forum The Perfect Version of Us | alternate Cinderella rp, o/o CLOSED

Started January 23, 2023 by @Tired-but-passionate

tune

Gus frowned slightly at her rejection of his offer.
"Not at all m'lady," he told her honestly, "My father told me to stay in the background for most of the night anyways, so if you wanted to go somewhere more quiet, I could show you the courtyard. Or I could show you the castle."

She blinked. “He did? But you are the host.” Ella put a hand to her chin, tapping it confusedly. “Well, I also plan to stay out of sight,” she admitted. “The courtyard sounds lovely, Your Highness. Again, you are most kind.” She bowed her head briefly.

"I do wish you would cease your courtesy," Gus said, taking her gently by the elbow and leading her through a practically empty hall, where people chatted loudly. He took her out into the night, down a short flight of steps to a small circular yard, with a stone fountain in the middle. Roses of all colors surrounded it and he led her to the fountain, then let go of her elbow and sat down. "I am just like you, a human being, it makes me feel very self conscious when people treat me like I am a god and they have to worship the very ground I walk on."

He smiled at her, sitting on the thick lip of the fountain, which made a great seat in his childhood.
"So please, M'lady, refer to me as Gus, I insist." He said, grinning.

She flinched slightly when he touched her elbow, but let him take the lead. “As you wish, then.” She looked all around her as they walked, still wanting to take everything in. The courtyard was so beautiful and grand, the fountain being the perfect centerpiece. Her eyes drifted from the fountain, to the flowers, then to Prince Augustus. She stayed standing, listening to him.
“Oh, I didn’t know…” Ella’s hand went to her chest. Then a small laugh escaped her. “Gus? Are you sure that isn’t too informal?”

Gus nodded curtly.
"If that is too informal for you, you could start by calling me Augustus, that's my full name." He suggested. "What about you M'lady? A beautiful name for a beautiful woman I would guess."

He picked a pink rose from the bush, careful to not prick himself. He then presented it to her, as a gift.
"For accompanying me and helping me escape the dread that is socializing with nobles." He said, smiling.

She smiled. “As you wish, Augustus.” She nodded back, then her heart fluttered. No one had ever called her beautiful before. “Oh… call me Ella. Please. Ella Maret.” She liked being called m’lady too. This felt so… right. It was so freeing too, in a way. Everything about this was starting to be exactly as she hoped.
Her hand went up to her mouth as Augustus presented the rose. A laugh escaped her again. “Why, thank you, Augustus. It is quite dreadful, isn’t it?” She took the rose and held it up to her nose, closing her eyes as she took in the flowery scent.

Gus nodded and smiled.
"Yes," he agreed. "It's quite dreadful. All this talk of endless land and money."

He sat on the lip of the fountain.
"It gets quite boring." He admitted. "And I have a strong loathing for it."

“Land and money sound awfully boring, indeed.” She shook her head. “If you would like, I would be happy to discuss something with you that not that,” she chuckled.
She looked down at the flower again. Ella carefully snapped the stem so it would be shorter, then gingerly removed the thorns. She then put the rose into her hair.

Gus smiled.
"Yes," he said happily. "Anything but that, honestly."

He then looked at the rose in her hair and noticed it's dark hues and felt his eyes automatically drawn to the deep red against it's color.

(Kinda confused bc her hair is dark…)

“Hmm, let’s see…” she mused. “Where to start?” Ella looked back at the prince. “What do you like to do? What do you do when you are not attending to your princely duties?”
She was always keeping her voice light and higher pitched, and eventually she had to clear her throat. She held her fist over her mouth as she did so.

Gus smiled at her.
"I like to read, and write, something I understand not everyone has the comfort of doing. I like to sneak to the village school on Mondays and Thursdays to tell the children stories, and encourage them to learn to write, or if they can already, write their own." He explained. "Mostly, when not faced with the challenges of being a prince I spend my time writing, reading or looking at the stars. I also tend to draw sometimes."

(No worries ^^)

Ella gasped, perhaps a bit too excitedly. “I like reading as well! How wonderful too, that you go see the village children. I would have never thought you would be one to sneak out.” She stepped a bit closer to him. “What do you like to read?”

Gus looked down at his feet.
"I like to read about the past, or worlds of great fantasy." He admitted, blushing slightly. "Books where the world is different, move magical."

She gasped again. “I’m drawn to them as well! I also have a fondness for love stories and tragedies. Do you have a favorite?”
Ella looked at him with wide eyes and a hand gripping her dress in excitement. She never got to talk to others about her interests.

Gus shook his head.
"No, no favorites, you?" He asked interestedly. "I can tell your excited, so go ahead, if you want."

(Sorry for my absence)

“Oh, well, actually I don’t have a favorite either, but I adore the works of Madeleine de Scudéry.” She went to sit next to him on the fountain, a smile playing on her lips. “Her novels are quite long, but I personally don’t mind it.”

(no worries :P)

Gus nodded.
"Long novels get me even more interested than the typical length ones." He admitted. "Because there's more story to become interested in."

“Indeed.” Ella wanted to swing her legs back and forth, but thought that wasn’t proper or lady-like. She tried to keep still. “That’s why I like to them as well. It helps with soaking all the details in.”

Gus nodded in agreement.
"I too, think the same." he said softly. "Tell me, what do you like to do besides emerge yourself in literature?"

She smiled, and soon forgot her resolve to be ladylike. She started swinging her legs. “Ah… I like to sew. I can mend my own dresses if they repairing. Occasionally I like to make a whole new dress.”

Gus looked at her in surprise.
"Ah," he said, smiling. "I secretly make my own clothes as well, but if my mother and father caught me they'd be quite upset."

"They think royals should not risk their precious time or touch on things that are not needed, if another person can do them for you, but I disagree, how will we learn if we do not try things on our own?"

She raised her hands up to her mouth excitedly. “Truly? Oh, I would love to see your handiwork.”
She then lowered her hands and tilted her head. “Yes… isn’t it also important to think of the person who does those things for you? If they make your clothes all the time, then they would likely be appreciative of you doing the work for them.” Her excitement faded a little. Honestly, she was speaking from her own experience with this.

"That is true," Gus admitted, tilting his head in the opposite direction of her own, mimicking her actions.
"I do enjoy making less stressful lives for our seamstresses and cooks as well as any other kind of servant we have."

He looked at her a little sadly.
"Did you know some of them have been working in their fields since they could walk and talk and have not taken a single day off?" He informed her, "I wish I could pay them to just live here instead of slaving away for the sake of my family."

“Oh dear…” Ella’s voice softened. “I can believe it. I wish that too, it sounds wonderful…” Her gaze drifted, as did her thoughts. She was not paid at all for the work she did for her stepfamily. Her father had wished for her to inherit a good portion of his wealth, but her stepmother was quick to take it all for herself.