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it was in fact a very bold offer,   but cicero was very confident in his abilities,   despite being the one with less experience on horseback .   though losing to ailith wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing,   it's not like the general would request something absurd .   .. right ?   the consorted trusted him enough to choose something acceptable .  ❛⠀ sounds more than fair,  sounds like you're going to lose . ⠀❜  another taunt as he lined up next to ailith,   straightening his posture some more and relaxing his shoulders .   that shouldn't be too hard,   but then again,  buttons was practically bred for this type of thing,   hella was too,   to a degree .   but definitely not at the same level as hella was a lot lighter to accommodate the consort,   but maybe her light weight would actually be their advantage . 

[   @faeconsort   ✶   STILL  IN  DENIAL  :      “   you  can  sleep  in  it  if  you  win,    but  know  that  i  won't  be  leaving  it,   ”      the  general  spoke  with  a  coy  tone,     dark  eyes  sparkling  with  anticipation.    ailith  listened  to  cicero's  suggestions,    a  hum  sounding  in  his  throat  as  he  pondered  over  them.    he  could  do  whatever  he  wanted──    such  a  bold  offer,    of  course  he  would  take  it.    as  hella  and  cicero  walked  around  him,    he  kept  his  eyes  on  the  consort,    though  he  did  not  turn  whenever  he  circled  behind  him.    the  tension  was  thick  enough  to  cut  from  the  air,    that  was  certain.    ailith  let  out  a  chuckle  at  cicero's  question,      “   are  / you /  prepared  to  lose?   ”      the  general  raised  an  arm  to  point  toward  a  tree  in  the  distance,      “   you  see  that  red  maple  just  over  there?    whoever  can  reach  there  and  run  back  to  this  spot  is  the  winner.    does  that  sound  fair?   ”

❛⠀ i'd like to spend a night in your bed, it's awfully comfy . ⠀❜  for some reason ailith's bed / was / really comfortable,   the pillows and sheets were soft to the touch and he slept best when in that room .   the sheer size of it could probably be another reason,   too . ❛⠀ if you win,   then whatever you want .   i could answer a question or polish your shoes .   think of something hm ?  not that you'd need to . ⠀❜   cicero taunted,   words sharp but expression gentle as he fluttered his eyelashes .   teasing the general was way easier than it should be but it was too funny to watch .   he led hella to circle around buttons,   not breaking eye contact with ailith .   tension ?   i say yes .  ❛⠀ are you up for the challenge ? ⠀❜

despite being grabbed by the wrists many times before,   his first instinct was to flinch,    as though hiding himself from an impending slap .   ailith looked furious,   not in his expression but rather in his actions .   the peregryn only glanced up briefly to meet that unreadable gaze before he was released .   somehow that was more terrifying than any of the punishments he has received by the high lord .   ❛⠀ yes .. sir . ⠀❜    another flinch followed the loud bang and cicero didn't hesitate to return to his own room .   maybe he was being a brat for devaluing the general like that .    it was only normal that he would react that way .   no one / enjoys / war,    and even brutes had their soft spots .    he found himself reminiscing of ailith's smile,   waving a hand as to dissolve the thought .    why would he go against such sound advice / now / ?    the general wasn't anyone special enough to make him change his mind ..    right ?

[   @faeconsort   ✶   CURIOUS  INTENTIONS   . . .      ailith  gave  cicero  a  sideways  glance,    his  expression  was  blank  and  cold;    a  stark  contrast  compared  to  the  smile  he'd  worn  earlier.    he  knew  cicero  would  come  back  for  his  things,    but  seeing  him  actually  stand  there  only  irked  him  more.    asinine  words.    ailith  would  rather  an  actual  knife  slice  through  his  skin  than  words.    he  remained  silent  still,    eyes  briefly  flickering  back  to  the  pin  in  his  hand.    this  was  one  of  the  consort's  precious  possessions,    he  knew  how  much  he  liked  to  wear  it  from  how  many  times  ailith  had  seen  it  been  removed  from  the  consort's  hair.    it  was  so  small  and  fragile...    it'd  be  so  easy  to  snap  it  in  half──    to  destroy  something  the  other  cherished  out  of  spite.    it  would  be  / so /  easy.      “   yes..    your  pins..   ”      the  fae  general  repeated  in  a  strong,    even  voice.    then  without  warning  he  grabbed  cicero's  wrist  and  harshly  tugged  him  in  close.    ailith  stared  down  at  the  consort,      his  expression  unreadable.    a  heartbeat  went  by  before  he  placed  the  hair  pin  in  cicero's  open  hand  and  released  him.      “   be  on  your  way  then.   ”      he  once  again  walked  past  the  smaller  fae  to  approach  his  bathing  room,   opening  then  slamming  the  door  behind  him──    a  clear  display  of  the  general  releasing  some  of  his  frustration.

cicero had stopped at the door once he noticed there was a servant nearby,  waiting for them to pass and then quietly slipping out.  he then muttered a few words under his breath to lock the door once more,   making sure the coast was clear before approaching the general's chambers .   there was this sense of dread lingering in his chest when he thought about how he had disrespected ailith .   the things the dark fae knew that he did that he could hold over his head,   make him fall out of favor .   his hands gently touched his neck as he paused at the entrance to said room .   no,   cicero,   intimidation gives the advantage .   ❛⠀ my pins .. ⠀❜   the consort was almost surprised to see ailith holding a decorative pin .   was he going to break it ?   no,   that's too bold to assume.   even if he could be a brute sometimes,   he would never break something valuable to the fae .   right ?    quite frankly,   he was feeling a little nervous to take it from his hands despite having slept together multiple times in the past .   but angering the general more is the last thing that he wanted to do right now .   he just wanted to curl up and read some poetry until he fell asleep .