The King and I

[cherry1]

Raven didn’t really know what to do with herself. The king of the ice nation had come to stay in Arkadia to ‘build ties and share knowledge.’ A plan and invitation that Raven had definitely not been a fan of initially. After everything the grounders did to them, especially Azgeda grounders, they were really going to trust them enough to let them into their homes? And not just any grounder, but a damn king grounder. It had bad idea written all over it. Hadn’t there been some kind of Greek story basically warning against bringing the enemy into camp?

Only now that they’d been here for a little while, Raven had to admit…their king, Roan…was a hell of a Trojan horse. He wasn’t the type to hide away and only bark out orders. No, this guy liked to get his hands dirty. He helped with food and hunting, and even helped with building storage spaces for winter. Now, if anyone asked, Raven would sooner blow them up rather than admit she’d been looking at Roan while he worked. She’d also die before admitting to purposefully taking more work orders to reinforce their walls, just so she’d have more chances to check him out. But it wasn’t really her fault. Did he really have to work shirtless?

Every single time he looked anywhere in her general direction she’d avert her eyes like some pathetic school girl and walk away before he could get a chance to approach her, let alone talk to her. It was getting ridiculous really. She was Raven Reyes goddamit. If she wanted something, she would usually just take it. Even now, while she paused in her work to weld the metal of the wall, Raven couldn’t help but watch him as he used an axe to cut the wood for building.

No, while they hadn’t done anything treacherous yet, Raven still didn’t trust him or any of them...it didn’t hurt to look though. Quickly, she put her helmet back on, reluctantly looking at her actual work in front of her as she turned on the flame.

Tag: ash

[ash]

Peace was worth working for. Roan learned that during his banishment. Politics were messy, but for his people he had to endure them. And after everything that happened, it was a handful of people from Arkadia that made him look at everything through their perspective, through their understanding. That night Roan fell to his knees, paralyzed by the horrors his mother inflicted on these people, everyone inflicted on them. He knew those wounds were impossible to heal, but he had to try to make them see there was a different way, that king Roan was not queen Nia, that with him, Azgeda could be an ally to them. 

He began this venture by taking two men and a woman with him, to stay in Arkadia for a while. On one hand for them to get to know Arkadia, naturally, and their culture, on the other to help them. He heard, before he came, how infertile the soil in the direct area was, so he brought special plants, plants that were strong, resilient and happy to grown in places that were less than hospitable for any kind of life. One of the men he brought was a farmer. He helped the Arkers to find places for the plants, to secure them, to teach them about rodents and what else could ail those plants. The other man was a hunter, helping the Arkers around that and the woman was a cook and herbalist. He helped with construction, teaching them their culture and learned Arkadias. 

Roan worked with the men of Arkadia, he liked to mingle with them, but given the temperatures he was used to, this climate was hot, so he liked to take of his shirt. That seemed to be a problem. For one young lady in particular. Raven. He grinned, catching her watching him more out of the corner of his eyes, as she was averting her gaze. Eventually he had enough. The next time she looked away he made sure to move swiftly. Within moments he was pressed behind her, holding a cup of water out in front of her, her back touching his chest. “Thought you might like a closer look. Drink?”

cherry1

[cherry1]

Raven froze the moment she felt someone behind her, turning off the flame and pausing her work. Whoever it was really didn’t understand the concept of personal space. She was just about ready to give this joker a piece of her mind, when he spoke. His voice vibrated through her whole body, she could barely even hear what he actually said. It was the first thing he’d ever said to her and she couldn’t even find the will power to turn around. It was him. And he’d noticed her looking. That was just great. She knew she hadn’t exactly been subtle, but Raven never really expected him to approach her about it. What was she supposed to say?

Finally after an embarrassingly long pause, Raven removed the helmet and turned around. Quickly shuffling back when she noticed their very close proximity to one another and his still very shirtless torso. Reluctantly tearing her eyes away and looking at his face instead, Raven finally found her voice. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Lies. She was so obvious it was ridiculous. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t deny it. Eyeing up the cup suspiciously, she accepted the offer and took a sip. “…thanks.” He might be helping them, but he was still a grounder after all. Raven couldn’t help the distrust she felt. It was deep in her bones now. And it would take a lot more than helping them out with farming some plants for that to change. “I was just admiring….your…craftsmanship.” Another lie. And a bad one too. Come on Raven, get your head in the game.

[ash]

Her look was still amusing. Roan was warming up to skaikru in a way he never expected. If everyone took the effort to get to know them, the advantages of an alliance for both sides were so wonderfully clear. He was inclined to ask for a permanent alliance full time, outside of the coalition, which meant not much to him. The coalition was too fragile in his eyes. He wanted ties between the people and his people directly instead of going through someone. That was too risky for him. He was not repeating his mothers mistakes and certainly not relying on flippant girls, who were not destined to live long. He wanted long living alliances after all. Once she took the drink, Roan leaned against the wall close to her, watching her as she tried to find a reason why she was staring at him. His craftsmanship. Right. He was just displaying brute force, nothing else. 

“I was hammering onto something. I don’t possess craftsmanship.” And he would not pretend he could. He could not build anything, but she could. She built wondrous things that he could not even wrap his head around. And he frankly did not want to. He was a warrior and king. Everything else was not for him to do, but for him to delegate. “You however do. I am fascinated by what you do. Your tiny hands can make… things way beyond my imagination work. And here I am hammering away at a stone. It pales in comparison. I am strong. Just strong and dominant, that’s it.”

cherry1

[cherry1]

It took all of Raven’s will power to actually pay attention to the words coming out of his mouth rather than stare at his very shirtless chest. The muscles flexing even as he spoke. Now that was fascinating, not anything she was currently doing. His words definitely flattered her, but she would not be so easily swayed. Raven wasn’t going to be just another one of those girls who fell over themselves just to get his attention. She had more dignity than that. “You sure are,” she whispered in response to his comment about being strong and dominant, more to herself than anyone else in a barely audible tone. Not intending the words to actually come out of her mouth. But she couldn’t help it. So much for dignity.

“So it’s not just me who’s been looking then,” she said audibly now, with a smirk, finally finding her voice. He knew about her job it seemed. That she was a mechanic who created devices for her people to use. Or at least as well as he could understand it. She hadn’t been the only one admiring craftsmanship after all. He’d been noticing her just as much as she’d been noticing him. Perhaps that wasn’t exactly true but nevertheless, the thought alone thrilled her. “I’m sure you’re not just strong and dominant.” Raven added trying to regain her confidence. She was Raven Reyes goddamit, she did not get flustered around shirtless men. “You seem like a man with many other…skills.” Her tone doing little to hide the suggestive nature of her words. It was risky and probably inappropriate especially around a king, but that’s just how she rolled. The line was just too good for her to resist.

Tag: ash

[ash]

"I'm a man of many skills." Roan agreed. Though his skills were around brutish strength. He was a king, yes, but his skill there were reliant on others. He needed advisors, because really? Politics were his strength in one on one combat, but certainly not beyond. He needed men for that, but a lot of them, too. Roan knew of the failings of men. The decision was his in the end and he'd take responsibility, so he was making a good choice. And he was aware of how bad a bad choice could be. Well, maybe that did make him a good leader. He didn't run headfirst into some crazy idea. Maybe it even qualified as skill. To the Arkers it might, given that they didn't exactly have the best track record with leaders. Neither did they. Their last two commanders were simply both batshit crazy. At least in Roans eyes. He did support one, though. Because it meant power to Azgeda and he was loyal to his people, of course. Anything that would better their statuses. He owed that to his people... then again they did support his banishment. 

"But none as impressive as yours. Your fingers..." Since Roan was quite bold often, he reached for her hand, looking at those delicate fingers. "Your fingers can bring powerful gadgets to life. They can bring down entire mountains. My skills pale to yours." He replied. "Bringing down the mountain would have costed my life and I still would have failed. You brought down enemies greater than I could imagine." Roan smirked at the woman, knowing his words could have an effect to her and he did't really mind. 


cherry1

[cherry1]

Raven’s breath caught in her throat the moment his fingers touched hers. She tried to hide her reaction in a poorly concealed cough but it was too late. She knew exactly where her fingers really wanted to be. He was doing it again. Flattering her. For what purpose she wasn’t entirely sure. It almost made her mad. How sure of himself he was. The kind of good looking that knew they were good looking. She’d bet he thought he was in control here just because he knew how to get her flustered. Well Raven would have to change that now wouldn’t she.

She wouldn’t be swayed so easily. His mention of the mountain grounded her for a moment. It wasn’t without cost, she thought to herself, her eyes involuntarily flickering down to the brace around her bum leg. “Well it wasn’t rocket science. But even if it was I’d have still done it.” She’d never been the modest type and she wasn’t about to start now. It would only be arrogance if she was exaggerating her skill. “Their downfall was underestimating us,” She said with a pointed look in her eyes, staring intently now into Roan’s. “Underestimating me.” Raven didn’t even try to conceal the heavy tone of warning in her voice. He may have the body of a damn Greek god but she didn’t trust him for a second and she needed him to know that. If this so called king tried anything to hurt her people, Raven would be the first one to bring him down. Even though it would be a hell of a waste, she thought wryly glancing down at his body once more. What? You can’t blame a girl for looking.

[ash]

“A popular mistake my people seem to make.” Roan pointed out. They had, as far as he knew, underestimate the sky people from the beginning. They had thought them easy prey, easy to overpower, to kill and ultimately end. They were wrong. Whatever they threw at Skaikru they bounced back. Whatever they killed, they paid for it. And yet Roan could see they were the villains here. He knew it and he had an intention to change that, not necessarily to being the heroes, but neutral ground could keep them all alive.

“My people underestimated you and your people quite often now. Look where it brought us.” To the brink of war and back. Now, for the sake of survival to a fragile ceasefire and maybe to a fragile peace. Roan knew of his peoples arrogance. They knew Skaikru needed their knowledge of this world. They knew they needed them for food in many ways. But the arrogance lay in the worth of all of that. Arkadia had technologies they could only dream of. They had more power. He would not underestimate them again. “Both sides would be so much better off without the fights. We could learn from you and you from us, yet we keep on thinking we are superior to you. What a horrible mistake.”

cherry1