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Ralsei fell back into the chair, his face falling onto the desk, a sigh coming from his lips as his forehead rested against the wonderful cold wood. Running around all day putting out nearly literal fires tended to put a damper on the Prince’s usually cheerful and happy demeanor. “Just wanna sleep…” *The Prince said, eyes closed, as they enjoyed the relative comfort of the hard wooden desk.
“You know you have free beds to use right,” A monotone voice filled his left ear, causing the Royal to jump in his seat, his head hurling upwards while turning towards the source of the noise. A smile was summoned onto his face defensively, only for it to contort into a look of pain as his knee smashed into the top of the desk. A whimper escaped his throat as both paws grabbed onto the hurt leg “…Dang, didn’t know I was such a bother,” the Voice said with a chuckle, kneeling next to the injured goat “You okay?” As soon as those soft words filled his ears, as if an expert musician had preformed the royal his own person orchestra.
“Hey Kris…” Ralsei said, turning his head and giving his friend a much more genuine smile than the one he had given off instinct earlier. His paw kept rubbing his leg, he was unsure if it would swell at all and he didn’t want to use a spell unless necessary. “I didn’t hear you come in, you gave me quite the fright,” a little giggle came from his throat.
“Knocking is for nerds,” Their blue hand placed itself atop his head, softly rubbing it with gentle strokes “Didn’t answer my question,” Kris said, red eyes meeting Ralsei’s own pink ones with the kind of care that would make Ralsei split in two if he looked away.
“I…” Ralsei took a deep breath “I’m okay…a little…I…” Ralsei stopped, lying or telling less of than the truth was completely unnecessary given the situation “It’s been a long day…between the new arrivals and continued construction in the town…and all the mini crises everyone has been having since that tea that shows how you feel about someone was released publicly…” Ralsei said with a sigh “I don’t understand why people allow relationship issues to come up over tea but…as the closest thing here to a functioning adult,” He chuckled to himself…it was nice just…complaining, venting away frustration as Susie put it…well, rather she didn’t put it like that but swearing is unbecoming of a royal so the Prince elected to change it in his head.
“Sounds rough…” Kris offered, not really equipped to deal with a full conversation, their emotional state being…turbulent at the best of times didn’t make for a good friend to help work through issues. As for working around said issues however, Kris was well equipped to help in that manner “Your soft…You take good care of yourself,” They complimented, beginning to run their fingers through the fur atop his head
“Oh…w-well thank you, I do my best to try and maintain myself…” Ralsei said with a little smile, pink coating his cheeks “…it’s nice to have that appreciated,” Ralsei said with a gentle sigh, finding comfort in the simple his friend made him feel good. The way Kris fingers massaged his scalp, the warmth of another hitting his skin…the gently weight between his horns. If the prince were a cat he would likely purr, so complete was his comfort from such a simple act on his friends part. “…O-oh…” His eyes opened, and his body tensed despite the tranquility that he had displayed to the world just a moment ago.
Kris’s hands froze, and they felt ice down their back. A thousands tiny voices irrupted from within their mind, did I do something wrong, did I screw up, did I touch them wrong, did I make him uncomfortable, did I hurt him, what did I do! Kris’s lip quivered in the short moment of silence between the Prince’s initial reaction to…whatever had caused his, to Kris’s mind, clear distress. Finally after several agonizing seconds, Kris scrounged up the courage to finally allow something to escape their throat “W-what?” Kris said, suppressing all the screening voices within them telling them to run away and fall into their despair
“Is Susie with you?” Ralsei asked, looking at Kris with a worried expression “I-I was so wrapped up in my own worries I…I-I didn’t think to worry about you or Susie,” The Prince said, biting his own lip and looking at his paws on the floor, how could he forget such a thing, it was his job to make the lighteners happy not sit around and complain to one about his meaningless little problems.
Kris stared at the Prince in disbelief, all that worry for such a simple little question? Was it that he would rather spend time with Susie than them? Of course he did what was Kris thinking? Susie was so much cooler, more fun to be around, Noelle thinks so of course Ralsei would too…why did they even come here? “…Susie went to hang out with Noelle, they are having a date or whatever…” Kris bit their lip, too much aggression “I think she is having a good t-time,” They said, choking a little at the end of the sentence.
“Oh…” Ralsei sighed, relived…it’s just Kris here, how wonderful!…Not that he minded Susie’s presence, she was wonderful as well, and he would love to spend as much time as he could with her. As great as both of his friends were, for as much love as his heart held for them both, it was nice to have some one on one time with either of them. No one gets left out with just two, no one sits in the sidelines watching someone else enjoy their time as you sit bored and…and feel lonely in their company…There were of course things that you could only do with more people, and he would never say no to hanging out with both his friends at once of course but…it felt so much easier with just one. “Well, in that case,” Ralsei carefully backed from his desk, standing up slowly, testing his knee before committing any weight to it “I’m sorry I’ve been so self centered Kris…what would you like to do?” Ralsei said with a smile, closing his eyes and tilting his head off a bit to the side
“…You…know I don’t…” Kris took a breath, they had begun the sentence still feeling the emotions of their last. In through the nose out through the mouth, ignore the voices, ignore the worries…in…and out…”I…I’m not super in the mood to run around doing stuff…I just…got done doing that with Susie and Noelle…” Kris said, scratching the back of their neck “So…if…you…could try fo-“ Kris bit their lip, what was that? If you could try for once? Why? Why did Kris’s stupid little brain immediately go to the worst thing they could think of. They always do this, Always! They assume the worst all the time, he’s just shy, it’s hard to think up things to help three people, why couldn’t they just be god damn grateful to have a caring friend
“Well…” Ralsei stared at the humans face, the way they averted their gaze the battered lower up…It was best for him to find something and even he understood it, oblivious to feelings as he could be…”Perhaps we could check out the church? There…is a piano there, if you would like I would very much enjoy listening to you play,” Ralsei said with a big smile, hopefully that would appeal to them, they were very good at piano…unless it’s a sore spot, they played it with a lot of…intensity earlier…The prince kept his smile up, but within he began screaming at himself.
“Yeah…yeah sure that…sounds nice,” Kris said with a smile, thankful that their hair could cover their eyes so well, as the swelling up of tears from within those round rubies would likely make them both just have an even further breakdown.