starlight

lux  had  been  attempting  to  use  her  fire  since  it’d  dimmed,  and  she  preferred  to  do  so  in  private  so  none  looked  upon  her  in  a  funny  manor.  when  the  other  scared  her,  the  fire  flared  and  died  altogether,  pathetically,  lux  had  no  more  energy  to  try  again  either.  “  no  apologies  needed.  ”  she  says  softly,  still  startled.  “  i  scare  easily  here.  ”  and  by  here,  she  meant  prythian.  at  the  offer,  lux  tries  to  smile,  but  it’s  pathetic  and  abnormal  on  the  redhead’s  face.  “  i  appreciate  the  offer,  i  was  just..  trying  to  use  my  magic.  ”  she  admits.

VASILISA TRIES TO KEEP A TENDER expression. everyone is at a loss & confused. ❝ it's understandable, ❞ she assuages. ❝ this is not home to most of us. ❞ even she is beginning to miss the court of dawn at this point. she nods grimly. ❝ you are not alone in that. ❞ she nibbles at her bottom lip. ❝ are you finding it difficult to conjure? ❞ even she is hardly able to heal half the things she could normally. she takes a deep breath. ❝ have you ever encountered this before? ❞ she wishes she had answers rather than questions, but she is just as lost as everyone else.

❝ what? ❞ she practically squeaks. she is accustomed to pain and suffering, but there are few in prythian that would disrespect someone of vasilisa's station. to say she has stayed away from any real danger would be an understatement. ❝ followed? by who? ❞ it must be some kind of mistake as she only has pure intentions. sure there is no one who would wish to prevent someone from tending to wounded. she can't imagine it. ❝ do we hide? or perhaps we can just speak with them? ❞

❝ i desire an exclusive contract with you, ❞ he begins, knowing that this proposal will likely be struck down outright, but also understanding that you must start with the highest number and whittle your way down to a reasonable compromise. ❝ your blacksmithing is the best prythian has seen in an age, and i will see you handsomely accommodated if you pledge to solely outfit and maintain the steel carried by the greatest players in my court. ❞

her hands lifted from the cup and knowingly took to the blade. she turned it over once. twice. it was her work. he hadn't lied. she returned it to the table just in time to laugh. ❝ a handsome reward does nothing for me when exclusivity precludes me from protecting what is mine. besides, why should i furnish your court when it may very well be filled with my enemies? ❞ she stood abruptly, despite the pull in her to stay. ❝ i'll thank you for the drink, but unless you give me all of the relevant information, i'll assume you intend to engage in some kind of subterfuge that would do me no good partaking in. ❞ she hadn't even finished her drink yet but she could see where this conversation was headed. one person from another court she could take in. an entire court? there was treason on the line.

SEREN NODDED, SHEDDING SOME of the unreasonable tension. perhaps the shift to mundane conversation helped. she never was very good at small talk so it took most of her energy not just nod and grunt occasionally. ❝ i think we all do, ❞ she admitted grimly. ❝ if this goes on, it won't just be my patience that runs out, ❞ she mumbled. she felt the pause in their conversation and forced herself to clear her throat. ❝ what... uh, what court do you reside in? ❞ she truly was a terrible choice for conversation.

luna,  who  was  normally  full  of  life  and  bright  as  could  be,  had  been  so  dulled  she  could  easily  be  missed  in  a  room.  once  one  of  the  brightest  stars  in  the  sky,  now  she  was  so  dim  one  might  not  pick  her  out  amongst  the  others.  everything  felt  faint  with  no  magic  in  her  veins,  and  the  lady  of  the  night  court  was  unsure  how  to  handle  it.  as  she  leans  against  one  of  the  trees  in  the  gardens,  mind  running  through  too  many  things  at  once,  her  ears  perk  at  the  footsteps  of  another.  "  only  pensive  thoughts  allowed.  "  she  attempts  to  jest.

OPHELIA IMMEDIATELY SUCKED A breath in through her teeth. ❝ not sure that's going to work super well for me. ❞ that wasn't entirely true. ophelia spent a lot of time on her own and enjoyed it. but when around people, she wanted to indulge that fact. besides that, she just enjoyed company now and then. ❝ what about very absurdist and nonsensical thoughts? would that also be allowed or have we dismissed them as well? ❞ she rounded the tree and tipped her head to the side. ❝ or is silence the real goal? ❞

OPHELIA HAD TAKEN TO THE less populated areas all through her stay in the capital. it seemed, however, that the desire to stick close together was waning and her hideaways were becoming more known. she held up her palms, conceding immediately. ❝ no problem. i didn't mean to startle you. ❞ she shrugged. ❝ bad habit of sneaking up on people. ❞ it was probably all the time spent prowling forests. ❝ do you mind the company? ❞ she wasn't all that eager to leave somewhere she'd just arrived, but she understood needing solitude.

it  was  plain  to  see  that  the  pair  of  cousins  shared  the  most  similarities  out  of  the  acheson  family.  luka  enjoyed  spending  time  with  maven  and  he  knew  his  cousin  shared  that.  they  could  be  heathens  together,  carefree  and  truly  enjoy  a  moment.  it  was  a  glimpse  of  his  time  before  his  position  in  his  brother’s  inner  circle,  a  needed  respite  from  the  responsibilities  thrust  atop  his  shoulders.  “  oh  i’m  sure.  ”  he  shares  with  a  chuckle.  “  is  it  even  any  good  ?  ”  he  jests,  eyebrow  cocked  as  if  he’s  judging  the  other.  he’s  not,  luka  would  never  judge  his  cousin.  they  were  too  cut  from  the  same  cloth,  judging  the  other  would  be  like  looking  in  a  mirror.  his  eyes  roll  at  the  remark  of  cats.  “  i  refuse  to  make  a  remark  on  size  to  you.  ”  because  he  knew  exactly  where  it  would  go.  luka  was  far  from  stupid  even  if  others  thought  it.  “  i  agree.  the  only  small  blessing  is  that  the  capital  is  in  spring  right  now.  ”  any  other  season  and  he’d  be  pathetic  over  it.

WHILE MAVEN WAS STILL ABLE to enjoy most liberties he'd enjoyed before his post in the spring inner circle, he was all to aware his cousin did not share that same experience. it was why he was glad he could bring revelry & debauchery back into his life. maven waved him off. ❝ bah, what is good anyway? ❞ he chuckled at the retort. ❝ even that shall come to an end shortly... summer is at our heels as quickly as ever and we shall soon once again be at a complete loss for our home. ❞ his voice grew remarkably solemn. it wasn't often maven let anything of serious note slip into his voice, further proof of his need for a respite. he shook his head. ❝ have you heard of anything new? ❞ he said, shifting the conversation slightly. ❝ any plans or preparations the capital will be putting in place? stars forbid, they try and inflict a curfew. ❞

SHE'S NOT THE FIRST FAE NOR will she be the last to tell him to mind his drink. maven waves her off, chuckling to himself. ❝ dear lady, if i were to be sober now no would benefit a thing. i might as well enjoy myself while staying out of the way. ❞ it was probably the most truthful thing he could admit. ❝ everyone is so quick to snap at me, but what value are they providing in these moments. ❞ he tipped his glass up and looked at her over the rim. ❝ after all, you're here with me. unless your intention is to forge an irresponsible dalliance with the emissary of the spring court, i do feel you're not doing much of anything either. ❞ he isn't being cruel, or at least not intentionally so. maven just thinks that most of the people who grumble about him are the most egregious offenders themselves.

MAVEN HAD CERTAINLY LOOKED death in the eye, only he hadn't gone out looking for it. he felt the slight of the rough & tumble fae but it only slid off his back. perhaps the alcohol helped ease this process. either way, maven couldn't help but bark a laugh. ❝ i spoke merely in repetition & mockery. ❞ he rolled his eyes. ❝ and substance can only pertain to knowing how to wield a blade or pummel a fellow fae? if i'm sick of the ramblings of fools professing 'this court is to blame' or 'that court is' and 'we could strike them down', then forgive my errant sarcasm. i only use words for weapons, though i fear you lack that ability and instead turn to violence yourself. a charming trait, no doubt. ❞ he lazily raised himself from his seat. ❝ besides, if you had anything of value to add, you wouldn't be talking to me. so let us set this... ❞ he gestured between, ❝ dull interaction cease. ❞

MAVEN PEERED OVER AT ELLIE, an eyebrow quirking at her response. ❝ you don't think the scholars are already on that? i think they've probably fled immediately to their texts and started studying. ❞ maven snorted. ❝ battle or read, both options sound equally horrendous. ❞ he had nothing against scholars and their tomes, it simply wasn't for him. he would rather use his silver tongue to seduce or bemuse. he was rarely the man to call for serious situations, which unfortunately, they seemed to find themselves in. ❝ did you enjoy yourself? er—before the winged thing, i mean. did you enjoy the equinox celebration? ❞

SHE KNEW IT WAS A FACADE TO act like she wasn't going to let him in, but teasing mateo in private was too fun a pastime to give up. ❝ and what if you particular brand of fun has become dull? ❞ she asked as she leaned a little closer to him as well. she smiled as he laughed. ❝ i shall have to pass on the swords for now, but i'd welcome the drinks. ❞ she opened the door for him and closed it behind him after he'd entered. normally she would've searched the hall for prying eyes before letting him in but she was too distracted. perhaps she did need to relieve a little stress. ❝ was your own company not satisfaction enough tonight, sir pellemeur? i fear it is usually myself seeking you out. ❞ she was fairly certain she was more involved in their affair than he, but she couldn't bring herself to say that.

DIANA HAD NEVER BEEN ONE to rely on her powers. learning and networking had always favoured her more. but it was hard to watch the people around her struggle. and, despite her best efforts, the texts weren't working. the knock came to her door and it was nothing. she could continue to cycle between wallowing and reading and whoever it was would leave. she flipped a paged but she wasn't reading anymore she was listening. and despite herself, at the sound of mateo's voice she was moving to the door against her better judgement. it was always against her better judgement. ❝ and what fun might that be? ❞ she asked coyly as she leaned against the door, not yet letting him enter. ❝ and reading is quite fun, i'll have you know. not everything is swords and fists. ❞

finally, he does make his way to the chair opposite hers, and makes a wordless gesture implying he'd like her to sit as well. ❝ join me, then. i will compensate you for your time whether we come to an agreement or not. ❞ meric's attention shifts from her, but only long enough to catch the wary gaze of the wench who seems displeased by the ruckus in her barroom. the woman nods somewhat reluctantly and begins to prepare them drinks. ❝ business done without spirits will never prosper. ❞

❝ go on then, to the business. ❞ she felt she was eerily close to repeating herself for a third time. ❝ and if you’re not quick about it, i’ll ask you to at least walk while you talk so that when you finish we might be in a better location for me to return my blade to your flesh. ❞ despite the vague threats she uttered, seren was intrigued. who in their right mind found a mystery and had no interest in solving it. but she knew better than to divulge that to an unknown.