All war is deception [closed]

[Jun]

It was dark in the palace. Though the artificial moon shone with a realistic light, Jun still knew it to be a fake, so it offered him none of the calm he usually retained when he wandered outside. Jun would have been stalking the woods outside much like his little brother, but when they had split ways Ren had taken to the outside and Jun had been reluctant to follow.

Jun sighed and ran a hand through his hair, disheveling it but not paying it much attention. Though Jun often took pride in keeping his appearance immaculate, he was particularly thinking too hard about it now. His clothing was still as proper as ever, as he had paired a set of black pin-striped slacks with a white shirt and matching jacket, the sleeves rolled to his elbows and the jacket left open. The first few buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned, showing off just a bit of his collarbone.

The Nimbus rubbed the back of his neck as he began his usual pacing. The faerie that knew him well enough always knew when he was troubled by something. Jun could hide most of his emotions well, but his was not good at hiding bouts of stress combined with thoughtfullness. What Ren had told him of the Underdark had not only intrigued him but had also prompted some deep thinking. Jun was very much tempted to wander down into the depths of the Unseelie court himself but he refrained from doing so. The fact that the creature, the silhouette that Ren had seen had mentioned the King as if he were a friend, a keeper, disturbed Jun. He had never heard of creatures slithering in the Underdark, but then again, Jun had been on Earth for the past several hundred years, and even when he had been in Alanor he had not cared as much about her history as he should of. Now that he had a thirst for knowledge, he was more interested.

Jun lost track of his footsteps and himself as he paced around the wall of the main palace area, the fingers of his right hand tracing over the wall, nimbly avoiding the roses that threatening to pierce his skin. He was lost in thought when he nearly bumped into someone, very much in the same manner as he had earlier upon meeting Riley and Kyte. Jun stopped short and jerked his head up, offering an incredibly quick apology, if not a suave one, "I do apologize."

[Alecto]

Alecto, too, was troubled by the Underdark…but for reasons quite different than Jun’s. She had met with the King only the night before, where she had discovered a number of revealing and disturbing things relating to the Sluagh and their hidden realm. Her mind spun with questions, in spite of this flood of answers. And like the several nights preceding this one, the Fury found herself sleepless, agitated, and concerned.

Her intent had been to avoid the Palace and its environs. Unfortunately, like in Rome, all roads seemed to lead directly to it, barring many possibilities of a circuitous route. She moved in softly slippered feet, silently, her travelling attire exchanged for clothing more befitting the warmth of the court. A dress of raw, wine-blue silk draped from chest to floor, suspended by gathered straps that hugged the hollow just above her bicep. Her skin was otherwise bare: she wore no ornaments save the tattoo of her mantel, which twisted and curved in serpentine loops from her left wrist to her shoulder, as if made of living scales. Incongruously, a sword belt was slung across her hips, supporting a single, narrow blade. She would not be caught without it, after her encounter in the Mists.

The Sidhe heard another’s steps seconds before she saw him. It was enough warning to stop, avoiding a potential collision, and allowing her a moment to study the nocturnal fae she had discovered in her wandering. He seemed to be from a more modern era than she, or at least he dressed in their manner. He also appeared quite preoccupied, in his disregard for the direction of his steps. Alecto’s fire-bright eyes settled on him, their embers softened by fatigue, and listened to his apology without any visible signs of disturbance.

“Forgiven,” she said simply, looking him over. Despite its reputation, the Unseelie court was not known for being populated with night-owls; she wondered what had brought this faerie out of his chambers so late. Having arrested her forward movement completely, she turned to examine the roses Jun had deftly avoided, trailing her fingers over an unopened bud. A strange power, these vines. It seemed fitting that Cel would wield them.

“You are out late, Nimbus. Has something disturbed your sleep?”

absolute crap. I'm sorry.

[Jun]

The moment Jun realized he had almost run into a lady, a Sidhe one at that, his demeanor changed. He rapidly suppressed his troubled visage for a warmer, more inviting look. A soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and it was almost as if his worries had melted away. Unfortunately, they were still there, bubbling beneath the surface. Jun was just not the type to allow his own personal feelings ruin a conversation. He was well aware that body language ruled when it came to personal meetings, and he always wished to make a good impression. There was nothing fake about his looks. He was quite sincere as he shifted back and bowed curtly, one hand placed on his chest, ”Good evening M’lady.”

Jun did not recognize this Sidhe, and he knew nearly all the faces of the faerie in the Unseelie court. Though it was possible she was a new arrival, the way she carried herself suggested that she knew her way around the court, much like he. She was self-assured, but there was an air of exhaustion about her. A long travel? Some disappointing news? A heavy heart? Jun could only speculate about the fatigue that was nestled in Alecto’s eyes, but he would make no presumptions, nor would he dig for information.

Her question made his smile grow, though if she looked close enough, and he was sure she would, she would have noticed a slight melancholy disturbing the expression usually reserved for a jovial moment, ”I just recently had a rather unfortunate fight with my younger brother. He has left the Unseelie cave for the woods and I despite our dispute I find I am unable to sleep without knowing his whereabouts.” Jun let loose a soft chuckle, if it could be called that, as it was a mere expulsion of air, not unlike a sigh, ”He’s hotheaded and stubborn. I fear he might get into some trouble.” While Ren was more than capable of taking care of himself, Jun could not help but worry. He was still hung up over what had happened in the Underdark. What if the creature had not decided simply try and force Ren out of the Underdark? The fact that he could have lost his little brother weighed heavily on him.

Of course, that was not the only thing troubling Jun at the moment, but he was not quite ready to share what news Ren had returned to him with. Jun's eyes searched Alecto's face, ”And you, M’lady? Is there some way I can be of assistance? You seem a bit fatigued yourself.” He suddenly paused, realizing that he had been quite rude, "Ah, I apologize. I do not believe we have met before. I am Jun, Seeker of the Unseelie court, Lord of Slight Illusion." He found it only fitting that he offer his full title, as menial as it was.

[Alecto]

Jun’s transformation did not occur before blind eyes. Alecto considered him as he spoke, noting inflection, rhythm, pitch and expression, coming to the conclusion that he was polite and honest, but withholding. His precision of speech and decorum was flawless – he was, perhaps, the most diplomatic Fae she had yet encountered in these caverns, and would make a first-rate politician, she was sure – but the Fury could not help but get the sense of some secret, lurking beneath the surface. Maybe she was being paranoid. It wasn’t a far-fetched possibility, considering her own life in recent days. Nonetheless, her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, burning a little brighter with the curiosity and suspicion that were her trademarks. Her face was not devoid of concern, either; at the mention of the woods, she straightened slightly, aware of the danger this brother could face there.

“Alecto, Segna of the Unseelie, Princess of Havoc, Mistress of Slight illusion,” she followed suit, but sounded dismissive of her own title. It was one of many formalities she did not value, finding that it divulged very little about a faerie’s character, while touting rank that may not be deserved. “Your offer is kind, but I am afraid I am beyond assistance. There are few remedies for an unquiet mind…” she trailed off, momentarily lost in thought, but soon returned to herself. “Your brother should be very careful in the woods. But I trust if he has anything in common with his kin, he will keep his wits about him.”

The Sidhe took a few steps past him as she spoke, offering this compliment without smiling – her sincerity was grave. She brightened, though, as she glanced over him, contemplating his appearance, carriage and poise.

“Has the King enjoyed your company, Jun? Your diplomatic tongue reminds me very much of one of his favorite faerie. It seems you would do well in court.”

Alecto did not rain such praise down on many, and did not do it lightly. If this Jun could maintain his calm and presence in the face of more extreme danger, he would make a useful ally, and a valuable member of King Cel’s entourage. Like Saalyn, Jun seemed to possess what Alecto did not: a kind of pleasantness that settled the mind, coupled with a smoothness of speech that could present bad news in beautiful packaging. She, meanwhile, was startling and dark, and had a tendency to make her company ill-at-ease. It was a worthy instinct; she had a history of killing more than talking.

Should they go...I dunno...drink or something?

[Jun]

Had Jun known of Alecto’s thoughts he would have been quite amazed by her skills of observation. Jun was indeed a man of many secrets, most of which were buried deep within Alanor. His original time here had not been a pleasant one, to say the least. He had been quite lucky in regards to escaping his past; though every day in Alanor brought back another memory he had no further use for. His dreams were plagued by the skeletons he toted around, anchored to his body and heavy with undesired emotion. Were it not for Ren and his carefree demeanor, Jun’s heart would have succumbed to darkness by now, whether through route of insanity or something worse.

His listened to her title carefully, tilting his head somewhat subconsciously as he took note of her rank. Alecto, he presumed, had already met the King and fallen into his good graces. Jun could understand why. The woman before him had a sharpness to her, one that while unsettling was also startling in a good way. Jun found himself intrigued by her aura and her shortness of tongue. She was direct and to the point, a faerie with little use for flowery words or gestures. This thought made him smile.

But I trust if he has anything in common with his kin, he will keep his wits about him.” Her words made him chuckle softly, ”Ren is smart yes, but he often acts before he thinks. Still, his blades are far more experienced than mine.” Though Alecto probably would not know it, her words had eased him just a bit. Perhaps it was just her company. Jun was a social butterfly of sorts. He preferred the company of others over a solitary life.

As she stepped past him he rotated with ease to follow her with his eyes. He smiled a Cheshire-cat-like grin at her compliment and dipped his head, ”You flatter me unnecessarily M’lady.” Jun took in a deep breath, as if the topic of his status in court was a heavy one- far from the truth of course. ”We have conversed, albeit briefly. Though my roots have long been sunk Alanor’s soil, I only recently returned from a long leave of absence. While I was perturbed to see that my previous ruler has been dispatched, I am pleased with King Cel’s progress thus far. I would like to partake in more conversation with him, though I must say it is hard to get an audience.” King Cel was a busy man, but not without purpose. Jun knew very well that the Monarch kept a close eye on his kingdom.

Jun dipped his head slightly, his rustic eyes observing her for a few moments before he spoke, ”Though your unquiet mind may be incurable, I cannot consider myself a man if I do not at least attempt to ease a lady’s mind. Shall we partake in a drink or two perhaps?” He was of course offering his company, the only thing he had to give at the moment. He shifted to the side, his eyes momentarily glancing in the general direction of the Screaming Lass.

(pure crap lol)

[Alecto]

Alecto listened to the Nimbus explain his hiatus from Alanor, her face revealing first visible curiosity, then a vague unease. She, too, had lived here in fits and starts for a few thousand years, losing track of time in both places and finding herself a foreigner, at first, every time she migrated. The Fury had never met Andais, having been absent from this land for the entirety of her rule, but she recalled Greyd with some distaste. It had not surprised her to learn that his incompetence had lost him the Unseelie court. After that her awareness of Alanorian history was foggy, but Jun’s comments made her wonder, for the first time, how Cel had inherited his mother’s throne, and why she had disappeared in the first place. She also felt herself wishing she had the other faerie’s problem, of being unable to secure an audience with the King – her own requirements of him, and his of her, were not the sort she would have wished. The more time she spent with the man in these troubled circumstances, the more uncomfortable she felt with the amount of mystery surrounding him.

Not that she was one to talk, really. Cel knew nothing of Alecto – neither her distant nor more immediate past – and had he known her better, perhaps he would not have promoted her so hastily. But the Sidhe did not trouble herself over these thoughts. She knew she was trustworthy, and an ally of the throne when it was deserved. Cel could only lose her allegiance through a flagrant fault, and at that point he would have only himself to blame.

“Yes, I imagine he can be difficult to pin down.” she murmured absently, wondering what her life here would be like if she had not traipsed into the mists, upon arrival. It was an interesting drama, at least; she doubted if she lived another hundred-thousand years she would forget her encounter with Segwyn, and her latest reintegration in Alanor.

The Nimbus offered her his company and a drink, and while she might have ordinarily declined the invitation, Alecto found herself uneasy in these caverns, and unwilling to attempt sleep. Could Cel hear her thoughts and dreams, as he could hear her words in the shadows? She didn’t think she feared him, exactly – if she did fear, it would be the first time, and perhaps unrecognizable as such – but she certainly did not want him to find out about the amulet on his own. Fate only knew what his reaction would be, at having to dig for information from her. “I would not want to compromise your manhood, sir. Let us laugh at sleep together, or at least appease our worries with libations.” She chucked, laughing at how odd an ornamented phrase sounded from her lips, and began to walk in the direction of his glance.

“You say you have only recently returned to Alanor. I, too, have only just come home. As always much has changed since my previous stay, though perhaps that is why I cannot linger anywhere forever. The curse of immortality is boredom, is it not?”

Let's go drink and talk PHILOSOPHY. :D

[Jun]

Unlike Alecto, Jun had not left Alanor entirely by choice. Although he had made the decision to take his brother and leave the area, the decision had been spawned by fear and shame, two emotions that he still harbored even now. In fact, Jun had pondered never returning to Alanor, but had eventually come to find that he pined for his homeland, his birthplace, so much so that it ate away at him day by day. Still, now that he was back, Jun couldn’t shake the sense of foreboding that followed him, causing the hair on the back of his neck to prickle from time to time. Though Jun’s fear was still very much alive, the nimbus was fighting it with every fiber of his being, asserting himself as calm and in control of his life – even if he really wasn’t.

Jun was pleased that Alecto had accepted his offer and he let her know with an exceptionally large smile. Like she, Jun was somewhat uneasy traversing the Unseelie corridors alone, though he had ventured out this night merely due to unnecessary worry, and worry always overrode fear in his case. Even now, as the night grew later, Jun couldn’t help but think of his brother. They had been growing somewhat distant since Jun had made the decision to move them to Alanor. Ren had always had a distinct dislike for authority and was thus having a hard time transitioning into court life. Jun had to admit that his decision to return had been on selfish reasons, but he also felt that Ren needed to know of the place he was born – though not so much the history behind his birth.

As Alecto started towards The Screaming Lass, Jun fell in stride beside her. Her words confirmed one of his previous speculations – she had recently arrived, which explained why he had not yet seen her. Still, she had obviously fallen into favor with the King, though Jun was reluctant to use that as a judgment of character. Their King was known to be somewhat compulsive after all. ”I’m afraid M’lady that we must have lived two very different lives, for mine has been anything but boring.” Though his tone held steady, someone as perceptive as Alecto would have noticed a distinct waver, nearly invisible, that would have suggested he secretly wished for a dull, boring life.

Upon reaching their destination, Jun was quick to open the door for Alecto, and even quicker to offer her a seat at the bar. The place was somewhat empty, perhaps due to the time of night, and Jun took a moment to sweep his gaze across the faces occupying the room. A few Nimbus, several garlanger, and a Sidhe nestled in the corner, accompanied by a nimbus so obviously elfstruck she knew of no one else. Jun found it took quite some effort to rip his eyes away from the Sidhe-Nimbus duo so that he could take his seat next to Alecto. His composure never broke, but his golden flecked eyes were troubled in a manner quite like the way Alecto had previously found him.

Jun smiled slightly, leaning forward over the bar to send out his order. He did not order for her – Alecto seemed the type that would prefer to control her choice of beverage – and while he waited for his drink he turned his attention to her, where it would ultimately stay. Jun had a habit of devoting himself completely to whomever he happened to be talking with. From that moment on he was Alecto’s, and only hers…in the sense that his attention would not stray from her until she left or requested that he leave. He was the ultimate listener, having refined his techniques via years of study and practice in the field of psychology. He tilted his head slightly, ”I couldn’t help but notice your blade M’lady. Pardon my pure speculation, but I have a feeling you’re quite adept at wielding it.” He left it as an opened ended statement, an upturn of his voice hoping to elicit an explanation from her. Jun carried no blades, no form of weaponry, and those who did always caught his attention.

(I skipped forward a bit, etc....and ZOMG I fail at conversations -.-)

[Alecto]

The Fury raised an eyebrow at his reply, curious as to what could possibly make the nimbus wish for boredom. The sentiment she had expressed was so nearly universal as to be cliché, and she, for all the violence and pain she had both caused and endured in her lifetime, and for all the change, still had not escaped the occasional bout of ennui. She contemplated this, filed it away, but did not comment further. Whatever Jun’s reasons were for desiring quietude, they were not the Sidhe’s concern. He seemed cheerful enough, anyway – happy to be playing chivalrous, with his door-opening and chair-providing – and she was unusually willing to indulge these tendencies tonight.

Still, there are some habits that cannot be broken. Alecto studied the venue carefully as soon as they entered, following Jun’s steps with her feet but not her eyes, and sitting mid-evaluation. She noted who was there alone and who with company, who possessed obvious weapons, and whose intentions were harmless but impure. Her glance settled on the other Sidhe’s face for longer than was strictly polite. In their mutual acknowledgment Alecto offered an obvious and unflattering judgment; the other fae’s behavior fell under the umbrella of reprehensible and punishable, to her. Abuse of power was among the Fury’s many pet peeves. Had she known her monarch better, his actions might have garnered the same response.

But she didn’t. Her eyes drifted away from the lustful corner to the barkeep. She ordered without thought, and a drink appeared seemingly without origin, to sweat on the countertop in glittering drops, like dew. She watched the ice crack. “I have much to learn,” was her only answer to the question of her swordsmanship. She felt a little bad denying him any real explanation, but the Sidhe did not think it would be wise to divulge her reason for carrying a blade, this night. To speak of the Drow and their potential presence here would make her seem a lunatic, to Jun – a Traitor, to Cel. She turned to look at him, supporting her chin with her right hand, her elbow resting on the counter. Her eyes fell on his exposed left arm, narrowing.

“Interesting…” she murmured, scrutinizing him, then laughed. “I apologize; how rude of me to stare. But it seems we have much in common,” she extended her own left arm toward him, resting the inside of her wrist on the bar’s edge and extending her fingers slightly. The mamba’s image writhed and coiled there, its head poised on the webbing between thumb and forefinger. “Your brother’s mantel, is it similar?”

[Jun]

Jun decided not to press the subject further. Her answer had been exceptionally vague, but he was sure she had a viable reason behind it. Still, her words made him smile. He broke his gaze from her to momentarily to look to his drink, one finger lightly tracing circles along the glass. After a moment of thought, Jun grasped the glass, filled halfway with a delicious-smelling eaux-de-vie brandy – and lifted it to his lips. He paused briefly before sipping, his lightly parted lips brushing the edge of the glass, as if he wanted to say something. Instead he ultimately decided against it, took a sip of his drink and replaced the item back on the bar counter. Once again his rust swirled eyes directed themselves back towards her, a light cant of his head given.

It was then he caught her eyes traveling across his left arm and he followed her gaze to the subject of interest: his mantel. He couldn’t help but chuckle as she revealed her own mantel, ”Quite a coincidence, isn’t it?” He allowed his eyes to rest on her mantel momentarily, recognizing it quickly and storing this information for future use. Her next question came as a slight surprise, but he answered it willingly, ”Why yes, it is, though his is quite a bit more like yours M’lady.” He found the similarities behind their mantels intriguing. Despite the fact that all three snakes came from vastly dissimilar regions, their potency was renowned throughout Earth. Each one of the snakes were feared creatures, though Jun knew his brother’s and Alecto’s snakes were quite a bit larger and more fearsome than his. His eyes danced alongside his inward smile as he thought of just how perfectly matched the mantels actually seemed to their bearers.

Jun shifted a hand to grasp his drink, swirling it gently but not lifting it for a drink, ”I believe they originated from my mother. The women of her family line have all bore the mark of the serpent. We were the first male children to possess such mantels.” And it had been a lucky gift, as his mother had passed before she could bear a female child to continue the legacy of her family. When Jun had been born he had been praised and criticized because of his gender. Gradually his family had come to accept him, though this was largely due to the fact that as time passed their families began to drift apart and vanish from Alanor. He hardly remembered any of his extended family (as they were hardly around), and he knew nothing really of his ancestry aside from the long line of snake mantels.

With his mood significantly lightened despite the touchy subject of his family, Jun took another sip of his drink, his expression thoughtful, ”That is, of course, to the best of my knowledge. My family didn’t keep the best records. Not that I blame them of course.” He smiled, ”After all, the faerie life is far too long to accurately keep track of.” Unfortunately for Jun, despite his long life, he had a tendency to store and track every detail of every moment, especially the painful ones.

(ooc: sorry it's a bit crappy. I'm really tired -.-)

[Alecto]

Alecto was rapt as Jun explained his hereditary connection to the mantel. Her left hand drifted to the glass sitting before her, fingers tracing lines of transparency across the dappled surface as Jun’s had, but her gaze remained fixed, unblinking, on the man’s face while he spoke. It was true – the faerie, in their longevity, rarely remembered what humans might consider very important ancestral details. The blood was all the mattered to them, in the long run, and even the blood could change, as when a nimbus came into power. For her own part, Alecto’s memory was patchy; she had lived for millennia, had watched the first human civilizations coalesce and dissolve, and with how much history seemed to repeat itself she had little reason to memorize the details. But she did recall her sisters, vaguely, and suspected that they had not followed the same path of barrenness. The sidhe delighted in continuing their line of purity, after all. Why should Megaera and Tisiphone have forsaken the path of motherhood?

“I wonder if it is such a coincidence,” she said softly, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth. “How old are you, Jun? If I may be so bold…” Her fingers encircled the glass at last, and she lifted it to her lips. The liquor was bitter, clean and cold.

“I had two sisters,” she offered in the way of explanation, before he could properly object, “I have not seen them in at least fifteen hundred years…though perhaps I should not say that, time in Alanor being what it is. While I have travelled back and forth, they remained on Earth, pursuing their own purposes.” She watched her glass as she spoke, tilting the amber liquid to catch the light, considering its luminosity. She took another sip, and turned to him. “Both bore the same serpent’s mark.”

Her eyes lingered on his, noting that even they could represent a dilution of her kin’s fire-bright color, and wondering. It would be impossible to prove, of course, and perhaps familial ties no longer mattered. But the novelty of the idea was captivating, and she smiled as she turned it over in her mind. It had never occurred to her that she might have relatives in Alanor, that her ancient life should make it rather likely.

OOooh no. It is I that should apologize.

[Jun]

Jun held his glass just barely above the bar counter, the tips of his fingers clasping the rim lightly. He rotated his wrist, swirling the clear, fruity brandy into a miniature whirlpool. At Alecto’s question, his wrist movement abruptly halted his mouth opening to answer her but his words not quick enough. Jun fixed Alecto with a thoughtful expression as she offered an explanation for her somewhat invasive question and his perpetual smile broadened.

As the Sidhe woman alluded to a possible common link in their ancestry, Jun’s interest piqued and he set his brandy down, his fingertips taking a new home atop the counter. He drummed them once as he mulled her words, his head tilted ever so slightly in contemplation. The notion was intriguing but entirely unfounded. With only one common link, it would be safe to say that the probability of it being more than coincidence was slim, if not zero. Still, Jun was not the type of person to simply dismiss something because it lacked a factual basis. There would be no way to prove their link of course, without complete records and a lack of knowledge of their family lines, the only thing both faerie could do is speculate.

Jun shifted his frame sideways and leaned up against the bar, ”I cannot be so bold as to make a deduction based on such little factual evidence, but the coincidences are numerous.” He paused, his rust colored eyes dipping down to survey his own mantel once more before they returned to Alecto’s face. His visage maintained its almost natural warmth, though there was a wealth of pain that boiled beneath the surface of his flesh each time his spoke of his family, ”I, M’lady, was born in Alanor approximately a millennium ago. My mother, who has since passed, was born on Earth and migrated to Alanor where she gave birth to me at quite a tender age.”

Jun’s fingernails dug lightly into the wooden surface of the countertop, falling into a groove and sticking there, ”I’m afraid I cannot offer more. Mother was quite reluctant to share her familial history.” He freed his fingers from the countertop and once again sought a sip from his glass, his eyes watching Alecto from above the rim, ”It is an entertaining idea, M’lady, but nothing more. However, I am grateful that you would consider it.” The mere thought of a relation with the beautiful woman before him warmed Jun’s heart. She was powerful, confident and lacked the corruption of today’s Sidhe.

[Alecto]

The fury received his response with an expression of grave curiosity, cluing in to the subtle discomfort her companion seemed to experience when speaking of his mother. It may have been a high assumption, to judge the undercurrent of his words based on the behavior of his hands, but Alecto was not one to fidget and neither, she suspected, was Jun. She wouldn’t press him further on the matter, if he had been unable to discuss it even with his dame. A gentle smile spread over her face, which had a transformative effect on her otherwise icy appearance, and her eyes seemed to soften slightly.

“It is an amusing notion,” she said lightly, and took a long sip. The flavor made her miss the concentrated wines of the ancient Aegean, that could knock a grown man stone dead if he were not careful. “I forget that I have family of any kind, sometimes. The court is my family, now.” The words were true, though she hadn’t realized their truth until she spoke them. Perhaps this was why she was tolerant of Saalyn’s reprimands and condescension, whereas on earth they would have earned the woman a place on the point of Alecto’s sword. Cel’s emotional outbursts, too, she may not have tolerated under different circumstances, regardless of his rank. Her head tilted slightly as she considered these things; her look grew far away. “But it would be a kind of comfort, to know that the Erinyes’ blood had produced such offspring.”

She finished her drink, pressed her lips together to collect the residue. Such a vintage would have only a passing effect on her, in terms of intoxication – the faerie were not susceptible to the same weaknesses as humans. Alecto cherished the hint of a buzz that washed through her, and was just as quickly lost. She slid the glass forward on the bar, then leaned back and contemplated the man beside her. He was handsome, almost in the way of the Sidhe, as well as charming and well spoken. It frankly amazed her that he had not experienced a coming-into-power, yet. Surely there were a number of darkling women that would have delighted in him, as a bedmate. Her smile reappeared, a little mischievous this time, but the cause for that mischief was unclear.

“You and your brother, on the other hand, must be quite close.”

[Jun]

Jun’s sip elongated until the rest of his brandy was consumed. As he nestled the glass back down upon the counter top he purposely avoided looking to the barkeep for another round. Contrary to many other Fae, Jun was not an avid drinker. Though particularly immune to the effects of alcohol, there was nothing enticing about the liquid as far as he was concerned. He had seen it abused in far too many ways back on Earth and though he was able to savor it on occasion, the mere thought of overindulgence brought an onslaught of cottonmouth to him followed by a churning of his stomach.

Instead his eyes maintained their contact with Alecto’s flesh. She was quite the opposite of he- her beauty sharp and cold, unlikely to warrant praise and worship save for her Sidhe glow and her commanding presence. She was a woman of conviction, unyielding in her views of life and politics- at least, that was what Jun had garnered from their brief time spent together. It was a pleasurable change from the usual masses; Faerie ruled by their desires of flesh and blood, prone to change their positions on a whim to suit their ruler. Jun admired this of Alecto. In contrast, Jun was a warm creature, once thought unsuited for the stark darkness of the Unseelie court. His strength was subtle, but ever-present in his words and actions. He was a confident creature, but not overbearingly so. Ever bit of his being was ruled by calm, level-headed serenity that was maintained even during the most trying of times, and though he had his inner demons he hid them well.

When Alecto spoke of the court as her family, Jun couldn’t help but let his smile grow. The Nimbus had more in common with the Sidhe before him than he had previously thought. ”You and I both M’lady.” The veiled compliment that followed was noted but not fully acknowledge. Jun was far from arrogant, and he consider excessive acceptance of flattery a sign of a simple-minded Fae. Still, it was never-the-less appreciated.

”Ren?” Jun chuckled softly, ”You could say that. We’ve had our troubles of course, as siblings do. Often I feel more like his father than his brother, being that I did raise him from birth.” A thoughtful look swept across Jun’s face as his brow softened, ”He hasn’t taken to Alanor as well as I thought he would have. Perhaps I am to blame; raising him on Earth might not have been the best approach.” Ren was more human in personality than Faerie, that much was certain. Jun could only hope that Ren would adjust with time. His grin grew a bit, his canines biting into his bottom lip, ”However, Ren does share one common trait with many Unseelie that I myself lack- his affinity for battle. I should introduce him to you some time M’lady.” And perhaps you could beat some sense into him was added silently with an accompanying inward chuckle. Though not outwardly displayed, his amusement could be seen in his rusty, gold-flecked eyes.

Jun leaned more into the counter, his body shifting towards her but still maintaining a respectable distance. He had no wish to invade on her personal space. His eyes danced up and down her visage, admiring and respecting it for what it was, ”I must admit. The presence of family does make living in this somewhat cut-throat environment a bit more bearable.” There was a joking flare to his tone of voice.

(ooc; sooo i spent a super long time trying to think of something for him to ask her to further fuel the conversation and failed miserably. Sowwy!)

[Alecto]

The Fury was not usually one to flatter. The fact was, she admired the differences between herself and this nimbus; his calm, his ease, his malleability. Alecto did not know if it was her age or her unique experience that had shaped her into the edifice she was today – more stone and mortar than faerie, in many respects. Lately she had found some of her structure crumbling, but it was unlikely that the core of her, the skeleton of her personality and being, would ever be truly shaken. Like the ruins of a once great fortress, the essence of her would endure even as the surface changed. She listened to Jun’s explanation thoughtfully, considering his comments about Earth and the human world. Alecto, herself, had been born and reared there…but times had been different then. Mankind had been very new and raw, moldable in a way they were not any longer. They had been quick to offer the faerie just praise and even worship, whereas now her kind were often forced to hide. But life in the courts could be too soft, at times. She silently posited that it was Ren’s upbringing amongst humans that had led to his battle-ready nature.

“I will be pleased to meet him,” she affirmed, the ghost of a grin appearing briefly. “No doubt we could learn from each other.” He leaned closer to her conspiratorially, and she was not so removed from the norm of faerie sensibilities to feel crowded by his presence. They were creatures that craved contact, at their core. While she didn’t seek it out as some did, and even guarded herself against it in questionable company, her primitive instincts appreciated this proximity. Somewhat. She contemplated his choice of words, the way he couched the truth in diminished wrappings. The effect was softer, but verged on a lie.

“You are blessed to have family you can trust,” she answered softly, an eyebrow quirked, “Many have been unable to say the same.” Perhaps Ren would never betray his brother, despite their differences, but how often had siblings held the blade to each other’s throats? She remembered Orestes, and the series of familial murders that had led her to pursue him. Father slaying daughter, mother slaying father, son slaying mother…she would have ended the cycle with him, had she been allowed by higher powers. But his story was not unique, and it troubled her to think that Jun might overestimate his bond. She studied him, her eyes suddenly tired, this vague worry only reminding her of the many other vivid ones.

“It has been a pleasure, Jun. I thank you for your company. But I am afraid the hour is catching up to me, and I am required at Imbolc tomorrow.” She placed a hand on his shoulder as a gesture of parting, her hand surprisingly delicate and light, and rose from her chair.

"Dream well."

Hope you don't mind that I'm closing it. I'm running out of conversation. ><

[Jun]

Jun tilted his head as she stood, propping it up on his folded hand. A momentary bit of fatigue wafted over him. Until she had mentioned the time, Jun had not once felt tired. Now he was fighting to keep his eyes open. He found it entertaining just how well her company had staved off the cravings of his body. Still, it had been a good time. He had thoroughly enjoyed himself. ”You too M’lady.”

As her hand left his shoulder and she parted from the room, Jun dropped his elbow from the bar counter and shifted his weight so that he was now facing forward in his seat. He briefly considered following her lead and heading off to bed. She was right. The Festival of Imbolc had all but eluded his thoughts over the past few days. While subconsciously he had quite possibly shoved it as far down into the deep recesses of his mind as possible, it was more likely that his worries had gotten the best of him.

Leaning forward Jun ordered a refill of his drink and when it appeared before him he downed it in one shot. The deep warmth the brandy offered him was somewhat comforting, akin to the lingering tingle her hand had left upon his shoulder mere moments earlier. Jun had thought he would have reared back upon being touched by a Sidhe- their touch was linked to so many pain-filled memories Jun had practically developed an aversion to them. Instead he had been comforted by just how light the touch had been; nothing compared to the last Sidhe that had laid a hand on him.

Smiling softly, Jun left his seat and headed back for the Unseelie halls, his hands shoved into his pockets. The sudden desire to see his brother had struck him quite hard, though the previous concern that had been rotating around his head was no longer there. This was shown in his footsteps as he headed for the dormitories, his pace slow and languid.

[END]

(I was going to end it in this post anyways haha )