--Prince--

[ripetuto]

[Leone sits slumped in the carriage as they pull into the manor his stepmother(??) is waiting for them at. She's still in mourning and anyway no one wants the rude, "unwashed", pissy bastard son of the goddamn king to be at the royal palace when he'd rather swear at all these fucking nobles than become one of them.

But he doesn't really have a choice, does he? It's either this or likely getting sent to a penal colony or something eventually, because the asshole guards in the slums never liked him and dislike of them and that could only ever end one way. He's a depressed teenager, not a suicidal one.

So when the Queen's aide came to the tiny little boarding house Leone was living in and told him that he was the late king's bastard son--with paperwork and everything to prove it--well. What else was he supposed to do but agree to at least meet with the Queen and give this whole "suddenly the heir" thing a shot? If all else fails, maybe he can cause some problems and they kick him out.

The aide he's with tells him to sit up straight and Leone does just enough to get her off his back as the carriage comes to a stop. They're escorted out of the carriage and into the study where the Queen is waiting to greet them.

She smiles at Leone and they have a short conversation, mostly involving her apologizing for uprooting his life and thanking him for agreeing to this--her inability to have children is well known in the kingdom, after all. After a bit, she gestures for the boy standing nearby to come forward.]

Leone, this is Bruno Bucciarati. He's the ward of a lord, and he's going to be your aide for now. I'll let you two get to know each other while I go and see to it that the servants are preparing your rooms.

[And she leaves. Leone looks at Bruno, unsure.]

Comments

[ripetuto]

You're the best.

[Leone doesn't even bother going back in; he knows there's a way out to the carriage from the garden and so that is the direction he goes. Fuck this place.]

The food sucked, too.

[nellacerniera]

[And Bruno easily falls into step beside Leone.]

It did. It was almost insulting...

[...]

The kitchen staff where we're staying is probably resting right now. I could make something when we get home, if you want.

[ripetuto]

You can cook? Shit, yeah, if you want to make something I won't stop you.

[nellacerniera]

I learned when I was young and it's a skill I've insisted on keeping up with. It exasperates my guardians, but I actually prefer cooking for myself when possible.

[He offers Leone a small smile.]

So... something just for us, when we get back.

[ripetuto]

Yeah. In my room?

[Oh that smile.]

[nellacerniera]

Yeah, definitely.

[They won't be bothered there.]

[ripetuto]

[For a moment, Leone considers taking Bruno's hand and he even starts to reach for it. He stops himself before he can, though.]

[nellacerniera]

[Bruno notices Leone start to reach for his hand and...

After a moment's consideration, he reaches out and takes Leone's hand himself, before the other can pull his hand back entirely.]

[ripetuto]

[Leone startles but smiles when he realizes what Bruno's done.]

Hey, Bruno?

[nellacerniera]

Yes, Leone?

[ripetuto]

I think I like you.

[nellacerniera]

I think I like you, too.

[ripetuto]

Too bad I can't take you somewhere nice. People'll talk.

[nellacerniera]

Yeah, it's unfortunate, but I appreciate the thought.

[ripetuto]

We'll just have to have private dinners a lot, huh?

[nellacerniera]

We will.

[Ah, there's the carriage. Good. The sooner they're out of here the better.

The ride home doesn't take terribly long, thankfully, and once Bruno has helped Leone get the more elaborate pieces of clothing for the gala off, he scoots off to change into something more comfortable himself and to head off to the kitchen.

When Bruno returns to Leone's room, it's with a pasta dish for the two of them, made with mussels and some sort of greens.]

Here.

[ripetuto]

[While he was doing that, Leone was getting a table cleared off for them so they can eat comfortably.]

Smells good. I didn't know we had mussels in the kitchen.

[nellacerniera]

Neither did I, until I got to looking.

[He places the dishes and silverware on the table and takes a seat at the table, smiling a bit at Leone.]

[ripetuto]

[Ignore that blush thanks.]

Thanks for cooking, Bruno. You didn't have to.

[nellacerniera]

[Listen, he's blushing, too.]

Maybe not, but I wanted to.

[ripetuto]

[Another smile and Leone finally starts eating. He's hungry, okay?]

Holy shit, this is amazing.

[nellacerniera]

[Gods above, he's smitten.]

I'm glad you like it.

[ripetuto]

Any time you want to cook, go right ahead. Tell the kitchen staff it's an order.

[nellacerniera]

[He chuckles a bit.]

Alright, I will. I do want to do this more often, I think.

[Aaaaaaaaa, Leone enjoys his cooking...]

[ripetuto]

[Leone reaches out for Bruno's hand.]

Is this okay?