Just the thought of returning to Rhydin made his snarl come out. Being here made it show in full force!
"Sean, did you grow uglier since you were gone or have you always looked like that"!"
"Such an insubordinate tone could only come from one person." with-out turning around, Sean knew it was Red. He was the only one he knew that could be so casual, always making a joke and never takes anything serious. No matter how dire. Sean figure Red would take a lance through the heart while making a bad pun about it and them laughing at his own bad joke. "Hello Red."
"Come un now Sean! Arentcha happy to be back?"
"You have no idea" okay that came out as a grumble, but it was the truth. As he unceremoniously sat on his bunk in the officer's quarters. "It's been a living nightmare"
"Living nightmare! That's not something I would expect you to be saying, News was you were all engaged and fianc"'d up un stuff." Red's pulled up a heavy wooden chair and spun it around to sit backwards. His face rough and weathered but somehow lit as if waiting for some fantastic story.
"It's called a betrothal. I had nothing to do with it except show up at the party' He would have left it at that. But he looked over to Red as Sean was in the middle of removing his traveling boots. He stopped and just sighed. Red was getting excited about the new story. It was almost enough to make Sean chuckle. Almost. That such a rough and war torn man or common birth was probably the biggest romantic alive, or dead!
"Fine Red. It was an uneventful trip home. I had honestly been looking forward to the quiet, a vacation with the family. I wasn't two bites into the evening meal when my Mother broke into the news like a chirping bird. "Tomorrow you have an appointment at Szuer's to be fitted for new formals. Your engagement party is at week's end."
"I always wished I could get one of Szuer's suits!"
"Shut up Red"
"Yes Sir!"
"I think I must have been the only one at the formal dining table filled with food that lost their appetite. Everyone else must have known. Now, I know its family tradition. But in three days" My mother could have written me."
"Maybe she thought you would run or not return" "Red,"
"I know shut up" but he smirked away.
Red knew Sean was big on traditions, he breathed and ate them. Lived them, hell even bathed in them from what Red would say. Sean took a few moments to remove and put away the rest of his travel clothes while he talked.
"The party went well. We went thru the traditional toast to family and friends, guests and honored. News and so on. Everyone pretending they did not know. Then Father announces the engagement. She was presented as the family name was mentioned. Nicolette LaBrue"
"Ah Ha!" Red got so excited and ah-ha'd so hard he almost toppled his chair, riding it backwards like a stiff legged pony rearing its wooden legs. "I wondered who they would choose! The LeBrue Family. Talk about a political match!"
"And what would you know of Politics Red?"
Red tapped his temple and winked as he looked at Sean. "I pay attention to these things. I read the news flyers, I listen to the gossip."
"You mean you read what is in the bathroom and eavesdrop on the ladies at the local shop in hopes to strike up a conversation." Sean could not hide a smirk. Even if the though appalled him. Red really had no manners. Not even a little.
"May hap! But I still learn about these things!? Red laughed full hearted and rose to his feet. A strong hand landed on Sean's shoulder as Red just grinned and walked away.
"Sean, did you grow uglier since you were gone or have you always looked like that"!"
"Such an insubordinate tone could only come from one person." with-out turning around, Sean knew it was Red. He was the only one he knew that could be so casual, always making a joke and never takes anything serious. No matter how dire. Sean figure Red would take a lance through the heart while making a bad pun about it and them laughing at his own bad joke. "Hello Red."
"Come un now Sean! Arentcha happy to be back?"
"You have no idea" okay that came out as a grumble, but it was the truth. As he unceremoniously sat on his bunk in the officer's quarters. "It's been a living nightmare"
"Living nightmare! That's not something I would expect you to be saying, News was you were all engaged and fianc"'d up un stuff." Red's pulled up a heavy wooden chair and spun it around to sit backwards. His face rough and weathered but somehow lit as if waiting for some fantastic story.
"It's called a betrothal. I had nothing to do with it except show up at the party' He would have left it at that. But he looked over to Red as Sean was in the middle of removing his traveling boots. He stopped and just sighed. Red was getting excited about the new story. It was almost enough to make Sean chuckle. Almost. That such a rough and war torn man or common birth was probably the biggest romantic alive, or dead!
"Fine Red. It was an uneventful trip home. I had honestly been looking forward to the quiet, a vacation with the family. I wasn't two bites into the evening meal when my Mother broke into the news like a chirping bird. "Tomorrow you have an appointment at Szuer's to be fitted for new formals. Your engagement party is at week's end."
"I always wished I could get one of Szuer's suits!"
"Shut up Red"
"Yes Sir!"
"I think I must have been the only one at the formal dining table filled with food that lost their appetite. Everyone else must have known. Now, I know its family tradition. But in three days" My mother could have written me."
"Maybe she thought you would run or not return" "Red,"
"I know shut up" but he smirked away.
Red knew Sean was big on traditions, he breathed and ate them. Lived them, hell even bathed in them from what Red would say. Sean took a few moments to remove and put away the rest of his travel clothes while he talked.
"The party went well. We went thru the traditional toast to family and friends, guests and honored. News and so on. Everyone pretending they did not know. Then Father announces the engagement. She was presented as the family name was mentioned. Nicolette LaBrue"
"Ah Ha!" Red got so excited and ah-ha'd so hard he almost toppled his chair, riding it backwards like a stiff legged pony rearing its wooden legs. "I wondered who they would choose! The LeBrue Family. Talk about a political match!"
"And what would you know of Politics Red?"
Red tapped his temple and winked as he looked at Sean. "I pay attention to these things. I read the news flyers, I listen to the gossip."
"You mean you read what is in the bathroom and eavesdrop on the ladies at the local shop in hopes to strike up a conversation." Sean could not hide a smirk. Even if the though appalled him. Red really had no manners. Not even a little.
"May hap! But I still learn about these things!? Red laughed full hearted and rose to his feet. A strong hand landed on Sean's shoulder as Red just grinned and walked away.