Where exactly was he? In all sincerity, rare as such a thing may be, the Goblin King couldn’t have said where he’d ended up. Some other realm, outside of the Underground, familiar sights unfound — was this some part of Aboveground that he’d yet to visit, or had he stumbled into another world entirely?
Frustrated pacing continued, boots striking the forest floor listlessly. Unstable emotions flickered without much a pattern, anger to sadness to apathy, and then back again. He hadn’t been trying to get anywhere particular, so the end result hardly mattered.
Everything hurt — throat tight with half-suppressed upset, heart screaming as though somebody had drove a dagger through it, shoulder-blades aching from too many nights spent restlessly flying about as an owl. Magic crackled at gloved fingertips, without purpose, testing the state of it more than anything — and occasionally fizzled out, as another wave of dizziness flared and starlight swam across the Faerie’s vision.
Wasn’t that what Mother had called this?
He couldn’t remember, not sincerely, but it sounded accurate to how miserable the past years had been. An irritable noise, bordering on the upset sound of an animal, rumbled briefly in his throat before it was shoved down. Crystal ball materialized, mismatched eyes peering down at it — a cascade of images, locations, ultimately settling on nothing in particular. Shaking his head, gloved fingers twisted to fling the crystal from his hand, watching as it shattered into the ether upon hitting a nearby tree.
❝ It’s not goddamn fair! ❞
Words that tore themselves from his tongue, flying into the air around him unbidden. Several breathes, steadying, blinking away tears that the king would later deny. It was only a few heartbeats, and then a sneer was forming.
❝ Gods’ sake, you sound like fucking Sarah. ❞
And wasn’t that disgusting, given the context. The metaphorical dagger twisted, unnatural heartbeat faltering, vision momentarily blurring before the world became clear once more.
❝ Pull yourself together. ❞
An order snapped at himself, before the sound of rustling leaves caught the Twister’s attention. Spinning on the heel of a leather boot, he quickly blinked away the stars that danced across an upset vision, mismatched gaze settling into a faint glare at the newcomer.
❝ Whoever the Hell you are, you did not see that little outburst. ❞
Around the stranger, the newcomer, the being that had stumbled his way into her realm, branches of white-barked trees stretched, curling near curiously in a circle, crafting a stage for his outburst. The forest fell silent, creatures listening, watching as graceful bare feet fell near silently on the leaves of her forest floor.
Visitors were always something fun to behold.
New toys, something unique to sink her teeth into, a mind to twist and mold, but this was different. Unique energy, an aura not fitting of human - nor fae. He was fae, but he was more, he was different, he was...
Slender fingers curled around a tree branch, giggle vanishing from her lips. This was hardly fun at all. Of course, breakdowns were fun - when she caused them. But this...
Something was haunting her little visitor.
And that wasn’t right at all.
What fun was twisting the mind of another powerful being, not to mention one who’s mind and heart were already hung up, twisted up, stuck on something (or someone) else?
Brow arched as the faerie let herself slip off of the branch she had used as her seat for the show, head tilted as sky blue gaze danced across his form.
❝ Oh I did, best not to lie to yourself. ❞
Circling, gaze never leaving the other, curiosity mixed with what little concern she could muster for a man she had never met.
Trees shifted, path forming behind the woman, and the sounds of the forest resumed. The flap of birds’ wing, the scamper of furry creatures through the underbrush, the ‘play’ button had been pressed on the wildlife of this realm once more.
❝ Come on then, you look as if you need a tea and a place to rest your head, fretful one. ❞
No enchanted beverage would trap another being of such power within her clutches, no, the offer was genuine. Her curiosities were too great to pick a fight, or banish the stranger for trespassing.
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