Author's note: An Irken year is 19 months long, or 570 local days.
This fic deals with very dark subject matter like domestic violence, abuse, self harm, and has mentions of suicidal ideation and noncon. No depictions of the latter.
Day Zero
The party was absolutely bustling. Loud music was playing, throngs of expensively dressed irkens danced and drank and laughed together, but at one corner of the event, the center of attention, Meva, tried desperately to ward off suitors.
She had twenty, thirty- oh she couldn't count them all, so many men and women trying to get her attention and get her to talk to them!
"Please, can we- can I-" She kept trying to get words in, but they kept talking over her.
"Your highness, maybe we can go to the docks and talk there?" One green eyed man excitedly proclaimed.
"Oh I-" She tried to step back but she couldn't, she was already pressed up against the back wall.
"Would you like a drink?" A man with yellow eyes asked.
"My dress, you're stepping on my-"
"Would you like hors d'oeuvres?" A woman asked, holding up a plate in front of her.
"No thank you, see I want-" She resorted to tugging on the fabric to get him to step off her dress, wincing as she did. She didn't want to tear it, but his shoes were surely getting it dirty.. It worked, but he didn't even apologize.
"How about dinner next week?" A different man spoke up.
Meva cringed at him, he looked so old, thrice her age even!
"No thank you! Please I just-"
"Well why not?" He asked again, looking irritated at her rebuffing of his advances. "I have reservations at Korekh Tai!"
"I don't much care for their food, sir-"
"Well what about Orlin's?" That yellow eyed man spoke again, and Meva frowned at him in annoyance.
"No!"
"What do you mean, no!?"
"Don't listen to them," a regal looking woman said, "Seveti is the scene these days."
"Please, please I simply must ask that-"
"Give her highness some space!" A loud voice boomed across the small crowd, and everyone froze. "By the tallests, excuse my words your highness- are you people animals? Don't you see she needs some room?"
Meva turned to look at the man speaking. He was tall, taller than her, with deep red eyes and wearing a luxurious gold and red tunic. He smiled at her softly as he approached, ashamed irkens making their way for him to pass.
"Are you alright, your highness?"
"I'm fine, thank you, sir."
"Can I escort you away from here?"
She raised a brow at that. He must be another interested man, he was asking her something similar… but he was respecting her personal space, and it did sound like an honest offer of help.
"Well… Alright," she said tentatively. "Just an escort, nothing more!"
"Of course, your highness," he said with a small bow.
"Oh come on!" The yellow eyed man grumbled. "That isn't fair!"
"Well, maybe next time you should act more your status." Meva spoke back sternly. In an impulsive act of spite, she wrapped her arm around the stranger's, stepping right up to him in the process. "Please sir," she spoke loudly, making sure to glare at everyone around her, especially that creep, "An escort is much appreciated."
He smiled at her, a rather dashing smile, she thought. His eyes flickered towards the balcony then back at her, and she nodded. It was quiet over there, as the night air was a bit cold.
"Excuse us." He spoke loudly again, and the crowd parted for them to pass together, as he walked her to the balcony.
They passed many irritated looking faces, but Meva didn't pay them any mind at all, all she cared about was that she had some peace and quiet. She didn't care if they were irritated with that, clearly that was their problem, she thought.
"Here you are, your highness." The man spoke smoothly as he pulled back his arm and stepped away from her politely. "It was a pleasure to accompany you tonight, even if it was only briefly." He bowed again, then turned to step away, making sure he walked slowly.
"No, well- please, wait a moment."
"Yes?" He turned around swiftly, a confused expression on his face.
"I- well, would you like to stay for a moment?" She turned to look at the guard standing by the balcony door. "I could close the doors… We could have some quiet."
"Are you sure, your highness? I don't want to intrude any further."
"No, no. It's alright, it really is. I mean, if you don't want to."
"Your highness," he grinned, "I wouldn't dream of turning down such an offer."
Meva giggled, and with a flick of the wrist she had commanded the guard to shut the door, leaving them alone, and at peace on the balcony.
"So, um…" She blushed, realizing she didn't even know what to say. "Uh… What's your name, s-sir?"
The man smiled and then bowed deeply to her.
"Lord Chosaolkei Ngaozhik… At your service, your highness." He stood back up swiftly, flashing another dashing grin at her.
She couldn't help the small giggle that bubbled up unwillingly from her chest. She tried to cover her mouth to stifle it, but it didn't quite work.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir Ngaozhik."
"The pleasure is all mine, truly."
She blushed again. Meva didn't understand what was wrong with her. She wasn't like this with the other partygoers… And to her, this man seemed older. She figured that he must think she is a fool stammering all over herself right now.
"So, your highness," he said. "Might I ask why you weren't out here before? That party was… Awfully wild for a young lady such as yourself."
"Oh, well, it's cold out here." She chuckled and rubbed her bare arms in a joking manner. "And I really wanted to…" Her face burned, she could feel it.
"Really wanted to…?"
"Well the- the whole point of this was to, um, meet someone… And I sort of- well, I was hoping to…" She sighed. "But I got that. I suppose I'm not sure what I expected."
Cho shrugged then leaned casually on the balcony railing.
"Some irkens can be such animals, forgive my language."
"No, it's alright… I mean look!" She gestured down towards a brown spot on the bottom of her blue dress. "Someone stepped on my dress! And he didn't even get off!"
"How barbaric! How could anyone disrespect you this way!"
"I- Right? Ugh! It's so…"
"Frustrating?" he offered, a look of pity on his face.
"Yes, that. I just wanted a nice night… And now I'm cold and my favorite dress is dirty…"
"I'm sorry about your dress, your highness, but if I may," he said as he unclasped the cloak he was wearing, "I could assist with the cold?"
She blinked at him in surprise. How sweet, she thought. She could feel a shiver coming on, so she finally nodded and he stepped forward, gently draping the cloak around her shoulders.
"Thank you…"
Cho smiled, giving a slight bow as he took a step back to allow her personal space once more.
"Of course, your highness," he said matter of factly.
For a moment, they stood in awkward silence, Cho looking over the side of the balcony at the sea and distant skyline of the city across the bay. It was a beautiful evening. There were even a few stars visible in the night sky. Only the brightest ones of course, but it was a rare and welcome sight to see.
"Why did you come tonight?" She finally forced herself to speak.
"Well…" he chuckled. "Please don't get offended, your highness, but I enjoy going to events. I didn't come here to court you, if that's what you're worried about."
"Oh." She didn't know why, but that answer both relieved and disappointed her. "So did you like the party?"
"A bit rowdy for my tastes, honestly."
"Mine too," she said blushing again. She lamented that she couldn't seem to get herself under control! He was just so- so-
Looking at his face closely, she finally noticed something. A small piece of jewelry on his left antenna. She gasped at how stupid she was to not have noticed before.
"You're married."
"What?" He looked at her confused, then glanced upwards as if he could see his own antenna. "Oh." He grimaced. "No. No, I um… I'm sorry, I still wear it, but I uh… I'm a widower."
Her heart sank and she realized she had made a terrible mistake.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! Please forgive me for assuming…"
"No, no! It's alright. Honestly, I should have stopped wearing it years ago but, I just- I couldn't bring myself to." He looked away from her, a face lined with sorrow and heartbreak. "It was just so sudden."
Meva took a step closer to him without even realizing it.
"What happened? I-I mean, I don't mean to intrude, but-"
"Murder." His voice cracked as he said it. "She was much too young. I was… Our boys were. So I- forgive me that I'm still quite the sentimental type."
"No! No- I think that's very sweet." Meva smiled at him sadly. "I'm sure she would be happy to know how much you still care. You… You have sons?"
"Two boys, still so young. I doubt my youngest even remembers her…"
Meva felt her heart break.
"Oh goodness, and you've been all alone? Them all alone?"
"Yes- er, please forgive me, this is quite difficult to talk about." He turned away from her to wipe away the wetness in his eyes.
"I'm so sorry, um, uh, we could talk about something else?" She wanted so badly to fix this mistake, anything to make him not look so miserable. She wanted to see that smile again, as selfish as that was.
"Yes please, that- that would be much appreciated." He managed to choke out.
"Alright, um…" She screamed at herself internally to think, think! "What do you like to do for fun?" She blurted out. Oh fuck, that was a stupid thing to say after the conversation they just had! But luckily, he simply smiled at her, and she felt such relief to see it.
"What a good change of pace, aha… I like to read. I like sailing, and I like building spaceships."
She gasped softly.
"You build ships? Are you an engineer?" Thank goodness, they were moving on from that grief, she thought. Poor man…
"No, no," he chuckled, "I own a shipyard. I like getting things done, is all. Being productive."
"I see… What kind of ships do you build? Well, have built?"
"Mostly leisure ships and transport." He made a sour face. "I prefer to stay away from warships."
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Really? That's… Well I must say that's a pleasant surprise to me."
"It is? I think most would say that's a cowardice way of thinking." He said sadly.
"No, not at all! Anyone… Anyone that thinks that war is the only answer is a coward themselves!" She said firmly.
"Oh, absolutely agreed, your majesty. Why would I want to bring in more death and destruction? There's plenty of it already."
"Yes there is," she frowned, "When I am tallest… I'm going to change it. For the better."
"Will you now?"
"I am!" she said firmly. "If you don't believe me then-"
'No, I do," he raised his hands in a placating manner and smiled at her. "I believe you, I think you'll do great things one day, as Tallest."
"Thank you…" She looked down with a slight blush while she picked at the fabric of her skirt. "Most people don't like my ideas. All the advisors and stuff say I'm being foolish."
"I don't think you're foolish, your majesty. Although this would be a tough thing to accomplish with the support of the people."
"I know that… I can't help but try though, right?"
Cho smiled warmly and nodded. "Indeed you can. Better than if you do nothing at all."
"Yes, I-I think so! I don't want to be someone that does nothing…" She frowned and continued softly. "My father- I love him so much, but he has often stepped back and allowed the advisors to make the calls. Especially since what happened. I don't want to be a ruler like that."
"I'm sure you will do your best, but of course, ruling isn't always easy," he said with a mild tone of warning.
"Oh I know that, but I still want to do my best."
"Of course, your majesty."
The two of them fell into an awkward silence for a moment, but Meva found it kind of nice. He wasn't pressing her for personal information, getting too close, or gawking at her. He was polite, kind, caring… He was different.
"So," she started, "ship building. You must have a lot of opinions on all those newfangled ships and things."
"I do."
"I must admit, I have… lost some trust for them since- yeah. B-but I still find the industry fascinating!"
"It is- and can I just say, my condolences for your loss. I understand if this topic is difficult for you-"
"No no! No, not at all," she shook her head in defiance. "I promise it's fine. In all honesty, I was afraid of them at first, but I'm gaining my confidence in them again. I've even been thinking of getting the new Tumaormi 43."
"Oh no! Excuse my disagreement, your highness, but in my opinion, that ship is just- the engine is lacking, it only has five stabilizers rather than the new standard of seven, I must protest! A lady as fine as you deserves something much better."
She blushed at his compliment, and took a small step forward before speaking softly.
"Well… I don't know that much about ships- at least not as much as you must, clearly. Maybe…" Her blush deepened. "Maybe you can suggest more to me? Sometime? It's getting late, but I-I would love to know what might suit me better. That is- if you'd like to tell me."
He grinned, and Meva felt like her knees went weak. Goodness, it was a very handsome smile indeed, she thought.
"I would be honored. How would you like me to…?"
"Um, maybe- uh- are you f-free next week?" She felt so silly. She hadn't ever done this before so she wasn't even sure if she was doing it right.
"For you, I am most certainly free."
She giggled nervously at his response, pulling at the fabric of her dress as she thought of what to say next.
"How about Laikoin? At seven?"
"For just a meeting? Or would you be opposed to dinner?"
"Oh…" She could feel how badly she was blushing now. How warm her face was. "Yes- I mean no! No, I am not opposed at all!"
The gentleman smiled at her and nodded. "Dinner it is. It was lovely meeting you, your highness."
He bowed again before he turned and left.