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lonespark"I don't care very much about what I wear. I mean, I like to look good. But there are all these... intricacies of style, and details about clothes that I never really..." Prince Harrow trailed off, stopping to stare curiously at Viren, who was staring at the contents of the prince's armoire, utterly enraptured. He was rubbing a tunic sleeve between his fingers, with an expression of sensual delight on his face.
Harrow found himself wishing Viren would react to him with the same hopeful infatuation he was directing at the silk and finely-crafted embroidery. He quashed the annoyance, reminding himself that Viren had come to the castle with nothing to call his own. The garments all the mage apprentices worse were simple, black tunics and pants embroidered with symbols of the primal sources and the uneven towers. They seemed flattering enough that Viren cut a striking figure alone or in a crowd.
Yet Viren had grown at least a foot in the years since his arrival, and filled out even more from that skittish urchin with hollow cheeks, haunted eyes, and furtive glances. He had reacted with distrust and unease to Harrow's initial overtures of companionship, and Harrow had felt foolish and regretful when he came to understand why. Not to mention angry at the people who had given Viren good reason to react that way.
Harrow had never had many friends, let alone close companions, and none who didn't share the privileges of nobility. He was constantly coming up short in understanding everything Viren had missed out on. He had also made missteps in trying to give Viren gifts or favors. The slightest whiff of charity or pity would turn Viren into a creature of bitter sarcasm and icy politeness, making time spent together unpleasant until Harrow apologized profusely and Viren had time to warm to the idea of forgiving him. This time Harrow thought he had an idea to their mutual benefit, but he knew he should tread carefully.
"We could go shopping!" Viren's response was a puzzled frown, which wasnt encouraging, but Harrow pressed on. "I mean, I would like it if you would come with me to buy clothes. You have good advice about fashion, so I would appreciate it. Or if you don't want to go into the city I could call for the tailors here..."
Viren blinked at him as though trying to fit his words into a puzzle to make sense of them.
"Don't you..." he gestured at the clothes on display. "Don't you have enough already?"
"Well those are... most of those are getting too small." That was more true than not. "So I need to get bigger clothes, and clothes for some special occasions. You could get clothes, too."
"How would I get clothes? I don't have any money."
Harrow pressed his lips together, considering how likely this was to fail. "Viren, I can... I can get you anything you want. No one even asks me for money. My parents work it out. I could help you get new clothes if you want. If it's a gift you would accept. I'd like to. If it would make you happy. You should have nice things and..."
"What?"
"I was just going to say you would look very handsome. But that's... not really an important thing. I mean, I like you anyway." Harrow had to resist the urge to smack his own forehead. He had stepped on a trap and compounded it by implying Viren would be ugly without new clothes. He glanced quickly at Viren's face to gauge his displeasure.
Viren didn't seem perturbed. He patted Harrow's elbow reassuringly. "I like to look handsome. I just don't want that to be the only thing anyone cares about. I know you're not like that. And I want to have... a real choice about it." His hand had stopped moving, coming to rest on Harrow's arm, squeezing gently. The prince's heartbeat quickened and he beamed at Viren.
"Of course! I'm so glad you'll come." Harrow rested his hand against Viren's back for a moment, and Viren didn't pull away. It was already one of the happiest days Harrow's life.
Harrow found himself wishing Viren would react to him with the same hopeful infatuation he was directing at the silk and finely-crafted embroidery. He quashed the annoyance, reminding himself that Viren had come to the castle with nothing to call his own. The garments all the mage apprentices worse were simple, black tunics and pants embroidered with symbols of the primal sources and the uneven towers. They seemed flattering enough that Viren cut a striking figure alone or in a crowd.
Yet Viren had grown at least a foot in the years since his arrival, and filled out even more from that skittish urchin with hollow cheeks, haunted eyes, and furtive glances. He had reacted with distrust and unease to Harrow's initial overtures of companionship, and Harrow had felt foolish and regretful when he came to understand why. Not to mention angry at the people who had given Viren good reason to react that way.
Harrow had never had many friends, let alone close companions, and none who didn't share the privileges of nobility. He was constantly coming up short in understanding everything Viren had missed out on. He had also made missteps in trying to give Viren gifts or favors. The slightest whiff of charity or pity would turn Viren into a creature of bitter sarcasm and icy politeness, making time spent together unpleasant until Harrow apologized profusely and Viren had time to warm to the idea of forgiving him. This time Harrow thought he had an idea to their mutual benefit, but he knew he should tread carefully.
"We could go shopping!" Viren's response was a puzzled frown, which wasnt encouraging, but Harrow pressed on. "I mean, I would like it if you would come with me to buy clothes. You have good advice about fashion, so I would appreciate it. Or if you don't want to go into the city I could call for the tailors here..."
Viren blinked at him as though trying to fit his words into a puzzle to make sense of them.
"Don't you..." he gestured at the clothes on display. "Don't you have enough already?"
"Well those are... most of those are getting too small." That was more true than not. "So I need to get bigger clothes, and clothes for some special occasions. You could get clothes, too."
"How would I get clothes? I don't have any money."
Harrow pressed his lips together, considering how likely this was to fail. "Viren, I can... I can get you anything you want. No one even asks me for money. My parents work it out. I could help you get new clothes if you want. If it's a gift you would accept. I'd like to. If it would make you happy. You should have nice things and..."
"What?"
"I was just going to say you would look very handsome. But that's... not really an important thing. I mean, I like you anyway." Harrow had to resist the urge to smack his own forehead. He had stepped on a trap and compounded it by implying Viren would be ugly without new clothes. He glanced quickly at Viren's face to gauge his displeasure.
Viren didn't seem perturbed. He patted Harrow's elbow reassuringly. "I like to look handsome. I just don't want that to be the only thing anyone cares about. I know you're not like that. And I want to have... a real choice about it." His hand had stopped moving, coming to rest on Harrow's arm, squeezing gently. The prince's heartbeat quickened and he beamed at Viren.
"Of course! I'm so glad you'll come." Harrow rested his hand against Viren's back for a moment, and Viren didn't pull away. It was already one of the happiest days Harrow's life.
