Damn Cold Night [open]

[Haley]

It was dusk. Haley rarely ventured into the Seelie courts, but when she did it was almost always either at dawn or at dusk. While she preferred the stillness of the morning to the bustling activity of the night, Haley found she could best complete her court duties when her faerie kin were most active. Her activities never consisted of more than a few laps around the proximity of the court and a brief visit to Sabrina’s tavern to partake in the stew and ale she still held dear to her heart. It was painful now – trekking through the Seelie court as if nothing had changed, when in fact everything was different. Haley supposed thoughts like those were foolish; the Seelie court was no worse off than it had been before the Unseelie’s war. But the Denwyr couldn’t help but feel uneasy. The rumors of the Drow had resurfaced, and while Haley held no real particular attachment to her chosen court, she still felt protective of it grounds and the oblivious faerie who inhabited it.

Still, nothing took precedent over her new charge, which is why Haley continuously shirked her duties within the court in favor of keeping a watchful eye on the Isle of the Eloquent. With her purpose finally defined, Haley felt as if she could finally identify with her faerie blood. The ever-present threat of mortality would forever hang in the back of her mind, but the ever present vitality of the world, brought on by the vibrant magic that wove itself through every fiber of death and life, no longer shocked her. By now her studious endeavors had paid off – she knew far more than she had ever hoped to know about Alanor and its history. It was that knowledge that had transformed Haley from the arrogant foul-mouthed child of the past – a front established in response to her own ignorance – into the sharp-eyed, cut-throat woman she was now. The spitfire behind her eyes was still there, but it was harnessed and controlled with ease, to be put to use only if needed.

The court was unusually lively tonight. Despite the rumors of the Drow, the Seelie faerie continued to go about their business as if nothing was of concern to them. Annette’s strong presence acted as a reassurance to the majority – she was their Queen, and a fierce one at that. Over the years, Haley had come to acknowledge Annette’s desire to protect her court; she had even come to admire it. However, while her animosity towards the Queen had long since faded, Haley knew they would never agree in regards to the protection of Alanor herself. Annette was content to live in the world of the shining – she thought nothing of the big picture. Haley had seen just what could happen to Alanor, should the faerie forsake it in order to pursue their own selfish desires. It wasn’t pretty.

She was casually dressed for the cool night. Well worn knee-high leather boots over black tights, black shorts, a black tank top under a light leather chest covering, covered by a light black knitted-poncho, ultimately see-through but still incredibly warm. Of course, her signature metal bracers adorned her wrists – her weapons of choice. Haley was oblivious to the majority of the cold, her mind demolishing any sort of complaints her body issued. As she walked in the general direction of the main court area, her right hand lightly rested atop of Akuji, her ever-vigilant protector. The African Wild dog slunk by her side, his ears back as he surveyed the surrounding area. It was no secret that Akuji hated the other faerie.

As Haley drew close to the entrance of the royal palace, she paused several yards away to observe the castle. The last time she had set foot within the throne room had been two years ago, when she had sought direct audience with Queen Annette in regards to the woman’s decision to hunt down the Sluagh. Since then, she had avoided the castle area and stuck to the Seelie grounds. Attempting to persuade the Queen was a waste of time – time best spent in action. Haley allowed a thin smile to cut her lips, a smile that instantly faded as the sound of footsteps approaching reached her ears. Haley lightly touched the top of Akuji’s head to quiet his low growl as she turned and tilted her head slightly in greeting.

[Hadrian]

Dura lex...

The Seelie Court still stunned Hadrian with its beauty, even after five years living within it's verdant embrace. Sleep had eluded him this evening, despite an intense training session and so he had chosen to pace the Seelie grounds, examining each face in an attempt to scour one particular face from his memory, a face he could never seem to forget. He felt Minerva's comforting weight on the top of his hair, and smiled at the tiny bat's comforting squeak. Though a relatively new addition to his life, he loved the small creature, and cherished the deep connection they had, because nothing snapped him out of self-imposed misery like a fanged bite to the ear. He thumped down onto a bench with a heavy sigh, raising his fingers to the nearly-closed wound on his cheek. His electric blue eyes hardened as he remembered how, and for who he had received the injury, longing for the days before it, and the simple love they had involved.

Alanor had been a hard adjustment, an adjustment he was still making; he was inherently distrusting of the overpowering green of the Court. He missed the dust and blazing heat of Rome, missed the regimented columns, the ordered march, and the well-organized life. He reached to the top of his head and plucked tiny Minerva down into his hand, planting a gentle kiss on the tip of his mantel's nose. "Come Minerva," he said in a voice surprisingly high and pure for his bulk. He rose, bracing himself against the blatant stares from his Seelie comrades, "Let's take a lap, friend."

Sure enough as he started to pace around the Court's perimeter he felt the hot stares of judgement and heard the disgusted whispers at his passing. His coppery brow furrowed and his cheeks reddened as he plowed on ahead; the vain fae of Alanor could never hope to understand the importance of his wound, and what an affront to his past letting it heal would be. He could never allow himself to forget the consequences of failure. He sighed and pulled his hood over his head before jamming his hands into the pockets of his pants, hunching over and closing his eyes for a moment, attempting in vain to distance himself from the Court and the whispers and the pretending. He wished he was out fighting the Sluagh again, but he'd been ordered back to the Court for mandatory rest.

Suddenly, as though an electric current had passed through his body, he felt a presence and his icy eyes snapped open. From across the space he saw a small fae stop in front of the Palace, the Denwyr Haley. His heart leaped for a moment before sinking into his stomach. he had several times seen this powerful warrior in the Court, but had never dared to speak to her before; there was too large a gap in rank for him to feel comfortable addressing her. He had often wondered if she could relate to his problem, she too was a warrior like him, trapped in the superficial Court.

"Well Minerva," he murmured, placing his mantel back on her favored perch, "There's no harm in trying."

As he grew near the warrior-fae he clasped his fist over his heart, a Roman gesture he could never quite erase, "Hail Denwyr" He announced, bowing deeply before her, feeling Minerva spread her wings in salute to the Denwyr's mantel, "May your sword be ever strong and your shield ever unbroken."

... sed lex.

[Haley]

The past thirty years had definitely changed Haley. Before her discovery of the Isle of the Eloquent, the subsequent war of the Underdark, and the whispers of the Drow, Haley would have been at a loss as to what to call the man that stood before her. But now, as her green and blue flecked hazel eyes ran up and down his frame, a detailed catalog of information regarding the Nimbus flickered through her mind. He was a recent addition to the court, and his loyalty to the Queen was no secret. The originally Haley would have curled her lip and discarded his presence immediately. Instead, she simply leveled her stark gaze upon him, one eyebrow raising as he bowed before her. It was a gesture the Denwyr knew she would never come to enjoy. "Evening."

The brevity of her response was accented with an ice-cold flare, her distaste purling across her tongue as she shifted her weight ever so slightly. "Hadrian, isn't it?" He was easily recognizable even without the aid of her mental cues. No other faerie she knew of bore a wound across their face quite like his. She had heard whispers of his reasoning behind it, but Haley was never one to trust whispers lest they come from the originator themselves. Still, it was not a question she would issue unless prompted - his emotional baggage was his problem, not hers.

Despite her attempts to placate her mantel, Akuji maintained his stony exterior. The hair on his back raised ever so slightly and his maw seemed permanently etched in a silent snarl. The Denwyr and her mantel were definitely an odd pair. Those who observed them long enough came to realize that Akuji's outbursts were mere reflections of Haley's repressed, volatile emotions. He was a living, breathing metaphor of her soul.

Haley waited until Hadrian had righted himself to continue speaking, "Sir." She paused for emphasis, her fingers trailing over Akuji's skull, "Never present the back of your neck to me, nor advert your eyes from mine." Again was left unsaid, the veiled threat behind her words barely discernible. Courtly traditions were a nuisance to Haley - the act of bowing was a gesture the Denwyr would never get used to, and the manner in which these dastardly faerie spoke thoroughly sickened her. She wasn't so ignorant as to not acknowledge the fact that the different time periods from whence faerie came would inevitably lead to such an environment, but Haley was not adverse to letting her preference for casual interaction be known.

With her bit said, Haley inhaled softly, taking a moment to recollect herself. Her stance did not soften, nor did the hawk-like look to her eyes, but it was obvious by now that she felt inclined to continue a conversation with Hadrian. Aside from the basics, she knew little about him. Warriors were a rare breed within the court and thus usually treasured by the Queen. It was likely that this man before her would quickly overcome her in rank. "We haven't spoken before, have we? I'm Haley, this is Akuji." She supplied names, in case he was only familiar with her title. Haley's eyes then flicked to the males mantel and she allowed a thin smile to coat her lips, "And who might that be?"

[Hadrian]

Hadrian had been unsure of how the notoriously prickly fae would react to his greeting and her threatening response confirmed his suspicions; she was not one to stand on ceremony. "Never present the back of your neck to me, nor avert your eyes from mine." He grinned broadly, the implied "again" hung in the air between them and Hadrian raised his icy eyes to meet the Denwyr's light brown eyes; momentarily mesmerized by the green and gold highlights therein. He straightened his back slowly, never breaking eye contact with the fairy.

"I think you will find... ma'am." he drawled slowly, crossing his arms nonchalantly, "that even with back exposed and eyes averted, I am no easy threat to dispatch." He forced his smile down, wiping is face completely clean, except for a lingering curl at the corner he couldn't quite eradicate, "With all due respect, Denwyr."

Hadrian took a moment to size up the fae and mantel before him. He had to admit the small woman presented an even more imposing image up close than her fearsome reputation suggested. The entire picture was not aided by the growling mantel at the Denwyr's side. The African wild dog had his maw in a silent snarl and in all honesty was making Hadrian decidedly uncomfortable.

Hadrian focused his attention back on Haley long enough to hear, "We haven't spoken before, have we? I'm Haley, this is Akuji." He took a moment to nod his head at the fae and mantel, being careful not to break eye contact with his superior. He was unsure as to how the Denwyr had taken his previous statement, and he had decided to play it respectfully until he was sure she had not been offended. "And who might that be?" the fae continued, her eyes flickering to Minerva where she was resting on top of his head. He smiled broadly and plucked the tiny creature from her perch, nuzzling her briefly against his cheek before displaying her tiny frame to the Denwyr, "May I present my mantel, the pygmy fruit bat Minerva."

Minerva squeaked a hello and raised a wing in salute to the Denwyr. She hopped back the length of his forearm and nestled into the crook of his arm, surveying the scene through her hyperintelligent eyes. Hadrian stroked the top of her head with a finger while casually regarding Haley for a moment.

"You are correct, Denwyr Haley." he said after a moment, "We have not spoken before, though I have heard much of you in my brief time here in Alanor." He placed Minerva on the pommel of his sword and shook his snowy hair down about his copper shoulders before refixing it into a loose ponytail, "When I saw you this evening i thought it high time we became acquainted and I measured your myth against your realistic manifestation."

He casually placed Minerva on his shoulder, watching Haley out of the corner of his eye; for she was very much still a wild card in his mind. He stood silent in front of her; his opening given, now he awaited her response, he did, after all, have all the time in the world.

[Haley]

Haley discarded Hadrian’s words with little thought. The original spitfire princess would have dubbed those words as worth fighting over, but now she simply tossed them away with little regard to the tone veiled behind them. Haley wasn’t here to engage in a battle of words or wit or sword. She was here to complete her court duties and to perhaps learn a thing or two about her future competition. While the woman no longer thirsted after the throne as she once had, she still maintained a close eye on it. Haley would not combat Annette directly for the throne unless there was a dire need to do so. However, should it be vacated, she would have no qualms with claiming it as her own and destroying any and all who stand in her way – Hadrian included. The fact that he was a warrior brought out her inner competitive streak, and the cocky bitch side of her reared its head. Haley’s exterior remained cool and collected, but the dog at her side let loose a soft snarl, his hackles rising. She made no attempt to calm him.

His eye contact was noted with little pleasure. It was obvious by now that Hadrian was a considerate fellow – aware of his tongue and what wrath it might incur. It was a noteworthy trait – one she had yet to develop. Haley cared very little for whether or not her words incited violence, although she no longer went out of her way to wreak havoc. She was blunt, sarcastic, and cold in her mannerisms; in her eyes, the faerie were far too found of indirect, riddle-like courtesies. Even the Drow that she had met seemed content to leave her mystified rather than offer the answers she sought. Haley was an impatient person – she had little use for ‘considerations.’ If someone had a problem with how she conducted herself, they were welcome to speak of it…at their own risk of course. The fact that Hadrian had counter-acted her speech with a direct mentioning of his own skills was enough to foster a bit of respect for the male. He was confident, and Haley liked confidence.

When he presented his fruit bat and the cute thing saluted her, Haley’s statuesque expression melted momentarily. It was no secret by now that the girl held animals to a high regard. The Denwyr had been raised to treasure the companionship of an animal over a human – or in this case, faerie – and there was no animal that she knew of (besides monkeys) that didn’t make her all warm and fuzzy inside. Although she itched to reach out and pet the little creature on the head, out of consideration Haley refrained and instead satiated her urge by rubbing one of Akuji’s ears between her figures. She knew that if Hadrian was anything like her, he would not appreciate another faerie touching his mantel.

His words were eloquently stated – far better than Haley could ever hope to speak. Despite her education, there was a roughness to her voice and mannerisms that was distinctly human, or, more accurately, American. Compared to the faerie who had lived in Alanor for a while, or the faerie whom had come from time periods far before her birth, Haley was an inarticulate pup. She didn’t mind this really; after all, she was more suited to conversations of the blade rather than the tongue. ”Myth?” It was laughable, really. Haley had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from snickering at his words. Akuji, sensing this, nipped at his bonded’s fingers in order to help quiet her mirth. She twitched briefly, allowing only a thin smile to adorn her lips, ”Excuse me if I sound ignorant, but I was unaware of my apparent popularity. Tell me, were they horror stories?” Her eyes twinkled, ”The myths, I mean. I can’t imagine they’ve been kind to me.” As far as Haley knew, the faerie of the Seelie court didn’t particularly care for her. She was brash, prone to fighting, and openly critical of the court and its leader. Although she held the title of Denwyr, it had come at a time of great need for court order; on the wake of the Shade attack. Whether or not she had actually earned it was disputable, especially considering the insult she had issued the Queen on that dark night. Ah – fond memories.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian noticed the razor's smile on Haley's lips, noticed her mantel's quick nip to settle the poisonous mirth and his eyes grew bright with anger. He had attempted to be nice to the more powerful fae, as her position dictated, but he had received nothing but derision in return. he squared his shoulders and drew himself up to his full, if unimposing, height as the Denwyr mocked his word choice.

"Tell me, were they horror stories? The myths, I mean. I can't imagine they've been kind to me." Her mocking tone rang in his ears, causing his coppery skin to flush even more. Who was she to mock him? He had been the first warrior of The Obsidian Court, feared by his enemies and loved by, well, it didn't matter anymore since the Scion was forever out of his reach. He felt Minerva brush a warning wing against the back of his muscled neck, caressing the taut tendons in an attempt to keep his fiery temper in check. He inhaled deeply and thought to himself, "If she wants to play it like that, she'll have her wish. Fight bitch with bastard."

he threw on a biting smile, all incisors and frigid distance, the smile that he had learned from his only lover so many years ago. Letting a carefree laugh escape from his lips he stared into Haley's eyes, "They had told me, oh Denwyr, of a great warrior." he began lightly, his high voice skipping over the words like a rock over a still pond, "My fellow fae told me of a great thinker, a guardian of this Court and its inhabitants. They told me stories of a fae so strong and honorable I thought you like the fae I left behind in Rome."

He paused for a moment, pushing a strand of achromic hair out of his face, his carefree vicious smile cemented firmly on his face, "However" he continued, his voice losing all lightness, fury driving his diction to encyclopaedic precision, "The reality I have discovered is far from the mythos perpetuated by your supporters." He paused for a moment, making sure to keep the smile affixed to his face as his precise voice became no more than a surgical whisper, "Instead I find a bureaucrat shirking her duties, skulking around the edges of her Court as the day dies, like a common thief looking for an easy mark. You may have been a great warrior, you may still be a great warrior, but as for the much vaunted guardian of these verdant halls, you fall far short of your legend. So yes, oh mighty Denwyr, while the stories may be flattering, their comparison to reality is sure as hell a horror."

His tirade finished he stood before Haley ramrod straight, the smile gone and his face frozen in a tense mask of fury. his eyes radiated venom as he waited for her reply, fully expecting an attack; either verbal or physical.

"Oh well," he thought, "At least she knows I'm not a complacent sycophant like everyone else here."

[Haley]

The snarl that ripped its way through Akuji’s jaws was instantly placated by a somewhat vicious twist of his ear – administered by the slender, manicured paw of his mistress. Twitching, the wild dog sought to sink his teeth into her leg, only to pause as laughter purled from between Haley’s lips – laughter so vibrant that it shook her frame and caused her to loosen her grip on Akuji’s ear. It didn’t last long – Haley composed herself within moments, the small upturn of her lips the only indication of any lingering mirth. Her eyes were not as kind, their blue and green flaked depths sharpened with intent that could, at best, be described as murderous. Her lips extended into a toothy smile – much more akin to the baring of fangs usually attributed to her mantel; there was a reason why he had manifested in the form he had. ”Really? Wow. I’ve been missing out on all of the juicy gossip now haven’t I? I guess I should really stick around the court more.” Her voice was light, spoken with a sardonic tongue but not without intent to mock both the inhabitants of the court, and, surprisingly enough, herself.

She shifted her weight from one leg to the other, a hand coming to rest atop her hip as she surveyed the blue-eyed man before her. The fury etched into his face and the steel in his eyes prompted her grin to widen. She wasn’t necessarily poking fun at him – the little Nimbus was prone to making light of grave situations, especially when she found them to be quite insignificant when compared to the bigger picture. She found Hadrian’s anger completely unjustified and foolishly uncalled for. For a man to be so up in arms over a minor disappointment was mildly amusing to Haley; obviously no one had taught Hadrian to make light of the failures in his life. To dwell on the wrongs committed by oneself or by others towards you was to be stuck in the past – a folly that would ultimately destroy you. Over the years Haley had come to accept that her failures were her failures, and what was done was done. All she could do now was to work to improve on what skills she did have. She would no longer live in the past.

”I fail to see why that justifies such intense anger towards me. I’ve done nothing wrong. If anything, you’re the one to blame here. You’re the one who relied so casually on the words of others and created such high expectations before ever meeting me. You let yourself down, not I.” Her toothy grin faded into a somewhat nonchalant expression as she crossed her arms and raised one eyebrow, ”And whose to say I’m not a thief? The Shining Fae are easy pickings and they carry lots of shiny things.” Her words were obviously intended as a joke, but the utterly serious mask that lined her face made it hard to laugh the statement off. Her arms once again dropped down by her sides, her body completely relaxed in contrast to Hadrian’s more rigid stature. ”Oh. Do you think you could get me the names of the fae who support me? I’d like to meet them in person. You know, maybe hold a fan meeting, sign some autographs…” She trailed off, a smile once again gracing her lips as she teased him outright. It was a dangerous line to tread – Hadrian’s outburst had left her pondering his mental stability. It was highly likely that he would respond to her words with an attack. However, she was quick on her toes, and even as she spoke, Haley shifted lightly onto the balls of her feet, ready for a fast retreat should his fists or blades be aimed her way.