#⌇the eyes of the ruthless justice ( 𝙂𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙚 | ic )

[distopea]

@nezumivc103221 That’s right. Stay down.

He knows it's provocation, he knows it tickles his instincts. He knows he should not indulge...

"Can't wait to stay down next time you'll get in trouble."

[distopea]

This is why he can't work efficiently. He's surrounded with brats. A bunch of marmocchio...

[distopea]

@cantuscorvi skill issue 💁🏼‍♂️

"Funny these issues made you moan so hard last night."

[distopea]

Days are back to being warm.

That's when Gabriele starts to scratch my little head, because I have been sleeping for too long...

[distopea]

Nezumi exhaled, steeled himself and sat down at the shabby dinner table, opposite of Gabriele. He put down his cup of 'brown piss' and set his eyes on the officer.

"— Listen, Vasco," Nezumi spoke calmly, "About the dog and pride thing the other time. I said it in jest, but clearly I stepped on a landmine. I'm sorry, sincerely. I won't push your buttons anymore."

Nezumi held Gabriele's gaze, then nodded and stood up. "I'll take this to the bedroom," he said and picked up the coffee, having said what he wanted to say.

@nezumivc103221

Gabriele eyed Nezumi walking inside the kitchen, like a guarded dog, peacefully waiting to see if there was another storm coming. Their argument had escalated more than expected, and the lingering embarrassment was like a static shiver in the atmosphere surrounding them. Gabriele could honestly bear it. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had been utterly disappointed in his words and actions - he had faced the wrath of people many times, people who were expecting more from him. 

Still, though, he was not happy to argue. He was a passionate man, quick to default to anger and attack, but he was also human. He craved connection despite his usual distance with the world around him. He enjoyed the way he was connected with Nezumi, even if it meant facing harsh words sometimes. He wasn’t the kind of person to hold a grudge either, but hidden truths had been spoken. Something he didn’t know how to address. At least, Nezumi was capable of breaking the veil of silence between them. 

“Don’t lock yourself in the bedroom,” Gabriele answered, while he eyed the coffee pot on the table and decided to grab one for himself, even if the taste was detestable. “Per favore. Please.” He added, his chestnut iris once again observing Nezumi, as if this poor addition of politeness might convince him to stay around his bitter presence. 

“I don’t want to say things that will hurt you… But I don’t want to argue with you like that either.” He poured coffee in his white and bland mug, chasing away the few memories of those beautiful terraces facing the sea where he used to enjoy a proper ristretto. “I don’t know where to start either, but I guess saying I’m sorry is a good one. I'm sorry, I know I hurt you. I didn't want that.” He sighed. “I’m not good at expressing my emotions, but I don’t want to be that kind of robotic idiota either.” 

As a peace offering, Gabriele threw his pack of cigarettes onto the table and grabbed the other chair to invite Nezumi to join him. “You’re right about me. I’m an asshole.” He opened his pack and slid one cigarette out. “But I’m a… How to say that… Un buon allievo?” He hesitated while he lighted up his cigarette. “Student? Si?” He blew out a cloud of smoke, his deep brown eyes lingering on Nezumi’s silhouette. “So, if you don’t mind… Teach me how to be someone better in your eyes.” 

He offered one small smile, anticipating perhaps a comment from him. “I won't really change but, I understand something. It’s important for you to feel safe. I need to know how to make you feel that way… And for you to understand that even if I do my best to progress, I might have limits on my side, capice? So... Let's talk, alright?" He patted the butt of his cigarette. "Like two equal men, si?" 

[distopea]

ღ ( and one for gabs 😈)

Send me that ღ symbol and I’ll tell you to fuck off meme ❤️

"It's only about work and duty. I'm a professional."

Romantic attraction: none | very low | low | medium | high | very high | extreme Sexual attraction: none | very low | low | medium | high | very high | extreme Aesthetic attraction: none | very low | low | medium | high | very high | extreme Sensual attraction: none | very low | low | medium | high | very high | extreme

[distopea]

"Gabriele." A whisper, unsure at first if she even wanted to be heard. Then a slow sigh exited the queen, admitting that it didn't matter what she wanted, and slid her body off from straddling his back, sitting next to where her guard lay on the bed. Her hand gently, slowly rubbed his back in an attempt to start waking his body back up before consciousness fully returned to him as well. "Gabe." A hair louder this time, like waking a child for school.

Hibiko's skill was far from that of a professional masseuse, at least by the standard she was used to. She had enough experience from practicing on Rhodri, though it was entirely possible he just wanted to entertain his wife wanting to feel sweet and helpful when he was overly stressed. However, when she had moved to again put more of her signature-scented lotion on her hands, and heard all too clearly the sound and pattern of Gabriele's breathing change as he fell asleep, there was no higher compliment.

Diligently, she continued to press and knead areas of his back and shoulders, freely stealing a few kisses from wherever she wished. She continued until her arms tired, and pushed further still until her fingers were equally sore. It wasn't like she had the muscles to go for very long, after all.

With the way his body flinched, it was clear Gabriele woke up in mild confusion, Hibiko staying gentle as ever. "Relax, it's okay. I was keeping an eye on the time." She reassured, letting the guard wake up at his own pace. ". . . Though I believe you should be getting back to work soon."

Once he fully sat up, Hibiko too decided to move and got off the bed, collecting his things. "Feeling a little better?" She questioned, handing over his shirt, jacket, and tie piece by piece as he dressed.

@royaletiquette

In front of his eyes, there was a patchwork of pastel colors warming his soul. He could feel the touch of the sun traveling over his entire body, along with the salty breeze of the sea caressing his features. As if the sun had fingers, it followed a certain path upon his tanned skin, scheming his shoulders, drawing circles on his sore muscles, until he felt nothing but a sweet sensation of relief. The moment felt suspended in a line of time he couldn’t recall, nor he did remember when everything had started and why it felt so good to be under the sun again. 

A certain scent came to his nostrils ; something unfamiliar with the scenery. A powerful smell of flowers invading his space, giving him the hint that he was perhaps lost in a dream. His mind cracked between his illusions and reality, as once more, he caught up with the pace of someone pressing their fingers on his back, and the sensation of kisses dropped all over his body. 

Gabriele smiled. He had truly forgotten the sensation of being pampered, unsure if he had ever experienced it at all. When their motions eventually stopped, he couldn't help but open his eyes, still unsure to picture who was hopping off his back. He sighed, but recognized the gorgeous features of the Queen by his side. He strangely felt more intimacy in seeing her loosen hair rather than her exposed thighs.

He could have felt guilty ; after all, he was lying down with her, they were intimate, and her husband was working somewhere else without being aware of that. Yet, Gabriele was still certain it was worth the risk. Still, incapable of remembering when he had laid down on her bed, he looked at the clock on the night table, before she reassured him about the time. 

“Putting me back to work after being so gentle? That’s harsh, ma’am,” he teased her, but before she could protest, he pressed one kiss on her shoulder, permitting himself to earn this prize while her guard was still down. There were still limits between the two of them, despite crossing numerous frontiers. He hoped she would enjoy herself a little longer, yet, Hibiko was already quick to cut the moment. For some reason, she was already collecting his clothes, giving no time for Gabriele to protest. 

Still in charge. Still in control. 

“I’m good. Grazie.” He confirmed, sitting at the edge of the bed and flattening his dark hair on his skull. He grabbed his pants and slid them back on, then started to fix his shirt. He observed her from the corner of his eyes. Deep down he didn't wish for this instant to end like this. In such a business style. Cold, insensitive... Far from their burning passion and what she wanted.

“Hibiko,” he called her, until he finally met her eyes. He wanted her to stop being a gentle spouse, a parenting wife, or anything she was displaying right now. She was no wife to him, and he didn’t wish for her devotion or gentleness. “I can pick them up myself.” He said, bringing her wrist to his lips. He didn’t kiss her, but he nibbled on her skin. He looked at her with intense eyes, like a predator going for his prey, locking their irises together. 

She was no wife to him ; she was his lover. She needed to be seen as the woman she was, not the role she had become. Not the Queen, not the Head of the Country, not the Crown, not the Mother. A woman who could come from his tongue only, who could embrace her femininity, and adore that passionate side of hers. A woman who desired this. 

He pulled on her wrist, his mouth disappearing in the crook of her neck. She still smelled like the massage lotion. There, he placed an urgent kiss, avoiding marking her skin because he had promised at least to save her honor, even if, at that moment, he wanted to devour her. Not that gently, he pressed his thumb on the skin of her thigh, coming up and up, only to recreate that cascade of goosebumps and shivers she needed to experience.

“Hibiko…” He breathed her name again, right against her ear, until eventually he grabbed her chin, invited her to turn her head aside until they would face each other, and captured her lips with a furious passion. 

He enjoyed the forbidden dance of their tongues, his whole mind and body demanding more. She had offered him softness, he wanted her to feel alive. He kissed her until they needed to breathe, and while he eyed the clock again, he eventually knew he had to control himself. “I’ll be outside.” He said, resisting the urge to press another kiss on her lips. He wouldn’t give her that. Not now. Not anymore. 

Somehow, his greedy self was hoping she would ask more in the future. 

[distopea]

@un1awful coward!

"You're done?"

[distopea]

@cantuscorvi Oh he gets it. He's just hole to you, huh. 😒

"A very stupid one, it seems. What are you expecting from your guard dog anyway?"

[distopea]

@nezumivc103221 MARRIAGE? He’ll rather stay dead, he won’t take the hand of a man who realised what he lost and changed his mind. Leave the ring on the tombstone.

See? No need to prove his point. This is marital kindship gfsuygf

[distopea]

Despite the gun being in silent mode, there was still a ring on his head the moment he had hit the floor. A sudden rush of adrenaline crawled through all his limbs, his brain sending wrong messages. It always happened too fast with guns. Fast enough to trigger something that wasn’t there, and sensations that weren’t real. Gabriele was breathless and silent, his eyes widened for a few seconds as he couldn’t tell if he was the one who had gotten shot or someone else. His whole mind was processing something that had happened too fast, and yet he was perfectly aware he couldn’t remain in such a position either. A huff, quiet and broken, while he felt cold and entirely pressed down onto the person who had received the deadly dart. 

He barely heard the ruffle of clothes on his side, but it was enough to drag him away from that second state. He blinked and looked aside, the shape of a very worried Raum finally appearing in the middle of this void. Protection. Safety. Gabriele breathed again while he moved his head to observe the lack of life in his victim’s eyes. The bodyguard was more in pain due to the fight and his fall rather than anything else, his chest and the bottom part of his face covered by the leaking blood of his enemy. He tried to get up, but he felt unbalanced and still shocked, hurried by the concerned voice of his client. 

“Porca puttana…,” He cursed while he eventually managed to yank himself a bit straighter. He could tell from the pain that he had probably broken a few ribs in the fight, but there was no hot wound indicating he was losing blood. He turned his face around, his attention far more concerned about the man who was standing by his side, as he still tried to get back on his feet. But the moment was quick and Gabriele only saw Raum suddenly rushing down and violently stabbing the man right into his throat, a profound guttural sound escaping his lips with the gurgling of fresh blood. Alive? Gabriele’s instincts worked fast enough for him to stand up despite the pain. 

They had no time anymore. 

“Yes… Yes I can walk.” He said while he grabbed the walkie-talkie of the dead attacker and smashed it on the ground. There would be people to look after their missing soldier anyway, and they better bought themselves some time by putting the whole scene in full silence. He grunted and grabbed the gun, just checking that there were enough amos if they had to defend themselves, quickly shoving behind him, trapped by his belt. He stared at the man and then back at Raum.

“The knife, cucciolo... Don’t leave it here.” He said while he decided to make more of a mess around here in order to protect Raum from a potential mistake, grabbing the handle back to slash it away from his neck, the blood pouring from the hound almost splashing the furniture. At least, it would be far more difficult to find any prints like this, and more importantly, it was a way to be sure of the absolute death of this person as well. 

“Come.” He said with a quiet tone, grabbing his wrist until they reached the door. A quick glance was thrown into the corridor; empty. Gabriele observed Raum with a strange mix of adrenaline and concern, before he pulled on his arm again. “If you see someone, hide your face and rush to the car without me. Take the keys.” He resisted the urge to touch his face as if he was tempted by an invisible hand to do so.

“I’m your bodyguard. I’m protecting you. You leave me behind the moment I can’t do it anymore. Okay?” And whether Raum would approve it or not, Gabriele thought they had no time anymore; he started to guide him out of the room. 

The tension was unbearable for those scant few seconds that it took for the door to open. Raum was readying himself, hoping to take the man down silently when he came inside. His position was low, but it was a perfect position to immobilise him when he came inside, and perhaps Gabriele could take care of the rest — silencing him. Yet as soon as the door opened, chaos erupted and his plan fell apart — instead, Gabriele swiftly taking violent control of the situation. It happened far too quickly, and suddenly Raum found himself pushed back with the weight of the bodyguard’s leg, knocking him off-balance until he collapsed onto his rear.

“Damn it,” he whispered, picking himself back up while the struggle broke out before him. Metal glinted under the overhead lamp and Raum’s eyes widened slightly in recognition. Shit, that guy was armed. It meant he wasn’t just a random office worker or a night guard, and everything was suddenly far more dangerous than he had anticipated.

Still, the man was hardly a match for the precise savagery that Gabriele was capable of. Even Raum was surprised by how fast he knew how to act — where to attack and where to defend, and his defences were totally focused on Raum. So much so, that despite how he tried to come forward and step in ( Raum was simply unable to just stand there and do nothing, after all, ) and despite if he got a good few hits in or not, Gabriele pushed him back out of harms way every time.

The walkie talkie slid across the floor towards him and Raum picked it up, quickly making sure the channel wasn’t open before he would toss it out of the way. It would be bad news for them to suddenly have reinforcements coming; especially with the fight this one was putting up.

He only looked away for a second — but it was enough to miss it; an unmistakable noise, the usual loud boom of a gunshot silenced to that of a whipcrack. A sudden wetness hitting his turned cheek caused Raum to flinch instinctively. Warm — it was blood. And then, the deep thudding sound of two bodies hitting the cheap wooden floor.

Raum whirled around to the scene. The intruder was flat on his back, Gabriele slumped over him, and Raum’s eyes widened, a sudden panic gripping like ice in his veins. He dropped the walkie talkie to the ground, the small knife still clasped in his other hand while he rushed over.

Thinking quickly; he knelt down, pressing the edge of the knife against the stranger’s neck while he was supine. He was staring down at the other man’s frozen face, but truly his attention was all for the bodyguard, who seemed shift with a bit of a pained sound. His free hand grasped onto Gabriele’s shoulder, squeezing hard, dragging him up.

“Vasco— you better fucking get up,” he hissed. Blood was already starting to pool on the floor, and he was unsure who it belonged to. But he had to stay calm. No matter what, they needed to leave — especially if Gabriele was the one hurt. Seconds passed before the man on the ground suddenly moved, perhaps the last fight of a man who knew his doom was coming; and Raum didn’t hesitate, just pushed the weight of his palm against the blade to sink the edge deeply into his throat.

“Now.” He growled. He let go of the knife, leaving it embedded in the man’s neck to use both hands this time and physically pull Gabriele. The walkie-talkie was making noise on the ground, perhaps someone asking for a routine update. Fuck. If he didn't respond they would come to check.

“They will find him. And shortly after, us. We need to get out of here.” Then, a little more hesitantly, almost as if he was apprehensive for the answer, he asked: “You can stand, right?”

[distopea]

“Tsk. Let me see that.”

The words were quick and terse as his hand darted out to take hold of Gabriele’s. Tiny shards of glass were embedded in the bodyguard’s knuckles, thin as papercuts. For some time now, he’d been watching Gabriele out of the corner of his eye, struggling to pluck them out with his left hand.

“Hold still.” Raum snatched the tweezers from him as well with a huff, then started to pluck the glass out from his hand. There were only a few left, hard to reach without help, and Raum would rather not have to sit next to Gabriele cursing to himself in Italian all evening.

He focused on his task and allowed his mind to wander back to how it had occurred. Uncontrolled, a little quirk of amusement slowly appeared upon his lips.

“You have a nasty right hook, Vasco,” he spoke after a moment of quiet, continuing to pluck. “He never saw it coming — not until you’d already smashed his glasses. The look on his face. . .”

A low hum of a laugh escaped him then, before he set the tweezers aside. He brought the older man’s hand closer to his eyeline, checking for leftovers. Little drops of blood were forming between Gabriele’s knuckles where the glass was removed. Raum watched it happen— struck for a moment at what exactly Gabriele’s role was to him.

Slowly he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Gabriele’s knuckles. Blue eyes flicked up to capture his face, a signal.

He wouldn’t say ‘thank you’ — the protection Gabriele offered belonged to him.

Lips parted slightly, and the tip of his tongue peeked out to lap at Gabriele’s blood.

This blood was also his. Spilled instead of his own.

So, this was the kind of dog he would have on his leash — the one who would hang on his every command in the future. Raum met Gabriele’s eyes and grinned slightly, his nose crinkling into a sneer. He couldn’t wait.

@cantuscorvi

He didn’t need help. 

Even if he had been toying his hand for the past thirty minutes, Gabriele was religiously focused on his task and wouldn’t formulate any request to get help. It was a question of honor, self-respect, and probably a generous amount of misplaced ego. He was still driving through that wave of anger, the very one that had pushed him into attacking that man and smashing his glasses, along with half of his nose in the process. He had created a mess; his inner passion and rough rage pushed to their limits thanks to that minx who was sitting next to him. 

“No,” Gabriele growled as he heard Raum eventually offer his help, probably exceeded by his curses and lack of success regarding the extraction of those small pieces of glass. That was the only reason why his princely ass would actually do something to ease his pain. He wanted peace. 

The bodyguard hadn’t been quick enough. While he was moving his fingers under the light of the ceiling to catch a glimpse of small shredded glass stuck deep inside his skin, Raum had snatched away his precious tool, gripping the tweezers with that everlasting satisfied look plastered on his young features. A content cat who was winning the game. Gabriele longly sighed. 

“I said I could do it myself.” He mumbled again but didn’t resist much when Raum grabbed his hand. A part of him was quite satisfied to get pampered, his blood boiling within his veins, as truly, he had no patience anymore to deal with that shit. “Use the antiseptic... Mamma mia! No! Not like that! Fa male!” He snapped, and while he didn’t enjoy Raum’s methods at first, the sudden sharpness coming from the extracted piece of glass was quite painful when he wasn’t the one holding the tweezers. 

He stared back at his protegee, a frown crossing his tan skin, ready to curse again if Raum wasn’t being so careful. But once more, eyeing Raum in that state of half satisfaction and half happiness was a vision Gabriele profoundly liked. It was intimately soothing everything within him; as he knew, he was witnessing something rare. Someone he had provoked. He liked it. He liked it far more than he could ever admit. He sighed again, preparing himself for the discomfort of those ridiculously small injuries when Raum aimed again for his palm. 

“For a four-eyed man, he truly hasn’t seen it coming.” Gabriele answered, the corner of his lips curling into a vicious and petty smile. It was true that he had a nasty right punch, and despite the current pain, he was proud of himself for that perfect delivery. But perhaps he was thriving because Raum seemed to enjoy it as well. 

The bodyguard’s eyes darkened, while eventually the tweezers were put aside, and his hand scanned under the cold blue retina of the blond. He could almost feel his breath skimming his epidermis, provoking a few goosebumps here and there, but mostly onto Gabriele’s forearm. It was potentially more painful than before, as he imagined many scenarios all at once, burning his iris with forbidden fantasies. That kid… Always playing with fire. Always provoking what shouldn’t be. 

“Raum…” Gabriele warned, when, like the petty boy he was, he couldn’t help but push the game further, his tongue darting out to taste the forbidden bloody nectar of his skin. It was Gabriele’s role to remain responsible and focused, trying to push out of his mind those desires where that little attitude would only result in a pair of pants pushed down his legs and his pristine skin blushing under a different kind of fire. 

It pissed him off. 

Those eyes locked on him. That smile. 

If they were equals, it would be so different. 

“Stop that.” Gabriele snapped his fingers away, shaking his fingers as if he had been stung back something unwanted. He coldly looked at Raum, even if his mind was burning with an awful passion that was almost impossible to refrain from. He eventually grabbed the bottle of antiseptic onto the table and poured the entire liquid over his wounds.

It hurt like a bitch. But it was a salvation.

“Mamma mia, non posso credere che tu pulisca ferite del genere.” Gabriele pushed his hair back onto his skull and stood back up, taking this perfect opportunity to fly away before the situation might escalate into something where he knew there wouldn’t be any kind of control coming from his side.

[distopea]

"Mmmh... No. Not good." He said with his heavy Italian accent, while he stood behind the person they have asked for a photo in front of this gorgeous landscape. He couldn't help it; he didn't like bad photographies. "You're not catching the light the right way... Let me..."

He grabbed the phone and eyed his model, waiting for them to pose properly.

[distopea]

I'm trying to get to things but I have this policeman in my head these days.

[distopea]

The overly pushed politeness of this moment was lingering more than he expected, along with the deep awkwardness of talking to someone so insecure. He didn’t really know how to behave anymore, if not to fish out a little information regarding the coming and going around this place. He noticed that this young girl was willing to talk - well, she was more talking to herself and eager to listen to her own statement rather than anything else - but it was still a way for him to get what he needed to understand the position of his father. A sort of pre-investigation before having a chat and determining if he was indeed someone he could trust or deal with in the future. 

“Everyone needs guidance from time to time. It’s not a bad perspective, even for someone who’s not young. I don’t believe my presence here should alarm you in any way possible.” He answered to her sudden paranoid sentence, as if, in any way, she should suddenly feel threatened by words. God, she was so quick to jump on every crumb, as if she would be able to understand the full picture and grasp what kind of danger her father might be expecting. Truly, he was glad that she wasn’t too much involved in business talks. She clearly lacked the capacity to handle things with a mature approach. 

He looked away, as she was losing track of her own words and somehow having her head in the clouds while she continued her long introspection. He didn’t wish to make assumptions here, but for a man like Gabriele, everything she was doing was odd and definitely disturbing. She was like a sort of fairy dragged out of another world, the radiant picture of something that belonged in a cabinet of curiosity rather than a place like this. Everything felt superficial in a very strange way, but perhaps he was only biased by his own judgment, and quite heartless and insensitive when it came to innocence in a general way. After all, she was perhaps right to question his intentions. 

Nevertheless, she didn’t really say much regarding what he was trying to discover. No name, nothing but a politician who had his doors open for anyone in need of a talk. To the vision of a dramatic girl planted in front of a window, like a puppy who couldn’t play with the big dogs, he couldn’t help but smirk a little bit. He turned around so she wouldn’t bust it, her everlasting monologue finishing with almost a theatrical tone. Surely she was a lonely creature and he couldn’t miss it; she would even try to guilt a new guest about it, joking in such an awkward way that he frowned for a second. Maybe she needed to find friends of her age. It was an urgent need, he believed. “I see.” 

Be polite, he thought, she’s a child. She believed she wasn’t a naive little girl, but what he had in front of his eyes could only prove the contrary. Only a child would go into such open measures and statements regarding their emotions without understanding the etiquette and boundaries they should have, or the fact that Gabriele, at this particular moment, wouldn’t reassure her regarding her insecurities. 

“I guess the society and parties hosted by a politician might attract a variety of people you may find strange.” He paused, gazed at the door; still nothing. He felt too impatient now. He lifted his sleeve up and observed his watch. “I’m sorry that I scare you though, I don't still understand fully why, but that was not my intention. I believe that your father will have a hard time making himself available, so I won’t abuse your time either.” He offered a polite smile, and grabbed his coat. “I guess I will come back another time.”

/ @lured-into-wonderland

“Well then, I once again apologize for choosing a topic that made you uncomfortable.” – she remained where she was standing: by the window. Nunnally was also uncomfortable by then. For some reason this man was nervous. Suspiciously nervous. Wary. And…untrusting? She was not sure why. She usually did not have such an effect on people. And it only started to increase her anxiety about him and his visit. Or rather what it meant for her family. Too many things were not normal with that man, and it seemed there were more answers than questions. It did not make things easier that Nunnally knew she should not be there. Talking with him.  Gabriele’s next words brought her back from deep inside her thoughts. She abruptly turned around to look at him, but did not move towards him. The man seemed to prefer she was not close.

“Guide him in the right direction…” – she repeated clearly frightened – “W-hy…why would my father need any guidance at all…?” – the last words were not meant for Gabriele. It was clear the girl forgot he was in the same room and was talking more to herself. She hated his words.

(“He knows what he is doing...”) – she was not sure so sure about it; or perhaps she was he knew, but she still did not want him to do it.  She did not want to be kept in the darkness treated as a child… ("So, why no-one…") -- “…is telling me anything…?” – she finished her trail of thoughts aloud only then realizing she was talking to herself.

“I am sorry.” – she repeated; how many times had she already apologized since she met this man – “I…I think…” – Nunnally was about to say that she should be leaving, when Gabriele suddenly involved himself in their conversation. Why? Up till now he was mainly answering her questions. Well, not exactly answering, but rather dodging them. And now a question. It took Nunnally a longer while to decide on the reply. She probably should have followed his way of conversation and avoid replying to it, but she was firstly too surprised with the sudden change of events, and perhaps also too scared with her own thoughts and feelings. Nevertheless, she replied. And replied truthfully showing Gabriele more of herself than she ever intended. Nunnally was good at small talks, at social conversations that meant nothing and were just to maintain the nice atmosphere. But apart from that Nunnally was lonely. With her mother passing away when she was a little girl, and her father mainly being busy with his professional life, Nunnally was brought up alone by maids and private tutors.

“Actually I don’t. I hardly ever talk to anyone who visits…my father…he does not like it. He’d be pretty disappointed in me…” – again more than she wanted to say – “Well, so you are the one that is lucky…or unlucky to meet me…depending how you see it.” – she tried to joke but then she sighed – “But I often watch through the window and I see people coming in and out. And you can learn surprisingly much about people from just watching…especially when you later meet some of them on parties…or other social events… I am aware…I am aware that most of people, probably you included, think that I am a naïve little girl…” – (“And perhaps I am…”) – “…but I know things…I notice things…”

A pause.

“And you are different. And that scares me. Somehow.”

(“And you do not want to say who you are.”)

@distopea

[distopea]

He sighed. For a man of his age, it was quite ridiculous to think about her like this.

/ @royaletiquette