Chapter Text
As one of Imperia’s three presidents, Schpood was one of the most powerful people in the nation. He ruled with an iron fist and with a willpower so strong that it crushed everyone in his path. He was also almost certainly universally adored, because who wouldn’t love him? He was smart, handsome, and ruled with a fairness that offset his co-president Solev’s cruelty. Logically, Schpood should be one of the happiest people on earth!
However, this wasn’t the case. Because Schpood had a condition, a sickness, a thorn in his side that he just couldn’t get rid off. Feelings are what they were, and no matter what he did he couldn’t get rid of them.
Worst of all, the object of his affection wasn’t even someone considered worthy of his notice. No. It was only a simple peasant from the snow district.
Schpood wasn’t even sure why this stranger caught his attention but somehow, no matter the size of the crowd, his eyes always seemed to fall on this one particular figure.
Saparata was his name and he was one of the single most infuriating people Schpood knew. He was free spirited, rebellious, and worst of all he was beautiful. It was most likely the last part that was to blame for Schpood’s initial interest.
When Schpood had first seen him he had almost missed him among the rest of the snow district, but once he did he couldn’t look away. The man was like winter given form, made almost entirely of whites apart from his golden eyes. His skin was pale yet always maintained a gentle blush from the cold and his hair looked as pure and soft as fresh fallen snow. The only thing that ruined his almost ethereal presence was the common rags that were worn by almost everyone in the snow district.
It should have been a fleeting fancy, after all there were many beauties in the capital, something his fellow rulers often reminded him of. But the feeling persisted and even when Schpood purposely avoided the district he was always drawn back.
So Schpood was left with no choice, these feelings had to go, they were too much of a distraction. So he did the one thing that could help ruin his fascination with a person quicker than anything, get to know them.
It started small at first, just a couple of guards he assigned to keep watch over a “suspicious individual” but when that didn’t prove useful he had to take it up a notch. “Get to know him.” He told his guards. “Find out their likes, dislikes, motives, what makes them tick.”
But not even that satisfied him, and his obsession kept growing until he gave in and visited the snow district for the first time in months.
As Schpood walked through the snow district surrounded by his posse of guards he kept his eye out for Saparata’s distinctive white hair in the crowd. He was here to make a routine check in and appearance to flaunt the strength of the empire, but it wouldn’t hurt to indulge in his ulterior motive. Eventually he caught sight of Saparata on the outskirts of the crowd, chatting with someone who immediately made Schpood’s blood boil.
Fluixon, otherwise known as Elanuelo’s disgraced son to the few trusted enough to know, was talking to Saparata. Schpood had known that Fluixon lived undercover in the snow district, but he had no idea that the purple eyed bastard knew Saparata, not even to mention how close they seemed?!
Schpood watched as Saparata playfully pushed Fluixon and almost growled in anger. Beside him a guard spoke up. “Sir, are those two civilians bothering you? I can arrest them if you’d like?” The guard whispered.
Schpood waved the guard off, reforming his scowl into a charismatic smile. “That won’t be necessary right now, though keep an eye on the purple eyed man, he looks like trouble”. The guard gave him a short nod and immediately fixed his gaze onto Fluixon, loyally following his president’s command.
After motioning to his guards to start calming the crowd down so he could talk, Schpood addressed the crowd. “Citizens of Imperia! It has been a while since I visited you! Did you miss me?” He asked, to which he was immediately responded to with a cacophony of cheers. Smart people.
“Now I know that while Imperia does its best to provide for its citizens, sometimes we miss smaller, not as important things. So I’m giving you the opportunity to give some feedback on what your life is like in the snow district!” Schpood continued. “So right now I’ll choose a random citizen to come up here and talk to me, how lucky are you guys?!”
The crowd murmured as Schpood pretended to scan the crowd for the perfect candidate, ultimately landing on a familiar white haired man. “You there!” Schpood said as he pointed at Saparata. “Come up here!”.
As the crowd turned to look at Saparata the man in question pointed at himself as if to ask if Schpood was talking about him. “I’m talking to the young man with white hair right now, guards will help escort you up.” He said then waved to the guards who immediately started pushing a path through the crowd towards Saparata.
As Saparata was gently but firmly grabbed by guards and started to be guided towards the small platform where Schpood stood he glanced back at Fluixon with confusion. Fluixon shot him a warm smile, which seemed to calm Saps a little bit, but once he turned around Flux’s expression turned cold as he fixed his stare onto Schpood.
Schpood returned Flux’s stare, his smile sharpening into a mocking, smug grin. As Saparata stepped onto the platform Schpood rested his hand on his back, guiding him closer as an excuse to touch him.
Saparata looked nervous on the stage alone, surrounded by guards. Schpood softened his smile surprisingly easily. “Well dear citizen, what’s your name?” He asked despite already knowing the answer.
“Saparata sir, my name is Saparata.” The white-haired man replied, his eyes finally moving from where he had been staring at his feet to instead meet Schpood’s gaze.
Schpood felt his breath catch as he fell into Sap’s eyes. They were golden like honey, no not even like that, his brain corrected. They were like ambrosia, as if the gods themselves had shaped the man before him and used their sacred nectar to form his eyes.
Once Schpood realized he had been staring for too long he cleared his throat, acting as if he hadn’t been distracted, though his guards would never call him out. “Saparata.” He said slowly, as if tasting the word. “Well Saparata, what would you say life is like in the snow district?” Schpood asked, shooting a gleaming smile at the man across from him.
Saparata seemed to fidget for a second, debating what he should say to the man staring intently at him, the man who happened to be one of the most powerful figures in all of Imperia. “It’s peaceful?” He answered, though it sounded like more of a question than an actual answer. “People are very nice and the district is very big”.
“Oh?” Schpood probed. “What about problems? Is there anything you wish we could fix for you?” He asked.
Saparata seemed even more nervous at that question, images of getting executed for speaking out of line running through his head. Schpood seemed to notice this, as he gave Saparata a reassuring smile. “Nothing you say will get you in trouble.” Schpood assured. “As your president I am asking you to share your true opinions without filter.”
Saparata still looked suspicious, something that annoyed Schpood though he worked hard to keep it off his face. He would have thought that his handsome face and charming words would have at least earned him some trust from the man.
Finally Saparata took a deep breath before starting to speak. “There’s not enough food.” He said slowly, testing the waters. Once he saw he wasn’t immediately getting arrested he continued. “I have a few carrots to my name but I know some people have less. It’s enough not to starve but nowhere near enough to do some of the heavy labor required of us day to day.” He finished.
Schpood nodded, considering Sap’s words. “Yes I see how that could be a problem.” He responded thoughtfully. “Our resources can sometimes be stretched thin between districts but I promise we’ll look into it.” He said, earning loud cheers from the crowd before they were once again quieted down by the guards. “Now Saparata, is that all?” Schpood asked once his voice could be heard above the crowd.
Saparata opened his mouth to say something but stopped, his face turning contemplative. Finally though, after an ample amount of hesitation, he spoke. “I know it’s against the rules but… it would be great if we were allowed single armor.” Seeing the guards' expressions, Saps quickly added “For our feet.”
A nervous murmur rolled through the crowd after Sap spoke. Although many of them agreed with him on the issue, no one was confident enough to back him up. Saparata seemed to notice this too and unconsciously hunched inward, trying to make himself a smaller target.
Schpood watched this all with an undecipherable look on his face. Finally though, after a long minute of silence, Schpood decided to speak. “I’m sure you know Saparata, that armor is forbidden for good reason.” He said kindly but firmly, not wanting to scare Saparata, only get his point across.
But instead of immediately backing down, Schpood’s words seemed to light a fire in Saparata’s belly. “Respectfully sir, you don’t know what it’s like to not have armor in this weather.” He pointed out, his voice slowly growing as he became more passionate about the subject. “Our shoes are thin, barely enough to hold against a slight frost, not to mention the heavy snow we trudge through on a daily!”
From the crowd Fluixon was motioning with his hands for Saps to stop talking but either he didn’t see or he just ignored it because Saps continued talking. “There’s at least one person everyday that needs to see the medics because of frostbite. And most of us can’t even tell we have injuries until they’re excruciatingly painful because we’re so numb from the cold!” He finished, his chest heaving from the strain of his long rant.
Only after he finished speaking did it seem to dawn on Saps that he had basically just shouted at someone who could easily order him dead without pushback. His face drained of color, though not by much considering he already was quite pale, and his lip quivered. However, he didn’t look away as Schpood would have expected him to. No, instead he continued to look Schpood in the eyes, even tilting his head up as if to show he wouldn’t go back on his words.
Schpood admired this trait of Saps, it was something he had heard about from his informants but had never seen himself. Perhaps it was this that caused Schpood to do what he did next, against his better judgment.
“Armor is strictly prohibited.” Schpood started. “But perhaps you and I can have a chat about improving your footwear situation.” Schpood nodded, inwardly praising himself for his grand idea. “Yes, I think having a private conversation would be a wonderful idea. I’ll have my guards escort you to the government building.” He decided with a smug grin.
But while Schpood looked happy about his decision, Saparata obviously did not. Instead the civilian’s face was clouded with worry, and perhaps even a bit of fear. “I don’t think that’s necessary.” Saps tried to backtrack. “Really I think this conversation was enough.”
“Nonsense!” Schpood exclaimed, firmly resting his hand on Saparata’s shoulder. “Imperia greatly values our citizens and we have no problem working with them to solve problems.” This of course was a lie, had Schpood been talking to anyone else he likely would have punished them the moment they started arguing with him. However, he could make a small exception for his dear Saparata.
Schpood motioned to some of his guards to start leading Saparata towards the forbidding government building while most of them stayed behind to protect Schpood while he finished his address to the crowd. “As you can see, I am a merciful leader who works to improve this district however I can.” He told the crowd before raising his fist in the air and shouting “Glory to Imperia!”
The crowd echoed his shout as Schpood turned around to follow Saparata, his red cloak billowing out behind him. But before he could leave the podium a voice rang out from the crowd. “Saparata has a right to a lawyer!!” Fluixon shouted as he pushed through the crowd to the front, a fire in his eyes. Hearing Flux’s voice, Saps turned around from where he was being escorted, hope glimmering in his golden eyes.
Schpood slowly turned around to face the man, his eyes narrowing once he saw who it was. Fluxion was now at the edge of the stage, his quest heaving from exertion, though guards quickly pushed him further back. “Oh? And who are you?” Schpood asked with a sharp smile.
Fluixon smirked slightly before answering. “I’m his most trusted companion.” He bragged lightly.
Schpood’s face darkened. “Well I can assure you that there is no reason for you to obtain a lawyer for your friend.” Schpood responded coldly then smirked. “And a citizen like you should know his place.”
Fluixon clenched his fists and his lips upturned into a snarl. It seemed like his words had hit a sore spot. Good, Schpood thought, let him be angry. Unless he wanted to reveal his heritage Flux had no choice but to stand down. And even if he did, a bastard son was nowhere close in ranking to Schpood himself.
Satisfied with his performance, Schpood walked off the stage and towards Saparata. When Flux had started to speak he had motioned to the guards escorting Saps to stop, partly because it offered Schpood the opportunity to walk with Saps and partly as a way to taunt Fluixon.
As Schpood approached Saparata he shot the smaller man a charming smile. “Sorry for the interruption.” He grinned as he laid his hand on Saparata’s back in what was probably supposed to be a comforting manner. “Now, why don’t we finish our conversation.”
Saps gulped as he was led through to the entrance of the forbidding government building. He glanced behind him, as if searching for a way out, one last time before the castle swallowed him up. And as the doors swung shut on the familiar sight of the snow district, Saps only had one thought. Ish, please don’t let me die here!