So... much... to do...

[spadeking]

I... Yes, we know you've been through a lot this past month. You still have a lot on your mind and no one blames you for a day or two spent too distracted to get anything done, so you should stop beating yourself up over that. Everyone has told you that they don't mind waiting, so listen to them. Just because some people haven't been so patient in the past doesn't mean everyone is like them. Some people actually do mean what they say, of course. And you have done a pretty good job at getting back on track, even after all this— probably a better one than most in your situation would have been able to.

That's why I'm very grateful you've been allowing me more time and attention lately. Thank you for that. I'm sure the queen is also very glad too. From both of us: thank you. I know you'll get to starting that post eventually, so don't let it add to your stress right now. I'm liking the spontaneous moments with Arthur and the others that we have, and we have so much to plan for now that we've decided on the family matter! That'll keep us all plenty busy while you take a little more time to get your head screwed back on straight! (And, obviously, I'd appreciate any spare moments you can spend on listening to me tell you more about the kingdom, in case you were wondering about that. Seriously, who wouldn't?)

Oh, and, uh, lastly, we're all proud of you for dealing with that too; it had its moments, but running yourself ragged over something like that was not worth it. It's about time you accepted it. One day at a time with the more important and serious things now, right? Right!

Comments

[spadequeen]

[Don't say that! Or his Mun'll end up procrastinating again and letting someone else talk and then he'll be unbearable again!]

[And probably. The Empire will probably make his own appearance soon enough.]

No, not recently. [The Queen shakes his head and smiles before giving Alfred's hand another squeeze, his thumb lightly, affectionately grazing over the side of his King's hand.] Is there anything special going on there?

[spadeking]

[ His eyes fall to the movements of his husband's thumb. The King takes Arthur's other hand then too and slowly begins to dance with him, despite there being no music. ]

No, nothing much. She's still working on applications for the nations, for those places they're going. She's gotten a little further in Amelia's, but she keeps putting them off for some reason. I think she's just nervous. She hasn't done something like this in a while.

[spadequeen]

[This actually happens a lot and so it only makes the smile on the Queen's face widen before he's smoothly falling into step with his husband. They have no trouble carrying on the conversation as they dance.]

I suppose it can be nerve-wracking if you're doing something you haven't done in a while.

[Of course the Queen can relate somewhat. He's felt nervousness before too, like before his coronation and after the King has let his true feelings known. Then there's also the fact that they're starting a family soon. That opens up a whole new set of worries and anxieties, but it's also mixed with joy and excitement.]

[spadeking]

[ The dancing is pretty much how he expends all the pent-up energy that accumulates in him throughout the day. Royal duties are rarely ever exciting, after all, and the King tends to have more time for a quick, spontaneous, playful dance with the Queen than he does for a nice, long walk in the gardens with said Queen.

That, and... well, it's just more fun. ]

She seems to be dragging out a couple of her older muses to bother too. Both swordswomen— one with pink hair and the other with silvery white. I think they're... kind of like knights? Anyway, they've been looking out for the dragon queen more often, I guess.

[spadequeen]

[Dances are more fun, it's true, and the Queen hardly minds. It's time with the King and that's good enough for him even if it's usually far too short a time to be together. The Queen starts humming softly under his breath as they dance and he listens to the King tell him about his head mates.]

Oh, that's right. How is she coming along? [He sighs.] We've yet to visit her. We really should do that...

[spadeking]

[ The King laughs and shakes his head a little bit. ]

Uhm... Well, maybe we should wait until after the baby is born? I think Daenerys takes visits from us a little more seriously than she takes visits from... other people.

[ And by "other people", he means "commoners". It's not exactly arrogance this time; the Khaleesi does take them more seriously because they're royals and as far as she's concerned, proper, amiable alliances with the Spades may come in useful later on down the road. ]

[spadequeen]

Oh. Well, we wouldn't want to worry her too much when she already has so much on her plate.

[He hasn't really met the Khaleesi herself, but he's wanted to, ever since he found out she's with child. Now, he wants to meet her more, given how he and the King would have their own children soon enough.]

She is doing well, isn't she? She and her child.

[spadeking]

[ The Khaleesi is always present, of course, but due to the various circumstances everyone's been subjected to lately, she hasn't had much of a chance to do anything, obviously. She's pretty eager to meet the Spades as well, when she's ready, for reasons rather similar to the Queen's. ]

Yes, they're fine, or so I heard last time the subject came up, from some of the others. I think some of your neighbors though are long overdue for a visit.

[ He cracks a wry grin at that. He's heard about "the Harem" and can't stop finding it funny. ]

[spadequeen]

I have heard they are. [He matches his King's grin with an amused smile. The King isn't the only one who finds the thought of "the Harem" rather funny.] They should find their way to her soon enough, I believe.

Meanwhile... [Arthur draws a bit closer, smiling up to his King as he does.] Shall we start discussing our own children?

[The Queen has been excited about the idea of children ever since his husband brought it up. He's been thinking, knitting and doing other things in preparation though they haven't really finalized anything as of yet.]

[spadeking]

[ Alfred stills in his dance steps and his arms immediately move to hold Arthur closer, just as he seems to want. His grin doesn't disappear, but, rather, his eyes light up brightly behind his glasses and his smile emanates genuine warmth, at the mention of his and his Queen's future children. ]

Yes. Yes, definitely.

[ He kisses the Queen's forehead, then his nose. ]

Three, huh?

[spadequeen]

[His eyes close at the kisses, quite pleased to be receiving them even if they are out in public at the moment. It's not as if they have a whole crowd watching them anyway. Arthur nods before opening his eyes to meet Alfred's eyes.]

Three is a good number, yes. At least I think so.

[The Queen, for all that he doesn't have that much affection for his brothers, is quite used to a big family, so three seems normal enough despite how chaotic it could probably get.]

[spadeking]

[ He only has one sibling, but he's a little too caught up in how much fun it'll be raising a whole brood of children with the Queen to really consider how much more stressful it may end up being for everyone— especially Yao. ]

How about four? 'Nice round number.

[spadequeen]

[It's a good thing that the Queen has some foresight where the King doesn't, another evidence of how well they're matched, it seems.]

Four might be too much, dear.

[He may say so, but he's still smiling as he thinks about it. The Palace would be a very different place with children running about.]

[spadeking]

[ The King frowns. ]

But what if two of them get along better together than the third one gets along with them both? Shouldn't he have another brother or sister to talk to?

[ Okay, maybe he is thinking about the future consequences a little bit, at least, but no doubt Arthur still does most of the long-term planning where their personal matters are concerned. His advice is nearly priceless in political and social affairs too, for such reasons. ]

[spadequeen]

[His smile softens in affection at the King's own bit of foresight.]

We wouldn't want him or her to be lonely, yes. But perhaps we can get another one after the others have grown up a little?

[He can just imagine the chaos of having four babies at once.]

[spadeking]

[ He laughs then, a thought suddenly occurring to him: ]

Are we having "triplets", Arthur? Three all at the same time?

[spadequeen]

I think that would be too much for everyone, dear. Imagine the sleepless nights. [He leans his head a little by the King's shoulder then, smiling contentedly.]

[spadeking]

[ Naturally, he's still laughing— mainly because he's imagining Yao's outrage at the umpteenth time one of the children has woken up the others, ensuing in an all-out chorus of crying and screaming. The King has always had a very, ah, vivid imagination. ]

...Okay, okay! So then we're in agreement, right? Let one grow up a little before having another? Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera?

[spadequeen]

[The Queen would probably try to reign in his own laughter should the King share what he's imagining then, though he would feel so sorry for the Jack. The Jack does work too hard and he's just too high strung at times as well.]

[He nods.] Yes, so that he or she will be given proper attention and there would be less grief for everyone.

[spadeking]

[ Well... ]

I'm sure Yao will be really grateful to hear that. He'll get more sleep this way!

[spadequeen]

And us too.

[Of course he plans to take care of the children too when he can. What's the point of having children if you're not involved in raising them? He doesn't want to be one of those fathers who neglect their children.]