A beach, Windenburg, 2031 Henry and Alex were on a private beach in Windenburg that no one visited, so neither feared being seen. "You asked to see me?" said Alex. "Uhm, yeah," said Henry. "Look, I'm aware you're super busy at the moment, so thank you for agreeing to see me." "Ah Henry, absolutely no trouble at all." Honestly Henry, although I do love our... secret encounters, I had to cancel two very important meetings for this, so this better be worth it. Henry smiled nervously. "Uhm, okay, so," he began.... "I, er, had a chat with my papa last night and he said I must join the Sweglords. If I refuse, my family will consider it a problem and that usually proves fatal for the problem person." "Oh Henry," Alex breathed. "I don't know what to do," said Henry, closing his eyes. "They want me to join them in the war, but I don't want to fight you." "Oh Henry, I'm so sorry." "I want to be on your side! Not theirs!" Henry began to cry. "Henry!" Alex wrapped his arms around his friend. They remained that way for a while, Henry sobbing softly into his shoulder and Alex rocking him gently. "It's okay, Henry," he muttered. "I've got you." There was a moment of peace as Henry stopped sniffling and focused on Alex's breathing. It was calm like the sea that afternoon and it kept in time to the waves that rolled in and out. "hmm... Henry?" said Alex, after a while. Henry didn't answer, but Alex knew he was listening. "I think I know of a way to free you from the Sweglords." Henry broke away from the embrace and held Alex's hands. "I'm listening," he said. "You see, Henry," Alex dipped his head, peered up at Henry and smiled, "if we win this battle, I want to ensure our feud has really been resolved. So does Paris, I understand.... I am going to discuss this idea with Paris tomorrow, but you shall hear this first." Alex's smile became almost coy. "If I win this battle, Henry, I want to take a Sweglord as my partner..." Huh? Henry's hands jumped out of Alex's. "This... bond will hopefully represent peace between us." Henry stared at Alex with large doe-like eyes. Is this going where I think it's going? "This match will signify an end to all future wars between us," said Alex, his eyes fixed on Henry's. "You see Henry, I need you to become a Sweglord, because then I can... well, you know, Henry..." he paused again. "Well..." said Henry, "are you going to finish the sentence?" "Well," said Alex, taking his time with the next couple of sentences, "Maybe I'm being a bit hasty. I'm only twenty one after all, and I am really enjoying all the excitement and, if I'm honest, the conflict. It makes me feel... alive ... Maybe I should wait a couple of years before getting mar...." "Alex!" cried Henry, "if you have a way of freeing me from the Sweglords! Do it now!" A bashful smile shaped Alex's lips and his fingers touched his bottom lip as he began to sway. What's taking him so long? thought Henry. If this is what I think this is, then what's making him so hesitant? Doesn't he know my answer already? Or..... "You don't... have... to.... do this.... Alex... you really don't have to, if.... you don't want to... I'm sure there are other ways to save me." Henry's bottom lip began to wobble. "Oh gosh, Henry!" laughed Alex. "Why on Planet Sim would I ever want to marry anyone else? They say best friends make the greatest lovers... and in my experience...." he cocked his head, keeping his eyes on Henry. Seeing Henry's glowing features, he stepped towards him and smiled. "Henry! Will you do me the honours of being my.... oh..." "Yes," said Henry. "Yes to what, Henry?" said Alex, slightly breathless. "You didn't let me finish. I could have very well been asking you to be my valet!" "Shut up, Alex," said Henry. "I'm marrying you and that's final." Note: Alex's hair is LudwigII Hair by Birksche. Comments are closed.
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