rxnancromwell

[rxnancromwell]

Ronan partially listened to the long winded story, a measure to remain polite, while he was acutely aware of Maite's uncharacteristic silence. Usually by the plateaued climax of their anecdote, she would inject with a witty comment to segue the conversation. He noticed she had been far more demure in her responses and overall letharatic over the last couple of weeks. He chalked it up to all of the martial bliss and excitement had finally worn her down. They two deserved a long vacation away from all of the pageantry. "Please excuse me, duty calls.." he bowed his head politely before allowing her to whisk them back into the unfolding crowd. Ronan leaned down to press a kiss to her temple, his free hand passing along her forehead to detect any change in her normal temperature. "You don't feel hot but a little clammy," he produce the satin pocket square from his suit jacket and gingerly dabbed away the moisture. "I've been ready to leave since we arrived. I know we must keep up appearance but this has altered our honeymoon plans," he squeezed her hand. "Should I collect your siblings or will they be able to make it back to the hotel on their own?"

semi - closed : @rxnancromwell

A subtle pallor had painted itself across her features, an unease lingering in the lines of her brow ––– fatigue increasing in her form. Brazilian's once vibrant aura seemed veiled by a sense of fragility, with an unnamed ache tugging at her insides. "Sorry to interrupt, but I may have to steal him for a second" voice breaking amid his conversation, curling a smile upon her lips before her hand found his to interlace it together to pull her husband away. "I'm not feeling well, do you mind if we leave a bit early?"

#convo : ronan & maite #if anyone wants to jump in ya can <3

[rxnancromwell]

"Where do you keep all of you secrets," Ronan leaned over to poke around Max's perfectly folded pocket square. "I am only doing this for her sake. I was happy with the small ceremony in Belfast. My family has grown smaller over the years." He didn't regret not inviting his father; he would have just caused a scene. His gaze tipped back to the buzz room of people who rang in the beauty of today with them in search of Maite. He swore she had escaped his view twice today, the thought didn't sit well with him. "Well if there's anything we can do to ease the transition, please let me know." Ronan whistled with a cheeky grin. "You've forgotten how skilled I am at keeping things to the vest. I'm ashamed."

"As much I enjoy knowing things that others do not," he gave his best friend a knowing smirk, "you both deserve the big celebration." Moment of sincerity aside, Max took a sip of his champagne then glanced around for his wife. "She will be right back, the children don't adjust to timezone changes as quickly." He wasn't concerned, he trusted Maite's security enough to bring his children. "I'm surprised you managed to keep it a secret for that long."

#convo : ronan & max

[rxnancromwell]

The impending weight of his new title came with a swelling tide of emotions that Ronan couldn't trifled with today. Today had to savored; a gift of grace and good will for a man who feared nothing beyond the wrath of God. Yet, the pang of concern that carved itself into his heart knowing that they may not be able to traverse the waters nearly as symbiotically now that he was married. Life needed to move forward. It seemed like they had missed out on so many years of closeness due to the hubris of their fathers. Ronan looked lovingly at his young cousin knowing that he could change the world, or at least the beautiful landscape of a land they both loved. "Good things come to those who wait, right? I'm just lucky she saw me as something good." His bowed his head for a moment, the pent up breath burst by the sentiment of Michael's declaration. "It wasn't my fault Sister Siobhan slipped before the congregation. You dared me to step on down on the runner, knowing, it was the longer tail of her habit." The thought tickled him. Michael words torn down parts of the wall of doubt that shrouded his joy. A constant struggle over the things he had done up until this point. "Thank you," Ronan tore himself away from the mirror to pull Michael into a tight embrace. " You know I wouldn't want anyone else standing beside me today than you."

"i'll admit, i thought it was a long time coming," michael had wondered if he would feel some measure of apprehension or jealousy. ronan would be prince consort to an empress. he would have a whole country to run. but michael was still unsteady on his own two feet, he was already better with people around him. now ronan would be an ocean away. but michael thought about how he felt standing here and he didn't find he felt that at all. michael was adaptable and they were too tangled now to ever part, if only for the shared weight of their actions. "i'm giving a speech. got it all practiced." he cracked a smile, "i promise i won't mention easter 1999." michael clapped ronan on the shoulder, squeezing. "i do and i don't know what you mean by a man like you because you're a good man, ronan." he said it firmly, like he was an authority on the matter. michael wondered if this was the first time he'd said it, if he'd reinforced this point since his father had died. "you are," he said again.

#convo : ronan x michael #[ i'm not crying you are ]

[rxnancromwell]

"Was this one better than the first? Don't lie to me," he offered with a soft squeeze of the shoulder. "Where's Catherine and the kids?" @maximiliians

#convo : ronan & max

[rxnancromwell]

"Would it be in poor fashion for us to skip the reception?" Ronan watched her figure pass through the mirror, his fingers busied with the cufflink to clear his mind. The pressure of the day had all but melted away while he watched her descend down the aisle towards him. Wrapped in the yards of silk ivory with touches of sunlight dotting her skin, it felt as if she had stepped right out of his dreams. Oddly, the vision merged with that of their quaint, secluded vows back in Belfast. The feather light promises uttered between only them and God had been enough for him but he knew this was far more her standard. He would marry her a hundred times over if it made her happy. "I can think of other ways we can celebrate our marriage." His mirth warping the concerns that still lied between here and the emerald isle. The decision to hold steadfast on the work what he started was never an option but a fundamental promise to his people. Prince consort or not. "You look lovely but that's never been a contestable thought, has it? @maitedobrasil

#convo : ronan & maite

[rxnancromwell]

Nervous fingers absentmindedly brushed away the wrinkles from his lapel. He never really got nervous. Life never went as planned so it was easier to accept the mystery of it all. Plus, fussing never looked great on a man swinging on a pendulum between control and love. He peered up at Michael, a pure and unmoving piece of his family, with a soft smile. Strangely, he brought him peace knowing that traces of his mother was here to ring in the occassion."I'd be lying if I said I haven't been ready for this moment for a while. Are you ready? You don't have to give a speech if you don't feel incline." Ronan bowed his head feeling an ounce of the weight of the complication of his matrimony shift. "You think? I still wonder what she saw in a man like me."

before the ceremony (i’m not crying you’re crying)

“you ready?” michael asked, though they had plenty of time and ronan didn’t even have his jacket on yet. but, he wasn’t really talking about the clothes. he turned to his cousin, his friend, his brother. “you did good, ronan.” @rxnancromwell

#convo: ronan & michael #hshqevent044

[rxnancromwell]

Ronan surveyed the mixed bag of guests who watched them both with a varying spectrum of emotion. He couldn't care about their cynicism because today would be one of the best of his life. He appeared seamlessly at her side, a light hand ghosting along the small of her back. "A lot of prayer and grace," he offered with a soft smile. Ronan extended his other hand out to Arnauld. "Thank you for celebrating with us." @vrnvuld @maitedobrasil

" ––––– yes ," but information to not be displayed like that, not in the middle of the celebrations. "or maybe the isles gain some more ... contribution. but is too early on the party for this type of conversation, don't you think?"

#convo : arnauld & maite & ronan

[rxnancromwell]

But love, first learned in a lady's eyes, Lives not alone immured in the brain But with the motion of all elements - Love’s Labour’s Lost, Act 4 Scene 3) William Shakespeare

Rehearsal - Ceremony - Reception

#hshqevent004

[rxnancromwell]

Ronan nearly choked at the immediate break in the placid flow of the reception. He pivoted slightly to garner a better look at the two warring bodies. It was like two toddlers fighting on a fucking playground. "I hope your power of manifestation continue to be used for good," he chuckled. "I put my money on the greek. What's your take?"

"well, i'm dying of boredom. maybe we should encourage a fight? a war? it would be so f--," almost as soon as he said this, there erupted a kerfuffle. he turned when he heard it and, lo and behold, one's wishes do indeed come true. "what's that about?" he asked, sipping his drink as if he was asking about a sudden turn in the weather.

#convo : ronan & arthur

[rxnancromwell]

"It's still early. We could very well be walking into the well dressed gallows to see something hang. If he's not dying of boredom, he should be happier than a hog in shit."

"huh. incredibly disappointing for the italians. i was half-convinced they'd bring public executions back, or something to that effect. i assume gio's having a right old time?"

#convo : ronan & arthur

[rxnancromwell]

"I haven't seen the man of the hour emerge just yet. You missed the usual pandering but nothing special."

"better late than never, i suppose. i didn't miss any grand speeches, did i?"

#convo : ronan & arthur

[rxnancromwell]

#the arms sir

[rxnancromwell]

"Are you two still fighting over the "rug" " @kcliningrcd

#convo : ronan & nikolai

[rxnancromwell]

Ronan spent many nights trying to reconcile with his decision to follow his heart. His silly action impacted not only his own future but potentially hers. Not that he doubted Maite's ability to turn the tides. All those who oppose her shall quake in the intimidating shadow of her greatness. "Octaviano should be more mindful of his previous marriage and the Italian issue. Our marriage should simply be a festivity that he can eat freely at." He artfully ignored the topic; his ambitions for a liberated Northern Ireland was the thorn that would snag on the satin of her wedding dress. He hoped they could have it all; their love, her crown, and his homeland unchained. "Oh? Are you worried about how they will find me so utterly handsome that they begin to gossip about me? What better story than a Duke turned trophy husband?"

Fingers intertwined with his, a free hand caressing the side of his face when she falls silent to listen. "I'm going to bathe in your confidence that you know what he will say because the truth is, I don't know what that will be," which was a first. She always had an unspoken understanding between her and the Emperor, never hiding anything from the man. "He may not be the one of our concern... Otaviano can make our life difficult if he wants to," even though she did manage to control that situation, the reason for concern was her marriage to someone with plans like the Duke did. A subject they didn't see to touch about. "Is the public perception that we should worry about."

#convo : ronan & maite

[rxnancromwell]

"Honey," he hummed lightly as not to fracture the already fragile air around them. "I don't think he means our traveling plans."

“ should we discuss it? ” @maitedobrasil @rxnancromwell

#convo : ronan & maite #convo : ronan & miguel

[rxnancromwell]

The tension rose between his shoulders and bound his posture with an uncomfortably stiffness. Ronan, a man who carefully concerned all options, still left unease between his peers; in the soft light of this room they didn't feel like those same young men they once were. "..one that would be mutually beneficial." @arturcii

this was a somewhat surreal conversation to be having. "i thought we should have this conversation in person. with no one to listen in." absolutely nothing in writing. he looked at ronan for a moment, "we had an idea. a business proposal." ( @arturcii and @rxnancromwell )

#convo : ronan & michael #convo : ronan & arthur #[ me scared ]

[rxnancromwell]

"Elyse never gets her hands dirty," he tsked. "Yet, it seems she's been encouraged to close the gap in this conflict. I'm impressed."

"The big guns?" He gave a slight smirk. "What do you mean by that?"

#convo : ronan & max