1x1 rp w/ alpha, (new thread)

[Hannah Grace]

Mae watches her husband, her eyes widening, and her jaw dropped in utter awe. Part of her didn’t know whether she should run for her life, or muster up the courage to ask why he hid who he was. Well, the latter was probably what she’d end up doing.There’s no way. He can shape shift? That’s almost unheard of-

Shaking her head, almost out of disbelief, she looked at the ground, back up at Rith, and rinse and repeat for a few seconds before she stopped. “Why-Why exactly, do you hide who you are? It’s a wonderful gift.” She stammered slightly, her eyes still wide as she slid off the bed to stand. It felt awkward, sitting the way she was, especially since the other two were both standing. Clearing her throat, mostly to avoid awkwardness, she stepped forward and scooped his shirt up from the floor, carefully shaking off any sort of dirt of dust that could have gathered on it.

“Even though I can understand why you wished to keep it a secret, it’s a powerful secret.. I-I don’t know what to say or what to do…” holding his shirt up, she gently tossed it to him. “D-Does that mean vampires, and all those other mythical creatures exist? Or is it just you that’s uniquely special?” A small dimpled smile made its way across her face as she looked up at him. “I mean in no offense of course. B-But you shifted into me. An exact copy of myself. Wow. That’s incredible.”

[Alpha*]

"Easy," cautions Valaris, eyes keen on the man he is loyal to. "Ss almost empty, but finish it Rit', I'll make more." But a frown from the other man has his voice go silent, lips tight with worry. Rith doesn't move towards his wife as she sits on the bed, doesn't think she'd want him so close even with the awe etched across her face. Would she pick him apart like --

The prince blinks at the stars in his eyes, ones born of exhaustion and hunger. He's so hungry. But he hates asking Valaris for what he needs, so he doesn't want to use up what is already made, already offered, and chooses to muddle through on tidbits. Keen eyed he watches her rise and go for his shirt, shake it out - like he isn't used to sleeping in dirt and blood on battlefields. Its... a sweet guesture nonetheless. "You don't have to do anything, " Valaris says almost sternly, "except keep it to yourself. "

"Val-"

"No! She isn't like us!" The man snaps, "she's human, or like one, we both know what humans do to that which is different, scary, --" he shakes his head, "I'm not saying she will Rit' I'm saying it isn't safe."

Rith sighs again, but rather than arguing with his dear friend he speaks to his wife. "We hide, I hide, because my father, the king of Apinumera, would kill us without hesitation, as he did in Pau, in Kumar, in Shanija, and I'm sure other places as well. He thinks I'm human. That WE are human. And it has to stay that way if I am going to save my people."

[Hannah Grace]

Mae resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Even though I’m human doesn’t mean I can’t keep things to myself. I don’t have many friends, it’s not hard to simply keep secrets. I have my own personal secrets I have yet to tell anyone, and it isn’t anyone’s business knowing. And you have my word. I won’t tell a soul.” She crossed her arms over she chest before she shook her head.

“If you ever viewed that as some sort of curse… Well it’s not. Out of anything, I’d say it’s more of a blessing. I think there’s probably plenty of good things about being able to shift, it’s just about finding the good parts about it.” Even though she herself wasn’t really sure what all would be good and bad about being able to shapeshift, she was sure there were plenty of abilities and disabilities that could possibly come with it. The fact that he had just flat out told her that he could shift like that astonished her. The two had barely known each other for more than a day, and that was about it. But who knew, maybe spending time with this prince, or king, or whomever he was, wouldn’t be so bad. Sure, he was a little intimidating, but he seemed like a nice guy.

Clearing her throat, she looked away from the two for a few moments before contemplating something. “Ah, I suppose there is some sort of tiny little attribute that I have…. Depending on the weather, my mood, and other things, my eyes will shift and change colors. It’s hit or miss though… I have yet to tell my parents, they’d probably just want to test and experiment different things on me, and that’s not something I want to do or experience.”

She shrugged and smiled a little sheepishly. Her eyes, a golden brown, glimmered lightly as if to emphasize her previous words. “I don’t know how or why they change colors, but they have ever since I turned 18. I don’t have any family members that carry the gene, and I don’t understand how or what it is. But my eyes change colors.”

[Alpha*]

"I'm sorry he means well," the prince offers, "very protective."

Valaris squints at her, his eyes dark and star filled as he considers the woman his friend is married to. "I like her." Is said to Rith quietly. The scaled man moves close to Maevely and extends his un-gloved hand. "I'm Valaris, my lady," is greeted, "I'm sorry i caused offense, i... am wary of newcomers and especially of those who aren't Gifted to." One side of his mouth tips upward in a smile to her, "i shall, one day, tell you why."

Rith sighs tiredly and when the small flask is offered again he takes it, swallowing the contents and then passing the empty container back to his old friend. "Thank you Val," is said after a pause, "and thank you, wife, for being willing and able to keep these secrets. " Her word curse tightens in his chest, as it always does. "Please, " is said after a moment of getting his breath back, "don't use that word near me." Because it hurts and he hates admitting it.

"The 'c' word," Valaris supplies, his eyes dart to the prince and back to her. "Curse,... it hurts your husband. " His voice is low and heavy as he speaks, hating that a simple word causes the man pain.

When the pain subsides he nods; heterochromatic eyes find her golden-brown ones and his smile grows slightly, slowly. "Your eyes are beautiful. "

[Hannah Grace]

Ma seemed to turn a pale shade of white when she realized how the word “curse,” actually seemed to affect Rith. She felt bad, but didn’t realize what it did. Clearing her throat, she nodded rapidly before returning the handshake, and her eyes shimmered for a few seconds before shifting into a shade of deep blue. “Nice to meet you. Ah, you seem like a good companion to Rith, it’s good of you all to take good care of each other.”

She glanced towards the fire, its warmth emitted a soft glow throughout the room. “Please, call me Mae, or Maeve. Both of you. Everyone who addresses me. In all honesty I’m not used to being addressed by any other name. I’ve not been mentioned as princess, or any sort of name very frequently, and it just makes things easier.” She shrugged her shoulders and crossed her arms over her chest, feeling mildly awkward.

“Ah, my eyes aren’t anything special. It’s confusing to me as to why they’re like this. It’s not painful, I don’t notice anything different. If anything my eyes shift colors and I’m anything but aware of it. Quite oblivious, actually.” Smoothing down the hem of her night clothes, she glanced towards Valaris, mildly interested in the odd man, since he was of similar height and all. Mae stood at about 5’0, maybe 5’2 on a good day, of course. She had received her mother’s genetics in terms of height.

“Uh, ah, when are we needing to leave?”

[Alpha*]

"We will leave just after the noon meal, my lady." Valaris says thoughtfully, "though if we need we could leave tomorrow at dawn." Still, neither he nor the man he serves desires to put more strain on her kingdom than absolutely necessary. The man pulls his glove back on cautiously, careful to not rip through the thick leather with his... claws. "I try to return the favor," says the man, his tongue flickering to taste the air lightning fast. "I will... try to remember to use your name, barring when we meet with Rit's sire." Utter contempt fills his voice over the man who calls himself king. "Should he find out it won't bode well." With a clasp of one glove covered hand he unbars the door and exits the room, shutting the door behind himself.

Rith watches Maeve a moment, "my men, save very few, know what i am or what I can do. They know I am the kings son, and I rarely am without my helmet or armor, it... takes energy to change much. So, when i fight i am myself. " He tries to explain quietly as he allows his wife to study him.

The prince then pushes the facade back into place, small piece by small piece until the man she had married, a copy of his fathers' young self, stands before her. "I'll call you Mae,... if you'll call me Rith." His smile is warm and filled with an attempt at comfort.

Her question has him blink, "We should head off soon... and while I'd rather not tax the resources of your kingdom, ... our kingdom, I'm sure we can - if it would please you, as Val has said - push off our departure until dawn tomorrow?" The statement ends in a question.

[Hannah Grace]

“Call me whatever you need to, to reassure your safety.” Mae nodded as she smiled, grateful that they’d at least try to refer to her as Mae, as most usually blew her off, preferring to stick to the “your majesty” or “princess” titles. It was difficult, mostly because Mae responded to her name more than anything else. Clearing her throat, she nodded towards Valaris, and silently watched him exit the room, mild curiosity clouded her features before she seemed to return to her normal state of mind.

“Well thank you, for if anything, feeling as if you can trust me enough to say something about it. I won’t tell anyone. Honestly, I have no close friends, therefore I’m not exactly capable of sharing your little secret.” She sent him a playful smile as she said “little,” knowing all too well this really wasn’t some minute happenstance.

“Ah, see, calling you Rith will be easier, and I think it’ll make things less difficult when we’re trying to talk and communicate with each other. I don’t know, it’ll make things more sufficient. No no, that’s what I was thinking, they’re all probably ready for us to leave this place, and I know the economy has quite the ways to recover. Food is a little bit on the scarce side, and I made sure leftovers from our wedding were handed out to everyone. It’ll be okay, we’re supposed to have a bunch of cargo ships returning from the indies sometime soon, it’ll replenish what we need.”

She glanced towards Rith again, making sure she didn’t come off as staring, because that wasn’t really what she had intended. “I don’t mind leaving today at all. Just keep in mind that I’ve never exactly traveled for as long as we’re going to this time around, and I know nothing of how different your horses and their handling skills are. I’ve got a few changes of clothing packed, and some necessities, but if it’s too much just tell me, and I can take out a change of clothes. First aid matters most, of course.” Gesturing over near towards the door, a small canvas like satchel hung on a hook, waiting to be loaded up.