I've been reading a lot of fantasy manga lately, so that's what I'm going to blame this on. Just like with "Suits and Skins" I'm not 100% sure I'm staying in character, but I hope you enjoy it. I have some killer ideas for the plot, so I'm kind of excited!
"How else can you say stubborn?"
It was entirely too early for Black Star's prattling and Soul turned over in his bed with a groan. "What the hell are you even writing anyway?"
"A guide for your future wife," Black Star barely managed to eke out before being overcome with a fit of laughter. He tumbled back into the chair at the desk to allow all his energy to strengthen each bray.
"I'm glad you can find something amusing about this," Soul growled as he grabbed one of the pillows and catapulted it in Black Star's direction, sighing as its mark easily caught it. "I should just have you killed."
"Don't make promises you can't keep," Black Star winked. "It would be great if you actually hired an assassin. Then maybe I could actually have some kind of competition. The new recruits are just boring."
"And isn't that where you should be instead of torturing me?" Soul let his arm fall listlessly over the side of the bed, his fingers dangling against the cold stone.
"Ah, the recruits can wait. I'm the captain of your guard, I need to witness the introduction of your possible future brides. Which means get your ass out of bed and get dressed." Black Star made no move to help in this regard, just grinning brightly from his seat.
Brides, Soul sighed again. There was a lot to curse as he slowly lumbered out of bed but today's parade of ladies sat at the top of his current list. It wasn't as if he had a choice, his mother and father had been completely unapologetically blunt about this: he had to marry. Putting off courting had taken time and effort on his part but ultimately he knew there was no way to avoid it forever. As he usually did at least once a day, he found himself wishing his brother was still alive, wishing that the crown weighed on his head, the need for heirs and finding some pretentious princess rested on his shoulders.
"You should be thanking me, anyway. I got all the news about your baker's dozen."
"I thought it was only supposed to be twelve," Soul grumbled as he pulled on his shirt and started the arduous task of tying the sleeves.
Black Star was up with a grunt, batting away Soul's awkward attempts at tying with his left. "One late entry. Lady Marie's put up a girl last minute. Unfortunately, that means I know nothing about her, but give me a day. The others, well… Your mother has you slated for Clarissa, Yanira, or Sylvia, her top picks, in that order. Clarissa's an absolute no, Yanira's hot, and Sylvia, is just…" Black Star produced a vague shrug.
"I don't care what they look like," Soul sighed.
"Yeah, right," Black Star rolled his eyes before moving to the other sleeve. "You'll care when it's the wedding night."
Soul grimaced.
"Seriously, man, I'm worried about you. You remember what girls are, right? The hourglass figures? The breasts?"
Soul ripped away his arm and turned with a hiss, "Maybe I forgot them with the rest of my fucking past. I can't remember shit after-" He stopped as he pressed his knuckles to his chest, the constant dull throb flaring under his fist.
"OK, OK," the amusement dropped from Black Star's voice as he patted Soul's shoulder. "I know you've been trying and the apothecary's been making a bunch of tinctures and it's just gonna happen someday, seriously, Soul."
"It's a curse," Soul spat back helplessly. "A goddamn witch curse and since they don't exist anymore there's nothing a stupid herbalist or my own useless meditation is going to do. The nightmares are worse every night and-"
"Stop," Black Star grasped him, pulling Soul close enough to get an arm around his neck. "You're getting yourself worked up just to get out there and look like a sour asshole. You have to at least have a corner of a smile to offer the ladies."
Soul relinquished, letting Black Star pull him in. He was fortunate that at least the way Black Star messed with his hair seemed to set the mop straight and he threw on his jacket quickly with a huff. "As if they need to be impressed by me. I'm crowned prince. What the hell else do they want?"
"Not that jacket," Black Star laughed. Soul looked down, seeing nothing wrong with the black but ripped it off as Black Star's disapproval didn't change. He stamped over to the bureau but before he could even reach inside the captain of his guard, his best and only friend since his childhood laughed at him again. "Pick the red and gold one. It goes with your eyes."
"Oh, since when are you a lady of the court?" Soul spat back but still grabbed what he was instructed, quickly throwing it on.
"Shut up, you're already late for your own introduction." Black Star took one last private moment to look over his friend, to clear his hair from his forehead and grin. "I'll miss you once you're a married man."
"Idiot," Soul slapped his hand away before starting for the door. "Let's go. And you'll tell me all about them after so I can actually put a face to facts."
"Yeah!" Black Star skipped after him, only slowing as they hit the corner and seemed to slip into reality. He fell a few steps behind Soul, obediently in line as he should be. Soul had popped his shoulders back, standing tall as he rushed through the hallways.
Soul was caught by the steward and a few servants, suddenly moved forward not under his own power but by a whirlwind of pomp that brought him breathlessly to the opening of the great hall. His sigh was drowned out by the trumpet blare and he threw his head over his shoulder to send one last helpless glance at Black Star before starting for the thrones.
His parents, the great King and Queen were already seated, the icy rage brewing on his mother's face while his father still looked pleasantly unaware. Neither of those looks was a surprise to Soul as he slumped into his own chair. "Where the hell have you been?" his mother hissed.
Soul set unapologetic eyes to his mother's face before letting them drift back to the crowd. "Let's just get this started, please."
His mother's face stormed at him for a moment before easing into the sweet smile that always faced the court. "Announce the ladies, please."
It was exactly the parade he was expecting and while they were all different shades, at the base they were the same. Blond, brunette, ebony hair didn't change that each was coiffured perfectly. Blue, brown, hazel eyes all shone with the same giddy amusement at the idea of playing Queen. Soul found his jaw tightening with each new face, his fingernails digging into the grains of wood in the arm of the chair. He was on the verge of bursting, of screaming for the sake of his sanity when number thirteen entered.
The girl lacked the stereotypical adornments, wearing nothing more than a simple emerald dress that seemed more designed for movement than for show. Her honey-blond hair was loose at her shoulders with no pearls, diamonds, or any shine other than its natural glow. The most surprising break was the fact that her eyes refused to avert, not demurely trailing the floor but staring at him, almost daring him to look anywhere else because he was powerless in their jade brilliance. In those eyes he clearly saw it: He knew her, or at least he was supposed to. As she took her place in the line the announcement rang in his ears, "Lady Maka of Mjolnir."
Soul could have missed it since a scuffle had started at his father's side with one of the stewards but as soon as the name was called out he heard Black Star mutter, "Oh, shit." He turned his head quickly, catching the bewildered amusement on his best friend's face before he had to turn his attention back to the low whispers that were now passing to his mother.
The Queen seemed to jump at whatever news, instantly spouting out, "It's been brought to our attention that there is some question about Lady Maka and her parentage."
In front of everyone, of course, you couldn't just wait. Soul bristled for Maka, color starting to creep up his neck while he stared at his tactless mother. As he brought his eyes back to the woman in question he was surprised to still see that upturned chin, her green eyes clear of unease.
As he waited for her voice, it was Lady Marie of Mjolnir that peeked out from the crowd and spoke. "I beg your pardons, majesties. The girl's been officially adopted by the house. Her previous lineage isn't relevant."
"But she was technically a commoner, was she not?" The Queen offered back quickly without batting an eyelash.
"My Queen," Marie started but Soul was already on his feet, making her snap her lips shut.
"Lady Marie, your explanation is enough," Soul had to clench his fist tightly to keep his voice from wavering into its usual murmur. He forced the demand back again, his voice strangely booming in his head, "She'll participate just like the other girls. I'm deciding my bride, after all." As he sat he didn't dare look at his mother, instead focusing on the small crescent moons that had pressed into his palm.
"Well, you heard the prince," the Queen stumbled over the words, her eyes still focused on her son. "The potential brides are excused until this evening for the opening feast."
Soul stood, ready to shuffle out with the multitudes before his mother viciously grabbed his arm, keeping him frozen as each of the girls turned as they had come. Regardless of the rage he could feel storming behind him it was the one in front of him that had his attention. Maka's eyes still refused to leave his, but there was no sweet longing or nervousness, just a resolve that he couldn't unravel.
"My prince," Black Star slipped to his side, "if you'll excuse me."
"Go," Soul nodded.
"My pleasure." Black Star grinned before he set off after the eyes that had just left Soul so unsettled.
Black Star was trying not to bound. He rarely ran, only ever walking at a cool tempo because his speed was only necessary on the battlefield, but this was a development that had him racing. It wouldn't be prudent to grab her in the hallway so when he caught up with the gaggle he sunk to the periphery, just keeping tabs on the turns and direction of the pair of blond heads. Each step brought a new question to his mind but he knew his time was limited. Soul would be chewed out for ten minutes tops and that meant Black Star had fifteen before he'd be expected to be in Soul's quarters again.
And knowing Maka, she'd have a billion of her own with no intent on answering any of his.
Thankfully it was only a few more rooms before the two blonds slipped off behind one of the thick oak doors. Black Star was immediately behind them, both women gasping at the interruption.
"You!" Maka hissed.
"What? No, 'It's been so long, I'm so happy to see you!'?" Black Star crossed his arms as he leaned back against the door, barring any more interruptions.
"You haven't changed at all," Maka rolled her eyes as she deferred Marie.
Marie barely kept herself from mimicking Maka before she eased down onto one of the lounges. "Hello, Black Star."
"See, Lady Marie knows how to treat the captain of the prince's guard."
"Ugh, he promoted you?" Maka groaned with disgust.
"And you're Lady Maka now," he raised his eyebrows.
"That-" She cut herself off as she crossed her arms, looking less mad and more like she was suddenly trying to keep herself together. "Tell Soul thank you for standing up for me," slipped from her lips begrudgingly.
"Soul?" Black Star laughed. "You better fix that first, Lady Maka. Even I don't call him that unless it's us behind a closed door. And speaking of our prince…" His grin turned sickly.
Her green eyes were instantly boring into him, urging the answers that he didn't want to give.
"He's… not exactly the same old Soul. Not the way you remember him."
"He sounded like himself," Maka murmured.
"Let's just say that was the first time he's probably spoken out loud in court since… you know." Black Star rolled his wrist uselessly because he could see the answer drain all the color from her features. "He… doesn't remember."
Her eyes widened but her focus stayed to the floor. "What doesn't he remember?"
"Everything," his voice was low and gravely. "At first it was just what happened, then a day later he'd forgotten the past few years. Now? I don't think he remembers anything after childhood anymore. Somehow he never loses the fact of his brother's death, but I'm starting to think he's been leaving notes for himself so he has to remember."
Marie reached out her hand, letting it fall on Maka's arm but she shied away, turning her back to Black Star and moving out of Marie's grasp. "It doesn't matter. I'm here to win the position, that's all."
"To be his wife," Black Star laughed incredulously.
"To be the Queen," Maka snapped back.
Black Star's eyes settled on Marie. "What's being Queen got to do with it? What are the two of you planning?"
"The world's crumbling," Maka's voice trembled before it could catch to hold true. "It's not safe out there and the people here are pretending that there's no such thing as witches. It has to change."
Black Star had a million questions vying on his lips but he crushed them all, knowing his clock was ticking. "Alright, my Queen." He was grinning as Maka turned back to him, a frown glaring from her lips. "Wear purple. He always liked you in purple." The blush on her cheeks was priceless and Black Star used that humor to catapult him back into the hallway.
Soul was waiting, poised at the door for Black Star to enter. All of his mother's admonishments were gone from his mind, just the name running on repeat: Maka. The more he thought about it, conjuring the shape of her face, the wave of her hair, those eyes that dug deep into him, the more he knew that she was no stranger. Not to mention Black Star's reaction had been a dead giveaway and as soon as the captain walked through his door Soul was ready with the accusation, "You know her!"
"Yeah," Black Star answered, fizzling the climatic feeling that Soul was trying to hold on to. "So do you."
His stomach curled in on itself as his legs turned to jelly underneath him. He took a hard seat on the bed before letting out a forlorn sigh. "I don't. I can feel it, somewhere, but I don't."
"Well, at least you feel it," Black Star offered weakly.
"Who is she?" Soul rarely begged especially for snippets of memory because they always seemed to slip back through his fingers like sand but at the very least he could write this down, review it again and again in hopes that it would stick. "Does she remember me?"
"Oh, hell yeah she does," he laughed. "But, and I know you're going to hate me, I think you should wait and see if this comes back to you on its own."
"It never does," Soul urged back. "No matter how much I try, it's always just hazy nothing."
Black Star shook his head firmly. "Not gonna budge, man. I really have a good feeling about this. Maka was-" He held off, but that desperation on Soul's face was already starting to melt some of his reserves. "She was important to you."
Soul groaned as he fell back on the bed. "Important," he lashed viciously only with the word, his hands falling uselessly at his sides.
"What'd the Queen say?" Black Star settled into Soul's bad mood rather than veer away.
"How dare I raise my voice," Soul sighed. "And that the contests would settle on who was really the right choice, not me."
"No way," Black Star smirked. "Everyone in court heard you say it. You're choosing your princess."
Soul brought himself up on his elbows to stare incredulously at him, "Do you know how insane that is? My parents were always going to have the final say. I don't even know why the hell I spoke up in the first place."
While he could spend the next hour arguing the real reason why but Black Star only offered a shrug. "I don't know, sounds like something you should actually challenge. Maybe this is a good place to make your first stand. The first would-be King decision."
"Would-be King," Soul collapsed with another sigh.
"Think about it. In the meantime, I do have recruits to get to." Black Star took a few steps closer, leaning over the bed to look Soul in the face. "Think about it."
"You said that," he muttered as he waved Black Star off. With a snort of a laugh, he walked away, leaving Soul to sink into his bed for a few breaths. As soon as he was sure that there were no footsteps on the return, Soul rolled over on his stomach and leaned over the edge of the bed, tugging the bound book from under the mattress. He flipped through page after page, his desperate writing filling each from top to bottom, to the beginning of the book. There in the corner, glaring at him just like those jade eyes was her name as clear as day.