[ Damn, Will thinks to himself. Not enough. He's too paranoid, Louis is, or maybe it's more that he's exactly as paranoid as a man in his position ought to be. Too careful, and too clever by half.
The young elda takes a breath, pressing the tips of his fingers lightly into Louis's lower back. He tries not to be distracted by the man's physicality; though he's the one taking the lead in this dance, he can't help but lose himself just slightly in the swaying rhythm of their steps, the sense that Louis's larger body could take power away from his at any moment.
He closes his eyes. For a moment, he lets himself feel the music, each thudding step, the soaring arc of the strings. Then he opens his eyes again, and, undaunted, stakes his claim. ]
...Give me access to your personal library.
[ His eyes betray no trace of doubt now as he gazes into Louis's brilliant irises and turns him gently towards another corner of the ballroom. ]
Surely you have something like that? [ Confident, he sinks his teeth in still further: ] I want to come and go from it as I please.
[ Inwardly, of course, Will is sweating. But Gallica said something like this, didn't she? That Junah exited Louis's personal quarters with a book? Even if she and the Count are paramours, surely Will can be afforded the same privilege...? ]
[ The pleasure of this lies in seeing what angle Wilhelm takes in his approach, how he responds under pressure. Whether there are truths to be unraveled from his tongue, and whether he will simply seek that which others so typically ask of Louis. Another test to match the many Louis has already carelessly tossed his way, because one does not survive in this position without constantly taking measure of others.
For someone who shouldn't have such finesse in this type of dance, Wilhelm is performing superbly, to the point that the initial murmurs of contention and consternation have died down. The sight they make now is instead artwork in motion, steps paced so well and every turn so graceful as to seem as though they may have practiced in advance and learned the minute idiosyncrasies of each other's bodies.
And there is, of course, the matter of Wilhelm's request—and this time, the smile that curves at Louis' mouth is one of satisfaction. ]
So it is wisdom you seek. Then you are in luck.
[ He accepts the cue, drifting toward the corner of the ballroom. The orchestra plays on, making it impossible for their other comrades to overhear the conversation. Numerous pairs of eyes stray their way, trailing after them, but no one dares interrupt under Fidelio's and Basilio's watchful gazes in the distance. ]
I have scoured this kingdom for years to build my collection, plucking lost tomes and forbidden texts from the Sanctist Church's treacherous grasp. There are countless books they would sooner see burned than allow the ignorant masses consume, lest the fallacies they weave be revealed for what they are. If you've such an interest, I will allow you this boon. You may see for yourself.
[ It has not escaped him that there are some who are missing from attendance. It is hardly necessary for him to determine himself who has departed early, but the boy seems curious enough about the library. Who is Louis to deny him, after he had outdone himself in their dance? And just as Louis will allow him the privilege of perusing the tomes, Louis will have a look for himself whether someone has ventured where they ought not to be. ]
[ Inwardly, Will has begun to have the same concern: is he fouling up the plan by asking for access to Louis's private library? Heismay and Gallica should be on their way to infiltrate the man's quarters by now. If Louis takes him there right after the soirée... is he just putting his companions at risk of being caught?
...No, but he has faith. With all his experience in the Shadowguard, surely Heismay understands the necessity of getting in and then getting out, with an operation like this. Moreover, there's no guarantee that Louis will want Will to come with him right after this. Perhaps it can wait until the morrow... ]
...Yes. That's what I want.
[ ...A change in the music cues Will to dip Louis, instead. This startles some in the crowd, who did not expect to see their lord bend to the whims of the elda boy he's taken an unusual interest in, but Will pays it no mind. He thinks, instead, of the sheer pleasure he feels (he should not call it pleasure, should not take pleasure in it) when he slides his hand up from Louis's lower back, through the curve of his spine, up between his shoulderblades. The crowd cannot see this, this indulgent touch, for the way that Louis's cape conceals it from view. His body is so big, so solid, so warm against Will's hand. So real, and yet — so unreal. So like fantasy, like something borne of an author's pen.
This is hardly Will's first time thinking that a man is handsome — Strohl, certainly, is classically handsome, and even Alonzo is possessed of that bewitching beauty that all nidia (save, apparently, Jin) are said to have — but Louis Guiabern is dizzyingly, frighteningly attractive. Less like another mortal man and more like a creature crafted for temptation. The part of his lips as he's dipped downward — that alone could haunt Will's dreams and nightmares. ]
Tell me something that no one else in the world would know, Louis.
[ It's just something to say in the moment. Perhaps it's an idle flirtation. He needs Louis to think that it's the wisdom he seeks, and not knowledge of the prince, whom Will is afraid to mention in the moment, lest it prompts Louis to suspect that the young royal is still alive and poised to steal the throne from him. On another level, he is genuinely curious: what secrets does this man guard from the rest of the world? ]
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The young elda takes a breath, pressing the tips of his fingers lightly into Louis's lower back. He tries not to be distracted by the man's physicality; though he's the one taking the lead in this dance, he can't help but lose himself just slightly in the swaying rhythm of their steps, the sense that Louis's larger body could take power away from his at any moment.
He closes his eyes. For a moment, he lets himself feel the music, each thudding step, the soaring arc of the strings. Then he opens his eyes again, and, undaunted, stakes his claim. ]
...Give me access to your personal library.
[ His eyes betray no trace of doubt now as he gazes into Louis's brilliant irises and turns him gently towards another corner of the ballroom. ]
Surely you have something like that? [ Confident, he sinks his teeth in still further: ] I want to come and go from it as I please.
[ Inwardly, of course, Will is sweating. But Gallica said something like this, didn't she? That Junah exited Louis's personal quarters with a book? Even if she and the Count are paramours, surely Will can be afforded the same privilege...? ]
no subject
For someone who shouldn't have such finesse in this type of dance, Wilhelm is performing superbly, to the point that the initial murmurs of contention and consternation have died down. The sight they make now is instead artwork in motion, steps paced so well and every turn so graceful as to seem as though they may have practiced in advance and learned the minute idiosyncrasies of each other's bodies.
And there is, of course, the matter of Wilhelm's request—and this time, the smile that curves at Louis' mouth is one of satisfaction. ]
So it is wisdom you seek. Then you are in luck.
[ He accepts the cue, drifting toward the corner of the ballroom. The orchestra plays on, making it impossible for their other comrades to overhear the conversation. Numerous pairs of eyes stray their way, trailing after them, but no one dares interrupt under Fidelio's and Basilio's watchful gazes in the distance. ]
I have scoured this kingdom for years to build my collection, plucking lost tomes and forbidden texts from the Sanctist Church's treacherous grasp. There are countless books they would sooner see burned than allow the ignorant masses consume, lest the fallacies they weave be revealed for what they are. If you've such an interest, I will allow you this boon. You may see for yourself.
[ It has not escaped him that there are some who are missing from attendance. It is hardly necessary for him to determine himself who has departed early, but the boy seems curious enough about the library. Who is Louis to deny him, after he had outdone himself in their dance? And just as Louis will allow him the privilege of perusing the tomes, Louis will have a look for himself whether someone has ventured where they ought not to be. ]
no subject
...No, but he has faith. With all his experience in the Shadowguard, surely Heismay understands the necessity of getting in and then getting out, with an operation like this. Moreover, there's no guarantee that Louis will want Will to come with him right after this. Perhaps it can wait until the morrow... ]
...Yes. That's what I want.
[ ...A change in the music cues Will to dip Louis, instead. This startles some in the crowd, who did not expect to see their lord bend to the whims of the elda boy he's taken an unusual interest in, but Will pays it no mind. He thinks, instead, of the sheer pleasure he feels (he should not call it pleasure, should not take pleasure in it) when he slides his hand up from Louis's lower back, through the curve of his spine, up between his shoulderblades. The crowd cannot see this, this indulgent touch, for the way that Louis's cape conceals it from view. His body is so big, so solid, so warm against Will's hand. So real, and yet — so unreal. So like fantasy, like something borne of an author's pen.
This is hardly Will's first time thinking that a man is handsome — Strohl, certainly, is classically handsome, and even Alonzo is possessed of that bewitching beauty that all nidia (save, apparently, Jin) are said to have — but Louis Guiabern is dizzyingly, frighteningly attractive. Less like another mortal man and more like a creature crafted for temptation. The part of his lips as he's dipped downward — that alone could haunt Will's dreams and nightmares. ]
Tell me something that no one else in the world would know, Louis.
[ It's just something to say in the moment. Perhaps it's an idle flirtation. He needs Louis to think that it's the wisdom he seeks, and not knowledge of the prince, whom Will is afraid to mention in the moment, lest it prompts Louis to suspect that the young royal is still alive and poised to steal the throne from him. On another level, he is genuinely curious: what secrets does this man guard from the rest of the world? ]