Inner thoughts and Circles

Preston sighed. He had been careful with his words with most he spoke with but Luka was someone he knew he could trust. "They were barely prepared to handle the coronation they were hosting on purpose." He shrugged. "They do, but they have been most capable so far. I think we can keep them distracted and away from us." He smirked, but it fell quickly when Luka tuned more serious. "A situation? Well, that sounds like something we should discuss." He crossed his arms nodding his towards him encouraging the other to share the topic.

WHO — lilithea chaudhri & open ( @ofcourtfablesarchive ) WHERE — gaea palace halls

Preston was out for a stroll through the halls of the palace. He was bored and was trying to find something to grab his attention. At this point he was really looking for anything. His magic was nonexistent and he had realized that he relied on it far too much, especially as of late. But a distraction was definitely what he needed. He had heard the other person ahead and stopped when he heard them stop. He took a step to the edge of the corner and waited. When the person peered around he smiled brightly. "It isn't polite to try and spy on people around corners." He teased.

Preston chuckled. "Let us hope his pending nuptials keep him so focused he forgets about us and we can continue our fun." He said with a raise of his eyebrows. "Of course I would have played nice. I always do. But, I am not sure they are exactly prepared for our kind of celebrating like we do at home." He said with a look around the room. " Demanding? He has been down right unbearable." He said mostly joking. "But I do not blame him for this. Things right now are so out of control, I think he is trying to gain some of it back."

@ofcourtfablesarchive

Preston had been frustrated before. He had been unhappy at the attempted spring equinox ball, but he made the best of it. But now the latest injustice done. to them all, their magic all practically gone. Sure he was being a bit dramatic it wasn't completely gone, but that feeling he always had of it right below the surface of his skin for him to use as needed, it was gone and he was struggling with keeping his frustration below the surface. He made his way through the garden attempting to be away from everyone else so he could drop his mask and feel what he wanted to feel with no prying eyes. Unfortunately before he got far he saw someone else and before he could turn away they spoke to him. "Ah, well I am afraid then we are out of luck. Because the only thought I have right now is the need to murder whoever is controlling this little game." He said his mask having slipped before he could replace it again.

Preston realized his mistake probably a second too late. He sighed nodding and taking a drink from the glass in his hand. "Yes, she has been generous. It is unfortunate for the young king that he has to endure this as a begin to his reign." He looked around at the party guests in the garden. "But, he has been able to keep the peace so far, so maybe it is a sign of how his reign continue once we have all gone back to our separate courts." He added. "Well, here is to making an effort." He said holding up his glass to her in a toast. He noted the slight bitterness in her words, but did not acknowledge them, allowing her to have her feelings without calling her out on them.

Preston shrugged. "Old and outdated tradition being the point. We haven't had masks for as long as I can remember, at least not these kinds. But maybe I am just a little homesick and not appreciating the effort as much as I should." He looked around the room at the ridiculousness attempting to look appreciative of the effort. "It was kind of the crown to put together something and try." He said with a nod. "Are you enjoying your evening?" He asked, attempting to steer the conversation.

Preston laughed. "No I do not wish to marry. It never made anyone I knew happy. I know its a terrible view, but I will pass on that particular brand of torture." He shook his head. He watched everyone around be miserable in marriage. His life was surrounded by it. "Yes well if they had dared to ask us, I am not sure they would have actually had the celebration." He said with a knowing smirk. Their spring court celebrations were just a bit more extravagant. Preston couldn't help the smirk that fell upon his lips when Luka mentioned Emilios. "Is not that what we all do, poke around as your brother commands?" He probably knew more of the reasons that the poking around that happened than Luka did, but he was careful not to wave his privilege of being Emi's best friend in front of his siblings faces.

Preston laughed as soon as they were out of earshot of the girls. "Nothing is wrong. Absolutely nothing." He sighed, chuckling. "I haven't even seen your siblings. You just looked like you could use to be saved from that conversation." He looked at the server and just took the bottle from the tray. "Do we really need a reason to have more than one?" He quirked an eyebrow in question. "Although this attempt at spring equinox is more than enough reason."

Preston shook his head. "Yes I know and that is the last thing I want to do. Well maybe not the last thing. I mean getting married that is the last thing I ever want to do." His whole body shivered. "Well its far too polite for whatever this charade is." He shook his head. "No its terrible. I mean I could deal with it at the coronation because that was theirs, but to have to endure it for the equinox. It's just, unforgivable." He sighed. "So, what or who are you doing to keep yourself distracted these days?" He asked sipping the wine in his hand. Even if it were horrendous and contrary to what he felt, he would keep up appearances. The last thing he would ever want to do is create a problem for Emilios.

Preston smirked. "What this old thing?" He said gesturing to his suit. "I don't think we have ever done a masked ball for the Spring Equinox, so this is new." He said. He did his best to keep his overall dislike of the evening to himself. He knew he should be appreciative of their attempt to allow the celebration, but he couldn't help but feel like it was contrived as another ploy to keep them from figuring out how to get out of the bubble they were all stuck in. "It is helping to stave off the heartbreak of missing our own festivities back home." He said, an attempt at honesty in his words.

they   grinned   triumphantly   but   when   preston   spoke   her   name,   her   arms   crossed   over   her   chest.   "   oh   come   on,   "   they   pouted,   shaking   their   head.   "   what   gave   it   away   ?   "

Preston shook his head with a small laugh. "Oh come on sweet Devana, you think I could not find you anywhere you are in this room." He said a smile on his face as he watched them pout. "You are so, you. I could never miss you." His eyebrows raised slightly with a small knowing incline of his head. "Are you enjoying yourself?" He inquired.

Preston scoffed, an actual honest scoff, at Luka when he said they must remain positive. "But of course my lord. We certainly wouldn't want to disappoint anyone by expressing our true feelings." He shook his head. "Lovely? I don't know if that is the word I would use. But sure, we can stick to that." He sighed swirling the liquid in his glass. "While the color is correct, the taste and effect are all wrong." He said looking into the glass.

Preston sighed. "I do not believe they did." He couldn't say for sure. but what he had seen so far had led him to believe that there wasn't a possibility they had. He thought of those back home and honestly didn't know if they would. "I'm sure they found something to celebrate. It just is quite frustrating." He nodded. "It is a sight to behold. I have not partaken in any of the solar festivals. Perhaps if we ever get out of this bubble, I might make a visit when one is celebrated next." He did not know this lord of the day court well, but he would attempt to be friendly. It certainly couldn't hurt to find an ally or two while they were still trapped. He was quite confident that the day court was not responsible for their current predicament. Although he had no proof, he was pretty certain it wasn't any of the courts, he was certain it was the city itself they were trapped in that was the problem.

Preston shrugged looking around when he was questioned by the other. "Nothing fatal, but we have been known to enjoy ourselves more than others, especially when it comes to the spring celebrations of the equinox. More than once I have had to handle situations that got out of control and that was with our High Fae who are accustomed to our usual customs." He smiled wickedly at the other. "As does mine, makes the best of the bad. But I would be lying if I didn't say this was a disappointment. Imagine if you had to celebrate Starfall here." He added with a shrug. "Though my lord would never complain, politics and all." He took a drink of the ruby-colored liquid in the glass he held. "This game we are playing is sure to be getting old in some courts." He kept his focus on those around him, never looking toward the other. While this was a party, they were all being manipulated still and he could not, would not let his guard down. "Even the Scribes and Scholars seem to be coming up empty." He wasn't sharing anything that wasn't known. It was obvious. They were all there, no one was allowed in the archives here, that he had been able to see yet. It made him even more suspicious of the queen and her court as their captors.

𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 : @valiantscribbledword & co

Preston found he wasn't hating the party completely. He still wanted to be back home and not here in the capital city. He was making his rounds still when he recognized the stature and hair of one of his own court standing to the side. He decided to approach the man. "Lovely? I don't know if that is quite the word I would use Lord Acheson, but sure, lovely." He took a drink from his glass. "Are you enjoying yourself while we are stuck here in the capital?" He inquired.