STRENGTH IN PEACE

Wisteria Commotion

pyxis-stardew‌:

With Pyxis’ head now clear, she opened her eyes and stifled a giggle at the appearance of Effie. The amour was completely wrong, and she’d surely suffer many injuries if she really was in battle. “I think you look like a new trainee.” Pyxis silently noted the girl’s figure, but it felt wrong to do so. Pyxis quickly pushed away the thought. When she stood from the grass, Pyxis came over and gently began adjusting the amour and tightening the straps. “I’m sorry,” Pyxis muttered, a word she hardly ever utilized. “I became angry at you and shouted. I will help you with the armor next time. You almost got it though.” Pyxis walked around Effie, and hesitated, before moving her golden hair away from her back and over her shoulder. She tied the straps at her neck, and then at her waist. “Here, use this. The battle is much harder when your hair is everywhere. Take it from me.” Pyxis held out a small, stretchy band for Effie’s hair. “Some braids and some face paint and you’d look exactly like a wolf.” Pyxis came back around to admire her work and felt her heart tugged at. Effie looked exactly like a wolf, and she almost felt at home again. Almost.

“Now.. the first thing about fighting isn’t your stance, or how you swing, it’s your courage. A true warrior runs into battle, and will always get up until they’re dead. Never show fear. It makes you look weak.” Pyxis stood on one foot, and swung the other one around and stopped inches from Effie’s face. “Show no fear.” Pyxis brought down her foot and smirked a bit. She remembered when Rollo, her trainer, and master had done the same, and Pyxis had fallen back in shock. He had laughed and made her do push-ups.

Pyxis then came to Effie and tapped the inside of Effie’s foot with her own, indicating for her to widen her stance. “There are two stances to know. Defensive is when you want to stay firm and stay on your feet when someone is attacking. It roots you and stabilizes you. Bend your knees.” Pyxis demonstrated, with her fists balled at each side. “Defensive.”

“The next stance is Offensive. When you want to attack. There are many offensive stances, for different body types. My type is called Quick Foot.” Pyxis demonstrated by hopping in small batches, her feet always moving in one direction or the next. “If you keep moving, it makes it difficult for your opponent to get a good lock on you.” She gestured at Effie to try it. “When you move, put one foot over the other, so you always have control.” Pyxis circled Effie, her feet crossing the other. “Next, we’ll try an actual punch. Let’s see what you’ve got. I’ll stand here. “ Pyxis stood in a defensive position, her hands balled in front of her face. “Try and give me a punch in my gut.”

A chill shuddered through Effie’s body as Pyxis adjusted the straps at her waist. Just the touch of the other faerie’s fingertips was enough to send fire across her skin, but Effie bit her lip, snapping back into reality at Pyxis’ words. “I should have been kinder as well. My ideals stand, and I can’t apologize for my hatred of blood magic, but by no means do I hate you for dabbling in it.” Even still, Effie felt a tugging at her conscience. Should she hate Pyxis for her abominable acts? Or could she separate the acts from the person? All the same, Effie took the hair band and pulled her golden locks back into a ponytail, preparing for a fight.

“No fear,” Effie repeated, only to jerk back when Pyxis nearly kicked her across the face. She gritted her teeth. Her sharp reflexes, for once, worked against her. She widened her stance, copying Pyxis’ moves, bending her knees and digging her feet into the soft earth. “Like a tree with roots deep in the ground,” she muttered, imagining thousands of tiny roots branching out from beneath the soles of her feet. As Pyxis demonstrated offensive moves, Effie kept her eyes on every move, as if she was watching a fox slinking through the forest. Every muscle moved in tandem with the others.

“A punch?” Effie stood up straighter, frowning. Never before had she struck another, not since she was a young seedling and had given Tallulah a slap across the face for stealing her favorite doll. The stern lecture from her mother had been punishment and humiliation enough. “I don’t want to hurt you...but if you insist...” Effie focused on Pyxis’ center and threw a gentle punch. Every muscle in her arm seemed to be holding her back.

Seelie and Sparrow || Poppy & Effie

#poppy #poppy-shore #seelie and sparrow

poppy-shore‌:

“I understand,” Poppy assured her. “It must be strange to come to a place so different from your home. You are very brave.” As an afterthought, she added a moment later; “Besides, Anvali Castle can be a maze at first. I was always getting lost when I first came here.” She chose to leave out that part of her enjoyed getting lost. She could imagine that she was exploring.

The tournament piqued her interest immediately. “I shall hopefully be attending, if Her Majesty permits it. My mother has written to Duke Harland asking if he might accompany me.” She looked over at Effie with an excited smile. “I’ve never been to Belladonna before.”

Brave. Perhaps it did take a leap of faith to return to Wisteria after so many years. Perhaps it wasn’t so wrong to be afraid, after all. Effie clasped her hands in front of her and lifting her skirts as she walked, doing her best to not tread on her hem. Her usual dresses were not typically as...horrendously puffy, but then again, Seelie fashion never had been very practical nor suited for the forest. “I’ll have to try to not get myself quite as lost in the future, then.”

Harland...the same Harland that Effie had made a note to visit in order to discuss Wisteria’s recent history? She nodded, making a note of the connection. “I’ve never been to Belladonna either, and I should hope to avoid it as much as possible. It’s a dreadful place, I hear, filled with darkness and slavery and rebellion. You’re fortunate to have Duke Harland to serve as your protector.” Effie glanced at Poppy’s tiny frame. Would the Unseelie devour such an innocent soul such as herself? “Please, do be careful when you go.”

Slipping Away || Open

The news spread through Roheim like wildfire, its crackling embers flitting from one noble to another until they made their way to Ephigenia. Have you heard? An assassin nearly slaughtered the King and Queen! A member of the Royal Guard dropped dead right beside them! Though Effie had ignored the tournament and refused to attend over the past several days, she had lingered outside the arena that day, watching as the human prisoners entered and never exited.

A great wailing rose up from the arena and faeries darted out, clutching their skirts, canes, and pearls, calling out for their carriages to take them away to the comfort of their manors. Poorer fae streamed out as well, taking to the streets to warn others. Effie grabbed her bodyguard’s arm, her eyes wide. “Ashen, do not let them find me. There’s a target on my back. I refuse to die here,” she hissed. If the assassin didn’t kill her, then the trampling would.

Effie jumped as someone fell beside her, the crowd pressing them in and stepping on their clothes. She knelt down, ordering her bodyguards to stand around them, and urged the fallen to their feet. “Come on, move! We don’t have much time! I’ll lead you out if you follow us!”

#this is obviously directed towards those who chose to flee #tffstarter

Century of Silence || Harland & Effie

#harland #amongthebriars #century of silence

amongthebriars‌:

@ephdill

In a rare moment of respite between his work as a diplomat, juggling the life of a single father with a young aphen trying her damnedest to turn him grey, and whatever other unfortunate idiocy Black and all the rest of that lot had been caught in. His burns had all but healed now, nothing more than fresh, pink scars along his forearms. The reminder was enough. For the moment, he sat in his office at Anvali Castle, contemplating the tome he held in his hands. Nothing more than a tale spun for the masses, the imagination of the author was rather amusing, particularly where it concerned a…familiar war and its rulers.

Mulling over the fact that this anonymous quillsmith had yet to be found by either ruler, Harland glanced up at the three, quick knocks at his door. HIs brow furrowed and the Sidhe stood to his feet, memorizing his place in the text before setting it aside. Striding over to the door, the Duke pulled it open to reveal a lithe blonde, dressed in fine silks and tule and looking all the world like a fish out of water. If he was surprised to see Ephigenia Dill standing at his door, however, Harland did not show it.

Instead, he bowed his head, slipping easily into Owain as he addressed her. “Chieftain. A pleasure to see you, though I am unsure as to the reason behind such an auspicious visit. Please, come in. We can speak in my study.” He paused, glanced back into his study and out the window towards the gardens of Anvali. “Or, perhaps, you would prefer the gardens?”

As the door creaked open, Effie found herself face to face with a tall and handsome Sidhe with worried wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. Her mouth felt dry and seemed to clamp shut at the prospect of having to explain her need for such basic information. For the thousandth time, she inwardly cursed her mother for keeping the Sparrows as isolated as she had, even for their own protection. Now she was the weakest pawn at court, and her pride had only just begun to be wounded.

At the suggestion of speaking in the gardens, Effie brightened, nodding with girlish excitement. “Oh, please, I would love to see what sorts of varieties her Majesty has chosen this year-” She stopped, flustered, and reminded herself of the reason she had come. Not to gaze at exotic flowers, not to socialize, but to learn. “As you know, the Sparrow Clan has been...out of politics, until recently. I was told that you would be the man to direct my questions to.” Effie clasped her hands in front of her and glanced out at the gardens. “Your Owain is flawless,” she added. It was a relief to speak in her native language instead of the foreign tones of High Fae.

Wisteria Commotion

pyxis-stardew‌:

The truth was, Pyxis prayed to Lilith every night. She made offerings both animal and her own blood. From what she understood, Lilith was the only female goddess who actually did something with her powers. Lilith gave the fae the gift of strength through the blood in their veins. It was the Fae that decided to be barbaric and sacrifice humans. Pyxis was tired of people talking to her as if she knew nothing of the world. She knew of the people in the world and what they were capable of, followers of Iwan or Lilith or not. Pyxis’ anger bubbled up in her, with fingers burning to let her magic out. But she balled them and placed them behind her back.

“You know the foxes taught me other things besides being a savage, bloodthirsty warrior who lives with the rats. But even if you think Lilith is a monster, there were nights where she was the only one I could talk to. I have known blood all my life. My hands bled when I was in the circus as a performer. I bled when men decided my body belonged to them!! I bleed in the arena! Blood is my power, and you don’t get to decide how I use my magic. So go if you’re so scared or if you look down on me. I’m used to it.” She uttered, her voice filled with spite and bite. She thought Effie was different, but really she was just another fancy fae who thought she was better than her. With fists still burning, she quickly spun and grabbed thin, leather armor for their training, and tossed it at Effie’s feet. It was complicated armor with many straps, that were only suitable for hand to hand combat. Pyxis, still fuming from the insult on Lilith, decided to cool off before training Effie. After all, she didn’t want to hurt her. Pyxis pointed to the armor. “Put that on, and lose the dress. I have some fighting clothing in that trunk.” She pointed to an old trunk, a storage Pyxis hadn’t opened in centuries. Yes, the form-fitting cotton and leather suit was in the trunk, but so were old letters that were never opened. Letters from other Foxes looking for her and a letter titled “To My Daughter”. Pyxis had always believed she was alone in the world, but turned out everyone was looking for her. Inside the trunk was also a patch with a fox on it, and old mementos such as her old performing costume from the circus and her jeweled hairpieces. There were even dancing books, but never read. She simply followed the pictures. Pyxis walked out of her tree bungalow and grabbed the vine they’d rode up. “Meet me in five minutes.”

With that, she cooly dropped down, and when she landed, the vine returned. Down below, away from Effie’s ears, she growled and swung her arms back, sending a wave of energy flying from herself. Along with it, a low pitched frequency that shook the ground slightly. She paced back and forth, trying to cool off, but still, her hands were like hot coals. Stonehard and hot. She pulled out her blade, and knicked her pointer finger, letting a droplet of blood fall over her palm. She smeared the blood over her hands and could feel the power in her extend like swords. She punched a tree and gasped at the large indent her fist had left. But her hands no longer burned, and she felt better. She sat on the grass and felt the energy of the forest enter her body. She meditated like this until Effie returned to her.

Before Effie could respond, her blood boiling, Pyxis dropped the armor at her feet. Right. She was here to train, not to argue. “I don’t look down on you, I only...” Why did words escape her at the least opportune moments? Why did the first friendly face away from home have to belong to a blood mage, and a Lilith-worshiper at that? An ugly knot formed in her stomach as she picked up the armor and watched as Pyxis descended from the tree house. “Goddess, guide my mind and my tongue,” she murmured, kneeling down to dig through the old trunk. A myriad of colored fabrics, pieces of parchment, and books met her eye in the dim candlelight, followed by the musty scent of old mementos. Effie couldn’t help but look through them quickly, starting with the elaborate clothing. They appeared to be costumes unlike anything a Fox Clan member would wear, but the colors didn’t quite match the Seelie pastels that were so popular in court. She ran her fingers along the fabric and marveled at the craftsmanship before setting the costume down. If she took too long, Pyxis would wonder, and she most likely hated Effie already.

Effie pulled out a brown shirt and pants that more closely matched the Fox Clan wardrobe, tossed her dress aside, and put them on, followed by the armor. She turned this way and that, attempting to adjust the straps and hoping she had done so properly. She’d never worn armor before, and even though it wasn’t the plate armor that knights wore, it still slowed her down. She could hear Pyxis grunting and the sound of a tree cracking down on the ground. “Excellent,” she muttered. “I’ve pissed off the girl who’s about to be swinging a weapon at me.”

As Effie descended from the tree house and landed on the soft ground, she adjusted her armor, feeling terribly awkward in pants. They offered more movement, but she blushed at the thought of Pyxis seeing the outline of her thin legs. “What do you think? I know I’ve put it on wrong, somehow,” she said, giving an awkward turn.

Forbidden Gardens || Kit & Effie

#kit #the-kit-scarlet #forbidden gardens

the-kit-scarlet‌:

“I am an exception in many ways, my lady,” Kit laughed, “but most of midsummer’s inhabitants will eliminate anything they see a threat. Unseelie, Seelie, and Solitary are usually alike in this way. The means- poison, war, magic- those are where the courts and clans seem to differ.”

She placed a hand on her chest and bowed her head slightly. “Welcome to Roheim, Chieftan. I would not have bothered to remark on politics if I had known you were a Chieftan. What would you care for one whore’s opinion?”

Kit shrugged. “Are you enjoying your visit so far? Is the tournament to your liking?” She tilted her head to the side, eyeing the woman in a new light. So here was the leader of the Sparrow Clan. Her tone was light, but the look in her eyes was mischevious. She was not entirely fond of the tournament either, but she could not allow anyone to think she was anything less than entirely devoted to her King.

Kit was right. The Solitary fae weren’t much for espionage and poison, but rather brute force. The Sparrows had kept clear of most conflict and the only confrontations dealt with those who wanted to steal their territory, but even then a persuasive word turned away wrath. Effie made a note to herself to be wary of the next cup she drank from. “Sooner or later, we all need to know the politics of the places we visit. I prefer to know sooner. And please, you seem like you’d make a terrible whore.” Effie shifted her weight from one foot to another. “Tell me your thoughts on Unseelie politics. You must have more opinions than I do.”

She couldn’t say the visit had been enjoyable, not with those poor humans in the ring. Effie disliked humans as much as the next faerie, but she wouldn’t dare lay a hand on one or promote those who did. It would be unwise to express her distaste for pointless slaughter, or for the king who played the part of ringleader. “The Sparrow Clan is unaccustomed to bloodshed,” she began, picking her words with care. “I must admit, it’s quite the culture shock. I can’t say I’ve ever wept at the death of a human, but neither can I celebrate it with a clear conscience. I take it that you enjoy the tournament, then?”

Century of Silence || Harland & Effie

After a long morning of negotiations with a nobleman who owned property near Aortha, Effie had struck up a conversation with one of the knights who had been present, admitting her ignorance to the recent history of Midsummer politics. He had recommended paying Harland Briar a visit in his office, and after attempting to relay instructions to Effie, he bid her farewell. Though she had visited Anvali Castle over a hundred years prior, her memory of the time was fuzzy at best. Most of all, she recalled the uncomfortable feeling of being indoors and how she longed to return home. Now she had returned as a chieftain, wearing a Seelie dress from the most expensive tailor she could afford, and still she felt suffocated by the walls.

At last she reached Harland’s office with a heavy door standing between her and the man who she hoped would have time to brief her on the last century. Effie gave three quick knocks and smoothed her dress, wincing at the unfamiliar material, waiting.

@amongthebriars

#harland #amongthebriars #century of silence

Seelie and Sparrow || Poppy & Effie

#poppy #poppy-shore #seelie and sparrow

poppy-shore‌:

Despite being dismissed from her duties when the Queen had barricaded herself in her bedroom, Poppy still felt it was necessary she let her know that she was planning on going with Duke Harland to see the tournament. Not quite foolish enough to hope she was important enough to be granted an audience (or what she would say if she was), she held in her hands a letter bearing the Shore family seal, detailing where she would be and for how long.

She would slip it under Queen Mab’s bedroom door, she decided. Or maybe leave it with one of the guards outside. Which was safest? She was so caught up in comparing her options that she didn’t notice someone coming down the corridor in the opposite direction until they almost walked into each-other.

“There is no need to apologise. I was lost in a world of my own.” She looked down at the letter in her hands, before deciding that helping this stranger was more important. “If you’ll come back with me, the main hall is this way.” She returned to go back the way she came.

“My name is Countess Shore- you may call me Poppy,” she said brightly. “I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure?”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Effie nodded, walking alongside Poppy through the halls. Colorful tapestries, gilded filigree, and portraits of faeries from ages past hung on the walls, and she longed to take in every detail. Though the forest had its own beauty, its elegance paled in comparison to Anvali Castle. “Thank you, Countess Shore...Poppy. I’m Effie Dill, chieftain of the Sparrow Clan, and I’m hopelessly out of my element here. I don’t get quite as lost when I have the forest to guide my steps.” She didn’t expect Poppy to understand, just as she would hardly understand why the city fae preferred to live between walls and under a ceiling rather than in the wild where they belonged.

“Surely you’ve heard the news of the tournament. Will you be attending, or remaining here in Wisteria?” If the invitation had reached into the isolated Sparrow Clan camp, then it had to have spread through Wisteria. She could only hope that it wasn’t taboo to mention Oberon’s little games.

#playlist

Wisteria Commotion

pyxis-stardew‌:

Pyxis explored her old hideout with contentedness and nostalgia. Everything was as it was hundreds of years ago. She even smiled at the wisps of curls she’d cut from her head that now laid on the floor. That was a different time. Pyxis noted the amount of clutter and the traces of blood on the walls and floors. When Pyxis looked at Effie, she could tell what was going through the blonde’s head. She even gave it away when Pyxis made light. But when Effie commented on mice, Pyxis felt a wave of self-consciousness come over her. Did she really look as though she’d live with vermin? Maybe she did, but Pyxis tried to look neat most of the time, besides her wild curls. Her smirk faltered, and Pyxis hugged herself a bit. “It’s not my fault…” She mumbled to herself.

Pyxis would have lived here had her camp survived the raid. Pyxis’ embarrassment made her feel warm and sweaty, so she removed the top tunic she had been wearing. Underneath was a form-fitting shirt that exposed her entire arms and chest. Her arms were covered in tattoos. Most of the designs seemed tribal, others with pictures of a fox or a knife. Under her shirt, were layers and layers of bandages that pressed her breasts down. She did this every day so no one commented on how large they actually were. Pyxis tossed the tunic onto a desk and leaned against the wall.

“I saw how you reacted when I did magic back there. And I know you’re probably wondering about all of this-” She gestured to the blood stains. “Yes, I know a little blood magic. You should have guessed that when I told you I was a Fox. But I don’t even know that much. Just simple stuff. I don’t even understand my magic, and I’m looking for a teacher.” Pyxis tilted her head and chuckled. “Besides, I won’t ‘harvest’ you for magic. You’re a fae, and I can’t do that and you’re much too interesting to waste on magic.”

As Pyxis wrapped her arms around herself, Effie’s heart sank. She hadn’t intended to make Pyxis feel insecure, and she reached out to lay a hand on the faerie’s arm. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. Living among mice is cute in my mind, I didn’t want you to feel as if...” she trailed off, startled by her sudden need to apologize. Most of the time, she was too proud to do so right away, but even the slightest bit of pain in Pyxis’ eyes demanded to be wiped away.

Effie turned around with her back to the window, leaning against the wall as Pyxis removed her baggy outer tunic that resembled the sackcloth a mourning woman would wear, not a common lady’s dress. Her eyes trailed over Pyxis’ tattoos so unlike the ones of her own clan. Sparrows rarely tattooed their skin, but when they did, they opted for vines or flowers rather than animals. The heat rose in Effie’s face and she glanced away, hoping that she hadn’t been caught staring. She hated when men would cast hungry gazes at her, and she feared she had become as lurid as them.

“Of course I’m wondering why you use blood magic,” Effie said, snapping out of her trance. Her tone wasn’t exactly hostile, but guarded, knowing that she was in the presence of a blood mage. “I had assumed that since you left the Foxes, you had left that life behind. But if you don’t understand your magic, allow me to be the one to teach you.” Her expression hardened as she gazed at Pyxis in her blissful ignorance. “You’ve stumbled into a treacherous pastime. Blood magic originates from Lilith, a cruel goddess who demands blood sacrifices of the innocent. She revels in their torture and craves nothing but death. She is the opposite of Erthe, the true goddess, who I serve.” Effie shook her head. “If you use your own blood and know nothing of Lilith and her deeds, I can tolerate it. But if you harvest a human’s blood or delve into the darker side of blood magic...” I’ll leave you, and I won’t turn back. The words didn’t need to be spoken. It was jarring enough to know that Pyxis wouldn’t be welcomed in the Sparrow Clan, but that much was certain already, in order to hide the secret that Effie was the chieftain.

Forbidden Gardens || Kit & Effie

#yeah effie assumes Maddox is just a guard #she won't make mention of him #kit #the-kit-scarlet #forbidden gardens

the-kit-scarlet‌:

“I did not say you were daft, my lady,” Kit replied, though the bemused smile on her face suggested that Kit had been thinking it. “I imagine most outside of Roheim have not. My Queen works very hard to cultivate poisons unlike anything else. Most of the plants here cannot be found anywhere else in Midsummer. Though a fair portion of them have been found in goblets or plates passed towards me.” Kit shrugged, not bothering to see how the casual mention of assassination attempts landed. It was infinitely more fun that way.

Maddox was trailing close behind but kept as much space as proper given the King’s new edict. She wondered idly if the other fairie had noticed her shadow yet. He could blend in so easily when he desired. If she did not look too closely, she could almost mistake him for just another one of the guards.

“Sparrow Clan? What a delight. You all do not come to visit very often. I do not think we have had the pleasure of meeting at court yet,” Kit turned to the other fairie now, her smirk fading into something far more genuine. “You can call me Kit. “

Effie’s eyes widened as the noblewoman so blatantly admitted her run-ins with death. Her hand wandered to her throat, a thought emerging for the first time since she succeeded her mother as chieftain. The red berries glinted in the evening sun, in all their deadly glory. Could she expect to be poisoned just the same? “Do the Unseelie regularly attempt to kill their nobles, or as you an exception?” she asked carefully. Either she was a controversial figure, an important one, or a very unfortunate one.

“You’re right,” Effie murmured. “We haven’t come around for a long while.” She suspected that many of the nobles would be making similar remarks. “I’m Effie Dill, chieftain of the Sparrow Clan. This is my first time in Roheim, as a matter of fact.” Of course it was. The dark castle hadn’t existed before the war, back when the Sparrows still cared about diplomatic relations.

#playlist

Seelie and Sparrow || Poppy & Effie

It had been another day of pleading with Queen Mab, who had her mind more fixated on the tournament than on the Sparrow Clan’s plight. Additionally, so many of the Queen’s advisers had warned against traveling into the Wildlands, as if a few trees and wild animals would kill a group of armed knights and mages. These city fae and their fear of nature! Sometimes, Effie wanted to stand on the table and scream, reminding each of the prissy little faeries that they had once lived among the forest until the idea of building cities clouded their minds.

With her manners discarded and fake smile tossed aside, Effie stomped through the palace to meet with her guards at the front entrance. She needed a vacation. Perhaps a week back home would settle things before she lost her temper and tarnished her clan’s reputation, sending them back into isolation for another century...

“Ooff!” Effie nearly collided with a red-haired faerie passing by her in the hall. Judging by her fine dress, she had to be one of the many nobles living in Anvali Castle. “My apologies, I was looking for the way back to the main hall, but every corridor in this castle is an identical shade of white. You wouldn’t happen to know the way, would you?”

@poppy-shore

#poppy-shore #poppy #seelie and sparrow

Bad Influence || Aubrey & Effie

#we can end if you want unless you wanted Aubrey to comment #aubrey #aubrey-crane #bad influence

aubrey-crane‌:

“Yes, good!” Aubrey clapped his hands at the quickened negotiation. “Excellent. Do you wish to know my plans with it?” He had given much thought to the idea of it. Hadassa was more than right about the problem with addiction. “See, These strung out Fae are not paying into my pocket like they could be. I fancy myself a business man and this Mara Root, when it doesn’t come through my vendors, costs me a pretty coin of …. lets call it a tax.”

Aubrey sat in an armchair with his legs crossed. “Please sit, invite your men in for a drink.” He could see the unease behind the agreement, “I think it would e a good business move to start weaning the addicts down to more healthy doses. Regulating it somehow, making more money in the process. I must confess that I have never used it and have no idea what is so great about it.”

Effie wrinkled her nose. She thought she knew the answer, but perhaps not. What could one do with mara root besides using it religiously or exploiting it for its tantalizing high? As Aubrey explained, she did her best to follow along, although she admittedly had hated studying economics and it certainly hadn’t helped that the Sparrow Clan had remained out of trade for a century.

At last the pieces began to come together. Her eyes widened. “You mean to...tax the mara root in order to eliminate how many drugged faeries scatter the streets?” Had she let her guard down, she would have praised Aubrey for his brilliance. “I have no doubt that this will be beneficial for all parties involved, whether they appreciate it or not. I must admit, seeing mara root used for secular purposes isn’t my cup of tea. The Sparrow Clan uses it to commune with Erthe, and we consider it to be a holy plant blessed by the goddess to aid in our magical abilities when the need arises.” A Grower could coax a stubborn plant back into health after a dose of mara root. A hunter could lure in an animal and kill it painlessly when meat was required. A healer could boost her abilities and save a life. “We equate mara root to survival and spirituality, not recreation as you do within the city walls. I can’t stop you from using it, but I can tell you of its true purpose.”

Effie folded her hands in front of her, smiling with satisfaction. “Consider this deal solidified, Aubrey Crane.”

Wisteria Commotion

pyxis-stardew‌:

Pyxis hadn’t even realized the tea sitting on the table before her. She found herself as more of a Jasmine tea person, but poured herself a cup and placed in four sugar cubes following suit. The cubes dissolved quickly I’m the steaming tea, and Pyxis sipped carefully. She’d never taken into consideration how she ate or drank in front of people before yet now she tried to drink with a dainty disposition on front of Effie. When the woman made up a tiny poem about her, Pyxis lifted the cup further to hide the pink that accumulated on her freckled cheeks. No one had ever placed her in any sort of recital, or called her fare. Most called Pyxis stupid, or dirty or given the right outfit, plump in the right areas. A compliment she despised because Pyxis despised her body. It had developed early, and Pyxis always believed had she not grown breasts, or hips or thighs, men would not have paid attention to her in her youth. Pyxis took a pile of books and dug into her satchel of gold. Without bothering to count it, she left it on the table and took the books in arms. “I live in Belladonna. Don’t figure you wanna make that walk. But I’ve got the next best thing. Come! It’s in the forest and I haven’t been there in years.” Pyxis grinned a bit, gesturing for Effie to follow. The hike to Pyxis’ hidden abode took about half an hour into the woods. As they walked, Pyxis would occasionally look up between the reaching canopies of the trees. She would point at constellations and talk about them. “I named that one bear. Because it looks like claw marks. If you follow it, you can find the World clan camp.” Shed point to another. “Willow. Because it curves like the Willow trees do. There’s a lake under that one.” Pyxis eventually realized they soon would be engulfed in darkness. Rather than make a torch, she decided to use a small, fairly easy blood spell her clan used at night. Pyxis pricked her finger, and ran her opposite hand over the droplet of blood. The blood lifted from her finger, and transformed into a fist sized ball of light that followed the girls. Pyxis smiled at her small magical achievement with immense pride. That joy spread throughout her body, and made the light glow just a tiny bit brighter. Finally, at the end of their walk, Pyxis looked up and then at Effie. “Well, were here.” Pyxis began moving leaves away from the trunk of a giant Sequoia tree, before she found a thick, old vine. She took the vine in hand, and wrapped an arm gingerly around Effie’s waist. Pyxis kicked a rock that had held part of the vine down, and as it was freed the two girls soared into the air. They shot up about twenty get up before landing on a wooden platform covered in dust and leaves from seasons pasts. The stood in a rickety tree house, filled with drawings, weapons and old clothing. “Welcome to Stardew Mansion. I came here while I was a fox when I needed alone time. Built it myself.” She gloated, picking up an old candle and lighting it. The tree foundation was enormous, with enough branches to stabilize the large tree house. It was hidden away, but with clear view of the path down below. It smelled of lavender, due to Pyxis’ dried out collection in baskets. There were also blood stains. Lots of them. They had either been created from wounds, or from Pyxis’ many blood magic attempts.

“The forest? I would have never guessed you would enjoy the forest as I do.” Effie scooped up her book, left the empty teacup on the table, and followed Pyxis as she led the way to where she lived. The air hung light and cool around them in the golden hours of sunset that streamed through the early summer forest. Though it wasn’t nearly as thick as the forest where she lived, Effie could admire the sparse woodland all the same. Here, the trees were half the size of those in Aortha. The Sparrows built their homes in the tallest trees in Midsummer Forest, where a canopy of leaves shielded their camp from the sun, but near Wisteria, the sky felt open and inviting. As Pyxis pointed out the various constellations, Effie remained quiet, committing each one to memory. She would have to venture out to the planting fields to see the stars, but it would be worth the trip.

The pair continued to head north, closer to Fox territory, until Pyxis’ tree house stood before them. As Effie steadied herself, tossing the vine over the side of the wooden platform, she gasped, taking in the sights of the house. “This reminds me of the Sparrow Clan camp built by our ancestors, high in the trees to prevent us from being overrun by enemies. The trees are even taller than this one.” Candlelight flickered along the walls and shadows danced across the floor, leading Effie to the window where the sky stretched out overhead. Still, as she watched the stars twinkling in their heavenly places, Effie recalled the moment when Pyxis pricked her finger to summon light from her own blood. She had been too shocked at the moment to utter a word, but now, between that incident and the bloodstains on the floor, the pieces began to come together. Could Pyxis be a blood mage? Worse yet, could she be a follower of Lilith?

She pushed away her panicked thoughts and turned to face Pyxis, her face illuminated by the warm light of the candle and her hair curling like wisps of dark smoke. “Thank you for this. I feel as if I’m back home.” The decor was cluttered and outlandish at best, but so perfectly Pyxis that a smile spread across Effie’s face all the same. She eyed the leaves scattered across the floor. “You should really clean this place up. It looks as if a few mice have made their home here, although you seem the type to fit in with them perfectly.”

Forbidden Gardens || Kit & Effie