Second of Day

Penélope raised a brow and let out a laugh before coming to lay down next to Sera, her hands resting on her own stomach, looking up at the ceiling before she finally, finally admits it. "I was trying to before you started to tell me about your mate. That's why I was looking for you." She didn't look sideways at Sera as she said it. The Valkyrie wasn't one to fear rejection and she was fine if nothing happened tonight but it was funny to her that Sera was so caught up in her own mind that didn't even register it.

And then she heard words that struck home immediately. A smirk pulled at her lips and she lifted herself up onto her elbow, turning to face Penelope. "Really, now? You were looking for me for that. Well, I'm obviously flattered." Slowly, she lifted a hand up to Penelope's face, tracing her jawline with a finger. "And obviously so interested." A grin split her face as she brushed some hair off her friend's face. "I'm sure we can both use the...relief right now, in any case." They'd been friends for a while, but nothing like this had ever come up before. But they also knew enough about each other that there was no fear of anyone getting the wrong impression if something did happen.

As they took a step forward, Sera held her ground, though her instincts told her to back away from them. Her eyes remained calm and cool, but inside she was a mix of way too many things. "I know that. I am here for her, after all." Her mouth screwed up into something between a frown and a smirk. Did they just put her down then try to pick her back up? What kind of games were they playing here. "I know I'm the key to her safety. Don't you think I understand the weight of the position I'm in?" Though her voice was calm, her head erupted with thoughts and fears, and she suddenly found herself urgently needing to find Talia.

But, it seemed they were trying to cooperate. They were trying to help her and...after all, if Talia still trusted them, then they must be on their side, at least. Jamie at least still seemed to care for Talia, which was a good sign. Leaning back against a bookshelf, her eyes followed them as they paced, tilting her head. "I see. And do you know who, oh Great One..." she cringed, realizing she was being a bit snarky. "Sorry," she muttered, "habit." Clearing her throat, she tried again. "I've honestly been a bit overwhelmed, so if it's true you're here for Talia and for Day, then maybe we should work together on this. We both have our various talents and they can both be put to good use. Together." It was an olive branch, and she hoped they grabbed on.

"I would never doubt that you don't." They replied. Talia wouldn't have chosen her if Sera didn't now the weight she put on her. And they believed she took this job seriously. But still, not being in the court, they still couldn't help but wonder... how would this all work if they were there. Jamie didn't regret leaving. It's what they had to do to become themselves. Being in Day with everyone's preconceptions of them, it put a stop in their growth. They needed to learn and train elsewhere. Now that the options of coming back were open— perhaps there was more good they could do now than if they had stayed.

Her snark made Jamie huffed out a chuckle but they shrugged, not taking it personally nor taking offense. "No, sadly I don't know who is behind this. I wish I did. This all would have ended sooner and we'd be home." Jamie stopped their pacing to face her again, hands behind their back. They took a moment while assessing her before nodding. "I don't know that I am yet. Here for Day, I mean. But I am a Vanderbilt and I will always be there for my sister if she truly needs me." Jamie was honest, they didn't have a reason to lie to Sera or trick her. "I'll take any help I can get to end this course and take everyone home, wherever that is."

Considering their next words, Sera tilted her head, eyes locked on a position behind Jamie as she mulled them over. If they weren't necessarily here for Day, then she needed to be careful. Even if their allegiance lay with Talia, outside of their family, she wasn't sure where the chips would fall. So she watched them warily, but still was interested in the prospect of them working together. After all, they both did have Talia's best interests at heart, at the very least. And so long as she survived, so would Day, in some way or another. So, relaxing her posture into a less defensive stance, Sera inquired. "Have you been able to get any kind of info from anyone since we've been here? Nobody seems to know what's going on, but I'm also not sure how much I can trust a lot of them." She tried not to emphasize the word 'trust', seeing as she was still figuring out if she could trust them, but she was certain her eyes betrayed that notion as she said it.

Lifting her head out of her hands, Talia turned to look at Sera, knowing that her best friend knew what she needed. "That sounds like the perfect plan." Hopefully someone would figure something out while the tea calmed down her entire nervous system. "Tea is always the perfect solution. And maybe we can see what kinds of blankets the Winter court has to offer. Besides, I... I think we've got other stuff to talk about too."

Arriving at their rooms, Sera lead her inside and sent their servant down to get them some tea and snacks. A lot talk about. That's surprisingly a bit of an understatement. "Yeah, I have some things to talk about, too. Also, what the fuck is Jamie doing here? They said you guys talked? How did that go? How are you feeling?"

looks like the need of it was now high.

"I won't get lost or wander aimlessly, if that is what you fear." she smirked. "I think digging deeper into their library is a necessity, at this point." Iseul sighed, though she was hardly disappointed - she was the one with the libraries and the books. "The public library never closes and it is public enough to be a good place to hide something in plain sight. Even if it is a wild goose's chase, it might still be fruitful."

"Shall we, then?" Motioning for Iseul to lead the way, Sera tried to keep her mind from wandering to all the bad things that could happen. Since the moment her memories had come back, the weight of all that was happening had been increasing; and now this voice... Well, it was safe to say Sera's back would soon crack under the pressure if she didn't get some answers. So, she followed Iseul, determination set in her gaze as she set forth with the goal to find something worthwhile to share with her High Lady.

"Yes I feel it!" The priestess snapped, out of character from her usual peaceful presence. "And I know what happens with rejected bonds; nothing good" There had to be a way out. The horror of being forced with someone Arianrhod did not love purely due to instincts made the priestess shiver.

The Priestess had known of mating bonds that have been rejected, it never ended well. The horror of what was happening only just began to dawn on Arianrhod.

"We do not have to know each other" There was now urgency in the Priestess's voice. She kept her panic to a minimum. Fuck the murder, this was her life! "I'll find a way out of this" She murmured to herself. Oh mother oh mother how could this have happened?

"We don't. But...you feel that don't you?" Sera took a step forward, nervously. "That pull?" As if almost in a trance, Sera looked her up and down, slowly. She was beautiful, that was for sure. The most beautiful woman she'd ever laid eyes on. No! This is not right! Shaking herself out of it, she took a step back again. "How? How could you possibly... You have heard what happens to rejected bonds, haven't you?"

They sighed and stepped away now, walking around the room for a moment, hand coming to the back of their neck as they paced and thought about their answer. Not because they wanted to keep something from Sera but because, truly— they were lost. "I have my hypothesis but I'm not sure about anything. All I know is that someone isn't telling us the whole truth about what's going on..."

As they took a step forward, Sera held her ground, though her instincts told her to back away from them. Her eyes remained calm and cool, but inside she was a mix of way too many things. "I know that. I am here for her, after all." Her mouth screwed up into something between a frown and a smirk. Did they just put her down then try to pick her back up? What kind of games were they playing here. "I know I'm the key to her safety. Don't you think I understand the weight of the position I'm in?" Though her voice was calm, her head erupted with thoughts and fears, and she suddenly found herself urgently needing to find Talia.

But, it seemed they were trying to cooperate. They were trying to help her and...after all, if Talia still trusted them, then they must be on their side, at least. Jamie at least still seemed to care for Talia, which was a good sign. Leaning back against a bookshelf, her eyes followed them as they paced, tilting her head. "I see. And do you know who, oh Great One..." she cringed, realizing she was being a bit snarky. "Sorry," she muttered, "habit." Clearing her throat, she tried again. "I've honestly been a bit overwhelmed, so if it's true you're here for Talia and for Day, then maybe we should work together on this. We both have our various talents and they can both be put to good use. Together." It was an olive branch, and she hoped they grabbed on.

Penélope took the bottle out from Sera and took a large couple of gulps, finishing the bottle. If anything, she'd have an excuse to get out of the room and find more alcohol. "Hm?" She hummed at the compliment coming out of nowhere while she was still swallowing the warm liquid, then she chuckled again before wiping her mouth. "Incredibly beautiful huh?" Penélope was humbled but she did know what she looked like, she's found her looks useful before. "Didn't seem to get me anywhere tonight."

Looking back up at Penelope, she let out a combination giggle-hiccup and smiled. "Incredibly. Like I said...the night is still young. Are you trying to? Because I'm sure I can hook you up.. Or...you know." She winked playfully. Her mind had started to calm down, and she had begun to feel much less tense, and she could feel herself breathing normally again. Sera traced Penelope's curves with her eyes. She really was quite beautiful. And Sera had definitely had interest before. But now...well, it was a tense time, she could use all the relief she could get. She smirked, looking back up at the ceiling, slightly embarrassed. Her cheeks flushed, wishing she had another bottle in her hands.

When Sera sat up a little, Penélope gave her a small smile but shook her head at the question. "Well, I was trying too." A quirked eyebrow and a smirk was all indication she gave Sera before chuckling. "But no, not really. I've been mostly focused on trying to get out of here until tonight when I decided to just get black out drunk and maybe get laid to forget all about this chaos." Penélope didn't really know how not to be honest with whoever she talked to.

"I think we're overdue for a tea session," Talia explained She'd had so much to tell not only her second in command, but her best friend. Everything was changing rapidly, and she needed some advice on where to even go from there. "Did you hear anything specific? Or anything in the tone? It sounds like something we should recognize. There has to be some idea. This is stressing me out, Sera." Talia ran her hand through her hair, trying to keep herself calm. "Why did I think I could do this high ruler thing?"

She smiled, bright and confident, being ever the rock her best friend needed. Sera didn't honestly know where she'd be–or even who she might be–if it weren't for Talia. Honestly, she could hardly even remember life before that; her life started and ended with Talia's. Dropping her hand, Sera threw an arm around her High Lady's shoulders. "Now, why don't we go back to our chambers and get that tea you mentioned. I think you need a girls' night."

the winter's court wouldn't benefit from either solution - or either answer.

"Indeed, I do." Iseul nodded. She always had plans - and quite a few of them, simultaneously. If there was one thing she hated, it was being unprepared. "Are you willing to join me?" she asked.

She frowned, thinking Sera would know more about these things than she did. After all, she did not grow up a Fae and she barely grew up being educated except in the act of combat. "I mean, I think you can? Can't you? I don't know how all of these works but I think you can..." The Valkyrie passed Sera the bottle again as she pulled her hair back again some more. "We're here now, you don't have to think about this if you don't want to."

Thankful to have a friend here, Sera grabbed the bottle, downing about half of what was left. "I mean, yeah, I can reject it. But I've heard that's...not a pleasant process." In her mind, she could feel the string like a tiny little trigger. One tug and her mate would feel her, if she didn't already. Laying back on the floor, holding the bottle in her hand, she began to think about how ridiculous this whole thing was. This couldn't be her life, could it?? "Yeah, let's talk about something else." She smirked, sliding up onto her elbows to look at Penelope. "Lots of gorgeous people here. You getting any action?"

"Ah, finally we can agree on something. I do hope so as well. I want to leave this place." Jamie nodded. "Too many eyes everywhere. I've felt trapped for far too long in Day to be trapped again here." There was a reason Jamie had run away from home. Being so close to all their family wasn't what they'd hope when they agreed to come to these festivities.

But of course, the matter at hand was more important. And as Jamie had been out of Day for a while, he had to have some intel on the other courts. Biting her lip, Sera took a step closer. "Yes, I can understand that. But...why would someone do this? Do you think our lands are okay?" She wondered if Thunder was alright, if their people had enough to eat. Her face sank slightly, concern flooding her being. "I don't suppose you have any leads on anything yet?"

It had not taken long for Arianrhod to feel something...off. She met the eyes of Sera and felt it happen inside of her. A snap. A bond.

But this could not be possible. Arianrhod already loved a valkyrie back in Summer. Mating bonds were so rare they should not have happened to the High Priestess. And yet....

Her eyes met with the Lady of Day. "I'm...I'm the High Priestess of Summer, My Lady. Arianrhod." The words that followed out of Arianrhod's mouth next took her by surprise "Though, I assume I may be a bit more to you now"

"Yeah, I don't think she'd ever want me dead. Not even if I did betray the court or her." Many faes would think that leaving their court and training in another army was a treason in and on itself but Talia didn't seem to think so and neither did Jamie. They didn't infiltrate Dawn to fight against Day, they just wanted to train. "But you are the second-in-command, you shouldn't care how Talia feels about me. If I deserve it, you should do it." Maybe Jamie was trying to test Sera's loyalty and even more so, her guts.

"Well, I can't promise you everyone wants to keep it civil, certainly not my cousin." Jamie chuckled, shaking their head a little and remembering their last encounter with Apollo and how little civil they manage to keep that.

Standing taller to hide the self-doubt, she looked Jamie in the eye, casually shrugging her shoulders. "Yes, of course, I'm not an idiot. I know there's plenty of threats here, especially with all the chaos and emotions being thrown around. We'd best find our way out of this retched place as soon as we can." Sera was starting to feel anxious, being around so many strong fae strangers, from courts who might have secret plots to overthrow any of the thrones present tonight. But no, she would keep Talia safe if she died doing it.

"Sera, hey—" Penélope whispered once she was finished with her rant, coming even closer to grab her face, pushing her hair back. "Alright, tell me more about it. Do you know them? Are they terrible?" She asked, trying to get more information and see in what way she could help Sera. "Tell me how you are feeling." The Valkyrie wasn't the best at feelings, not her own or others but she tied.

"It feels bad. To be away from her, now that I know. But, Penny. I don't want a mate. I don't need that kind of drama in my life..." And besides, didn't she say she was with someone? A cold, hollow emptiness came over Sera, as if all her purpose had left her body. "I feel strange. I feel...not like myself. I don't want this. Can't I just give it back?" When she finally looked up, her eyes were frantic and haunted.