Axel just nodded along to his comments, nibbling at the meal he was given as he sat back in the chair again. "Don't push it too far," he noted. "I'm used to army rations or whatever we could hunt.....I won't starve with what you can sneak me," he added, arching his eyebrows upwards slightly. He stopped talking when Duncan started writing though, not wanting to bother him.

(If we want to add in drama, we could have the castle be attacked or something)

"No, it should be fine, no one really pays attention anyways," he sighed, continuing to write. He did appreciate the limited conversation as he did so.

(Yeah, I thought about that, but then they'd go to a safehouse which would expose him. Idk, it was just getting complicated as I thought about it. I was thinking maybe Axel sees Duncan writing all the time and asks about it, Duncan gets secretive about it, but Axel reads the poems when Duncan isn't there, realizing how lonely the prince actually is, but Duncan catches him doing so and closes up, even though Axel is like trying to help him)

Axel had just nodded, leaving the prince alone as he started to write. He had to admit he was curious about it though, so after maybe ten minutes or so he spoke up again. "What are you doing," he asked, quietly, so as not to disturb him too much. But his curiosity had taken a firm hold of him.

(Oooh yeah, I like that idea! Maybe when Duncan gets mad at him Axel sneaks out the window or something, thinking Duncan doesn't want him there anymore but then he goes after him? And they sort of explain things to each other after? Just so then they understand each other a bit more? Idk it's late over here so lmk if that doesn't make sense lol)

Duncan glanced up. "Writing," he responded flatly. He didn't ever share his writing. Never had and never would.

(Yeah, that could totally work)

Axel had wrinkled his nose slightly at the prince's flat response. That didn't give him much information, and while part of him knew the respectful things to do would be to leave it alone, he'd learned not to trust people long ago. So, Duncan's answer made him a bit uneasy, if he was being honest.

(Ok!)

Duncan continued to write. After a while, he put his pen down, closing the little book and slipping it back under his mattress. He trusted Axel not to look. "Going to lunch, I'll be back later with some food for you," he smiled softly and then left.

Axel continued working on his drawing, attempting to ignore the uncomfortable prickle of nerves that lingered in his body. He would love to trust Duncan - to not intrude on the book, which was clearly not something he wanted to talk about. But Axel knew better. Trust wasn't something that came easy for him, not when it would have gotten him killed time and time before. He offered Duncan a nod and small smile as he moved to get lunch, but once he was gone he just couldn't get comfortable. He wound up pacing around the room, eyeing the mattress the book was under. Eventually, his brain overweighed his heart though, and he cautiously moved to pick the mattress up and pick up the book, fingers grazing the cover.

Duncan wandered down to the dining hall, taking his place at the table.

Axel heasitated still, even just holding the book feeling like an invasion he didn't want to go through with. But....he had to look. To check. So he let out a soft breath before opening the book with shaky hands, skimming along the pages quickly.