You're so vain.

“Yes?” He mused, eyes fixated on the presence in front of him. “I do not have all day. Well that’s not entirely true. I do have all day but I choose to do with it what I wish.”

“Little wolf. You’ve strayed far from home.” He paused. “Or have you sought out my presence for a different reason?”

“Aren’t there flying fish out there?“ He asked, brow half raised in thought about it recalling a few fish out there that leapt from the water. “At least fish that make an effort to make a change,” he noted, a smirk settled against his features. “Bold of someone who just said that not everything is predictable to make a prediction of their subject. You may think you speak in riddles, but it all sounds like nonsense to me.”

Kirk shook his head, “No. Less actually. I’ve been working more. I haven’t been able to leave the Queen for days.: Actually, he hadn’t wanted to leave the Queen for days. He shook his head again, sitting up and swaying a bit, head hung heavy between his shoulders. 

“I had the great misfortune of coming across a mortal on my trek here today; the creature stumbled and grabbed my sleeve on the way down.” Gabriel began, peering over the glass case and squinting his eyes as he surveyed the contents. He was at an antique dealer on the edge of faerie property; though Giselle was a pill to deal with, he felt safer among their lands than he did with the mongrels and the humans floating around Acrine. He gestured towards an old, well-preserved tome, bound with red leather, indicating for the shopkeeper to remove it from its casing so Gabriel could get a better look. He glanced down at his sleeve, turning his arm slightly and frowning at the crinkled material of his clothing.

“Naturally, I’ll have to burn the clothing. And it’s such a shame, too; I just had this tailored.”

“Naturally.” He drawled, his eyes still fixated on the glass case in front of him. Would he say the pair were friends? Not by any means of the word. If anything, they were acquaintances at best. Yes he knew of the vampire king but beyond the marriage to Giselle, he’d had little to no interactions. There were times Dorian forgot his place, this was not one of them. 

After what felt like an eternity of silence, he finally looked up towards the other. “Now antiques can’t be the only reason you’re here today. Grow tired of the company of your kind? Or is this a happy compromise between you and your new bride?”

Kirk looked over at Dorian from the couch and saw the smile on his face. Kirk wanted to blush but instead, he rubbed at his face. “I’ve been… It feels a little like being hung over. And more aggressive than usual. Cassius and I almost killed each other yesterday.”

“Sorcha is a bit…flighty, I suppose is the word I’d use–no pun intended, of course,” Laurent said, smoothing out his jacket as he slid his hands into his pockets. “Have you made an effort to woo her, though? I could give you my assistance, should you require it; it’s all about making your partner feel desirable. I think you might find that for all of their fire, the Mac Alistairs are probably romantic little fools.”

“How the Mac Alistair matron believed we’d make a perfect match is beyond me. How I went through with it... well I’m still trying to understand my decision. I suppose the court of Autumn needs a Lady.” He let out a sigh. “I’m sure they feel desirable with or without me. If anything we’re a pair out of convenience. As for the romantic... I’d have to say it’s more the Mac Alistair brothers territory.”

“I have to say, we’ve come a long way.” He mused, catching sight of the other fae. “With each century that passes, I wonder what’s next. What’s next for this century... is not looking good.”

Santiago’s friend Amadeo had knocked on his door and dragged him away from his work. Not that Santi really minded, he would rather have been out and about. And he had always wanted to star in a play. Not that he knew the lines to this one. Amadeo was talking about the play and the cast and their tour throughout Candoris. It was too frantic to be called chatting but the man was clearly stressed. 

They were walking past a high-end boutique when a tall, handsome Fae man stepped out and Amadeo stopped cold. “Do you know him?” Santiago shook his head and hoped Amadeo would leave it at that. Instead, the man all but kidnapped the Fae as he was leaving the store. 

“Hello, good sir, have you ever been on stage? Clearly, you were born for it. I have just the part for you, this is going to be just perfect.” Amadeo was talking quickly and Santi didn’t even notice that they were leaving the city until they were at the gates.

He looked at the Fae man and mouthed an apology but didn’t do anything to actually help him get out of this. @portraitcfdcrian

Dorian would be lying if he said he was thrilled each time he had to leave the Autumn court to do business. He’d barely cleared the entrance of the building when he was being accosted by a stranger. If he’d wanted to make a scene, he could’ve. As dramatic as he was, he decided against it. It wasn’t until they were leaving the city that he realized he’d been swept up in everything.

“It’s Lord de Clare to you.” He replied curtly, irritated that he’d allowed someone to whisk him away against his wishes. Yet here he was, begrudgingly participating in whatever the fuck was happening.

Kirk pinched the bridge of his nose. “You have always been very good at it. You’re very good at pretty much everything.” He said and then shut his mouth. This illness was making him say shit he didn’t want to. “I know. I’m getting over some illness. I’ll be fine. I just need to rest.”

“Must you be so serious? So what if there is war at our doorstep. We are fae after all. Noble fae should be even less worried than the common folk. It just seems odd to take an interest in me, no?”

“True but just because the humans are sore losers, don’t mean us immortals can’t be friends.” Isra wasn’t overly fond of the Fae but they weren’t human so that was a plus in her book. “I was not at the wedding but I still hear good things about it. All considered. And you?

“Curious, isn’t it, that creatures who have the ability to live forever choose to tie themselves down to one mate for the rest of their lives,” Laurent said, almost wistfully at Dorian’s response. “I’ve never met a lover I could see myself spending eternity with, personally, but then again…I’m not a seasonal court ruler. I don’t have that disadvantage.”

“Of course, de Clare, no other sneer compares,” Laurent said, holding his hand against his chest as Dorian spoke of Sorcha. “Perhaps they’ll put some fire in your ice.”

“Tis one of the many perks of being a seasonal ruler.” He replied sardonically. “Perhaps but I’ve yet to truly see them. They’re here then they’re gone again. I’m not willing to dictate whether or not they stay.”

Kirk was still feeling poorly, he felt achy and feverish. He really just wanted to lay down and sleep it off but he didn’t have the time. There was work to be done. However, he did sit down for just a moment. He was in one of the parlours of the palace. Kirk sank down one a sofa only up look up and see the other. “Oh…” He wasn’t quite sure where to start but he couldn’t make himself sit up. “Did you hear? About the vote going on in the council?” @portraitcfdcrian @cassiusreyes @aidenmacalistair

“Perhaps,” he shrugged. His eyes thinned for a moment, still trying to gauge at what the Lord of the Autumn court could have possibly called upon him for. “That’s not true. Sure, burning bridges means everyone on the side that you came might leave you alone. But there’s a whole world out there filled with other people who have burned their bridges,” he hummed slightly before finally speaking. “Can I ask why you called me here? I just, can’t tell why you of all people would want to talk to me.”