The wind at my back

[nubivcgcnt]

Master of Laws Lady Ursula Praxedes. Intro. Appearance. Musings.

[hclenshivers]

Melissa Barrera via Instagram for Titanique opening night.

[astrxls]

his  brow  quirks  up  at  the  snorting  noise,  but  ev  chooses  not  to  tease  just  yet.  they  are  all  on  a  rather  fine  edge  these  days,  which  meant  that  his  mask  of  being  rather  stoic  was  not  as  in  tact  as  it  usually  was.  even  if  ursula  was  a  member  of  the  inner  circle  and  not  some  random  stranger  –  the  general  still  wished  to  stay  the  self  he  presented  to  the  world.  "  i  shall  always  be  their  favorite,  remember,  i  control  their  training  regiments.  "  he  points  out.  working  to  obtain  the  loyalty  and  respect  of  his  soldiers  had  not  been  difficult,  nor  had  maintaining  it,  but  ev  knew  some  simply  wished  to  stay  on  his  good  side  lest  they  be  set  for  early  training  and  late  patrols.

they  did,  however,  understand  that  should  the  master  of  laws  call  on  them,  they  were  to  do  as  asked  without  question.  maintaining  order  within  the  court  was  a  shared  duty  between  the  pair  of  them  but  evren  did  not  enforce  laws.  that  was  all  ursula's  doing.  his  soldiers  were  simply  the  armed  muscle  behind  the  words.  "  i  was  heading  there  shortly,  we  can  begin  walking  that  way  now  if  you  would  like.  "  he'd  not  been  down  to  the  dark  tunnels  in  ages,  and  realized  how  that  he  hoped  someone  had  charged  the  lights  along  the  way.

[nubivcgcnt]

“That would do it, yes,” she agrees with a grin, this time avoiding laughing by the skin of her teeth. Yeah, if she were a guard, she would rather stay in the good side of the man that can make their training hell if crossed. Still, — “I would also argue that you have earned it through your achievements. At the end of the day, the guard is filled with warriors, and they recognize your skill.”

It’s not an attempt to flatter, simply the basic truth. After all, one does not reach the position Evren Aydin has without achieving a great number of things that would earn the respect of warriors across Aurelion. His skill is well known and well regarded, it must be, for him to have become the General of the Armies. To dismiss that is both foolish and rude. 

“Sounds good,” she says with a nod, moving to stand and grabbing the plans from where she had set them in a coffee table earlier. Browsing through them quickly, she makes sure there is none missing, and when that is done, she reaches for the bag she had left on the couch, throwing it over her shoulder in a practiced motion. Moving towards Evren, she stops before him. “Which entry to the tunnels were you planning on using?”

[astrxls]

draeven  only  chuckles  at  the  suggestion,  unsurprised  by  such  a  retort.  he  brought  out  many  reactions  in  people,  threatening  to  throw  knives  at  him  was  hardly  new.  "  i  can't  say  i  would  make  a  lasting  partner  in  such  exercise.  "  he  shares  with  a  smirk.  the  lord  had  never  been  accused  of  being  nimble  on  his  feet.  while  draeven  knew  the  consequences  of  not  stretching  properly,  he  was  more  than  adverse  to  it  and  simply  chose  to  focus  on  muscle  and  not  flexibility.  it  may  bite  him  in  the  ass  some  day,  but  he  didn't  foresee  that  happening  today.  "  i've  never  minded  a  lady  leaving  a  few  bruises  on  me.  "  he  flirts  with  ease,  flashing  a  shit  eating  grin  to  the  master  of  laws.  the  lord  does  grow  tired  of  there  not  being  as  much  space  to  spar  and  practice,  but  he  also  can't  remain  angry  when  there  is  clear  reason  people  are  afraid.

[nubivcgcnt]

“Well, that is not something that should be openly admitted around so many competitors,” Ursula teases him even as she lows slowly, understanding clear on her face as her eyes flicker over his body, lingering on his muscles for a moment with an interested hum before she looks up to meet his eyes once more. “I would be mindful, considering you know not who your possible adversaries will be if the games are resumed.”

It’s still up in the air on whether it will happen or not. While it would be a logistic nightmare to continue, the fact stands that there are foreign dignitaries within the castle waiting for the games to take place. And if Aurelion is the one to fail and continue the tradition that has happened every year… Well, it would put them at quite the disadvantage politically speaking. 

“I have the rumors, yes,” she admits with a huff of amusement, raising a brow at him as a smile dances on her lips. “Your reputation precedes you, Lord Draeven.”

[wrathgaze]

" if  i  am  not  careful ,  my  husband  might  take  away  my  coffee  and  force  me  to  only  drink  tea ,  something  something  worried  about  my  heart  rate  and  all  that . "  he's  joking  entirely  when  he  speaks  trying  to  be  a  bit  more  playful  about  it  when  he  knows  his  husband  is  worried  for  him .  most  nights  his  husband  finds  him  hunched  over  his  desk ,  somehow  with  his  eyes  still  open  but  his  energy  flagging .  in  those  moments  calyx  is  not  the  big ,  powerful  high  lord  and  right  hand  of  the  queen  but  rather  a  man ,  a  husband ,  and  a  father  who  is  simply  tired  and  trying  his  best  with  their  current  situation .  it  does  not  take  much  for  him  to  pull  him  up  from  his  chair  and  drag  him  from  his  desk  to  their  bedchamber .  as  soon  as  his  body  hits  the  mattress  does  that  exhaustion  fully  take  effect  and  the  lord  curls  up  on  his  husband  to  sleep .  despite  the  worry  he  has  for  his  family ,  calyx  knows  that  they  are  keeping  him  going  and  taking  care  of  him  just  as  he  does  for  them .  " there  is  not  nearly  enough  time  in  the  night  to  rest ,  so  yes  we  must . "  it  does  not  surprise  him  to  hear  of  her  experience  with  the  princess  of  valmore .  she  does  not  seem  warm  or  inviting  from  first  glance  despite  her  obvious  beauty .  " i  see .  perhaps  there  is  some  truth  to  their  intentions  but  i  will  still  keep  my  reservations .  tell  me ,  the  princess  does  not  seem  the  warmest  of  people ,  does  she ?  yet  she  is  here  in  a  diplomatic  role ,  a  little  ironic  don't  you  think ? "  truthfully  none  of  the  royal  family  in  attendance  seemed  that  way  and  he  wondered  what  gave  them  such  a  chip  on  their  shoulders ?

[nubivcgcnt]

“Not the coffee,” she gasps in mock horror, feeling a sense of fondness at hearing Lord Calyx talk about his husband. It is always a delight to see a couple that cares about each other so openly. It is not quite a rarity in court, yet there is no denying that each instance of such affection is precious enough to cherish. It’s enough to make her wistful as well, since she has yet to experience anything even close to the bond those two share. But such things will have to wait. The lives of their people rest in their hands, and Ursula will not allow any distractions when there is still work to be done. “If only there were such a thing as time magic. It certainly would make things easier. Alas, we cannot rely on dreams, merely on ourselves.”

An amused snort escapes her at his comment and she nods slowly. 

“She wasn’t rude by any means, but there is a certain coldness that seems to radiate from her,” she admits slowly, running through their interaction on her head and trying to pull out any other relevant bit of information from it in order to offer it to Calyx. “It is curious that a woman of such a character has been tasked to be a diplomat, but she seems  to be rather adamant on catching the rebels… Seems to be, because unfortunately, truthbinding does not seem to work on vampires.”

And that had been a particularly frustrating bit of information to find from that interaction. While Ursula isn’t entirely reliant on truthbinding, she did use it to confirm her own theories in situations like the one they were currently in, and being unable to use such a tool… Well, it is unnerving to say the least. 

[wrathgaze]

daelan  offers  a  shake  of  his  head ,  " i  am  fine ,  my  lady .  while  i  have  been  focused  on  the  princess'  safety ,  i  am  not  overworking  myself .  when  i  need  rest  i  ensure  that  there  is  another  outside  the  doors  to  her  chambers  keeping  watch .  i  know  that  i  could  slip  up  if  i  am  not  well-rested  enough . "  daelan  did  not  consider  himself  fragile  either,  he  could  handle  much  but  even  he  knew  that  eventually  he  would  have  his  limits  and  he  would  not  allow  himself  to  reach  such  especially  around  alexia .  the  guard  nods  his  head  and  looks  to  their  surroundings  remembering  that  there  is  a  private  sitting  room  not  too  far  from  where  they  are  standing  now .  " the  sitting  room  nearby  should  be  free  for  the  moment  if  you  would  like  to  head  there ? "  he  inclines  his  head  in  that  direction  before  beginning  to  walk  his  steps  slow  at  first  to  allow  her  to  join  him .  " i  hope  she  was  able  to  sleep  well  last  night ,  i  fear  she  might  be  awake  a  bit  earlier  than  usual  this  morning .  anxiety  over  what  occurred  last  night  and  why  she  amongst  her  siblings  were  quickly  ushered  back  to  their  quarters  may  have  plagued  her ,  for  which  i  know  she  will  come  to  me  for  answers . "  hopefully  for  which  ursula  could  elucidate  him  so  that  when  she  asked  he  could  answer .

[nubivcgcnt]

“I trust on your self-assessment, but it is still something I should check,” she admits even as she nods along to his words. Every guard is an essential piece on the castle’s defense’s, and dismissing one’s concern could cause a chain reaction that could have terrible consequences in the long term. Especially considering their new visitors. “In times like this, it is simply better to be safe than sorry.”

It is a relief to hear that so far the guard duties have not become overwhelming, but she will have to keep monitoring the situation closely to make sure no one spends too much time working without rest. Being tired lends itself to making mistakes, and they can’t afford for anyone to slip when the vampire rebels are yet to be captured. 

“The sitting room works, yes,” she agrees as she begins to follow him, falling into step next to Daelan and then raising the winds around them to begin blocking the sound of their voices from escaping and being heard by another. 

“Yeah, hopefully last night did not weigh too heavily on Alexia,” Ursula says with a sign. Truly, she wishes none of it weighs too heavily on any of the royals. They are already overtly burdened by their duties as it is, adding to that weight will not be kind. “I have been updated on the situation, and you should be up to date soon. So if Alexia has any questions, you are free to share this information in private.”

[ofheroism]

There's next to no one outside the Aurelis family who have witnessed the laugh that escapes Alysa's lips at the use of Ursula's abilities. "I don't think I can handle vampries and a magician. Have mercy on me." One hand lands on her chest, as if she's catching her breath, even as Alysa rolls her eyes.

"As I'm a pristine woman, I cannot say I have wine glasses stored away in my room." An ironic statement for a woman who is using her best friend's corkscrew so they can drink wine by the bottle. She takes a long swig from the bottle before glancing back to Ursula, her expression -- while less guarded -- serious for a moment. "Urs, is it illogical to admit I believe this entire species is lying? What are the odds that they are the rebels?" A shiver makes its way down the curve of her spine as she envisions the royals' faces that she'd been forced to greet with proper etiquette. "Even speaking to them makes my blood boil as though I'd somehow inherited my father's flames. Sometimes, on days like today, I wish I had."

[nubivcgcnt]

“Somehow I think I should feel offended,” she deadpans, observing her friend carefully. Hearing her laugh is good, as Ursula knows that the presence of their new guests is likely weighing rather heavily upon Alysa’s shoulders. She cannot do much to lighten the burden resting upon her friend’s shoulder, other than doing her job and ensuring Alysa finds joy even among the difficult times they are going through. And listen. Ursula can listen to her concerns, and try to address them as best as she can. “Since you know I have a goblet or two stashed around my room.”

Alysa’s question is not surprising, and she meets it with the same amount of seriousness, eyes flicking up to meet her best friend’s eyes. 

“It is not illogical to believe that, no,” she admits with a sigh. “They came from nowhere, and they gave us an answer to a problem we had been wracking our heads to solve. It is all very suspicious… And yet,” she continues slowly, tapping her eyelids lightly as if to gesture to her truthbinding subtly. “And yet, I can confirm that they are truthful regarding the rebels, at the very least. Beyond that? I believe we should remain wary, but for now this tentative alliance seems like the way to go.”

It is an uncomfortable truth, and one she is swallowing as well as Alysa is swallowing this whole thing. But if it means one less body in the street, she will do what she needs to do. Ursula had been granted the dubious privilege of examining the cadavers of the victims, and after seeing that? She cannot allow this to continue. Even if it means working with their new guests. 

“You don’t have to like them, Lys,” she assures the other with a shrug, as she reaches for the bottle and takes a long drag of wine for herself. “They are rather unfriendly as a whole, after all. But they seem willing to cooperate, so we have to take what we can.”

[astrxls]

evren  smirks  a  bit  as  he  remains  in  the  doorway  observing  ursula.  the  master  of  laws  had  found  a  good  place  to  stash  away  it,  he  may  still  the  idea  at  a  later  time.  "  did  you  ask  the  guards  to  keep  visitors  out  ?  "  there  is  a  light  teasing  tone  in  his  voice,  the  general  wouldn't  be  surprised  if  that  had  occurred.  the  soldiers  would  not  have  stopped  him,  so  to  the  general  nothing  seemed  changed.  he  wouldn't  care,  the  soldiers  in  the  palace  knew  to  report  to  both  he  and  the  master  of  laws.  he  and  ursula  seem  to  work  fairly  well  together,  if  he  must  say  so.  "  yes  and  no.  are  you  opposed  to  talking  while  we  patrol  the  tunnels  ?  "  he  can  manipulate  the  air  around  them  to  not  carry  sound,  so  in  truth,  they  can  talk  wherever  with  privacy.

[nubivcgcnt]

A soft snort escapes her as she shakes her head instead of rolling her eyes playfully at the man as she so desired. Weary as she is, she remains within work hours, so she cannot indulge in some of her most playful gestures if she wants to maintain some level of decorum. Decorum that has slowly been eroding away between the inner circle as the burden of maintaining order weights heavier and heavier upon their shoulders. 

“Not quite,” she admits, laughter still present in her voice. “I asked them to announce whoever was coming in loudly enough for me to notice and straighten myself out, but alas, it seems you remain their favorite between the two of us.”

Her tone is languid, yet amused, not showing any offense at the facts stated. At the end of the day, while they do share a number of duties, Ursula does expect the guard to default to following the General, considering he has shown the skill needed to command battalions and has proved his mettle in combat scenarios. As good as she is, her position remains that of someone that is perpetually stuck behind books. 

“I don’t mind at all,” she reassures him. “It’s another excuse to duck away from the crowds for a bit, and it would probably only help me refine the patrol routes. When would you be free?”

[wrathgaze]

the  princess  knew  that  her  distance  to  their  vampire  guests  could  not  last  forever .  as  a  daughter  of  the  queen  and  king  consort  of  aurelion ,  asterin  was  a  representative  of  their  people ,  of  their  court .  sooner  or  later  she  would  be  in  close  proximity  to  a  vampire ,  perhaps  one  of  the  diplomats  that  their  queen  had  sent  and  eventually  that  would  lead  to  a  possible  conversation .  she  was  trying  to  convince  herself  they  were  just  people ,  like  them  with  their  differences ,  but  then  she  remembered  that  the  victims  of  their  rebels  had  not  a  bit  of  blood  inside  them .  they  had  fangs  that  were  meant  to  draw  their  life  essence  from  their  veins .  how  could  she  trust  that  they  had  control  of  their  nature ?  " i  do  not  wish  to  think  ill  of  them  before  we  even  truly  know  them ,  but  they  are  only  here  because  those  they  could  not  control  attacked  us .  i'm  certain  they  would  have  kept  themselves  hidden  for  far  long  if  they  had  a  choice . "  she  sighed  softly ,  it  was  her  inclination  to  think  the  best  in  people  unless  proven  otherwise  and  even  then  the  princess  knew  she  was  far  too  forgiving .  " oh  yes ,  i  do  not  intend  to  be  alone  with  one  and  i  know  mother  has  ensured  the  best  guards  are  at  our  sides  when  we  are  the  more  public  parts  of  the  castle . "  a  light  chuckle  manages  to  leave  her  chest  at  the  mention  of  her  father ,  " i  have  a  feeling  he  would  rather  that  i  do  not  approach  one  of  the  vampires  at  all ...  but  even  in  my  hesitation ,  i  am  curious  about  them .  i  heard  they  brought  humans  with  them .  i  had  wondered  how  they  would  sustain  themselves  in  our  lands ,  but  it  seems  they  were  willing  to  be  fed  from ... "  the  thought  sent  a  shiver  down  her  spine  at  the  notion  of  what  it  might  be  like  for  those  fangs  to  puncture  into  one's  skin .

[nubivcgcnt]

Some amusement is shown in the way Ursula presses her lips and nods at Asterin’s evaluation. Naive as the young princess could be, she could be equally as keen, and Ursula is glad to see that trait so very present when discussing their guests. Even now, after only meeting a handful of them, she cannot deny that there is a certain allure to them that is rather mystifying, so it is good that the princess has chosen to approach them with wariness from the very beginning. It makes her less likely to fall prey to their traps, and she is thankful for that. 

“I cannot contradict you, no. We know so little of their kingdom origins and of them as a species, that we cannot divine their true intentions. Yet, I can confirm that their priority is to contain the rebels, so for now that means our alliance will hold,” she confirms with a hum. She cannot say beyond that, for they hide in the shadows in such a way that only the most pointed questions would get her the answers she wants, and if she were to make such questions, subterfuge would go out the window. Considering what has happened to the other competitors, she will refrain from doing anything rash at the moment. 

“You are showing a great deal of foresight, Asterin,” she compliments, a pleased smile settling on her lips as she glances back at the guards pointedly before bumping her shoulders against the princess’ lightly in camaraderie. Nothing too destabilizing, just enough to show her appreciation for the thought she is putting into the matter, when far too many others are being rather careless about it all. 

“I can confirm that they have,” she says, eyeing Asterin curiously as she considers her comments. “Yet I have not asked about that in particular. And while I cannot in good conscience give you leave to do as you please, well. It is not up to me who you run upon on a walk in the public areas of the castle, is it?”

[wrathgaze]

they  were  all  lacking  in  sleep ,  overworking  themselves  to  be  sure  but  their  queen  had  not  chosen  them  as  her  inner  circle  if  she  did  not  trust  them .  it  had  already  been  a  lot  when  it  acme  to  the  hosting  and  planning  of  the  ancient  games  itself  and  working  to  keep  the  peace  of  so  many  of  their  kind  in  one  place  from  every  corner  of  aethara .  but  with  the  advent  of  vampires  in  their  midst ,  a  lot  they  could  not  immediately  trust  for  they  had  not  know  they  even  existed .  it  meant  he  had  been  spending  more  time  in  his  office  and  less  in  the  company  of  his  family  and  he  knew  they  were  not  entirely  pleased  with  such ,  but  all  he  did  was  in  the  effort  to  keep  them  safe .  " much  the  same ,  i  am  surely  not  getting  enough  sleep  lately ,  but  nothing  a  good  cup  of  coffee or tea can't  fix . "   he  nods  at  her  words ,  appreciative  of  the  effort  she  is  putting  in  as  well ,  " it  seems  you  have  it  at  hand .  relations  with  our  guests  is  slow ,  they  come  to  hunt  their  rebels  and  broker  diplomacy  with  us  but  they  do  not  seem  a  gregarious  lot ,  do  they ? "

[nubivcgcnt]

“I have found that after a certain number of cups of coffee, the benefits seem to drastically diminish,” she comments dryly, but nodding nonetheless at his words. His efforts are clear on the shadows under his eyes, which are likely mirrored by her own. To the point that her concern may be overstepping, since she is quite literally doing the same as he is. The one difference between the two, however, is that she does not have a spouse or children waiting for her in her wing. Yet, again, she supposes that the effort is for them just as her efforts are for Alysa and her family. Their job is to ensure the people they love are protected, and to prevent the tragedies that have been shadowing the games ever before they even begun from happening again, or becoming worse even. “Yet what we can do, but to continue to drink it?”

A small hum of agreement settles on the back of her throat at his comment, and she nods. 

“I happened to cross paths with Princess Valeria Dragomir in the gardens,” she says slowly, remembering the encounter and the implications of what she had learned. “And while I found some enlightenment in our conversation, it was mostly due to my own ability to affirm the truth of her words. Otherwise, her comments would have been far too short to get anything of weight.”

[evrflamcs]

closed starter » @nubivcgcnt

azriel  had  ordered  extra  guards  for  his  children,  because  despite  the  vampires  claiming  to  be  not  a  threat,  the  thought  of  creatures  who  need  blood  to  survive  being  anywhere  his  children  was  not  something  that  allows  him  to  settle.  this  was  before  knowing  that  there  were  rogue,  danger  vampires  targeting  fae,  competitor  fae  but  still.  the  lord  of  aurelion  was  seated  by  one  of  the  empty  tables  in  a  lounging  room,  a  cup  of  coffee  in  his  hand  as  he  was  trying  not  to  show  his  open  disdain  to  another  lord  who  had  come  around  to  bother  him.  he  had  been  about  to  bluntly  as  the  other  male  to  leave  him  when  the  lady  ursula  walked  in,  "lady  ursula,  just  the  women  I  was  searching  for."  he  motioned  for  her  to  join  him,  and  then  turning  to  his  irritant  companion,  "I  must  ask  you  to  leave,  I  have  business  to  discuss  with  our  master  of  laws."  the  other  male  look  slightly  insulted  but  the  hard  look  of  azriel's  features  make  it  clear,  he  in  fact,  was  not  asking.

[nubivcgcnt]

Were she any less used to the politics of court, Ursula would have frozen when she is called unexpectedly as she is walking through one of the many lounging rooms as a shortcut to get back to her office. As it is, all she does is raise a brow in bemusement as she glances around in search of the voice and finds Lord Azriel motioning to join him. Holding back a snort at the quick way he dismisses his current company, she offers the retreating noble a kind smile and nod of acknowledgment before facing Lord Aydin-Seong. 

“Good evening, my lord,” she offers a greeting as she slips into the newly empty seat and settles the tomes she had borrowed from the library next to her with great care. Straightening, she crosses her legs and allows one of her hands to rest on the table, while the other settles on her tight to tap nonsense patterns absently as she focuses on the conversation at hand. “What can I help you with?” She asks, before pausing. “And would you like for the conversation to be private? I can have the wind spiral around us to cut most of the sound if that is the case.”

[wrathgaze]

a  soft  slips  past  his  lips  as  he  thinks  the  added  stressors  that  many  of  the  guard  was  already  feeling .  to  have  the  new  guests  be  just  as  dangerous  as  the  ones  who  were  draining  their  people  of  blood  did  not  sit  well  with  him .  to  know  not  the  true  strength  of  the  vampires  was  distressing  and  despite  the  innate  magic  they  all  had ,  would  any  of  it  be  enough  to  stop  them  he  wondered .  a  feminine  voice  draws  his  attention ,  pulling  him  out  of  the  stupor  of  his  thoughts  for  the  moment .  he  nods  in  acknowledgement  at  the  master  of  laws .  his  hands  rest  behind  his  back  in  a  practiced  stance ,  " lady  ursula ,  i  am  glad  to  see  you  well . "  daelan  simply  nods  his  head , " i  do ,  the  princess  is  likely  still  asleep  so  i  need  not  go  to  her  chambers  quite  yet . "  even  so  a  guard  was  still  posted  outside  the  door  when  daelan  could  not  be  there  at  all  times  of  the  day .  " should  we  go  somewhere  more  private  for  this  conversation ? "  daelan  knew  that  his  own  station  as  a  guard  super  seceded  that  of  others  and  he  wasn't  certain  they  needed  to  be  privy  to  it .

[nubivcgcnt]

“As well as I can be, all things considered,” she agrees easily, eyeing the man thoughtfully before inclining her head in apology before continuing. “Forgive my manners, I should have asked regarding your well-being before anything else. How are you?”

It is an easy mistake to make, to convince oneself that the guards patrolling the castle must be alright simply because they are guards, and it is the sort of mistake she is usually better at avoiding. To assume their status makes it harder for her to ensure their health in the long term, and while her duties over the guard are shared with the general of the armies, she prefers to avoid any sort of mistake while in a professional capacity. Even if the mistake is a minor etiquette faux paus. 

“Privacy would be best, yes,” she agrees easily, knowing even then that she is likely to reinforce the silence by running a current of wind around them to ensure that their conversation will remain private. 

“As for the princess…” Glancing out the window at the first signs of dawn, Ursula allows a small smile to settle on her lips. “I agree that she is likely to remain asleep a bit longer.”

Especially considering their encounter that past night.

[wrathgaze]

the  fae  were  cautious  around  their  kind ,  but  she  thought  they  had  every  reason  to  be .  they  were  an  unknown  quantity  and  their  abilities  untested  against  the  fae .  though  they  did  not  have  the  innate  magic  that  the  fae  did,  they  were  stronger ,  quicker ,  and  the  venom  in  their  fangs  could  render  the  one  bitten  to  a  useless ,  fluttering  mess .  " i  cannot  say  that  i  have  tested  the  true  range  of  our  hearing ,  but  the  walls  of  our  castle  in  valmore  are  far  thicker  than  this ."  not  to  mention  the  architecture  and  opulence  of  their  own  castle  was  far  more  pleasing  to  the  vampire's  than  this  glittering  jewel  that  house  aurelis  tried  to  show  their  palace  to  be .  " your  kind  had  no  idea  we  existed  and  it  was  made  to  be  that  way ...  but  there  are  those  that  have  forced  out  our  hand  and  brought  us  out  of  obscurity . "  how  the  rebels  had  gotten  it  into  their  mind  to  try  and  turn  the  fae  of  aethara ,  she  did  not  know .  but  she  was  not  keen  on  it  being  successful ,  a  turned  fae  with  magic  and  deadly  strength  and  speed,  an  abomination  to  be  sure .

[nubivcgcnt]

“Ah,” Ursula says in understanding, as a grimace flickers across her face as she considers the implications of such information that is being shared. Not only does she consider the danger to their secrets that it presents, but also realizes the other rather uncomfortable implications that come from being able to hear too much in a castle full of people. Plenty of whom are rumored to be fairly sexually active, including the Royal Couple. “I hope your accommodations are far away enough from others that they allow for proper rest, and if not, please do let me know. I will ensure the information passes to someone who can arrange another lodging.”

The offer is sincere, for as much Ursula enjoys eavesdropping with her wind, she is able to stop listening if she so desires by releasing her magic. She is not sure the vampires can do something similar. And if it means their guests begin to see her in a more pleasant light due to her offer? Well, that is simply an added benefit. 

“It is rather concerning that you saw the need to show yourself at all, all things considered,” she agrees with a soft hum of consideration. The vampire’s words strike her as true, which is a good sign as long as the fae wish to ally themselves with this group of vampires in particular. “I do hope those who have forced your hand see this as a sign to grow overconfident, for their mistakes are our boons.”

[evrflamcs]

closed starter » @nubivcgcnt

"i  don't  suppose  our  laws  have  anything  on  different  species  entering  our  lands?"  it  was  rhetorical  of  course,  as  she  approaches  aureth's  master  of  laws.  how  on  in  the  name  of  stars  would  any  court  prepare  for  a  new  kingdom  with  an  entirely  different  race  of  individuals?  well,  they  would  learn  now,  she  supposed.  after  spending  close  to  two  days  observing  their  mysterious  guests,  the  starborn  princess  had  finally  approached  a  group  of  two  that  had  near  her  path  earlier  in  the  garden.  she  didn't  learn  much  as  they  were,  not  surprisingly,  extremely  tight-lipped.  she  found  it  irritating  that  they'd  ask  an  endless  array  of  questions  of  her  home  but  never  offering  much  of  valmore.  it  was  going  to  be  a  long  battle  for  all  of  aethara  to  learn  of  these  creatures,  once  the  threat  of  the  rebels  were  eradicated.  "particularly  ones  with  a  sour  attitude  and  an  unwillingness  to  offer  anything  of  relevance  to  their  hosts?"

[nubivcgcnt]

Humming, she looks up from her book to send Astraea a welcoming smile, a smile that turns amused as the other gets closer and reveals her reason for seeking her out. Carefully, she raises her hand to cover her mouth as she huffs in amusement, trying to muffle the sound as she has yet to fully determine the range of those pesky vampires’ hearing. Her conversation with the few that she has met have proven to be rather illuminating, at least. Once again, she is beyond thankful about her truthbinding, because without it, a great deal of subtleties would have escaped her, she is sure. 

“There is nothing in the contemporary treatises,” she admits, gesturing at the pile to the right of her desk made up from the aforementioned treaties. Then, Ursula taps the book on her desk and points to the much smaller pile to her left. “I am looking through the more ancient treatises, but that takes time. Language changes over time, as well as how we refer to things so I have to be very careful of wording or I might miss something.”

[astrxls]

stir  crazy  is  what  they  called  it,  the  wildness  that  set  into  your  bones  and  drove  you  to  leave  the  four  walls  you  were  confined  to.  lex  had  been  experiencing  it  since  she  could  walk,  this  desire  to  explore  and  go  further  than  the  castle  walls.  tampering  that  feeling  down  was  like  caging  herself,  something  the  young  aurelis  never  felt  the  need  to  do.  the  logic  in  her  mind  made  it  clear  why  she  should,  but  the  itch  beneath  her  skin  could  only  be  ignored  for  so  long.  and  so  she  ignored  what  everyone  begged  her  to  do,  slipped  out  from  the  guard  dae  had  left  with  her  and  ventured  to  the  gardens.  it  wasn't  an  all  out  adventure,  but  stars,  the  moment  the  fresh  air  hit  her  face  alexia  felt  the  clawing  feeling  in  her  gut  subside.  breathing  slowly  and  looking  around  it's  almost  sad  to  see  how  empty  the  gardens  are,  but  she  can't  truly  blame  anyone  either.  

the  only  reason  her  heart  doesn't  jump  to  her  throat  when  someone  approaches  her  is  due  to  the  fact  that  they  flew.  vampires  can't  fly…  she's  certain  of  it.  the  voice  that  reaches  her  ears  only  draws  a  cheeky  grin,  the  princess  no  longer  immediately  worried  for  her  company  at  all.  her  initial  worry  subsides  completely  as  she  turns  to  face  her  sister's  best  friend.  "  i'm  going  mad  inside,  ursula.  "  admits  she.

[nubivcgcnt]

“I suspected as much,” she says with a huff of amusement, taking a step back to allow Lex some space, swaying as if she were listening to invisible music as she does. Ursula is worried, of course, but not as worried as she would be if the circumstances were any different. As it is, she knows that the guards are patrolling close enough to intervene if anything were to happen, and for now Alexia isn’t alone. But even then, the royal’s safety depends on them being guarded, as the threats posed to them do not end on vampires alone. 

“I would still suggest you tell Lord Han of your need for an adventure next time,” she says with a sigh, gesturing around to the gardens around them with a wistful look. “Even what we once considered to be safe is no longer a guarantee, and losing you or any of your siblings would be a tragedy that would shake Aurelion to the core.”

There is a level of hypocrisy on how she asks Lex to be careful when she allows herself the liberty she doesn’t give the princess. Yet Ursula has an advantage that Lex does not: she knows exactly when and where the patrols are scheduled to pass, so she can position herself in such a way that she can feel free while being within reach of safety if the worst happens. 

“Honestly, Lex, I think that you might be able to convince him to join you on a stroll under the night sky,”she says with a smile that tells the other nothing of the sly amusement her words bring her. 

[wrathgaze]

closed starter : @evrflamcs , @nubivcgcnt not a group thread

research  or  better  called  snooping  was  something  that  was  a  hobby  and  a  requirement  for  the  spymaster .  with  the  vampires  as  their  guest s,  morana  had  become  desperate  to  listen  to  every  whisper ,  to  task  her  spies  with  finding  out  everything  they  could  about  them .  the  secrets  that  they  kept  buried  under  pleasant  talk  and  flowered  words  of  their  history .  she  had  been  curious ,  if  her  affinity  could  be  used  on  the  vampires  but  it  seemed  not  even  they  were  free  from  her  knowing  if  they  were  truthful  or  not .  making  her  rounds  about  the  castle,  the  royal  library  had  become  her  latest  stop .  fae  and  vampire  alike  were  in  the  corners  and  tables  trying  to  piece  together  history  of  the  other  and  she  sees  a  person  looking  with  rushed  intent  through  the  bookshelves .  while  she  was  not  the  head  scholar,  she  was  familiar  with  them  shelves  around  them .  " are  you  looking  for  something  specific ?  i  may  be  able  to  assist . "

[nubivcgcnt]

An idea had formed in Ursula’s head in between one meeting and the next. Perhaps there were no records of vampires, odd as that still seemed, but perhaps their influence could still be seen in old law treatises. Perhaps there is some old and obscure law hidden somewhere that dealt with the relationship between fae and vampire, or perhaps even to prevent such a thing. Considering how few records there are, she is aware it is a low chance of there being such a record, but that doesn’t stop her from stopping by the royal library one afternoon in order to browse the selections with a thoughtful hum. Yet the area where old treatises were kept was in disarray, probably from people taking out the history sort. She is about to let out a slow sigh, when she hears a familiar voice by her ear. Turning towards the noise, she offers Morana a smile as she nods. 

“If you would be so kind, I would appreciate the help,” she admits, taking a step back and eyeing the shelves critically. “I am looking for old law treatises, but they aren’t where I remember them being.”

[nubivcgcnt]

players: ursula praxadas & shayre dragomir || @evrflamcs place: hallway near ursula’s office time: after the letter went out 

Going as far as accusing a vampire from lurking would be a considerable faux paus, considering how they were guests of the Queen and attempting to accuse them of any impropriety would only add fuel to the fire that is the quiet tension blanketing the court. For all she knows, these creatures of the night are merely fond of lurking, and she just happens to cross them in the most lurking of times for their kind. It is, after all, far after sunset. She should have returned to her quarters far earlier, but she had been sidetracked working on a map of disappearances. Which had led her to walking through the mostly silent halls at an ungodly hour. 

“Good evening,” she calls out at the vampire, offering her a respectful courtesy worthy of a foreign dignitary as they cross paths, her steps slowing down until they stop. Ursula believes that the woman before her is one of the princesses’, but she has yet to be properly introduced so she cannot be entirely sure. “Are you in need of any aid? The castle can be a maze for those who have not grown in its halls, and if you find yourself lost, I am more than happy to point you in the right direction.”