Aislan practically sprints down the marble hallway, not in the best shoes for such movement, but the monarch doesn’t care, heart thudding against their ribs. They’re feeling.....nervous? Excitement? ......Longing? It an emotional cocktail that is unlike what they are used to feeling, but then again, the man had been pretty good at getting Aislan to feel all sorts of things they never expected they would.
Aodh. Their flame.
They stop at the double doors to the audience hall, where one of the thrones sat, manicured fingers going over their hair quickly, making sure not a single strand was out of place and their face smoothed over. Couldn’t have Aodh see what his absence had done to the Aeserea fae ruler.
With one last breath, they push through the doors. “Well you definitely took your sweet time to-” Words die in their throat and whatever excitement they were feeling shatters like a glass pane thrown to the floor.
“That’s the thing about secret lovers, darling. Very few people know what they look like. One of your maids was beside herself with happiness thinking you and this Aodh guy were about to be reunited. I’d have felt bad if getting you to agree to meet me were easier.”
Aislan can hardly respond as they take in the figure in the center of the room. Like the shock of a bucket of water being poured down ones’ back. They can’t move, can’t even think; and the speed in which the heat is practically sucked out of the room would be alarming, temperature quickly dropping. Fae did a lot of word twisting themselves perhaps to be so upset when they were tricked themselves, but to have his name out of any used in such a way....!?
“You.....How dare you!?” The ruler’s hair seems to get paler, ice seemingly splintering across their skin , eyes seemingly blue as the temperature continues to drop.
“I need you to listen to me! Okay, maybe this was a bad tactic on my part, but how am I to talk to you about William Sakurai’s eldest son if you don’t give me the opportunity? Aren’t we practically famil-”
Qrowley’s words get drowned out by ice shards being hurled where the pureblood stands, the vampire practically dancing out of the way as they push off the floor so it misses, tile cracking. Well the floor would need to be redone it seemed.
“First, we think you dead for years, only for you to reappear spewing nonsense about my father’s murderer. But then you lie your way into my court under a name you have no business uttering?!” Aislan throws another shard. Then another. Qrowley uses each step to bring himself closer, shortening the distance between them even as marble floor is being ruined in his wake.
He almost steps directly in front of the seelie leader too, arm almost able to grasp Aislan’s wrist and stop this wasteful fighting, until cool steel rests at the back of his neck as if out of nowhere.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Qrow utters a curse under his breath as he tilts his head to meet the glowing red one, a rare sight from its normal place beneath a curtain of hair. Vel. Of course. It was stupid of him to not be keeping an ear out. But perhaps he’s a little desperate, too many of his chess pieces on the board showing resistance. So he has little time to swap pleasantries with the dragon.
“Aislan....Gaius lives. I swear it.”
The seriousness in Qrowley’s voice holds the desired impact as the fight in Aislan seems to drain, monarch almost tiredly walking to drop onto the ornate chair at the head of the room, Vel allowing Qrow to take careful steps behind.
“If you care for this Aodh person even a fraction as much as I cared for your father...then you’ll understand why I’m working so hard.”
It’s uncharacteristic of the pureblood to sound so quiet or solemn about anything, so Aislan’s eyes rise to meet the one, waiting.
“Kaede Sakurai is well known as being one outside council life and pureblood society. Not interested as much as his father wishes he were. Though I tried in the past to have correspondence with him regarding his father’s position, I received little more than an anatomy class. But I’ve found his bargaining chip.” And funny to Qrow how Aislan and the Sakurai eldest seemed to have similar weaknesses. “I just want to look through some files in William’s office. If what I get my hands on is not to your satisfaction-”
“Then you drop this crusade you’re on?”
“Then I drop this ‘crusade’ I’m on.” Qrow echoes.
Aislan still feels the sting of....what? Heartbreak? Disappointment? Deceit? They don’t know but there’s an ache. Despite it, maybe Qrowley deserves more credit. Or maybe the monarch understands more what the biting loneliness feels like.
And if he’s telling the truth....Gaius lives. That itself brings some of the life back to the fae’s eyes.
“Alright then, Qrowley. Tell me about this bargaining chip.”
"Mother is worried about you." As usual, Phi didn't beat around the bush or feign small talk as she strode into Aislan's chambers, blonde hair almost gliding behind her as she walked with a gracefulness many other seelie tried to emulate. Something they had in common, from their mother most probably.
She also hadn't knocked.
"Mother would be just as worried about you with your lack of common manners." Eyes don't leave parchment, fingers curled around an ornate pen as it travels loops and swirls of beautiful penmanship.
"Why would I waste my time asking for entry when you'd just tell me to leave you alone? A waste of my time when I know you're not too busy for a visit from your favorite sister."
"You're my only sister, so less a victory and more a pity win, as a battle needs more than one competitor." Their tone is matter of fact though perhaps the monarch's lips lift a little at the familiar sibling bickering.
Phi moves on as if she hadn't heard them, brushing her hair over a shoulder and moving to sit on the chaise that was just a few feet from the large white wood desk her sibling sat at. The trees the seelie Court was known for, interior wood almost marbling like porcelain tile.
"Besides," her eyes peek to the door that led to Aislan's bed chambers, then back to the ruler themself. "It's not as if you were entertaining a guest. No one's been in here for a few weeks. So it's not like I'm intruding."
Aislan's pen stops, almost like a record scratch in how the silence seems to sound deafening in the aftermath. Back straightens and the air starts to chill despite the crackling fire going on the hearth. The fae ruler's eyes are almost as sharp as a daggers edge in their intensity as they settle on the other blonde.
"What do you want, Philomina? If you have something to say, spit it out then leave. Contrary to your belief, I do have duties to fulfill."
Phi's playful expression falls away and there's anxiety reflected in the pools of her eyes, concern as she rises. "I told you, mother's worried about you. And I am as well. We've never seen you like this, Reòthte."
The childhood nickname makes Aislan soften a slightly, the bite of the air falling away considerably. For that, Phi, gifted with water and not sharing her sibling's immunity to cold, is grateful, stepping closer to the desk.
"You had them build a fireplace in your bed chambers and your study!" She motions almost exasperatedly to the dancing flame and Aislan's eyes seem to almost become entranced with it. "You don't get cold, mo deartháir."
They exhale and look anywhere but their sister. "Can I not enjoy the heat just because I don't feel cold?"
"Aislan-"
"It relaxes me."
The admission is almost a whisper, but it still halts Phi's words, her eyes widening as how much such a small sentence gives away. But they said it...so it's the truth. There's no careful wording or fae trickery in the three words, as they lay bare in the quiet of the room, the siblings' eyes meeting.
Phi is the one who moves first, a smile lifting her lips and she nods. "Well if it relaxes you, then I see no reason why not. And hopefully, in the future, they'll be an ever warmer fire to warm you, right?"
The monarch doesn't say anything, fearing how the words would leave their lips if they tried.
Philomina smoothes out her skirt and hums an affirmation at her own prior question before moving to the door.
"I'll let you work then, and let mother know you're alright. But don't hole yourself up in here anymore, no matter how nice the fire is. People outside wish to see you."
She stops, hand on the doorknob as she looks over her shoulder with a small smirk.
"I'm working on a blazer for King Camhlaidh. As a thank you and as an apology because you put Vel in charge of a thank you gift. I haven't seen it yet, but he's been far to happy this week. You can thank me later. Tootles!"
And the room is quiet again, only the crack of fire devouring wood heard, light dancing along the single tear that slides down the ruler's cheek, and turns to ice.
“You....what?” Mikael had always hoped he was someone that friends could come to in a time of need, to listen or to lean on. He thought himself to have a pretty caring and laid back personality, (or perhaps he was just stroking his own ego), but nevertheless.....this was out of his depth.
“What? Am I a mirage? Let me in. Sheesh, you mortals and your poor conduct.” Aislan steps by Mikael and into the apartment. Though they’d been here before, albeit briefly, they now took their time in looking over the entryway which led into the living room, dining room, and kitchen. It was quite....pedestrian. Where did all Mikael’s clothes even go? “Did you not hear me the first time? Phi said it might...behoove me to spend the day outside of Seelie. With....’friends’ she said.”
Aislan tried to think of such people that fit the category and they were finding the list was...hard to make. The monarch supposes they had a positive rapport with Vel and Emilien. Even Silas and some other members of the court. But really, when it came down to who they had easier conversation with....why was it this human who came to mind?
“Um...well Ru is out with a friend at the moment but he’ll be home within the next couple hours so I don’t know if-”
“Ruaidhri lives here?! In a place like this?!” Somehow, Aislan couldn’t picture the pompous, dramatic fae to be able to live in such a....mediocre place. Pot...meet kettle. Though maybe it....was kinda cozy...and smelled good. Whatever.
The shock of Ru living here stabs Mikael through the chest and his ego bruises a little though he takes it good-naturedly. At this point, it’s not his first rodeo and he’s getting good at taking the sharp comments less seriously. And he thought his apartment was rather nice...
“Yes, he lives here, and I’m hoping to keep it that way so maybe we can just...” He trails off, fixing his eye on the Seelie ruler as they poke around in the living room, picking up and analyzing this and that, currently looking over the many buttons on the television remote. Now that Mikael took the time to actually look, Aislan did seem a little less....intense than usual. Like a plant without enough sunlight. Kinda....droopy. Tired. Thought he valued his life too much to ever say that.
But dammit! This was ruining plan ‘welcome Ru home shirtless on his day off’. It was a good plan too! Was gonna take up his whole afternoon! But Aislan had gotten him to see Ru when all other attempts had failed, and now he was the happiest he’d ever been. Man, he just couldn’t watch people suffer, and something was definitely eating at the fae even if they’d never utter it.
Mikael exhales loudly and motions to the kitchen. “Okay fine, you can uh...hang out here.” Just the wording in association with Aislan seemed wrong, The way they stood, opulent and dressed to the nines in his standard kitchen looked odd. “But no fighting with Ru, no bickering, no insulting, none of that. This is his home.
Aislan seems affronted by the ‘rules’ being thrust upon them at first, shoulders squaring as if to fight it, though just as quickly the air drains out of them and their lips purse. “I will...be respectful.”
“Okay....good. Then take a seat and I’ll make some tea. Though I don’t want to hear any complaining if it’s not up to standard.” It was going to be a looong day.
Send 👌 for Muse A to state if Muse B is aesthetically attractive or adorable (or not) Aislan about Mikael
"Ah! Vel told me about this mortal man. He spotted dear Rudi with him stumbling out of some bar or whatever it was. Sturdy looking. Very unlike what I imagined Rudi's type would be. Rugged is the word that comes to mind. I'd very much like a taste myself."
"Think Rudi would share with me hm? Perhaps I should meet him."
If you’d asked Aislan a few months ago, the monarch would have told you that they definitely wouldn’t be stepping foot in King Camhlaidh’s court for at least a year after the last time they’d been here. Strange illusion magic, wives becoming ex wives, a gorgeous blonde vampire bursting in with intent to kill.....even as someone who loved drama, that was a bit too much in one sitting. And after all of that, they still didn’t get to say what they’d wanted to. Not truly. Did they even know how?
While the fae ruler wanted to give Aodh the space to heal and ‘become a better man’ and all that, they just wanted to see him. The growing time a part was giving Aislan their own emotional growth. Well, that and looking at the gross way Mikael looked at that pompous Ruaidhri. Gross....yet familiar. It led to some realizations that Aislan wasn’t sure if they were better off for, or weaker, but regardless, the monarch had possibly never wanted anything as much as to make sure Aodh was okay.
Weak and selfish.
“King Camhlaidh, I thank you for making time to speak with me on such short notice.” Heels echo as they take measured steps across the floor. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure when we’d meet like this again, though I bring a gift. My sister seemed to like dressing you up and she insisted that this fabric was ‘made for you’ as she so exuberantly put it.” Aislan steps closer, a silk gift bag in cool blue tones with elegant snowflake patterns held out. “A vest and a tie I’m told. I hope it suits your taste.”
Like floating...or perhaps sinking beneath the surface of the ocean, when sound and sight is dark and muted, that's what it felt like. Then coming up for air, where the sun is too bright for a moment and you catch your breath with salt water stillclinging to your skin. That's what it feels like for Aislan as they awaken, eyes practically snapping open, taking in their chambers, the four posts of their opulent bedframe. It feels like they'd been sleeping for ages but...they had not.
The monarch remembers reliving the events of the ball, a night they originally remembered fondly, but now the events okay out a bit differently, waking up the next morning with out a specific redhead in their sheets.
No...there'd been something...different stirring within their chest. As if nights alongside their firebrand had never happened. The memory of his lips....snd hands....and body against their own seemed almost forgotten.
Slender fingers moving over their nightgown to rest over their chest, a thudding beneath their hand. Powerful magic to change something without the ruler even knowing. Playing the monarch like a fool.
Like puzzle pieces slowly fitting together, memories of a different name uttered from Aodh's lips during sleep, Aislan's sharp mind already starts piecing things together even before the knocking at his door starts. No doubt the other's are now realizing something is wrong as well.
Aislan refuses to acknowledge the hurt, the sadness....the betrayal. This emotions will just weaken them, make them soft and have to acknowledge something that Aislan doesn't know if they're ready to. So they let the rage consume them instead like an inferno. It's so different than the welcome heat that would singe their sheets as they mouthed along warm skin, sucking and biting to get a bigger rise out of him. So different than the familiar incalescence of Aodh's mouth taking him in, or the fever that would consume his body as the ruler sunk onto him.
Aislan pushes all the vulnerability aside to let fury fuel them, opening the door to meet the sharp eye on the other side.
"Vel. Prepare to leave while I ready myself. We're going out now."
The dragon seems to have already expected this and a knowing smile lifts their lips, hint of sharp teeth behind. "Of course."
Aislan would get answers or there would be hell to pay.
