[CLOSED | COMPLETE ] Show me the light Characters: Anubis (dogofthedead) & Helen (helel Date/Time: July 31st, night Location: The palace in Babylon Rating: PG-13 Warnings: Mentions of character death, Helen. Summary: Anubis talks to Helen about his brother's death
Anubis was tired. There was nothing else to it. He was exhausted and he'd done nothing more than see to his brother and instruct people to look after Echo and Helen without spreading the story until he was able to announce it himself. He knew, however, that he couldn't stop them from whispering among each other. Finally, after convincing himself nothing would happen if he left, he left the room, closing the door behind him and locking it. No one would go in there. No one.
He made his way slowly back to his room, not focused on the people moving around him. It wasn't until he made it to his room and shut the doors behind him that he allowed himself to relax. Perhaps it was more like he deflated. Up until then, he'd made a point to appear like he had it together. Even when he was alone with his brother, but now...
Well, now he just wanted to crawl into bed and go to sleep.
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Helen was a sneaky little thing, and ever since she had installed herself close by to Anubis, she wielded a bit more of influence than before. Courtesan or whore she may be, but she wasn't a stupid one; sex was only one aspect of powerplays- but that wasn't what she had in mind that moment.
There were whispers, unsettled, and no sign of the prince, which was weird because Helen was pretty used to seeing him around. His company was pleasant, it made her soften up a bit because he wasn't an unkind man, between that and Hector, Helen would sigh that she was growing soft and complacent.
Most people would knock before entering the prince's chambers, but Helen was not most people. She threw the doors open and stepped in, pausing at the entrance to take note of the posture, he seemed off. "You look tired."
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When the doors opened, Anubis looked over to see Helen. Normally he might have smiled, but today he didn't think it was possible. He looked at the ground, brow furrowing as he tried to figure out how to explain it. "My brother," he started, voice low. "He..." He's dead. He should have been able to say it. He dealt with death every day. He buried people's dead friends and family. They were people he knew, too, sometimes. But this...They were never related to him.
"He's dead." It was barely a whisper and he moved to sit on the edge of his bed. "I..." He paused, frowning. "I don't...I can't-" Finish sentences apparently. "I'm sorry I disappeared. I couldn't leave him."
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Freezing on the stop, Helen debated what to do (if her brother... no, Castor would be fine, always, always, always) she probably would've wanted to be left alone, but Anubis was not her and she closed the door quietly behind her. It was the right moment to drop the playfulness, so Helen did, stepping towards him without hesitation and placing her knees on the bed.
Then she shifted, wrapping her arms around him from behind and pressing her face against the back of his neck, affectionate but far different from the usual type of...affection she offered him. This was far more compassionate and understanding. Oh, she heard him alright. And more importantly, she knew who was inheriting the throne now.
Yeah, she wasn't all that nice, but still, Helen did pity seeing him like this. "I completely understand." She whispered, "It's going to be hard, I won't tell you otherwise, but I'm here."
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The feeling of Helen's arms around him made his eyes close. This was nice. It was a different side of Helen. Not that he didn't like Helen for what she was, for who she was. Sometimes he found himself uncertain how to act around her, but he was at least better than he'd been at the beginning. It was a little less awkward.
"I was only supposed to be here just in case," he said quietly. "I was an insurance policy. I didn't think I'd actually have to...rule." Which was what it was. He was the Sultan now. Fuck.
"There's so much to do. I have to tell everyone." A pause. "Well, not everyone, I suppose. Babylon, the region leaders..." It felt like everyone.
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Manipulation came easy to her, to survive and thrive in this world, but she genuinelly liked those around her. Sometimes her manipulations were done with love, especially now. How unfortunate for the old sultan and how fortunate for her. Helen would proceed catiously, tightening her hold, because she saw this too as a chance to shine. She wasn't just a whore.
The arms around him tightened for a moment, "You're not on your own, I'm right here and I'll help you." What did Helen know of ruling a nation? Nothing, but she did know of ruling the underbelly of Babylon. Some principles were clearly translatable. "I'll support you, whatever it is you can tell me, but the first rule is- you can no longer confide in anyone. You're sultan now, and as a ruler you must stand as an example to your people- but you can always confide in me. Your secrets I'll take to the grave."
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Anubis stilled. He couldn't confide in anyone? Not a single person? But how did you keep from doing that? He had friends still. "But Echo and Sita and Syrinx," he said quietly, moving so he could look at her. "No one?" He frowned, gaze dropping. He may have Helen, which was nice, but it was going to be stressful if he had to close himself off to everyone else.
Everything he had to do was going through his mind. He had Osiris and Set to talk to. "I have no idea what I'm doing. I've been sitting in on meetings and I know enough, but that doesn't mean I can-" He cut himself off, tensing slightly. He didn't want this. The level to which he didn't want to rule was high but there wasn't a choice in it. There were things to be done and all he wanted to do (still) was sleep. "And this stupid fucking war..." He made a face. "Damn it."
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Helen released him slightly and shifted, hands still on him but no longer holding him tightly like before, "They're your friends and you can talk to them all you want, but you can't tell them everything anymore." Her advice wasn't meant to be unkind, it was meant to protect him, to keep someone else from exploiting the chinks she saw in his armor. (Such a thick armor).
"Hey." She rubbed her hand along his arm, trying to dispell some tension. "One step at a time, but you cannot show weakness. With your brother dead there will be those who will want to take advantage, that is why you have to do what is necessary." Her voice dropped seductively, "Your marshall, your chancellor, your ambassador- they are there to advice you, but not to control you. The people have to see that yes, you mourn your brother, but that Babylon does not stand any less strong than before." A light kiss was pressed against his cheek.
"Baby steps."
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There was a nod and he bit down on his lip. Things were going to change and it was unsettling. He had to change. His habits had to change. He couldn't go to the graveyards anymore, could he? That made him frown again. "I see." The only reason for saying that was a lack of knowing what else to say.
Anubis turned just a little, pressing his face against Helen's neck. He was nowhere near as strong as his brother, but he'd have to find a way to make it work. Helen would be there. She would help him. How, he didn't know, but he trusted her and he didn't even question whether she had any motives behind her actions. As far as he knew, she was just helping because she cared and that was it. "Just so long as you're there," he said, voice quiet. "I just have to get through the next few days." After that, he didn't know. He didn't know what was coming.
"And figure out how to formally address all the people I need to talk to."
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She did care, it just wasn't devoid of selfish intentions, Helen wanted to see him succeed for both reasons, one didn't invalidate the other in her mind. "I'll be right here." Helen replied, holding him, "I promise." But she had also made a promise to marry someone.
Helen wasn't sure where things were going in Babylon, but maybe, just maybe- she could get Hector to move here. That was a thought.