"Okay, fine, so what do you think we should do?"

Eli's not happy. Actually, she hasn't been happy since Marley and Nero appeared at their little conspiracy gathering. Late. When he told them that there was absolutely no way this plan was going to include killing his dad (pretty much right off the bat), a bitter, ugly expression took over her features. One he's seen many times. It's her pissed off face, he realizes.

Marley hasn't actually put much thought into an alternate plan. Really, he just doesn't want his dad to be assassinated. It doesn't feel good. He wouldn't wish that on anyone, if he's being totally honest.

"Well, um..." Marley tries to think about it. He's had a hard time with that since he he lost his heart. He's shivering like crazy, seated on the floor with his legs hugged to his chest and his chin resting on his knees. He continues in between shivers; "He could be dethroned. If he was caught doing a crime or something. Then I'd pretty much immediately be king and he'd get sent to prison."

Would prison be better than death? It depends on the prison, Marley guesses. Captain Lux wouldn't send him to one where he'd be in serious danger, because he was still their king and they'll respect him even if he's dethroned. Also Marley will be king and even though the government is a sort of mix between a monarchy and a democracy, he would make sure his father was safe.

What would his mother think? Shit. Also, who even knows if his dad is committing any crimes? At least... ones that can be proven. Not to mention, depending on when they do this, Marley could potentially be king when he's 17. Sadly, the whole you have to be 18 to be king law died off with the war. Marley takes a moment to actually wonder if he's even ready for this. He's not.

"Woah, is your dad a criminal?" Bren asks from his spot against the wall, his legs criss crossed. He looks genuinely interested while everyone else looks pissed off that they're not killing the king. Sorry that Marley doesn't want all of you to get arrested?

"I mean... probably. Most politicians are." Which is so true. It's one of the reasons Marley was never allowed in his father's office. He still remembers one time—he was about ten years old—he decided to sneak in there. He was just generally curious, something to be expected of a kid. Prohibiting a child from going somewhere almost ensures they'll find a way in. That's just science.

"Wait, does that mean you're a criminal?"

They'd been having dinner—you know, back when the royal family still ate dinner together—and Marley had excused himself from the table on the grounds that he had to use the bathroom. Of course, that wasn't what he was really doing. He wanted to see what was in the forbidden room.

He'd snuck all the way up the stairs (two flights, enough to have him out of breath) and down the long hallway that parts off from where the majority of the guest bedrooms are. He was a long way from the bathroom, if he were to be caught he would be out of excuses.

He was almost hoping the door would be locked so he'd have a reason not to go through with this. To wait until another day. His heart felt like it would beat right through his chest. He opened the door without problem, something that only furthered his anxiety.

It didn't take him long to find something curious. Sadly, digging into Marley's memories is about as easy as killing him. He thinks he found a folder, he thinks it had to have been titled something weird for him to actually even look at it.

He'd been examining some books when his father found him in there. What set him off, though, is seeing whatever Marley had been carrying. Was it a folder? Maybe some papers? Something like that. Hell, it might have been a freakin' lap top for all he knew. He's not sure, but it was definitely important for his father to react like that.

Allorn had been livid, he kicked Marley out by force. Marley can remember crying, his mother comforting him. She hadn't been mad at Allorn, though, something beyond out of the ordinary. Marley knows that. Maybe because she knew. Maybe because kids talk.

Normally when Allorn would put his hands on Marley like that she'd be beyond vexed. There'd be a screaming match and all the staff in the castle would hide. Marley typically eavesdropped, which only resulted in getting his feelings hurt.

Could Allorn actually be involved in criminal activity? The more Marley thinks back about his childhood—mainly things concerning what the man did behind closed doors. Usually those doors were his office, but sometimes he would have meetings and he wouldn't tell Marley anything about them—The more he felt the dawning realization that this was Strange. Marley usually tagged along with everything Allorn did. Part of his training to be king.

Marley's desperation not to have his father killed... maybe that actually put him on a track to something else. Something bigger.

"Woah, he didn't answer. Suspicious." That's Lenny, Marley registers after he snaps back to the here and now. Everyone in the room is studying him quizzically. Suspiciously. It's then that he processes Bren's earlier question. Asking if Marley was a criminal.

Marley drops his legs to the floor, so they're sort of in criss-crossed position. Holy shit, is he actually onto something? He immediately curls in on himself when near painful chills course through his body. He doesn't know if it's the cold or his very recent observations.

"I–No, I don't think so. Uh..." how does he get this across to them? "I'm not, but I think my dad's hiding something from me, and I think my mom knows about it."

"Do you think it's illegal, though?" Eli asks. She's leaning forward where she's sitting. Nero hasn't said a single thing this whole time. He's just sitting beside Eli, unnecessarily close. He at least looks interested in what Marley's saying, though.

Before Marley can answer, Lola says,

"Is anyone else concerned that he looks like he's freezing to death?" Marley doesn't think she's spoken this whole time, either.

He was aware of the strange looks they'd been giving him, but nobody had said anything until now. As if on cue, another shiver wracks through his body and he crosses his arms. 

"I was thinking that, but I didn't wanna be like... rude or anything," Lenny replies. Marley just sort of awkwardly smiles and looks down.

"It's just Dr. Rellik. Y'know how he gets." Is how Marley responds. Lola looks even more confused, but before she can question him further, he continues. "If they weren't telling me about it then it's probably illegal. Especially if it has to do with internal affairs."

Would his mom really be a part of it?

Lola seems to totally disregard that, as all she responds with is, "what did Rellik do to you?"

For some reason everyone seems to be more interested in that rather than bringing down Allorn Nocona. That is, if the way they're all looking at him without objection is anything to go by. Marley doesn't understand why they care.

"He just messed with my blood a little bit. It's fine." He doesn't want to make a big deal out of this.

Lola looks like she wants to ask more questions, but that seems sufficient for everyone else since they seem to move on. "Okay, well, if your mom is in on whatever they're not telling you then you can ask her about it, right?" Eli asks impatiently. Marley tries not to roll his eyes, since being rude to Eli probably isn't a good idea. He can only assume how that would end. Imagine getting in a fist fight with Eli? Good god, she'd attack him with spiders. No thanks.

She has a point there, anyway. Allorn's not talking to him, but the queen could be worth a shot. Marley has always had a good relationship with her. At least, up until now. He doesn't know what will happen when he finally gets out of here. If he gets them apprehended. God, he needs to think about this.

"I could call her, yeah," Marley replies. It's quieter than he means it to be. He's sort of scared to, honestly. His mom knows him really well and he doesn't know how he'd be able to get that sort of thing out of her without alerting her to his ulterior motives.

"Then call her today. We'll all meet in the library after lunch. I'm going to bed." Just like that Nero is getting up and making his way to the exit.

Marley scrunches his face up at the man as he opens the door and leaves. Everyone else seems to simultaneously agree, though, and nobody comments on his shitty attitude. No one ever does, though, so Marley doesn't find it too out of the ordinary. They had such a commotion getting up here just for Nero to say absolutely nothing the whole time and then randomly leave.

Marley feels angry, he realizes, but it's the distant sort that you do nothing about and get over in a few minutes. There's no point in getting mad at him anyway, it's not like Nero would care. He'd probably make fun of Marley in that detached way he always does.

Marley realizes that everyone is pretty much out the door, so he gets up and follows behind. Nero's nowhere in sight. so he's probably already on the staircase. Now that Marley thinks about it, he's pretty sure he's going to have to find his way back to their room on his own.

Sure enough, he does. None of them really talk to him as they all go down the stairs quietly, eventually parting off in different directions. Lola stays around him longer but he has nothing to say to her because he's really, really tired. So the whole thing is generally silent. He reaches his room without problem—thank god, because if he had another close call he'd probably pull his hair out.

When Marley gets back into the room, Nero's taking his shirt off.

Oh.

He forgot that Nero likes to do that when he sleeps. Marley, on the other hand, is about to do the exact opposite. He walks back to his dresser and digs around, finding a green sweatshirt from some college he visited a few months ago. He throws that on on top of his plain t-shirt and is still not satisfied. The temperature in Gans varies. Sometimes it's freezing and sometimes it's a sauna. Thank god Charlene packed an assortment for both.

The sweatshirt helps minutely. He shivers less but he's still shaking. Goosebumps are still covering his flesh and his teeth haven't seized their chatter. This is why he grabs a blue hoodie that was free from some banquet he went to. It was for a company his dad was sponsoring.

Marley's mom didn't pack gloves, which sucks since his hands are about as cold as the rest of him. His arms are the worst, though, so he digs around for some more knee length socks and rolls them up his arms. It's a little hard with his other layers but he manages after a few minutes of struggle. After that the only part of him that doesn't have a layer is his face, but he thinks that his blankets will do good in aiding that.

He's sure the reason for the layers not helping him too much is the fact he would need body heat to get any sort of warmth going. This sucks. Maybe he could talk Nero into-

Woah there. Marley, Marley, there's no need in going crazy here. Talk Nero into what, exactly? Frying the blankets? Setting you on fire? Can he even do that?

Marley chances a glance across the room to find Nero already in bed, back to him. He's probably waiting for Marley to finish suiting up like he's about to go into a freakin' blizzard. Suddenly he feels sort of guilty, like what he experiences when people wait for him to read papers. Half the time he can't even take in the information, which is a problem because most of the time they're important. It's been like that since he hit puberty.

Marley shuts off the light, forgetting Nero's capability to do the exact same thing from where he's laying down, and walks over to his bed. He has a total of three blankets. One he wraps around his legs, the second around his torso. The third and final one he settles on his shoulders and nestles his head into, pretty much covering his entire body in cloth.

He's still cold, but he does his best to pay that no mind. Marley makes a mental note to text his mom tomorrow morning and notify her of his plans to call later.

It takes him another hour and a half to finally fall asleep—an elongated timeframe, since he can't shake the sensation of gradually turning into a snowman.