faderift | [Open] Drinks with a King

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[Open] Drinks with a King

WHO: Iskandar and whoever joins him
WHAT: Iskandar has been matching Thedas months to Earth months and is guessing this is around a certain time of year. So he's hear to hold a memorial of sorts.
WHEN: Beginning of Justinian
WHERE: The docks
NOTES: Talk of death and dying. Note this is not a suicide content warning.

This wasn't the Okeanos of his dreams but he felt it would satisfy the time. That was to say he'd been figuring out how the months of this world might line up with those of his own world and had come up with the fact that his might be around Earth's June. The very same month historians had figured out he'd died at the age of thirty-two. Much had happened since that time but he felt that this was a day to honor something. Not him, of course, he had plenty of that already. No today was for those who had died living under his rule.

So he sat at the edge of the docks with a number of wine bottles around him. A couple were empty already to mark how much time had passed since he'd come out here. Around his neck was a small cat who had decided this was his favorite location to sleep even when Iskandar wasn't wearing his cloak. It was just nice to have a solid place to snooze apparently. Also there was a mabari pup next to him, sitting there as if trying to mimic the man in being calm. Not well though considering he kept wiggling about.

Iskandar chuckled and looked over his shoulder, having become aware that he wasn't alone. "Hello there. Would you care to join me? I am honoring the dead with a little memorial of sorts. You are welcome to think of your own lost ones if you like."

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"It has gotten better."

A weak protest, but Waver only said it because he felt some level of obligation. He then let out a sigh, and nudged Iskandar gently.

"Pass the bottle?"

Fishing out one of the bottles, he let Waver have his very own. Less because he didn't want to share and more because he was likely to finish this on his own with ease and that would leave Waver with little. Far more fair this way.

"You are right. It has gotten better. I have a lot of pride when I think of how far you've come."

Waver felt a little flush on his face, but at least he could busy himself with the bottle to hide that fact. It felt uncouth drinking right from the bottle, but here, on the dock, with Iskandar, with a giant not-a-dog on his lap, it also felt right for the moment.

"Thanks," he murmured, before taking a sip from the bottle and then placing it down. All the better to lean on Iskandar and close his eyes, content.

"I didn't think I'd hear that from you in my lifetime."

"Now you have. No matter what I want you to treasure those words for I mean them with my whole heart."

The dog gave a little bark then let his tongue flop out. Iskandar laughed and gave his belly a pat before looking at Waver. Looking down at him, how relaxed he was. "Achilles Alexander likes you a great deal. Look at what a find family we are."

"I'm half tempted to ask for them in writing too."

In case something happened again. That was a thought Waver hated dwelling on, the question of what if something forced the two apart again. The grief of the first time had been overwhelming, and Waver was unsure how well he could handle a second loss.

"You really ought to stop naming everything after yourself," he said with an eyeroll, hand still moving to pet the creature behind the ears. "It is bound to get confusing."

There's Alexandria, and Alexandria over there, and oh yes, Alexandria.

"I don't name everything after myself. These two are named after other people." And himself but still... "And I named one thing after my horse."

That had to count for something right?

"Their second names are yours!" Waver countered. "That doesn't change things."

Okay, it did. It made things less confusing, but Waver wasn't going to let Iskandar off the hook. "There's a bunch of movies and books back home about people and the magical bonds they have with their horses. You'd love them."

He pouted even though it was the truth. Their second names were in fact his own names. That really was a key thing there. That habit of his was a strong one and breaking it would be...a challenge. To say the least.

Then he was distracted. "There are? I would love to see these things! That bond with a horse is truly a powerful one! I think I should get you your own horse so you can see!"

"I think I have too many responsibilities looking after something much bigger and harder to take care of than a horse." Waver offered Iskandar a pointed look, trying to remain serious. A grin threatened though, and Waver managed to chase it off.

"But if we ever get home, I'll get you an entire collection of horse and girl bonding books."

His eyes widened. "They have books like that?"

Now, he knew that he wasn't going to return to Waver's time. His time in that world with Waver had come to an end. It was why he cherished these times they had together. Still, he knew better than to bring down the moment by bringing up that kind of a topic. As somber as this moment really was, he didn't have to make it depressing.

"And films," Waver added. "Although I think you've got all of them beat by virtue of your story being true."

"But of course! That is often the case when it comes to tales!" He laughed and clapped his hand on Waver's shoulder. Really he so loved these talks that they had these days. Without thought of winning the Grail or other Servants around to bring chaos.

"You've researched me more, I'm sure. What are your favorite tales of mine?"

"Well, there's some I roll my eyes at pretty hard," Waver admitted. "Naming a city after you horse, for example."

Because really? Really?

"Hephaestion being mistaken for you by Darius' mother wins actual favorite though."

"I don't see why that should be strange. Bucephalus clearly deserves such an honor."

He's been in the process of doing something similar for Hephaestion too during his last days. Obviously, history knew how that had ended.

Well, back to the story at hand... Iskandar chuckled.

"The look on her face is one I will remember for some time to come."

"Well, first off, it's you so it is less strange than say, what Nero did with his horse. But it is also fun to gently rib about."

Oh, if Waver only knew what Nero was about. Waver shifted his weight slightly, head resting on Iskandar's chest.

"You two couldn't have looked that similar at the time, right?"

Which one in the Hetairoi had been Hephaestion anyway?

"You'd be surprised. Many might have said we were bothers when looking upon us. Of course we always felt our connection to be deeper than that."

Anyone who knew of the sorrow he expressed when Hephaestion died would be aware of that. It was as if he just didn't know how to continue in that world without his truest friend at his side.

"I think she felt she would be punished for her mistake and was shocked when I just laughed."

"Given the context of what had happened, I think she was in the right to be concerned."

That had been the conqueror Waver never saw, not really. Hints of it, yes, but never the whole thing. He had never been sure how to feel about that, if he was letting himself ignore the parts of history that were not ideal.

"You just have weird connections with everyone, I've determined."

"Weird? How are they weird?"

All he did was offer friendship before anything else. That seemed a perfectly reasonable thing to do if one were to ask him. It certainly gained a lot of loyalty and respect from those that were around him if nothing else.

"It's always beyond friendship, it feels. I don't know how else to put it into words."

It isn't romance or anything else either. Weird and special and impossible to define. Much like the man himself, but that's not the point of discussion right now.

"A fair point."

He considered the point carefully as he watched the water. His relationships really were beyond the realm of friendship, each one unique in its own way. There were many he loved but each stood on their own throne in his heart.

"I think that is true. Friendship is too small a word to contain what I feel for those around me. My heart burns too strongly for it to be encompassed in something so small. Odd to say because friendship is hardly a tiny thing. But it is why my greatest treasure is and always will be the people. My followers. My cherished loved ones."

What could you say to something like that? Waver let out a low, quiet hum of agreement happy with where he was, now practically melting against Iskandar's side, head gently lodged against the man's hip.

"You're big," Waver said, finally. "Of course your capacity for such things is proportionate to you."

Lowering a hand down, he started to stroke Waver's hair, admiring how soft it was along his fingers. Waver might not always eat as well as he'd like him too but he certainly took good care of his appearance. Iskandar smiled gently as he played with the strands without looking at the man.

"I would not be the King I am if I did not allow my capacity for love to extend widely."

"Mmmm," Waver agreed, the sound coming from deep in his belly. This felt damn nice, but...oh he had to swallow a yawn. Jeez, it wasn't even late yet.

"If you keep doing that, I'm going to fall asleep here."

"Then sleep. I will wake you when it is time for us to go home."

There was plenty of time before then really. Iskandar saw no reason for them not to spend some time here with the cat on his shoulders and the dog cuddling with Waver who had his head on his lap now. It was peaceful like this, a very physical reminder of what he had now so he could know there was no need to drift into the past.

"You sure?"

Waver felt irresponsible in a way, because sleeping company wasn't exactly good company. But like this well, the whole scene was too soothing, too comfortable, too much like being wrapped up in a warm blanket beside the fire. The warm weight of the dog didn't help that feeling.

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conqueredhearts - 2017-07-28 12:09 (UTC) - Expand

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kartereo - 2017-07-28 14:40 (UTC) - Expand

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