what have we here? :: 1/7 evening :: Evelyn, Grayson

[Evelyn Castell]

It was dark and freezing cold as she stepped out of the cabin. Her fur cloak was almost enough but she pulled the hood up again anyway. Evelyn walked carefully, wary of the sometimes treacherous deck. In her arms was a mantle and a bottle of rum. There was at least enough light to see the outline of the mast and Grayson still tied to it. She made her way across to him to stand in front of him. "Well, you made a very good show of it today." She reached up and had to go on tip-toes to fasten the mantle around his shoulders. "I've brought rum too, get you warmed up a bit..."

Evelyn sighed, looking up at her cousin. "Why?" she asked softly. "Why'd you do it?"

[Grayson Castell]

Grayson watched as his cousin walked around to him. His throat had finally gone sore about an hour ago. He was proud though he had been singing, and doing it well, since the morning. The sun had long set after he was done. He smiled weekly as she placed the mantle around him. And greedily drank the rum. "Thank you Evy. Although you shouldn't be doing this. Could get you in trouble."

Why did he do this? What answer would be sufficient? He wasn't sure but out of all his family, Evy most deserved an answer. "Because not even Victor should always win? No man should get his way all the time. This is at least creative. I didn't think he had it in him. We all know a beating would never do any good." He said with a raspy voice.

He sighed heavily as he took another offered drink. "I don't think anything will stop this short of third person intervention. Victor and I have dug our heals in. And if I try and explain to him why I do what I do, not this, but the reason why I act the fool in public and drink in the pubs. He doesn't get it. And I've honestly given up trying to have a normal conversation with the man." He leaned his head backl against the mast and looked up at the sky.

[Evelyn Castell]

She shrugged. "It could." Evelyn shook her head at him again and rolled her eyes. "You'll heal from a beating. Tongues do not heal. He's our Lord, Grayson, you cannot defy him and expect to be embraced for it." Her tone softened, "Even if you serve him as a knight, words carry weight. It's the only part of you he cannot trust so it will be removed... He does get it, Gray. He does. But you go too far. If you were someone else you'd be dead by now." She was pleading, and she knew it.

"There are no normal conversations with those above us in life: no one speaks to their liege lord as if he were a bosom companion. You rail against Victor but you're railing against all our world at the same time. You cannot fight Victor and you cannot fight the world either: make your peace with it, and make your peace with him." She reached down to touch his hand. "Please, Gray. For those of us who love you, stop. Hasn't our family got enough enemies without fighting one another? Bow your head and admit you spoke without thought. Whatever it is he asks. Please." She squeezed his hand, stepping closer.

[Grayson Castell]

He laughed actually. It wasn't a laugh of derision, or even joy. It was a laugh of relief. Evelyn probably didn't realize the truth she had just touched on. But there it was states plainly and perfectly. "You figured it out then. Our world needs to be railed against. There is so much wrong with it. So many injustices. Some one needs to rail at it, no matter how insane it seems. To resign yourself to this world is the same as resigning your to death. And a Castell will never yield to death."

His eyes followed her hand as she touched him. That familiar tingle shot through his arm as he smiled lovingly. "I will apologize to him, admit my fault and fall on his mercy." Her closeness as she stepped forward was torturous.

"Worry not my dear. I am not quite ready to die yet." He leaned his head down and whispered to her.

"We have so much to do yet."

[Evelyn Castell]

"Even Castells die," she said softly. "No one escapes that particular injustice." Evelyn knew she was taking a risk but didn't care. She moved closer and leaned against him, her head on his chest. The ship went on moving, rolling with the waves but she lingered against him, letting the warmth build- he had to be frozen out here.

"We do," she whispered. "So very much." Close to him like this, she could feel his heart beat, and she rested her hand on his chest. "Thank you. I would not want to face Orqua without you."

[Grayson Castell]

A bright smile spread across his lips as she leaned against him. The joy of that single act of affection seemed to warm him greatly. The cold fell away and his dire circumstances seemed inconsequential. "Evy I'll be alright. I always land on my feet. Just like a cat. Granted a stunningly handsome and charming cat, but a cat none the less."

He knew at this point he had to bite his tongue and give Victor what he wanted. Even though all he wanted to do was give the man a good beating to see how lord high and mighty liked it. "I'll Give Victor what he wants."