#ethercvl.

the dusk commander rows them off in the rented rowboat, sending them out to the middle of the sea. while the water was uncharted territory for the fae, all water was the same in the sense that all seas were unpredictable. the fishing lure twists in his hand, squid legs twirling limply along with the rope. yìzé liked fishing. it was a simple pleasure in life, something he used to do as a kid. not so much anymore when he could sail the skies.

but - "if you can't beat them, join them. that's the saying right?" he glances over to the other fae, checking on their progress. "need help with your lure?"

considering the treasure she'd left buried in their court, iphigenia felt that being around the fae of the day court was unsettling. while once, she'd known a friendly face or two, she made an effort to steer clear of their paths lest she be forced to engage in an uncomfortable situation. they were plenty lovely, but served as too much of a reminder of her shirked responsibility. today, she felt like a cornered dog, tugging on a taut leash.

"excuse me," iggy says, announcing her presence. "i have a message from lady ulka... she asked to pass along the message that she will be in the infirmary for an extended period of time."

truly, her passion laid in the arts. her valfaren blood ran blue because of the acrylic plugged into it. she was much of a critic, immersing herself into so much culture that she couldn't help but form an opinion on it. some work was great. moving. riveting. other work? not so much. she fights back a yawn, trying not to be noticeably rude.

"by the frost," volpina mutters under her breath, hiding the murmur of her lips behind her drink. "i'm about to fall asleep."

with a flourish, chevalier presents the carved figurine of a merfolk - crafted on a piece of dry driftwood lodged in the sand. he swore that he'd spied the mermaid from shore himself, inspired by the real thing. truly, though, if you could hardly believe what he'd said he'd heard, then who could believe what he'd seen.

"not my finest work," chevalier confesses. "but, how can you capture the majesty of the merfolk, mhm?"

ulka's eyes light up — "my favourite hightower!" a title she bestowed on each of them, privately, when in conversation with the siblings. she raises an arm broadly, waving over the hightower. the general moves swiftly to meet them in the middle, across the browning grass which was the exact in between shade that served as reminder one that a winter's snowfall was due very soon.

"did you see the little king this morning?" her voice lowers conspiratorially, monitoring herself from listening ears. she giggles, as if she's simply a lady, wasting her days pettily exchanging gossip about a minor slight. "what in cauldron's name has gotten in to him?"

josie’s words still echoed in his head —  and who have you connected with since we've been here?  any of the other emissaries?

the memory crept up on him in his shame, making him want desperately to march back into his chambers and hide under layers of blankets. while iain appreciated the help offered by his step-mother, it was unbearably embarrassing that he needed it in the first place. while he might be familiar with the other emissaries and had no real difficulty connecting with them, bringing it back to the position was harder to keep in mind. smoothing things over was well within his capabilities, but weaselling out information? as one of the newer emissaries, it was difficult to find his footing.

spying an ambassador of the other courts’, his eyes light up. iain smiles — wide and toothy, his perfect pearl glazed teeth bared like an eager pup. “greetings!” he gives a little wave of his fingers, sidling up next to them. we make our own opportunities. from the stone will come a statue with some hammering. “how are you faring with the recent snow flurries?” meaning both the weather, and perhaps, if one were to read into it, recent behaviours of their young king…

"hullo mum," iain grins, leaning in to give his step-mother an affection kiss to the cheek. "have you got time for lunch?"

he found that the dusk court was giving him the sort of leisure he'd only experienced in his youth, dicking around with tiernan as boys. the creeping itch of boredom meant he was not pushing himself to his truest potential. iain knew he could and, truthfully, should be doing more around the dusk court to help spring take the upper-hand but he knew not yet what he should be doing. iain hoped his mother might be able to give him some direction... some mission into the bowels of espionage.

the beauty in their family was how far the reaches went. from blood, to basically that — ellie’s friends were as close to her as her sweet little sister was. but ellie’s friend or not, the hightowers were all but family. ulka didn’t even think twice before purchasing a pair of earring in a shade that was absolutely perfect for addie. she wiped them down with her embroidered kerchief as soon as she arrived to the day apartments, and marched herself into adelaide’s space to test them out.

"sweet little addie,” ulka hums, face pressed against the door. “i have something for you!”