;; wandering mind

[rosaxseer]

‘ nadia parkes, cis female, she/her, 28 / 280 , seer  fae ’ ― cauldron save you. it seems ROSALYN GALATHENA has been teleported to the summer court, the LADY from DAWN COURT is said to be EFFERVESCENT and is said to describe themselves with VISIONS THAT OVERTAKE DREAMS, JOURNALS FILLED WITH PRESSED FLOWERS AND THE HUMMING OF HAUNTING MELODIES and with all of this in mind their UNBALANCED nature always seems to get them into trouble. may the mother hold them as they navigate this unthinkable time. ; written by hannah

b a s i c s

FULL NAME:  rosalyn galathena

NICKNAME(S): rosa, rosie, the little seer

AGE:  27 / 270

GENDER: cisfemale

PRONOUNS: she/her

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: pansexual

AFFILIATION: dawn

ABILITIES: seer, healing

a p p e a r a n c e

FACECLAIM:  nadia parkes

HAIR COLOR AND STYLE: darker brown long & wavy. she often wears it down and ties little ribbons and trinkets into her hair

COMPLEXION: pale, freckled

EYE COLOR: hazel

HEIGHT: 5'1

TATTOOS: has a few small tattoos of magical runes she uses to help with her seer abilities

p e r s o n a l i t y

POSITIVE TRAITS:  effervescent, caring

NEGATIVE TRAITS: unbalanced, paranoid

MORAL ALIGNMENT: chaotic neutral

FAMILY, RELATIONSHIPS, ETC.

MOTHER: deceased

FATHER:  deceased

BEST FRIEND: tbd

EXES: tbd

SIBLING(S):  saint, peresphone, erilyn

PET(S): a small cat named leaf whom she loves very much

b a c k s t o r y

rosalyn galathena was born the middle child of her family, a bright and affectionate girl who seemed to bloom in her families warmth. she was eager to please, always striving to bridge the gaps between people with kindness and charm. but not everyone was as warm in return. even from a young age, there was something about rosalyn that unsettled others. she lingered too long in whispered conversations with imaginary friends, spoke of strange, dreamlike visions with eerie certainty, and—most unnerving of all—seemed to know things she shouldn’t. within the elegant halls of the court, murmurs followed in her wake, quiet voices spinning tales of an odd, unnatural child.

her father, a man who valued appearances above all else for his family, sought to maintain decorum. at first, he ignored it. then, as her oddities persisted, he tried to hide her. but no amount of carefully curated distance could mask the peculiar nature of his daughter. as the years passed, her behavior only grew more unsettling—rosa was found wandering the halls in the dead of night, her eyes open but unseeing, locked in a world beyond reach. she awoke screaming from visions that clung to her like mist, or worse, became trapped mid-sentence, her gaze unfocused as if she were slipping into another reality entirely.

fearing what this could mean for his standing, her father sought answers. if she could not be fixed, he would be forced to take more drastic measures.

but the revelation he received was not a curse—it was a gift.

rosalyn was a seer.

a rarity, a power unseen in their family for many many centuries. and now, at a time most advantageous to him, it had returned. her father, a man whose hunger for power knew no bounds, saw his daughter not as an anomaly to be hidden but as a weapon to be wielded. a pawn in his ever-growing game of influence.

almost overnight, she was dragged from the shadows and placed under the court’s watchful eye. though her father managed to be talked out of announcing his daughter's powers to all the court by her brother saint, the only one who could stand up to their father. believing it was best to keep things a secret for now only those in the family or inner circle should know 

yet the things that had made her "strange" had not vanished. if anything, they worsened. the visions came more frequently, creeping into her waking hours, leaving her drifting between reality and prophecy.

those closest to her came to recognize her rhythms: the good days, when her laughter rang through the halls and her eyes were sharp with clarity. and the bad days, when her mind was shrouded in fog, her gaze distant, her lips whispering words that did not belong to the present.

her father called it a delicate nature.

 ten years ago, she had stood on the edge of a fate she could not escape—an arranged marriage to a man of great power, a man nearly seven centuries old. she had begged her father, pleaded for another path, but he had only seen the benefits of such a union to a man so very rich and so very powerful.

then fate—or perhaps some unseen hand—intervened.

her father died before he could seal her future in ink. and her brother,swiftly put an end to the engagement.

now, freed from the crushing weight of her father’s ambitions, rosalyn has begun to flourish once more. the good days still come, and so do the bad, but she has found a sense of belonging she never knew she craved. yet even now, she walks the fine line between gift and curse, still unraveling the mystery of what it truly means to be a seer.

h e a d c a n o n s

-rosa often hums to herself when she starts to get anxious or worried. the melodies have been described as beautiful although very haunting

-if rosa likes someone or is trying to make a good impression she will often gift them will small trinkets she has collected. sometimes they are little rocks in strange shapes or crystals, maybe some cool buttons, or a wood carving, or a small animal skull. you never know what she is going to pull out of her pocket for you

-rosa had piles and piles of journals that are filled with notes and scribblings of her visions. sometimes it is words or drawings. it seems chaotic though she always seems to know exactly where everything is

-until recently rosa has not liked leaving the dawn court. though she will travel if in the company of her family or someone close

-she has a habit of staring at someone too long without realizing it

i n s p i r a t i o n s 

helena targaryen from dance of the dragon

jester from critical roll

summer from firefly

jinx from arcana

drusilla from buffy

the malcavians from VTM

[n1ghtsongs-deactivated20250913]

“  my  dear  ,  i  can  assure  you  …  ”  asha  trails  off  as  she  comes  around  the  table  ,  a  cup  in  her  hand  .  from  the  ochre  liquid  ,  steam  wafts  ,  and  little  petals  float  there  in  an  ardent  display  .  she  smiles  ,  as  well  ,  in  greeting  to  the  dawn  lady  ,  already  intending  on  how  this  would  play  out  .  “  it  is  your  name  and  yours  alone  .  any  missive  sent  by  my  hand  is  intended  for  that  name  .  no  one  has  stolen  rosa  except  the  roses  themselves  .  ”  she  sets  down  the  cup  as  a  tender  offering  before  the  rest  .  the  petals  floating  in  the  tea  are  ,  in  fact  ,  crushed  dusty  -  rose  petals  .  the  floral  smell  released  is  delicate  ,  in  tandem  with  how  she  imagines  the  lady  to  conduct  herself  in  most  instances  .  “  because  you're  right  .  i  don't  make  mistakes  .  ” and  any  that  she  does  make  ,  are  intentional  .  except  for  those  long  ago  —  ah  ,  but  she  shouldn't  be  dwelling  upon  those  .  “  can't  two  women  of  fascinating  origins  simply  gather  together  to  speak  ?  ” asha  gazes  at  the  clarity  of  rosa's  gaze  ,  the  sights  and  sounds  which  might  be  unfolding  across  those  dilated  pupils  .  she  wonders  ,  with  a  brief  clench  ,  if  the  tea  can  relax  her  into  seeing  who  the  gaean  high  ruler  might  be  to  sit  upon  the  throne  .  but  she  wasn't  cruel  ;  no  ,  simply  curious  .  and  to  remove  any  fear  ,  she  seats  herself  and  also  pours  that  tea  in  another  brass  cup  for  herself  .  “  i  figured  you  might  wish  to  be  away  from  all  the  babble  ,  and  relax  after  how  you  were  …  well  .  ”  the  apothecary's  eyes  widen  imperceptibly  .  she  traipses  her  hand  to  her  garment  in  order  to  brush  it  against  her  sternum  .  “  how  you  were  part  of  the  late  king's  special  focus  ,  i  mean  .  ”  it  is  no  longer  a  secret  that  he  hunted  down  those  who  are  special  ,  and  thus  revealed  their  names  .

[rosaxseer]

.

rosa’s fingers curled delicately around the cup, the warmth seeping into her skin. she didn’t drink yet, but she bowed her head in polite gratitude. “thank you… it smells lovely,” she said, voice softer now. there was something grounding in the floral scent, a reminder of home.

her eyes drifted around the cove as she added, “and you’re right. i do like being away from the babble. not always…but sometimes, the noise gets too big. like it’s pressing in from every direction, trying to fill you up until there’s no room left for your own thoughts.”

she smiled, faint but real. “it’s nice here. still.” her hand flexed slightly against the rim of the cup. “you chose well.”

but then then came the shift. the careful, almost offhanded mention of special fae. rosa stilled.

a blink. then two. her gaze flicked up to asha’s face, trying to read it, but finding little to grasp onto.

“oh,” she said at first, too quickly. “i don’t think that’s… i mean, i wouldn’t know anything about that.” a half-laugh slipped out. “i’m not… i’m just from dawn. just saint’s sister. that’s probably all it was.”

but already, her thoughts had begun to pull apart at the seams, like threads unspooling too fast. her pulse fluttered like a moth under glass.

her fingers tightened around the teacup. “it’s not. it wasn’t anything real,” she added, still trying to steer the conversation somewhere else, anywhere else. but she didn't know. she didn't know how to do this. she never had to before. maybe she should have practiced what to say. but there was never risk before. “sometimes people think things about others that aren’t really there, and the king he thought a lot of things about a lot of people. that doesn’t mean they were true.”

she could hear it in her own voice now. the edge of something cracking underneath. her vision fuzzed at the edges, like fog creeping in over calm water. she reached one hand into her bag, fingers brushing frantically for the carved stone she’d tucked there earlier. something grounding. something known.

“i’m not in trouble, am i?” she asked suddenly, voice barely above a whisper, the words out before she could stop them. her eyes snapped back to asha. still wide. still too full. “i didn’t mean to…”

a breath. a pause. the marble teacup clinked faintly against the plate below, betrayed by the faintest tremor in her hands.

[n1ghtsongs-deactivated20250913]

from  what  roland  could  recall  of  her  in  their  brief  conversations  and  meetings  whilst  visiting  dawn  ,  she  has  a  rather  dream  -  like  nature  and  floats  and  flits  around  .  at  least  he  can  say  that  her  character  hasn't  much  changed  despite  the  shifting  in  the  realm  around  her  .  he  does  admit  that  he  can  find  a  breath  of  air  ,  fresh  and  citrus  ,  in  the  nature  of  those  who  refuse  to  change  ,  reasons  non  -  withstanding  .  he  does  not  have  the  liaison  to  do  so  ,  and  must  adapt  accordingly  to  how  things  go  ,  otherwise  he  will  be  left  behind  .  he  has  seen  it  happen  to  rulers  before  him  ;  indeed  ,  it  could  be  said  this  is  part  of  the  reason  the  acheson  family  was  permitted  to  rise  into  power  in  the  first  place  .  he  will  not  allow  it  to  happen  to  himself  .  “  how  very  poetic  of  you  ,  ” says  he  .  he  wraps  the  napkin  around  his  hand  in  order  to  better  set  it  upon  the  table  .  “  please  do  .  with  a  gift  like  that  ,  you  won't  hear  me  pushing  you  off  .  should  i  ask  where  this  magical  marble  of  spring  has  appeared  from  ?  the  markets  have  been  bustling  since  the  arrangements  struck  with  the  fauna  and  the  barrier  ,  but  i've  not  seen  something  quite  like  this  before  .  ”  and  he  can  be  simple  :  drawn  to  the  hue  of  a  marble  which  resembles  true  blush  upon  cheeks  unpainted  .  he  gestures  for  it  ,  awaits  until  it  is  offered  ,  then  takes  it  into  his  hands  and  divulges  its  layers  of  colouring  beneath  the  sunlight  ,  watching  as  the  glimmer  slowly  peels  .  he  remains  unbothered  by  the  lingering  and  loitering  glances  ,  especially  as  he  offers  the  seat  across  from  him  .  barely  the  weight  of  his  palm  ,  one  of  those  trinkets  which  might  be  too  easily  misplaced  .  “  then  again  ,  i  haven't  played  a  game  of  marbles  since  i  was  avoiding  tutoring  as  a  boy  .  ”  and  after  some  time  ,  he  started  to  take  it  too  seriously  to  avoid  it  .

[rosaxseer]

.

rosa’s smile deepened, pleased by his curiosity and the lack of protest. she settled easily into the offered seat, folding herself onto the cushion with the languid ease of someone who moved through the world as if it were a dream she hadn’t quite woken from.

“oh, that one isn’t from the markets,. she said, clasping her hands in her lap. “i found it on the road I belive. or maybe it found me. things tend to do that. but I suppose I was just holding onto it for you. feels like that is where it fits best.” her gaze wandered for a breath, as if trying to recall where exactly the marble had come from..if it had ever really come from anywhere at all.

she watched him study the marble, noting the way light danced across his fingers and the small flickers of spring it reflected in the folds of his palm.

“it suits you,” she said honestly. the grin that followed was playful, a little mischievous, but warm. she leaned in, elbows on the table, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “i think most rulers forget how to play. it's a shame really. why should you forget? forgetting is a terrible thing.”

an idea sparked in her eyes as she thought of it. "oh!" she said happily. "I know I can find more marbles and we should play! i forget some of the rules but I am sure it will all come back to me. those things always do. wouldn't that be nice?" she said excited, already planning on how to acquire all the marbles she would need.

[shvdwscng]

his ambitions for the night certainly were thwarted as the rumors of a new ruler, a high ruler being chosen for gaea began circling in the hours passing the king's death. kalore wasn't certain how much stock was to be placed in that rumor, but he did have his spies already on the move of attempting to uncover any minuet detail that be found of whether this information held even a modicum of truth. in the meantime, the daemati is equally curious as to why the barrier remains around them, with a dark entity stripped of her powers. perhaps a side effect of all the unstable magic that had been brought about. the young lady of dawn's presence is unexpected, but that was the case with most. most tended not to approach kalore unless they were his high liege or those in his inner circle.

"of course they would have, they desired as much." his dark gaze shifts to her, briefly before returning to the sight of the dragons above. initially they had been a novelty sight, but a part of the night commander accepted their presence as a constance. a bit of nuisance but should another threat arise, they would prove to be useful. a beat of silence at her remark of the beasts, he disagreed with her line of thought. the dragons were intelligent, but they have been born with the sheer instinct to kill anything and anyone that would be a threat. he's certain they only held back due to the dark mother's will, and his greater suspicion, they tended to remain far from fae affairs, unless their respective bonded fae were being threatened. "perhaps for some. i would not hold my breath."

"i've studied them, as i don't think anyone outside of dusk can claim to know them." it occurred to him, she was one of the newer fae to join them in summer. "they don't speak to anyone outside of dusk, they communicate telepathically to the fae they have bonded with. if i'm not mistaken the dragons that have followed us from dusk are all bonded to a dusk fae."

[rosaxseer]

.

rosa's fingers moved absently along the frayed edge of her ribbon as kalore spoke. to her his words seemed more matter-of-fact than comforting. she didn’t mind. she wasn’t looking for comfort, just truth.

“i wouldn’t hold my breath either,” she admitted softly, voice like a quiet ripple on still water. “but i still hope. not for peace exactly… just there must be more than just destruction or else how would their bonding work? there must be a gentleness too"

she followed his gaze up to the dragons above. to most, they were terror made flesh. wings wide enough to blot out the sun, fire resting just behind their teeth. but rosa didn’t see monsters. she saw meaning. old things. sacred things. like stories too ancient for words. she remembered her visions before coming to dusk. of scales and talons and how it all made sense once she saw the dragons flying. it was like looking at a familiar sight.

then, a beat of quiet between them, not awkward, just… considered. her head tilted as she looked at kalore. a moment too long

“do you think they’ll stay? the dusk court?” she asked, finally looking back at kalore. “will they leave back into hiding once the walls are gone?”

a pause, thoughtful. “i think i’d miss them if they left.” and softer, more to herself, “i already miss things that haven’t happened yet.”

[slivertm]

the high healer ignores the footsteps for as long as she can, keeping her back turned as she fiddles with her finishing touches for the umpteenth time. iphigenia measures out the number of droplets, and then adds a dollop of paste. “i’ll be with you in a second,” iggy calls out, yet, noting the distinct lack of a metallic tang in the air. her nose scrunches. “are you injured?” she turns around, taking her eyes off of her concoction. at the sight of the other fae, the concern falls off her features like a slate, growing neutral. “oh. just you.” this is enough permission to return her attention to her potion station, adding another ingredient. “well, are you alright? or are you here to bother me?”

closed for @feathcrcd's korain, @crxssdhearts' xavier, @rosaxseer's rosa

[rosaxseer]

.

“both,” rosa replied brightly, stepping further into the room without shame, one hand cupped over her other wrist “i’m here to bother you and bleed on your floor just a little.”

she held up her wrist for to see. a few of her usual ribbons sticking to a narrow cut that was clearly deeper than it should’ve been. the blood had dried at the edges, tangled with sea salt and sand.

“i tried to get a shell,” she said simply, as if that explained everything. “it was wedged between two rocks. very shiny. very important. i lost the shell but got this instead.” she lifted her injured arm a little higher for inspection, wincing. “fair trade, really. except now i need your magic paste or whatever it is you’re always muttering about.” she said with a teasing smile. “but mostly, yes. i came to bother you.”

she wandered closer to the table, eyes already darting toward whatever ingredients were scattered there. “is this the one that smells like moss?" she asked, reaching to touch it but pulling her hand back. but quickly moving around the room forgetting she just told her cousin of the injury still bleeding slightly. but something else had caught her attention and she moved quickly over to it.

[stxrfclls]

closed for : @rosaxseer ; @ethercvl ; @feathcrcd

sophrenia   wasn't   known   for   her   quite   moments   anymore,   not   for   demure   behavior   her   father   demanded,   but   that   didn't   mean   the   dawn   lady   simply   lost   all   her   old   hobbies.   sketching   had   always   been   her   release,   taking   charcoal   to   paper   and   reimagining   the   world   around   her.   she   never   thought   she   was   very   good,   but   her   sketches   were   close   enough   to   identify   she   supposed.   a   heavy   sigh   falls   from   her   lips   when   a   shadow   casts   down   upon   her   frame,   but   when   she   glances   up   a   smile   takes   its   place.   "   are   you   coming   to   take   up   my   time   ?   because   i'm   dying   for   some   company.   "   admits   she   with   clear   excitement   in   her   voice.

[rosaxseer]

.

“obviously!” rosa grinned, already lowering herself onto the bench beside her sister without waiting for an official invitation. “as if i’d ever waste a perfectly good shadow opportunity.”

she leaned slightly, head tilted to peek at sophie’s sketchpad. "they are perfect as always" she said looking over at the art her sister made. she always loved getting to watch her. rosa sketched but it always was of the visions that plagued her mind. they were messy. unclear. her sisters drawing were perfect in her mind. "may I have that one?" she asked pointing to one of the pages.

after a moment, she straightened again, reaching into the small pouch tied at her hip. “i found something today,” she said, digging with intent. “a pebble shaped like a fish, or a slipper, depending on the angle. i thought you might want it.”

she held it out, palm open, gaze soft. “unless you’re too busy being serious and artistic now.” a beat, then a sly teasing grin. “but that would be boring. and you’re never boring, sophie.” her tone was playful, but there was unmistakable warmth in it. the kind only shared between sisters who’d lived through so much together. and at times when rosa felt she only had her around.

[stxrfclls]

closed for : @rosaxseer ; @brckenrctual @ethercvl ; @shvdwscng

carden  had  become  a  master  at  finding  places  to  stash  himself,  crevices  of  the  summer  court  either  forgotten  or  uncared  for  that  he  could  tuck  his  wings  and  simply  sit  for  a  semblance  of  peace.  it  never  lasted  very  long,  something  always  coming  about  to  disturb  the  delicate  balance  he  finds.  carden  doesn't  mind  too  much,  it's  how  he  does  his  job  with  random  encounters.  it's  why  when  the  door  creaks  open  to  this  side  sitting  room  he's  seen  none  in  before  the  peregryn  simply  lifts  his  head  and  cocks  a  brow.  "  looking  for  peace  and  silence  or  something  else  ?  "  questions  he.

[rosaxseer]

.

the moment rosa heard his voice, her whole face lit up. there was no mistaking it, caden. somehow rosa was always a little too good at inevitably ruining the quiet peace he just found.

“caden!” she gasped with delight, as if surprised to find him in the exact kind of hidden corner she’d long learned to expect him in.

and then she was running…well, darting across the room with a swish of fabric and a trail of ribbons. she didn’t so much sit on the arm of the couch beside him as perch, knees tucked, eyes wide and excited like a bird herself.

“not peace!” she declared, grinning. “a parrot!”

she held up a hand dramatically, as if that explained everything.

“i was walking past the market. one of the ones that sometimes is too loud to go near. but today something just told me I there washed to and there was this green-and-yellow parrot, very rude looking, like he had secrets.” she leaned in, as if it were something scandalous. “and then he said my name. perfectly. in my voice! like i’d said it just a moment before.”

she blinked at him, dead serious now. “do you think it means something? should i be worried? or flattered?”

[stxrfclls]

closed for : @rosaxseer ; @liuyan (your pick) ; @ethercvl (your pick)

summer  solstice  was  one  his  favorite  time  of  year,  until  it  began  to  mark  the  period  of  time  his  mother  decided  she  was  no  longer  interested  in  the  summer  court  or  her  child  there.  the  former  scholar  stashed  those  emotions  away,  the  disdain,  the  lack  of  enjoyment,  and  pretends  along  with  the  rest  to  enjoy  the  highest  season  within  his  court.  it's  become  something  he's  frightfully  good  at,  which  he  supposes  means  he  was  meant  to  be  a  proper  spymaster  long  before  alina  plucked  him  from  the  libraries  those  years  ago.  "  do  you  think  people  will  stop  arriving  when  they  remember  they  cannot  leave  ?  i  fear  the  halls  are  far  more  crowded  than  i've  ever  remembered  them  to  be.  "  which  he  supposed  was  a  good  thing  –  secrets  were  often  spilt  when  one  felt  there  was  too  much  going  on  for  them  to  be  noticed.

[rosaxseer]

.

rosa had been wandering—not aimlessly, though it may have looked that way. her steps were quiet, light, skirts brushing the polished floors like whispers. the sheer amount of voices pressed in from every direction, and though she didn’t mind the company of others, she’d begun to wonder if there were any corners of summer court left that didn’t echo with someone else’s thoughts.

she blinked, drawn in by the tone before she even registered the speaker. turning, she found the source. a fae she didn’t know. but she paused to listen

a small, warm smile as she tilted her head. "maybe they won’t stop at all. maybe they’ll just keep arriving, hoping this time the way out will be clearer.”

she took a small step forward, tone still soft but undeniably curious. “i’m rosa,” she said simply, like an offering.

“you can tell me if you’re trying to disappear. i’m very good at pretending i didn’t see someone.” a beat. “except, unfortunately, i’ve already seen you now.”

[brckenrctual]

for a breathless moment, the other fae's words lock genjiro to place. keeps him in the liminal space between panic and fury, between running and fighting. but she wouldn't know of his grandmother. she wouldn't sense the reasons he moves like remembering.

"i hope i'm moving like my muscles remember," he answers smoothly. his voice thankfully sounds sure and steady to his ears. "movements such as these are foundational basics; they should be muscle memory at this point."

at her introduction, recognition slithers to the forefront. "the dawn high family." chin lifts a fraction. "genjiro sakiyama of autumn." he eyes rosa for one moment, two, before finally replying, "no, i'd prefer those inexperienced not to raise a blade." running his tongue over his teeth, he muffled a sigh. "talking is as real as looking. though if you begin speaking in riddles, know that i won't reply to those."

[rosaxseer]

.

rosa blinked at him once, then grinned. it was quick and bright, like a match flaring in the dark. “no riddles” she promised, though the way her head tilted said she was tempted. “not today, anyway.”

she took a small step closer, her gaze still sharp, still fixed on him like he was a puzzle she’d almost solved. "muscle memory" she repeated. "well you must have trained very hard to get yourself to remember things like that with such ease…maybe that is a foolish thing to say. forgive me. i don't know fighting all too well." she admitted but quickly added her voice lighter “but don’t worr yi’m very good at keeping secrets. even from myself, sometimes.”

her fingers toyed with the frayed end of a ribbon at her wrist, a nervous tick dressed up like a charm. she looked him over again his stance, his presence. she wondered if she was staring too long. if that would be bad.

“you don’t have to worry about me picking up a sword,” rosa said at last, more serious now. “i think if i did, the sword would cry. or worse sulk.” she laughed

she tilted her head. “do you always practice alone?”

[brckenrctual]

he has lived long enough to understand a smile of courtesy and distance. but it is the way the other fae blinks, how her gaze moves, that sparks the flame of worry within him. zacarías doesn't interrupt; he only loosens his grip, still keeping a soft hold on her.

"we all live there --- for now." the hope of a return to gaea bleeds into his words. to be back at his own forge, to be within the changing days and seasons --- oh, he aches for it. "i can accompany you back, if you're alright with that?"

and hope sings again. for acceptance than denial. she appears as if she would drift into darkness and never return.

a smile, offered freely. "we may have met. if you have ever visited the capital, it may have been nothing more than a passing glance, but it could be counted as a meeting." he bows his head slightly. "a pleasure, rosa. i'm zacarías."

[rosaxseer]

.

“zacarías,” she repeated, soft like she was trying the shape of it in her mouth, tasting each syllable carefully. then, with a nod far too serious for the moment. “that’s a very good name. it sounds like a story.”

her gaze lifted to his again, a little clearer now, as if anchoring herself to the weight of his presence. the worry beneath his words did not go unnoticed. she rarely missed things like that, tone, tension, what people didn’t say. but she didn’t comment. not directly. just smiled, faint but genuine this time, like the fog in her mind was thinning just enough to let the light through.

“i think i’d like the company,” rosa said, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. “if i go alone, i might end up in the kitchens again, and i don’t think the cook has forgiven me yet for stealing that lemon tart. it was a very small tart. hardly worth the outrage… maybe it was the second time i did it. or maybe the third” she paused shaking her head. willing the fog to disapear.

she glanced toward the path ahead, then back at him. “besides, you feel like someone i’m supposed to walk beside. at least for a little while.”

she didn’t say how heavy her chest felt. how the street kept tilting sideways if she didn’t blink hard enough. she didn’t say that there was something tugging at the edge of her thoughts,some warning, some sorrow, that she couldn’t quite name.

somehow she was thankful he hadn't let go. she didn't want to fall “you can tell me about gaea while we walk. i’ve never been.i wasn't allowed. but i would like to know" her eyes glanced behind her like she expected someone to be following

[n1ghtsongs-deactivated20250913]

“  pardon  my  boldness  ,  but  i  do  believe  this  is  a  great  cause  for  celebration  .  ”  the  day  emissary  pours  the  red  from  the  tall  -  necked  pitcher  and  into  the  flute  of  his  guest  first  ,  before  pouring  for  themself  .  brows  quirked  ,  grin  bearable  ,  mood  lightened  .  yes  ,  percy  hasn't  felt  this  free  and  lessened  of  burdens  since  before  their  court  made  their  way  to  the  capital  .  “   three  cheers  to  such  a  sweet  taste  after  revenge  ,  and  whatever  .  perhaps  now  we  can  all  move  on  !  to  things  which  are  not  droll  ,  and  sights  which  are  not  …  obscene  .  ”  he  had  planned  on  tossing  this  sentiment  into  some  kind  of  free  verse  poem  ,  but  he  lost  it  .  he  may  or  may  not  have  had  a  goblet  of  wine  before  arriving  here  ,  and  none  would  be  the  wiser  .  he  caps  them  both  off  ,  lifting  the  goblet  in  that  belated  action  of  cheers  towards  the  heavens  of  summer  .  he  might  as  well  thank  the  mother  in  this  gesture  whilst  he  was  at  it  ,  wishing  to  remain  on  her  good  side  .  he  couldn't  imagine  being  thrust  into  imprisonment  and  never  allowed  a  single  indulgence  .  if  only  not  for  the  horrors  ,  then  he  might  empathise  with  the  dark  mother  . / @rosaxseer ; @ethercvl ; @sparkledcrowns ; @stxrfclls .

[rosaxseer]

.

rosa blinked up at him, lips parting in surprise before curling into a slow, delighted smile. she looked at the glass in her hand like it had appeared by magic,which, to her, might as well have been true.

“i do love a celebration,” she said brightly, clinking her flute gently against his with delicate care. “even if i’m not entirely sure what we’re toasting to.”

there was no mockery in her voice, just that same drifting honesty, soft and strange. not fully understand the events that happened. or maybe she did and her mind let it slip. her gaze flicked to the red liquid, then to the golden sky overhead. “but if everyone is smiling, and the air feels a little lighter, then i suppose i don’t need to know all the details.”

she took a sip, then leaned in slightly, conspiratorial. “but you seem very sure of it. so i’ll take your word for now.”

her eyes glinted with amusement, curious as always. she tilted her head, studying him a little longer than strictly necessary, as though memorizing the details of his expression. “you feel like day, though. like light in a hurry.”

a pause, then she added cheerfully, raising her glass again, “to things not droll. and to you, for making sure i wasn’t left out of the fun.”

[n1ghtsongs-deactivated20250913]

the  rigid  spine  of  dawn's  commander  betrays  her  innermost  thoughts  despite  how  she  turns  ,  in  leisure  ,  through  the  top  floor's  garden  .  eyes  downcast  ,  and  face  almost  expressionless  in  how  deep  her  thought  goes,  it  is  not  that  she  suddenly  feels  quieted  ,  but  rather  disquieted  .  what  now  ?  a  question  which  rings  out  for  all  fae  ,  but  for  some  reason  ,  nori  feels  it  all  the  more  intense  .  the  intention  for  the  future  has  been  to  ensure  its  being  stable  ,  and  although  there  ended  up  being  no  other  possible  course  of  action  ,  still  she  regrets  that  it  had  come  to  this  .  “  it's  a  shame  .  i  expected  more  of  our  king  .  this  may  be  my  fault  for  holding  onto  blind  belief  that  he  could  change  back  .  or  it  wouldn't  have  to  result  in  his  demise  .  but  we  were  forced  into  a  corner  ,  ”  reasons  she  .  she  glances  to  her  company  ,  hands  clasped  .  she  searches  for  a  vein  of  agreement  or  of  disagreement  ,  and  she  refrains  from  sighing  nor  showing  the  immediate  truth  of  her  emotion  .  “  what  do  you  think  of  this  …  rumour  of  the  throne  choosing  a  fae  ?  ” in  truth  ,  it  sounds  like  more  deceit  to  she  ,  but  that  is  not  a  card  she  will  betray  right  away  either  . / @rosaxseer ; @feathcrcd ; @sparkledcrowns ; @vivianvaldemar .

[rosaxseer]

.

rosa walked beside her slowly, feet bare on the warm stone of the garden path. she wasn’t exactly following nori, more like moving in time with her, like she had been pulled by something quiet and steady in the other woman’s presence. familiarity, maybe. trust.

“i think,” rosa said, voice soft and strangely clear, “that the throne may be very tired of waiting on fae.”

her eyes were on the garden ahead, watching the way sunlight poured over the edges of the leaves, like it was trying to reach something just out of sight.

“i don’t think it wants a king. or a queen. or even a court, really. i think it just… wants to be listened to.” she paused. “it’s been screaming. all this time. no one heard it.”

her fingers twisted at the ends of a pale blue ribbon tied around her wrist. she didn’t look at nori just yet, but her words carried but her tone was gentle, strange, but unshakably certain.

“as for the rest,” she went on, finally glancing up at nori “i don’t know everything… but i know when something’s waking up. and something is. i can feel it humming beneath the stone.”

she shifted closer, like she might say something forbidden, or something fragile. “it doesn’t feel…bad” she added quietly. “but it feels… hungry. curious. like it’s picking through us, trying to understand who we are before it decides.” she said. "maybe i'm wrong…maybe i'm just crazy. very possible"

[n1ghtsongs-deactivated20250913]

“  here  .  i  got  you  this  .  ”  one  eye  squints  up  in  a  lopsided  smile  as  dabin  sprawls  ,  returning  to  his  usual  and  expected  postures  ,  on  the  shores  .  he  still  hasn't  gained  a  fear  of  water  nor  a  hatred  of  the  sea  itself  ,  and  he  will  be  dragging  others  to  ensure  that  they  don't  stay  locked  up  in  the  ivory  tower  of  adriata  .  now  that  would  be  incredibly  boring  ,  and  most  who  orbited  near  the  autumn  lord  know  exactly  how  he's  feeling  about  boredom  .  he  flops  with  an  ahhhh  ,  then  extends  the  offering  .  it's  a  colourful  ,  deep  red  kind  of  drink  that  fizzes  and  smells  prominently  of  pomegranate  ,  iced  and  prepared  ,  alongside  something  the  server  said  went  well  with  it  ,  a  kind  of  …  pastry  or  something  .  “  and  if  you  don't  want  it  …  then  i  got  it  for  me  .  ” a  shield  over  his  eyes  to  protect  from  the  sun  ,  a  light  tan  kissing  his  skin  ,  he  smirks  as  he  tries  to  stretch  out  and  relax  .  “  is  it  bad  of  me  to  be  like  :  now  what  ?  i  almost  don't  know  what  to  do  now  that  we  aren't  being  dutifully  threatened  by  the  crown  .  ” he  hums  then  ,  considering  this  .  it's  a  relief  ,  for  sure  ,  but  by  the  flames  ,  he  almost  feels  empty  without  it  around  . / @rosaxseer ; @brckenrctual ; @feathcrcd ; @arashway ; @crxssdhearts ; @stxrfclls .

[rosaxseer]

.

rosa blinked down at the offering, her entire body stilling like a deer caught between thought and feeling. the drink fizzed happily in the glass, red and bubbling like laughter she thought., and the pastry beside it was charmingly imperfect, crumbling at the corners.

a beat.

then her face lit up.

“you got this for me?” her voice was bright, touched with something that hovered between disbelief and absolute, unfiltered delight. she stepped forward, clasped both her hands around the drink like it was a sacred relic, and then, without thinking, grabbed his hand with hers. not a polite clasp. not the gentle kind of greeting people practiced.

she held it like she meant it.

“you gave me a gift. no one ever gives me things.” she paused, frowned faintly, “well, they do, but not like this. this is special.”

her hazel eyes were wide, perhaps a little too wide, a little too intense, and her smile teetered between sweet and strange, the kind that made it hard to tell if she was about to hug you or run off into the sea.

“i have to give you something better” she declared suddenly, already crouching, skirts puffing around her like a storybook scene. she was elbow-deep in her bag a second later, muttering things like “no, not the fishbone,” and “too many buttons,” and “where did i put that perfect leaf ”

she peeked up at him from her bag, curls spilling across her cheek. “it might take me a minute” she said seriously. “but i will find it. you’ll know when you see it. it’ll match your soul.” she grinned, still digging. “you’re not allowed to disappear until i repay the kindness properly. that’s the rule. i just made it up.”

still looking through the bag she paused for a moment. "i….i don't know. keep going? enjoy things perhaps? people deserve to after everything."

[n1ghtsongs-deactivated20250913]

now  the  apothecary's  turn  came  ,  nestled  back  in  her  domain  ,  a  table  brought  out  to  the  cove  .  invitation  only  and  for  some  reason  ,  you  have  thus  received  one  ;  so  far  as  asha  is  concerned  ,  you  can  make  up  the  reasons  as  to  why  in  your  own  head  .  she  may  confirm  them  ,  she  may  not  .  perhaps  your  ailment  is  simply  too  much  —  and  just  in  case  ,  asha  smooths  the  herbs  across  the  mortar  with  the  pestle  ,  the  little  cauldron  a  -  bubble  before  her  .  “  something  like  this  …  yes  ,  i  do  believe  most  of  us  suspected  ,  but  i  might  be  wrong  .  do  correct  me  if  i  am  .  ”  however  ,  here  she  offers  a  secretive  smile  .  there  could  be  little  in  this  world  which  she  is  wrong  about  ,  although  one  might  never  hear  her  bragging  about  such  a  thing  .  ego  smoothed  its  own  prickled  hairs  over  ,  and  asha  would  never  entertain  inflating  it.  “  now  we  can  move  on  .  though  into  what  ?  we'll  be  finding  out  whether  we  like  it  or  not  .  and  in  summer  .  ”  and  there  are  always  those  who  wish  to  remain  stuck  in  the  past  ,  and  asha  might  also  be  one  of  them  .  her  element  of  mystery  was  in  full  -  force  right  now  . / @rosaxseer ; @brckenrctual ; @sparkledcrowns ; @cetusxcetus .

[rosaxseer]

.

rosalyn stepped hesitantly into the cove, her skirts trailing behind her with a flurry, a neatly folded piece of parchment held delicately in her hands like it might shatter with the wrong kind of breath. her brow furrowed, not with distress exactly, but with the peculiar softness of someone who had wandered into a page of a book they didn’t remember opening.

“i think this came to me by mistake” she said as she approached, offering the invitation out with both hands, like an apology. her tone was light, puzzled, and entirely genuine. “it had my name on it, but that happens sometimes. names like to travel. they get into places they weren’t meant to.”

her eyes landed on asha then her head tilting as if studying her. was she unreadable, surrounded by a haze of herb-smoke and the quiet bubbling of something that smelled just slightly like stories. rosa blinked. “you don’t look like you make mistakes, though" she added thoughtfully, squinting a little like she could see through the air if she tried hard enough.

she glanced down at the invitation again. “if you didn’t mean to send it, i won’t be offended. but if you did...” she looked up again, eyes warm, curious, and tinged with something else entirely, “then i suppose i’m supposed to be here. even if i don’t know what for.” her fingers brushed the top of her bag, feeling for one of her small carved stones. something to keep her grounded—just in case.

[n1ghtsongs-deactivated20250913]

the  exhaustion  of  his  tawny  -  filled  gaze  skirted  across  summer's  grounds  .  how  he'd  managed  to  keep  himself  intact  all  this  time  ,  he  couldn't  be  for  certain  .  the  breath  in  his  lungs  ached  and  crackled  as  though  he  was  made  of  glass  .  fingertips  kept  his  forehead  from  falling  towards  the  back  of  the  reclining  chair  ,  and  the  softness  of  the  waves  was  almost  too  disarming  .  the  high  lord  sensed  as  though  something  else  is  amiss  ,  shoulders  tense  despite  the  intention  to  relax  ,  and  the  time  taken  in  the  hot  spring  .  at  the  softened  footsteps  he  detected  ,  stag's  hearing  alerted  him  despite  any  true  distance  from  he  ,  he  cracked  an  eye  open  .  “  …  what's  this  ?  a  galathenea  has  stumbled  into  my  one  -  man  soiree  .  ”  he  recognised  her  from  her  tiptoeing  in  the  background  of  the  dawn  palace  ,  as  well  as  seeing  her  oft  from  a  distance  when  meeting  with  saint  .  “  i  hope  you're  not  lost  again  ,  ”  comes  the  well  -  intentioned  mutter  ,  doused  in  his  usual  curious  sarcasm  . / @rosaxseer .

[rosaxseer]

.

rosalyn froze at the sound of her name,or, well, her family’s name. slowly, she turned, eyes wide and thoughtful like she'd just stepped out of a dream and into someone else's conversation. but quickly a soft smile spread on her face.

“ah,” she said, lifting her chin with mock gravity, “you caught me.”

she stood a few paces away from the reclining high lord, her hands neatly folded in front of her, like someone caught wandering off again. her eyes, hazel and full of something always a little too much,lingered on him for a beat too long. she wasn’t staring. not really. not exactly.

“i am lost,” rosa admitted cheerfully, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “but i don’t mind. sometimes getting lost is just the world’s way of guiding you toward something better than where you meant to go.”

her gaze flickered to the water, then back to him. “and now i’ve found the high lord of spring, which feels like something of a reward, doesn’t it?” the tease in her voice was light, but real.

without breaking eye contact, she crouched, rummaging through her woven bag. out came a soft pouch, then another, until, at last, she plucked a small glass marble from a fold of linen and held it out to him between two fingers.

“this is for you,” she said, offering it like a peace treaty or a talisman. “it reminded me of your court. like you bottled up a whole season inside it and forgot it in my bag.”

the marble shimmered with greens and golds, kissed with hints of blush-pink, spring in miniature, turning slowly in the sunlight.

“besides,” she added, tilting her head, “i thought you looked like you needed a gift.” she smiled. "may I join you?"

[shvdwscng]

𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃 ⎯ @ethercvl , @rosaxseer , @sparkledcrowns, @slivertm , @stxrfclls ( daxton )

the  lord  of  day  has  witnesses  enough  to  know  that  true  peace  was  as  fleeting,  at  least  since  the  new  king  was  coronated.  in  truth,  declan  would  only  ever  associate  true  peace  in  his  own  home,  even  if  summer  came  close  to  a  second.  it  was  surreal  to  even  accept  that  the  king  was  gone,  slayed  by  their  high  lieges,  despite  his  mental  preparation  that  this  would  be  a  likely  outcome.  it  had  not  been  ideal  to  see  a  young  boy's  life  taken,  despite  what  he'd  become,  and  something  he  still  attributes  to  the  dark  deity.  there  was  a  sense  of  relief  that  settled  into  his  being,  of  this  every  looming  danger  over  his  loved  ones  finally  disappearing.  whilst  leaving  an  array  of  unknowns  for  prythian,  beginning  with  gaean.  despite  how  they  all  felt  of  the  monarchy,  declan  was  certain,  at  least  he  hopes,  there  was  no  ill-thoughts  towards  the  gaean  fae  who  needed  the  support  of  all  courts  at  this  time,  above  all  else.

"a  hidden  weapon  in  this  very  court...it's  no  short  of  a  miracle."  although  not  a  man  who  generally  believed  in  such  miracles,  it  was  hard  to  refute  the  one  that  appeared  before  them.  he  set  down  the  gem  stone  he'd  been  inspecting  in  the  collector's  trove.  given  the  dire  circumstances  they'd  been  in,  a  miracle  was  much  needed.  his  gaze  shifting  from  the  interesting  objects  to  his  companion,  "how  are  you  faring?"

[rosaxseer]

.

rosa stood in the collector’s trove like someone who wasn’t quite sure how she’d ended up there. her bag dangled from her shoulders. her small lazy cat snoozing inside.

she hadn’t realized the man beside her was speaking to her until the words finally settled, like dust finding a place to land. her gaze lifted, hazel eyes blinking once, twice, before she answered.

“better than i probably should be.” she said, not apologetic, but thoughtful. “i wasn’t here for all of it...the… unraveling. not really. i only just arrived. like stepping into a story halfway through.” her tone was soft, a little distant, but polite. always polite.

she glanced at the gemstone he’d just set down, her fingers brushing its edge before pulling back, careful not to disturb it. “it does feel like a miracle,” she agreed, “but the kind that costs something. maybe we don’t know the price yet.”

her voice faltered for a moment, then steadied again.

“i’m glad my family’s safe,” rosa added quietly, “truly. that’s all i could ever want. but i don’t like what had to happen to make it so. even if it had to.” she looked over at him finally, brow creasing with uncertainty. “is it selfish to be grateful when others lost more?”

a small pause, then—almost sheepish: “i’m rosa galathenea. sorry for being a little strange, my mind feels… funny” she smiled, faint but genuine. “how are you faring, lord…?”

[shvdwscng]

𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃 ⎯ @sparkledcrowns , @n1ghtsongs , @rosaxseer, & @selinaaster, @stxrfclls, @escteric

the  commander  of  the  day  court  wished  he  was  not  capable  of  being  so  astonished  at  what  they'd  all  seen.  what  other  logical  emotional  response  was  there?  it  felt  as  if  the  most  normal  one  to  be  induced  after  watching  a  king  fall.  even  if  a  part  of  him  knew  that  this  was  one  of  the  likely  outcomes  of  this  entire  dark  period  that  began  since  the  capital.  it  did  not  erase  his  empathy,  that  he  wished  kabir  did  not  need  to  die,  knowing  well  without  a  doubt  that  he  was  taken  advantage  of.  as  any  other  would,  alistair  would  place  his  court,  his  loved  ones  above  all  else.  this  was  the  only  way  of  ensuring  that  no  other  fae  would  end  with  the  same  fate  as  the  summer  scholar  had.  he  was  far  more  concerned  for  his  high  lord  and  best  friend,  and  the  gaean  fae  -  who  were  the  most  distraught  learning  their  king  was  gone  and  if  the  missive  that  came  was  correct  -  that  the  throne  of  gaea  dissolved.

in  between  his  duties,  and  as  those  allowed  the  shock  to  wane  of  the  events,  alistair  hadn't  ceased  his  exploring  of  the  summer  court.  it  would  appear  they  would  be  here  for  some  time,  but  again  the  eldest  hightower  didn't  mind,  his  only  concern  was  of  cedrian's  children.  now,  he's  certain  they  could  be  sent  for  as  the  danger  above  them  had  passed  albeit  with  a  great  cost  as  well.  "it's  hard  to  believe  this  all  occurred  before  our  very  eyes."  he  wasn't  sure  what  left  him  stunned  -  what  the  high  priestess  revealed  to  them  or  that  prythian  no  longer  had  a  king,  no  ruler.  "our  realm  is  about  to  change  in  every  facet..."

[rosaxseer]

.

rosa has been wandering, drawn to quiet corners of the summer court with its lingering questions and the places will of noise and people. it depended on how she felt. today, the palace felt too bright, too loud, like a story halfway told but missing its ending. or maybe it had ended, and no one quite knew what came next.

she heard the words before she saw who spoke them.

“it is hard to believe,” she agreed softly, her voice just behind him, like a thought that had stepped out into the open. “everything felt like it was building toward something. and then it happened. and now… we’re just standing in the middle of the after.”

she didn’t look at him yet, just watched the waves crest and break along the edges of the palace’s stone walk. she held a small shell in her palm, perfectly round and pale blue, turning it slowly with her thumb.

“i keep wondering how the scales will tip back” she went on, her tone gentle but far from naive. “because they always do, don’t they? something terrible happens, and something good follows to even it out. or something worse if we are unlucky.” she finally glanced toward him then, studying his face with quiet interest. “i’m not sure which one we’re due for.”

there was no accusation in her gaze, no fear, just a quiet kind of wariness. her eyes held something old and too still, like she was watching everything all at once.