obsidian / l i e s

but venom leaks from the cracks

[jinscn]

still alive

location : the bench in the garden time : late afternoon with : @yanyuss​

She was tired - tired of running away and certainly tired of the cold and the darkness around her. The play was... well, it was decent enough, but she’s spent the majority of it with her gaze trained upon one person in particular - her elder sister, the marquess. Heavens, how many years has it been since they’ve last seen or spoken to each other? Three? How long has it been since she’s had to kill Cao Yiyue to become princess Li Jinsan? Time flew by and, Heavens damn her, she forgot - in Ladakh, she forgot who and what she was, forgot she had a sister and a family, forgot everything she was and everything she is. It was a damning realisation, something she’s successfully repressing during her months and years in Ladakh, but now it’s been made painfully aware, as her gaze was trained upon her sister, as if she could will the woman to look in her direction, to remember her.

Perhaps it was the pregnancy, but after a few long moments Yiyue’s spend staring at Yanyu, she could no longer bear it, and she’s excused herself from her husband’s presence, patting his hand in a stroke of sudden affection and headed towards their quarters ; or, more accurately, towards the garden that had an isolated bench she could compose herself on. She needed to... no, she had to compose herself, or else a whole lot of things will be in grave danger - and now it was no longer solely her life that was hanging on the line. But, things have never been easy for her - not since that fateful event - and after perhaps a a quarter of an hour, she more felt than heard her coming. For a long moment, she pondered whether or not she should just... bolt away, as fast as possible - but, she was tired of running and it was her sister who was approaching her.

Rising from the seat, Jinsan frowned, barely holding back the tears which veiled her vision. “姐姐.” She called out, and while she thought of herself as composed and collected, her voice cracked midway, fingers itching to touch her sister, to embrace her. “是我. It’s me.”

[chvrlottes]

closed starter for @jinscn.

location: the streets of rome. 

charlotte knew she was supposed to make new connections and meet other royals. but everything was so … overwhelming, to say the least. she wasn’t acostumed to be in the same space with so many people with different cultures, religions and beliefs. growing up inside a bubble of catholicism and european culture, the english royal family was the closest thing to foreign royals she contact as a child. however, they were her extended family and her mother incorporated many aspects of the english and scottish court as she could in the french court, and their air of novelty didn’t last long enough. 

but the summit in rome was something different —- there were people from countries charlotte only read in books, and such little things. it was almost her dream coming true, if she wasn’t so nervous. charlotte was aware of her diplomatic skills and her friendly behavior, but that would be enough ? she wasn’t the one supposed to make the treaties or marriage accords, but she knew that winning people by friendship was better than by fear. time had proved her that, and history books too. 

eyeing another woman, probably close to her age, in almost the same situation — standing alone and engulfed in quietness — charlotte smiled to herself. she seemed to be of royalty too and probably someone that needed her company. approaching softly, to not disturb the foreign lady, charlotte put her best smile on her face before speaking. “ i am sorry for interrupting any thoughts you could be having, my lady, but i thought you might enjoy some company ? ”

[jinscn]

She was, in a lack of a better word, panicking. Panic seemed to have been her default mood ever since she’s stepped foot on Italian soil - knowing her family ( her pretend family, that is ) will be in attendance. The space for dodging them has been narrow and on more than one occasion she had run for the hills at the first sight of them - and that, in turn, only made her more exhausted, seeking her husband’s presence, of all people. Her husband - the same husband she’s been keeping on an arm’s length ever since they’ve married. But, as of late she’s... began to soften a bit - and she blamed the predicament she’s found herself in, despite the fact that she’s relied heavily of certain brands of tonics to keep her away from the state she was currently in. Her head must have been quite muddled lately - ever since she found out she was to accompany her husband to Rome ; and that she’ll see the entire Li family in attendance.

With a sigh, Yiyue frowned, her gaze trained upon nothing in particular, as she stood isolated from the crowd - it was a lot easier to flee if she was unattended. But, when a feminine voice reached her ears, the lady looked up and an answering smile stretched upon her lips, noticing the unfamiliar face - and thanking the Heavens it wasn’t any of her kinsmen.

“Ah, they were nothing interesting.” She replied with a dismissive wave of her hand, before bowing to the brunette in front of her. “Your company would be much appreciated.” A’Yi continued, remembering to introduce herself ; “If we are to keep each other’s company, then we should be properly introduced. I am Li Jinsan, queen of Ladakh.”

[jinscn]

we meet again

location : the garden time : 7 pm with : @princexinju​

This was, to be completely honest, really stressing her out. She’s spent the majority of her day clinging to her husband’s side, dodging her sister and the entire Li family like one would attempt to dodge the plague - or a spear. The reason why she dodged her sister, though, was mainly because she would end up feeling sad in the end - she missed her terribly and seeing her once seemed to be a worse fate than never seeing her again ; if she had to say goodbye forever to her twice, she couldn’t bear it. But, aside from Yanyu, there’s been one other person whom she could not bear to see, and it wasn’t for the reason one might expect. No, if she ever told anyone about him, they’d all assume she harboured feelings for him. Well, perhaps she did. Anger. Blame. Perhaps even mild resentment. He got to walk away, and she? She got stuck in so many lies, she can no longer tell what is true and what is false ; who she is and who she was. How can someone be both dead and alive at the same time? He got away unscathed, without even the smallest requirement of him to adjust, to change, to wear so many masks that she forgot the person she truly was - and for that, there was a part of her that loathed him.

But, of course, her life seemed to be ruled by cruel irony and it was only a matter of time before she would bump into him. It happened while she was meandering through the gardens, momentarily separating from her husband and their entourage - they went out to celebrate, but she had been feeling a little... worn out from the travel and the state she had recently found herself in. Yiyue winded around a bush, careful not to tear her dress at the sharp twigs, her hands laced together and resting against her stomach. It was in that moment, while she was avoiding the twig poking out, that she noticed him, strolling in her direction. Her lip curled for a moment, but there was no time to dodge him - and fixing her expression into something that vaguely resembled sisterly affection, Jinsan smiled to him.

“ 九王.” She curtsied, greeting him in a rather flat tone ; “好久不见.”

[jinscn]

Hear ye, hear ye! It’s a me again, Eva, swerving in with my third muse, queen Li Jinsan who is not who she seems or says to be. She an Aries, which means y’all should expect some Chaotic af moments from her on the dash! Jinsan is fiercely loyal and extremely cunning, but she also has IssuesTM so jot that down! I could write sonnets and lyrics about this absolute dumbass who made all the questionable choices turning her into quite the cautionary tale, but I am going to stop here. You can find more about her character here and here for her wanted connections!

[aesxv]

hai ling as princess ya [ 公主雅 ] 💫

— legend of haolan 皓镧传 🥀