the_lioness | (no subject)

(no subject)

"I have had it up to HERE with that man's supercilious remarks!"

Face red and temper in full swing, Alanna storms back into their palace quarters, kicking the door closed behind her. Clad in formal scarlet and gold, she bristles, everything about her bright. Indulging herself, she kicks a chair as she unbuckles her sword.

"I do not care if we go to war with his country because of it, but if he gives me such attitude again, I'll kill him."

Looking up, she sees Adam and manages a smile that doesn't look like a grimace.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Adam looks up from the book he was (actually, for once) reading, and waits a minute before smiling back.

"It's probably not the best of ideas to go about threatening the death of foreign leaders."

"Not a leader, only a lackey sent to do his emperor's bidding."

Sticking her chin out, Alanna saunters forward with something like a leer.

"I'm not sure we wish to ally ourselves," she says sweetly, "with a country that sends weak willed women to war rather than keep them in the bedroom where they belong."

At that, she strokes her hand down Adam's arm and growls when she reaches his fingers.

"I detest him."

He squeezes his hand around hers, and pulls her down into a kiss, rough.

"You're 10 times the woman he'll ever be. Or have."

There's a quick, startled laugh that is quickly stifled as she kisses him back, fingers clutching.

"I wish," she gasps, eyes still flashing, "that I had thought to tell him that."

"What DID You tell him?"

"That sending even the most simpering court lady to meet our enemies would make more sense than filling our armies with barnyard animals and asking pigs to conduct our diplomacy?"

Flushing, she bites her lip.

". . . .and Jon wishes to keep you on in this position?"

Groaning, she rests her forehead on his shoulder.

"He'll kill me. On the plus side, it will only serve to remind him why he made me Champion in the first place. Of course, I will be too dead for that do any good, but at least he will remember why it's better to let Gary handle the diplomats."

"What'll that leave you to do?"

She frowns, straightening, and picks absently at his collar.

"There's plenty for me to do. Organizing the distribution of food, training the pages and squires, assisting the healers..." Her eyes narrow. "I'm not entirely useless around the palace, you know."

He leans into the touch and tries for a smile.

"I didn't mean to imply that you were useless. It's simply that, if this is what Jon wanted you to try..."

The frown deepens.

"If it's what he truly wishes, I shall learn to control my tongue. However, I think he was simply shorthanded."

She brushes his hair back, worry settling low in her stomach. What if it is what Jon intended?

Nervously, "I'll be leaving for Japan soon, anyway."

"Right."

"Right," she repeats in a dull voice. "So it's not really an issue."

"Mmm."

Adam nods, distractedly, and closes his eyes, trying to breathe.

"What's the matter?"

Breath catching, she curses herself for sounding defensive.

"It's not worth going over again."

"It's not?" Her voice rises a little at the last. "But you're upset. I don't-Because of Japan?"

She touches his face, trying to get him to look at her.

Not yet -- the floor's far too interesting.

"I'll wait here for you."

"You don't want to come back with me and say goodbye?"

Not nearly as fascinating as the ceiling.

He shrugs, lightly.

Alanna nods, even though she knows he won't see it.

"I'll be fine, Adam. Promise. And then I'll be by your side for the duration."

Even as she says that, she smiles. Such thoughts would have terrified her a year ago, but they no longer do. In fact, she's looking forward to it. She knows that however long it takes, he'll never ask her to stop being anyone but herself, and there's still plenty of trouble to get into close to home.

He sighs and nods, eyes still closed.

"Just-"

"Just?"

Lowering her gaze from the ceiling, she bites her lip.

"Come back safe, s'all."