lia's smile widens a bit more as she hears her friends laugh, glancing back at her before back to leto, lightly scratching at the crows chin with her finger. "oh, I couldn't even compare." she laughs a little herself afterwards, mentally making note of said snacks so she knew what to search for the next time she happened to be at the markets. "i'll keep that in mind...I happen to like berries myself...we can share, what do you think?" she's looking back at the crow as she says this. "...one someone is desperate and in need of answers they go searching for it...i'm sorry your court got thrown into the wolves den in that case. I do hope you know hybern stands with you. no matter what. and even if for whatever reason that decision changes on my court's end, I would still be here. everyone just wants to go home but this isn't the way to do it, we're all stronger together, some of us just need a reminder, I suppose."

His honey eyes flickered. The lazy grin didn't waver, but something behind it sharpened and assessed. Recognized. She wasn't trembling, brittle, or pressing against his consciousness the way everyone else in this courtyard was, all jagged edges and panic. Her mind was still. Shielded.

"Hybern," he echoed, and his voice was lighter than the thing unfurling in his chest. "So you knew about us before the dramatic reveal. All this time, holding onto secrets." He tilted his head, the grin returning to its usual lazy brightness. "The walls are old. They're not used to this many voices pressing in at once. But they'll hold." A pause. "So will I. So will you, I think." He turned his gaze upward, following hers to the constellation-scattered sky.

"The stars are like this every night. It's the one thing that doesn't change. No matter what happens, the stars stay the same. The patterns, the light..." He glanced back at her, his expression unreadable, but not unkind. "I find it grounding. When everything else is loud. When everyone else is loud. You probably now what I mean."

she turns to meet his gaze once more at his next words, about them both being able to hold in all the noise...these circumstances proving to her how difficult it's become...and it's not unwelcome, speaking with someone else who understands just how exhausting it could be as they both look up at the sky. "it's gorgeous...I wonder if your sky happens to have more constellations with more stars present...does it?" at the lord's prodding she's contemplative for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. "...I've always considered myself grateful for such a gift...it's given me more understanding of others. patience. empathy. but I can't remember the last time it was so loud and filled with grief...i've been trying to keep myself...needed. but i'm not used to it all overwhelming me like this...how are you managing? better than myself, I hope."

When he heard her footsteps, he turned around, looking directly at her. His eyes softened and allowed a small smile to form on his face, one that was very rare, reserved for very few people. "May I help you, Miss Lia?" Vikram asked, placing a bookmark in his book to stop.

@witchoftheshdows

after having lost their powers, which lia had felt almost instantly with their daemati abilities just always being there,they decided to look through the market stalls to keep themselves occupied, and not worrying about what this could mean, they had found a small scented candle that reminded them of him, which quickly led them here. "hello my lord. i hope you've been well, I just...found this candle and it made me think of you! how has...spring settled, over all? I actually had the chance to meet your own apothecary not too long ago. he's very kind. I believe you're in good, gentle hands..." she shyly sets the candle down and put her hands behind her back at the thought of the Illyrian.

Remy nodded as he listened to her, the little plant still close to his nose as he breathed in the scent some more. It was calming.

Iliana seemed animated as she talked, having no trouble communicating her thoughts. Remy was impressed because he had no such luck but he rarely needed to discuss his thoughts or feelings and he had almost no one who'd listen anyway. "I have some lavender plants at home. We are blessed in Spring, everything grows in our gardens." He gave her a soft smile and put the lavender back in the basket and picking up the witch's bell to look at it, not sure if he's ever seen something like it or what it does. "I'm not busy. I haven't found much to do here, honestly. I just wander around. The woods are very pretty." Putting down the witch's bell, he puts the basket to the side and both his hands move to rest on his knees, his back is impossible straight with the weight of his wing but he's just so used to it that he doesn't even notice how stoic he seems. "I would love to help in whatever capacity I can. I must confess I was at the Winter festivities by accident so I didn't come prepared. I'm at your disposal for whatever you or the other apothecaries might need." He felt like he was coming up short in this conversation, so after he stammered a little, he asked. "How are you— um find it here? Are you comfortable wherever you are staying?" It sounded rehearsed, like he had memorized how to talk to other and was putting it in practice with her and, well, it wasn't far from that.

hearing this about spring iliana's eyes lit up almost instantly, thoughts of wonder filling her head at the possibilities that prompted. "everything? I would very much like to see that...it's unfortunately been too long since i've stepped foot in your court...but I hope I get the chance again after...all of this." watching him pick up the bell she feels herself growing a bit...anxious? knowing she had woven the wreath herself, starting to fiddle with her sleeve as she starts to explain it a little just in case. "you hang it up at the front of your home...the bell works through vibrations and sound...intentions...when it rings as the door opens or closes the bell chimes and that works to break up any negative or heavy energies that linger...so essentially a spiritual barrier that I hope might...be useful while we are...in the middle of everything, I suppose...maybe I would benefit from a small nature walk myself."

they notice the way he's completely still, back perfectly straight, and they have to bite their tongue from pointing it out, feeling a little out of their depth here and so instead they relax their own shoulders, slouching back a bit in hopes to silently show him he was allowed to do the same. "you came by mistake? well then i'm very sorry you got looped into all of this...hopefully we can figure out how to get you home...get us all home. in the mean time I can always lend you any of my own supplies if there is anything your needing...but i'm glad. your help would be very appreciated, in fact i'm very glad I came." at his stuttering the witch softens once more, unable to keep from lightly blushing once again before she takes a moment to think of over the question, thinking it very sweet of him to ask. "oh, um...I am. mostly comfortable. i'm at the inn with the tavern with a very dear friend...trying to keep myself...needed. it's been very overwhelming." especially hearing everyone's thoughts, sensing their panic and hopelessness...and she didn't know how to help them.

He watched as she looked at his wings, making himself look at them as well before his eyes landed back on her again and suddenly, he realized he was just standing there without saying anything so he took some steps back. "Oh, please, do come in, I apologize." No matter how many centuries he's been free, socializing with new faes is still not his strongest suit. "The room is rather small but take a seat in the bed if you want." He was going to remain standing, or perhaps he could sit on the floor? Remy paced around for a moment before he remembered she had brought something for him. "Did you say lavander? That's so sweet of you. I don't have anything to give you I'm afraid. I'm still trying to— get my bearings here." The winnowing had felt like the rug had been pulled from under him and he hasn't recovered his balance yet. Remy took her gifts, bringing the lavander up to his nose to smell it. "My name's Remy Alaire, I don't know if you knew that."

she perks back up instantly once the basket is mentioned again and she quickly nods, handing it over, with a smile as he brings the lavender to his nose, blushing a little at the soft sight. "oh, please, no, i'm not here for anything transactional,I just...I was actually out of it for a little bit...I brought my ingredients with me, just a small stash when we made the travel to winter and it was one of the items they didn't have there so I was...really happy to see they carried it at one of the vendors at the markets here, so...i've been sharing the wealth I guess as I visit everyone. it's one of my favorite things to have as an apothecary...plus they smell really nice." she's babbling now. "it's a pleasure to meet you, remy alaire...though I wish it were under better circumstances, of course. I give my condolences if there was anyone dear that you lost before we were brought here...and your court is very beautiful. I can only imagine what kind of herbs and plants you must have there...but um...sorry you're probably very busy so the reason I came was to get to know all the apothecaries properly so that we can... help each other, maybe, to then hopefully see how we can aide whoever needs it together, from all courts. it's obviously maybe a little naive after all that we've endured but I do think the only way through this is through community. so...if there's anything that you might need, I want to offer my help."

Dorian was a delicate person, he seemed sharper than he was and when he needed it, he could be but if he was going to continue to put all his trust in Lia, he needed to know that he could. That the trust was still there.

lia's eyes instantly brighten as leto decides to sit at her hand, practically beaming as she reaches out with her free hand to stroke at the bird's feathers, melting at the sound of the caw, letting out a small laugh and then a gentle coo in response, carefully bringing her hand closer to greet her properly with another soft stroke to her head. "it's nice to see you, too. what's your favorite treat? so I know what to bring you and your friends later? I can bring dried fruit...or maybe some nuts? how does that sound?" the witch definitely needed this. "you also will always be needed, you know? I can't imagine how...distressing all this must be for your court. to have all these people held her, ready to point fingers and having no choice but to host...i'm very grateful you're here. even if this all could have been done in much different circumstances. you deserved to do this at your own time.

Except it was found out that Hybern knew about Starlight all along and Dorian, being as noisy as he was, he wasn't thrilled about Iliana hiding things from him. He wasn't angry though, of course not, never. Just maybe a little hurt.

He was lost in thought when she spoke to him so he looked up at the beds and he had to agree with her. Now that they were going to be living together through this, they might as well take advantage of their time together. "I agree love, let me get the night table out of the way." Dorian said and moved to do exactly that so they could push the beds together and once that was out of the way as well, he flopped on the bed. "I can't believe you lied to me al this time." He just come out and said it so they could talk about it and move on from it. Dorian wasn't one to dwell or play games or act offended and not say what was on his mind. He wasn't unforgiving either, he was going to listen to Iliana and whatever she had to say.

iliana had been mentally jumbled since the voice came back to prod at them all after all the dead bodies had been found (hybern being one of them) and being brought to the new court that they had known of but hadn't had the chance to step foot in just yet. their smile as they happily took their friend's arm was genuine, trying to find a light in all the darkness that prythian had found themselves in, and seeing one of their friend's gorgeous home was definitely one, right? especially if it meant getting to meet the full murder of crows they had heard so much about.