A walk to not remember [closed]

[Julian]

Julian was lost. He was never really good at directions, but after that party turned so horrible so quickly (Not that it was his fault. Then again, it's never his fault.), he had sauntered off with absolutely no plan whatsoever. He crashed his way through the trees, more clumsily than he'd like, though in his defense, he was trying not to get his clothes too muddy. He breathed a sigh of relief when a large clearing finally appeared in front of them.

Julian immediately sat himself down on the bench. It had been a long, not very good day. He sighed before glancing about the clearing, wondering if the pixie had followed him. They had separated shortly after crashing their way out of the throne room. He was sure the overall scene was a mess. It was most definitely his Worst. Exit. Ever. It was, perhaps, a fitting ending, given his not so perfect day. He watched his bear twitch, as if she were alert to some stranger approaching.

"Calm down, Misha. I doubt there's anyone out here."

[Adele]

Not only was Adele unfamiliar with the courts in general, but she was even more unfamiliar with such sudden events. Perhaps it was more appropriate to say she was out of touch with these things - she had certainly been through her bout of adventures, but it had been quite some time. After a certain point in her life she had settled down, let bygones be bygones, and hoped that everyone would lead their merry lives on their own.

Julian was easy enough to follow, but Adele kept some distance, just to be sure he wasn't leading her somewhere ... dangerous? She wasn't so sure what she was so concerned about, but regardless, she had her guards up and her caution out. When she found him at the bench, she flew out from the cover of the trees, wings humming softly. The tips of her toes brushed the forest floor as she came to land - ankles pivoting, calves bracing - a ballerina of the sky.

"Hello." Adele dipped her head, the word like a strong breeze. Her hummingbird hovered beside her. "That was the most interesting thing that's happened to me in several decades, I think." She smirked, gliding past him to place her arm around a tree, her back to Julian. Her fingers traced the bark, outlining their crevices with her fingertips, performing their own ballet.

[Kin/diablo]

Alanor wasn't home, not by a long shot. As much time as Hal had spent in the Unseelie caverns, he missed the lofty, skyscraping buildings of the city, the slideshow of anonymous faces. Most of all, he missed the open sky. The Exordium was a step up from being underground, but it felt nowhere near the same. Still, it was as good as it got, and that was the only reason he was here now.

Like an eel, Hal was not easy to grasp. He was a con man by nature -- and had once, in fact, been one -- but faerie were long-lived, and there was no longer a prize in the world worth his game. Despite this, he continued to live in layers and riddles and multiplicities -- saying only what he didn't mean and making only promises that he never intended to keep. It was an act, sure, but one that he played so close to his chest that there was no clear distinction between Hal and not-Hal. The game got old. Even here, he was tied up in court politics and formalities...

Voices in the distance.

He stilled immediately, listening, before amending that to "voices in the vicinity" -- faerie who had likely just arrived at the Exordium, since he hadn't heard anything before now. Uncoiling from his sitting position, where he had been hidden, Hal noted the two figures standing not too far away. Unfamiliar, even though by now he was sure he'd recognize any from his court if he had to. A few steps took him closer, in full view of the strangers. "Little Seelie faerie," he said, his tone so casual as to be mocking. "Why so far from home?"

[Julian]

To Julian's surprise, the pixie had followed him. When he heard her voice, a bit of a bubble welled up inside of him, and his loneliness eased. He rose and took a few steps towards the pixie, still keeping a bit of distance between them.

"Decades? You must age wonderfully. This is a truly strange world. It's only been a few days, and it seems I already have a few enemies." He watched as the pixie's fingers danced across the bark, until a third arrived. Julian's instincts told him to stay on guard, and he placed himself between the stranger and the girl while his mantel crouched behind him, ready to pounce. She let out a low growl, and bared her teeth.

"What's it to you?" His tone was caustic, perhaps overly defensive. A small bell rang in the back of his head: not conducive to meeting new people, moron.

[Adele]

The small pixie made a soft laugh - that of wind chimes - at the nimbus' comment. Enemies are not so difficult to come by, she thought, but made no reply other than her smile. She circled the trunk of the tree, and when she came round, a plain looking man had entered the clearing as well.

Adele glanced between the two nimbus with Merise hovering back and forth, inspecting. Tension seemed to follow wherever she went today. Perhaps it was inevitable. Perhaps Skylla or Alanor herself wanted to push her back into the currents of the river of reality. Maybe she could no longer stay as her own lone little puddle.

A languid sigh slipped from her, and she floated forward to the pair. "What makes you think this is not our home? And further, wouldn't that logic place you far from, as well?" Adele smiled, eyes twinkling, and she giggled with a gentle softness that smoothed the tension in the air. "I've no quarrel with your court - or mine own. I prefer solitude, to be frank, and these bits and tosses with politics have always tired me. I am too old for this, and I am not even that old. Do you seek something, sir? If we stand in your way, simply speak. I hold no ground." Her face was solid, eyebrows raised in anticipation and honesty. Her silver eyes remained soft - almost concerned - and her lips hung open just slightly. Slowly, her wings folded together, a sound like silk on velvet. Merise had calmed down and now brushed through her hair idly.

[Kin/diablo]

"So bold, and we've only just met," Hal remarked almost gently, ducking his head in a parody of demureness, but the amusement that the curve of his lips suggested was at odds with the hostility in his eyes and the sudden tension in the way he moved. His mask was slipping at the edges, he knew, and it didn't matter -- it didn't matter -- but still he reined himself in, held himself back. Instinct and deeply-ingrained habits reminded him that you never knew where you'd have to look for allies, and no good ever came from searching for enemies where there were none.

Instead, Hal turned to the small pixie garlanger. "No faerie live here," he said, "and yes -- like you, I am far from my court. What keeps you from yours?" He regarded her with faint, detached curiosity, not quite able to understand her. Even in his most relaxed state, there was always that restlessness -- that itch that kept him seeking the next gamble, the next con, the next exploit, because the adrenaline rush was one of the few things that had ever made him feel alive.

[Julian]

Julian was much too quick to judge the other nimbus' character, for it appeared that the man was simply looking for people to chat with. Though Julian relaxed a little, and the little switch that turned him from an arrogant ass to a conversationalist switched, his mantel was not quite convinced. Misha strode cautiously forward, in an attempt to sniff at the Unseelie faerie.

Meanwhile, Julian moved slowly, closing the gap between him and Hal just a little more, "I apologize for my rudeness, but perhaps a little background is in order. The circumstances for our arrival here are... well, simply put, I'm pretty sure I got us lost. I hope you'll understand my reasons for being so guarded." He threw in his half smile, just to make sure that the other man knew that Julian did not intend to fight him.

He paused for a bit, wondering if now was a good time to learn about the world that he had suddenly arrived in. Julian never really did learn to prioritize correctly. "Forgive my ignorance, but what is this other court you speak of?"

[Eoghan]

Eoghan followed the white marble lion as it crashed through the Seelie forest, flight propelling him at maximum speeds. He was surprised with the speed of the lion, he imagined it’d be strong but he never could have guessed that it was as light on its toes as it was appearing to be. It didn’t hurt that the creature took out nearly every branch and boulder it encountered, not avoiding to go around anything but simply crashing right through it. Eoghan didn’t mind, however, it made flying easier.

Eventually Eoghan felt the familiarity of the court begin to fade, and he looked ahead, noticing the lion at stopped just short of the edge of the forest. The pixie’s feet touched down in a run that carried him to the creature’s side, following the stone gaze of the Seelie guardian out over a field. He saw three people: the nimbus, the pixie, and another man who he didn’t recognize. From the distance he stared at the female, enamored by her, unable to figure out why as he had never found another garlanger to be remotely attractive. Then, he looked to the man he didn’t know; was he back up for the nimbus? Finally, his gaze fell to the nimbus who called himself Julian, the one he had been sent here to punish.

Eoghan stepped from the cover of the forest, looking back at the lion that remained, unwavering. He imagined the creature’s magic did not extend outside of the Seelie Court. He made his way towards the trio, drawing one of his throwing knives and firing it at Julian’s shoulder.

[Adele]

"He is Unseelie," Adele explained, "Imagine caves and dark places. Obsidian and jade. Blood and death and scorn - though that is something I suppose the Seelie Court shares with them, in some fashion..."

Adele heard a rustling. She turned her head and the dagger was flying - flying for the Seelie nimbus, if the aim was true - and she attempted to spot the thrower. The dagger had come from behind them, and she only hoped the man would notice something, for she had no time to act upon the dagger itself.

Rather, she flung herself towards the approximate location of the thrower, moving quickly but without any violent intent. She saw his green hair first. The pixie man, she thought. Some dull part of her had, from the beginning, held contempt towards him for being lucky enough to be a large pixie, whereas she...

Merise buzzed in front of the nimbus' face then soared after Adele, who had slowed to a cautious approach.

That was when Adele also spotted the lion, from a distance. Her breath caught in her throat. This may just be the end, she told herself. Prepared herself. For whatever was to come. A Court lion assisting like this - it is not business to be taken lightly.

[Kin/diablo]

As the other faerie relaxed, Hal also felt some of his tension ebbing -- he'd find other prey, but it needn't be today. He rolled his shoulders discreetly, or as discreetly as anyone could, and stood politely still as the bear lumbered up to sniff at him. His own attention he directed at the man rather than his mantel, and it was because of this that Hal caught a glimpse of movement over Julian's shoulder -- and briefly locked gazes with Eoghan.

"No need to apologize," he said without missing a beat, looking back at the other nimbus. The garlanger was moving toward them intently, and he thought that perhaps this was one of the enemies that he'd heard mention of earlier.

He smiled at Julian, razor sharp and with only the barest hint of viciousness. "You'll pardon me if I don't inquire further," he continued airily. "Far be it from me to mess about with the intra-court politics of the Seelie, though your circumstances are, I'm sure, entirely justified."

He paused, long enough for the little pixie to launch into an explanation of the Unseelie faerie. As she spoke, Hal shifted slightly, appearing to adjust his stance so that he could face her more comfortably, but actually managing to angle himself slightly off to the side. It was from this new position that he followed the newcomer's approach, noting the flash of the blade and the female pixie's swift reaction.

[Julian]

He had been daydreaming in that instant, trying to imagine the exact layout of the Unseelie caverns as per Adele's descriptions. Somehow, it seemed as though a giant jade cavern was simply impossible, especially when this world had appeared to lack jade jewelry. Nevertheless, through the pixie's words, Julian understood that, perhaps, on some level, being not entirely conversant and friendly with Hal was how he should act.

Julian had not realized that there was a dagger headed straight for him, and it probably would have done some major damage had his mantel not notice the lion and charged at her bonded at full speed. Julian fell to the ground, nearly ninety pounds of bear sitting on top of him, yet miraculously, not a single bone had broken. "Get off of me. What do you think you're doing?" He was getting ready to give his mantel a good scolding, until Misha swung her head towards the dagger that lay on the ground.

Realizing that he was now under attack, and unarmed, he hoisted himself up, resisted the urge to straighten out his clothes, and ran for the dagger, skillfully grabbing it with his left hand. He had simultaneously surveyed the scene, as he was reaching to take the weapon, noting that the female pixie had suddenly bolted. Once he picked up the dagger, he hurried to catch up to Adele. A part of him was trying to persuade him to flee from the scene, but Julian had to see for himself who the attacker was.

When Julian had caught up to Adele, he followed her line of sight, and saw that characteristic green hair of the pixie that had been at the party. If that man had followed them for the girl, then he would make sure that she would not be his target. Julian stepped outward into Eoghan's line of sight, a distance just far enough that neither could attack with a dagger short of throwing the blade. He held his own acquired weapon outwards, tip pointing to the pixie, his stance defensive.

"You. Why are you here?" Julian had made himself sound as menacing as possible, his eyes narrowed. This was not an ideal situation: his only weapon was not in his main hand and he was not familiar with its shape and weight. Julian hoped that Eoghan did not notice that his arm had twitched somewhat irregularly as he extended the dagger outwards towards the pixie's face.

[Eoghan]

Eoghan watched as the faerie was pulled to the ground, his throwing knife missing its target narrowly. Eoghan’s facial expression did not change. The blade he had thrown had been meant to warn Julian, not harm him. However, if the blade had landed its mark Eoghan wouldn’t have argued.

The pixie’s wings beat once and his body was propelled toward, into the grassy meadow that made up Exordium. Eoghan had no use for such place; natural circles had been a stereotype for his kind for decades. He could only imagine how many fairytale books portrayed the pixies or the “little folk” dancing and singing merrily at the center of places such as these. Legends said pixies were drawn to natural circles, but that wasn’t the case. The legends knew nothing of the enslavement of the pixie races and exploitation they had faced.

Eoghan stepped into the circle, his eyes only momentarily shifting towards the other faerie that were there. While he still held some type of admiration or enmity or…something towards the female, it did not show. He simply stood, staring the nimbus that held his throwing knife directly in the eyes. He reached for his twin daggers, drawing both. The blades dwarfed the throwing knife and were meant for hand to hand combat.

He chuckled at the sound of the man’s voice, as if it could frighten him, ”I was sent by the queen to punish you for your cowardice. I’m going to carve out your heart and deliver it to her.”[/b] The pixie’s gaze narrowed, unabashed by the knife being pointed at him, he inched closer. [/color]

[Adele]

"Stop this at once." Adele's voice was firm and solid, her tone beyond no-nonsense. She soared forward -- on her feet -- and stared at Eoghan directly. If one did not know any better, Adele was nose-to-nose with her fellow pixie, the way she talked and moved. In reality, she stood several feet from him, a safe enough distance considering his equipment. She was unarmed. She almost always was -- at least, for the last few decades. Who would fight a fragile little thing like her? She was no threat, after all.

"For the sake of our dignity as pixie," she intoned, eyes targeted and locked. "I've no stand, in particular, on the matter, but I had imagined you as someone against our slavery. Yet here you are, so gravely submissive. So easily and quickly submissive. Or did you give me the wrong impression? Do you enjoy being on the bottom, green-hair?" Her voice was thick with mocking and rung like iron on steel. Her presence was a growing storm cloud. Adele was grasping for straws, but she would do what she could to prevent any bloodshed over such trivial matters. She didn't even entirely follow what grand offense the nimbus had committed.

Or how, exactly, she got so suddenly involved with these fae.

It was supposed to be a nice day of sewing. But here she was, hearkening back to the old days of pointless confrontation.

[Julian]

Julian was not expecting Eoghan to draw more weapons, especially not daggers that were probably more like short swords. This was all sorts of not good, but Julian refused to let his concern show. The nimbus kept eye contact with Eoghan, his gray eyes showing no intention of backing down.

His mouth formed a small, mischievous smile, his intent was to annoy, perhaps even taunt the pixie. "Punish me? Apparently chivalry is dead in this world, among other things. Those daggers overcompensating for something?" His tone was bitterly sarcastic. No need to play nice if he had already crossed a line.

Julian realized that there was no way he could stay offensive, not with what Eoghan was wielding. He quickly flicked his wrist, aligning the blade of the throwing knife along his arm. He held his left arm out in front of him, clearly shifting to a defensive stance. Julian backed away from the pixie. He might be able to block one of the daggers, but it was clear it would be impossible to walk away unscathed.

[Eoghan]

Eoghan stared at her through the unkempt tendrils of his emerald locks, nature kissed eyes narrowing. The pixie was disturbed by the words his female counterpart uttered. The woman spoke of dignity, the pixies’ dignity no less. What dignity? Eoghan thought. The pixies were the cooks, the gardeners, and the chambers maids for the nimbus and sidhe, and they had been for ages. He saw no dignity in a race of people who lived in a society where battle fostered greatness but were designated servants by birth. He was a warrior, to do anything but fight would be a disservice to him and THAT was where his dignity lay.

”I am a warrior and I fight against the slavery of our people the only way I know how. It is you who appears to enjoy the bottom, for you run from the queen, one of the few who can gift our kind with anything more than a mop for cleaning or a pan for cooking.” Despite the look of anger and annoyance plastered across his pale face, the garlanger spoke with an even tempered voice. Reticence governed his thought process and it was apparent in the way that he spoke. However, he had been sent here to do a job, to follow the queen’s orders. He would do just that.

He didn’t respond to the nimbus’s words, the mockery falling on deaf ears. Words meant nothing to him, and the man before him had already showed that he was not the type to make good on any threats. Eoghan spat his words at Julian, nearly cutting off his own. ”Save your wit. You have insulted me with your challenge and insulted the queen by not making good on your words. If you had bit your tongue, I would not be here right now. However, I prefer things this way.”

Eoghan sheathed his daggers. As a pixie, he was familiar with the laws of places such as this, blood spilled in a natural circle, a neutral place was bad luck for any but particularly detrimental for faerie. ”We must take this to the Altar of Fate, and after you and Adele shall face the wrath of the queen. ”