A Private Audience

[madaboutit]

Meeting the Summer King
Dealing For Questions To Learn About Each Other

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Breakfast is brought by a silent attendant, and it is a couple of hours before there are more footsteps. They're accompanied by murmured voices; ones that she likely wouldn't hear, save for the point of her ears.

"You know I'm right," Jinx says, confident in his perspective. "We need to make sure." The steps stop. Sweeney grumbles.

"An' you think he's not gonna look at her fuckin' eyes?"

A silence hangs, giving away a rare moment of the Gadaíádh's concession. Sweeney takes the win, no matter how small, and shifts the topic.

"Go. Use that silver tongue'a yers ta get things lubricated." Another beat passes.

"Fine." The sharpness of the word suggests that 'fine' is being used very liberally. The light footfalls head back down the hall, and Sweeney's heavier boot strikes continue to the door. When he lets himself in, he offers a quick smile, making the effort to start the day on the right foot.

"Did you sleep a'right?" He glances to the tray and back.

"I didn't mean ta keep you waitin'."

Comments

[whatsinfrontofyou]

Breakfast has been picked at lightly, without much appetite.

Vex stands when he enters, her expression clearly concerned as she studies Sweeney's face. It doesn't take a genius in deduction to gather that she's overheard at least some of the conversation. Not enough to tell her what's going on, but it does put a worried line between her brows.

"It's quite all right," she says in a tone that isn't so much lying as simply a formality. "Is something wrong?"

[madaboutit]

His brow creases at the question, as it doesn't have a clear answer, one way or the other. Sweeney crosses to the bed and deposits a modest chest that contains what they'll need to get her properly prepared.

"Just...unexpected." Which is to say, he's not sure if something is wrong, but he isn't sure everything is alright, either. Sweeney knows he shouldn't leave her in suspense, so he stops and turns to face her.

"The King has summoned us fer an audience." Realizing how that sounds, he makes a clarification.

"All of us." By the sound of things, it's a very unorthodox situation, and that, alone, has him on edge.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

Vex can't hide the fact the revelation takes her off guard, leaning back on her heels and usually angular eyes widening in surprise.

"I thought I wasn't ready for that?"

Neither Sweeney nor Jinx has been coy about the fact she hasn't made progress that she should have, or that most girls would have. That she's apparently especially challenging.

And thus far they've been careful about letting her be seen beyond what she was ready for.

[madaboutit]

There's no reason to hide the truth from her, but Sweeney still presses his lips before he manages to give it to her.

"Yer not."

Hence the concern, on many fronts.

"I don't know why he's callin' fer you now."

[whatsinfrontofyou]

Her expression is not comforted; but he's not really trying to comfort her, is he?

Vex can't help but think the Summer King has realized she's not suited for this. She tries not to listen to that voice, or become pessimistic about what's to come, but what else is there to expect?

"All right," she says slowly. "When are we supposed to be there?"

[madaboutit]

"Within the hour."

It seems like explanation enough to justify him turning back to the bed and opening the chest. Sweeney starts to lay out a gown and shoes, along with some jewelry. It may not be opulent on a grand scale, but it certainly classifies as formal. And a bit revealing, though there doesn't seem to be any obvious parts that won't cover the bare necessities.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

That seems wildly soon. Vex wrings her hands uncertainly, her ears pricking before she looks over her shoulder.

That explains what Sweeney meant about sending Jinx ahead.

"What do we need to do before we go?" Dressing, obviously, but that seems like the easiest part.

[madaboutit]

"Get ya dressed." Obviously. Sweeney pauses, not looking back to her when he speaks. His voice is low and tone, serious, but there's genuine care beneath it.

"I...I need you ta do as yer told, today." It's not so much an order, as it is a quiet plea. They're all at risk, if she doesn't.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"Ah... naturally." Her voice sounds faint. They're both aware that traditionally she hasn't been good at doing that. At least not without questions and negotiation.

"I will do my best."

On the one hand, it shouldn't be complicated, should it?

On the other, obedience hasn't always come easily to Vex, even when she most tried to be.

[madaboutit]

Sweeney knows he came on strong, and he doesn't mean to be unkind, so he turns and crosses to her, taking her hands in his, aiming to soothe some balm onto the situation.

"I believe you." There's no doubt there. "An' I believe in you." There's none there, either. He wets his lip.

"I will do my best to shield you, as I'm able." His eyes roll beneath their lids, when he's forced to admit something else. "Even Jinx has every reason ta want fer us ta be successful." He gives her hands a soft squeeze. "We're with you." God, that's annoying to say. Sweeney takes a slow breath and continues.

"Just--keep yer eyes averted an' don't speak 'nless yer spoken to." His brow raises, silently asking if she has any questions. But before she can, he makes an important addition.

"An' don't touch him." The statement sounds more like a warning, than an instruction.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"Why not?—touch him, I mean."

Not that she intends to, mind. Her tone is more confusion, as though wondering why she would ever try to. The way he says it, that last warning sounds like a real risk. As though he considers it a danger.

She looks down at her hands in his, closing her eyes.

"This may be a silly question, but if I'm going to be his concubine, I will be expected to touch him and look at him eventually, won't I?"

[madaboutit]

He rubs small circles on the back of her hands with his thumbs.

"Yes." There's no reason to dance around it, but there's also no easy way to explain the rest.

"It's just...I've never seen him with a human. But there are stories. Some say his skin burns like the sun. Others, that they will immediately fall so enamored with him, that they will pine, forgoing food or drink, until they starve, aching for the shade of his shadow."

[whatsinfrontofyou]

Gods, how is she meant to one day be prepared to face someone like that? All of the training and rituals in the world can't change the fact he's a fae king, and she's... she's got a bit of fae blood.

"I see," she says faintly. "I will be careful."

[madaboutit]

He bends enough to kiss her forehead and whisper.

"I don't mean ta scare you." Sweeney regrets that he's planted that in her. "I just...I wanna keep you safe."

With me.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

The forehead kiss has a way of calming Vex's nerves, even if the nervousness is still present. She leans into it slightly, letting his strength bolster her.

Vex sighs.

"I will do my best not to disappoint you."

[madaboutit]

"An' I you," he promises, as if the words could will her to believe it. A moment longer and one more hand squeeze transitions them to the next step.

"Come now. Let's see what we can fit ya with."

Sweeney leads her to the bed before finally releasing her hand, so she might examine what he's brought. The gown is pale green; not something he'd usually choose for her, but it seems like it might be a good reminder of her color status. Hopefully, that will help the King keep his expectations on the lower end. The fabric is ample but thin, creating something to entice while it conceals, and high slashes and shapes left bare do what they can to provide information without serving as an actual gift wrapping.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

Vex's brows rise as she considers the dress, her gaze going from it to Sweeney and back. She has every confidence in her appearance—surely she's always been considered lovely enough physically, even by those who might doubt her personality.

But the circumstances do make her wonder if it could possibly be enough to catch the eye of the king.

"I will need help with putting this on."

And she's sure he means to give it, but with so many fine strands and straps and gossamer fine layers of skirt, she's sure she would never get it to lay right on her own.

Standing straighter, she steels her nerves and pulls her shift over her head, tossing it aside so she can stand naked before him.

He's seen her before, but she wonders if he'll be judging more acutely; she knows she is, when her gaze strays to the mirror.

"If you'll be kind enough?"

[madaboutit]

"Course." That was never really in question; the garment is impractical to do on her own. Not that she couldn't; she's too stubborn not to figure out a way; it's just nice that she's willing to not only let him, but actually request his assistance.

The bared canvas gives him pause though, and he drinks her in for a moment too long before shifting his attention back to the dress. It's the curse of her progress in pleasuring, that he only aches for her more: the way she squirms and cries out when she's lost in it.

Fabric in hand, Sweeney's mindful to keep the opening as clear as he can, when he raises it above her head and guides it down, over her.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

Vex lifts her arms to let Sweeney guide the fabric down over her body. She can't help but shiver at its slick touch, her nipples responding to the caress of cloth over skin. As before when the leprechaun has come bearing gifts, the gown fits as though it were tailored to her body.

Her fingers twitch to help, but she doesn't give in to the urge.

"You have a good eye," she murmurs.

[madaboutit]

"Yer easy ta create for." He makes the comment a bit off-hand, like he's trying to downplay her compliment while still accepting it. Sweeney turns away to collect the matching shoes, but it doesn't hide the pink in the tips of his ears.

When he faces her again, his eyes remain low, and he drops to one knee. She doesn't need help with the shoes, of course, but it's an instinctive response to any awkwardness. His fingers are delicate as he lifts her foot to guide it into the slipper.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

It's hard to know how to respond to that. It's not flattery, not from him, and on some level that that only flusters her further. Her hands flex gently, doing her best not to sweat on the dress.

She steps into the slipper, which also fits perfectly—one foot, then the other.

"I'll do my best to deserve them."

Even if she feels a bit like a child wearing her mother's clothes.

If her mother were a concubine to a king.

[madaboutit]

He pauses for a moment, not ready to stand, just yet. Sweeney presses a kiss to her hip and looks up at her.

"I have faith." That's the whole of it, really. They will succeed or fail, but they'll do it together. He rises and sits on the edge of the bed.

"If you have questions, I'll try ta answer them."

Best to get them out of the way now, rather than let them stew in her thoughts.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

"I'm sure I do," Vex mutters. "But I can hardly think of what they are now. Or they're things I already know you can't answer."

She tries to summon calm, but doesn't feel it. She does manage to school her posture into something her father would have found acceptable.

"I know you can't tell me His Grace's mind."

[madaboutit]

His lashes flutter, as his focus slides askew.

"I wish that I knew it." Whether or not he could share it. Sweeney exhales through his nose and turns to the chest, taking out a small satchel. From it, he produces two relatively simple bangles and puts one on each wrist. Then, he digs out a charm.

"Lift yer chin fer me?" It's still mostly a request, but there is a dabbling of Obedience in there, as well.

[whatsinfrontofyou]

Vex is examining the bangles when he asks her to lift her chin, the words delivered as a question, more or less. Her lips purse slightly, not in protest so much as apprehension. She doesn't know what this visit will bring, and every step takes her closer to the king.

But she does lift her chin, and without protest or questioning.

Might as well try to get into character now.