[ Very easy. And Inigo is very charmed. ] Then we'll stop by there first. [ He makes sure to walk at a slow, leisurely pace, so as to not lose Vero in the hallways he calls home. He makes light conversation on the way to their first destination - easy questions of "how are you liking Ylisse so far?" and "are you adjusting alright?" that don't take too much thought to answers.
But once they get to the library's big wooden doors all that stops and he pushes the doors open so Vero can take a good look inside. ] Here we are!
[ As one would expect from a castle library, it's huge and well-stocked with books. Most of them are by Ylissean authors, but there's some Feroxi and Valmese titles here and there - and the collection of Plegian titles is slowly growing, with the nearly formed treaty and understanding differences and all that. ]
You're free to look around as you wish, and read to your heart's content. [ A beat, and then a light smile grows on his face. ] I assume I'll find you here from now on?
[Almost every ounce of Vero's thirst leaves his body as soon as he sees the library. He's always known that the castle's library was lacking but he never knew just how many books there could be in one single place. He's in awe - starstruck. He barely even hears Inigo after that.
Vero makes a beeline to one of the shelves and pulls a book. He starts flipping through it, not really reading anything.]
This is amazing..! [He puts it back and pulls another.] How many books are in here? [Another.] There must be thousands??
There's tens of thousands, last I've heard. [ Inigo walks over to stand by Vero's side, fondly watching as he inspects book after book after book. No fair, he's attractive and ridiculously precious?? ] I'm not much of a reader myself, but a good book and a cup of tea make excellent company sometimes.
[ He hesitates for a split second, then touches Vero's arm to point to a little quiet nook hidden in the shelves. ] And over there - that's my favorite spot in the whole library. That armchair's almost too comfortable for its own good.
[As quickly as the thirst is gone, it's back again with Inigo simply touching Vero's arm.]
I-is that so?
[No, no, stop it. Look at that armchair. Listen and only look. It looks divine, honestly. He can definitely imagine himself spending hours in that spot absorbing all he can from this library. It's tempting to even call this little tour short but -- Vero glances at Inigo. That would be rude. Dammit.]
[ Inigo is good at reading people - or, at least, to an extent. So when he sees Vero's eyes linger on that armchair, he gives his arm a gentle squeeze to stop his thoughts from drifting too much. ] Come on - I'll keep the rest of the tour short, so you can come back here and start reading.
[ The rest of the day goes by in a blur. He shows Vero the rest of the castle (the gardens, the luxurious bathing area, the other hidden nooks and crannies for hiding away and getting a second of privacy), then together they join the rest of the Ylissean royal family and Lyric for a grand ol' dinner to celebrate the beginnings of their new alliance.
It's only once the moon's high in the sky and the majority of the castle's inhabitants have gone to sleep that Inigo feels like he can breathe. He's swiped a tea tray from one of the servants and carries two cups of tea toward the library. One's for himself, and the other's to share if luck's on his side.
He opens the door to the library and calls out to the room. ] Vero?
[Vero's going to have to apologize to Inigo later; there's part of him that feels guilty for looking so obvious.
By the end of the night, though, Vero's exhausted and most of Inigo's tour has left his mind. The library is, of course, at the front of his mind. As soon as he gets a moment away from everyone else - late, late at night - Vero steals away to this safe place.
He knows Lyric will scold him for staying up late, but Vero can't help himself. He pulls himself a hefty stack of books and curls up in the armchair (damn, it really is comfy) Inigo had pointed out. He's reading through the second or third book in the stack when he hears Inigo call for him. W-why is Inigo seeking him out? Lyric's the princess not him?? Or does Inigo know Vero's stupid attracted to him and getting some sort of kick out of this? Vero's not sure what to think of it... ]
Prince Inigo...? [He calls back, voice small.] You've caught me. It's just like you said.
[ Inigo brightens instantly and heads straight for that armchair he pointed out just that afternoon - though it might as well been ages ago, with how much was crammed into all their heads today. ]
And you're right where I thought you'd be. [ His smile is warm, kind, as he holds out the tray for Vero to take one of the warm teacups. ] You can't sleep either?
Well, ah, yes and no. I'm much more of a night owl. [He takes one of the teacups from the tray with a quiet "thank you."] But even if I could sleep... there's so much going on during the day, having some time to myself at night is nice. I get some of my best thinking done at these hours.
[He can just tell the tea is probably still a little too hot for him so he takes a moment to blow on it. Hopefully this isn't strictly against Ylissean etiquette or something.] I suspect it's the same for you?
[ Inigo hums in thought, taking the other teacup off the tray so he can tuck it under his arm. ] Like you, I'm more of a night owl - but I'm less of a thinker, and more of a stargazer.
[ He takes a quiet sip, then looks down at Vero. ] I'm sorry for chatting your ear off - I'll take my leave now, if you'd like. I only wanted to bring you some tea.
[Vero lifts himself off the armchair and almost reaches for Inigo to stop him, but he catches himself before he makes any contact with the prince.] You don't have to.
[He settles back down and holds the teacup to occupy his hands.] I'm not the most interesting company to have but I -- well I was also rather rude to you earlier today and you've only continued to be kind to me. [Which is part of why he was rude. How dare he be young, attractive, AND nice? This is a death sentence.]
[ Unfortunately for Vero and his heart, Inigo only continues to be nice. He smiles at him, soft and understanding. ] There's nothing to make up, Vero. I know I'm not exactly the most quiet person to be around [ haha. ha. ha. ] and we've only just met. But I want to make sure you feel comfortable here. Not just with me, but, you know... [ He gestures to their surroundings in general. ]
And besides, [ He leans a little against the bookshelf. ] I want to learn more about you. I mean, if you don't mind.
Why? [The words leaves Vero's mouth before he can even think about it. Inigo attaching himself to Vero before had made sense because he'd been the only stranger left in the room. But now..? If he's not going to let Vero amend his prior rudeness then why does he want to know more? Why had he even gone looking for him tonight, in the first place?]
I mean, I don't mind. [He doesn't.] But, with all due respect, why. I'm just a retainer. I live by Princess Lyric's word and I'll die by it, too. I'm not - anything worth learning about.
[And the only tidbit of information about Vero worth learning - how he uhhhh was going to assassinate Validar initially - is something he's not going to talk about.]
[ He says, plain and simple, as though it were the most obvious thing. Because of course Vero's worth learning about? Big gay "love at first sight" crush aside... ]
We're allies now, but I was hoping we could become friends. Or at least acquaintances? [ Because despite how kind of a person he is, his status as a prince makes meaningful relationships a little harder to come by. With Chrom as a father things are a little easier, but still... ... ] You can ask me anything as well.
[That doesn't quite answer his "why him" question. But whatever.
Whether Inigo thinks he's worth learning about or not, Vero does realize he's been going about this the wrong way. He's been doing a disservice to Inigo as a person by assuming Inigo was only acting as a prince and by reacting to him out of thirst.
Inigo is a person, too, and if he wants to be friends then Vero can do that.
Vero bites down the urge to apologize again.] Okay. Okay, then let's .. sit with me? Please? We can make a game of it. You ask me one question and then I ask one?
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[Vero is easy in more ways than one.]
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But once they get to the library's big wooden doors all that stops and he pushes the doors open so Vero can take a good look inside. ] Here we are!
[ As one would expect from a castle library, it's huge and well-stocked with books. Most of them are by Ylissean authors, but there's some Feroxi and Valmese titles here and there - and the collection of Plegian titles is slowly growing, with the nearly formed treaty and understanding differences and all that. ]
You're free to look around as you wish, and read to your heart's content. [ A beat, and then a light smile grows on his face. ] I assume I'll find you here from now on?
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Vero makes a beeline to one of the shelves and pulls a book. He starts flipping through it, not really reading anything.]
This is amazing..! [He puts it back and pulls another.] How many books are in here? [Another.] There must be thousands??
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[ He hesitates for a split second, then touches Vero's arm to point to a little quiet nook hidden in the shelves. ] And over there - that's my favorite spot in the whole library. That armchair's almost too comfortable for its own good.
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I-is that so?
[No, no, stop it. Look at that armchair. Listen and only look. It looks divine, honestly. He can definitely imagine himself spending hours in that spot absorbing all he can from this library. It's tempting to even call this little tour short but -- Vero glances at Inigo. That would be rude. Dammit.]
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[ The rest of the day goes by in a blur. He shows Vero the rest of the castle (the gardens, the luxurious bathing area, the other hidden nooks and crannies for hiding away and getting a second of privacy), then together they join the rest of the Ylissean royal family and Lyric for a grand ol' dinner to celebrate the beginnings of their new alliance.
It's only once the moon's high in the sky and the majority of the castle's inhabitants have gone to sleep that Inigo feels like he can breathe. He's swiped a tea tray from one of the servants and carries two cups of tea toward the library. One's for himself, and the other's to share if luck's on his side.
He opens the door to the library and calls out to the room. ] Vero?
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By the end of the night, though, Vero's exhausted and most of Inigo's tour has left his mind. The library is, of course, at the front of his mind. As soon as he gets a moment away from everyone else - late, late at night - Vero steals away to this safe place.
He knows Lyric will scold him for staying up late, but Vero can't help himself. He pulls himself a hefty stack of books and curls up in the armchair (damn, it really is comfy) Inigo had pointed out. He's reading through the second or third book in the stack when he hears Inigo call for him. W-why is Inigo seeking him out? Lyric's the princess not him?? Or does Inigo know Vero's stupid attracted to him and getting some sort of kick out of this? Vero's not sure what to think of it... ]
Prince Inigo...? [He calls back, voice small.] You've caught me. It's just like you said.
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And you're right where I thought you'd be. [ His smile is warm, kind, as he holds out the tray for Vero to take one of the warm teacups. ] You can't sleep either?
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[He can just tell the tea is probably still a little too hot for him so he takes a moment to blow on it. Hopefully this isn't strictly against Ylissean etiquette or something.] I suspect it's the same for you?
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[ He takes a quiet sip, then looks down at Vero. ] I'm sorry for chatting your ear off - I'll take my leave now, if you'd like. I only wanted to bring you some tea.
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[He settles back down and holds the teacup to occupy his hands.] I'm not the most interesting company to have but I -- well I was also rather rude to you earlier today and you've only continued to be kind to me. [Which is part of why he was rude. How dare he be young, attractive, AND nice? This is a death sentence.]
So if I could make it up to you...?
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And besides, [ He leans a little against the bookshelf. ] I want to learn more about you. I mean, if you don't mind.
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I mean, I don't mind. [He doesn't.] But, with all due respect, why. I'm just a retainer. I live by Princess Lyric's word and I'll die by it, too. I'm not - anything worth learning about.
[And the only tidbit of information about Vero worth learning - how he uhhhh was going to assassinate Validar initially - is something he's not going to talk about.]
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[ He says, plain and simple, as though it were the most obvious thing. Because of course Vero's worth learning about? Big gay "love at first sight" crush aside... ]
We're allies now, but I was hoping we could become friends. Or at least acquaintances? [ Because despite how kind of a person he is, his status as a prince makes meaningful relationships a little harder to come by. With Chrom as a father things are a little easier, but still... ... ] You can ask me anything as well.
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Whether Inigo thinks he's worth learning about or not, Vero does realize he's been going about this the wrong way. He's been doing a disservice to Inigo as a person by assuming Inigo was only acting as a prince and by reacting to him out of thirst.
Inigo is a person, too, and if he wants to be friends then Vero can do that.
Vero bites down the urge to apologize again.] Okay. Okay, then let's .. sit with me? Please? We can make a game of it. You ask me one question and then I ask one?
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Sounds good to me. [ And, as for his first question - he gestures to the books Vero's picked out for himself. ] What are you reading?