Thread: Crossdressing stops wars (Riven and Dimitrios)

Everyone expected a marriage. Something to protect them and future generations from the prospect of war and ruination. It was all very good for them that they were getting what they wanted. It had been said by the Queen on multiple occasions that the needs of the many outweigh those of the few and that privilege involved immense sacrifice. In fact, the woman whose hair was graying and face showed her wisdom, was going on about it as she sat perched at the edge of a chair, hands in her lap looking remarkably regal considering the circumstances. They had sat in a large room, extravagant and unnecessary but customary for the family. A maid was yanking on the cord of a corset, pulling the air out of the prince, now princess. His slender hands were pressed to his stomach trying to ease the pain of being so confined while ignoring the soapbox lecture his mother had deemed necessary about the importance of the union. The fight had already been had about how it would fall apart and how he was clearly a boy and his husband might notice a thing like that. It was done to death and he couldn't manage another conversation about it. Besides, the country, all countries, knew him as nothing more than an enigma. The family was conniving in that way. They had planned a union and kept their heir out of the spotlight, referring to him as Cass, which was short, supposedly, for Cassandra, but really was a nickname for Cassian. It made his family much more disturbing, in his opinion, than any Arthurian warmonger. That did not, however, mean Cass was interested in the least in posing as someone's future wife. Unfortunately for him, and fortunately for his parents, Cass was a slight creature, not quite reaching six feet, with large vibrant blue-green eyes and fair skin. It made him look absurdly innocent and fragile, especially in contrast to dark hair that sat just below his shoulders thanks to his parents. The woman yanked again on the corset and nearly sent both of them tumbling backward. The dress itself was almost white, tinted toward gray with gold embroidered at the edges. His mother had said something about looking youthful, virginal. Pretending to be a woman was bad enough, he couldn't imagine being one. Carthus was a sprawling city that crept out toward the countryside subtly. Without warning one would be amongst farmers in no time, but it was a civil and bright place with only the occasional dark and ominous alley. Except the castle, which had no frightening corners or shadowy places. It had gardens and stained glass in excess. And on this occasion, in an effort to inform the masses if they didn't already know, it had been decorated with the most alarming flowers and banners and ridiculous nonsense anyone had ever seen. It was, Cass hated to admit, pretty. There was a sound in the distance, an instrument chiming an arrival, that snapped the Queen from her tirade. Hurry Mary, that will be our guests, she stated as she rose from her place. Cass, she started in her stern mother voice, Our future depends on your. Now, no dawdling. Come straight down when Mary is finished with you. With that, she departed to greet her soon-to-be relatives.