We met at the disco

[Raphael Malai]

"Yeah! And--YEAH! I did tell him off! I told him I'd never serve another prince ever again, especially not him!" Raphael was full of outrage now that Niall--Prince Niall--was full of outrage! He was kind of easily influenced, this was true, but especially by... actual royalty. Royalty who were real fae, with real wings (presumably), and ones with experience in feeling things.

And Brayden, he was a prince too! Prince of a now-defunct house, but still.

He didn't really think about what that said to Rhys, who... had been there his entire life. Sans wings. Emotionless. Exhibiting the bare minimum of interest. It was night and day, really, and the standard to which he now held Rhys was almost impossibly high. Raphael didn't actually think about whether or not that might make Rhys feel... inferior, perhaps? That someone Rhys grew wings for was now idolizing everyone who had beautiful full wings and who were capable of having fully realized emotions, and meanwhile he was struggling to hold on to a cup of tea.

But that gave him no right to fling books around!

Raphael listened to Niall's story as though it was the word of God. And then Jack interrupted and his attention was diverted to Jack, who held his face in his hands--probably a good idea, because Niall was being awfully distracting. Raphael's head was on a definite swivel between the two princes!

"I do love him. Ever since I saw him, that first time they brought me out of the castle! I love him so much I stayed all those years with him, even though my wings were growing and his father would have killed me for it like he killed the firs--" Ooh he almost let that secret slip! Raphael sealed his lips shut and looked pleadingly at Jack, then Niall.

[Jack Ripley]

Note to self: never leave Niall and Raphael alone. Niall was an instigator and Raphael was easily riled up. Niall was going to end up leading Raphael into territory he was never going to be able to fix. If Jack wasn't here, he could only imagine how an outraged Raphael would march over to Rhys and just... fuck up everything in one fell swoop. Jack had no idea who was in the wrong or right here and he could only trust that Brayden had things handled over there. And he did, honestly. He was pretty sure Brayden had things way more handled than Jack did.

But he was still a teacher and he wasn't an idiot. He could quell a riot if he had to and he could silence an idiot like Niall if he continued trying to incite one.

The important thing wasn't the weird fight and who was right or wrong, anyway. It really just boiled down to a single question. Did Raphael love him or not? Because that was kind of important. If he loved him, there had to be ways to salvage the situation. And if not, then that was an answer in itself. Love or in love, that distinction honestly didn't matter. Just love in general was enough to salvage the situation.

"Okay. Good." Jack was about to dispense with the advice--better advice than Niall was giving--but he was given pause by Raphael's strange admission. Killed him like the first what? Jack furrowed his brow, confused and concerned all in one.

"What?" Niall said, voicing Jack's exact thoughts on the matter. Even Niall only had the one word to say about it. Jack blinked.

"What?" he echoed Niall. "What do you mean, he killed the first?"

[Raphael Malai]

"Oh no... oh no..." Raphael wrung his hands. "I can't tell you! Oh believe me, I want to. I want to tell somebody but he'll kill my family! My whole family! He does that. The King, he's like that! He'll do it, I know he will!"

Miserably he turned away from Jack and Niall, both of whom were staring at him now with what he imagined to be suspicion--suspicion liberally sprinkled with shock and confusion. Raphael and his big fat mouth! "I'm sorry, please just forget I said that. And don't tell Rhys! Oh he'd... he'd hate me if he knew what happened to--"

Argh he was doing it again! Raphael clapped a hand over his mouth and stared over his fingers at them both pleadingly, shaking his head.

[Jack Ripley]

"Hey..."

Jack slid a hand over Raphael's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. He didn't know what happened but he could sort of get the idea. Somebody died and Raphael was the replacement. He was forced to keep his mouth shut to save his family. Jack's expression was soft as he slightly stroked Raphael's arm.

"Hey, we won't say anything to Rhys. That's up to you. It's not ours to tell, right Niall?"

"...yeah! Right! Cross me heart, hope to die. I won't say anything."

Jack turned his attention wholly on Raphael and his miserable little face. It seemed like he went through a lot more than Jack could even start to imagine. No wonder he loved it here and he wanted to stay here. And... he wanted to share that with Rhys. Anybody with eyes could see that. Jack reached up to ruffle Raphael's hair in reassurance.

"You don't have to say anything you don't want to. You just... it took me--us--aback, that's all. We won't do anything to put your family in harm's way."

[Raphael Malai]

"Oh thank you!" Raphael lowered his hand, absolutely relieved that his secret was safe with Jack. Whether it slipped out from Niall... time would tell. He hoped not; he thought not. Niall wouldn't divulge his secret if it meant getting other people killed, surely! And while he dreaded the thought of having to one day tell Rhys... Today was definitely not the day to do it!

His hand seemed to want to cling to something--someone--for reassurance. He clung to Jack's arm, pulling it down from his ruffled hair. That was nice! It messed up his hair but it was such a warm, affectionate touch and he loved how it made him feel happier and safer. Ooh Rhys was so lucky to have a brother like this! Brothers like these, even!

"Rhys is going to hate me if he ever finds out." Miserably, he amended, "When. When he finds out..."

[Jack Ripley]

"Why?" Jack asked. "Why do you think that?"

Jack didn't know Rhys--at all. He had only seen him in passing through a window. He'd heard a lot about it from Raphael at this point, and from Marge. And he was sure when Brayden got back, he would have more insight. But for the time being, Jack didn't actually know him enough to have a true opinion of him. What he sounded like was a volatile kid with an inability to express himself properly. He would know more whenever he met him.

"Because," Niall said as if it was obvious, "This Raphael isn't that Raphael and if Rhys loved that Raphael, he's going to feel so betrayed, right? Like, who is this person, if it's not him?!"

"Excuse me," Jack said, disliking that Niall was likely scaring Raphael with talk like that (did he ever think before he started blabbering?!), he quickly said to Raphael, "That's not true, what he just said. You said he's just started growing wings, right? So you're the one he loves. Not... the other... one."

Jack didn't pretend to understand this convoluted twist of drama but he understood at least that much. Rhys' wings were a new development, thus... This Raphael was the one that tipped the scales. Jack leaned in to kiss Raphael's cheek.

"Don't worry," he said softly. "It seems bad now but when you work it out... you'll see."

[Raphael Malai]

Raphael's look over at Niall was a mixture of panic and fear. Yes--yes that was exactly what he feared! That Rhys would think he was some kind of traitor AND that he'd been deceiving him all along. All these years, lying to him about who he was, acting as if he was the Raphael that Rhys really grew fond of. He heard stories about how they--Rhys and Raphael--used to be close. They ran out of the castle grounds together and had adventures.

The real Raphael knew what Rhys was like before his wings were taken. Shortly after the fake Raphael was installed back by Rhys' side, Rhys had his wings taken. And then he changed, and fake Raphael never had a real chance to get to know him. The ennui set in; he became no more and no less than a servant to Rhys, from then on.

"Oh... I suppose..." But that wouldn't stop Rhys from being angry, would it? It wouldn't help him feel less betrayed--if anything he might hate Raphael more! He might doubt his feelings, wonder if they were for the right person, and... Ooh it was so horrible to entertain all of these doubts! Raphael let out a tormented sound--and then a purely surprised one!

He touched his cheek in awe.

"I'm never washing my face again," he whispered, staring at Jack. A kiss from a prince!

[Jack Ripley]

Just as Jack suspected. Niall said the exact wrong thing to Raphael at the wrong time. He sighed. He wanted to like Niall. But he was so damn annoying and there was a definite childish streak about him, as if he hadn't fully grown up. Jack had to grow up so fast that sometimes he envied people like him but there was another part of him that was exasperated by the childishness. The sad part was he probably thought he was being helpful... Just, he wasn't. Not right now.

"You know I'm right," Jack said, positive about it. Maybe Rhys loved this other... person, that was killed before. But he hadn't grown wings for that person. Maybe he would feel betrayed, too--that seemed in line with what he'd heard thus far about Rhys... So maybe... they either wouldn't tell him or they'd ease into it. There was no real telling which would work best with him. Jack didn't know him. But he could learn a few things when he did. Put that psych degree to good use.

Jack laughed at the unexpected reaction to his kiss. It was just his usual friendly kiss, not meant to elicit such an awestruck expression. But Raphael was looking at him like he saw stars.

"I hope you do, because you won't like what happens to your face if you don't wash it," Jack said, with amusement in his voice. "And try explaining that to Rhys, hm?"

[Raphael Malai]

"He's not coming anywhere near my face!" Raphael let out a soft hmph! and crossed his arms over his chest. While he hadn't worked out what to do with Rhys yet, being able to talk about his feelings and to vent helped him to feel better. That and—the kiss. From a prince. What an honor! Of course, he understood it to be platonic and nothing like a lover's kiss—more of a brotherly peck, he supposed. (Not grandpa peck because Jack was not a senior citizen!)

The door opened not long after and Brayden entered, looking... upbeat? Not down. Raphael immediately straightened, as though he were about to run off the couch and bum-rush Brayden to ask him how Rhys was. He totally wanted to but he forced himself to sit there and pretend that he didn't give two hoots about what Rhys was up to. Maybe not even one hoot!

"Hello." Brayden smiled; he made an immediate beeline towards Jack and slipped an arm around his waist. "Is everything okay here? Rhys should be sleeping now. I gave him some soup and he said he'd lay down for a while. Raphael, are you okay?"

Raphael nodded emphatically. "Yes! Prince Niall and Prince Jack helped!"

Brayden seemed amused. "Prince Jack, hm?" He side-eyed Jack. "Hm."

[Jack Ripley]

"All right..." Jack thought he wanted his face to come near his face but okay. Maybe that ship had sailed. Just because he loved Rhys didn't mean he wanted to be with him anymore. Jack understood that. It happened. It did make any advice he might have tried to give to him moot, though. Ah, well...

Niall seemed to think differently.

"Wait, so you love him and you've loved him for ages and now you don't want him anywhere near your face? How's that going to work? Didn't you just say you loved him so much that you--"

"Niall, please."

Another pout from Niall that got him nowhere with Jack. He only looked right back at him sternly, feeling a lot like he was dealing with an unruly student. Wasn't Niall just telling Raphael to march back to Rhys and tell him he was no servant and to stop treating him like one? Now he was talking about love and faces and... Jack didn't want him to start talking again--he might never stop.

Luckily, Brayden chose that moment to come back and Jack smiled at him in utter relief. His hand immediately slipped over the small of Brayden's back and he kissed him on the side of the head. From the looks of things, Brayden had taken care of business much better than Jack had. He looked downright at peace with himself. Even Jack raised his brows at being called Prince Jack, though. He side-eyed Brayden right back.

"I'd prefer Professor Jack," he told Raphael when he looked back over at him. Niall laughed but he didn't explain why. Jack sighed. "Anyway, I take it you were able to soothe some ruffled feathers, hm?" He leaned into Brayden and whispered, "I'm not doing that great over here. The two of them were a second away from grabbing pitchforks and storming your place."

[Brayden Smith]

Did the dramatic emotional overreactions swap faces? Raphael was looking more settled but now Niall was pouting, in a way that suggested he had been extremely hard done-by. Bray could have sworn that when he left, everyone was getting along fine, and worried about Raphael. Now Raphael kept touching his cheek and casting little guilty looks over at Bray, and Niall had a grievously injured air about him.

"I prefer Prince Jack, I think," he murmured teasingly to Jack, knowing how jarring it must be to be referred suddenly to as 'Prince Jack.' Although he was princely! If anyone deserved that title, it was Jack Ripley. But then again, at points Raphael referred to him as Prince Bee, which was both endearingly silly and unsettlingly silly. It sounded like he was the prince of bees more than anything.

"I think he... ah... he was under a lot of pressure to understand things he didn't understand. And you know how it was with us, with everything that kept happening and no room to think? That's him. He just needs some time to figure things out." Bray smiled up at Jack, wanting so badly to nuzzle him with him this close, but unable to bring himself to with so many prying eyes on them.

"I think we all need a little time to decompress too... Should we order some food, everyone?" That might forestall the pitchforks and the mad mob... And also Bray was starting to feel like he was being inundated with too much information again, and he desperately didn't want to feel that way. He let go of Jack reluctantly to go grab the stack of menus off the kitchen counter. Hopefully when he'd had a nap and settled down, Rhys would join them.

"Anyone have any preferences?" Bray brought the menus over. "By the way, Niall, did you ever learn to take off your glamor? Do you know magic?"

[Niall Gallagher]

Niall was not sure how he felt about Jack. Honestly, he reminded him of his older brothers and not in a good way. Being hushed and given that look! Hmph! Well, he had older brothers already. Except he didn't. Er... yeah. He had an older brother... he'd traded in for this one. Bah. At least this brother wasn't a stiff. And he was kind of... Well, he wouldn't be well liked by his strongly Catholic parents, either. Or his... not his parents.

It was a bit chaotic, he had to admit. No wonder everybody was hyped up. Niall lifted the bottle he'd filched from the counter earlier, when Jack had been paying more attention to Raphael. It had been a prime moment for him to flutter on over to the counter and flutter on back into the living room, propping himself like a lazy princeling in a cozy chair of a throne. He snuck a long swig before stuffing the bottle between his body and the chair.

Easy to do because Raphael was looking at Brayden like he was going to be caught cheating and the other two were looking at each other like they really, really wanted to bone but didn't want to be watched by the two of them. Niall heard the bit about understanding things and no room to think. Sounded like... everybody involved in all this mess, to be honest. He wondered what Kenny was thinking of all this. Probably half the reason he left was to escape all this nonsense.

When Brayden went into the kitchen and Jack sat back down next to Raphael, Niall snuck another deep swig before hiding his bottle again. Then Brayden was back and Jack was noticing the weird look on Raphael's face and asked him, "What's wrong?"

And Brayden was asking preferences on something. Oh, right. Food. Niall didn't even look at them, just swept his hand through the air.

"Thai! Thai! I vote Thai!" he said enthusiastically until Brayden said By the way Niall and he thought for certain he'd been caught but no. He was asking about his glamor. Magic. Niall laughed. "No. I don't know magic. Some hunters do but they're usually anti-super spells. I was never good at any of it." Which he'd already told them in great detail. "Besides, what glamor? This is all me, baby."

[Brayden Smith]

"Nothing! Nothing!" Raphael was quick to deny, with a hand over his cheek, looking increasingly more guilty. "I think Thai food sounds good! Ooh can we get pad thai? With lots of peanut sauce? And spring rolls!"

Bray sat beside Jack, close and snug and cozy. "Thai it is! I'll get a lot, in case Margie comes back and wants something to nibble on too." As he flipped through the menu in search of good things to eat, he frowned. "Ah... yes, we heard you had been raised by hunters." That sounded... rather awful. To be a prince of fairies but taught to kill his fellow supernaturals. Bray felt a wave of sympathy towards him; it wasn't easy, he'd bet, to have to come to terms with something like that.

"Ah, I-I meant... magical glamor. It shields your true form from humans and others." He glanced up, smiling at Niall's humorous responses. Quite the lively person, Niall. Lots to say, lots of opinions that he didn't hesitate to tell everyone, whether or not they wanted to listen...

Wait.

Was that the tip of a bottle peeking out? Bray looked at length at it, and then lightly nudged Jack's leg with his own. He leaned in to whisper, "Is that a bottle behind him?"

[Jack Ripley]

Jack looked over Brayden's shoulder as he thumbed through the menu. He pointed to a couple of dishes he wanted. Thai sounded pretty good to him, too, if he was honest. And he was sure Brayden was right; they could all use something to eat. Once they were filled up, they would probably all settle down a little better. He smiled at Brayden as he watched him, just watching the way his gaze moved over the menu and the way his hair fell over his eyes. Jack reached up to gently stroke his hair back behind his ear.

"I know what magic glamor is," Niall said. "I just don't have any. How could I? I don't know how to use magic. Or... wait, you mean you think my parents put one over me? This might not be me after all?"

He looked down at himself in dismay and Jack rolled his eyes. Poor kid didn't know a damn thing. Never mind that Jack had been given a crash course over a short period of time, too. He started to rest his head against Brayden when his leg was nudged meaningfully and he looked up. Bottle? Behind...? Jack looked over at Niall and he saw it, too.

"You've got to be kidding me."

Jack got up and went over to Niall. No way was he going to ask him about it from where he sat all the way over on the couch because then Niall might do something stupid. Instead, he marched right over to him. Niall looked at him and it was clear he'd already had enough to drink to at least get him a little tipsy.

"I can't believe you," Jack said, reaching for the bottle. Niall looked at him with a tilt of the head.

"Are you hitting on me in front of your boyfriend?" he asked--before Jack reached past him and took the bottle away from him. When he saw the bottle, Niall put up both hands. "Oh, that--" He laughed. "I was holding it for a friend, dad, I swear~"

Jack was Unamused. "Aren't you supposed to be a recovering addict?"

"Emphasis on recoverING, all right? It's not easy with all this--this--" He waved a hand around. Jack sort of understood that, too, and that exasperated him even more.

Shaking his head, Jack moved back over to the couch, but he kept the bottle and took a drink from it, then looked over at Brayden before handing it to him to let him take it away.

"As much as I agree," Jack said. "Let's not."

[Brayden Smith]

"It's a... a distinct possibility that... they..." Jack was being very, very distracting. In general he was distracting but his hand at Bray's hair, sweeping it back, and the way he leaned in to point out what he wanted to order, did nothing for Bray's ability to speak in full and coherent sentences. Was it strange to be able to feel his smile too? As if it was a physical force?

"Ahem."

While Jack went to confiscate the bottle, Bray let out a low sigh of relief. Some time to regain his composure... When he glanced up, Raphael was looking at him with big eyes and an even bigger smile. It looked like he wanted to say something but wasn't able to get the words out. What? What was it? He was admiring... something about Bray, but what it was remained a mystery. Also were his eyes a touch misty, too? Bray leaned over to pat him softly on the knee, and to smile encouragingly at him.

Then they were both distracted by Jack and Niall's exchange, to which Bray could only frown. Recovering addicts shouldn't be allowed unfettered access to alcohol! And Jack's apartment was rather well-stocked... Although Bray made sure that levels of whiskey remained level and constant. But Marge also enjoyed a good drink now and then, and besides which--she was a bartender. When Bray brought up the idea of pouring the alcohol down the drain, she acted like he'd suggested putting a puppy in a blender.

"Ahem." He cleared his throat again when Jack returned but took a sip out of the bottle too. Well that wasn't setting a very good example for his recovering alcoholic brother! Bray was quick to take the bottle from him, and swiftly went into the kitchen area. There he not only put that bottle away, but all of the other bottles. Out of sight--hopefully out of mind. He would have to lock that cupboard later, perhaps...

While in the kitchen he dialed up the thai restaurant and ordered their food, and then returned to the couch. "Food will be here soon, so we can all... self-medicate with dinner." He smiled softly at Niall. "Also as I was saying... It's very possible that your parents cast a strong glamor over you. Otherwise your hunter family... they might have done something terrible to you. Are you interested in removing it? We can teach you how. And--and your powers will manifest too, after the glamor comes off." He cleared his throat delicately. "Alcohol also dampens magic..."