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[deniles]

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[lightninglobster]

[Ryoma is frowning--and it deepens to a scowl as Niles outright rejects the garment, and the tailor begins to ply excuses.]

And if those obligations are so important you cannot successfully deliver custom from the royal family, perhaps I should release you from my employ. I wouldn't want you to miss on such golden opportunities.

[Ryoma's tone was sharp--almost mocking, as he took Niles' hand and turned for the door.]

Come. Let's find Oboro, beloved.

[Ryoma would beg if he had to, pink robe held in his other hand.]

[deniles]

[As the tailor continued to try and make excuses, Niles turned and left the room with Ryoma, sighing.]

You know. I really tried to be decent. You can ask Saizo.

[Please believe that he wasn't going out of his way to cause problems. Please.]

[lightninglobster]

[Ryoma marched like a man on a mission, Saizo following the royal couple at a quick clip with only the bare minimum of murmuring directions as Ryoma made his way towards where lady Oboro would have been sewing, if she weren't serving Takumi. The tailor laid forgotten--and would be visited by a severe ninja with a severance of his contract before the night was out.]

I don't need to ask Saizo. I believe you.

[He glances back to give Niles a smile, face softening from the vague edges of irritation that'd taken root on it. He firms back up, though, when they find Oboro's workroom, Saizo pulling the door so that Ryoma won't have to let go of Niles' hand.]

Lady Oboro?

[deniles]

[Niles wasn't sure if this was all going to end up being a good thing or a bad thing. Either way, however, he knew that he would have to be on his best behavior when he entered Oboro's quarters.

She looked up from what she was working on, a robe for Lord Takumi for the event tomorrow.]

Lord Ryoma! ...Lord Niles.

[Even in her disappointment, she showed more respect for Niles than most people.]

Is everything alri- what are you holding?

[She narrowed her gaze to the pink think Ryoma was holding.]

[lightninglobster]

[Ryoma bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement, letting go of Niles' hand to hold to robe by the shoulders, letting the full thing drape out and show the extent of its... pinkness.]

The robe Niles is to wear for our engagement party. The tailor decided that he didn't know what he wanted and that this would be a much more fitting piece for him to wear.

[Ryoma turns, making his way to where his own red robe was sitting on display, draping the pink garment over the shoulder as if he meant to compare the two and how... not fit together they were. Ryoma's red was too deep, too heavy, and the pink was... bright. Almost eye-searingly so.]

[deniles]

Ugh! No no no! I let the tailor see my exact outfit so he could match it!

[She took the outfit and looked at it, and then back at her own.]

This is not going to be an easy job... I'm still not done Lord Takumi's outfit, and I don't have much time to do Lord Niles's outfit.

[She looked at the outfit and then back to Niles and Ryoma.]

I'll have to go off the measurements from this outfit to do something for Lord Niles. That's the only option I have.

[She sighs, but nods.]

Lord Niles. Stop in tomorrow morning before breakfast so we can make sure it fits. This is all I can do.

[lightninglobster]

[A wise man knows when to keep his peace... so Ryoma keeps his mouth shut, watching the emotions play out in Oboro, arms folded over his chest as she comes to the desired conclusion with minimal effort. It's surprising, almost--Ryoma was sure he was going to have to beg to get even half of her input.

Still. Polite is polite. He bows before Oboro, fixing her with a look brimming with gratitude.]

Thank you, lady Oboro. Even half of your effort will be more than the amount the tailor gave to Niles' outfit. I truly appreciate you taking some time with this.

[deniles]

[Niles thought so too. He bows as well, before standing back up.]

I will be here.

[They both get shoo'd from the room, Niles leading Ryoma out as they standing outside. She's probably very frustrated, but Niles is still... satisfied, at the least.]

Well... that went better than expected.

[lightninglobster]

I was prepared to grovel on my knees, even.

[Ryoma takes a moment to wrap his arms around his fiance, face pressed into his hair as he just rests against him, hiding him in the voluminous fabric of his robe's sleeves.]

I'm sorry it came to this. I never thought that the tailor of all people would behave in... such an odd manner.

[deniles]

Don't apologize, Ryoma.

[He sighs, and lets himself be held. But smiles all the same, placing his head on Ryoma's chest.]

I'm more sorry that you had to take time out of your busy day to deal with it. You have to go back, right?

[He knows Ryoma is busy, so he's not going to fault him for needing to go right back to things.]

[lightninglobster]

I can't help but feel responsible for the choices made by the people under my banner. It's representative of me as a leader.

[ At least he doesn't say sorry a second time. He presses his lips to Niles' temple, finger-combing his hair with a soft smile on his lips. ]

I can make some excuses to linger a while longer. The world turns without me, doesn't it?

[deniles]

Not my world.

[He laughs, moving to take his hand and curling his fingers into it.]

True, but if you linger, it'll be longer until I have you for the rest of the day.

[Smiling towards him, and moving to place a kiss on his cheek.]

So. Go back to work. I'll have dinner ready for when you're done.

[lightninglobster]

[ Oh, Niles. You know how to warm Ryoma down to his bones, to make him soft and shy. He curls his fingers with Niles', bringing the hand up to his lips to ghost a kiss over his knuckles. ]

I'll be yours alone as quickly as I can, my heart.

[ He smiles, soft and sweet, the emotion writ bright on his face just for Niles. He then lets go of his beloved's hand, dragging himself away on the force of his will alone as he goes to finish his day's tasks with Niles ever on his mind. ]

[deniles]

[He lets out a chuckle when his fingers are kissed, before moving in to kiss him on the cheek before allowing him to leave.]

See you shortly.

[When Ryoma's gone, and heads back to his office, he lets out a little sigh and looks around for a moment.]

...I should have made him stay. Damn, I'm bored again.

[He knows Saizo is nearby. Maybe he'll suggest something.]

[lightninglobster]

[ Saizo gives a grunt, watching Kagero depart with their lord to finish the day's work, eye lidded as he switches his attention to Niles instead. His arms are folded, posture as relaxed as it gets--which isn't very, but it's slightly more than usual. Slightly. ]

Perhaps you should busy yourself with something.

[deniles]

Any suggestions then?

[Looking towards him with a chuckle.]

It's not as if I have much to busy myself with. I could train some more, but it almost seems like a waste.

[lightninglobster]

[ Saizo is not a concierge. Saizo is basically Niles without the innuendos, but... better. Because if anyone insisted anything to the contrary, he would fight them. ]

Keeping your training up is important. You could also explore the castle to better familiarize yourself with your lord's holdings.

[deniles]

[Thanks, Saizo.]

I trained to survive, Saizo. I, apparently, don't need to survive anymore. But exploring the castle... I think I will.

[He'll just start walking. Walking, walking, walking. Opening doors and peaking into places.

Tomorrow, they'll be getting engaged, and he's still feeling nervous about it. So, when he thinks he's alone, near one of the gardens, he just flops down near some of the flowers and let's himself be nervous and worried.

Which includes just heavy breathing and rubbing his face.]

[lightninglobster]

[ Saizo is a ninja because he flunked out of tour guide school. ]

Everything is survival, even life in the castle. It's best you know all of your options now.

[ And so Saizo follows Niles dutifully, talking in blunt, clipped sentences about varying places in Shirasagi... and occasionally showing Niles a secret--a hidden servants' hallway, or the ninja entrance and exit to a room. He's eyeing Niles like he's lost his mind by the time they hit a garden, fading into the background to let Niles have a panic attack for a moment... while sending a young shinobi in training to find Ryoma. Quickly. Please.

Ryoma will be there in about ten minutes. ]

[deniles]

Right. Of course.

[As he's walking through, however, he's barely listening to Saizo. He can hear what he's saying, and he keeps taking it in, but the thoughts of what's coming up start to overwhelm him.

As he sits there now, breathing and running his hand over his face, he starts to try and pick himself up. He doesn't want to disturb anyone with this. Instead, he wants to just breathe and get over it.

This is so different from being at home and working under Leo. He already feels overwhelmed by all of this already.

Maybe he should've kept Ryoma for a bit longer on.]

[lightninglobster]

[ Saizo continues his quiet attempt at patter, talking in a low voice as Niles sort of... stops to have a good freakout. Saizo doesn't know how emotions work. What is he supposed to do with this?

While he contemplates those mysteries, Ryoma arrives, shining and resplendent and entirely better equipped to handle this, and that's saying some shit. He moves quietly behind his lover. ]

Are you all right?

[deniles]

[Niles's eye goes wide as he quickly stands up to turn around to look at him. He wasn't crying, at least, but his breathing is heavy and his mind is running.]

Ah, Ryoma... I'm alright.

[Reaching to touch his hands.]

Just... thinking. About... the wedding.

[lightninglobster]

[ Well, that's worrying--though not as worrying as it would be if Niles were out and out crying, of course. He takes his lover's hands, drawing him in close so that he can press an almost chaste kiss to his forehead. ]

Good thoughts, I hope?

[deniles]

[He can't pretend it's all okay. That's not going to help. He shuts his eye for a moment as Ryoma places a kiss to his forehead.

It's a side Niles hid for years. He doesn't want anyone to see him weak or showing emotion like this. A fear that he's going to let everyone he loves down, and that he's only going to end up hurting Ryoma. He lets Ryoma kiss him as he stands there.]

...It's a lot. We're not even at the point of announcing our engagement, and it feels like... I'm going to misstep and hurt you.

[He squeezes onto Ryoma's sides.]

I love you more than I love anyone. And I only want to make sure I do it right so that you and Hoshido aren't ashamed by the actions of this outlaw... who wants nothing more than to love you until the day he dies.

[He's being honest. And honesty, for him, has always hurt.]

[lightninglobster]

[ ... perhaps it should be as worrying as if Niles were openly crying. Ryoma cups his face, expression unreadable as Niles' bares his heart, focusing on the worry lines in his face, the open pain in his eye. He doesn't know how to fix it; they don't cover how to weather through an emotional crisis while you're standing over troop maps and listening to reports.

He has no idea what he's doing, but he has to try anyway. ]

Do you want to wait to announce our engagement, then?

[ He swallows down his own fears; his own feelings of being too much. His reputation, his crown, his meaning is so much more than Ryoma himself could ever be, and that's... overwhelming. [

There's little you could do to disappoint me, Niles, and little consideration you should pay to anyone else in this life... but I suppose that's easy for me to say.