the heart.

☆ﾟ*·ﾟNOTHING WOULD EVER be the same with the way they were all being taunted. Talia was horrified that she'd had to deal with such stressful events. How as she ever supposed to become a good high lady if she kept getting thrown with horrible events and circumstances. Or maybe this was part of the plan and it would help her become stronger, more supportive, and more logical. Running her hands through her hair, she tried to take a deep breath. The notes, the ridiculous voices, all of the stress was making her panic. She could barely think properly when she heard a familiar voice. "Yiren!" Running through the corridors, she ran toward her voice, practically barreling into her. Grabbing hold of her hands, Talia, squeezed them. "I'm right here, it's okay. I'm right here."

THE MIST EBBED AWAY - AS SWIFTLY AS SMOKE POURING OUT OF AN OPEN ROOM, CLEARING THE AIR. It was annoying, really. How swiftly those things came and went, how terrifying they were in their ability to just manipulate everyone - the thoughts, the reality that bended and shifted as they willed.

the shadowsinger is fascinated by it all, even with the deaths they’d all just witnessed. not knowing how long whoever is behind this plans to keep them there, she thinks learning what they can about this place and finding perhaps some sort of clue to what’s going on will, at the very least, give them something to do. and maybe they can... figure out if this court was hidden for a reason or if they oughtn't trust them. because as much as she wants everyone to have the time to actually mourn their losses, she’s always been a bit more inclined towards revenge, and that can’t happen until they have answers. so in the meantime, learning all she can about this new place is the next best option, in her mind. and perhaps, at least, it would keep them from spiralling? “maybe it will give us some indication on what to expect from their high liege and inner circle…” malvina hums. “homey sounds good. we could always visit the market later,” she nods. homey would give them something to do, a way to learn more, but still relax a little bit in the midst of this whole crisis.

THE IDEA OF A MARKET WAS A TEMPTING ONE. No one portrayed the court better than their own citizenry. She had hoped that the night markets in her own court paint a lively, jovial picture of the Night court. Granted, not many had access to Velaris, but during her parents' and grandparents' reign, Hewn City had taken on a more... amiable role. It was a good tactic though - for outsiders to underestimate their power and might.

and yet, here they were, dealing with too much of a problem and too little information. she sighs again at the thought. she had never thought of winter being behind it, when they seemed just as lost. as little as she knows about them, she can at least assume that. she wouldn’t put the blame on anyone without real evidence. she snorts, shaking her head. “it was meant to be a joke. no need to make everyone think i am behind this all. they already don’t trust anyone as it is.” she shrugs, her mind growing distracted. “and while they do that, maybe pick whichever high ruler you think you can trust the most, and start there? i’ve seen dawn’s lady dragging everyone off into corridors… she does not exactly seem like the type to be hooking up with the other high lieges… so she must be doing something.” and yes, maybe she should have considered a career as a spy with how much she lurks. “and the rest of us can start talking to our friends in other courts… see if anyone thinks theirs might be up for working together?” she shrugs, but as soon as the summer court pops into her head and then she thinks of rivian, she forgets she’s supposed to be helpful and her thoughts start to stray.

YIREN NEVER, IN A THOUSAND YEARS AND DREAMS, THOUGHT SHE WOULD FIND HERSELF IN A NEW COURT. Well, not exactly a new court, but one that had been forgotten for centuries. No, not centuries. Thousands of years. Did her parents know of it? She could not say - her guess would have been a no, but... how well does one truly knows their ancestors? She knew little of their childhood years - who knew what stories they were told as children, if the Starlight court was ever mentioned, ever hinted at.

even with her connection to the shadows, she doesn’t feel like she’s been at all helpful. after all, what use is it if she cannot actually find any answers or solutions while slipped into the shadows? she needs a solution, but at least… continuing to try gives her something to do.  “it is… too much.” she grumbles petulantly into the table. “or maybe it’s something they have, and this is all just threats.” she tilts her head to rest her cheek on the table so she can awkwardly look over at yiren from her spot. “at least winter seems just as confused as the rest of us, so we can assume it is at least not something the court planned, even if someone involved comes from winter…” she says. except it narrows down absolutely nothing for them. but not blaming winter will maybe make winter more agreeable to working together? “if they don’t all agree to work together, maybe you can get them all to work with us and we can just… find someone to messenger things back and forth if they really don’t want to work with each other… or i can be the bad guy and make threats until everyone agrees to cooperate until we resolve this.” she thinks if they’re allowed to rule a court though, they should at least have enough sense to try to work with each other to save their peoples.

IT WAS TOO MUCH. Too much of everything being done and too little of anything specific being said. Just hollow threats and would-be smirking ( if any of the fae could see the person behind the voice, she did not doubt the said person had a sickening grin on their face ). The silver lining of it all seems to be the unpreparedness of the Winter court. It spoke more of the innocence than - as some might think - their incompetence. She didn't think the Págos family incompetent - she thought them lost.

THE KNOCK ON HER CHAMBERS HAD YIREN REACHING FOR THE DAGGER SHE KEPT AT THE BEDSIDE. The day was coming to an end and the High Lady of Night had risen from her sleep mere hour ago. Another one of the nightmares plagued her, but before her instinct would have her hurling her blades at the door, she hurled a soft, inquisitive lilac tinted strand of darkness under the door. Her darkspy returned with a chirp and an impression a Solar High Lady - the one of Dawn.

malvina had needed to be resourceful, between growing up with her father to having to deal with taking care of her family — even if they’d been… somewhat capable… so resourcefulness when they’d had nothing had been necessary. she’d always held respect for yiren, for how she held her court. especially since they were all so close, and not so formal like some courts. and while she tended to speak on a slightly more formal side — at least in terms of not generally shortening words that could be… malvina had never been good at etiquette. malvina shrugs, “it was more just… an attempt to at least feel like i am trying to find something.” she sighs, dropping her head onto the book in front of her. a mistake, as a cloud of dust hits her in the face and she coughs, pushing the book away from herself. “some attempt at positivity when i am naturally pessimistic.” she mumbles into the wood of the table. “i do not know. it is… they want something. but is it an object that relates to the midas? or is it someone? and… either way, where is what they actually want?” she grumbles. “have any of the other courts shared anything?”

YIREN COULD CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT. She felt like it, too. The harrowing need to be useful, when she'd felt so useless - even if she was a High Lady with the dark powers of her court, she could hardly do as well as shadowsingers. Their connection to the deep dark had been... more intimate. She could handle her own in darkness, of course she could. She could even command it, will it to do her bidding...

the storm raging inside of her is immediately apparent to vyros. in the palms of his hands, he feels the cold pooling, a physical manifestation of his need to act, to move mountains, to chase this foul energy down and rend it into ash. the part of him borne to a ruinous winter house feels somehow responsible — that he should be able to name this fell magic, understand its origins, its weaknesses, its motives. but the great well of strength and determination in him is not enough.

NO, SHE WASN'T POWERLESS. But, this thing hiding in the dark, her dark, made her weary. Scared, even if she did not dare to voice it out loud. However, he was right - she had kept them safe and continued to do so every second of the day - and the night. She still preferred to sleep during the day - daylight was safer for her courtiers. No one here would dare to do anything during the waking hours - it is during the Night that Yiren rises, to keep a watchful gaze over her court. Some of them slept, some of them joined her in prowling the castle and some of them - like her siblings - traipsed around in search of adventure and whatnot else.

Régulo panicked as he watched the liquid spill over the High Lady of Night's dress. Oh mother what had he done? "I am still very sorry. Please, accept my help"

YIREN DISMISSIVELY WAVED HER HAND. There was really no need for that - it was just a dress and just a minor stain. It'll wash off. She accepted the handkerchief, if only not to wound the young lord's feelings.

Luna had stood by her high lady in the most difficult of times. It was for the benefit of her own court, of course.

THERE HAD TO BE SOME INFORMATION. It was impossible for this thing to be that powerful - limitless. The murder, the memory wipe... everything that's been going on has been terrifying. Nothing in this world could be that powerful.

THE COMMANDER OF HER COURT HAD BEEN A WOMEN OF VAST INTELLIGENCE. Then again, everyone in her court had been intelligent, resourceful and had a keep eye for details. That is why she respected them and that was why she'd loved them - cherished them and protected as if they were a family. In fact, she treated her inner circle as family - with her, they could all speak casually and without boring etiquette to still their tongues, their honesty.

She was completed distracted, and completed alone. No one in her family understood the pressures of being High Lady, but that was because she didn't want them to. Though she never wanted the position, she still intended to do it and her parents the honor and respect of holding it well. But the pressures always got to her. Scanning the crowd, Aeolus looked for the other High Lieges. Most of them, though composed as they should be, still looked just as panicked as her.

THE HIGH LIEGES OF THE EIGHT COURTS HAD ALL GATHERED TOGETHER TO SPEAK OF THE VOICE AT THE BONFIRE. While it unnerved her, it didn't quite shake her - it lacked the terror, the bite that normally would accompany such an eerie situation. A crown, falling? Ominous, however it was not that horrific. But, Yiren was no fool - she knew worse things were undoubtedly ahead.

— closed starter for xu yiren ( @mooncfxu ) / 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜 — scene: common room in the night court chambers, past midnight

IF IT HAD BEEN ANY OTHER SITUATION, SHE NEVER WOULD HAVE GONE TO PESTER HER SECOND IN COMMAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. But, to be entirely fair, this was no normal situation. What made the matters worse ( or perhaps better? she couldn't tell. ) was the damning fact they were on foreign soil. This was no Night court. These walls did not comfort her, these beds and chambers and drinks did not soothe her. Even their nights were different. More muted compared to those in Velaris and Hewn city.