Fruit Tarts! WHO: Kyo and Gaius WHEN: The Past WHERE: Kyo's room SUMMARY: Gaius brings Kyo a homebaked fruit tart CW: Mentions of death and fire
If anyone asked him if he had spent an inordinate amount of time making sure the apple tart was flawless, Gaius would adamantly deny it; but the traces of flour that he missed when he cleaned his tunic betrayed him.
It would also betray that Gaius did the baking himself.
In any case, after the sweet treat cooled down and he packed it neatly, Gaius was now heading to the flame prince’s room in hopes he would be residing there. He did send a message to him before making the trek, but Gaius didn’t wait for a response. When Gaius got there, he knocked the door a few times, his touch a bit too light.
Kyo had been in his room, seated at his desk, a book open on magic theory. Not something that particularly interested him, but he had to learn it to be an appropriate Chosen of Fire. Gaius’s interruption had been welcome.
At the door knocking, Kyo got to his feet and sauntered over. He expected Gaius but did he anticipate that quiet knock? In Guren, there had been a superstition that you invite bad spirits when you open the door after knocking and no one was there.
“Is someone there?” He asked.
“Ah, yes! It is me, Gaius,” the prince said, wincing at his own awkward phrasing before sighing quietly. “If I am interrupting anything, I can leave the tart and come back later-- or not at all if you prefer?” His voice was dripping with more uncertainty than usual, and Gaius was now staring at his feet until the door was opened, looking up at the sound, and immediately plastering a polite smile on his face.
Feeling comfortable it wasn’t ghosts or something else -- if he believed in such things -- Kyo opened the door. He gestured for Gaius to come in, “Now is fine.” He said, his stomach even growled.
“I’m just studying some magic theory,” Kyo flopped back down on his chair. “Are you good at magic, Gaius? Or are you more like your brother, really into martial arts?”
Gaius nodded his head, stepping inside of the flame prince’s room, taking a quick look around to see if he noticed anything of interest. He could see the hints of personality here and there, but his attention was drawn back to the flame prince and his question.
Kyo didn’t bring a whole lot with him to school, but he did have a small light blue vase with gold cracks, full of flowers on the nightstand. The red flowers had long been dried out, but still bright, just pressed to be that way, a memory of land far away. His bed was made and his clothes for the next day already neatly laid out on the foot with a worn stuffed fox, missing an eye stood watch
“I am more skilled in magic than physical combat, yes, is there anything you require assistance with?” There was an empty chair, and he chose to take it, sitting the parcel on his lap.
Kyo took a look at the parcel, and ignored his stomach growling. He looked up at Gaius, “I guess… I don’t get the theory behind … the magic of the other elements. Or even fire. What is even fire?”
“That is a very philosophical question,” Gaius chuckled against his hand, hiding a wide grin behind it. “Spellcasting isn’t too far removed from prayer. You just… talk with the elements and convince them to help you, I suppose you could say,” Pausing for a moment, he stared at the book before looking over at the prince. “Conveying your intent is the most important part--some magic wielders voice out a brief chant, like--”
Gaius held out his hand, palm open. “Oh Great Fire, please grant us your warmth and comfort: Blazing Torch!” A small ball of fire hovered and danced inches away from his hand, radiating even more light in the room. “This is our way, although I suppose the chanting is too much…”
Kyo stared at the flame. He resisted the urge to think Gaius was making fun of him for summoning his chosen element. The Chosen of Fire knew of his chosen element very well -- knew of its nature. It could provide warmth, protection, food. But that is only if you could control it. It could also destroy people and cities. And Kyo hadn’t quite struck a balance. Right now, he had to really concentrate to not become a puppet rather than a conduit.
His father had a stern talking about it. Saying Kyo kept on fighting the flames. What did he know? Fire didn’t choose Otousan. Fire skipped a generation and named Kyo as the successor. Probably randomly too.
Even so, Kyo could not deny he had an affinity for fire for as long as he could remember. And he did not burn. His clothes would burn off before his skin could even be touched.
He squared his jaw as he looked at the torch in front of him. He thought briefly of the funeral pyre and felt a surge of anger, but he swallowed and looked down at the ground, “Yeah, the chanting isn’t so much our way. I’m sorry… could you please put that away?” Gaius complied, waving his hand to make the fire turn into magical energy and fizzled away.
That is all Kyo needed was to cause another incident, “I know it is supposed to be my element. But…”
He shook his head, “What about other elements? I know what fire feels like.”
“I am not… like you, so it might be different, but…” Gaius trailed off, staring at the floor before he resumed talking. “We are composed of all the elements, so in theory, you should be able to call upon any of them as long as you can convey your intent.”
Some elements were of change and others fixed; all of them could give but also take away. Destroy and create-- what changed them was the intent. If your conviction was weak, perhaps that would make it harder to cast spells.
But Gaius couldn’t say that to the future Guren lord.
“I am sure it’ll become easier with practice, however you feel about it now.”
“Intent?” Kyo thought back to the pyre again. More than the ceremonial cabin went up in flame. Part of the forest, part of the village… did he intend that? Did he want that to happen? Did he want to destroy Guren? Or was he just incompetent and the Fire Crystal chose him foolishly.
He scoffed, but it was more at himself then anything Gaius said, “I am sure I’ll be able to summon the elements in no time. Just fire… eclipses everything else.” Perhaps on cue, his cheeks suddenly flushed. He bit the inside of his mouth hoping that would subside. Something about sharing even something as tiny as how fire felt to him, felt like he opened himself up a little too much.
“Well,” he tried to save it. “Part of why I’m here is to round out abilities a future emperor should have. I’m sure I’ll figure it out…”
He looked towards the tart Gaius had brought but not handed over yet.
“That absolutely makes sense--I have heard similar things from my brother.” Gaius nodded his head, choosing not to acknowledge the prince’s embarrassment, and he was about to speak again when he followed the prince’s gaze and-- “Oh,” he said, and it was his turn to be embarrassed.
“My apologies,” he added, holding over the neatly packed box for the other man. “Here you go, your highness-- I hope it suits your tastes.” Gaius’ smile was warm and kind as he held out his gift.
Kyo didn’t want to twitch but he did. How much he did not want to be reminded of his humiliation. The fact that Titus and Kyo remained in the “same class” in more ways than one made him sick to his stomach and more than a little angry.
Luckily, he didn’t have to dwell on it long, because now food distracted him. He accepted the package with both hands, bowing his head slightly, “Thank you very much.” He smiled a little in return, prompting a wider smile from Gaius.
He carefully unwrapped it, “Do you cook, Gaius?” Kyo did not. As he waited for an answer, he took a bite of the tart. His face melted from its usual chill, as he grinned at the taste, his eyes squinting with a bigger smile as opposed to the usual smirk. “It’s good.”
“I--well, ah…” Gaius let out a sheepish laugh, reaching back to rub the nape of his neck as heat crept up his cheeks, pointedly avoiding Kyoujiro’s gaze. “A little bit,” he confessed softly, both of his hands returning to rest on his lap.
“I know it is not very becoming of me, but it, specifically baking, helps me relax when I am taxed from my obligations.” He couldn’t help but smile with Kyoujiro’s clear approval; it did make up for the embarrassment he felt from his confession.
“If there is anything else I can do to make your stay better, I will be more than glad to help.” Gaius nodded his head a few times, leaning forward on his seat to watch the prince eat before realizing he was staring, and looking away.
Kyo never thought much about cooking. It seemed like a lot of work. Lots of measuring and waiting. And he wasn’t for all that at all. It required patience and Kyo never had been one for that, and it only got worse when he officially took the title of the Chosen of Fire.
“What do you mean it is not becoming of you? You’re a prince. You should be able to do what you want,” Kyo rolled his eyes a little. “I am afraid it is not that simple or at all that way, for me, at least,” Gaius replied with a shake of his head, a soft smile on his lips even as he stared at the floor,
“You have been extremely helpful. If you were anymore, I’d think you’d end up taking the shirt off your back,” he said this innocuously as he took another bite.
Gaius laughed behind his hand before he shook his head again. “Your clothes are as fine if not more than mine-- but if it ever comes to that, I would not hesitate.” He paused for a second. “For you or anyone else, of course…” As he trailed off, Gaius got back up to his feet.
“I should take my leave. I do not wish to intrude in your privacy any further--” Gaius finally looked at the other man in the eye and smiled. “Please enjoy yourself at your leisure,” he offered a little bow before heading towards the door.