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[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Get off me dude, you still smell.
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes | Elian Abrantes

Aurelian chuckled, a low sound tinged with wry amusement. "Terrible timing, I know," he admitted, his smile a blend of apology and charm. "You're absolutely right. I should have asked you properly, somewhere with decent wine, away from all the banging and shouting..."

He stood straighter, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "I'll make it up to you. Dinner," he promised, "a real one, no tricks, no fighting. I'll even let you choose the place, though I reserve the right to veto anything with too much candlelight and violins. I wouldn't want you to think I'm that predictable." His gaze softened as he looked at her. "Though, honestly, I'd put up with a dozen of Elian's schemes just to see that look on your face again."

The moment stretched, then the corridor door burst open, Elian's voice flooding the space. The spell broke. The boy threw himself at them, a whirlwind of sweat, soap, and triumph.

"Shiraya, Elian!" Aurelian yelped, half laughing, half protesting, trying to disentangle himself from the damp embrace. "You reek of victory and poor choices." He gave the boy a light push, feigning annoyance, though pride gleamed in his eyes.

"Still," Aurelian said, nodding towards Elian, "a draw against The Hammer? I have to admit, I didn't think you'd last three rounds. You've got guts, I'll give you that."

His tone shifted, the humor fading to a sharper edge. "But don't make a habit of this. Theed is not Parrlay. These aren't training matches or tavern scuffles. The men here fight for money, not honor, and they'll crush you if you underestimate them." His gaze was steady. "You're skilled, Elian. Don't waste it by trying to prove yourself before you're truly ready."

​

 

[Elian Abrantes]

Sibylla Abrantes Aurelian Veruna
​

Elian yelped, immediately ducking his head and laughing as he tried to twist out of her grasp. "Ow, ow, hey! Easy on the ear, easy! You're gonna ruin my charming features!" He rubbed his ear dramatically, grinning all the same. "Maker, you sound just like Mom." he teased, earning himself a glare that could have lit up the whole of Theed.

"And that wasn't a prank!?" Elian said with much sincerity. "I booked the reserveation and it was the perfect thing to make sure you guys weren't here? But also, why are you both here, what happened?!" Elian wasn't a complete idiot, something must've gone wrong with the reservations or something. "Well, whatever happened, don't worry. I will make it up to you both!" He gave a big smile and mischievious grin on his face. "Leave it all to me!"

Elian then blinked at Aurelian, caught somewhere between sheepish and amused his grin faltered, but only for a heartbeat. He could feel the weight in Aurelian's voice, the subtle shift from jest to genuine concern. For all his easy charm and reckless bravado, he wasn't deaf to that tone.

"Yeah…" he started, rubbing at the back of his neck with one gloved hand, the smile softening into something smaller. "I know." He glanced down, his reflection faintly warped in the polished floor. "It's just..." he exhaled, trying to find the words through the leftover adrenaline. "Sometimes I get tired of being the one everyone thinks can't handle himself, you know?" And he spoke again right after that, not defensive, just earnest. "No, I know you all mean well. Cassian with his honor, you with your...." he motioned vaguely to her scolding posture. "Diplomatic execution attempts. But it's hard to sit back and be the youngest, the one everyone protects, when I know I've got something to prove too."

"Oh, come on." Elian said, slinging an arm across both their shoulders, ignoring Sibylla's groan of protest. Elian trying his damndest to move away from all the heavy talk. "You both worry too much. Look at us no broken bones, no scandal, no guards dragging me off. I'd call that a good night."

Elian looked between them, bruised, buoyant, and utterly unbothered. "Look I may be impossible." he said, his grin turning boyish again, "But admit it, I make life interesting." Elian grinned wider, tugging them both a little closer as they walked. "And yet." he said cheerfully, "You're both still here. Must be doing something right."

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

​

Location: We are going home.
Elian Abrantes Aurelian Veruna

Needless to say, the way Sibylla's brows shot upward as Elian babbled his confession, confirming he had had the nerve to book the dinner -- their dinner -- just to keep them distracted while he pursued whatever harebrained scheme he'd cooked up.

The glower that settled on her face was nothing short of royal wrath.

"No. No making up," she said firmly, her tone brooking no argument. "You are going straight to the Royal medic to have your injuries tended." When Elian opened his mouth, Sibylla raised a hand to cut him off with a gesture that made aides and senators alike go silent.

"No. You have no say in the matter. If you're hungry, you'll eat at the palace after I receive a clean bill of health... especially in the event of a concussion. I'll send word to father that you are staying with me." Then her eyes narrowed, "And as for scandal, Shiraya help you if this gets out. You are lucky no one's identified us so far."

Deciding that she had tempted fate and the scandal sheets enough, Sibylla made a gesture towards the exit.

"Come along. We're leaving. I sent word to Corde to pick us up in an unmarked airspeeder."

When she turned back to Aurelian, her composure softened if only slightly. His earlier teasing and sincere words still lingered in her mind. Dinner. No tricks. No fighting. And though, honestly, I'd put up with a dozen of Elian's schemes just to see that look on your face again.

Blast him. The faint pink still lingered across her cheeks, and she tried, tried, to maintain her scowl.

Aurelian said he'd make it up to her. Dinner, wherever she chose. For a brief moment, an impish thought percolated with temptation. If she had to plan it, it would serve him right for it to be somewhere like McYoda's or Yum Bunnies. The image of Aurelian Veruna seated in a plastoid booth, trying to look dignified over a greasy burger and fries, nearly broke her resolve to stay annoyed.

Still, she straightened and tried her best to provide a calmer response for their departure.

"I apologize for the interruption my younger brother's schemes created on your night," she said as she arched a brow toward Elian, and the pointed look she gave her brother could have felled a Hutt.

"And it won't happen again. Correct?"

 

[Elian Abrantes]

Sibylla Abrantes Aurelian Veruna​

"Right." he muttered after a long beat, eyes dropping to the floor. "Royal medic. Got it." He rubbed at the back of his neck, trying to force a smile that never quite made it. "Guess I can't argue with that one."

Elian sighed, shoulders slumping as he followed, towel dragging against his neck. Every instinct told him to crack a joke, to ease the tension, but one look at Sibylla's rigid posture silenced him. He could tell he'd already pushed enough for one night.


As they neared the door, he risked another look her way the way her expression softened when she spoke to Aurelian, the faint pink still ghosting her cheeks. Despite everything, he couldn't help the small flicker of warmth that rose in his chest. He'd messed up, sure, but if his chaos had somehow nudged them closer together, maybe it hadn't all been for nothing.

"And it won't happen again. Correct?"

Elian straightened a little, gave a quiet, reluctant nod. "Yeah." he said, voice softer this time, sincere despite the weariness tugging at his grin. "Correct."


He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, eyes flicking between her and Aurelian. "Didn't mean to upset you, Sib. Really. Next time I'll… think before I pull something like that."


Then, because he couldn't resist at least one spark of his usual charm, he added under his breath, "Maybe...."

End Thread​