blood red stains and crystal tears

[faebysitting]

rook/lilia prince/assassin au based on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5pu0KqBhRc

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[beauman]

It feels like there's more warmth in Red's gaze at that admission, more of a sparkle in those beautiful garnet eyes than he's seen yet. That, even more than anything else so far, is what draws him in--that tinkle of laughter, slyly hinting at questions he knows he won't yet get answers to, even if he does ask. Rook laughs instead, smile warming into a distinctly unprincely grin. "How poetic! I couldn't have said it better myself, mon belle. But shall I try, just for you?"

Rook's grip on their clasped hands grows firmer, the arm around Red's waist shifting into something closer to an embrace. And this is why he must die, isn't it? The way he's so quick to reach for closeness and intimacy, even knowing they're not of the same kind, even without knowing her at all. The bold, expansive movements, the powerful exuberance that radiates from every step as Rook sweeps her along with him, gliding and twirling in an energetic dance that no longer even slightly resembles a waltz.

He's going to cause a scene, making such a spectacle of both of them, isn't he? Hopefully Red will be able to keep up. How could she have possibly practiced for anything like this?

[faebysitting]

Skilled in more ways than one, even in the art of manipulation that was formed through an act, the fae found himself unable to hold back the true feelings that burn so brightly within his chest as he's brought into such an embrace. The plan he'd conspired wouldn't truly crumble to ash, yet Lilia found himself blinded by the warmth of that unprincely grin, all of his thoughts focusing so deeply upon the man, taking in all of who he was.

This dance was more telling than any words the two of them could share, hardening Lilia's resolve while also beginning the process of breaking it down. No human had ever treated him with this kindness, with this intimacy, pulling him so close that, even with their differences, even with the past wars between other Kingdoms and Briar Valley that tended to harden the fae resolve against any and all humans-- Harlequin didn't seem to care or mind.

It's an impossible task to be sure, the attempt to keep up with this energetic dance, no longer following the movements of the crowd around them. Lilia is quick to pick up his own energy, his eyes focusing closely upon the man's body, studying his movements with the precision he knew was telling of his past. What past would Harlequin assume, of this unassuming beauty?

An initial stumble turns into a graceful flourish as Lilia manages to step in line with his partner's lead. The boundaries between them seem to fall apart within this one dance. Each step is followed, each twirl leaned into and added upon by his own hand, as if Lilia himself was taking the lead from Harlequin for brief moments, adding his own flourish upon their energetic dance.

A soft laugh escapes the masked fae, amusement and joy bright on his face. Had he been a weaker man, perhaps this single dance, that lasts no less than a few heartbeats, may have been the fatal mistake of Lilia Vanrouge, the fall of his carefully crafted plan. His eyes lock with Harlequin's, his smile bright and unabashed, unhidden.

All eyes were on them, weren't they?

[beauman]

This is pure chaos of the best kind, isn't it? Neither of them could have practiced for or foreseen this. Neither of them know what's going to happen in even the very next breath, thinking at best a single step ahead. But Red's light is dazzling, and her graceful creativity inspiring; she burns in his arms, giving and taking control like flames dancing in the wind. Her name couldn't possibly be any more fitting, could it?

Rook's delighted laughter is loud enough to be heard over the music and the buzz of the crowd, heedless of all the eyes on them. Even if this wasn't a masquerade, and his identity was exposed, what should he care? This is a rare thrill, being able to dance with such unrestrained joy with someone so beautiful in his arms. Rook's grin turns downright mischievous as the song reaches a crescendo, shifting his grip on her--and lifts Red straight off her feet to twirl her, elegant skirt billowing with the speed of their spin.

[faebysitting]

How could even Fate herself have weaved this together? This moment, this burning warmth shared between their embrace, the way their limbs entangle together in a way that shouldn't be so natural with a stranger, with someone who could very well spell the end of either of them... it was something that even rivaled the previous dances Lilia held close within his heart, within his memories.

The shifting grip causes Lilia's own hands to shift, grasping onto Harlequin's shoulders. Nothing could have prepared him, however, for the weightlessness he felt when lifted. Similarly to his own power of flight or the damn near acrobatic moves he'd make in combat, but somehow so much more freeing, when led by another person. His own laughter meshes with Harlequin's, unable to stop for even a second to think.

This was no longer even related to a waltz, was it? Oh, Seven, this hold, this twirl, was almost too intimate, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. It takes everything in him to even try to force a composed act in this moment.

Both of his gloved hands move up to cup the masked Harlequin's cheeks, taking a moment during the spin to lock their eyes, beaming down at him. Harlequin shined as brightly as the sun, almost blinding to someone so used to the dark.

I see you, your thoughts, your feelings, your desires. All of it is clear to me, in this one moment. No one else mattered, for the emotions they were sharing were far greater than anything they could understand just by looking.

Only as his heels click back onto the ground softly do those hands fall away from Harlequin's face, taking his hand again to part them, taking enough of a step back that the only thing keeping them together were their hands, clasped firmly together. His eyes scan the crowd around them as his other hand outstretches in a fancy little flourish, before Lilia quickly turns to bring them close again, as the music begins to come down from it's height. His own hand ends up slipping around Harlequin's waist by instinct, so used to being the lead in such a chaotic dance.

His chin tilts up towards Harlequin. The dance was going to come to an end soon, wasn't it? It's sad - they'd just begun, hadn't they?

[beauman]

She's so small in his arms, so light, it feels completely effortless. She looks so happy with her gaze locked on his, flying free as he raises her high overhead; it only makes his own all the brighter, seeing how he's made her smile. Red has such nice soft hands.....

And such confidence in the way she pulls him into her embrace this time. Rook giggles girlishly, effortlessly drawn in as he settles his hand on Red's shoulder. There may not be much time left to enjoy holding each other like this, but for what time remains? He doesn't mind letting her lead, so she can tell her own story, just as she had asked for his.

[faebysitting]

Why was he so okay with the change in lead...? With the shift from Harlequin embracing Lilia to the subtly strong arms of the former General holding the other man against him, pulled close in a very similar way to their earlier embrace. It made Lilia's heart race in his chest, his expression softening.

The steps that Lilia leads Harlequin in were so much gentler, yet energetic nonetheless. The eyes on them would bare witness to a new story, one that Lilia tells with his body. His dance holds a deep sorrow, a story of tragedy and hope. Of freedom and loss, flickers of hope-- Lilia's dance told it all, the elegant yet fast dance he leads Harlequin in. His own movements were as energetic as Harlequin's lead had been, each step, twirl, each flourish of their bodies together, tangling their limbs again in a completely new way. Together, his story would be weaved, placed in front of Harlequin like a confession.

Twisting his body, Lilia pulls Harlequin to him further, his ears picking up the tell-tale sign of a song beginning to wind down.

It's that that Lilia decides to dip his partner, eyes meeting Harlequin's again. His expression, under that mask of his own, has softened, his smile holding an impossible to identify emotion, somewhere between their shared joy and his sorrow, held deep within his chest. That smile quickly loses that sadness, however, as Lilia forces it down. Why allow the boundaries to stay ash, when he could rebuild them?

Lifting Harlequin back to stand, Lilia beams up at him, though it doesn't have that same energy as before. "My... you truly are amazing, Harlequin. I haven't danced like that with anyone in ages." Lilia turns his gaze down, keeping that smile but avoiding looking directly up at Harlequin.

Just... who the hell did this Prince think he was? Being so kind to someone he didn't even know. Hadn't anyone taught him to keep his guard up?