#rs:matthel&tesslan

[starrywritingg]

She nodded her head slightly, a few curls falling forward. She pushed her hair back very her shoulder and smiled, waiting for him to say something. It was impossible not to stare a little at Matthel, everyone did. Even when they were children everybody had said it, he was beautiful.

“Let me show you inside,” He didn’t use her name, she noted. There was no way to be offended, it had been years and she wasn’t really the kind of person future kings made allies of. She followed him up to the large gates, turning left inside. “I’m so sorry, what is it now? Lady…”

“Milae,” She told him. He looked at her then, through eyelashes that weren’t fair. Matthel wasn’t as tall as she had thought he would be, taller than her, but not by too much.

“Oh, I’m so sorry I thought I heard that you got married,” He shook his head, clearly embarrassed. Tess was inside now, but it felt like a gust of icy wind hitting her square on. The pain felt like the gnawing of hunger in her stomach, like she might be dying slowly. And then he added sounding moderately offended, “I know your maiden name, Tess.”

“I did,” And here she was, admitting to a King that she was worthless. And ignoring the flutter in her chest at how casually he said it. She wasn't a Lady or a Princess or a Mrs, he just called her Tess. When was the last time someone had done that? “And then I got divorced.”

“Well,” He was stuttering. Did he usually stutter? “I’m very sorry.”

“I’m not,” She scoffed a little and then stopped, turning to face him. The heat rising on her cheeks was searing, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

“I won’t tell anyone,” He smiled down at her. Tess didn’t really know what it was turning in her stomach, whether she was nervous or about to throw up. Probably a bit of both. “I’m sorry I missed it anyways.”

“Don't worry, you sent a very nice gift,” She tried to phrase it like a joke, but it fell completely flat. Matt was nice enough that he gave a customary, short laugh. He was probably wondering what happened, asking himself if he had used to enjoy her company. “Or I guess you’ll just catch the next one. At the rate I’m going it’ll be by the end of the year.”

That got her a genuine laugh, a head thrown back laugh that had people around them turning to look, “I will clear my schedule.”

“Well if we have a prince coming I’ll make sure to try and stay sober for this one,” Another laugh, and then the back of his hand brushing against hers as they walked. These types of jokes could have her stripped of her title, but she suddenly didn’t care.

“I’m sorry about Lillian, I'm sure you remember what she’s like?” He gave her a look and she answered by raising one eyebrow. “You spent enough time here to know what a nightmare she is to deal with.”

“She never liked me very much,” Tess let herself laugh, just a little. It sounded small and stupid next to his.

“No, she really didn’t,”

She heard the laugh and turned, to where Matthel had no doubt seen her face drop, “Shut up.”

“Sorry,” He reigned in the laugh but kept grinning at her. Matthel had never changed, just getting older. He still had the same smile, with dimples, and those bright blue eyes. “I tried to convince her not to come and meet you.”

“Try harder next time,” He gave her a mock salute in reply.

HOLLOW DIVINITY, excerpt 3/?

[starrywritingg]

HOLLOW DIVINITY | writeblr a-z challenge

→ hollow | without real significance or value.

            “What did he call you?” Tess asked as her brother walked away from them, leaving her stood alone with Matthel.

            “Hollow,” Matt said with a sigh, rolling his shoulders back like he could smooth out the tension in either him or the room. “It’s an old slur.”

“Because you’re Lorgonian?” Even if they now had a black queen, it didnt make people like her father and brother any nicer to people who didn’t look like them.

“No,” There was a slight laugh in Matt’s voice as he met her eyes. It was impossible not to stare a little at Matthel, everyone did. Even when they were children everybody had said it, he was beautiful. “Children of the blessed families born without the gifts, they used to call them Hollows.”

               “Oh,” Tess pushed her hair back over her shoulder and surveyed the hallway quickly. “So my brothers a historical bastard now?”

Matt laughed, a deep and honest thing, and met her eyes. There was something almost sweet about it, the attention, like he didn’t want to let her out of his sight.

The last boy you thought was sweet broke two of your ribs, some small part of her screamed without warning, a visceral and immediate reminder that had her stepping away from him slightly. Her wedding band burned on her finger.

        “Your brother,” He took a moment, his hand moving up like it might push the hair back that had fallen across her face. Tess held her breath, his hand stopped. “Your brother is a bastard in every sense of the world.”

           Matt dropped his hand to his side and cleared his throat, a futile attempt to clear the awkwardness. Tess didn’t want to admit it, that she had wished he’d moved towards her when she moved away, even if it was selfish. Even if it was a wretched thing to want when the weight of metal on her finger reminded her she wasn’t her own to give away.

taglist (yell to be added/removed)- @aeonian-scribbles @zmlorenz @minny-king @katerinarevel @write-gallagher @victoiirres @heroworks @writingtothestars @inkpot-dreamer @runningonrain @aslanwrites @quilloftheclouds

[starrywritingg]

HOLLOW DIVINITY + main couples

taglist - @zmlorenz @aeonian-scribbles

[starrywritingg]

one of my favourite things about Tess and Matt is that Matt is this optimistic (slightly naive) ray of sunshine and Tess is a cynical, possible alcoholic and he kind of just sees her and is like I pick This one, and then he gets to know her and is like shit someone should be looking after this girl and just spend the rest of the story looking after Tess because apparently nobody else is going to do it