#vulpusaurum

@vulpusaurum | meme i'm too lazy to find.

Elain contemplated those words in silence, given her love for gardens and flowers it wasn't too strange to have longed to visit the Spring Court of all places. To want to see it for herself. The curiosity had remained after she'd accepted her new life, after becoming more at ease in Velaris and helping the fae of the night court with their gardens after they were destroyed. But nothing had quite prepared her for the beautiful scenery and sights she was met with.

The gentle fae still wasn't quite sure how to feel about Lucien, and the fate forced upon them both. She wants it to be her own choice, not that of the Cauldron deciding what life she has to lead. But as they sat here peacefully, she could understand it. There's many layers to Lucien she has yet to see. If she allowed herself to.

''Perhaps a bit of both,'' the smile that blooms on her features warmed her face, her brown eyes locking on Lucien. ''that was really poetic.'' In all honesty, she hadn't expected it from him. But this only proved how little she knew him. Her gaze returned to the night's sky.

''It's really gorgeous here, and so different from Velaris at the same time.''

@vulpusaurum Lucien says: "Violence prolongs hate, hate prolongs violence."

with just a few words he does the impossible – transforms nesta’s features into the most serious expression yet. others feel the need to regale her with observations about herself. it happens so often that she barely allows the words to make their mark… but she’s never been told anything quite like that before. eyes narrow, but she fails to muster her usual ferocity. instead she regards lucien with cool curiosity as she wonders what on earth would prompt him to utter such a statement.

" clearly, you don’t know me very well. " contempt wove it’s way into her being so thoroughly in her childhood that she learned to earn it from others. in truth, she feels comfortable with it. to be held with love? now that would unnerve her. but the curiosity in her stare doesn’t waver. nesta continues to scrutinize lucien as if she’ll be able to make her way into his thoughts; as if she’ll be able to understand his process. " surely you have better things to do with your time, lucien? "

Thoughts gripped her like a hand around the throat, pinning her in place so firmly it almost felt like her body was no longer her own. Eyes glazed over with a white haze, and past, present and future blended together in a maelstrom that pulled her mind under the surface. There was no coming up for air with this one, she was fully lost, fully submerged---not unlike how it had been when she was cast into the Cauldron. Died and reborn, Made. Fear encircled her wholly, and like a fawn caught in headlights, she simply stood there, frozen in place, the empty teacup she'd been holding now laying shattered at her feet.

And then there was a voice. His voice. The warmth of it enveloped her, formed a blazing shield around her to keep those harrowing thoughts at bay just long enough for her to escape the sway they held over her. Her eyes became clearer then, white making way for chestnut, and she produced a shuddering breath as she regained control of her own mind once more. The single tear that trailed down her cheek was all that remained from the thrall of her psyche, though she sought out the steadiness of his chest to lean into at the feel of her knees weakening.

These moments were few and far between now, but when they hit with this much intensity, an anchor was needed. Something to bring her back to the here and now. Lucien provided that for her, and she was forever grateful for it. Thank you. The words weren't spoken, but hung in the air between them as she melted into his touch, eyelids fluttering shut so she could focus on his heartbeat. Steady, secure, alive.

Having been deep in research about herbal remedies of sorts, it took a long moment for Elain to unravel what Lucien was saying to her. Initially, her reaction was a single quirked eyebrow, raised over the edge of the heavy leather-bound book she was holding, and a "hmm?". Moments later, the remark truly sunk in, and she raised her book momentarily to hide the blush that crept to her cheeks, lips pressed together so tightly the skin around them turned pale for the time being. A slow, steadying breath was needed before she peered over the book once more, just slightly.

"You cannot just barge in here and say that, Lucien. I think you should leave."

The playful smile that accompanied the remark was still hidden behind the book, though lights danced in her eyes as they remained fixed on the likes of him.

"...So I can double-check if yours is up for the challenge of matching what you said about mine."

"I..."

A deep breath does nothing to soothe the turmoil of emotions that roils through her, that grips her as though it's about to rip her still beating heart from her chest and crush it between the two of them. But those emotions are not negative, not necessarily; she notices then, for the first time, that there are feelings towards him. Feelings sprouted entirely of their own accord, not because of any mating bond guiding her way towards him, but a genuine like of who he is as a person. And because of it, the hint of desperation behind his words make all the more impact.

There is doubt, and longing, and a need to set the record straight...and so many more conflicting thoughts that pass through her mind in the moment of silence that she lets fall between them. But having made steady progress in the unlearning of her old habits of fleeing away when things get difficult or complicated, Elain knows exactly what her next move is going to be. Another deep breath, sucked in through slightly parted lips, and she closes the distance between them, stepping wholly into the warmth that seems to emanate from him like a near-constant thrum.

"You've made me blossom again, where I felt like I'd not made it through winter. And I can quite confidently say...I'm not planning to leave. Let's not find out what life is like without the other."

With that, she lifts a tentative hand to the back of his neck, fingers lacing with his fiery hair in gentle caress---in stark contrast with the intensity of their lips colliding a fraction of a moment later.

The expression on Elain's face as Lucien approaches her with a task of sorts is inquisitive, her Fae ears almost perking up at the sudden request, eyebrows raised in question as she studies his handsome features. A long moment of silent anticipation follows, until he offers his hand, and she stares at it incredulously. More silence, until laughter erupts from her like a trickle of water, and she swats at his hand in a first reaction, before finally finding it again and lacing her fingers with his.

"You are incorrigible. I'm...not opposed to that."

And with those words, her lips form a grin to match his own, her thumb stroking lightly across the back of his hand, enjoying the warmth of him, even if it's only the slightest of touches.

it's not the first time nesta has found herself raising her eyebrows at lucien — she's confident it won't be the last. with her arms curled around her torso, she looks him up and down with an icy gaze as if to convey as much before brushing past him.