Chapter Text
Reo has never enjoyed the thought of death. It brings her panic in the night, the thought of the inability to enjoy the liveliness of life, is disdainful.
Although, when she finds her gaze lingering on the back of some tavern owner’s daughters head, Seishirou Nagi (she found her name through eavesdroppin’ conversations within the bar), swiftly pouring and serving drunkards–who cat call and whistle at her–with a completely deadpan face, she imagines that dying in her arms, wouldn’t be so horrible.
Is she insane for the thought? Probably, but Reo would be proclaimed a lunatic by many for just blushing at the thought of a girl—a commoner girl at that—because it's not natural for women to love another, nor is it normal for royalty to be with commoners.
(she’d probably get some backlash for stalking ‘er too, but she's confident people would be a lot more interested in some headline like “Daughter of the Mikage family has run off with a woman!!!!!!” instead of something about her being a stalker, since it’d just be erased from newspapers within the next week)
Atleast, that's what her parents told her, then went on about how they could set her up with a nice, rich boy.
Reo has seen what happens to royalty like her who get practically sold off to those “kind, promisin’ boys” and it’s nothin’ good.
She’s heard the horror stories from some of her other princess-y friends (Alexis Ness… that poor girl).
If you aren't practically just another maid in your own castle, or as obedient as a dog, then you are never to be acknowledged—or beaten if you're really unlucky.
So obviously, Reo would much rather run away with a woman or die before being sent off with a prince. And the thought of death brings her more unease than being openly queer does, so she’ll just have to pull at this tavern girl's heart strings.
Reo enters the pub, pushing through double doors, humming when that little bell chimes and taking in the all wooden interior, except for the maroon colored cushions; some have barely noticeable dents from drunkards who’d spend time slumping over tables, blabbering about their too young wife and newly aged children and how much trouble they cause them while calling for more alcohol when they can barely handle what's setting in their stomachs til they are eventually kicked out by the surprisingly muscular daughter of the tavern owner.
But besides that, she's just here to sit and drink off some of her own worries, and get a few peeks that beauty. (Nagi, of course).
As royalty, she's gotta sneak off into places like these. And also as royalty, she's real buddy-buddy with a lot of the regulars, who don't care enough to slip her whereabouts to her nosy mole of a father as long as she keeps them out of some real trouble (which she does, it's not much of a hassle, really).
She's grateful for them, because they also don't mind when she sneaks the most obvious glances at the white-haired beauty (in reality, they are too drunk and out of their own body to even notice).
The aforementioned, Nagi, comes from the back room behind the counter, glances to Reo, dressed neatly: her blouse carefully tucked, her hair in a perfect two braids, and her clothes absolutely dust ‘n dirt free, very unlike Nagi who is untidy, with a bit of dirt on her face–which is weird since she doesn’t seem like she’d do any outside work—especially since she's a lady!
But Reo doesn’t say anything. She does wave t the other, a smile curving onto her face.
“Seishirou!“ She calls, sing-song and playful, slipping out her first name like they’re casual, informal for someone who’s supposed to represent the prestige Mikage family.
“Bring me a drink, won't ya?” and she moves on instinct, being ordered around is nothing rare.
It's when Nagi finally drags herself over with a fizzy concoction that's way too much for a lithe girl like the one she puts herself in front of, that she realizes who she is. “Mikage.” Nagi nods to her. “Princess Mikage.” to which Reo nods, slowly, barely.
“yea? ‘nd you're the tavern owner’s daughter, right? Are ya gonna tell on me? “ Reo huffs out a laugh. “It's very nice to speak ta you like this though, Seishirou. I've been wonderin’ bout you.”
Nagi quirks a brow.
“What's that suppos’t ta mean? Are you stalkin’ me, Mikage?” Nagi questions, her tone is serious, but the way she narrows her eyes is playful.
Reo glances at Nagi through her lashes, searching the other to see if she really knew, and there’s a short pause before Reo laughs.
“ ‘course not! “ Reo waves her hands, head shaking a bit too frantically. “Ms. Mikage’s far too busy to be stalking you.” Reo huffs, taking a swig of what Reo now knows is beer, forcing it down with subtle difficulty.
she wouldn't want to embarrass herself now.
“Even if I was, ya wouldn't be able ta do much ‘bout it, Seishirou.“ she teases, a cheeky smile plastered on her face. It's certainly not a lie, everything Reo has ever done could be easily swept under a rug within the hour.
Reo laughs to play it off as something light-hearted—and it works, because Nagi makes a noise and averts her gaze away from Reo, a light flush spreading from her ears to her cheeks. It drags an interesting hum from Reo. Nagi’s such a strange girl.
Reo takes another swig, a larger amount than the last.
“Well, Sei, I'd like to keep gettin’ to know ya.” Reo looks around the tavern—there's practically no one besides the usual lingering bastards who are most likely-blacked-out drunk.
“ ‘nd it seems ya have the time, yea?”
Nagi, in response, hesitates for just a moment, then skirts around the counter—of course sluggishly and languish like all of her movement—and settles next to Mikage, to which the other smiles and brings the glass to her lips.
And Overtime–Reo keeps returning to the tavern.
And eventually, Nagi leans into her too