#pleiades.starter

　　it was that time of the year once again. the townsquare was filled with music, loud and joyous. people danced and clapped along as skilful bards strummed their lutes and fiddles to the tune of "the maiden of the sea" - although their voices were being drowned by the less harmonious chorus behind them. all of it happening underneath a breathtaking night sky, stars sparkling like diamonds above them. all while the waves soothingly crashed against the rocks that held beacon's reach up high. the message from the sixteen-headed beast, giving their people their blessing to continue celebrating a plentiful harvest. 　　a jovial celebration for most, but a necessary commitment to the young solomon. it was his responsibility as a prince and royal member of the house saewine to join in on the celebrations, it being such an important date to his kingdom. his father sat in the middle of a grand table, ordering the bards to indulge him with "the lion and the unicorn" next. while his mother gossiped with some of the noblewomen visiting the kingdom just to join in on the festivities. as for his siblings, only the beast knew where they were. 　　the blaring of the flutes and lute started to drill the prince's ears very early into the night, which made him decide to take a break and move to the shore. cedric flapping his wings right behind him, not without having stolen a bunch of grapes for himself first. 　　there was no intent for solomon to swim - in fact, he was quite overdressed for such an occasion, bearing a blue tunic with silver lining and a sash to match, a fresh cotton undershirt and trousers, all capped with high boots to avoid any sand slipping inside his shoewear.

A fresh bag of coin in hand, the head of the Striga delivered to the Lord who'd put out the bounty on it after the beast had killed a number of farmers. An unfortunate end for the woman cursed to become the creature, but Wolf didn't care much beyond the coin his was owed when a job was done.

the last bit of customers that trickled out of the market signaled the end of murai's work hours. they packed their goods and returned them to their caravan before deciding to stop by the tavern for a quick meal and some drink. the best part of being a traveling merchant, murai supposed, was how they met many people along the way. nods of recognition and fleeting smiles were offered to them freely, which murai returned with equal fervor. see? being known and seen was not all that bad.

location: ember court || event starter. || open.

He had roamed around the courtyard. His eyes scanning the height of the castle. Watching as shadows dance across the walls, enchanted by the enchanting braziers along the walls. His finger tips graze against the stony walls, tapping in anticipation and expectation. Jac had heard rumors of these old walls as a child. He had heard they were crafted from the very dragons themselves along with their dragon fire, meant to keep them warm throughout the colder months. At least, that's what he used to believe as a child. It would be absurd for him to believe such things now, the pillar of sophistication that he was now as a prince. However, Jac couldn't help his curiosity from getting the better of him.

He frowns. The prince of Umoria feeling the coolness of the walls against his fingers. Jac flattens his palm against the laid stone, the dry and ancient walls, tepid against the prince's palm before it is returned to his side. He feels at the strange bits of dust left on his hand, thinking nothing of it before retrieving a drink from a servant's serving tray. Noticing another person beside him, Jac simply shrugged while raising the cup in there direction.

"Sorry, friend, I believe I was faster."

The knock of the door of his chambers got an annoyed sigh as he shifted up in from the sheets of his bed. "Come in." The Crown Prince's voice rang out as he sat himself against the headboard of the bed. A hand reaching up to brush along the back of his head as he gave a little hum, the sheets covering his naked lower half, and a nudged the two bodies next to him. "You best leave." It was a simple order, that sent two rather pretty servants scrambling for their clothes and dashing out the door carrying them past whoever walked in as Sebastian gave a tilt of his head over at the figure who entered.

"Now, why must you be coming in so very early? I pray that you're some more entertainment but I have feeling that your knock was a little more urgent than a simple roll of the hay with me" The Crown Prince mused simply. It wasn't that the man didn't appreciate his status in his family, nor hated the fact he had the crown and the future of the country on his shoulders. He'd always had something of a flippant way of speaking, two bright eyes meeting the other.

"Well? Is it good news or bad news?"