#belohved

now back in 1, jade is  trailing  a  step  behind  niamh on their short  walk  back  to  the  victor's  village.   when  they  reach  the  point  of  the  pathway  where  they  would  diverge  to  go  to  her  respective  homes,    jade  ignores  the  slight  right  towards  her  porch  and  continues  closely  behind  niamh.  the  action  alone  is  a  silent  request,   but  it’s  clear  what  she’s  asking.    “  i  don’t  want  to  go  home.  ”    a  statement  not  followed  up  with  anything  else,  the  lights  reflecting  off  the  glitter  still  plastered  on  her  eyelids  that  her  stylist  insisted  upon.    “  i  will  sleep  on  your  porch.    but  it’s  cold  so  please  don’t  make  me.  ”

she let him inside, but not without a few choice words. most wouldn't be able to tell if she was mad or crazed or manic. john knew that she was relieved to see him, even if she didn't want to admit it. his first attempt at speaking, of course, had come out wrong, john watching kendra stop and turn toward him, only to flip him off with a fuck you. okay, he might deserve that. john takes a breath, sipping at the whiskey that had nearly been thrown at him, hopefully as a peace offering. 'i understand you're upset, but i couldn't tell anyone what happened. i shouldn't even be here. if someone saw me, with you . . .' we'd both be dead. he doesn't have to say that part aloud; they're both well aware of what would happen. eyes move up to kendra once more, john taking a moment to really look at her before murmuring, 'i thought i was ready to be dead, but i'm not. not yet,' @belohved.

the duties are never-ending she has learned. there will always be something or someone in need or grappling for the attention she still feels unsure of wielding, though appears to wear naturally if only by way of quick decision making. kerra moves the same way she has always moved. as she wishes, with a heart bigger than she knows what to do with. but for as much as she does only and exactly what she wants to do in her queedom- she continues to make room for all of things she needs to survive a way of life she never envisioned herself living. such as sneaking through the hallways like a fox in attempt to catch her love off guard. the queen no less of a woman than she was before the title preceded her name. reaching the corridor, kerra all but lunges from the connected hallway, swinging herself around the banister to land herself right in front of taryn, head tilted. "coming to find me?" she poses in faux-innocence. whether her plan had finally met its fruition for the first time or not remaining unseen. "because as it stands, it would appear i've found you, my love."

@belohved , kendra.

the edge of a storm is nearing, like that of the one inside her as she crosses the grounds back to her tent with the blood of her father still fresh on her forehead. she is no stranger to the crimson but she wants it washed from her skin immediately. when she reaches the opening to look back upon the dozens of eyes she felt watching her in her descent- there is only one set kerra is searching for. the same set she sought as pellanor met his death before her very own and as she was declared queen, with only the following day given to agree to the supposed gods choice. the very same eyes she's always searched a room for for many years now. and as expected- she finds taryn close, and releases the breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding. her head nods once to the tent opening in beckon. kerra doesn't beg or plead for anything from anyone. with @belohved, she knows she doesn't have to. “join me?” she mouths into the space between them before disappearing inside.