THE NIGHT STUNG US.

— “what, you’re not excited for me to get married?” luna asked, a wry smile forming across her lips. she adjusted the draping on her saree for the millionth time. she’d dressed up, mostly because she’d thought about her parents and how upset they’d be if she didn’t at least have something from home. but she figured she should for rowan and rosalie too. she may not be ready for the idea of marriage, but she could at least try. she sucked in a breath, “where else would they manage to fit all of us?”

he didn’t know the full history of the structure, but from what he gathered, it didn’t seem like the best choice – especially when some were so unhappy about the arrangement. “maybe they’re hoping to change what it symbolizes.” rid the city of reminders of strife and hope to replace them with symbols of peace. “or it was the only place they thought would fit everyone comfortably.”

 Charlotte had spotted Nethyra as she arrived, slowly approaching from behind she listened to the girl rant for a moment. Unable to help the eye roll at the comments she was making. “Oh really?” She whispered close to Netties ear before letting out a laugh. “This is about peace you know - shouldn’t be looking at it so negatively.”

Before the war, Mercury had dreamed about visiting the coliseum —  to wander about the great structure like gladiators once had — but not once had she ever envisioned seeing it in such a way. Having dealt with the supernatural throughout the war ( and with Abel undoubtedly close by ) she ought to have felt some semblance of safety. They were, after all, there for the beginnings of peace. But something about the words of the woman made her shoulders momentarily stiffen. “Everyone came here on their own free will.” She tried, “Do you truly believe tensions would be so high that a fight might break out?” 

      “i can’t believe this shit’s really happening,” the dragon spoke, voice far more observant than critical as she stared at the colosseum looming over the crowd. the guests were being ushered in as if to enjoy a gladiator fight - a thing nethyra was familiar with, given her age. “and here, of all places. because cramming enemies into an arena is such a good fucking idea.” 

“oh love, don’t project your insecurities onto me.” she had his eyes rolling with every word she spoke. ronan narrowed them at her and took another drag from the cigarette. it was soon to burn out; he briefly wondered if nethyra would be so kind to light him another one. he smiled when she seemed to tense with irritation at his smoke. “i’m sure you aren’t. try not to lose your shit when she inevitably rejects you, alright? i really don’t want to watch rome burn, again.” he bit back and she’s not my master, knowing it would seem like she’d pushed his buttons successfully. “anyways, if you’re not here for my companion, what are you doing in rome?”

      charlotte had managed to surprise her their last time together. after someone had started talking shit about nethyra - leaving out her species, thankfully, since the dragon wanted to be the one to tell her fiancee that detail - the other woman had spoken up against them. and for a second, nethyra had only stared as she did, bewildered. and then she had left. to contemplate how the action made her feel. well, it was enough to draw her back to charlotte the very next day, standing outside her door when it finally opened, “it’s my turn to take you on a date. come along.” and with that, she turned, taking off in the direction of her choice - expecting and possibly hoping for charlotte to follow. 

      how could she have missed it? news of her brother alive and in the same city as she? to think she had grieved over him... to think she had been so soft to have grieved over the man who had abandoned her to the whims of a witch, forced her into the earth to never see the light of fucking day! nethyra was angry. no, she was livid. instead of knocking at his door, her fist pounded - threatening to break the poor thing down. at last, when it opened, and she stood facing aragorn, nethyra’s body thrummed violently with conflicted emotions, “when were you going to tell me? that you were alive, that you were here in rome? hm? or were you going to wait and surprise me like you did when you threw me into my prison?” 

THE MIDNIGHT DRAGON ;

she was born a conqueror.        with scales the hue of midnight skies - twilight’s violet and never-ending black.

“netflix isn’t a necessary tool in this modern age. there’s not much to miss, though i’m afraid i might just be the worst person to speak to about this.”  despite the clear indicator of the attitude in her tone, ezreal managed to keep calm. a merman wasn’t the best to talk to about technology… was it? his eyebrows pushed together at the thought, unable to help the chuckle that bubbled out his lips. “perhaps ask any other person besides me, if you so insist.”

 It was just a maybe but… a maybe is middle ground so Charlotte saw it as Nethyra more or less agreeing with her on the topic. One small high five once more in her mind. If at the end of this Nethyra still didn’t like her, she was sure to loose hope for their marriage. This was the only way she knew how to bond - bonding outside of family. And jumping the raven haired girls bones was out of the question, she was pretty sure Nethyra would set her on fire if she made a move. “You know I used to think secrets were better than treasure. I mean treasure people can take away, secrets, those are yours to keep no one can take it away.” Nodding with a quiet laugh.

   Stopping in her steps she stared at Nethyra for a long moment, some little thing in Charlotte flinching at the word. “You can call me whatever you want - but don’t,” Swallowing as her gaze hardened “Ever call me that word.” She do anything for the people she loved, she did anything for herself at one point. Charlotte wasn’t that.  Maybe she let her feelings get the best of her at times but she would never be a coward, not ever. Beginning to walk once more as if nothing happened. “Just trust me, you won’t regret it I promise it’s just.. a food place okay?” She walked backwards hands clasped together in a begging motion. “You said you would give me three hours it’s been like 20 minutes.”

      “you can actually have secrets stolen from you,” nethyra disagreed - for once, less patronizing in the way she spoke. “certain witches have the magic to do so, or the potions. vampires are fond of compelling. others, specifically humans, prefer to torture.” the dragon regarded charlotte’s laugh silently, thinking it sounded half of what it could be. her thoughts vanished the moment the witch stopped their trek, hardened gaze meeting her observational one. interesting. she hadn’t expected such an outburst. “or charchar, correct?” nethyra reminded her. “coward, charchar - anything else i should be made aware of?”