TC Ep 275 Script

275

scra sitting on roof, drink in hard, paper crown saying “baby king” on his head, looking up at the fairy lights.

ree (plonks down next to him, drunk): farrah managed those, y’know. somehow. probably a flockin’ hand crank or something hidden somewhere that she has to run off to every now and then to keep ‘em goin’. Her gift to you.

scra: they’re amazing.

r: (looks down at drink) she’s amazing. how did i fumble that so hard, huh? tell me. seriously. actually. 

s: I…don’t know the whole story man, I can’t tell you.

r: I chose status over love, that’s what. stupid. so stupid. none of that shit matters. love is the only thing worth anything in this damn world. (head lolls to look at scra) I love you, you know that right? I know I didn’t at first, i didnt let myself see you properly, but once i did turns out you’re a chill dude, y’know that? If you want to be a king, be a king. if you don’t, well, none of our titles have ever actually brought us anything but misery and dysfunctional families. 

s: i’m starting to see that.

R: (both of them look at ky pouring himself a beer from the keg on the drink table) his is the worst of it, i reckon. a lot of the flock names on kooup have been bastardised from the noble flocks here, so i didnt instantly clock that he was the heir to the Cedoc line, I’ll be honest. Especially with the way he was playing dumb the whole time. I never paid attention during my history lessons, but even i remember that name. They’re pretty brutal, always have been. Ospreys are obsessed with power and respect even Kooup couldn’t push them down their hierarchy any further than the Eagles. 

S: i mean, one look at his mom just tells you that.

R: you’ve gotta be serious if you’re getting into that, is what I’m sayin’. Farrah and I threw our families away to be together, thinking that was all it took. Now look at the mess we’re in. I just don’t want you to be surprised when they make things hard for you both.

S: Nothing about us has ever been easy, but if he’s willing to go against everything to be together, then so am i.

R: (slaps him on the back and stands) good, so go tell him that before he overthinks himself to death. You’re welcome for the crown, it’s a masterpiece if i do say so myself.

(Scra downs  his drink and takes the crown off and heads over to ky, who’s eating the snacks. S opens his mouth to say something but ky looks up at a window, frowning)

K: Erias is spying

S: i thought that was his job? he can come down and join if he wants, it’s creepy to linger like that.

K: you were having a good talk with him today, when I found you.

S: yeah. seems we have a lot of similar interests. (and some not-so-similar ones).

K: oh yeah? i guess you would have some things in common.

S: what do you mean?

K: like, you’re both ravens, and stuff.

S: I’m not a raven, ky. Ive just got a bit of their blood and a few wonky feathers. I wasn’t raised on that mountain, with their customs.

K: some people won’t see it that way. The ravens won’t see it that way.

S:can we not with the ominous warnings for one night? 

K: …you’re right. Sorry. I’m just…worried about it all.

S: I know, I am too, but there's nothing we can do about it until we have to.

K: we can still plan

s: for what, every scenario? No wonder ree was concerned about you overthinking yourself to death.

K: I like to be prepared. Especially when it comes to you.

S: I’m not your job, Ky.

K: no,you’re my - I mean - you’re someone I care about. Very much. 

S:…right. Well. I’m gonna grab another drink then go get Erias, if that’s fine with you.

K: of course it - scra, I -

(s walks away, through the roof door. Climbs stairs to where erias leans against window)

s: you don’t have to stay up here you know, you can join us.

E: and miss this birdseye view of the theatrics?

S: it was bad,huh

E: I wouldn’t bother getting into politics if I were you, your emotions are plastered over your face. What did he say to disappoint you so much?

S: it’s what he didnt’t say. Not that I’m pushing him to or anything, I know he’s still going through a lot, but I’ve been pretty clear with how I feel for a while now, so it’s not like he doesn’t know where I stand. I thought we were on the same page, but he hasn’t mentioned wanting to make anything official, and I know it doesn’t matter what other people think of us, but a little reassurance would be -

e: I hate to be on the osprey’s side, but I’m not sure you’re appreciating the finality of what a public announcement entails. Here in Avarie, a formal declaration is a contract, one that cannot be broken without consequence. For Ravens, it’s final - a life bond, one that is decided before an infant hatches, even.

S: before they’re hatched? That’s…unfair, isn’t it? To have no say?

E: there is no greater honour than to dedicate your entire life to someone from your first breath. 

S:  …are you…bonded? How old are you even? You look about our age - I can’t imagine being tied to someone you don’t get to choose.

e: you and I are the same age. Unfortunately, the number of clutches were sparse that year.

s: so you just…get no one? Ever? Aren’t you tired of traditions and rules like that dictating your whole life?

e: oh, I had someone. But fate decided otherwise. (Looks at scra, walks away into the darkness, leaving him) Thank you for the invitation. Enjoy your party. 

(Scra stays up there looking down on his friends. Lord e descends the stairs and finds him)

lord e: I know I approved the festivities, but I didn’t sign off on the ruckus. Although it seems to have been a needless sacrifice of my sleep, as you do not appear to be down there enjoying it.

S: sorry. I just heard something that killed the mood a bit for me.

LE: life never stops, and sometimes it can be relentless indeed. Which is why we should celebrate the things we can. 

S: I’ve never had a birthday party before. I don’t want to tell them, I don’t want to ruin the fun, but I’ll never forget tonight for as long as i live.

LE: in that vein, I don’t suppose you’ve had too many gifts over the years, either. allow me to contribute to that.

(hands him a small portrait of a woman with dark hair and eyes, a younger version of the queen in the portrait gallery)

LE: your grandmother, about your age, just before her Bonding with the last King. There is a similarity there,although you resemble your father more, clearly. My brother’s wife left this with her possessions when they relocated to Kooup.

S: and you’re…giving it to me?

LE: what use does it do me? Looking at portraits won’t bring the subjects back. Keep it, burn it, it is yours to do with what you wish. 

S: thank you, lord eldwode .

LE: I will bid you goodnight, and warn you that a ball held in your honour is not quite as fun when nursing the previous night’s hangover. (Walks away)

S: (looks down at lights below) noted.

(S returns to party, ree and Farrah are there holding a knife)

R: scra! Finally! I need to eat this cake to line my stomach so I can drink more or I might die.

S: you didnt need to wait for me

r: oh i wasn’t, you’ve just come at the right time so I don’t look like a complete asshole. you want a slice?

S: yeah, go on then. (if i dont take one now i know you’ll eat it all)

(ky take the knife from her and cuts them all pieces. hands one to scra)

S: thanks

(picks up fork to eat it, contemplate it for a second)

F: make a wish, first.

r: you do that before blowing the candle out, dummy

F: you already blew it out for him, let him have his wish

R: yeah yeah

(S thinks, then puts the fork down, looking at them all)

S; I…want you all to know how important you are to me, and i don’t want any of what’s to come to jeopardise us, and this family we’ve built.

R: (sniffling) it won’t buddy, you’ve got us till the end. 

(all hug him, ky wrapping his arms around all of them last.)

K: (in scra’s ear) till the end.

(ree and farrah asleep together on the couch outside, ky drinking a beer watching them)

S approaches him: They’re out, looks like this party’s over. do you…want to go to bed?

K looks up, the fairy lights framing scra: (smiles) actually, there’s one last surprise.

(ky takes him to another section of roof, where there’s a bunch of blankets and pillows arranged, bathed in lantern light, stars above. They both take off their jackets and lie down, looking at the stars)

K: did you enjoy the party?

S: i did yeah, thank you for throwing it. And for planning this (gestures to bed)

K: I mentioned to them we should do something, and Ree suggested it, so I won’t take all the credit. This was my idea, though. Sorry if I've been quiet.

S: there's a lot to think about, i get it.

K: a lot, yeah.

S: i do love watching the stars. That cliff where i met you was the only place in the City you could really see them. 

K: (smiles bitterly) It had been a while since I’d even looked up, before you got me to, then. I’d forgotten the world could be beautiful until you reminded me.

S: I didn’t know the world could be kind, until you taught me.

K: sharing a bed with you, back at the roost, felt like the most intimate thing i’d ever done with someone. 

S: sharing a bed with you was the first time i felt safe in my entire life.

K: sorry, that that was all based on a lie

S: did it feel like a lie, to you?

K.no. it didn’t. all my actions then were sincere. I didn’t need to go that far to complete my mission, and falling for you made it all infinitely harder, in the end. I’m sorry that you even have to ask that, that it's ruined your complete trust in me.

S: (pushes up on one arm to look down at him. he points at his band tattoo.) I got this here for you, you know. (touches ky’s scar where he was shot) you got shot because of me, doing something i had no business asking you to do, and in the end i couldnt help you when you were in trouble. It’s a reminder to myself, but also a promise to you, to never let you go somewhere dangerous without me again.  I trust you with my life, Ky. There’s no one I trust more….”falling for you”, ay? 

K: surely you know? surely i haven’t left you any doubt - Icarus - I haven’t given you - 

(reaches over to coat, rustles in pocket. pulls out a box that isn’t the same as the one scra found earlier. scra sees it and is confused. Ky opens the box and scra’s eyes well)

K: I love you. you know me completely now, and haven’t turned me away. This is my promise to you - that there is nothing about you that I will ever stop loving, and my only wish is to be beside you wherever you choose to go in life. …until i rescue keelee this is all I can give you, but i hope you’ll accept it anywa -

(scra kisses him, clutching his face)

S: what happened to the necklace?

K: you found that, did you? It was an old family heirloom, I was going to give you that but i sold it to get this custom-made. Nobles would’ve recognized it and assumed my Flock had claimed you, so I wanted something that had no ties to my name or ancestry - just something uniquely us.

S: i love you. it’s perfect. i knew you loved me, i just didnt want you to say it before you were ready. 

K: sorry i made you wait, i have no more secrets left, i promise. 

S: i don’t know, they gave you an air of mystery - just kidding, don’t ever keep anything from me again, agreed?

K: that, I can agree on. Forever. 

Ahhhhhhhhh goddddd this took me all day to write, i couldn't fully decide if this was gonna be the actual proposal or not but it didn't feel right and Ky would ultimately be someone who can only focus on one major thing at a time, so until he gets keelee he'd never allow himself that kind of ultimate happiness lmao sob. I also can't decide if he gives him like a promise ring or another bracelet - but he already has one from his dad so idk if that would take away it being special. Thhouugghhttsss?? I've been going through it with the dog again this week so my brain is mush and im making poor decisions lol