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Calliope was unbothered by how bored he seemed. Not everyone enjoyed balls as she did, especially when you were constantly being pestered to dance. "I've heard both of our names thrown into the mix of their conversations and I can't help but notice that they seem to not want us to hear what they're speaking of," she explained, her gaze following Calen's to their parents. Calliope had a gut feeling they'd know soon what their parents were planning, especially with the way they kept their eyes on their children. There was no doubt in her mind that it was likely a marriage proposal. Her parents were growing old and with her being an only child, she'd be expected to take the throne sooner rather than later. Calliope knew this and was ready, but her father was adamant that she was to be wed first. Plus, uniting two kingdoms together would only increase their power and gain them allies. "Have you any ideas on what could be brewing in their minds?" She asked, her head tilted to the side for a moment before she looked to the ballroom floor. The second dance was almost at its end and it wouldn't be long before there would be people looking for a new partner. |
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Calen shrugged, "My parents love to keep secrets. I think they get some sick thrill from confusing me." He said, grabbing an apple. He told himself he needed to quit eating, but he couldn't help but remember that he had skipped lunch because of training. "I don't care to know what they are planning, as it is surely something that I won't like." Calen sighed as the dance ended and another girl walked up to him. She barely looked sixteen. She placed a slender hand on his forearm, opening her mouth to speak. Before she could ask him to dance, which he knew she was going to do, he spoke, "I'm a little busy at the moment, darling, go find someone else to dance with." He said, moving her hand off of his arm and taking a bite out of the apple. "What I would give to never attend another ball for the rest of my life." He mumbled to himself as the girl walked off, looking embarrassed. Good. Maybe it would teach her not to interrupt a conversation, if he would even call this a conversation. |
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Calliope hummed in response to the first bit of his answer. Surely his parents aren't that bad... Right? She thought to herself before refocusing on their conversation. "Now that's something I could agree with," she sighed, shaking her head. Her parents had a habit of making decisions without consulting her as well, and it almost always ended up being something she wanted no part in.
Calliope scoffed quietly at the way he turned down the young girl so harshly. "Would it kill you to turn a girl down gently? Poor thing will probably be too scared to ask anyone else to dance," she said half heartedly. She didn't truly care, of course, but she couldn't help but to comment. It was common knowledge not to interrupt two people talking. Calliope was honestly surprised the conversation had gone on as long as it had. What surprised her even more was that her mother wasn't badgering her to go dance and look for a decent suitor. |
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Calen smothered a laugh at her response. Someone is sensitive. "That was gentle. Or would you rather me express my dearest apologies that I'm not interested in dancing with a girl who is barely old enough to attend these parties?" The girl deserved it anyways. Unless they had been raised in the wilderness, everyone knew not to interrupt a conversation. Calen noticed his parents as well as Calliope's approaching them, and knew he was not going to like what they had to say. "Looks like we are about to find out what they were talking about." Calen grumbled, taking another bite of the apple. (Yikes super short) |
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(Pinky promise it's fine^^) Calliope couldn't help but let a giggle slip. Feisty. "Maybe I do. I wouldn't mind seeing a soft side," she teased, knowing it wouldn't ever happen. She groaned inwardly at the sight of their parents heading their way. "And I have a feeling I won't like it," she murmured, putting on a smile as the couples stopped before their children. "Calen. Calliope. We have some rather grand news for the two of you," her father started, instantly making her heart sink. Calliope grabbed a glass of sweet wine, taking a sip as she waited for him to continue. Calliope side eyed Calen, wondering if he'd have the same idea as she did. "We all think you two would make the most wonderful of couples," her mother stated and Calliope had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Just as she'd expected. They wanted them to court one another. "That's why we've decided to accept a proposal. One of marriage," her father finally got out the rest of the surprise. Calliopes eyes widened. That was not what she was expecting and it left her absolutely speechless. |
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Calen let out a humorless laugh, "Nice try." For the first time tonight, Calen noticed Calliope's friendly attitude disappear as their parents approached, but was quickly replaced with a smile as the drew nearer. A woman of many faces. He thought to himself, chucking the apple core into a waste bin on the far wall. Grand news. My least favorite kind of news. Calen thought, avoiding his father’s gaze that burned into him. The whole world seemed to slow when Calliope's father stopped talking. Marriage. To Calliope. He needed to hit something. Needed to do something. Anything but stay here. He clenched his hands into fists to keep from doing something he would regret later. That horrible, wretched temper flared, a burning in his chest that made him want to throw himself out a window. This was so much worse than he expected. There was no way he could convince his father to let Justine have the throne now. "Isn't it wonderful?" Calen's mother gushed, smiling from ear to ear. Calen couldn't see, couldn't hear. Marriage. He was eighteen. Barely an adult and his father had already made marriage plans for him. He bit his tongue, only to make him feel something. This ruined everything. |
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Calliope was the least bit thrilled, but she knew better than to act out in the middle of everyone. She stared her parents down who'd been waiting on some kind of response from either of them. Her normally steady hands shook as she set down the glass on a tray with a neutral expression upon her face. "Wonderful indeed! Right, Callie dear?" Her mother said in agreement. A soft hum exited her lips as a faint smile crossed her lips. Wonderful? No. "That's one way to put it, I suppose," she started, a hint of sass in her voice. "Please excuse me. I need to get some air," she told them, her voice becoming unsteady. I'm 18.. That's way to young to be thinking of this. I thought I had more time. She spared one last glance up at Calen before leaving, not giving her parents the chance to stop her. Calliope knew if she stayed any longer she'd lose her composure and she didn't want that to happen. She found herself in the gardens, not stopping until she was away from the crowd. |
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Calen watched as Calliope left, her mask finally slipping, only slightly. He wished he could leave as well, as he thought he would combust if he stayed here any longer, but he didn't want his parents making any assumptions. "That was odd." Calliope's mother said, her slender face drawn into a frown. "She'll come around eventually." Calen's mother said, looking up to his father, her face slightly disturbed. Yes, let's just pretend like I'm not here. Both sets of parents departed, his father casting a glare back at him that told him everything. Get yourself together before I throttle you. Calen glared right back, not looking away until his father dropped his gaze. He was defiently going to be punished in some form when he got home. If this wasn't already punishment enough. Calen scrubbed his face with a hand, trying to come to terms with what had just happened. There was no way he could get off the throne now. Not when his parents had already made these plans. As much as Calen didn't want too, he needed to go find Calliope and see what she made of this mess. He forced his feet to start moving as he exited the ballroom, looking in the most obvious place she would have went to avoid the the crowd. He found her in the gardens, the moon bright in the sky. Then he stopped. What was he even going to say? Nothing either of them said could make anything better. Anger coursed through him again as he turned and left, running his hands through his hair, trying to stomp down his temper before he destoryed something. |
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Calliope couldn't believe that their parents had just assumed that they'd be fine with such an arrangement. They were both so young- so far away from actually having to rule. Not to mention, she could see the anger that coursed through Calen. She even felt bad for leaving him there with them, especially since they were expected to be happy and he wasn't the cheeriest of all people. She stared up at the stars, cursing quietly as her eyes threatened to let tears flow down her face. She stiffened as she heard the sound of footsteps, trying to compose herself until she heard them receding as well. Odd. As she turned around she identified the figure as her apparent husband-to-be. "Calen?" She muttered to herself, starting after him. Did he come looking for her? And why did he stop?
Her short legs worked hard to catch up, though she was unsure what she'd even say or do once she did. "Calen?" She said once more, this time louder to catch his attention. "Please, slow down," she pleaded, surprising herself by her tone. He still looked angry, but she couldn't blame him. She was sure she looked rather distraught and upset herself. There wasn't any hiding it at that point. |
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Calen stormed through the corridors, needing to be anywhere but near his parents. He didn't know why he went to find Calliope. He wasn't going to say anything that was going to help anyway. It didn't matter what they said or who they said it to, it wouldn't change anything. The only sound was his own footsteps on the stone floor, until a voice echoed through the corridor, followed by smaller, quicker footsteps. Calen heard Calliope calling her him, asking him to slow down. Just for spite, he sped up slightly. He knew she had nothing to do with this, but anger clouded his mind as he clenched and unclenched his fists. Calen kept walking, having no idea where he was going. He had never been farther than the ballroom, and knew it was easy to get lost, but he didn't think about that as he turned the corner, his ears ringing. |
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Fall 
Night 
Clear Moon: 
