Of Kings and Queens

Part II/14/Concrete/

•June, 29th•

Oliver stared at the side of her head. His heart thumped. She was breathtaking.

His mother snapped her fingers. "What are you?-" She trailed off as she spotted who he was looking at. A look of thunder crossed her face. "Alicia?" It was so quiet he almost missed it. "No... It can't be." His mother looked furious. Either at the person she thought she saw, or herself for thinking she saw someone who died a long time ago.

"Oliver, is she a..." From the tone, he picked up what was left unsaid. Dar Daden.

"No, mother. A nameless." Oliver stated, feigning disinterest. He looked at his mother as he spoke, "She's... The Braxtons' newest stray. Her and her brother- Peregrine, I believe. I met him briefly in Avarice Academy."

She still kept her eyes on Robin even as she took a delicate sip out of her champagne glass. She's not even listening to him, he thought.

"They go to Avarice Academy. I met her brother Peregrine, there." He repeated.

"No need to repeat yourself, Oliver. Roscoes never repeat themselves for someone else." She scolded. She paused thoughtfully, and he didn't trust the look on her face one bit, "Stay away from that one, Oliver. She is trouble, and we do not need any more shame on the Roscoe name."

He bowed his head and nodded submissively.

•••

Robin felt eyes on her, and it was unnerving.

Bill scoffed. "What does he think he's doing here?" It was more of a statement, as if it was rhetorical.

She knew he didn't want to hear it, and she knew she shouldn't have said anything, but she had an undeniable need to snap back. She couldn't understand begin to understand why she defended him. "He had just the same amount of rights to come as you, William." She corrected him in a clipped tone. He didn't appreciate it.

A few minutes later Bill was still brooding over Oliver's presence.

Robin rolled her eyes at Bill's childishness and, even though she told herself not to, she turned to head over to Oliver. Bill saw her and quickly grabbed her arm. "Don't," His eyes were wide. Only a born-nameless would think they could just stroll up to a Roscoe and just start talking to them.

She looked down slowly at his grip on her lower bicep. She smiled somewhat-maliciously and leaned towards him. He was confused.

She whispered into his ear softly, "You don't own me, and don't forget that." He felt her warm breath on the shell of his ear and his cheeks flamed, now ashamed. Her dress swished magnificently when she turned, creating a breeze with the many layers of fine silk.

Robin walked over to where Bill's mother was sipping a clear drink and didn't look back at the pair of boys staring at her retreating form.

Perry chortled, but tried to cover it with a cough. Perry clapped Bill on the back, "She's a lady and she knows. So you better treat her like one." His words were proud, but there was a tilt to his voice that Bill couldn't have missed even if he'd tried.

Bill's expression soured.

•••

She gravitated towards him with the light crowd of stuck up royalty. She stuck close to Bill's mother; she had warned Robin to be careful. When Christina finally stopped for more than five-minutes she finally stood in front of Mrs. Roscoe. But by then, half the people in the room were staring and whispering.

•••

Oliver's eyes went as wide as saucers. "Ah, finally. Julia." Her accent was strong when she said Mrs. Roscoes' name. "It is so good to see you again. This must be your son?" She smiled at him. It was fake, but then again, so was the dazzling smile he shot back.

"Oliver Roscoe. Pleasure to meet your acquaintance."

Robin stared at him.

He kissed Bill's mother's knuckles with such delicate grace, she was momentarily mesmerised. He looked up afterwards and his eyes locked on hers. She couldn't look away. He was a magnet. The only thing holding her down.

•••

He couldn't look away. She was his magnet. She was the only thing keeping him afloat. He caught that train of thought before he started feeling things, in an environment where everyone is looking for your weakness. If they knew she was his, she'd be dead meat among the socialites. He thought himself pathetic and a fool, at that moment.

His mother cleared her throat at him, "Christina?"

Oliver intervened, "This must be your latest house guest, Robin Dar Calzone." He held out his hand for hers, "Pleasure to meet you too." He said politely. Years of practicing to care were finally paying off.

There was a flash of sadness in her eyes and a trace of betrayal was set in her fake smile. He pretended not to know her because she was what everyone called a 'born-nameless'. Robin decided to use what little Descendant skills she learned since finding out.

"Oh, believe me, the pleasure is all mine." Robin spoke sickeningly sweetly. Thousands of thoughts flittered through her mind. Some along the lines of how foolish she was to think he was okay, and hundreds more all ranging through heartbreak to pity and back to anger.

The two mothers clucked away together in friendly tones and they both stared the other in the eye. Her eyes narrowed, his eyes pleading her to understand. But her lack of practice, -The art form of reading people that Descendant children have down before the age of six- and her otherwise just obliviousness made it impossible for her to comprehend what he was trying to convey discreetly.

He needed to talk to her. He needed an excuse his mother would think nothing of. "May I offer you a beverage, Miss?" He said politely, offering her his arm.

Robin took his arm cautiously, "Please and thank you."