Alexei's Choice

Life, Identity

Alexei decides to move to Sivania for a new job and to be with his thiramin. 

Fenneck hurried down to Alexei's tavern, anxious to here about Alexei's night with Padma. He walked into the tavern and saw Alexei, alone, cleaning the tables. "Well?" Fenneck asked as he walked in. Alexei looked up and smiled, "Hello. I'm surprised you waited this long. I was half expecting you to barge in here at the crack of dawn demanding to know what happened." He teased him, setting down the rag he was using. "Well?!" Fenneck asked him again, impatiently. Alexei sighed and leaned back against one of the tables. "I guess I should at least thank you, shouldn't I?" He said, not really knowing where to start. "I guess it should have been obvious that she was from another fiefdom." He observed. Fenneck sighed impatiently, "Did you like her or not?" He demanded. Alexei shrugged, "I didn't find her repulsive." He teased. Fenneck gave him a look. Alexei frowned at him, "You know you and Jasna are not nearly as clever as you might think yourselves to be." "When did you realize, then? When you met my eyes toward the end?" Fenneck asked him. Alexei smiled, "I knew almost instantly, Fenneck. For one, you don't know how to flirt. Especially when you're trying to make it look like you do. Jasna by contrast, was flirting far too well." He observed. Fenneck rolled his eyes, "Enough about me and Jasna. What did you think of her? I found her quite charming." Fenneck prompted him. Alexei sighed, "I'm not sure. I don't really think it makes sense. She's leaving in a few days anyway. I'm honestly not sure I'll ever see her again." He said casually. "She's your thiramin, Alexei!" "You met yours, Fenneck. And where is she? Why is she not clinging to your arm right now if you are so destined to be together?" Alexei accused him. Fenneck threw his hands up in defeat, "I don't know, Lex! I don't know why she's not here right now. But I do know that you felt something last night. Why then, will you not pursue it?" He exclaimed. Alexei looked down sadly, "Because Fenneck. I don't want to leave Flottenheim and I don't want to ruin her life by making her stay here. She's a duchess, Fenneck! I'm just a bartender." "Then why would it be any different than what you feel with me? I'm technically a prince! It doesn't mean anything!" Fenneck tried to tell him. "I have a life here, Fenneck." He motioned to his tavern, "I don't know if I want to give that up." He said sadly. Fenneck sighed and walked over and grabbed a chair next to him and sat down to face his friend. "Alexei, is this really all you want? If so, that's fine. I won't press you otherwise, but do you not miss the... excitement of our lives during and after the revolution? I've thought all these years that the next thing that would make my life complete would be finding true love." Fenneck said thoughtfully, "But what I found with Natalya is so much more than that. What she has brought me and my life is worth more than any other kind of love. I'm finally doing something again. I'm helping people. I have a purpose again." He looked in Alexei's eyes, "Do you not want something more? Maybe she's not here for you to fall in love with. Maybe she's here to take you off on a grand adventure across Thymryu!" Alexei shook his head and sat down across from Fenneck, "I don't do adventures, Fen. Even during the revolution I was never a fighter." He shrugged sadly. Fenneck shook his head, "Do you remember what you told me your favorite part about your job here was?" Alexei thought for a moment and shrugged, "Unlimited booze?" He joked. Fenneck smiled, "You once told me your favorite part was meeting people. You have the ability to make friends with anybody. You love hearing other people's stories and adventures. Why not go and make your own? Go to a bar for once. Have someone else fix you a drink." Alexei sighed and shrugged and opened his mouth to speak before suddenly getting to his feet and bowing toward the door. "Your grace." He said. Fenneck turned and saw Baegla entering the bar. "Good morning Alexei! Fenneck!" She greeted them. Fenneck bowed his head, "Your grace." He addressed her reluctantly. She waved them off, "Oh pish-posh with the titles and bowing! It's just the three of us!" She said before turning to Fenneck. "Fenneck dear, would you please excuse Alexei and I? We have a few things to discuss." Fenneck leaned his head back in exasperation, "Is this about whether your heir should be a talking pigeon or are we going to raise my father from the dead? Either of which are as absurd as joining Thymryu as a fiefdom so why not roll the dice a little and, like always, be sure to keep me out of the loop." He said passive aggressively. Baegla sighed in exasperation, "It's a personal matter, Fenneck Finnegan Frostears." She scolded him, "I'll be sure to let Catherine know of your nomination though. Now please leave." Fenneck scowled at her for using his last name and swaggered out of the bar. A few days passed where Fenneck hung out in the palace. He tried to go visit Alexei again but he always seemed to be missing from his usual station. Fenneck dined with the court of Sivania some more but tried to avoid asking Padma about her situation with Alexei. They kept everything very formal. He liked her and found himself growing frustrated with Alexei for not taking this opportunity. It was very clear she had not informed her parents of her connection though, as they would occasionally cast herself and Fenneck glances as if they were courting each other. Fenneck found that royal inclination to be disgusting. He believed people should marry for love, not titles. Mostly they talked about the differences in their political scenes. Fenneck was excited to know that a fiefdom used an election system and he latched onto every word she said about how they managed it. One afternoon, they were promenading through the palace together. "So you're saying that your farms are neither owned by the state nor the people?" She asked, trying to understand the economic system of Glitterfjell. "Some families have private farms in their homes or just outside of them, like in the Vallee, but the large ones are open to all. They are not too much work to manage and whenever someone decides they need crops they can easily go and harvest it for themselves. The magical properties of it all are immensely important, though, because it removes the danger of supply and demand." He explained. "That's normally our biggest problem." She replied. "The harsh heat and unfavorable weather make it difficult to farm there. Our crop yield just isn't enough to feed the city without imports from the other fiefdoms, and even then we still have so many die from starvation each year." She said sadly. Fenneck admired how much she actually seemed to care about her people. "I have to admit, I find myself surprised by your family's affection and desire to help your citizens. I was quite hesitant about our merge with Thymryu, as I have an innate distrust of royalty, you see." She giggled, "Oh that was abundantly clear when I met you." She teased him. He smiled at her jest. "All I mean to say is that I am relieved to know there are still good people in the world, especially in positions of power." He explained as he opened the door into Revolutionary Hall. She walked up to one of the displays and studied it thoughtfully, "I have to admit, your highness, your ability to refrain from asking me about your dear friend and I's night together is quite remarkable." She said now that they were alone. He smiled and also pretended to admire the display case of one of the suits of leather armor Naertho had made for the soldiers during the revolution. "I would not want to offend your highness with such - what I can only hope to be - a vulgar subject." He said, carefully insinuating her and Alexei's trip into the bedroom. She smiled, "I hate to disappoint you, but your friend was quite the gentleman." She replied, enjoying the game. "Well, this is the first I've heard of it. I haven't seen him since the day after and he was quite restrained about what actually happened between the two of you." She sighed and walked over to a mural. "We talked, mostly. Unfortunately, we came to the conclusion that it didn't quite make sense." She tried to hide her disappointment by changing the subject, "Your grace, you never did explain what you meant when you referred to your own experience with thiramin." He walked up next to her and frowned, "Well, I hate to ruin the mood with such a depressing tale." He teased softly. She looked up at him expectantly and he sighed in defeat, "A few years ago I met her in the mountains. She thought I was trying to charm her so we didn't exactly get off to a great start." He chuckled to keep the mood light. "I brought her back to Flottenheim and we tried to make it work. She ended up leaving me... on two different occasions. Now we work in the mountains together on a certain project for Baegla and she's in love with someone across the border in Lenisily whom she visits frequently. So... not exactly ideal." He explained. Padma considered this for a few moments as she weaved around the hall. "Do you love her?" She finally asked as she turned and met his eyes over her shoulder, dropping her formalities with him. He looked down and sighed, "Yes. But we are not together, nor do I really believe we ever will be. I came to the conclusion that my thiramin was here for a different purpose than romantic love and marriage." He told her honestly. She considered this before turning to him again, "Alexei is... sweet. He's not what I expected, though." She said thoughtfully, "What if it were the case that he and I didn't fancy each other? He was not too fond of my position or the fact that I live so far away. I am not exactly sold on moving here, unless it were for... political reasons." She looked Fenneck over as she said this. "I'm rather fond of being a princess." She said, meeting his eyes, "Wouldn't it make sense for us to cut our loses with the gods and decide a union for ourselves? One that makes more... logical sense?" It took Fenneck a few moments to realize what she was suggesting and he was taken quite off guard. Why is everyone except my thiramin suddenly trying to marry me? Fenneck thought. "Padma..." he started, trying to figure out how to go about this. Luckily, at that moment Alexei himself opened the door into the hall and looked surprised to see them both there together. "Fenneck. Baegla said you were up here." He turned to Padma, "Your highness." He bowed to her politely. She blushed a little and looked nervously over at Fenneck, hoping he wouldn't betray her. "Fenneck, could I speak with you a moment?" Alexei asked Fenneck. Fenneck nodded and turned to Padma, "Your highness, if you'll excuse me." He bowed to her politely and met her eyes briefly as he straightened himself. He gave her a tiny nod and quickly turned and followed Alexei out into the ballroom and across the way over to the hallway into the second tower. When they were finally alone, Alexei turned to him hesitantly, "I have some news." He announced, "But I wanted you to be the first to know." He said, nervously rubbing his hands together. "What's up?" Fenneck asked, unsure if he should be concerned or not. Alexei looked up into his eyes, "I'm... leaving." He said hesitantly. Fenneck saw tears building up in Alexei's eyes and he shook his head in confusion. "Wha... Where are you going?" Fenneck asked him sadly. Alexei looked down and tried to fight his sadness. "To Sivania." He said quietly. "Because of Padma?" Fenneck asked him. Alexei shook his head, "Not really. She doesn't know yet. I am going as a representative of Glitterfjell. I'll be a member of their court there in charge of managing the farms and resources we are sending over as part of the union with Thymryu. Baegla and Duke Rajyet decided to name me a Count and I'll live in their palace there." Fenneck leaned against the wall, shaken by this sudden news and slowly slid down to the floor. Alexei sighed and sat down next to him. "I'm sorry, Fen. Our agreement's off." He said sadly. Fenneck sighed and stared blankly at the wall before him, trying to process the fact that his best friend was about to move so far away from him. After a while Fenneck finally looked over at Alexei. "Is this what you want?" Alexei nodded slowly, "It is. I was hesitant at first but... it makes sense. You were right. I do want to have an adventure of my own. I know it will be hard, not to mention hot." He said with disgust as he thought about moving to a desert. "But I don't know. I'm... kind of excited. Maybe... maybe it makes sense to be with Padma. I... I really like her Fen." He said, fighting off tears. Fenneck thought about Natalya and smiled. "I'm glad. I like her too. She's insanely clever and she's a good hearted person, Alexei. I think you two will work out." Fenneck couldn't help his voice from cracking in pain. He was happy for Alexei, but he couldn't help himself from thinking about how it wasn't fair that Alexei's thiramin might actually work. Or the fact that he had finally felt like he was moving on and ready to try things with Alexei right as he was taken from him. Just like with Erikur. He felt a tear slide down his face and Alexei scooted over and they pulled each other into a tight hug and cried on each others shoulders. "I love you so much Fenneck!" Alexei cried into his shoulder. "I love you too, Alexei!" Fenneck squeezed him close and they held each other for a long time, crying in the hallway and saying goodbye to one another. "When are you leaving?" Fenneck finally asked him. Alexei sighed, "On the first. We'll be here for the New Year celebrations and then we'll leave for Sivania the next day." Fenneck nodded sadly, "So we have a day, essentially?" Alexei squeezed his hands, "I'm sorry, Fenneck." Fenneck squeezed him back, "I'm really happy for you, Lex. I'll miss you like crazy! I suppose I'll have to plan a trip to Sivania, huh? Maybe I could spend a winter there and truly escape the cold." Fenneck tried to move past the pain of losing his friend. Alexei smiled. "You should. Maybe by then Natalya will be willing to come with you." He suggested. Fenneck shook his head, "I don't know. She's happy with Dimitri." Alexei frowned. "Don't give up yet. Who knows, Fen? It could still happen. I found mine!" He said. Fenneck laughed, "Yes, and she suggested I marry her because she was afraid you didn't like her!" Alexei shrugged guiltily, "I know. I should try and talk to her. I'm just a bit nervous for putting it off for so long. I've also been in constant meetings with Baegla and Rajyet these last few days trying to iron everything out." Fenneck sighed. "You're really leaving, huh?" Alexei nodded thoughtfully. "I never would have thought something like this would happen. Promise you'll come visit me!" Fenneck smiled. "Of course. Padma told me about a dragon I would love to meet sometime." Alexei smiled. "I love you, Fenneck," he said, looking into Fenneck's eyes. "I love you too, Alexei," he said lovingly before leaning in and sharing one last passionate kiss. Eventually they collected themselves and Alexei went to tell Padma the news. Fenneck went down into the palace and found Jasna reading in the library. He joined her on the couch and she let him cry in her lap as he lamented the loss of his best friend. He eventually made it to his room to rest and noticed the bouquet of flowers still blooming brightly on his table and he smiled. Erikur walked up and smelled them. "You truly are cursed, aren't you? Just as soon as love starts to reveal itself to you, the universe snatches it away from you." Fenneck sat down at the table. "He'll be happy with her, off on an adventure. He deserves one." Erikur sat down across from him. "He does, doesn't he?" He said thoughtfully. "Are you gonna be okay?" Erikur asked him. Fenneck sighed and felt Natalya's presence with him. "I will. Is it a bad thing to wait for someone? We've become good friends over these last few years and... well, Dimitri is a half-elf. I suppose I shall outlive him. Perhaps it will make sense in a century or so." He tried to fight the tears and pain as he imagined being painfully in love with Natalya for so long without any kind of reciprocation. Erikur sighed. "Maybe you could marry a human until then?" Fenneck sighed sadly at such a depressing notion. "I should get some rest." Fenneck said, standing up and walking over to his bed. "Goodnight, Fen." Erikur said as he disappeared, leaving Fenneck alone in his room. Except Fenneck wasn't really alone. He still felt his red-headed wood elf with him in spirit. He sighed and fell into his meditation.