from home at all, and yet.. there is nothing in their books about this great castle, no tall tales, nothing at all. it is a phantom. still, somehow it feels familiar to her.. like a memory of a dream's dream.

exhaling a shudder, alisaie slides from baptiste's back, leading him to an icy, overgrown brook for a drink, looping the reins over a strong, bare branch before at last she approaches the castle. it's silent, sinister, but she.. she has no choice. if this is where alphinaud is, then she must press forward. the rusted gates groan, splitting the silence, and alisaie approaches the great doors, the old rotten oak swinging beneath her weight as she slips carefully into the great, dark foyer. ]

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[ she's nervous, even if she does not necessarily know why.

they've grown together quite a bit, after all - she's comfortable in his presence, and he in hers. they laugh like old friends, spend more and more time together until soon enough they're taking meals at the same times, reading together, telling stories, constantly in one another's presence until at last she must retire for the night, sometimes well past any reasonable bedtime.

this seems.. natural, that he would ask her to something like this, to dinner, to dance, in a fashion unlike their usual quick meals together. this is different. it's formal. it's.. special. she cannot be the only one who feels what she is feeling, can she? he is strange, and different, he is not even a man and yet she is so comfortable with him, affection coming more and more easily with each passing day, her heart drawing nearer to his, and yet still she cannot help but wonder if this is just another way for them to play, if he still sees her as.. a prisoner. a girl. mayhaps even a fun new toy with which to pass the time. it's why her heart beats like a hummingbird against her ribs as she draws nearer to the stairs.

there's no need to be nervous. she knows him. she cares for him. she said yes, for heaven's sake.

and so alisaie inhales deeply, closing her eyes and steadying herself, checking her loose, half-swept curls in the mirror before she's carefully gathering the skirts of her gown and turning to move down the half-stairs to meet him.

it will be fine.

this is what she wants. ]

[ It's a strange, wonderful thing, that has blossomed between them. It's something he could have never seen coming, even in his wildest dreams. But Alisaie...has radicalized his narrow, hopeless view of the world around him. She has broadened his horizons and made him feel hope again. She has made him believe. She has made him want to move forward, rather than stay in the past, and all of this would be shocking enough on its own, but it's the fact that she actually seems to want to spend time with him that truly changes everything. It's what made it easy to ask her to join him tonight. Or, well — easier. No matter how natural it felt, there was certainly nothing smooth about his delivery. But Alisaie accepted his invitation nonetheless, leaving him to wonder...if it were at all possible for her to feel the way about him that he does about her.

He's been aware of the depth of his feelings for her for quite some time, since before she had entered the west wing, when they had first begun to get to know each other. Back when he was human, it wasn't uncommon for him to develop feelings for...well, just about any girl who looked his way, but this is...different. She is different, and he has never felt this way about anyone before. Nervous as he might be about this, afraid as he may be that he will mess things up, this is his chance. Maybe he's a fool to think...to think that they could be anything other than friends, but won't it be better to know? After countless years of waiting, he is ready to take a chance.

While he can't pretty himself up quite the way she can, he still oils his hinges and buffs his metal, removing rust and grime that has built up around his body, leaving himself gleaming and shiny. It takes some digging around the castle, but with the help of the servants, he's able to find some suitable formal robes in his size to wear, and he practices his steps in his room after she's gone to bed. He was no gifted dancer when he was human, and he's rusty at best now, but if he can at least manage to not step on (and crush) her toes, he'll count it as a success.

At last, the moment arrives, and though he's so nervous his frame slightly trembles, he makes his way from his quarters down to the stairs that lead to the dining room. He has barely a moment to register that Alisaie has made it there before him before he is stunned into silence at the sight of her, his breath leaving him as he takes in her divine appearance. Gods, she looks miraculous. How could he have possibly gotten so lucky, to spend the evening with someone so beautiful and smart and wonderful as her?

After a moment, his feet remember how to walk, though it takes his mouth a moment longer to remember how to speak. ]

Alisaie, y-you look...stunning.

[ That doesn't even begin to cover how beautiful she looks. ]

[ his.. transformation might not be so clear as hers, but nevertheless it makes quite a difference. he's an entirely different creature from what he had been when first they met - bent low, rusted and grinding and grimy, wrapped in a tattered cloak. now he stands tall, his clothing clean and fine, his body cleaned and buffed until it shines. he is not handsome by any usual standard of measurement, but alisaie has never put much stock in looks; he is as beautiful inside as he is out.

they reach the bottom of the stairs, and she has to remember the delicate curtsy she was taught as a girl, though beneath her skirts her knees tremble a bit. honestly, this is all very.. fancy, for her. alisaie might have been raised a noble girl, stuffed into silk and lace and taught to sit straight and drink with her pinky out, but it had never suited her very well. what if she trips over her skirts? what if it's obvious that she is not suited to this? what if she just looks.. silly, and stupid, in all of these frills?

but it soon becomes clear that he does not think so, and she releases a soft exhale, even as her ears flush pink, and she slips her small hands into his large ones. ]

So do you.

[ she says, earnestly, breaking into a warm, if nervous smile, her eyes fixed on his own, though when she speaks she puts on overly fancy airs. ]

Shall we dine, my prince?

[ She couldn't look further from silly and stupid in his eyes. She's an enchantress, a goddess that he has the immeasurable privilege to spend the evening with, but lest he trip over his own tongue and make a complete fool of himself already, he holds himself back from spending an hour here on the steps complimenting her. Easy though it might be. She's already taken his hands, anyway, and with a trembling nod, they start down the stairs towards the dining room. ]

Aye, my princess.

[ So long as they're going with fancy titles. He is far from a prince, but it's easy to call her princess, to think of her as royalty, especially when she looks like this. He tries not to stare at her too much as they walk, but fortunately it's a short journey to the dining hall, where he can sit opposite her and gaze into her eyes from across the table. ]

Thank you for...agreeing to join me tonight.

[ He says gently as he leads her to her seat and pulls out the chair for her. Normally, Alisaie might roll her eyes at such gentlemanly treatment, but he hopes that tonight might be the exception. ]

[ he's right, she does not generally appreciate chivalry in any form, but for tonight.. she can allow it, while they're playing at formality. alisaie sits with exaggerated primness, and leans in toward her plate, smiling at him over the tabletop. ]

Of course.

[ it had been an easy answer to give, and it had certainly excited the servants a great deal; she's never seen them in such high spirits. all day they've been flitting about, chattering and laughing with excitement, tugging her back and forth, and even now as they begin to ferry the food in on rolling carts they are smiling brightly and standing tall. ]

I can't remember the last time I wore something so..

[ .. frilly. ]

[ No sooner are they seated than do the servants set into motion, busying themselves with laying platters of food out on the table. It's a sumptuous meal, and even though Prompto doesn't need to eat and he can't really taste (because he has no tongue and cannot make out), he can't wait to try what the staff has prepared. There's a little bit of everything, from baked, honeyed meat to cuts of fresh fruit to warm bread. A pair of candelabra pour some wine for them, and Prompto's eyes are already shining, bright with a nervous excitement that buzzes just beneath his metal frame.

He chuckles shoftly before passing her some rolls. Some of them are sweet... ]

Heh, I know what you mean...you wouldn't catch me dead in these sort of robes even before I got like this. [ A beat. ] But for what it's worth...you wear them well.

[ Though she could be wearing something old and ratty right now and he would probably say the same. Just having her here with him is more than enough. ]

[ look she can enjoy food that isn't sweet!! alisaie loves food in general.. but she is most excited for the dessert, that is true.

she's still happy to take a roll for her plate, however, and she would serve herself the rest but their tittering attendants will have none of it - they serve them both themselves, heaping their plates with steaming vegetables and potatoes and thick cuts of honeyed ham, a small bowl of corn soup and a little plate of chopped fruit. it's all far too much for them to eat in one sitting, but there will surely be delicious leftovers for days..

lifting her fork and knife, she begins to tuck in. ]

Well.. I'm glad you think so.

[ she says through a smile that is almost shy, the tips of her ears still flushed pink. she does not miss that little comment - before i got like this - hinting at her suspicions that he was in fact a man once, but.. now is not the time to latch onto that, to try to dig up his past. another time. another night.

after a good mouthful of ham and potatoes alisaie sighs audibly. ]

This is outstanding.

[ the food is always wonderful, but truly they've outdone themselves this night. ]

[ They have outdone themselves, and even if Prompto can't exactly...taste any of it, he can tell, too. He and Alisaie weren't the only ones looking forward to this night. He's heard the castle's denizens murmuring excitedly, hopeful that this is it, that the moment draws near where the spell will be broken, and they will all become human again. It would be untrue to say that the thought hasn't crossed Prompto's mind as well, but it was hardly his motivation for asking Alisaie here tonight. He still isn't quite ready to hope for something as grand as that, but maybe, just maybe, he can start to hope for it soon.

And in the meantime, he'll enjoy tonight, and try to make it as special for her as it is for him. ]

It is, isn't it? [ He wishes...he could taste it, too, but he isn't going to focus on that tonight. ] I think the staff has taken a shine to you...

[ Given how many of her favorite dishes are among what they have prepared. But they're not the only ones who have taken a shine to her. ]

I'm...glad you like it.

[ alisaie is quick to wave her hands. ]

That's only because you were so grumpy before I arrived. They had no other options!

[ she's teasing, but it's also kind of true. she could've been a useless bore with the personality of wet cardboard and they still would have likely been happy to serve her and get to know her. still, she smiles nonetheless. ]

.. but I am fond of them, at well.

[ they are kind, all of them. each one of them is different, with his or her own personality, hopes, dreams, loves, hates, but they are all so.. good. they all try so hard, and have so much hope. it is impossible not to grow fond of them. ]

[ He scoffs at her comment, but only in jest, because he remembers full well what it was like before she got here. How colorless and dull the world had become. But...it isn't like that anymore. Not so long as she remains with him.

A pang of guilt wells up within him, reminding him that they only reason that she is here is because he made her his prisoner. But that is yet another thing that would be better off left unspoken of right now. ]

Alright, alright, guilty as charged...but I suppose...that just goes to show how much life you brought back here when you arrived. Back...to me, as well.

[ Surely, she must realize it, that the thing that has wrought this great change in him is her. ]

[ she's not so surprised to hear him say such a thing, but she is still very touched to hear it, even if she's convinced that he is exaggerating. alisaie, of all people, has no such power - she's simply the one who happened to be here. it is coincidence and little else. ]

You give me far too much credit, and too little for yourself.

[ mayhaps she was the catalyst, but his own choices have brought him here too - no one can change someone but themselves, and he has taken these steps by his own choice and seen them through by his own strength. he is her warden, yes, but there are so many things that she does not know, there is tragedy written into these walls, and mayhaps it does not excuse his actions but it certainly explains them, and allows her to feel empathy for him. to know that there is much more to this than good and bad, right and wrong.

after a thoughtful moment, she lifts her wine glass and holds it toward him. ]

To us, then.

[ It isn't is his nature to think he had anything to do with it, but...then again, wasn't that part of the problem that got him into this mess in the first place? He had spent so much time thinking about what others wanted from him that he never thought about what he wanted himself. It doesn't seem right to take credit for it, when nothing would have changed if Alisaie hadn't come along, but...

Tonight is a night for being better, stronger. So Prompto lifts his glass to her, a warm smile upon his features. ]

To...us.

[ They're an us now?

He tinks his glass against her own, before turning it up against his lips and drinking. ]

[ she doesn't mean us in a romantic way!! she's just trying to respect them, how far they have come both as people, and as a unit. he has grown, and so has she, and that is what they are trying to tell one another - that they have come to this point together is testament to just what they have achieved.

.. not to say that she doesn't have the dokis too, but whatever, baka!!

their glasses clink, and alisaie tips hers back as well to take a healthy drink. unsurprisingly, it is good wine, aged for who knows how long in a luxurious dark enchanted castle; it slides down with ease, warming her from the inside out, before she's back to her plate again. ]

I wonder just what they have cooked up for dessert..

[ what?? she has priorities.. ]

[ Look, he's just surprised to hear them labeled as an "us" in any sense, he didn't assume a romantic context!!! Though he didn't exactly ask him to join him tonight platonically. Is he...courting her now? How is it possible that he is courting anyone?

A nervous chuckle shakes loose from him as he meekly meets her gaze from across the dining table. ]

Oh, I imagine they've pulled out all the stops for you.

[ And what do you know, they've finished dinner and here come the platters full of desserts!! ]

[ what good timing!! alisaie dips her head in thanks as their plates are ferried away, though her expression quickly shifts to one of awe when they begin to roll out the desserts. they certainly have pulled out all of the stops.

like with their dinner, there is far too much here for her to ever hope to finish in one sitting, but the servants are all but beaming as they bring it out, eagerly describing each dish. fresh blueberry cobbler heaped with streusel, strawberry shortcake with thick homemade cream and fat, fresh strawberries, colorful cupcakes, three different pies, several plates of different flavor cookies cut into cute, charming little shapes - and of course, an enormous, grandiose marble cake, impeccably frosted and decorated with precious sugar-spun animals and fairies. ]

Oh..

[ she says, breathlessly, then breaks into a bright, easy laugh. ]

I hardly know where to start!

[ Even if this dining table were full of people, they would be hard-pressed to finish all the desserts that the staff bring out, but Prompto wasn't kidding when he said they would pull out all the stops for her. The castle's inhabitants have taken a shine to her, after all, and they know her fondness for sweets. If Alisaie wanted to spend the rest of the evening sampling everything brought to her, Prompto wouldn't entirely blame her. ]

I think...I'll start with one of these.

[ He plucks a delectable-looking chocolate eclair off of one of the platters. Whatever, he can pretend like he tastes it, he can imagine how good it's going to taste!! ]

You're going to spend the rest of the evening here, aren't you?

[ He says through a chuckle before biting the eclair in half. ]

Edited 2019-10-03 01:21 (UTC)

[ well he might not be able to appreciate the taste, but he can at least still enjoy the texture, the flaky pastry, the smooth cream.. alisaie bites zealously into a delectable looking cream puff while the servants take it upon themselves to cut her a slice of.. everything, and crowd the small plates around her.

gods, its so good, the sound she makes is absolutely sinful. ]

Oh..

[ she moans, closing her eyes for a few moments to just.. enjoy the taste, the feel. the pastry is flaky and soft and buttery, the cream smooth and not too sweet, packed with vanilla flavor. shes quick to take another bite. ]

You truly have outdone yourselves..

[ Oh...........w-well, she's certainly enjoying it, isn't she? Never mind how suggestive that sound she makes is. Never mind that his cheeks warm a little!!! If only he had been turned into a giant pastry instead of a robot... ]

They have, haven't they?

[ Down goes the rest of the eclair, and next up is a slice of cake. ]

We all just...wanted tonight to be special for you, Alisaie.

[ yeah tbh if he were a giant pastry she would have had her mouth on him on day 1. but she still wants to bang him so?? he'll have to be satisfied.. even if he has no tongue. or dick. ]

For.. me?

[ halfway through a slice of pie, alisaie glances up in clear surprise, her cheeks tinged a light pink. she's hardly good with so much attention, especially this much, but she had not considered tonight her night so much as she had considered it their night. hers, and his, yes, but also the castle's denizens as well - they were so looking forward to this, to working toward something so grand, to enjoying themselves.

her gaze flickers downward almost demurely. ]

I am hardly deserving of such extravagance. I only wanted.. everyone to enjoy this night. You as well.

[ It may be all of their night, yes, but there's no question in his mind that it wouldn't be happening were she not here. If she hadn't come along and inspired change in him, in all of them, if she hadn't reminded them how to live. Her humility has never been more apparent. She truly doesn't realize just how special she is.

Thoughtlessly, he reaches over to tuck his curled fingers beneath her chin to draw her gaze back up to his own. ]

Believe me, I'm enjoying it. We all are.

[ He can only hope the same goes for her, even if...the way she's gone after the desserts is pretty suggestive that she is... ]

[ his hands are so strong, so large and powerful, and yet so gentle when he slides his fingers beneath her chin. alisaie feels her cheeks burning hot, but she can only smile for him, warm and gentle and fond. ]

Good. So am I.

[ even without the pastries, she would be. even without the grand table or the fancy gown or the sparkling trinkets in her hair. they are all together, all smiling and happy, and that is what matters - the castle is so very different from what she remembers, how it was when she first arrived, its windows black and boarded, its halls silent and dark. everything is bright now, clean and flooded with light, full of noise and life.

and he is.. so happy. it warms her heart to see how much he is grown, how easily he smiles now. at last, alisaie clears her throat, gesturing to the enormous cake. ]

Shall we cut the cake?

[ His gaze lingers a moment longer, savoring the simple satisfaction of looking into her eyes, of looking into her eyes and not seeing fear or disgust but warmth and familiarity in them. Mayhaps this night ends with them continuing to be friends, and really, that alone is more than he could ever ask for or deserve. He would be beyond himself with that outcome. But if there's even the slightest chance that it could lead to something more...

Well, his feelings are absolute, anyway. Were she to leave tomorrow, surely he would love her for the rest of his life, and be glad to have met her, for how she showed him how to smile again, how she reminded him how to love.

His hand drops away at last so he can pick up the cake cutter. ]

Aye, together.

[ He'll wait for her to put her hand on the other side of the handle, uwu... ]

[ hehe how cute..

alisaie does just that, her hand over his (uwu) so that they can cut into the cake together, carving away two big slices for them both, though alisaie is also sure to cut many more slices for everyone else, as well. they might be enjoying serving them, but they deserve the cake as much as anyone. ]

It's so beautiful, I almost feel guilty for cutting into it..

[ the decorations are exquisite, after all, and the spun sugar faeries and animals are so cute and well crafted that she could not bear to break them. though maybe she will eat just one..

soon enough she's ready to dig in. ]

Almost.

[ Almost, because no matter how beautiful the cake is, he knows that won't stop her from eating it. He can't blame her, either. Flavorless though it might be to him, the texture alone looks deliciously tantalizing, and while he lets her take the first bite (is she going to make erotic noises again), he follows soon after, finishing his slice off far too soon. ]

Now that was truly the icing on the cake. Literally, and figuratively.

[ Ah, he can make terrible jokes again, he truly has recovered his old self. ]

Mmhmm.

[ she's gonna make the erotic noise for every dessert she eats, it's a given..

like him, she's also through her slice in record time, then reaching for a second, which she also polishes off with some haste.. though by her last few bites she is definitely lagging. after several courses of food and dessert she is at last beginning to max out her belly capacity.

with a hard sigh, she sits back, gazing across the many desserts still spread before them. ]

What I would not give for a second stomach right now.

[ she such a fatty, wants more cupcake!! ]

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thanks dw

]

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