She knew it was the necklace, it was a feeling in the pit of her stomach. But the other knew how to play Tien and when she took a step forward the young Fae automatically took a step back, knocking into the counter, hands pushing off the surface Tien slide to the right and out of the advisers range “you are definitely one of those people… maybe you could help bring them back?” She offered while escaping and gaining back some personal space. Tien would rather pay for the item then play this game, she was never found of Fae games to begin with. Tien didn’t even look what she picked up it was just the closest item to hand and held it out in front of her “I chose this Giselle” please let the game be over Tein thought
Giselle couldn’t help but chortle. She knew the woman had figured it out. Tien was smart, skittish but very intelligent. Reaching for the elegant but, powerless tea cup in her hand. The Fae woman gave the other a small frown. “ Very pretty, but no that is not correct. and her I thought you had actually figured it out.” letting out a long sigh. Giselle hummed her way passed Tien towards the register, playing with the necklace as she did so. It really wasn’t fair, Tien didn’t like to play these games and maybe Giselle was cheating a little getting into the other woman’s space. Knowing how quickly she would get tripped up. But when in all her years had she ever felt guilty? It was very rare, with the cup placed on display by the register she turned back towards Tien. “ I think you should find what you are looking for first, before I give you your punishment. I can’t promise you’ll like it but... fair is fair. And a deal is a deal.”
Location: Stoneheart Manor
When: During the Great Isolation / Retribution
Giselle kept her head low. A position she hated taking. That of the subservient role. Even when she was too quiet and timid to say otherwise. She hated the feeling; hated it the minute she was born. Her mother often spoke of how unruly Giselle was as a fae child. No one could control her; she was wild and thoughtless. Giselle countered that she was wild and free. Till her parents decided to put their foot down and muzzle her. To make her settle-- to make her submit. She was 256 years of age. Yet still being treated as a child. Always having to follow the law of her father and mother. When she had a mind, she had views. She had a voice to use and to speak.
❞ Your personal thoughts and opinions matter little to the High court, child. You are there to serve them. You are there to guide them, not to fulfill your own wants. The needs of the Fae kingdom must always come before your own.❞
Words her father constantly berated her with day in and out. She was the next Advisor in her home. She would carry on when her father stepped down or if he lost his life early. It would be her duty, her obligation.
She hated it.
There was no one better renowned than he, Antillaise Whitewood. Her brother told her that if she had a fates chance at getting anyone to teach her dark fae magic, it would be him. Standing in front of him now, hands clenched into a fist. Eyes on the ground, it was all she could do not to lunge at him and throw the first spell she’d taught herself. To prove that she was worthy that she stood a chance... even if it was half a chance, she was worth it.
❞ You're angry? ❞ came his garbled voice.
❞No?"
❞You're lying.❞
Giselle rolled her eyes, looking at him now, ❞ Fae can't lie therefore, I'm not lying."
Antillaise chuckled, shaking his head. ❞ Fine, then you are not speaking the full truth. So," he began pushing himself up from the chair. Making his way to a small side table that houses many bottles of different colored drinks. Fae drinks, he pours the indigo libations into two tumblers as he continued. ❞—speak your truth, girl. Convince me to disobey a direct order from your father and take you under my wing. I didn't live this long by living recklessly.❞
Her chest rose and fell quickly, and when he was in front of her. The glass outstretched for her to take. Giselle snatched it out of his hand. Downing the contents --before hurling it towards the wall. Shards flying, but Antillaise just calmly sipped his drink. A look of amusement on his face if she was to be so bold to assume.
❞ I hate being called a girl or child as if I'm a thing, an object. To be bossed about or talked about. I don't give a damn what my father told you. He hired you to prepare me for the High court. I'm hiring you to teach me Dark fae magic.❞
He hummed, ❞ Go on, my dear. Seems you have a lot on your chest.❞
Scoffing, she crossed her arms. The quiet, demure image is gone. ❞ Oh, you have no idea. I don't want to be at the whim of any Fae. I want my own power, I want my own life, I want Freedom.❞
❞ Freedom comes at a price, at a cost. Is that something you are willing to pay?❞
❞ That's why I'm here standing in front of you, aren't I?" Now it was Antillaise who scoffed, turning his back on her. Another thing she hated. ❞ Well, don't just walk away. If there is something I'm missing, tell me what it is. Teach me! that's why I'm here. I want to learn, I want to grow to become strong like you.❞
His head shook back and forth, but he kept his back to her-- he would do that a lot in the years to come.
❞ You don't know what you are asking for, child.❞
❞ I'm not a child.❞
❞ You are, and the fact that you stand here so petulant in your defiance only proves my point! You want things, we all do. You think I revel the idea of teaching you and other spoiled - high-ranking fae children? I am powerful, yes, so why do I waste my time with the likes of you? Why would I be bothered to train you when I've turned down other power-hungry, bratty, fae children like you.❞
❞ Call me a child one more time!❞
The indignation was evident in her voice. Vibrating off the walls and echoing around them. She could feel the sting of tears in her eyes. Giselle never cried. Never. Not since she was a babe and never in front of anyone. Why now? When she had to show this ass her worth, she was worthy that Giselle Stoneheart is different; did she feel the need to shed these tears. Her eyes widen as she caught the sound, looking towards him. Antillaise was laughing at her, and that only made things worse.
A tingle was felt in the tips of her fingers, the urge slowly moving through her body, limb shaking as she bit down hard on the sides of her cheeks. She didn't know why, but suddenly the bright flash of light exploded from her digits. Arms stretched out towards him- but last-minute at the very least, she shifted her aim. Away from him and towards the table where he had placed his glass. Causing the wood to splinter and break but instead of flying everywhere. They stayed levitating in the air—the white glow shifting to a darker hue-- no more than a few seconds but long enough.
Then she was on her knees, and the pair pitched into darkness. Her chest was heaving as she gulped down as much air as she could. Giselle's head felt light headed, never had she used up so much magic. It left her feeling weak, her body shaky, and lethargic; stomach turning had she had any food in it, she was sure she'd retch onto the floor beneath her. The edge of her vision was turned black. This was only something she recognized when Antillaise lit the room in his own light. He was kneeling before her, studying her. A quizzical look in his eyes one Giselle was sure she mirrored back to him. Sighing, he shook his head,
❞ First thing you will need to learn. Is to control that temper of yours. Passion is good. To want something so badly you'd do anything for it is dangerous. Not just to others but to yourself.❞ he was quiet now contemplative as if remembering something. Whatever it was, he kept it to himself. ❞ I don't plan on wasting my time on a student if they are just going to blow themself up and me with them? ❞ he tsked. Rising to his feet, he stretched out a hand to her. Giselle was hesitant but took it. The room spun around her, and she had to close her eyes to steady herself; this only helped slightly. When she felt as those she found her balance, she released him.
❞ You're going to teach me?❞
He rolled his eyes, ❞ That is what I said, wasn't it. I already see what kind of student you will be. Let's hope you learn to listen, hmm? I don't like repeating my- ❞
Giselle's arms wrapped around his torso. The abruptness of her action causing her to go a little light headed once more. But she couldn't find it in her to care. Not when she was finally getting what she wanted. Her first steps towards true freedom.
‘Did you hear? Princess Calla is back?’ ‘I hear she faked her death to find out who her mother is’ ‘I also hear…’ She had to stop listening to the rumors of the people she knew would talk most about her. Sighing, she regretted coming here, even if she wanted to give her sister a chance she wasn’t ready to come home, and she wanted to kill Quin for making her come here with his stupid guilt trips. “So, quick question,” she began, “how drunk is too drunk?”
The Fae adviser gave the royal a long, bored expression. Before passing a glass of wine over towards her. “It’s only too drunk, if your a sloppy drunk. Considering the story you spun, you’re no where near drunk enough.” Giselle has refarined from drinking much of anything. It was rather adorable the royal wedding. Giselle was very much ready to go but duty calls. Best to play nice anyways, with the future king and queen in their midst.
“ But I wonder why would you want to be drunk? Should this be a happy occasion for the soon to be queen’s sister?”
Lylia saw Giselle as a ally, a woman who had similar prospects. Trusted? Not just yet, the other was a Fae and there were niggles at the back of Lylias mind if she could be fully trusted. Giselle wasn’t like Azagi, the demon was very clear on her feelings, her ambitions and desires. “Of course I’ll take your word. Well you should know I’m never short on plans with my magic” lylia normal had a backup plan for the back up plan. “Your not the only one who needs wine to get through this night, humans are rather dull… pathetic honestly”
“ I would hope so; it would make our alliance a little unstable if you couldn’t trust me or I you.” When it came to alliances, Giselle was picky about who she chooses to align herself with. There were many things at stake, and in all things, both parties wanted the best outcome to fulfill their own ambition. Giselle had quite a bit of initiative; desires and wants. Her parents told her to stifle it because she was the servant of the realm of her court. But when it came to what she wanted, her plans were always more advantageous to her own goal in one way or another. She had a sense Lylia was similar. Careful and selective of who she chooses. Whether that was an asset or a hindrance remained to be seen. “ They are quite dull, hence why we love to play tricks on them darling. Watch them run about like ants when you kick over their home. It’s been a while since I played a trick on one. I’m almost disappointed in myself.”
She knew the look, had not given or received it herself, but that look was know to all. When you heart softens but ignites, when your eyes get lost but they are completely focused It was love. It made her wonder who this woman was to win such a heart as Giselle’s. This Prudence was obviously enchanting, but she had a feeling it was more then that. Giselle didn’t seem the type to go for looks alone.
Lylia had walked closer with Giselle, taking the stranger in. What had caught her eyes was the spell book, why did she have it? where did she get it from? What did the pages hold within? “What the book about? you seemed focused on it, did she take it from you?” If Giselle was the owner that raised more questions. “If you know wheres she going take us there while i speed them up.” Lylia would follow where Giselle lead while she concentrated more on fast forwarding time
The book, yes, how to explain that bit. Giselle was a collector of things. Some things are more powerful and more valuable than others. The spellbook had been the owner of a powerful witch, a younger Giselle befriended many moons ago. What did Giselle care about? It wasn't as if she could use the properties in the book. The power that radiated from it couldn’t be thrown away. So she had kept it safe, and when she acquired Collection Quarters, she placed it in the safe. Locked away and out of sight. Giselle was the only one with the key, and she kept that key on her always. There was only one person who could have gotten into that safe.
Clenched teeth, she looked towards Lylia. "The book was entrusted to me by a... friend A witch she was dying poisoned; by whom she wouldn't reveal to me. All she said was to keep it hidden and out of sight and give it to a witch I trusted ." Dark eyes watched the retreating figure of Prudence shaking her head. "The other person with me that night was Prudence. I told her we couldn't use it..." apparently Prudence thought otherwise.
An overwhelming sick feeling hit her. But she shrugged it off. "There is a shortcut through the forest to The Oasis. That's where she's going.” She wanted more power. Wanted to be able to wield it the way Giselle could. Their tutor would only take one of them and he had picked Giselle. Even against her fathers wishes. "I cannot bring you there; there are many rules I would gladly bend, this one I can’t."
“Right, well if you’re sure.” She said still a little concerned but dropping it, “I keep watching the clock hoping is time…I am a little on edge with everything that has happened lately and this party just doesn’t sit right with me” She admitted, if she could she probably would have stayed home, she was fearing some type of thing would happen when they least expected it
“ You are not the only one. Darcy expressed similar concerns as well. “ What could any of them do really. There was no telling who orchestrated this night. Surely not the people hosting it. It rarely was ever that simple and it had the oddest feel that it could be the same person that held them all in those fun little escape rooms during Halloween. Giselle kept this speculation to herself. There was no point making a fuss. Especially since they were given order to enjoy the night. “ The night might move along faster if you tried enjoying what you can of it. No point of worrying about every little thing. You’ll drive yourself crazy doing that.”
That was a very cryptic answer, anywhere in these walls… the place was so big and the other seemed so smug about the game Tien was playing. Tien’s eyes snapped to the necklace, she was still relatively young for a fae, she was still distracted by items that gleamed but most of the time they also had a layer of rust unlike this. “The ruffles look lovely Giselle.” the other was trying to distract her “They go rather nice with that necklace.” her brain was telling her that, that was it but she needed a closer look but that also meant getting closer to Giselle, what a cruel game “What do I do if I find it? do I bring it to you?”
A cheshire grin settled on the shop owners features . Watching Tien eye the necklace speculatively. She did love it when her kind was quick and not easily distracted. It often took centuries for young Fae to have that kind of control. Some even a millennium. This was Tien however, she didn’t put anything pass her young companion at this point. Gentle fingers played with the lace ruffles making sure to shift her body to and fro so the metal shown and shined in the light. “ Yes that is what I thought as well. No one appreciates ruffles anymore. It is a rather bold choice, given only a few could actually pull it off.” Chortling she took a single step forward. “ Of course darling. It is my store after all. Who else would you bring it too?”
“Oh I don’t need anything. well except maybe it would be nice to be allowed a day out of the bite club. With the tattoo that is pretty impossible.” Lydia wasn’t sure how that could be sorted but a day out to her own would be ideal. “Simple. I can handle that for sure.”
“ You could have asked for anything and all you would like is a day off from work?” Well, wasn’t this little human just adorable. Or foolish Giselle couldn’t tell which one but with humans-- she tended to lean towards the ladder. “ Alright , a day out of the bite club. Whom would I need to speak to to see if we can come to some sort or arrangement for you? Consider it a gift. A show of gratitude for helping me.” and a treat for her ward. Grazing Lydia’s cheek, she gave the human a reassuring smile. “ Now don’t move.” Brushing past the child quickly: Giselle’s eyes darken. The scale dust absorbing into the wood as the ice began to creep up the door. Giselle willing it higher and higher. “ Just a few minutes more darling.”
Location: Restricted Emporium; Northside
Time: 7pm
Open Starter | @calamitousstarters
Selling magical baked goods and dishes hadn’t become a stable business model just yet and it really wasn’t frequent enough to allot a fulltime living either. So, she worked at the lovely Restricted Emporium as a companion. Dylan always had a knack for becoming whatever her sexual partner’s wanted. She could be dominant, submissive, bratty, or timid. This was part of why she enjoyed her work. She was a chameleon and that worked with different types of customers.
Tonight, however, she was left to walking the floor for clients. She hadn’t seen any of her regulars at the bar so taking a walk in one of her favorite outfits usually helped to bring new clients in. She scanned the floor and saw someone sitting alone near one of the stages.
“Now how is it,” she smirked as she sat down in front of them on that very same stage. “That a gorgeous thing like you is sitting all by their lonesome? Hm?”
Giselle didn’t often venture too far from the Myre Grove. But with things being as they were. It was probably best for her and her future endeavors; to venture out more. Tonight however, she was headed to a place she knew well-- even if by name alone. The North was the High Cailleach territory. Giselle had taken great care of avoiding him for the time being. There weren't’ many witches that she knew unless they were the powerful ones. And the one she was looking for Giselle was familiar with.
It wasn’t hard to find the Restricted Emporium. Asking for a seat near a stage. Giselle waited sipping on her drink , enjoying the atmosphere of this place. She was mid sip as the young woman came to sit next to her. She was beautiful - Giselle always had an appreciation for the beauty that surrounded her.
“Flattery will get you everywhere darling.” smirking, Giselle angled her body towards the other. “Do I look lonely?” she asked. Reaching out she hooked her finger under the strap of her outfit. Running down the length of it; stopping just as she reach the peak of her breast. “ I’m waiting for someone, I only just arrived.”
“I haven’t. I listen to whichever vampire wants me for the night you know? I’ve learned to be compliant in that respect.” Lyda knew her place though memories of home at the hideout and her family lingered like fuzzy tangible pieces of hope. Hope she had put aside ages ago now. “That sounds nice, yeah. What can I help you with tonight?” The human had a servants heart so she was fine with that. She just wondered what it was that she could be of help at some event such as this.
Compliant and didn't ask too many questions. It would seem the vampires did have a knack for attracting humans that were obedient little things. Perhaps she should look into just how they do it. However, she had a feeling that what was involved amounted to some pleasure on both sides. Gently she wrapped an arm around the other's shoulder. "Well, aren't you a helpful little thing? How shall I repay you? A favor perhaps?" chuckling, Giselle turned her towards the main hall. The girl's back now facing the door. "All I need for you to do is to stand here. If you see someone approaching, distract them for me. Simple, yes?"
“Are you sure is just that?” Astrid said quietly, she would admit to herself she was a little on edge ever since the last party and then the letter she received hadn’t made things better, in all honesty she didn’t want to come but she knew she had to, just as she had to do what she had been told. She felt quite stressed and so when she saw Giselle looking a little off she was actually worried.
“ I will be,” Already feeling herself regain her center of balance. She knew that this would happen. Magic wasn’t endless, especially Fae magic. At some point, she would be spent and would have to take her to leave, however, for now. Her task for the moment was complete. This was the critical part. Smoothing out the front of her dress, Giselle gave Astrid and nod of thanks. Noting the worried look on her face, she let out a sigh. “I’ll be fine, no need to worry, darling. Soon the night will be over, and thankfully we’ll all be far from here.” A hope anyway, whether it came to fruition, remained to be seen.
She sighed at the advisor’s words, knowing she was right, she should not be surprised others bought into the foolishness. Not many of the creatures were as cynical as the faes. “You are right, I should not put any faith in their ability to look through all the bullshit,” she agreed. She let out a humourless laugh at the question. “I am not eating anything they serve here,” Darcy rebutted with a cold voice. There was nothing amusing about this situation. Her gaze once again landed on Haylee standing in a small crowd of people. “Let us just hope that we live to see the morning, Giselle, I have not lived over a thousand years to be cut down in my prime.”
"Nor have I. Nor shall I fall surrounded by lesser creatures." she sighed, taking a sip from her glass. You were a fool not to be prepared. There was very little that Giselle care for more than the things she's acquired over the centuries, over a millennium. She would be damn to let everything she worked forgone, at some unknown entity deciding to throw their weight around. Whomever it was, they should hope she or her people ever found out who they were. The Fae knew as tricksters. Rarely did they appreciate a trick being played on them. Dark eyes followed Darcy's gaze towards the small crowd, wondering what was so interesting. Opening her clutch, Giselle pulled out a modest flask and passing it to the other. "A drink then, you have to play the part and look like you're having fun, darling. You might scare the humans with that death glare of yours."
the fae is one she recognises; her position being well known in the high court. though lia has as little to do with her people as she can without losing her role ( and facing the wrath of her grandparents ) in a time like this she feels a need to check in. if there is any chance she is not the only one feeling unease at this event then she owes it to her people to touch base. “giselle.” the brunette greets as she approaches the other woman. “enjoying yourself ??”
“As much as one can. Given the company we are keeping.” she sighed. Giselle had started the evening a little bit on edge. However, with her task complete, she is settled. Confident that no one will be able to get through her magics. For however long she needs to. The doors will hold, a bit draining but nothing that she can’t manage. She is on her third cup of wine; hoping that it would take the edge off. As they wait for the Nightkeeper to show their face. Looking over at Cordelia, apprising her for a moment longer before speaking. “ And you? Or are you like your mother in your distaste with this whole event.”
Lylia task was an oddity, like an ingredient to a spell but it was far skin shavings off a Fae or lose her magic. And she wasn’t about to lose the power to control Time. But there was magic on the exits, looked like Fae magic it left behind different signature then a witches. Lylia had applied heavy makeup to hide her gaunt appearance, it took a told on her body her time magic and since she last met Giselle she had lost to much weight. The woman had fallen to the floor a vile sliding across the floor, Lylia helped her ally to her feet “Wine? The nights only just begun and you expect me to believe your already tipsy?”
Something was wrong. It hadn’t been that long since the last time Giselle and Lylia met. But it was hard to believe in that short amount of time; she would look so weathered. Granted to the human eye, the makeup would hide things. But for her Fae sight-- the change was somewhat jarring. Pressing her lips to gather, she ran a hand down the front of her dress. “ I expect that you would take me at my word. Knowing that I’m not likely to be working against you in whatever you might be putting your magic into these days.” And too much of it from the looks of it. Relaxing a little, she gave the other a smirk, “Besides, I need wine to get through this evening. You know we fae don’t particularly care for these kinds of social events with humans milling about. Not unless we are up to some trickery against them.”
Years passed differently. What seemed a lifetime for the humans, for her it was simply in a blink of an eye. She outlived their lived; she experienced things that others did not. Not a competition, simply a statement of how some lived flourished in the blink of an eye. But while they lived and died, Johanna lived the lives, a never-ending circle of games, war, love and trickery. That was her choice, that was her part to play in the court. To offer the advice that would be different, that would give an approach that was not yet mentioned. That was her.
But Giselle and she had a different part. For the longest time they had gone through different timelines, different experiences, switching between the closeness of their so called ‘friendship’. It was different things they wanted, different things they both had en eye for. Didn’t mean it was bad – simply different.
“Hmm.” Johanna bobbed her head to the side, her dark eyes focusing on the woman before her. She was watching her, locking her move, looking at the changes in her facial expression. Sometimes, there were no words needed to figure out certain things about Giselle.
She also didn’t always press for answers.
Jo allowed the change, knowing full well that she had a secret of her own. Perhaps a small one, all part of the wicked little game someone decided to play. “Would you say I am already?” They weren’t allowed to lie, but over the years they both learned ways to evade the truths. “If you have not grown out of yours, for a thousand years, you can be assured I have not grown out of mine.” Different views, different goals – it was what kept them from burning the very ground they walked on together for many centuries.
“Any plans to overtake?”
“ When it comes to you, my dear Jo. I would say I’m prepared for most things.”
She knew it was there in her eyes. The look of, I’m letting it go for now. There was no reason to push. For a long time now, they often found themselves on opposite ends. One was needing something, the other needing the reverse. Luckily, they were often able to find common ground. Or at the very least, their ambitions didn’t clash with the other.
Even when it came to their duties as an adviser, Giselle sought to acquire her power. She was quickly becoming accustomed to making sure what she wants to align with that of the high court if need be. Tonight was different, though. This particular task was pure to protect her interest. Centuries of learning, scraping, and fighting to take power for herself. Stockpiling it, having some look down on her other underestimates her. She took it, each time apprehending that when the time came to make a move. She was in a place where her response would be swift. All that work would be for nothing if she failed tonight.
“ Well, that is good to know. I don’t think I could take much more change .”
Taking a step forward, Giselle came to stand in front of the other now. Taking her in, apparently, she wasn’t the only one with a secret tonight. How interesting. With a slight shrug of her shoulders, she placed a half-empty glass onto a passing tray.
“ I continually have plans, my dear. It’s the opportunity that I’m waiting on. But, you know this already.”
