The Majesty of Choice

Hold

After another hour or so of Frank constantly being walked up to and asked increasingly personal questions from what feels like half of the people of Giantville, they all decide to turn in for the night. They've a long few days ahead of them, and they need to rest in order to make it through them.

Frank stays close to Gerard as they walk through the streets, the city dark, but alive, unlike Frell which usually goes to sleep before the sun even goes down. The Giants and humans of Giantville are all far livelier than the people of Frell. People there are born tired. People here are alive and vibrant, which is refreshing.

They all pile into the small little inn, with Billie looking surprised by the sudden intrusion, but he looks down quickly when he lays eyes on Frank.

Gerard keeps forgetting that Frank is royalty. He knows that Frank is royal, of course he's royal, but he just doesn't act like it. He doesn't look down on people, or if he does he's good about making amends for it. Frank is the kindest royalty the earth has ever seen, probably, and the most down to earth without a doubt. It kind of makes Gerard like him more than he already does which is saying something.

"Okay, so how are we going to divvy up the rooms?"

"Well there's only four rooms," Patrick says. "And there's eight of us."

"That's not nearly enough," Frank says, scowling slightly.

"All the rooms have two beds... sire," Billie says, looking wary about interrupting their conversation, probably because Frank is the Prince.

"Right," Frank nods, "Well then, Ryan, Alex and Travie, you'll have to share. Pete and Patrick, you two will have to share as well. Hayley gets her own room, and then me and Gerard will take the last one."

Hayley shrugs, "Travie can bunk with me, I don't mind."

"Okay," Frank nods. It makes more sense that way, he knows, but Hayley's the only girl, so he doesn't want to be presumptuous. "We need to be awake early, I want to be off just past sunrise, and allow the daylight to guide us home, so we need to be awake before dawn. Tomorrow we ride all day, so prepare for the journey, all of you."

The knights all nod courteously at Frank, and then two of them, Ryan and Travie, branch off towards the stairs. Frank follows them, so Gerard does too, and then their party is all making their way up the stairs.

Gerard follows Frank into the room that he'd been in earlier, and sees that someone has already moved all of their stuff, he doesn't know how Travie and Ryan were so quick, but it could only have been them, because only Frank and Gerard's things remain in the room. Mikey's book is still lying on the bedspread where he'd set him down earlier, and he looks at it, smiling lightly when he remembers Mikey.

"We should get rest," Frank says, "though I am not tired."

"Nor am I," Gerard replies, shrugging.

Frank nods, and he looks around, spotting his things and then digging through one of his bags quickly. Gerard watches him, he doesn't even know why he does, he just can't look away. Frank pulls a shirt from his bag, and then Gerard is turning the color of a strawberry, because Frank's pulling his tunic off over his head.

Gerard looks away, because he's a fucking idiot, but Frank's back is turned so he doesn't even know what a wimp Gerard is. Gerard can't himself though, so he peaks over, with the intent to only look for a second, but then he sees that Frank's got some black ink running up along his back which hypnotizes Gerard more than he would care to admit.

Gerard hasn't met anyone with a tattoo before, besides the man who used to own the bank in Frell. He died a few years ago, but he was the only person Gerard ever knew who was rich enough to afford it. Gerard doesn't have enough time or a good enough angle to figure out what exactly Frank has inked on him, but he knows that whatever it is, it must suit him. Come to think of it, Frank's personality suits a tattoo or two. It would be weird if he didn't have one.