#mayday42024

The Banshee’s Wail

TW: Dementia, infidelity, violence

A woman’s voice screeched through Nahilvi’s comm, hidden under her hair, you could hide an entire engineering shop there with as full as the ombré curls were. “You PERVERT! You stay away from me! My daughter will be home any minute!”

It was the last day of the Hearts Of Tenacity fest and Nahi was kicked back around the fire sharing snacks with Pheonix, a woman she just met, while wearing her jeans, boots and Starstriders tee. One last night of freedom, then she would go back to the chaos of her family life, that was all she had been hoping for, one last night.

Scrambling to her feet, she apologized to the people around her who could hear the screaming, it had been so loud, and ran away from the circle. She stopped behind a tree and clicked the small device. “Mother… what in the Fel is going on?”

“There is a MAN here who tried to climb into my bed.”

Before she could respond another voice came from the shared family channel. “Hey Nahi, sorry, she has been so good all weekend.”

The singer ran three fingers up the center of her forehead then down to the bridge of her nose and kept her voice calm, “Mother… that is your husband Irenthalas. You have been married for years now.”

“No! I don’t KNOW him.” The pitch of the wail was so high only a trained singer could project it. Her mother had been an opera singer for hundreds of years, she had perfected it.

Well there went the last night of the festival and she hadn’t even been able to say goodbye to the new people she met. “I will be there in a minute, Iren.” It would do no good to address her mother, she was in one of her lapses. The dark skinned performer reached into her pack and pulled out her hearthstone, setting it for their home in Dalaran.

In the time it had taken for that simple action, Nahi could hear something shatter upstairs. The stairs were traversed three at a time with her long strides and she slid into the doorway to take in the chaos. Irenthalas was on the floor, blood streaming from his head, there was shattered porcelain in a blue and white pattern around him and her mother was lifting a lamp like she was going to throw it. “Mother stop!”

“Call the guards! Where is the one posted at my door? Our Prince would never leave me unguarded! Did this man kill him?”

Alright, this was one of her bad episodes. Nahilvi’s mother had been a singer in Kael’thas’ court for a long time, one of the favored entertainers that only performed in the main throne room. When the keep was attacked, she had fallen after taking a blow to the head. Nahi had picked up a sword to protect them but luckily the invader’s were focused on Prince Sunstrider by that time and it had allowed Irenthalas to get to them.

He had secretly been infatuated with Acenadalia for decades, but he was a lowly priest and her mother was married to Viscount Preado Sunburst, the ennobled bastard that her mother had found in her dressing room getting head from two of the Summershade triplets while suckling the third’s breast. Of course that wasn’t the first time he had been caught with his pants down, but it had been the latest.

Iren had helped get them clear before the keep was locked down completely, taking the women to his familial home in Dalaran. He treated her mother but the damage that had been done had left her permanently impaired. She had taken a glancing blow to the temple from an invader’s mace, the skull fracture and cuts healed well, but when Acenadalia woke it was clear she was not in her right mind.After it was clear that Nahi’s father had not made it out, Iren and her mother were wed.

With more work the lucid times outweighed the spells when her memory lapsed, but her mother had to be watched all the time. The last time she had not she walked right into the Alliance alcove in the city and demanded that she be taken to Kael’thas immediately along with no few ‘don’t you know who I am’s’ thrown in for good measure,

“Iren?” Nahilvi questioned while keeping an eye on her mother as sometimes she wasn’t recognized either.

The man’s deep voice sounded exhausted, “I’m alright, she just threw a teapot at my head. I never liked that set anyway.”

“Wasn’t that your grandmother twice removed’s set?”

“Yes, but family lore said she was a harridan.”

Nahi wanted to laugh but was expecting a lamp to be hurled at her or her step-father at any moment. “Mother, it is alright I am here now.”

“He crawled into my BED!”

The shrillness of her mother’s voice caused daggers of pain to embed themselves in Nahi’s head, “I am here now, you are safe, put down the lamp.”

“MY BED!”

“MOTHER!” Nahilvi yelled, she hated doing that most of all, “I am here, we will get everything sorted, put down the lamp.

Acenadalia’s gold eyes snapped to her daughter and narrowed, then they opened wide, “Nahi? When did you get home? Did you enjoy your festival? Did they like my song? I bet they did, you have such a lovely voice. Iren? Why are you on the floor? Did you fall?” She set the lamp back down and crawled into her huge bed, “Come to bed dear, I am sure our daughter would like a bath and settle in for the night.”

Just like that, all the drama ended and they were all one big happy family again. Her mother hadn’t been wrong, she did want a bath and bed, but that bath was going to be accompanied by a bottle of brandy. “Sleep well mother, Iren. I love you.”

May 22 - Day 4 Drama / Celebration

Pyraelia was deeply familiar with her sister’s penchant for drama and the fact that Fiorenze rarely, if ever, recognized it in herself in the moment. 

There was certainly probably more to her sister’s motivation to not attend the gallery than just Xylaes bringing Tinnaire as his plus one; she could understand why Fiorenze was feeling bruised by that, even if it was simply as friends. It broke the “girl code” a tad, but there wasn’t really anyone to blame and there wasn’t anything to do about it that wouldn’t make someone feel terrible when they didn’t really deserve to. 

Had it layered too harshly with everything else going on to be the last straw? She’d tried to press, but that made Fio bristle and withdraw more than she already had. This certainly hadn’t been an easy year, and she knew Fio was already feeling isolated and alone. But, she also knew that not going wasn’t going to make that any better, and would wind up with her sister sulking more because she’d missed out on the celebration of Annya’s work as a whole. 

She pursed her lips a bit as she inked in the final adjustment on the illusion she wanted to apply to her prosthetic arm for the grand party. It was terribly complicated, but she’d experimented with a more rudimentary concept before. Her solid glass illusion had to refract and be translucent — this new version was similar in that it had to be translucent, but the glass effect was thinner and meant to be a delicate shell that contained swirling galaxies and twilight stardust in the form of an arm. 

More than likely she was going to wind up alone for stretches at a time herself; Khaeris and Pollux were going to be there together and she certainly wasn’t going to third wheel their experience too much. Aerden understandably hadn’t been able to confirm his own attendance, and with everything going on with the Song it wouldn’t surprise her if the militaries were starting preparations to ship out to wherever it wound up pointing to. Keranna had accepted her plus one spot, but certainly wouldn’t be hanging out with her. 

There was some merit in the ‘lets spend time as sisters’ angle. Perhaps also the ‘keep yourself open to being surprised and meeting new people’ angle. Much like her spellwork it was going to take some work-shopping, but she was confident that she would be successful in her arguments. 

As much as her sister was dramatic, she also appreciated the dramatic, and the gallery would certainly be that in spades

DWC May 2024, Day 4: Drama

The laughter at the table died down with more than one person wiping tears from their eyes. Banagan shook his head and then looked around at everyone’s empty mugs. Carefully, he slid his chair back and stood up.

“I’ll get us another pitcher.”

“Make it two, lad,” Lorellai said with a grin. 

“Certainly,” the paladin responded with a nod. As he made his way towards the bar, he heard several voices getting louder from a nearby table. Looking over, he saw several men from his previous assignment laughing loudly. One of the waitresses was standing there holding her empty tray, trying to leave the group, but her way was blocked. One of the men had his leg stretched out with his foot on the side of one of his comrade’s seat, keeping her pinned next to the table. The man turned his head and Banny frowned.

“Jek,” he muttered. Before he realized it, he was walking towards their table. 

Zariasona had been settled into her home in Duskwood for the night. The hustle and bustle of Stormwind and the political work she had so immersed herself in was relaxing to her, yet it was also taxing. The only thing she had to look forward to was going to the Manor to see her beloved Feylonis, and their precious daughter Leandra. Leandra, who was now age five, still didn't quite understand why her Minn'da was gone all day, leaving her home with Feylonis whom she came to call mom. Feylonis wasn't alone with Leandra all day, for the manor still had the head servant, Agnes Cooke.

Feylonis had just entered into the parlor, having just put the young Leandra to bed for the night. Plopping down on the couch she sighed heavily as she buried her face into her arms on the armrest of the couch. "I am so glad she's asleep now.." The Magistrix chuckled as she set down the book she had been reading. "I know. She was a little terror today. Refused to leave my side even when I came home. I think she's still trying to get acclimated to our life. It's a shame that-" She paused, not wanting to think about the recent passing of her husband.

"Dalah'surfal.. I know. But we will be alright. The person who killed him is in the stockades for life. And thank the Light for that." Fey had been quick to move to the floor before Zariasona, grabbing hold of her hands so that she could offer any comfort she could to her.

"I know, darling. It's just-" She sniffed, her gaze shifting to the ceiling. It was clear she was trying to not cry again. "I need to get back to work. I cannot let this stop me." "Oh come on Zari, You can't bury yourself in work every time something happens like this. You do this every time."

At that moment, a heavy pounding upon the front door was heard. It was loud enough that it echoed in the foyer, and came into the parlor where Feylonis and Zariasona sat. The silence was deafening between them. Thankfully, Agnes was still up for they heard the scurried foot falls heading towards the door.

The large doors creaked open, and mumbling could be heard between Agnes and another female who stood outside. "I'm sorry, you're who?" Another mumble of words came, and there was silence in the foyer. "Let me consult the Mistress. One moment." The door closed gently and Agnes was quick to stand in the entry-way of the parlor. Clearing her throat, she softly spoke. "M-Mistress. There's someone claiming to be your-" She fell silent, trying to conjure the words. Clear cut confusion was written all over Agnes' face.

"Spit it out already, Agnes. Who is at the door?" It was late, and Zariasona hated late night guests.

"Your sister."

"Impossible. Both of them perished. What is her name?"

"She says it's Kinadra, a sin'dorei of the Ebon Blade."

Zariasona was frozen, her eyes locked to Agnes. Feylonis peered up at Zaria with the same confusion as Agnes. "Surfal.. I thought you said your sisters perished? How is this-" "Send her in. Send her in now." The words were spoken so quick that they cut off Feylonis' words.

Agnes gave a quick bow before scurrying towards the door once more. As the large oak doors creaked open, both of the women could hear Agnes speak. "The Mistress will see you in the par-"

The black-cloaked figure pushed passed Agnes upon hearing it was alright to enter, not giving her the chance to finish. For a moment, a flurry of disorientation filled the woman as she sought out the room with the crackling fire. Within seconds, she was standing where Agnes had just been with her black hood covering her face, and water dripping down her form from the rain that just ended.

Zariasona was quick to lift herself to her feet, eager to see the face of the woman who claimed to be her sister. Feylonis moved just as quickly, planting herself just behind Zaria.

The hood lowered, and the straight black hair fell out of the hood with pointed ears springing to life. Blue lich fire eyes, and the same silken complexion that Zaria remembered her to have always had.

"Kinadra.." Zaria said nothing more and rushed to her sister to hug her tightly. "I thought you died." "I did." Kinadra's cold voice came. "But the Lich King brought me back. I now live under the banner of the Ebon Blade. And Zari.. I've come home. At long last, I have come home."

"Kinnie.." Zariasona hugged her tighter, and together the two sisters sobbed together before the roaring fireplace.

This Star Wars the Old Republic fanfiction is a entry for @daily-writing-challenge day 4 drama featuring my Rattataki Jedi Knight Karocelyn. To be honest, when I create Karocelyn, I wanted a Jedi version of Asajj Ventress.

A town in Tatooine wait for help to protect their town from a band of pirates attacking their own. Soon, a republic starship arrived and the mayor said to his people as the ship landed, "Good people, we are saved." A female Ratattaki in Jedi robes step out and the mayor smile drops as he said, "Oh no. We are not saved." The Rattataki woman said to the mayor, "No. You are saved. I'm Karocelyn of the Jedi Order." A male citizen from the crowd call out, "How can we be sure? Your people are working with the Sith Empire." and many citizens agree.

In her ship, Karocelyn did her mediaton, calling out to the Force to help her in this troubled times. The Force give her a vision of her past, back when she was a youngling in the main Jedi Temple and see her younger self as a girl trying to follow the other younglings, some of whose give her a dirty look. Karocelyn then noticed the Jedi Knight whose took her in, a male blue Twi'lek, in talking to another Jedi Knight whose ask, "Are you sure about this girl, Master Qwoth? The Ratattaki people are a warrior race and will not control their emotions. This girl will fall into the dark side before she become a Jedi Knight." and Mast Qwoth said, "I understand, Master Harrod, but it doesn't matter what one look like on the outside, but what they are in the inside. I meet this girl in a Mid Rim planet, using the food to help steal food for poor kids like herself. This girl have a good heart, and I hope that we can teach her."

This World of Warcraft fanfiction is a entry for @daily-writing-challenge day 4 celebration feature some of my Horde OCs.