For Pratyu to keep track of all the ish that goes on there.
- Aressthalya --> anti ascension, anti demon, main goal: protect family, Altair by getting rid of the demons once and for all. She understands the threat they present to her people
- Jānis --> pro ascension, pro "symbiosis", traditionalist and conservative. Wants to keep the demons around because he understands that Altair would be much worse off without them (in regards to the very nature of the land).
- Most Lumanlisc sisters --> progressivists that do not want the Ascension, are afraid of the demons, and want to live in peace. Against the traditionalists. Binzy and Nquilla want to rule; most of the others do not care one way or another, but acknowledge that if they conceded their seats, Altair would probably devolve into a greater mess.
- Roo --> cannot bring herself to decry demons because she is of the opinion that the land belongs to them as much as it belongs to her own people. Wants to find a way to coexist, even if they frighten her
- Imperialists --> remnants of the Jānis regime. Conservative, insist on the need to keep demons around and very anti Sangrian. Want to return to "the old ways"
- UCAS Internal Rebellion --> want the Lumanliscs out of power, attribute everything terrible that's ever happened in Altair to their rule
When Rhea was a young woman (age 15-16), she got pulled in by a mirror demon. Aress managed to get in as well and got her out. Rhea was trapped for a day, Aress was trapped for a week. This singular event shattered Aressthalya's brain and turned her into what she is today. It is not known to any of the other Lumanliscs.
Aress' desires and personality were pushed to extremes. She no longer had qualms or hesitation (loss of impulse control? loss of empathy? loss of foresight?)
ages - kyros 7, baseline from there
"What do you think of the 'Lurians?" Pari asked, spooning some ice cream into her mouth. "They're weird."
She, Sparrow, Kyros and the rest of the gang were sitting around Sparrow's dining table. Simona was out, working with the queen, which left the small apartment rather empty.
"I like Uzochi." Sparrow said. (edited)
plum — 01/29/2021 10:12 PM
"It's not like they ever talk to anyone," Kyros shrugged.
"I like mint. I wan' mint." Vic said for probably the sixth time in the past ten minutes, thumping his spoon against the table.
peach — 01/29/2021 10:23 PM
"Uzochi talks to me." Sparrow said again. A small smile lit upon her lips. "He's nice. I like him."
"He's old and boring." Pari decided. "And you can't have mint, Vic, it's stinky and no one likes it so we don't have it."
January 30, 2021
plum — 01/30/2021 12:36 AM
"Stinky?" This was an outrage.
"Isn't it a little weird for you to be talking to him?" Kyros pointed out.
peach — 01/30/2021 1:07 AM
"I help clean his room." Sparrow justified. "He gives me chocolate biscuits."
"Not strawberry? Lame." Pari scoffed.
Mirza patted Vic on the head and said appeasingly, "I like mint." (edited)
plum — 01/30/2021 1:34 AM
"Why are you cleaning his room?" Kyros wrinkled his nose.
peach — 01/30/2021 1:35 AM
"Cause it's my job."
plum — 01/30/2021 1:35 AM
"You're five. You don't have a job."
peach — 01/30/2021 1:38 AM
"I do too!" she protested indignantly, "Simona told me so! I have responsible-cities."
plum — 01/30/2021 11:58 AM
"You're not even in real school yet."
peach — 01/30/2021 12:01 PM
"Yeah I am! I learned counting to one hundred, want to see?" she leaned forward and splayed her hands on the table without waiting for his response. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, 'leven, twelve, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty-" (edited)
plum — 01/30/2021 12:17 PM
"Hey, hey, you skipped a bunch!" He accused. "Cheater!"
peach — 01/30/2021 12:19 PM
"I'm not a cheater!" She cried. "You're mean!"
"Sparrow is a cheater, Sparrow is a cheater!" Parisa thumped her fists on the table, grinning.
plum — 01/30/2021 12:20 PM
"It's just the truth," he defended. "You have to say all the in between numbers or it's not right."
peach — 01/30/2021 12:22 PM
"You're not right," Sparrow pouted, putting her spoon down. She didn't want to eat ice cream anymore. "I did say them, I did."
"Kyros is mean," Pari declared. "And he's stupid! Stupid kyros!"
"Uzochi's smart, that's why I like him." Sparrow sniffed. "He's nicer than you." (edited)
plum — 01/30/2021 12:31 PM
"He's a dummy and a bad prince."
peach — 01/30/2021 12:32 PM
"No he's not! He's nice, he gives me chocolate biscuits and he helps me clean." Sparrow informed him hotly. "He's nice and cool."
"Uzochi's cooler than Kyros!" that was Pari, obviously.
plum — 01/30/2021 12:34 PM
Kyros could think of no bigger insult than to stick his tongue out at his cousin. On the other side of the table, the other three kids were having a peaceful discussion about ice cream flavors.
peach — 01/30/2021 12:46 PM
Pari reached over and poked his tongue, fast, before he could pull away. "You ate my germs!" she crowed.
plum — 01/30/2021 12:47 PM
"You're disgustin'!" He crowed back, face scrunching up in disgust.
peach — 01/30/2021 12:48 PM
"No, I'm Pari!"
"Do you like mint, Sparrow?" Mirza asked in his squeaky voice. Sparrow thought on it. "It's spicy."
plum — 01/30/2021 12:50 PM
"Haha," Vic crooned. "I like it."
"Mint's not spicy, it's cold." Kyros put in.
peach — 01/30/2021 12:52 PM
"Do you like it Feo?" Mirza asked. When the boy said nothing he nodded and agreed, "Me too."
"It's ice cream, it HAS to be cold." Pari said scornful. "Stupid Kyros, stupid Kyros!"
"Pari, don't be mean." one of the guards chastised. She frowned at him. (edited)
plum — 01/30/2021 1:11 PM
"Even if you eat other mint things, they're always cold." He rebutted. "Mint is cold. You're the stupid one."
peach — 01/30/2021 1:12 PM
"No it's not! You can have hot mint tea." she sneered. "Hot so it can't be cold, you're stupid!"
"I'm gonna go hang out with Uzochi." Sparrow decided, sliding out of her seat. (edited)
plum — 01/30/2021 1:13 PM
Kyros turned his attention to her suddenly, grabbing her wrist. "Hey, you can't just leave."
peach — 01/30/2021 1:14 PM
"I want to!" she insisted. "Uzochi will play games with me and he isn't a meanie!" (edited)
January 31, 2021
plum — 01/31/2021 3:17 PM
"You're the meanie for calling me mean," he accused.
peach — 01/31/2021 3:18 PM
She squinted at him, then looked mollified. "I'm sorry." (edited)
plum — 01/31/2021 3:20 PM
"It's okay. I'll forgive you if you finish your ice cream with me."
peach — 01/31/2021 3:20 PM
"Okay." she said, clambering back onto the chair and picking up her spoon. "Maybe we should invite Uzochi for ice cream!"
plum — 01/31/2021 3:21 PM
"I don't think he would come," Kyros shrugged.
peach — 01/31/2021 3:40 PM
"We won't know if we don't ask!"
plum — 01/31/2021 3:46 PM
"Well, you can ask him, then, cause I won't."
peach — 01/31/2021 3:49 PM
"I will." she replied stoutly.
It was hard to hold a steady line of communication with everything going on, but Roo didn't think that her sisters had misunderstood Queen Tyrneamitore's warning. Historically, the queen didn't mince her words, and she'd been particularly blunt about what it meant to leave the Altirian gate open. She'd also been very clear about how they would have to close it. Rhea and Binzy and Nquilla and the others were out there right now, milling about in the dining room or the living area or one of the offices, combing through every page of ancient text or every obscure ritual they had access to; summoning demon allies and sea witches to interrogate about planes and how to tether them, not that anyone would know anything. Tasia Tyrneamitore was the gatekeeper and her word was irrefutable law, despite everyone else's protestations. Roo had known better than to argue, not that hearing the verdict had been easy to swallow; but she'd always been a little cursed, and she supposed that there really was no other way for all of this to end.
She sat in the relative dark of her room, scratching small, meaningless designs on a pad of paper with a quickly-drying pen that had been lying in her nightstand. Motes of dust floated through thin strands of light that tried to push their way in from underneath the blinds. The air was still and cold. Mina was gone and Moira had left because rabbit... deer-crow creatures, Roo supposed, could also be haunted. And she was alone. And now... she tipped her head back as a telltale gnarl wended its way around her throat, thorns pricking at the tender lump that was her voice. Now, she thought steadily, distantly, she had practice. She knew what it was, to be lonely, and now she'd be alone forever.
There were only two options: anchor Altair fully and unleash her demons upon the world, or evacuate and close the gate - lose Altair and everything horrible within to the vast expanse of whatever existed outside of what was known, but save the rest of the realm... one that she had never, and now, would never look upon with her own two eyes.
The gnarl tightened. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, pen stilling in her hands.
There was no point in wishing things were different, praying that they could be. They had all the answers right in front of them. She just had to sit and wait for her sisters to come to the same conclusion.
It was weird, being back in Atherdale after only a year, but with everything changed.
Sparrow hovered near the edge of the room, closest to a table covered in food, where she could at least pretend to be doing something. Feo, her usual security blanket, had been whisked away by Parisa for some graduation party event. She could see him in the distance, swamped by their classmates - well, her former classmates - an expression of regret stark enough that she could see it from across the hall. Sparrow had been surprised when he'd complained that Pari had, "in an act of generosity and frankly, charity", decided to share her graduation party with him. It was the last thing he wanted, but how could he say no? Well, he'd tried to, and the princess has simply rejected his rejection. It wasn't like Pari to want to share the limelight, but it wasn't like Pari really shared anything with Sparrow anymore, so... she was in the dark about these latest antics. Vic had been hanging out with Sparrow until a few minutes ago, when he'd gotten pulled into a conversation with some very brightly-dressed students. She'd thought about trying to tag along, but the notion exhausted her. She loved Vic. His friends could be... overwhelming. And things had been weird between them since her disappearance. It rankled at her, but she had to give them time and space for their anger. They deserved that, at least.
Then there was Mirza. He was probably the most forgiving, after Feofil. She'd actually managed to pull him aside in the early days of her visit to apologize, but he'd just patted her arm and reassured her that he hadn't been too offended, and that he'd gotten over the hurt. His eyes, always so dark and perpetually steady, signaled that he knew there was more to the story, but it was Mirza. She didn't offer any explanation and he didn't ask. She could have kissed him for that, but kisses had caused this mess in the first place. Speaking of which, Mirza was making rounds with his uncle, who had been steadfastly avoiding her when he wasn't giving her the PR-prince routine. And Sparrow knew that Pari was undoubtedly furious with her, though she'd been all smiles and careless laughter through the visit, the very picture of unbothered. Pari had sided with her cousin in his and Sparrow's unspoken fight, though Sparrow desperately hoped that she didn't know what the fight had been about. And Sparrow, for her part, had tried to make amends, but Pari was in full PR mode as well and she had parties to worry about. She made sure she didn't have a gap in her schedule during which Sparrow could steal her away.
For the most part, the trip had been exactly what Sparrow had expected, and dreaded. Feo, the only one who knew everything that had happened that fateful night, and why she'd left so abruptly, had taken it upon himself to be her advocate. She was staying with his family actually, and it was a breath of fresh air. The Zhernekov uncles were boisterous and every day was new, blessedly ordinary drama. Sasha and Saskia and Vera had invited her in with great delight. Saskia was excited to have another woman in the house - she said Vera, who was a goblin in disguise, didn't count. Vera was excited to have a new playmate to torment, and Sasha seemed pleased to have another calm presence to offset his wife and his daughter. Their invitation had been a relief for Sparrow, who had been a little afraid that Simona might want to keep her at the palace. Instead, her de facto guardian had been eager to pawn her off on someone else. Simona hadn't been around very much at all.
Despite her years of experience, despite knowing better, that Simona didn't have time for her after a year of not seeing or speaking with each other had pierced Sparrow's heart just a little bit; then again, Simona always ensured that nothing - not even friendship - flourished between herself and the girl she'd been tasked with taking care of for seventeen years. And... maybe it was fine. Sparrow had wanted to talk to her about the mermaids back in Altair, and about Altair itself, since Simona could keep a secret and she was reeling from the weight of so many. But she could bear it. It was hard not to say anything to her old friends, though. Despite their distance, they were the ones who knew Sparrow best. But they didn't know about the mer, not really, and the Lumanliscs had made it clear that their goodwill and her reputation for being mostly quiet and compliant was really the only reason they'd let her into Altair. She didn't think they'd be so welcoming if she let anything about the disaster in their country slip, especially in front of the Tyrneamitore. And the royals had tried - Tasia had been at it the entire week, crafting the most subtle of questions to gauge anything at all about the state of Altair. Sparrow was sure Kyros and Pari would be at it too, if they were talking to her like normal people. Either way, it didn't matter; years at the palace had given her a master class in the art of deflection and a vague smile.
The hardest thing not to talk about was the demons, especially since she knew what they meant to Kyros. She hadn't really talked to him at all, since... well, since the night it had all gone wrong. Sparrow had been something of a mess for her first month in Altair, which was mortifying in retrospect. She didn't want to know what the Lumanliscs had thought of her, even though most of them had been nice to her face. Maybe, because they had enough sadness between them, her own was just a drop in the pool. They seemed comfortable with the constant cloud of misery that Sparrow had carried around in those first days. She supposed they had to be. Surviving Altair was no easy task; depression and anxiety were a guarantee. But Sparrow had slowly found herself again, and she'd also discovered why it was so hard for everyone there to leave their broken country. As petrifying as Altair could be, she'd never seen such a crystalline sky or felt such downy grass, trekked through soil that was rich and heady with minerals, fallen asleep under the firmament of stars that she might have been able to touch and the balm of warm rain. Every corner of Altair felt stunning. Sparrow felt more beautiful in it, like the colors had twined themselves through her hair and the life that saturated every vestigial creature had grown in her, too, and she'd needed that... especially after what had happened. The others could see it too, she was sure, because her first day back had been full of comments from Saskia and Vera on how lovely she looked, how she glowed with health, how her eyes glimmered and her cheeks pinked and she'd grown bronzy under the sun.
Sure, there were things to be deeply afraid of, but the horrors crawled upon the land while she was safe in the sea. Sparrow and her pod rarely encountered the things that reigned in the night, though... a few near-misses had left her occasionally sleepless, and with a some scars as reminder not to get too comfortable. Anyways, wasn't the good it had done her heart worth it? Sparrow just... reeled her memories in, when they began to dip into the shadows and the nightmares. There was a lot that she successfully kept bolted behind a door, latched with several strong locks. She was getting better at it every day.
But here, now, feeling utterly alone when there were so many people milling around her - people who knew her, but who quickly glanced away, or who blatantly stared with voyeuristic curiosity, because no one knew why she'd left so abruptly last year - she could feel herself drifting out of her own body, uncomfortable in her skin once again. She'd tried to pick out a pretty, inoffensive dress suitable for the party that would let her blend in without trapping her. She spent more time out of cloth than in it, now that she was trawling the ocean most of her days, but even the carefully selected gown was starting to stick and chafe and itch, and all she wanted to do was strip it all off and sink into a plush bed. There were so many people here and there were so many walls. She couldn't see the sky.
And there was one more confrontation she'd had to make when she'd stepped into Atherdale again, one that had sent her stomach to her feet and her heart to her throat. A gorgeous one, with thick, dark hair and flawless skin and a mischievous smile, impeccably dressed in fashion that even Vic would have to commend and so sweet that even Feo, forever guarded after Sol, had to admit that he found little fault with her. Her name was Dulcette, which was just the perfect name for someone so kind, warm, and cheerful. And she made Sparrow sick with jealousy.
It only made sense that Kyros would start seeing someone; it was a reality that Sparrow knew she'd have to contend with at some point, though she had quickly realized, upon seeing them together for the first time, that she wasn't nearly as prepared as she'd decided to be. It had been without warning, which had made it even worse— karmic, even. She'd walked into the palace alongside Feofil. Its denizens had known that she was visiting this week, though no one had been informed that she'd be stopping by that day, and she'd hoped that the shock of her arrival would lower their guard enough for her to get her apologies in, and then her eyes had landed on them. They'd been silhouetted by the sun, pink from its descent but a perfect, blazing backdrop to Kyros, who had somehow matured even more finely in only a year's time. Those good looks were utterly devastating now, painstakingly crafted by a cruel God. His easy strength remained, visible even beneath his coiffed clothes, but she thought he'd grown a little slimmer, so his muscles were tighter instead of so bulky. He'd probably gotten a new trainer. It was her last coherent thought before her eyes fell upon the girl whose arm was laced through his, all sugar and delight, laughing musically. Sparrow had instantly known that Dulcette de la Rosa was nothing like Sol, and she'd seen Kyros's expression soften in an unfamiliar, cloying smile in Dulcette's direction, and her heart had squeezed so painfully in her chest that she thought it might actually shatter, little bits of it bursting through her rib cage and flying about the palace like debris from a bomb.
She didn't remember much about what happened next; there were vague memories of Sparrow spinning around and hurrying off in a random direction before Kyros could see her, Feo following behind, his silence heavy with sympathy. She remembered him kindly saying, perhaps in a misguided attempt to reassure her, "She's a lot more like you than Sol." and somehow that made everything so much worse, because Kyros hadn't wanted her. He hadn't wanted Sparrow, who had been his friend for more than a decade, who'd been there for him through his worst days and who'd carefully carved her life away so that he was the center of it. Clearly, he wanted someone like Sparrow, but... more beautiful. More accomplished. More clever, more educated, more high class, and just more, in every single way.
Later that night, back in her quiet guest bedroom in the Saposhnikov apartment, Sparrow couldn't help but dissolve into tears she thought she'd already cried out long before. I could have loved you so well, she wept, despite knowing the truth: he never had and never would love her.
When Sparrow finally got around to trying to see him again, she'd done it with plenty of people present and Feofil had made sure to schedule it so that Dulcette was otherwise occupied. The whole time, a reverb echoed in her head: Kyros had to know that she knew; he had to know how seeing him with another woman made her feel. And he didn't care at all, clearly. Though she wasn't owed his time or his consideration, she wouldn't put herself through the agony either. So they hadn't spoken a word to each other since.
Sparrow locked it all away behind that same door that held her memories of their last night: the heat his hands caressing her skin, his lips crushed against hers, knowing he'd never taste her again, the weight of his body. But while she closed most of her feelings away, she made sure to withdraw one: that humiliation she'd felt when she'd seen his expression, his pity, moments after he'd registered her confession of love. She let it roost in her chest, let it swallow her words when she thought to speak. She let it flourish under the poignant looks Kyros and Dulcette shared, all the while upholding her detached calm. Simona would have been proud of her, though Sparrow burned with shame.
peach — 01/13/2021 2:36 PM
"That's a very strong if." Tasia said with a laugh.
plum — 01/13/2021 10:41 PM
"It is," he agreed. "The important thing is they really do love each other underneath all that. I mean, look at how much he's missed her and we're only here for a couple of days."
January 14, 2021
peach — 01/14/2021 1:48 AM
"He's been Facetiming her every second of the day. My phone isn't even my own anymore. I'd have brought her with us, but her grandfather is visiting."
plum — 01/14/2021 1:48 AM
"He won't get to see her much with her on calls the whole day. The toy store was a good idea."
peach — 01/14/2021 1:49 AM
The corner of her lips tugged up. "I do have those once in a while."
plum — 01/14/2021 1:49 AM
"Hey, speaking of which, shouldn't you be heading out for the meeting?" His brows creased in concern as he glanced down to the watch on his wrist.
peach — 01/14/2021 1:51 AM
Tasia exhaled a sigh and nodded, pushing herself up and brushing out her pants. "I'll freshen up and be downstairs in a few minutes if you'd like to head out now. I'm not looking forward to it. Ambassador Artemy enjoys his droll conversation."
plum — 01/14/2021 1:52 AM
"You want me there?" He questioned.
peach — 01/14/2021 1:53 AM
"No, it's probably best if you don't come..." she admitted, "And best if you aren't in my rooms when I leave. I should be back within the next few hours. If Kyros gets back by then, will you make sure he eats dinner?"
plum — 01/14/2021 1:56 AM
"Of course," he agreed. "Good luck. Um... please stay safe."
peach — 01/14/2021 2:04 AM
"I will." Tasia assured him. "Don't worry so much."
February 2, 2021
[DMs between Kyros and Parisa]
Kyros: We need to talk. ASAP
peach — 05/06/2020 9:20 PM
Pari THE GREAT: what do u want?? I'm working
plum — 05/06/2020 9:21 PM
Kyros: By "working" do you mean sulking in your room?
peach — 05/06/2020 9:24 PM
Pari THE GREAT: no, dumbass, I'm working
Pari THE GREAT: school didn't suddenly end because Sparrow decided to leave
plum — 05/06/2020 9:47 PM
Kyros: ASAP means ASAP, Pari. You'll want to hear this.
peach — 05/06/2020 9:50 PM
Pari THE GREAT: just tell me now
plum — 05/06/2020 9:51 PM
Kyros: I had a long talk with Tasia about a lot of things she's been keeping in the dark
Kyros: I'm not allowed to tell you most of it. But I did finally get answers about Miz's dad, for one
peach — 05/06/2020 9:58 PM
Pari: wtf are you serious??
Pari: you're telling me everything, right???
plum — 05/06/2020 9:59 PM
Kyros: We can talk about it
peach — 05/06/2020 9:59 PM
Pari THE GREAT: come to my room!!!!
plum — 05/06/2020 9:59 PM
Kyros: I knew you were sulking in there
Kyros: I'll be there in a little while. Wouldn't want to interrupt your studies
peach — 05/06/2020 10:06 PM
Pari: ALREADY INTERRUPTED JUST COME NOW
Pari THE GREAT: how tf am I supposed to keep studying w you dropping that! So casually!!
plum — 05/06/2020 10:09 PM
Kyros: If you want to know so badly, meet me in the gardens
peach — 05/06/2020 10:17 PM
Pari THE GREAT: geez, fine, Mr. Wannabe Saga. Be there in 15
<<proboards posts here>>
Pari had sent all her staff out of the rooms for the day - she wanted to be alone. Kyros had left for his morning meeting with Tasia, even though they'd stayed up the entire night until Sparrow had left at sunrise. He was as efficient as always.
She pressed her cool hands to her face, trying to soothe her swollen eyes. You dumb bitch. What was the point of crying? Sparrow had made her choice - a stupid, reckless choice - and she was gone. She wasn't coming back. No matter how certain her cousin seemed that this was a temporary thing, Pari knew in her heart that their friend was gone.
She'd tried to sleep again, but sleep would not come. She'd tried to prep for the day, but then one of her idiot stylists had given her scalp a sharp tug while braiding her hair and she'd screamed at the lot to get out of her room. They'd gone scurrying, and now Parisa was blissfully alone.
She didn't want their sympathetic gazes. She didn't want their concerned doting. How the fuck did the staff even know how upset she was? She wasn't that easy to read, was she?
It was probably Sparrow's fault. Oversharing, simpering, naive Sparrow. She was gone. At least the staff wouldn't be privy to all of Pari's moods anymore, though that realization did nothing nothing assuage her mood. She moved her hands up to bury her fingers in her hair, leaning back against her chair with a deep, shaky exhale. (edited)
March 17, 2021
plum — 03/17/2021 11:42 PM
The door opened quietly, and the cause was immediately clear. No knock, so it wasn't a servant. There was no presumptuous or boisterous introduction, so it wasn't Kyros or Vic. She's heard it open, so it wasn't accidentally-stealthy Mirza. And after last night she knew it wasn't Sparrow. By default, that left Feo, who was indeed tentatively occupying her doorstep. He peered inside with eyes that betrayed the exhaustion they all felt.
peach — 03/17/2021 11:43 PM
She cracked one scarlet eye open to glower at him from the mirror of her vanity, her voice like the crack of a whip. "What do you want, Feofil?" (edited)
April 16, 2021
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.
Vera was sitting in Illy's bedroom, her knees drawn to her chest. She'd chewed through three fingernails and was working on her index finger now. She didn't know what was going on at home, but she'd heard Mama and Papa muttering to each other about Feofil and some party, and using words that she didn't know the meaning of. She wished someone had taught her more Russian.
They'd dropped her off at Illy's house and for the first time in her life, she didn't want to be there. She'd much rather be at home, or wherever the rest of her family was. It wasn't fair that they wouldn't let her get involved.
plum — 04/17/2021 12:48 AM
Illy had been confused when one of Vera's uncles had pulled up to the house in the wee hours of the morning with her best friend in tow, exchanging hushed conversation with her mom. She didn't know what was going on, but the vibe was weird, and not in a good way. Gal had made them some hot chocolate and for the first time ever let them take it upstairs into her room. She'd already drained her mug dry, and held the thing between her hands as she lightly kicked her feet against the side of the bed. "Uhhh... well, I could braid your hair for you if you waaaant... or I was gonna say we could paint our nails, but you're eating yours, soo..."
peach — 04/17/2021 12:49 AM
"Do you have that gross nailpolish that makes your nails taste bad so I won't eat them anymore?" Vera asked miserably, her finger in her mouth.
plum — 04/17/2021 12:55 AM
Illy's eyes twinkled. "The one that was supposed to be pineapple-flavored but tastes like licking vomit off a shoe?"
peach — 04/17/2021 12:55 AM
"Yeah," she looked even more beaten-down. "That one. I'll... put it on."
plum — 04/17/2021 12:57 AM
She hopped up and went to grab her nail polish box from its spot on the closet shelf, dropping the mug off on the nightstand along the way. "It's gross but it is super shimmery at least."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:02 AM
"I do like shimmers..." Vera reached out to grab it, but her voice was still melancholy. "I think something's wrong with Feo."
plum — 04/17/2021 1:03 AM
"I was wonderin' why you showed up at like four in the morning."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:04 AM
"Yeah, Ma and Papa ran off somewhere and they were talking about him..." she frowned at her feet. "I think he's in trouble."
plum — 04/17/2021 1:08 AM
"Well where was he?" She deposited the box at the foot of the bed and picked out the aforementioned pineapple polish. "Also, I'm gonna give you braids while you paint your nails so your hair'll be curly tomorrow, cool?"
peach — 04/17/2021 1:10 AM
"He was at some party." she said, nodding her assent to Illy's latter request. "He went with Kyros and Pari and them. Can you do a fishtail?" (edited)
plum — 04/17/2021 1:12 AM
"Sure, I've been practicing." Illy fetched her little spray water bottle and hair bands from her bathroom and settled down behind her friend. "D'you think he got arrested? Like maybe they got busted for something?"
peach — 04/17/2021 1:13 AM
"Busted for what, though?"
plum — 04/17/2021 1:14 AM
"Uh... punching another important guy?" She guessed.
peach — 04/17/2021 1:14 AM
"You know, maybe he did. There were lots of important people at the party, I think." Vera ruminated. "... do you know why he punched the last guy?"
plum — 04/17/2021 1:18 AM
"Not really, none of them seemed to want to talk about it. Did he tell you why?" Illy spritzed Vera's hair to dampen it up so it would form lovely, curly waves whenever it was released, combing through it afterwards with her fingers.
peach — 04/17/2021 1:21 AM
"Nope, but Papa gave me a really long talk after I punched Bobby and he was like, 'Vera, you can't go punching people for no reason, you can only use fruit borscht if you're trying to protect yourself or your friends.' And I was like, what's fruit borscht gotta do with it? Can you even make borscht like that?"
plum — 04/17/2021 1:22 AM
Her brow furrowed. "Huh?? That makes no sense."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:24 AM
"Right? That's what I thought, but Papa just goes on and on so I just said, 'okay papa. Okay papa. Okay papa.' I even tried asking Feo, but he said he didn't wanna talk about it!"
plum — 04/17/2021 1:31 AM
"Your dad does talk a lot," was all Illy gleaned from that. "I feel like my dad doesn't talk as much, but he does talk loud."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:35 AM
"Your dad talks to your mom a lot." Vera objected. "And to Furfur. But he doesn't really talk to me a lot. I have tons of questions for him, actually. Do you think I could do my Parent Jobs Interview paper with him? 'Cause Ma and Papa aren't allowed to talk 'bout their jobs..."
plum — 04/17/2021 1:36 AM
She sulked, "Nooo... Gal told me I can't talk about his job either."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:37 AM
"Huh? But his job is so cool!"
plum — 04/17/2021 1:39 AM
"I know!" Her fingers weaved carefully between the sections of Vera's hair. "I think it's a dumb rule. I guess she doesn't want him to get in trouble for punching people like Feo did."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:40 AM
"Yeah, that makes sense. Hey, what about Uncle Seir? Can we interview him?" (edited)
plum — 04/17/2021 1:41 AM
"Well she didn't say anything about him."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:41 AM
Vera's eyes lit up. "I still need someone for my report. And it's due tomorrow!"
plum — 04/17/2021 1:44 AM
"Tomorrow's Sunday though. But I don't know when he works, it's pretty random, so we should get him when he's free."
peach — 04/17/2021 1:48 AM
"Oh. It's due after tomorrow. Is he free right now? Can we go? It'd make me feeeeel betterrrrr..." she sang, then realized that it was true. It did make her feel better. If she was off on an adventure, at least she wouldn't be sitting around here waiting for someone to tell her what was going on with Feo.
plum — 04/17/2021 2:24 AM
"Yeah, I guess we could try the door in the basement, even though my mom keeps it locked."
peach — 04/17/2021 2:29 AM
"Ah, what's a piddly little lock to the greatest detectives on the earth?" Vera sprang up.
April 18, 2021
plum — 04/18/2021 2:24 AM
"Truuuue, besides I'm pretty sure she just keeps the key in their room somewhere. Do you want a hair clip?"
peach — 04/18/2021 2:25 AM
"Ooh, do you have a cat one?"
plum — 04/18/2021 2:26 AM
"Uhh, I think I might've left that one at your house." She hopped off the bed and bounded over to the bathroom to retrieve her little box of hair clips. "The blue one?"
peach — 04/18/2021 2:26 AM
"Oh yeah... maybe. Do you have a smiley-face one?"
plum — 04/18/2021 2:28 AM
"Yeah, here," she picked out a little orange smiley face and handed it over.
peach — 04/18/2021 2:28 AM
"Thanks!" Vera tucked it into her hair. "How are we gonna get the key from your mom's room?"
plum — 04/18/2021 2:29 AM
"I don't know, especially if she's sleeping..."
peach — 04/18/2021 2:29 AM
"Do you think Iezabel could get it for us?" she wondered, "We can just ask nicely."
plum — 04/18/2021 3:17 AM
"Yeah..." Illy scratched at her head. "It depends what kinda mood she's in, but she might. Let's try it."
peach — 04/18/2021 3:41 AM
Vera followed her out the door and down the stairs. The house was warmly lit, soft orange lamps glowing amidst the darkness. She could hear dark whispers emanating from the shadows and then the echo of footsteps behind them, but it had never bothered her. The lesser demons were bored, too. They had to entertain themselves somehow.
April 21, 2021
plum — 04/21/2021 12:56 PM
"Iezebeeeeel," Illy whisper-called, not wanting to alert her mother, whose location was unknown. "Geez, she's never around when you need her to be."
peach — 04/21/2021 1:10 PM
Vera made a face at a small, squat demon that tried to bite at her ankles and shooed it away. It was called the Harbinger, and Gal like to keep it around because it ate bugs that came in from the forest, but Vera thought it was just a little too keen on nibbling anything in its path. "You think she's sleeping?"
plum — 04/21/2021 5:56 PM
"She might be reading in her room or something..." Illy guessed, banking a left in the direction of the basement. "I dunno."
peach — 04/21/2021 5:58 PM
"How does Iezabel read if she doesn't have eyes?"
plum — 04/21/2021 5:59 PM
"Not Iezebel, dingus. My mom."
peach — 04/21/2021 6:01 PM
"Oh." Vera blinked. "That makes more sense."
plum — 04/21/2021 6:06 PM
Before they knew it they were standing in front of the warped basement door, protected by an unassuming keyhole with no matching key in sight. Aside from wear and tear over the ages the door had stood here, it also housed a tangle of crosshatching scratches all down the bottom... the dogs got excited whenever they anticipated Dad coming home. He liked to believe it was because they loved him, but Illy suspected it had more to do with the assortment of outlandish treats he often brought back for them to gnaw on. "We could pick it." she suggested.
peach — 04/21/2021 6:10 PM
"Do you have a bobby pin?" She asked. She didn't know how to pick locks with one, but it seemed prudent to ask.
May 11, 2021
plum — 05/11/2021 12:04 AM
The ghastly, wheezing susurration that emanated from between the two girls murmured, "I have a fingernail."
Illy couldn't help but jump at Iezebel's sudden appearance, turning to fix the gangly mass of black hair and paper skin with a scowl. "Bel! It's rude to sneak up on guests."
"You do it all the time," the woman hummed in her peacefully melancholic manner, jarringly at odd with her death rattle of a voice. (edited)
peach — 05/11/2021 7:20 AM
"You didn't sneak up on me, Iezabel." Vera said, patting her head where she'd thumped it into the wall upon startling. "I knew you were there the whole time."
June 14, 2021
plum — 06/14/2021 6:00 PM
"Why are you girls trying to break into the basement?" She glossed over the obvious lie to inquire.
peach — 06/14/2021 8:06 PM
"We're trying to get to Hell so that I can finish my school project." Vera said, holding up her phone. "I'm gonna interview Mr. Seir!"