"I know." she said quietly. She still didn't understand why, but that was a conversation for another time.
The Woods Manor stood silently amidst the drifting snow, casting its long shadow upon the untouched white around them. Giovanni descended first and she hopped off the goat with his help - it was a ways off the ground and while the animal could be brought to kneel, it likely wouldn't get up again once it had sank into the earth. "I have the key," she rifled around the pockets in her skirt and then pulled it out victoriously before bustling towards the front door. "Be ready for anything."

The wall near the door rumbled. Pari drew away from it as, under her bewildered gaze, the wood compacted and hardened and grew gray and pocked. She'd turned it into... stone?
"Sorry," Roo cried from outside the door. "I didn't think water would be a good option, because then what would happen to the door? I don't want to touch a door covered in sigils. So I thought... this might be easier, it's still solid, you know. I can change it back... I think."

“I don’t know,” she murmured, pursing her lips. “We have a lot to catch up on…”

“That would be good,” she agreed, relieved and wholly unaware of the connotations. “Thank you.”

Things were deceptively quiet while they wandered down the hall, up until they neared his room. That was when the path grew a little more crowded. Rhea had been absorbed in the task of coming up with some sort of explanation for her sudden appearance when a woman shrieked at the sight of Leriph and came staggering over, her eyes as glazed as his. “Leriph!” she crooned, falling into his arms. “You didn’t call me!”

“Oh my godddd, you’re such a scatterbrain,” she laughed and swatted his shoulder. Rhea quietly inched away and hoped that she wouldn’t be noticed. “I’m so mad,” the girl preened, “Let’s go somewhere quiet and maybe you can convince me to give it to you again.”

"Feo's fine," she confirmed, leaning towards him automatically. Years had passed between them, but it seemed they were still attuned to each other. She was too tired to fight the familiarity. "He tried to stop it, but he couldn't. I did. Barely. I don't know why or how, but... it's just another problem to tack onto the list. Anyways, Saskia's with him now, so..."

"Yeah..." she trailed off, then cleared her throat. "Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea for me to move back for a while. I, uh..."

Pari's head whipped around and she glowered at him. "Are you seriously making fun of me right now? Listen, I'm not the one with a history of hooking up with friends."
"Sweetie, he's not making fun of you," Sparrow soothed, patting Pari's head. "It's just surprising, that's all."

plum — 05/24/2021 11:04 PM
This was the time of day where the west wing sunroom got the best light. You could bathe in the golden sunlight for a few hours if you started against the left bookcase and slowly followed it over to the plant stand. Plus, no one really came in here on your average day except the odd maid, but even then the palace staff was accustomed enough to coexisting with their several feline residents that he knew he'd go mostly unbothered. Sometimes one or two of the Palace's other denizens would show, but usually they were polite enough to respect the contemplative quiet of the sunroom. It was really only Pari's parents you had to watch out for-- because they certainly did a poor job of watching out themselves. He'd had too many a close call to stick around when those two were alone.
Anyway, the room was empty today, which came as a relief to Feofil's weary bones as he moved to grab one of the plush cushions off the sofa by the window.

peach — 05/24/2021 11:13 PM
"Feofil?"
When he turned his head he found Pari lounging against a window, awash in golden light and looking rather peeved. This was not as surprising as the fact that he'd found her alone, without paperwork or her phone or a trail of staff members following like ducklings. She was dressed like she was ready for a meeting but instead had her legs crossed at the ankle, splayed across a windowseat. (edited)
May 25, 2021

plum — 05/25/2021 2:51 AM
He couldn't help but jump a little at the unexpected intruder, fingers gripping the cushion as he froze and turned to look at the Princess. "Oh wow, I didn't see you."

peach — 05/25/2021 5:45 PM
"What's got you so jumpy?" she asked, one eyebrow quirking up.

plum — 05/25/2021 6:03 PM
"I didn't think anyone was in here." He explained. "Are you... hiding?"

peach — 05/25/2021 6:12 PM
"I don't hide," she said haughtily, crossing her arms. "I'm avoiding my cabal of morons."
Otherwise known as her PAs.
May 28, 2021

plum — 05/28/2021 4:43 PM
"By tucking yourself away in an obscure location, otherwise known as..?"

peach — 05/28/2021 4:47 PM
"Escaping?" She finished. "But /you're/ hiding. Question is, what from?"

plum — 05/28/2021 4:50 PM
"I'm not hiding," he protested. "I nap here all the time."

peach — 05/28/2021 5:06 PM
"Well, I took over your napping spot for the next..." she glanced at the diamond watch strapped around her wrist. "Hour."

plum — 05/28/2021 6:04 PM
"What happens in an hour?"

peach — 05/28/2021 6:06 PM
"The Kazakh ambassador leaves and they stop trying to get me to have dinner with him." she leaned her head against the window. (edited)

plum — 05/28/2021 6:18 PM
"Is it important that you have dinner?" He wondered, pulling the pillow to his chest.

peach — 05/28/2021 6:22 PM
"He's boring. He just goes on and on about agriculture. Like hello, I'm a princess. I don't give a fuck about wheat or..." she rolled her eyes. "Leather."

plum — 05/28/2021 6:31 PM
"Unless you're buying it, right?" He settled down on the windowseat next to her. (edited)

peach — 05/28/2021 6:33 PM
"Right." She lifted her legs as he scooted in, then settled them on his lap, crossing them at the ankle. "I dunno what I'd do with wheat, though. And leather stinks."

plum — 05/28/2021 7:01 PM
"Make bread maybe? And you have that black leather skirt." He reminded her.

peach — 05/28/2021 7:02 PM
"I hate it. It's hot."
May 29, 2021

plum — 05/29/2021 12:08 AM
"Did you leave Kyros there to fend for himself?"

peach — 05/29/2021 12:12 AM
"He can handle it. He doesn't have idiot handlers." she sighed, then explained, "Sparrow's on his team."
June 12, 2021

plum — 06/12/2021 9:59 PM
"What difference does that make?" He wondered.

peach — 06/12/2021 10:03 PM
"Sparrow is actually competent." Pari tilted her head back and closed her eyes. "Did you really sneak out here to nap?" (edited)

plum — 06/12/2021 10:31 PM
"I'm not sneaking anywhere..." He looked down at her legs on his lap. "It's a siesta. It's a thing."

peach — 06/12/2021 10:31 PM
"I just hoped you were being rebellious." she said regretfully. "Even just a little deviant."

plum — 06/12/2021 10:33 PM
"I save it for when it counts."

peach — 06/12/2021 10:34 PM
"Like punching the occasional noble into next week?"

plum — 06/12/2021 10:34 PM
"If they deserve it." He confirmed with a casual shrug.

peach — 06/12/2021 10:41 PM
"Would you ever punch Kyros?"

plum — 06/12/2021 10:42 PM
"Oh, absolutely. If he deserved it."

peach — 06/12/2021 10:42 PM
Pari leaned over and raised her eyebrows dubiously.
June 14, 2021

plum — 06/14/2021 5:58 PM
"Look, it gets diluted the more you do it," he explained. "I'm saving the Kyros punch for when we're really in dire straits and need to make a point."

peach — 06/14/2021 8:08 PM
"... alright, fair point. You'll need to take him by surprise though, Kyros would demolish you."

plum — 06/14/2021 8:08 PM
"No, no, he could demolish me." He corrected. "But he wouldn't. 80% sure."

peach — 06/14/2021 8:09 PM
"That 20% is still a pretty big risk."

plum — 06/14/2021 8:10 PM
"There's a margin of error for certain environmental factors, you know, who's around, etc."

peach — 06/14/2021 8:11 PM
"How much does that percentage change if I'm around?"

plum — 06/14/2021 8:11 PM
"Ooh... that depends on who you're pissed at."

peach — 06/14/2021 8:12 PM
A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Would you ever punch someone for me?" (edited)
July 16, 2021

plum — 07/16/2021 1:08 AM
"Something tells me I wouldn't exactly need to." (edited)

peach — 07/16/2021 1:08 AM
"Pfft." she rolled her eyes, back thumping against the wall. "That's a non-answer."

plum — 07/16/2021 1:09 AM
"What do you mean? You'd beat me to it, if anything. I remember the nursery as a kid."

peach — 07/16/2021 1:11 AM
She nearly opened her mouth to protest that he was just avoiding the question but what was the point? She was infallible. Pari, the hurricane of power, the force of nature.
Sometimes it was nice to know that other people were looking out for you as well.
She withdrew from him, standing up and patting down her slacks with a glance at her watch. "Time for me to head out. Have a nice nap."

plum — 07/16/2021 1:12 AM
"Is it safe already?"

peach — 07/16/2021 1:13 AM
"Yeah, it's whatever." she waved her hand dismissively, unable to hide the sliver of irritation peeking through. "I'll handle it."

plum — 07/16/2021 1:24 AM
Feo squinted at her slightly, ever perceptive, but was quick to let it go. Pari tended to get salty quickly and over the strangest things sometimes-- ironically enough a more catlike quality than even he possessed-- and whatever bruise he'd poked to chase her off wasn't worth starting a thing over unless it came up again.
"See you around, then," he brought his legs up onto the couch and sent her on her way with a flicker of a wave.

peach — 07/16/2021 1:26 AM
"See you." she muttered, striding out of the room.

Sparrow had been quietly bolstering herself to talk to the approaching group of acquaintances, who were headed for the food - she was a secondary objective, sure, but they would probably engage her in some sort of conversation, especially after her disappearance. Right? Everyone seemed curious.
But they crowded around the table instead. Sparrow stepped closer to the pillar as someone walked right past her without even a "hello", instead positioning themselves so that she faced their back. She closed her mouth, which had dropped open in anticipation of a greeting, and kept quiet. Kids from Kenneth Wellington could be ignorant, but they had never been outright... rude, before.
"I just couldn't believe it when Nicoleta told me," one of the girls said, snickering behind a cracker. Her voice was just loud enough for Sparrow, and surrounding company, to hear. This was so obviously some kind of performance, and Sparrow's stomach began to sink as she considered who the mark might be.
"It makes sense that she'd take liberties when she's known the prince for so long," one of the men - Filip, if Sparrow remembered correctly - stated. He'd been in one of her classes, long ago, and she was pretty sure she'd shared her notes with him. "But obviously, there's only so far you can go before people start to catch on."
"Honestly, throwing yourself at Kyros like that," the first girl scoffed, her eyes wandering over the spread. "She must have begged him... on her knees."

Blood rushed out of Sparrow's head and her hands, leaving her cold, dizzy.
"She told the prince she loved him; sounds like begging to me." Filip commented.
"Maybe if he'd gone through with it he could have written it off on his taxes. It would probably have counted as charity."
"How much do you think she would have cost?" one of the neighboring girls laughed, wrinkling her nose.
"Much less than you probably think. Honestly, it would make more sense for her to pay the prince for the opportunity. I mean, she did have to get him drunk for him to go through with it in the first place."
"That's so gross. Do you think he even knew what was going on when she kissed him?"
"We don't want rapists in our school, so it's a good thing she got kicked out of the palace." the first girl said, pressing a concerned hand to her chest. "Honestly, what did she think was going to happen? And now she's stuck in some third world country-- oh."

Their voices fell quiet as their attention turned to her. Though their expressions mimed embarrassment, their eyes were glittering with something else, hoping for a new thread to latch on to.
"Oh my god, Sparrow." Filip, who had been the one with his back to her, said mechanically. "We didn't see you there."
"I can't believe you came back." someone else said. Sparrow could barely hear them over the blood rushing through her ears; she clutched onto the pillar so that she stayed upright, because her legs had completely given out.

Someone approached her from the back. She could vaguely tell. Altair had taught her to be wary of what she might find when she turned around. At this very moment, if something had come up behind her from the dark, she would have let it take her. Whatever it would have done would be less horrifying, less inconceivable, than this conversation and all its implications. But a hand wrapped around her shoulders instead, pulling her close to a tall, willowy body. Black clothes, dark eyes. Mirza.
"There you are, best friend." he said loudly. Mirza was playing too, but he was bad at it -- not like these guys. "Our best friend, who has come home to celebrate Feofil and Parisa graduating, because she means so much to Pari, and she's also their... best friend. And also Kyros's best friend."
"Prince Mirza," someone said, but he held up a hand. "My best friend here doesn't seem to be doing so well. Sparrow, are you okay?"
She didn't reply. If she opened her mouth, she was going to puke.
"Yeah, she seems-- a little out of it, we're going to go somewhere else."
"Is that a good idea, Mirza?" one of them asked, voice dancing with the delight of new gossip.
"Why wouldn't it be?" he retaliated ferociously, and his tone was suddenly so cold, so cutting, that she could feel the sudden, heavy silence where there had been fervor not so long ago, growing at the signs of a new scene in their play. No one responded to him. She felt Mirza's chin against her head as he turned to swelter at each player, his pulse pounding in his throat. "Does someone have something to say? Maybe I should bring Kyros over here and you can explain it to him?"
"No," Filip replied quickly, "Not necessary at all, your majesty."
"Are you sure? He wouldn't mind, he's always eager to set a record straight."
"There's nothing to set straight," one of the girls assured him. "We were just asking Sparrow when she got back and what she's been up to -- maybe she's just not used to such good food anymore! That might be why she looks like... that."

Mirza ignored them. He turned her around, his width shielding her from the rest of the room, and carried her away as quickly and quietly as he could. It didn't go unnoticed; the world around them became quieter as they passed through. None of it mattered. Sparrow was boneless in his arms.
"Sparrow?" he said. "You're kind of freaking me out. Are you okay?"
Mirza had to wait for two guards to push the doors to the hall open. She recognized them from her time at the palace. They looked at her with dubious expressions, and the ground wobbled under her feet. Mirza held her up, hands tightening in alarm. Did they know what people were saying about her, too?
"Mirza," she whispered. "Let me go."
"I feel like you're going to fall down if I do that." he said. She might. She didn't care. She didn't want him touching her - anyone touching her - she didn't want to be led somewhere like a horse, fodder for later gossip. "Mirza," she said desperately as he brought her down a darker hallway, less populated. "You can't. If you do this, they're going to say that I-- that I--"
"Sparrow, shh." he said softly. "Let's talk about this inside, okay?"
He approached a door. She bucked against him, but his grip was too strong. "Sparrow," he fought her, eyes glancing out to the hallway. "Listen! It's just an empty room, I promise. There's nothing and no one in there."
"No! You can't-- don't do this--" she wailed, tears finally springing to her eyes. Mirza was starting to panic, but he was still doing a decent job of subverting her attempts to shove him off. "Hey," he soothed, strained, opening the door and gingerly pushing her inside as she blathered protests. "I can't be in here with you--" her heart was going to jump out of her throat, her words were harsh and heavy. "I can't be alone with you -- Mirza, stop it, get away from me--!"
"Sparrow, please calm down," he urged, latching the door shut with a final click and turning around to face her. Sparrow, who had been pushing at him, pushing at the door in a desperate attempt to escape, sprang away like he'd burnt her. She cowered on the other side of the room. "Sparrow," he hissed again, "People are going to think I'm doing something bad to you, can you please--"
But she'd gone white at his words, swaying like she might pass out right then and there. Mirza's alarm skyrocketed. "What are you -- are you gonna faint? Are you gonna puke? There's a bathroom, it's right over--" but before he could finish she'd already stumbled towards the door in question, throwing it open and then slamming it shut and then retching, the sound interspersed with sobs.
"Oh my god," Mirza muttered. He was not Feo. He didn't know what to do in this situation. Maybe he should -- go hold her hair? "Sparrow? I'm coming in."
"Don't!" she shrieked back, the sound loud and shattered enough to make him jump.