IC CLOSED ANACHRONISTIC Orion's Court || IC

[rissa]

SORENA

Malachai was a fine dancer— Sorena had to admit. Fine looking as well, though the sickness radiating through his veins was quite a disappointment. She yearned to heal him, if only so he wouldn't stench up the castle during his indefinite stay. Perhaps she'd bring it up later— the tempo of the song increased and she waited for him to falter, to break pace —but he didn't and in fact, ended with a flourish that she approved of, dipping her low to the ground as the crescendo flared and raising her up for one final twirl.

The predatory look in her eyes faltered for just a moment.

He was new to Cervia, a Neu Kingdom resident, so he had little way of knowing that dancing was perhaps one of the only normal activities that made her heart flutter. Not as much as tearing out throats, but there's a time and place for everything.

"Is it not the duty of a princess to introduce newcomers to her kingdom?" Sorena replied after a long delay, her smile and tone dripping with venomous pleasantry. "You and your parents are important guests here— in Cervia and Castle Black."

As music began to wind up once more, Sorena gave him the option of continuing or seeking after the refreshments Aileen had brought to his parents.

@wren. @Lulunopia

 

[wren.]

hh

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GALEN

Like a loyal dog, Galen relaxes immediately at Julian's reassurance, smiling softly in acknowledgment. Julian means what he says; he has no intention of marrying, much less of leaving him. Still, if it were necessary for the country's welfare, would he choose him? He's not sure if he would want him to. They have both worked so hard for far too long and have been through far too much horror to give up on their ambitions.

Julian's returned flirtations are a nice distraction for now. Despite how much time they had spent together on their mission and how often their circumstances brought them to share the same tent, they were too busy strategizing and nursing each other's wounds to make love. There was also their reputations to consider. While their relationship is not exactly a secret to, well, anyone, Julian cannot be too obvious with his favoritism, or it could cause some unrest among their soldiers.

After so many weeks without getting to hold him so intimately, just feeling his lover's warm breath ghost his skin is enough to make him quiver. His exhale shakes at Julian's suggestion, embarrassingly aroused at the mere suggestion of spending the night together, the corners of his lips turning up. It wasn't that long ago that Julian was inept at matters of seduction, his wife's cruelty and his insecurities leaving him repressed and impotent to a heartbreaking degree. There was a certain charm to his clumsy (albeit successful, ultimately) attempts at wooing him, but the confidence he's gained in himself and his desirability leaves Galen occasionally choked up with pride. "That sounds like a wonderful idea," he agrees.

As quickly as Julian ignited a fire in him, he tempers it with his innocent plea. "Lead the way, my prince," he smiles, wanting more than anything to take his soft hand in his calloused one and pull him through the crowd, into the gardens, beyond the estate, away from all of their responsibilities. But he can't do any of those things. Not now, at least. One day, though, decades or centuries down the line. They do have eternity, after all, and he will love him through it all.

"We could go to your room and save us a trip," he suggests with feigned innocence. "Unless you have somewhere specific in mind?"

「 @MaryGold 」

LOCATION | INTERACTIONS | MENTIONS

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[wren.]

hh

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MALACHI

Princess Sorena is surprised at his dancing prowess, that much is clear on her face, and it brings a self-satisfied smirk to his own. It's not often that he gets to impress people, being rather inept at most things in life. If nothing else, he's a good dancer and a good musician. He's well-read, too, though not in the areas his father deems worthy of studying. In her surprise, the princess actually looks like a person rather than a snake trying to figure out how to wrap around his throat. It's a charming look on her, and her momentary happiness highlights how young she is.

When she speaks, though, her tone drips with well-practiced diplomacy. Important guests? She would likely say that about any of the invited families, but they aren't dancing with her. An eerie feeling crawls down his back, a familiar sense that he's being left out of something important, that he's about to find out something he won't like. His parents must be doing business with the Blackes tonight, which isn't unusual, but they would normally brief him on their dealings on the way to the ball. What are they planning?

"That is very kind of you. Most people are not so gracious as to offer a dance." It's true, but Sorena will no doubt pick up on his hint that he's suspicious of her motives.

The music swells again to signal the start of a new dance, and Sorena offers him a chance to escape, though he hesitates. If he leaves, then he'll be at the mercy of his parents' nitpicking or stood pathetically in a corner. "One more dance, perhaps? Unless there are other gentlemen you hope to dance with tonight," he suggests, realizing too late that his words could be taken as flirtation. "I am not a fan of crowds," he clarifies, somewhat embarrassed. "Nor of my parents."

「 @rissa 」

LOCATION | INTERACTIONS | MENTIONS

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[rissa]

SORENA

Sorena was not a kind person, nor a sympathetic one— she latched onto weaknesses and exploited them, turned them in her favor, all for the majesty of House Blacke. Little did Malachai know that those two little insignificant comments were already working their way into Sorena's repertoire of potential misdeeds, and though she gave him a sympathetic glance (that looked much too full of pity to truly be called sympathetic), said little else as she led them to the center of the ballroom floor.

The music was lifting, the chords calling out to the old vampiric gods and as if Orion himself had leaned over and whispered in her ear, Sorena was struck with a marvelous idea.

"Let's make the crowd ours," Sorena said with a mischievous smile, one that was meant for him alone. She raised a brow, subtly, as if to gauge his response, and then tacked on, "and your parents a fan of you."


@wren.

 

[MaryGold]

Deux

It was with the amplified clinking of his gold spoon against his glass that King Orion once again gathered the attention of his subjects. The man had the presence and appearance that could steal and command a room within a second, and it did, but now with the use of magic, he could do so loudly. There was never a being nor a single soul around that missed him or his voice. All eyes would turn to find him at the same balcony that he had stood before, the flowers that lined it changed in color to favor the red, black, gold, and blues that were the colors of their magnificent and growing country.

The music stopped instantly when the king commanded it with just a gentle wave of his hand. The smile on his face widened, resembling the danger of a lion but keeping all the charm of a monarch as he peered down at the audience beneath him. His eyes searched the crowd until he found each of his children. He was glowing with pride... And something else. Something lurking beneath his surface, something unidentifiable, just yet.

"You all have been doing well to enjoy the festivities of the night. A glorious win for our nation and my very arms." He tilted his glass to his prized sons, eyes fixated on Cain a beat longer. The glow dimmed just slightly as he carried on his speech. "These radicals that call themselves rebels are nothing more than criminals with a false sense of justice. They claim that the turnout of the war was a flop. That we did not earn this country. They would have you believe they are fighting for the good of the nation, for a mock-up idea of parity. But the truth is they would not be pleased unless we were in silver chains," he balled his free fist tightly as his audience nodded and muttered curses about these beasts who dared to defy their ruler. Who dared to imagine such horrific punishments for them?

"They would have us kneel at their feet and be thrown into the chaos of their own control! They demean us and the glory we've created from the ashes of this land! But when we fight against these lycanthropic insurgents, we are fighting for our very way of life, the order we have fought so many years to establish."

Deeply, he breathed, loosening his fist and looking into his rousing crowd with a gaze so piercing every single one of them would have the impression he was looking at them, directing his words to them, any person, instead of a collective crowd. "There shall be no sympathy and no mercy for the fools who dare to threaten the society we've built together under our immortal moon. It must be shown to all and everyone. Therefore, a sennight from now, post meridian, when the sun has traversed zenith and illuminates the world so there are no shadows, I invite you all to the public execution of these criminals. They will see that we are not ones to hide in the shadows but walk out into the day if it so calls for it. No lives will be spared and all shall bear witness to the strength of our country." There was not a moment of silent of silence as he raised his fist and the crowd roared with cheers and claps.

A smile so wide and proud spread on his face, as he let his subjects praise the fine decision. This was not just a play of strength to those who rebelled, but to the vampir covens who desired his alliance or sought to destroy him overseas. The Blacke's were not weak. They were predators.

"Now, as promised, I have a surprise for you all my esteemed guests." He announced laughingly.

One moment the king was standing on the balcony, and the next he was in front of the open large glass doors to the garden, clinking his glass again to gather his guests' eyes on him. He moved in the blink of an eye, leaving his movement a mystery to all. However, every eye followed him as he walked over to an ethereal appearing woman, one that anyone who watched the king earlier would know he'd been chatting with most of the night, the fortunate lady who had gathered his attention for the night when many others had tried. He extended his arm to her and walked them back in front of the crowd and into the garden.

"Only the finest for my guest."

The sky lit up with the cracking and roaring fireworks. There were not ones built simply by the conventions of man, but magi. Large, glorious, moving shapes took over the skies, wowing the audience that filed into the garden, many standing, others taking seats on stone benches or the grass floor. A few of the images flew dangerously close so that groups of guests would have to duck, laughing when they stood back up and found harmless sparks descending onto them.

The music started again, louder than before, but remained a backdrop ambiance to the fireworks and those who continued to hold each other and dance beneath the lights.

 

[Dusk]

Nasir Izadi

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{ N/A }

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Nasir hated it there. He hated it with every drop of his blood. He hated the sickening grandeur of their opulence as they stood on the backs of those beneath them. Nasir could taste the bile it forced into his mouth. Given the chance, he'd rip the throats out of every disgusting vampir — he'd turn their laces and ruffles red. He hated it there, and he wanted to make every vampir and every conspirator choke on their own blood. But instead of killing them, Nasir was their servant — cleaning their shit, opening their doors, and doing whatever other menial task was required of him. He could barely tolerate it, even for Aria. He fantasized about hurting all of them, to whatever degree he could, even knowing the kind of death it would earn him.

The were stood, teeth grit, listening to Orion praise his foul sons. Cervia was shit, and Nasir would celebrate nothing about it. Julian could dress himself up pretty, but he was no better than Cain, and Cain was a loathsome creature who'd spent the last six months killing those Nasir would've readily joined. Neither was as bad as the father, however, that monstrous pretender who claimed himself a king.

Orion called the attention of the room again, and Nasir could've been sick. Every word out of his fucking mouth was poison. Every syllable a curse. Nasir could hear the scrape of his teeth against each other as he listened to that man berate the rebels. He dug his nail into his finger to ground himself, but no matter how hard he pushed, it didn't help. He was still in that sickening ballroom, still angry. Putting the vampir in silver chains was one of the nicer fates Nasir imagined for them. He would've settled for dead, but the feline wanted Orion to suffer.

Nasir glared as Orion continued on, pronouncing the execution of those who dared to resist him. The vampir spared no sympathy because he had none, and he delighted in the suffering of those he considered beneath him. None of that surprised Nasir, bristled as he was. What did surprise him was Orion's claim that the execution would occur during the daylight — that the vampir would walk in the sunlight. It was stupid to weaken themselves like that, but for everything Nasir thought about Orion, he did not think the vampir an idiot. That didn't stop him from hoping Orion would drop dead. But whatever foul game he was playing, he had some sort of trick in mind.

And tricks were what he had in mind for his guests, too. Orion had magi light the sky with fireworks as his surprise. Nasir hated surprises at the best of times, and this was not that. He hated to see how the fireworks suffocated out the stars.

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[TerraBooma]

So far, sitting at the edge of the ball and making small conversations had gone excellently. Cain had managed to go at least the introductory section of the night without causing any kind of scandals or outrage, and if everything progressed at this pace, he would be on track to another happy landing and a celebration well celebrated (without him breaking and decorum and without offering political advantage to any rivals or opponents) which he considered to be quite excellent. It was a quiet night so far, or at least until Alistair found him. His manservant was as laissez-faire as ever, and not to mention disobeying strict orders to arrive. The Darkling arrived in his little corner of the room, inquiring about how he was seemingly not comfortable with performing his role as a prince. The Prince huffs, crossing his arms and looking very displeased at his disobedient servant.

"I handle these events just fine, thank you very much. Not that anyone asked for your opinion. You shouldn't even be here, you've been ordered to strict bedrest until the doctors have cleared you, and I received no such notice," While he was displeased that his follower had decided to come to this ball anyway. He was glad that Alistair was looking better. His servant looked good, and not just in the usual appearance sense. Cain was enough of a soldier to know a bad hit when he saw one, that was why he had been concerned for Alistair's wellbeing. No other reasons, of course.

"Besides, you haven't missed anything. I have been doing exceptionally well. I am observing the political landscape. Seeing the people dance and getting a feel for how things have been since I left for my mission. It is political reconnaissance and so far has moved exceptionally smoothly." He seemed proud about that, probably more proud than he should be, but he was treating it as if he had seemingly hacked how to succeed at court politicking.

Just when he was about to order Alistair back to bed, his father commanded the room and gave his speech. A speech about the power and promise that his forces had shown, that they had crushed those damned rebels. That the prisoners Cain himself had brought home were to be publically executed. Cain's attention was strictly on his father's form, and the vampiric prince watched the rest of the world fall away. His father looked at him, and he swelled with pride. He would not let him down, he would crush these damned rebels wherever they popped up. The fireworks continued his elation, and Cain was seemingly riding one hell of a high. For a prince whose plan was to watch pretty people from the back of the room, he seemed to be thriving on the attention of this particular moment.

Mood shifted quite drastically by the attention of his father, Cain turned to his assistant as the applause finished and the music returned. "You may stay, but if you break any stitches, you are to go back to the infirmary. Do you understand?" There is a small pause. "Do you know who my father's guest is, Alistair?"

@wren.

 

[Dusk]

Hector Penrose

LOCATION | INTERACTIONS | MENTIONS
{ @Lulunopia }

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Hector was eager to leave his spot at the wall behind to go search for Vanessa, but before he had a chance he was joined by a different one of his siblings — his royal half-sister, Octavia Blacke. The two women were close in age, but Hector had a wildly different relationship with each of them. After dealing with his mother, Hector didn't particularly feel like dealing with Octavia. She wasn't the worst, but she could be frustrating. The woman leaned against the wall beside him, and Hector huffed quietly and crossed his arms.

"Princess Octavia," he said through practised politeness. As little as he felt like dealing with her, and as much as he wanted to shrug her off and walk away, this was a public event. He'd manage. His brows furrowed at her secondary comment. "And I was enjoying it," he said, which wasn't true. Hector had been sulking even before his mother had come to harass him. "I hoped nobody would bother me here," he added with a pointed glance in his half-sister's direction.

The music stopped abruptly as King Orion commanded the attention of the room once again. Hector focused on his father, his arms dropping to his sides as he straightened his back. Whatever his father had to say, Hector was eager to hear it, but he couldn't suppress the frown that crossed his lips when the king raised his glass to his sons, the ones who got everything. His father denounced the traitors, he addressed their crimes with eloquent words. Hector cursed along with the crowd. The war was over, it had been over for decades, the vampir had won and nothing was going to change that.

Hector blinked when King Orion said the execution would occur in daylight, that the vampir would stand beneath the sun to prove their strength. He was sure whatever his father had in mind would be impressive, but the young vampir did not dwell on it long, and as quickly as it had begun the speech was over.

Hector took a step toward the courtyard as the night sky lit up, an unrestrained smile on his face. It was beautiful, the way the colours twisted through the stars. He needed to get a better view.

"That's amazing," Hector murmured quietly. He took two more steps toward the grand doors. "We should get a closer look," he said, distractedly. Whether Octavia came with him or not, Hector was going to go outside.

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[Dusk]

Oskar Abendroth

LOCATION | INTERACTIONS | MENTIONS
{ @MaryGold }

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The two men stepped out into the night of the courtyard, putting them beneath a sea of stars. Oskar took a moment to admire the sky before returning his attention to his companion. Judas was succinct in his answer, he kept much of how he felt to himself, and the silver-haired vampir wondered about the things he did not say. Wondered, yet did not ask.

"I am glad to hear that," he said with a small smile, and he was. He was not a man who revelled in misfortune, even of those he disliked, and Judas was far from someone he disliked, misguided as he found the young vampir. Nevertheless, Oskar's smile dipped at the mention of the king. He hated to hear Judas speak of reward for his cruel deeds. And while he did not know the depths of Judas' transgression, he knew Judas had bloodied his hands to quash the rebellion.

"And what kind of reward are you hoping to receive?" he asked, doubtful.

Oskar hesitated a moment at Judas' question. He had every reason to be well, and yet, his heart sunk more with every passing day. He could not shake the feeling that the world they were headed toward was a grim one. Although, perhaps he was just an old man, one who was not made for changes of this scale. Oskar pondered on his response before offering it.

"I find myself well. These are fortunate times for someone in my position," he said, his cadence measured. Judas did not have time to offer a reply, as King Orion once again gathered the attention of the room. Oskar eyed the sovereign warily as the king roused the crowd. The silver-haired vampir placed a finger to his lip in contemplation, and waited to see what the king would say.

"No sympathy, no mercy," Orion said. Oskar could offer the were no mercy, however, they had his sympathy, for as little as they wanted it. He did not disagree with the were, despite the vampir's advantages, Oskar agreed that his kin had gotten lucky. There were a thousand different ways the war might have ended, and the vampir could not have won in every one of them. Perhaps there was a world where he was the servant, and a were the king. In this world, however, his was a cushy position, and he could not say he would have preferred to swap places. The true mistake was that the war occurred at all.

And then King Orion announced the spectacle of the execution. It was not enough for the rebels to die, the king wanted everyone to witness it. And in daylight, no less. Orion was no ordinary vampir, and Oskar would not have considered himself surprised to learn the man capable of withstanding sunlight. However, the same did not apply to his court. It was a bold statement, yet it was one Oskar was sure Orion could uphold. Oskar did not join in the cheers and praises of the king's cruelty, no matter what was promised. Instead, he stood still and quiet, eyes fixated on the man. He could not celebrate such things, never again, no matter the wrapping.

The monumental statement out of the way, King Orion returned to the topic of his surprise. In a second, he left the balcony behind, placing himself at the doors to the courtyard, not far from where Oskar and Judas stood. The King offered his arm to a woman who had kept his attention throughout the night, and the two proceeded into the garden. Oskar had only a moment to observe them before a myriad of colours lit the sky, casting the world below in various hues. He stood with his hands locked loosely in front of him as he watched the lights dance in the night for several seconds. Grotesque as the announcement prior had been, it was a nice surprise. Oskar looked over to Judas, and offered a smile.

"Impressive, is it not?" Despite the words, his voice was tinged with sadness.

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[MaryGold]

Julian Blacke

Julian was barely able to stifle the grin that tugged at his lips. It would be improper to bite down on his bottom lip or pinch them tight. None of those things were the mannerisms that a prince would display in a public setting, but his body naturally wanted to do so when his lover was so clearly propositioning him. And Julian wanted to accept his advances. The time in which he had felt his skin against his own, damp and slick had been too long.

But he did want to dance, so Gale would have to do a little bit more than sneakily lead him to his bed. Not that he would have to do much at all. Even now, his body gravitated toward him.

The music suddenly stopped and like all else in the room, Julian's eyes moved to land on his father and his magnificence. The presence of which he wielded and commanded a room with was only what Julian could only hope to have a fracture of. Charming as he may act, he was nothing but a piece of coal at the side of his father, an ever-shining star. Even when he spoke words that invoked violence, they sounded almost musical and easy to agree to.

But Julian had lived with his father long enough to not only learn the strategy of the tongue and its dangers, but understand when it and when it was being used. The spell Orion cast on his people did not fall on him. He was not excited by the promise of a public execution, but concerned. Concerned for the families of the rebels who would serve as the next example, concerned for the hate that it would grow in the slices, for both Vampir and every other species alike.

The clapping and excited noises of the crowd increased the worry he felt all the more. And though he could understand his father's intentions behind his plans, he was still puzzled by the comment made about walking into the sun. What did he have up his sleeve?

Boom!

His breath stilled and his blood ran cold.

"Canon fire! Down!

Why was no one dropping? Where was the canon fire coming from? The laughter and awes of the castle guests began to warp and mix, sounding no longer like joy but horror, the voices of a nightmarish creature. They were slow and sluggish with his blurring vision. Soon all he could hear was the sound of his own heartbeat.

Boom! Crack!

Julian jolted, finally remembering to breathe, more aware of himself and his surroundings than he had been a second before. His eyes drifted toward the open doors and caught sight of the flashing lights. It was canon fodder. It was fireworks. They weren't under attack. So why was it that he couldn't shake the feeling? Why was it that he was remembering the terrible sights of a war that happened years ago?

He didn't care if anyone saw them or if his father would be livid with him for doing so in public when he had just told Julian to meet the noblewomen, Julian grabbed onto Gale's hand and held on for his life. He needed an anchor - no, not an anchor, but his anchor. "Let's go," he said to his lover, his words barely above a whisper.

There was no wait for an answer, he pulled him along, eyes shut as he walked across the hall and into the corridors he had spent so many years navigating through. He could find his way to his room blind, and he was doing a damn good job of it now, focusing on the sound of his own breathing and the insistent hard beating of his heart. The organ was determined to bang harder against his ribcage with every boom it heard until the sound of the fireworks became muffled and distant and they were standing alone in a dimly lit hallway.

He had taken a wrong turn. They were still a little off from his room.

Julian exhaled, releasing Gale's hand to run his fingers through his hair. "I just need a moment." What was he saying this for? Of course, Gale knew, they were connected in more ways than one. His pain was Gale's and vice versa. It made it impossible to hide things from him.

@wren.​

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[peach]

Euphemia

"Homesick already?"

The low, velvety voice drew her from the storm brewing in her mind, but only for a second. Her gaze didn't lift from the fireworks, but she replied almost too quickly.

"Yes." It tasted like a lie but it did feel like the truth, as she often found herself missing things she had never known.

It was hard to feel at home with people who groomed you for perfection with clear intentions to sell you off to the highest bidder. A beautiful sow, plump and delicious, served on a silver platter. Every little girl's dream.

Euphemia could see her future before her just as vividly as the colorful, glittering pops of light decorating the skies above. A lonesome self-fulfilling tragedy. There was no Prince Charming coming to whisk her away to safety. Her only hope in life was to get married off to someone with a gentle hand and to have as many children as her heart had room for. Half a dozen fluffy little dogs, a big, mean old cat and as many children as she could manage. Then everything would be worth it.

The disgusting, vile lessons she had with Dr. Halgen, the slender stick that left puffy red welts on her skin, the corset training, never eating enough, and never having time to be a person… Just a doll.

There was no mistaking how many other suitresses had come to compete for Julian's hand. But Euphemia was unable to identify a threat amongst them. There were two distinct differences between her and any suitor that was against her. One, she had no choice but to succeed. And two… She was truly ruthless, no matter how hard she wanted to kill that part of herself. It lingered.

「 anyone! 」

Code by Jenamos