[ He has always expected Rafa has other desires. The worlds of royalty are always finding new things to crave. His father takes girls to bed no matter the occasion, though he has never seen his mother do similar. She never lets it hurt her, however. This is the way of life. It does not bother William. If his friend wants to take another to bed, then he is rightfully allowed. It is only that Hagan has rules, and another soul makes it more dangerous. ]
You'll be careful?
[ Perhaps silence can be bought. He would never sell the other boy out. Not because he is King, but because he cares. He cannot say the same for others. ]
[ Some days he wishes he could have the same fire inside of him that Rafa possesses. He's so unafraid and William never seems to be anything but. One day, he hopes to be better. Until then he has trust.
He rises, a soft smile playing across his lips. ]
Now they'll think we have money. [ It isn't a bad thing, they don't seem drunk enough to be robbed and most of Hagan wouldn't lower themselves to such a petty crime anyway. It's just he never comes here and plays a role, but Rafa takes to being noticed. It's a clever ploy, to be obvious in ways to make him not later. William is less so, head down as he picks his way to the back stairs and up to the inn's rooms.
At least it is quieter, the only sound other than them a step creaking under his weight. ]
[ Ah, but William has never quite done this before. Rafa can see it in him; when he does this, he clings to secrecy. Perhaps he never makes his presence known at all, or when he does, he pretends to be a peasant.
Rafa doesn't subscribe to that. They need not know he is a prince, but he's happy for them to be intimidated by apparent wealth and command. Most peasants, he finds, respond well to that sort of thing. Just because he's not dressed as a king doesn't mean he's any less determined to get what he wants.
Speaking of which. ]
The will think they have money, and so they will leave us alone. And when we are done, they will ask few questions, since my gold will soften their curiosity. Silence is easily bought, and trust is easy to break. I prefer to rely on the coin than the honour of men.
[ Because most men, when you got right down to it, were not honourable at all. There's a reason Rafa has a fascination with those who are more innocent and good than most.
He moves towards the stairs. At one point, he catches the boy's eye, telling him in no uncertain terms that he's expected upstairs. When they get there, there are indeed two rooms. But Rafa goes to one of them, and now that prying eyes are elsewhere, he takes William's hand and tugs him to the same one. Inside, the furnishings are sparse, but comfortable and clean. Rafa touches William's hand. ]
You see? It will be suitable. And we can enjoy the boy together, here.
[ It's a curious question, and one that strangely enough does not seem to bother him. William doesn't necessarily follow the same rules as the masses do. He has never had to. Not because he is allowed what he wants, but because he has been denied it and is not the kind of person to do the same to others. ]
Both of us?
[ William finds his way to the bed, perching on the edge and looking up at Rafa with the bluest of wide eyes. ] Or is there something else? I know there is more to you than you let on, I'm not quite as ignorant as people would have you believe. [ There's an edge to his friend, he just hasn't figured it out yet. ]
[ Rafa considers that. He moves into the room, and goes at once to the window. He'd asked for the best rooms for two reasons; the first, so that the beds would be comfortable, and the second, because it was the room most likely to have curtains over the windows. In fact, it does not; it has only a kind of shade, which he's not convinced will block every inch of sunlight at dawn. He draws it down, all the same, and then turns his back to it. He fixes his eyes on William. ]
That and more. There is more, William.
Will.
[ He walks carefully back to his prince, and reaches to take his hand. ]
I want to show you. I want to trust you, and that is why I am bringing him here...but I do not want you to be afraid. I have no wish to harm you. I need you to remember that, if you can.
[ Despite his age, these are not revelations that Rafa is very used to. Most humans do not need to know, unless he intends on killing them afterwards. He's not going to do that with William. ]
[ There is something new brewing in his friend. He had thought it only a strange flirtation with danger, especially when he had brought the serving boy into it. But now he thinks differently. Rafa moves like a wary animal, half caged. William lets him take his hand, curling his fingers tightly through the other boy's, a need to reassure coursing through his veins. He is always so cold to the touch. Hagan does not suit him. ]
I could be frightened of you, Rafa. No matter what it is that you have to tell me, I will not betray you. [ He angles his face, taking in his lover's features, the worry at the corners of his eyes. ]
[ Rafa tilts his face up, searching William's eyes. He is such a sweet, kind boy. Rafa so badly wants to believe him, and yet he knows what it is he has to tell. ]
You think that now.
[ He moves his hands to William's shoulders, holding him tightly. ]
Remember it later. Please, Will. There are secrets I have kept from you, and I wish to do that no longer. I am not all that I seem.
[ He moves his hands, sliding them along William's arms until he can clasp his own hands. ]
Have you not wondered why it is that I am so cold? Or why I do not eat, and leave banquets untouched with only wine in my hand?
[ It's possible Rafa has been too subtle to let it be seen. He's good at pretending, good at playing with food and moving it around his plate so that it seems as though he's doing something with it. But he never does. He takes little in the first place, and then leaves it for the dogs. ]
[ The look he levels Rafa with is entirely trusting and wholly sweet, though there is a furrow between both of his brows. He cannot quite figure out why the mood has shifted the way it has done, he just knows that his friend is upset and that he would fix it if he could. ]
I thought perhaps you were just unused to our climate. I know that you are not from a place like this, and it can be a shock. [ And then, helplessly. ] Our food is no better.
[ He's paid enough attention, but there was never anything suspicious inside of him to guess at it being for a reason. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
You'll be careful?
[ Perhaps silence can be bought. He would never sell the other boy out. Not because he is King, but because he cares. He cannot say the same for others. ]
You know Hagan is a different place.
no subject
I do not fear them. If they should wish to stop me, let them try.
[ There's a side of him that would absolutely enjoy that. Rafa has never felt the need to apologise for what he is, and he won't start now.
Of course, enjoying the company of men in bed is the very least of what he'd have to apologise for. He rises, and lifts his voice a little. ]
Shall we retire, my friend? We have the best two rooms in the house.
[ And one will go entirely unused, if he has his way. ]
no subject
He rises, a soft smile playing across his lips. ]
Now they'll think we have money. [ It isn't a bad thing, they don't seem drunk enough to be robbed and most of Hagan wouldn't lower themselves to such a petty crime anyway. It's just he never comes here and plays a role, but Rafa takes to being noticed. It's a clever ploy, to be obvious in ways to make him not later. William is less so, head down as he picks his way to the back stairs and up to the inn's rooms.
At least it is quieter, the only sound other than them a step creaking under his weight. ]
no subject
Rafa doesn't subscribe to that. They need not know he is a prince, but he's happy for them to be intimidated by apparent wealth and command. Most peasants, he finds, respond well to that sort of thing. Just because he's not dressed as a king doesn't mean he's any less determined to get what he wants.
Speaking of which. ]
The will think they have money, and so they will leave us alone. And when we are done, they will ask few questions, since my gold will soften their curiosity. Silence is easily bought, and trust is easy to break. I prefer to rely on the coin than the honour of men.
[ Because most men, when you got right down to it, were not honourable at all. There's a reason Rafa has a fascination with those who are more innocent and good than most.
He moves towards the stairs. At one point, he catches the boy's eye, telling him in no uncertain terms that he's expected upstairs. When they get there, there are indeed two rooms. But Rafa goes to one of them, and now that prying eyes are elsewhere, he takes William's hand and tugs him to the same one. Inside, the furnishings are sparse, but comfortable and clean. Rafa touches William's hand. ]
You see? It will be suitable. And we can enjoy the boy together, here.
no subject
[ It's a curious question, and one that strangely enough does not seem to bother him. William doesn't necessarily follow the same rules as the masses do. He has never had to. Not because he is allowed what he wants, but because he has been denied it and is not the kind of person to do the same to others. ]
Both of us?
[ William finds his way to the bed, perching on the edge and looking up at Rafa with the bluest of wide eyes. ] Or is there something else? I know there is more to you than you let on, I'm not quite as ignorant as people would have you believe. [ There's an edge to his friend, he just hasn't figured it out yet. ]
no subject
That and more. There is more, William.
Will.
[ He walks carefully back to his prince, and reaches to take his hand. ]
I want to show you. I want to trust you, and that is why I am bringing him here...but I do not want you to be afraid. I have no wish to harm you. I need you to remember that, if you can.
[ Despite his age, these are not revelations that Rafa is very used to. Most humans do not need to know, unless he intends on killing them afterwards. He's not going to do that with William. ]
no subject
I could be frightened of you, Rafa. No matter what it is that you have to tell me, I will not betray you. [ He angles his face, taking in his lover's features, the worry at the corners of his eyes. ]
I trust you. And you can trust me.
no subject
You think that now.
[ He moves his hands to William's shoulders, holding him tightly. ]
Remember it later. Please, Will. There are secrets I have kept from you, and I wish to do that no longer. I am not all that I seem.
[ He moves his hands, sliding them along William's arms until he can clasp his own hands. ]
Have you not wondered why it is that I am so cold? Or why I do not eat, and leave banquets untouched with only wine in my hand?
[ It's possible Rafa has been too subtle to let it be seen. He's good at pretending, good at playing with food and moving it around his plate so that it seems as though he's doing something with it. But he never does. He takes little in the first place, and then leaves it for the dogs. ]
no subject
I thought perhaps you were just unused to our climate. I know that you are not from a place like this, and it can be a shock. [ And then, helplessly. ] Our food is no better.
[ He's paid enough attention, but there was never anything suspicious inside of him to guess at it being for a reason. ]