A Royally Dull Affair

[Meira]

((OOC: This thread is set On Corellia, roughly 7 years in the past.))




It was almost like deja vu.

The location was different, as was the general theme for decorations. But Rook couldn't shake the feeling that this was all just the same thing that had happened a couple of years ago. The same faces, the same expressions, the same parade of eligible young women. What else might one expect at the reception of a royal wedding?

This time, it was Henry who spoke his vows, tightening the noose known as marriage around his own neck. The ceremony and reception, unlike Colin's was held along the Golden Coast rather than the palace grounds. A large portion of a stretch of beach had been secured and transformed. Planked walkways led over the sand out to a large floating platform where the guests had witnessed the union. The decorations were simple, but still befitting the elegance of royalty. Gold, white, and green; the colors of Corellia. Rook had to admit that the cool, salty air of the sea was refreshing. He did very much enjoy the Golden coast.

The ceremony matched the simplicity of the decor. It was short and sweet. Henry, the military man that he was, was dressed in his crisp uniform and accompanied by an honor guard of soldiers. His new wife wore a dress that, compared to Colin's wife's, seemed almost common. Yet somehow, Rook had to admit, Henry and Elianora managed to pull it off. If any of the Solosten boys could have done it, it would have been Henry. Colin reveled in pageantry, and found enough of it as the Crown Prince. Henry had always been more understated, seeking his own honor in a quieter, more subtle way. Rook? Rook wouldn't be caught dead on the alter.

That was just how it was. Rook saw through the pomp and circumstance of his brothers' weddings and understood what it all truly was: a play. A drama, sometimes a comedy, of royalty and nobility. They put on the play, staring in it themselves, for their own viewing pleasure. That was why, no matter how different the scene was painted, Rook saw the same old story.

The ceremony having ended, the guests retired to the reception back on the shore. Tables were spread out along the beach on raised wooden platforms, all connected by short walkways. A stage was set up out in the surf, water lapping at the edges as the band played. A large dance floor was the heart of the reception with the table of honor at one side, opposite the stage.

The bride and groom had made their grand entrance, greeted their guests, and had just cut their cake. It was time for the speeches. Rook's honored father was the first to speak and bless the union of his second son. Elianora's father spoke next. Then Colin, and so quickly, it was Rook's turn. Being last to speak, Rook didn't quite understand the point. How many times did two people want to be congratulated? But custom was custom, and so Rook took a good swig of his champagne and then stood.

"What can I say?" he began, allowing the few pockets of murmurings to quiet down before continuing. Eyes turned toward him at the table he shared with his parents and brother and sister in law. Their table was set to the side of the bride and grooms. Rook was well aware of Colin's gaze. He might as well have stood up and shouted for him not to ruin this. Rook cleared his throat.

"I am obligated by custom to congratulate my brother and new sister." Rook felt Colin's elbow in his leg, but he ignored it. He smiled. His charm, as always, managed to ease some of the strange looks he was getting from the crowd. "But even if I were not, I would not be able to contain the joy it gives my heart to see Henry so happy." It wasn't an entirely false statement. The tension in the crowd seemed to ease back down a bit. Rook backed away from his seat and moved around his table and out into the open space of the dance floor in front of the bride and groom.

"Would you humor me a moment Ellie, Henry?" The couple nodded, their expressions slightly confused. "Right, Ellie, please, hold out your hand. Just like that, good. Now Henry, place your hand over hers. Excellent. Now lift you hands so that we all can see." As they followed his instruction, Rook turned toward the wedding guests and raised his glass. When the guests had done the same, he dawned his smile and announced.

"Cheers to the last time Henry will ever have the upper hand!"

Applause and laughter rung out across the crowd as people added their cheers to Rooks and drank the to the bride and groom. Rook turned around to face the two again and was met by rolling eyes and chuckles of laughter. He bowed slightly to the two before returning to his chair. Colin glared at him, obviously not amused at the lack of seriousness Rook had shown.

"Lighten up." Rook said, clapping his eldest brother on the shoulder. "It's a party, isn't it?" Before Colin could voice his retort, his wife took him by the hand and urged him toward the dance floor.

"Rook."

The prince turned his head to his right, where his father sat. The old man's stern eyes bore into him for a moment, but then the king broke out in a smile and a laugh. The king hugged his son, then pushed him to stand from his chair.

"Go," he said. "find one for yourself.'

Rook stood clumsily at his father's urging and began to move away, looking over his shoulder in confusion. The king's glass must have been refilled a time or two; Rook rarely saw that jovial twinkle in his father's eyes these days. Turning away, he chuckled and meandered off. He had absolutely no interest in chatting up any of the noble girls present at the reception. He'd been through that before at Colin's wedding. It didn't end too well.

Thoughts of Aunna filled his mind as he stepped down from the raised platforms into the warm sand and melted away from the festivities. He'd only known her for a few hours, but that time had seemed to offer so much. Then, after her brother ushered her away that night, Rook hadn't heard anything from her again... that is until he heard she'd shipped out to join the military.

Rook pushed the thought away. His heart had aged since then, had grown harder. He wasn't about to open up that chapter of his life again. He continued to retreat from the music and the crowds of nobles, walking along the beach with the setting sun at his right and the golden palms to his left. His only thoughts, now, being that he should have lifted a bottle of wine on his way.

[Moonfire]

The Quix girls, all five of them had been anticipating the wedding for months. Their father, the nobleman had secured invitations to the affair via a strained friendship with the bride's father. The two had been classmates back in their school boy days. It was a bit of a stretch, considering the two men had barely spoken over the last two years, but it paid off nonetheless. Invitations in hand the family of lower nobles spent the next weeks suitably training the three eligible girls and drilling them in their studies. This was an excellent opportunity to acquaint themselves with the more power lords and ladies of Corellia... and their eligible sons.

Painstakingly Kailani and her sisters were dressed up, clad in soft summery dresses of various jewel tones that shimmered in the coastal sunlight throughout the ceremony. It was a beautiful too, the sweet smell of the sea breeze filtering through the mass of guests and wrapped around the pale mostly exposed shoulders of the sixteen year old girl as they moved from the simple ceremony to the lavish reception.

Kailani couldn't help but notice how tender Prince Henry was with his bride, their interactions light and gentle. They did make a stellar couple, one had to admit. In the shuffle of people settling for the reception, the girl spoke politely with various lords, commenting the ceremony as the men nodded before moving on. A long round of toasts and speeches, including one by the very… interesting Prince Rook went on for some time before the guests were free to mingle and dance.

A smile spread wide across Kailani face as the music picked up, jumping from her seat green eyes sparkling. It had been too long since she had danced at such a function, swaying and moving in time with the small orchestra with the people. As she attempted to bolt a stern hand grabbed her wrist. Twisting back the emerald clad girl looked into Lady Quix’s unblemished face.

“Kailani, where are you going?” Her voice measured, but not unkind.

The blonde girl fidgeted lightly in place, gaze falling to the floor. “I was just going to dance, Mother.”

“With who?”

Kai fidgeted again, uneasy. Admitting she hadn’t thought about it. The fashionably dressed Lady sighed, releasing her daughter’s arm.

“What have been talking about for weeks, dear?” Her tone exasperated, agitated. “You have to think about these things. Just talking and dancing with anyone will get you nowhere, you have to be selective. Persistent.”

With a bob of her elaborately styled head Kailani understood. There were targets, people she was supposed to introduce herself with, to become acquainted. That’s why they were there after all; Courtship. To find suitors. For marriages. Such was the way of things.

“Just… Don’t get distracted We don’t need a repeat of the Hellion incident.”

With a nod of her head Kailani wiggled away from her overbearing mother and out to the edge of the dance floor, watching excited as the people twirled and moved across the sparkling floor of the ballroom, the music swelling and falling, her heart beating in time.

Dancing, that’s why Kailani was there, if only she had a partner. Within moment a young man with a wolfish grin took her in his large hands and spun her about. Twirling about the pair talked, and the youth have proven himself to be condescending and rude, making several rather crass remarks in the short time they spent together. It was miserable and her mind grappled with the idea of getting away as one dance lead to another.

Out the corner of her eye the girl watched a young man strolling along the beach, away from the crowd and people. With a smile and a few distressed words about friend and crippling social anxieties she spun away in a whirl of green silk out onto the sand.

Within moments she upon him, a light hand touching his shoulder as the petite girl wrapped an arm about him comfortingly without warning.

"Play along." She smiled before explaining, her high pitched voice firing words at him rapidly. "Melirr Vargas is over there acting just horrid, you and I are good friends and I'm being comforting because you look sad." She nodded, it all made perfect sense of course.

"I'm Kailani, pleasure meeting you." She said patting his back gently and taking his hand in hers as though old friends, her mind ringing with recollection, he looked so familiar...

[Meira]

Were it not for a lifetime of princely expectations, Rook might have jumped at the sudden intrusion of an arm across his back. But Rook -was- a prince, and so rather than put on some silly display, Rook stood himself up a little straighter as he turned his head toward the young woman who now was at his side. But before he could say anything, she launched into some story about escaping the unwanted attentions of some suitor. After the moment it took for him to catch on, Rook really couldn't help but smile.

Giving the girl a quick nod, he slouched his shoulders back down as she took his hand. He was smart enough not to look back at the man she was fleeing from. Instead, he used the fact that his back was turned to let out a chuckle. Surely from behind, and with this... Kailani's comforting gestures, it would look more like a sob.

Not far off, There was an outcropping of rocks that would provide them both some shelter from prying eyes, and so Rook lumbered in that direction. Once behind their cover, Rook turned to the young lady, altering the way he held her hand so that her fingers all curled over his index and into his palm. He brushed his thumb over her knuckles as he studied her. She was made up very well, in lovely Corellian green. Her hair was styled, though perhaps a touch out of place here and there. She was younger, for sure, but not so young that Rook wanted to stop looking at her. Most of all, however, she seemed to have something of a desperation in her eyes. Rook recognized it well. She wanted out, away from everything on the other side of those rocks. He recognized it because he knew how it felt.

"Well, Miss Kailani, it is a pleasure to meet you." He lowered his head and lifted her hand, brushing his lips across the knuckles. "I have to admit," he said, releasing her hand and crossing his arms across his chest. "I've never played the gallant knight rescuing a damsel, but I think I rather like it."

Rook brought one hand up under his chin, pursed his lips and furrowed his brow in thought for a moment. "Yes. I like it. I guess Henry was on to something." Dropping his arms, Rook slipped her hands into his pockets and rocked from the balls of his feet to his heels and back again, looking out to the water, then back to the beach. "Right, so... what should we do now that I've rescued you?"

[Moonfire]

Confusion ghosted across the man's face for a moment before understanding filled the space, a light smile playing on his lips, one that Kailani quickly returned as he chuckled, silently moving down the length of the beach, a single hand still patting his back in what she hoped look comforting to any lurkers.

The pair moved quickly away from the prying eyes of the party towards and cluster of rocks, high boulders. Jagged, rough looking the girl smiled brightly as they disappeared behind the massive cluster, green eyes looking out over the surf for a moment before the shifting of Rook's hand in her own took her attention once more, eyes falling down.

Gently, he curled her hand over in his, thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles and with it a prickle of fear worked it way up and down her spine like a static shock. The gesture was meant to be tender, perhaps even familiar, but she could feel his eyes on her. His gaze lingered, as though appraising her, judging the value of her like a piece of meat. Like all the men she met at these sorts of things. Accomplished men seeking accomplished women, everything had a number, a value, just some sought higher than others, and with every glance and every look, every tender piece of false affection she had grown afraid. Had she escaped one deplorable suitor by running to the aid of another? Slowly, green eyes flicked up to meet his, and the fear melted away.

Beyond the nagging familiarity, bells and chimes in her mind ringing as she struggled to put a face to name or position, there was a sort of understanding. His eyes weren't hungry, not like the other men she encountered at these sort of functions, like Vargas she quickly left behind. No, this was... different.

This thought was interrupted as the young man's lips met her hand, a blush breaking out high across her soft rounded cheeks as he spoke of damsels and knights and gallantry. A high nervous laugh broke through her pinkish lips as she struggled to regain control of her face, feeling the burning of her ears as the cool sea breeze whipped past them. He spoke again, mentioning Henry, the Prince whose wedding had brought these seemingly kindred spirits together.

"I-i can't say I thought this far ahead. I just wanted to get Vargas out of my hair for a few moments" She admitted, pulling her hand carefully from his before settling on one of the lower rocks, still hidden from view. The boulders, while jagged looking were silky and smooth to the touch. A warm smile grew, lighting her whole face brightly as she felt the calm breeze rustle her garments before looking back at Rook, the ringing bells finally forming a coherent thought, recognition finally settling in. She opened her mouth an exclamation of surprise on her tongue, but quickly closed it, forcing herself to carefully weigh words. After another moment she started again, her tone more subdued

"Thank you for rescuing me... Your Highness." Kailani's voice soft as she all but whispered the title, embarrassed to even be in his presence.

[Meira]

For a girl so bold as to commandeer a stranger in her attempts to flee an unwanted suitor, this Kailani sure became the shy young maiden rather quickly. Of course, Rook had guided her to a secluded area. Likely, Kailani wasn't used to being alone with a man. It simply wouldn't be proper. Rook couldn't help the upward tilt at the corner of his mouth at that thought. But he pushed it away. Even he wasn't about to do something stupid tonight... not tonight.

The girl seemed to be pondering Rook's question, and so in order to provide her the moment necessary, he looked away. His grey eyes turned toward the surf, where the setting sun was beginning to dance across the waters, transforming the waves into brilliant splashes of molten light. The golden coast truly was one of Rook's most favorite places on Corellia.

"I-i can't say I thought this far ahead. I just wanted to get Vargas out of my hair for a few moments"

Her voice turned his head back, his eyes falling on her young form once again. She really was quite pretty. But then, something changed. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened, but she said nothing right away. This was recognition, surprise, and perhaps a touch of embarrassment. Great... he thought. She'd just realized who he was.

"Thank you for rescuing me... Your Highness."

"Don't." Rook said, the word jumping out a bit more stern than he'd meant to. Heaving a sigh, he started again. "Don't do that." That time, it sounded more like a request.

Rook's shoulders slumped as one hand rose up to wipe across his jaw. He turned away for a moment, taking a step or two away from Kailani before turning back around, retracing his steps so that he was standing in front of her again.

"It was going well, wasn't it? There for the minute or two that you didn't know who I was? You came running up, trying to get away from that prat, I played along. We had a laugh... It was good. Simple, you know?" He sat down on a boulder next to her. "I preferred that. I don't get it often."

He sat in silence for a moment. Everything he'd just said was entirely true. It was also a touch more personal than he usually was with people, let alone strangers. Perhaps it was the setting that had him slightly on edge. Everyone at the reception had been eying him with that look, as if to say "You're next!". Rook couldn't think of a worse fate at the moment.

"You don't suppose... you could forget what you've just remembered?" he asked, looking at Kailani out of the corner of his eyes. "You could call me... Ben?" Anything so long as it wasn't Your Highness...