PLOT SPECIFIC PROMPT FOR XIE JIA. to be paired with SURO VIRILION. You've been remembering more. Things you've forgotten. Things you thought you never would, but forgot them still. You don't know how they resurfaced, but they did. The smiling face of the rescuer. The things you never noticed on them, or in your fear and gratitude failed to notice. The crooked quality to their smile, the hungry spark in their eye - how they appeared both gentle and terrifying. But, they merely rescued you from a raging sea, gave you shelter and food and left you to go on your merry way back. But, you remembered something else - a nightmare you had that one, single night you've spent in their cot.
"It was a stormy night and you found yourself aboard your ship, but things were different this time. The timbers of your sturdy ship were drenched. The black skies rained black drops, but as the warm rain hit your cheek, the picture cleared. The skies turned yellow as the storm raged on, and as you looked up, you found it rained blood. The timbers were drenched in it - the bled it back. And amidst the screams and the blood of your sailors, your court, your high lady and her family, stands a towering, black clad figure. And it smiles to you."
You remember the face! You've seen it at the ball - the mask they wore turned your blood cold, but you never picked up on it until now. Unable to find your High Lady in her bed chambers in the Hybern's wing, you turn to the only person you know could - and would - hear you out. The High Lord of Hybern, Starlight's one true ally.
Jia burst from her chambers, hyperventilating. Having their memories wiped was one thing, but having that wretched night come back in full force. It was a mistake to accept their help, but there was little option when you were desperate for shelter.
That evil smile, the black clothes, the ruin of her entire livelihood....
The dream had only haunted Jia once when she was accepting help from the stranger. Only when they were at their lowest. She brushed it off as a fever not prophecy.
Oh mother. What has she done?
First Jia went to their High Lady. Surely she would know what to do. Jia had informed her of their ill-fated deal and no one else outside of the courts. Surely the decision would not come back for them, and she would never have to think of the dark clad stranger ever again.
The palace was strangely quiet, even for the middle of the night. After all that happened with the voice and the murder Jia would have expected more people to have restless sleep. She jogged down the hall with the swiftness of a sailor escaping a storm before stopping in her tracks.
The High Lady's door was open. And there was nobody in bed.
That was unusual. Withholding the tempting feeling of panic, Jia went to the only other person she knew would listen to her.
There were not many allies with the Starlight court. Being in hiding for so long stretched relationships with other courts. That was not true for Hybern, however. The only ally of the Starlight Court Jia trusted.
"Lord Suro Lord Suro!!" Jia yelled as loud as they could manage while not disturbing the rest of the fae staying in the palace. The door was locked. He might have been still asleep. "I think there's something terribly wrong" The admiral's voice shook as if holding back a cry of distress.
"I might have a lead to all that's happened!"
