the creature alliance - semi advanced discussion

the gentle swishing of coves tail was the only sound one could hear in the massive library. The male leading Eldoris over to the table that had weathered books that had pictures of covers beside them. "Here, I'll find a seat." He offered the chair that looked obviously to be his. "I need to grab the proper supplies anyway." Cove moved away slightly "make yourself comfortable." He added lightly, grabbing the supplies and chair before making himself comfortable across the table to him.

Eldoris looked around the library in amazement. It wasn't as big as the one in the palace, but it was much more impressive than he had expected. He hadn't ever needed to visit this one as books were either delivered to him or already in the palace one, so he savored every detail he could.
Eldoris awkwardly sat down and tried to look anywhere but at Cove. He focused on the old library scent, one of lavender tea and dust. "Being a librarian for a place as massive as this . . . it looks very difficult. What made you decide to become one?"

"A mixture of things, realistically." Cove pulled out the supplies. He began putting the books into positions. "My fathers wanted me into something people needed. I chose the library." He cracked his knuckles, grinning. "My papa, he was a librarian before he married my dad. I grew up loving it."

Eldoris watched Cove work with interested eyes. It was an interesting hobby and similar to something that Cordelia would enjoy. "I'm glad you're doing what you're passionate about," Eldoris said, and for a moment an almost envious expression appeared on his face. He himself didn't know this, but he didn't enjoy being the heir to the throne. It always kept him away from the things he loved and put stress on himself.
"Reading was always something I did whenever I could. Looking back at it, I should have been trying to spend more time with my family. And considering one of my parents is dead, I find it odd that I never took family time into account."

cove blinked, head tilted as he thought a moment. "You're always welcome to come back here, or, you know, take some books right now." he kept his expression neutral. "I understand stress, not as much as you, but a decent amount. " He hummed and picked at the dried paint. "Don't be ashamed of doing something you love. It's not bad to have something that causes your hormones to go positive." He grinned "Anyways, great first date, right?"

Eldoris didn't hesitate and the invitation, getting up and walking to the fantasy bookshelf and examining several titles and their blurbs.
"Well, there's no need for comparison," he said as he read the first sentence of a book. He lifted his head up to Cove. "All stress is just . . . overwhelming. No matter the amount." He closed the book and slid it back into place, taking out another in the process. Eldoris nodded, wishing that was something he could believe in. "While I think it's nice to have hobbies, I just feel like I can't focus on those all the time. I have a kingdom to worry about, especially with a war on the horizon and, well, it feels like both sides want us to choose." He didn't mean to unload so much on Cove and lowered his head, feeling like he'd just killed the mood.
Eldoris felt his face heat from the last remark, but his face was turned and felt relieved. "Yeah. And I suppose we have another tomorrow. With . . . my mom. How awkward." As much as he loved his mother, he knew everything they said would be something for her to tease him about later. All good natured, of course, but not something he was looking forward to.

Cove swallowed, rolling up his sleeves and leaning back into the chair. He kept his gaze on Eldoris, dominant and quiet. "My fathers will be attending as well. You find the queen embarrassing? Wait till you meet them." He groaned, leaning his head back.

"Yeah, I understand that. Please don't look if she ever shows you the photo album she keeps of . . . my baby photos," he said, cringing at the memories of her showing them to the few friends he had ever had in his life.
He turned back to Cove, having a stack of books just barely sticking to his arm. "What's it like having a dad? Well, you have two, but you know what I mean. I'm sure you know that the king is dead and I'm the only one biologically related to him," he said, trying to remain casual. He wanted to know, though. Eldoris didn't often ask that sort of question, but now it was weighing on his mind. Part of him, oddly enough, wanted someone to miss. But he didn't know much about his dad other than the strange snippets his mother gave.

"Well, I guess I could ask the same question. It's fine, although having two of them can be overwhelming at times, I love them both equally." Cove licked his lips and grinned. "You have the stereotypical fathers who throw balls and expect you to catch and they're the definition of that at times. It's just the testosterone." He looked at him, head tilting.
"Do you understand?"

"Well, I guess I favor my mom," Eldoris said and laughed. At the next part, he nodded but did not follow in the slightest. "Well, it sounds kinda fun. But no, I don't really understand. Do you know what a mother is like?" he asked. He didn't think Cove would be the type to yearn for a mother since he had two parents.
"I guess I never really missed my dad like people would think. He just wasn't ever there, but it's a common conversation topic for people to mention my dad. I have all of my siblings to make up for it, so I'm not really all that lonely."

((hey, did you see this?))

//NO OOPS//

"My mother was a servant to my fathers. Essentially, I never knew her or my biological father." Cove speaks, stretching. "I know your dad. Was old enough to recognize him. Plus, water holds memories. Wanna see?" He held up a hand, brows furrowing in concentration as the water around him heated. He pulled a vibration out, a males voice. not that different to Eldoris' own. With a yelp, he blinked. "You said your dad was dead?" he stood, biting his lip in fear and intrigues.

Water holds memories? Eldoris stared in wonder at whatever he was doing and was shocked to see what was happening. Was that his father's voice? He listened closely, though it was a bit muddied.
"Yeah, he'd dead," he said and put his hand behind his head. Talking about it was a little bit weird. "Before I was even born. He died in a war, I believe."

"No, Eldoris. He's not." Cove says gently, pulling a hand out further to reveal a large orb. A male in the middle walking around. He seemed to be drinking something, obviously drunk. Cove drooped, eyes blinking before his hands dropped in exhaustion before he passed out.

He breathed in. "What do you mean?" he asked, fully ready to be angry at Cove. He didn't want to be given false hope.
Eldoris couldn't see the man's face, only the back showing his brown hair. "How do you know that's my father?"
Eldoris didn't tremble just yet. There was no need to really take this seriously until proven true.

"Because-" He could feel the exhaustion hitting him fully. "Only living can talk, Eldoris. If he was dead, memories of up to his death would play. Not current events." Cove looked at him. "You should probably tell your mother." He added gently, leaning back fully.

Eldoris pressed his mouth into a thin line. "How do you know that wasn't a past event?" he said. Already his mind was racing. What the hell was going on? Eldoris stood straighter than usual, not wanting his emotions to show. This was becoming too complex.

"Because he was speaking, eldoris. And we could hear him. May I have your hand? Perhaps I can target him once more. Give you a general area using your magic and mine." Cove held out his hand. "It will work longer, give us more an explanation."

Eldoris was hardly comprehending. He wanted to yell at Cove and tell him to cut it out, but the man seemed so sincere.
He tentatively extended his hand, not sure where this was going. "What do I do, exactly? If my father is alive, I don't want to mess this up," he said, his heart rate going just a bit faster than average.

"Just relax." Cove bit his lip, hand gently grasping Eldoris' own as he mostly drained Eldoris of his magic energy. It would regenerate, just not until later that night. "You're going to get light-headed, but if anything happens I will be here." He furrowed his brow, forming an orb between them as he closed in the space between them. A males voice, clear as day, echoed through, obviously drunk. He was alive.

Eldoris began to feel woozy, barely able to focus on what was happening. He steeled himself, appearing only a little bit foggy on the outside, though was completely different on the inside.
He didn't respond, only intensely watched what Cove was showing. The man stumbled, a flower by his ear. Something about him was familiar, though Eldoris couldn't quite place it. It was likely simply that he was his father and they shared a similar face. He looked up at Cove.
"So, how do I find him?" he asked, voice devoid of emotion. Now was not the time to make a decision based on feelings. He'd get to that when he really saw if this was true, seeing as a part of him still doubted this was reality.

"He's in the kingdom so it shouldn't be as hard to find him. Focus on his tail, you see that scar? Focus on that. Check the bars, he's probably a regular based on his actions." Cove sat up as he shifted, letting go of Eldoris and shaking his hand. "I'll help you, Kinsly shouldn't be that hard to track."

"Kinsly?" Eldoris said for a moment, more so to himself. He recognized that name. He knew that he'd met someone like that . . .
Hm. Likely just deja vu. Nothing important.
He shrugged. "Yeah, I'll try. Thank you, Cove. It will be a pleasure to meet you, uh, again. At the more formal date. It's going to be scary to track him down . . ," he said. Right now he couldn't even think of how this was possible, but simply needed to get down to the bottom of this. "I feel like I've heard that name before, so maybe I've seen him around somewhere."

"I should probably tell Peleki when I deliver the newest books she has ordered. It'll be best to tell her now than to let her find out." Cove let out a frustrated sigh before he began washing his hands. "You'll need my help if you will allow it."

Eldoris nodded. "I don't want to keep secrets from her. She actually knew the man, so it wouldn't be fair," he said. "And yes, that'd be great. I've only searched for someone once." When he said that last bit, he was reminded of Cordelia turning his insides out. It was rather brutal, but a funny memory nonetheless. Usually he'd be disgusted, but knowing what he did he thought it was justified. "You seem like you'd be better at that thing. Well, when do you want to start searching? Do we let my mom know first?" he asked. He was usually the one to make plans, yet felt like he had no idea what the best course of action was in this situation. It felt odd to rely on someone else, but there was no point in refusing free help.

"We're going to head out tomorrow around this time. You can either meet me here or I can meet you at the castle. I'll get commoner clothes for us, because Kinsly isn't a moron and he has military training, which means once he gets scared he'll sprint. I'll make your mother aware, it'll sound better coming from me than you, merely because I was his apprentice for a while there." Cove clenched his fist, thinking.

At Cove's thought out plan, Eldoris felt a bit nervous. And a bit jealous. Wow, Cove was already a better fit leader than him. Quickly, he fixed himself and changed it to admiration. Leaders couldn't be jealous.
"The palace might be better so I can see if my mom wants to come. She'll also be excited to see us in the same room together," he said and cringed a little. He would give her what she wanted, though. She had sacrificed so much for him and the kingdom. "Well, I hope he doesn't sprint. It would be rather embarrassing to have a father like that." Now Eldoris wasn't so sure if he wanted to meet his father. Someone who willingly ran away, it didn't sound too great. It'd be fine, he told himself. They could be a happy, full family.

"I'd like to get this done as soon as possible. So, here. Just so your mother doesn't feel too overly negative towards me." He pulled off his silver hand ring, the bracelet cuff and the rings clattering. "A gift." He prompted, holding it out to the male.

"Why would she dislike you? I mean, she did pick you as the top three men of my dreams," he said. Then again, he wasn't sure how she picked them.
This time Eldoris couldn't suppress a blush. It was definitely unexpected and he would've handled it more appropriately had he been given maybe, possibly, a few months or so to prepare. He took it tentatively, hoping he was doing this right. "Thank you--it's--you're, uh, just thank you," he quickly said, the blush continuing to creep around him. "I apologize, I'm not normally like this," he added and looked away. The blush did not falter. How could he be so stupid now? Surely Cove would never want to marry him now. His mother would be so disappointed at his horrible flirtation skills.

//DUDE COVE-//

"No-" He huffed and stood, coming over. "No, I think it's cute. Give me your hand. I'm not going to touch you, just put the bracelet on." Cove shifted nervously, his cheeks warm, barely flushed. He enjoyed that he could make the prince flush, it made his ego swell. "She doesn't exactly think fondly of me."

Eldoris was certain he looked ill now. He couldn't really think now and just wanted to shrivel up in a ball and die for a little bit, but also was a bit excited to see what might happen next. Even if he was dying of extreme, intense, horrible embarrassment.
"Thank you . . ," Eldoris murmured as he put the bracelet on, feeling like a stupid toddler. He was good at everything, but this? This was not something he had ever practiced before. It was his fault for focusing on everything else, since now he had to submit to this man. Then, another embarrassing thought came that made him bite his tongue: was that so bad?
"Then why would she pick you? My mom is pretty weird. I can't tell what she's thinking most of the time, even though we've known each other, well, my entire life. Yet she knows everything about me," he stated, rather confused. His mom was just psychic or something, he didn't know.

"Not to be rude, but the Queen is pretty strange." Cove shrugged. "Not something to ask me, though, and you are welcome, handsome~" He cackled and shifted, leaning back. "It's okay to not be perfect at everything, Eldoris. I'm here to make you stronger, not break you down"

Eldoris nodded. "Thank you, Cove. You are a kind person," he said, even though he felt stupid for saying it. But he knew he needed to let his emotions out more, that it'd be the only way to form a strong relationship.
"Well, I should get back to the palace. I need to give Cordelia this and start reading these books. We'll see each other tomorrow, so it won't be that long of a wait," Eldoris stated and smiled. He felt happy and excited for this.

((time skip or nah?))

//timeskip.//

((oki))

//I'll start at the palace.//

//statyed in the halls.//