eachdraidh | video ☆ open to both

Looks like there's shortcuts now. Good to know, and I'm sure it makes my horse a lot happier.

[Because carrying around this big solid man for weeks isn't a graze in the pasture. Steve's reached a new destination though, with the help of a fairy ring or two. There's a lot of hustle and bustle behind him, the background so different from the rest of this world that it's obvious where he is. The effect is a lot like when he crashed through a wall and into the new and improved(?) Times Square.]

I think we were supposed to leave cakes for the fairies, except I didn't have any. I don't have much at all right now.

[His brow furrows at that. His plain white t-shirt is easy to see, and a glimpse of soft blue pants isn't impossible either. Yeah, he's been travelling from the other Court in his pajamas.

But at least he still has his shield.]

My name is Steve Rogers. I come from Earth, and I grew up in Brooklyn. I joined the Army, and I've been in a war before, so I thought I knew what I was signing up for when I came here. What I've found are people on both sides who really don't wanna fight. So I don't care if you're Seelie or Unseelie, if you're out there and you need help, I'll do whatever I can to help.

[To the absolute delight of travelling best buddy, no doubt. Steve starts to close his locket, before thinking of one last small detail.]

Oh, and for anyone who's been to the Station before, do you know where they sell shoes?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think he makes it.

[And Steve would have to admit that it's pretty impressive.]

You must like knights, though.

He's a smith! That's amazing! Well, I come from a family of knights. My father is the head knight of the Order in England. And knights protect people. It's important.

I can't think of anything more important.

So you're from England? I have a friend from there.

[Or, well, maybe had]

[That makes her smile sweetly, and with a lot of appreciation.] I can't think of anything more important, either.

But, yes! I'm from England. You know, I was actually on my way to visit America when, um, when I came here. But I haven't actually been. I'm sure it's lovely.

I hope you make it there someday. Try to catch a baseball game, I bet you'd really enjoy it.

Now that I think about it, I wouldn't mind visiting England again either.

[At a time when there wasn't a war raging.]

Oh, I know baseball! I think my brother would be very good at it. He plays cricket at his college. [And she misses him to the point that it hurts, but she won't say that. She'll only show delight.]

Whereabouts did you get to see, when you went, sir?

London.

[And he hesitates before adding:]

I didn't really get a chance to see the sights.

[Because war.]

[Luckily (?), Elizabeth is from well before the war; she doesn't know that it even happened (will happen???). So she can only tut and shake her head, curls bobbing.]

That's a shame! It's a very interesting place. My father lets me go shopping there when I've been good, and I also sometimes take day trips there to spend time with my fiance. There's a lot to see! I hope you get to go sometime for pleasure, sir.

You're engaged?

[The surprise can probably be heard in his voice. She seems...well, she looks a little young. But who would guess him to be in his nineties.]

Yes! I'm going to marry the Earl Phantomhive. Oh, don't worry, it's been that way since forever. I don't remember a time when I didn't know I would marry Ciel.

[She's awfully sunny about this! Well, she genuinely loves him, though - for an arranged marriage, it's worked out awfully well for her so far.]

So someone decided for you.

[The furrow in his brow continues to deepen. Seriously, his forehead's in danger of caving in.]

Mind if I ask how old you are?

Umm, our parents decided... My father is the Marquess Midford, you see... And Ciel is my cousin on my mother's side. I'm fourteen years old, one year older than him. We aren't getting married until we're older, though! And it's a good thing! I love him sooo much, so I'm really happy to know I'll be his wife!

[Just Victorians doing Victorian things over here...]

So when you get older...if one of you decides that you don't want to go through with it, what happens then?

[Please hold.]

Well, sir, that wouldn't, that just wouldn't happen, you see.

[Why does he feel like he might've said something wrong. Oh yeah, because he's talking to a girl.]

Oh - right, I'm sure it won't. But could you make that call if you wanted to?

Well. It won't happen. It absolutely won't happen.

But. It'd be terribly out of line to break an arrangement like ours. If one of us declined the marriage our parents arranged for us, our position in high society would fall steeply. It'd mar our name. It would be a very bad idea.

And it would be... humiliating, for the other party, of course. So, luckily, we won't run into that problem.

As bad as all that sounds, it would still be worse to marry someone you didn't love, or someone who didn't love you.

But you seem happy, so...

[Some nervous laughter, a little thin— ] I just don't know what I'd do if Ciel rejected the arrangement.

Don't worry. I'm sure he likes you a lot.

[That, at least, makes her relax.]

We were best friends, growing up. We played together often. He used to come by for visits and Mother would train him with the sword, and I'd watch him and...

[And bite the inside of her cheek, knowing she couldn't say anything about how terrible his swordplay was. This very nice man says that Ciel likes her, but she's been keeping her own swordplay secret from him for so long, fearing his disgust.]

...And it was nice. Everything was nice.

I'm glad to hear that you're friends. That's important.

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