âA murder mystery and a tale of two fighting families? Itâs like Iâve walked straight into a Shakespearean playâ he grinned brightly, wondering what he could do to spice things up a little. Sure, he wasnât as evil as his fellow brothers and sisters, only enjoying the occasional prank or so, but this was different. This was something bigger then anything he had come across before. âI canât wait to see what happens nextâ
A chuckle tumbled from Morganâs lips; lips darkened by a lipstick made of crushed blackberries, blueberries, nettles, kiwiâs and fig. âIsnât it just delicious?â the Queen replied with a grin. âItâs palpable isnât it? You can feel it in the air,â she uttered, taking in a deep breath. âAnd now? With what I perceive to be ...divinely chaotic guests?â she paused. âGoddess knows what might happen,âÂ
âYou could say that.â Tinley knew that the queen would have liked to have a yes or no answer, but she couldnât say that Calla was unprovoked. Of course she had set up a trap, but all she wanted to do was scare the stranger. âI was only trying to terrify her. I had no plans to hurt her until she hurt me.â That was the truth, though she had imagined hurting whoever she trapped. She had always had an overactive imagination, or so sheâd been told.Â
âI want a job in the court.â Tinley said sitting straight up. âIâm tired of just being a subject. Iâm loyal. I want to work for my queen.â
âShe did?â the edge in her voice was evident. Morgan wouldnât stand for anyone trying to hurt or threaten any of her subjects, not if it wasnât warranted. The Queenâs hand tightened around her glass, causing it to shatter. Glass and alcohol splattered. She watched Tinley. âSo you acted in defence?â she asked. Morgan didnât see any issue in this. Self-defence was appropriate in her mind. In fact, she was sure most other would have lashed out in response to an attack. âSo, the human was an idiot,â she remarked. The brunette rolled back her shoulders, moving to her desk to press a button which would alert someone to come to her office.
Morgan arched a brow, an amused smile sitting in the corners of her lips. âAnd what do you think youâd be useful doing? In the court? Convince me,â she told the blonde. As she spoke, someone knocked on the office door. âEnter,â she announced. When they did, she gestured to the mess on the floor. âClean it,â she uttered. They were quick to do so. When they left, Morgan sat at her desk, regarding Tinley. âGo on,â
She had wanted nothing to do with faes except for Daisy, and now that she had the scent, she knew where to stay away from. That was until she heard someone calling for her and she turned around. She was a fae, but a different one, was she an unseelie fae? Was she like that one girl that killed her? All of these thoughts ran through her mind as she stared at her. Realizing she was being rude, she gratefully took the item back from the other and offered her a weak smile. âT-thank you,â she smiled softly, âsorry, itâs been a long day, I think I need sleep,â she said, knowing she didnât sleep anymore, but it was a good excuse
Morgan shook her head, with a warm, welcoming smile ( sheâd perfected the act of portraying emotions necessary to helping her get what she wanted or needed ). âNo problem,â she told the girl with a chuckle. âI canât imagine how put out Iâd be if I lost something of mine,â she admitted. The Queen smiled softly, although she quirked a quizzical brow. âDo vampires sleep?â she asked. She was under the impression they rested but did not sleep. However, the girl was new to being a vampire -- old vocabulary wouldnât have shifted yet. âRegardless, a long day will hit anyone,â she chuckled. She paused, brushing her hair from her face, as if she hadnât braided it specifically that morning. âI couldnât help noticing you staring, though, is everything okay?â she asked.
After speaking to Tinley, Morgan thought it was perhaps a good idea to regard the human sheâd attacked. Morgan had thought the girl had been killed from her altercation with Tinley, however, after digging, sheâd found the girl had been turned into a vampire. Morgan wanted to find out what the girl remembered, however, knew the difficulty of this, and if anyone suspected the unseelie, seeing the Queen asking questions would look suspicious. However, an chance meeting wasnât anything to bat an eyelid at.Â
Walking down the highstreet, the Queen moved with purpose, heels clicking against the sidewalk as she did so. Sheâd spotted the girl a few blocks back and had carefully followed her, far enough back and with enough variation to make it seem as if Morgan was just doing errands.Â
Excellent, the girl had dropped something. She moved quickly, scooping up the item. âExcuse me, e-excuse me, you dropped this,â she called out loudly. From years of travelling her Irish accent had flatterned out; although the true celtic aspect was still there, her time in America had claimed her voice.
Her voice was like the sweet song of a mermaid, invading your ears like a soft melody, mesmerizing you with every word. At least that was how it felt when flashbacks hit his mind. He had met Morgan at one of his stops in Ireland, the passion had hit him so hard that he took her with him to his ship and they traveled together for a long time. It had been the best time of his life, having Morgan by his side was like having the whole world in the palm of your hand, his confidence was noticeable in all his actions and that attracted him, as well as his intelligence. After New York they had been apart for about 300 years, and seeing her now was like seeing her for the first time, she was still the same, but there was a different glow in her that made her even more beautiful.
Quickly following the instructions given, the bartender left and Gilligan turned, looking at Morgan with a slight sparkle in his eyes, not all the treasure in the world was more valuable than she was to him âYou did a great job, it was almost impossible to locate you in all these years, but here I am, as a great treasure hunter â
The vampire looked around, watching the movement and feeling the environment âYou did a great job, I could only hope for the best from you and I was surprised once again. The place is incredible, congratulations madam. Thank you for receiving this buccaneer without manners in such a refined placeâ
It almost felt like another life; her time spent with Gil upon his ship, sailing the world, causing chaos and mischief, wearing beautiful jewellery pillaged from wealthy ladies of leisure. Sheâd been so much younger; so fixated on fun ( which wasnât much different to now -- what did someone who could live, well frankly, as long as they wished, -- but her amusement was much more at the expense of otherâs now ). Laughter, chaos, sex... that was their language. But at some point, life had pulled Morgan in a different way. She was ambitious, and had a piece of a celtic goddess blazing inside of her. She wanted to make a mark on the earth. Rule a court, maybe two. And that had meant stepped ashore and staying on land. But seeing Gil now transported her back to their time together. She remembered every touch, every cold comment, every dry laugh, every cruel deliverance of punishment; and it sent a shiver down her spine. A smile pressed to her lips. Gilligan had been the only being in existence Morgan had ever considered staying by. The thought even entered her mind; how good heâd look by her side as the Queenâs consort.
âWell, I was never hiding,â she told him. âBut Iâve certainly travelled across the country in my time here,â she added. âBut Iâd wager any treasure hunt youâre presented with could be conquered,â she all but purred.Â
She cast her gaze around her place, a pleased smile on her lips. âIt flourished quite well without my input, although I dedicated everything I needed to, to make Beguiled successful,â she told him. âBut there was a gap in the market for Beguiled. No place for the fae to congrigate; drink, do business, deprave one another,â she spoke. âI provided it,â she added nonchalantly. The Queen chuckled, nodding her head in acceptance of his compliment. âPlease, Gilligan, you know that manners have no place around meâ she joked. For Gil, for otherâs, she expect the respect a Queen should get.
âJazz is alright if youâre at likeâŠa fancy dinner party or something I guess.â Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. âYeah, no. I know. Iâve been here a few times.âÂ
Morgan chuckled. âWell, I canât exactly argue with that,â she admitted. Sheâd been to plenty of stuffy dinner parties which had strictly jazz playing. She quirked a brow. âOh?â she noted. âWell, itâs always nice to hear of a returning patron to my palace,â she told the other.Â
âShe tried to attack me.â Tinley wasnât entirely sure that that was true, but it was the truth to her. The woman had become insane in that moment in the closet. It was a mess in her memory. She had snapped, but she didnât care what she had done.Â
âWhy would I harm the coven?â Tinley raised an eyebrow at the other. âThen give me a bigger part in the campaign.â
âUnprovoked?â Morgan asked; curiosity implied as opposed to accusation. âNo traps involved at all?â she followed up. Morgan knew how much her court enjoyed trapping humans. Sheâd done much the same when she was younger. Sheâd particularly enjoyed tricking humans into impossible tasks or fae wagers which most certainly wouldnât work in their favor. âBecause an attack-- well I could argue that was an attempt against the court and thats a much better position to be in when meeting accusations,â she mused.
âWhy does anyone do anything? Boredom, power, mischief, ill conceived logic...â the list went on, Morgan didnât feel the need to continue. The Queen regarded TInley for a moment. âAmbition is good, but impulse, well, thatâs something that needs controlling. If you want to play the big game, every decision you make needs to be controlled and meant. Regardless as to whether it is brutal or political,â she explained.
â-and people say i dont share. Can you believe that.â A chuckle escaped her, half contained behind a gloved hand. Freyja then smiled, sweet as a cherub but coy as a wolf â-i must say, i had thought this little town would be awfully boring.â she shook her head and fell into step beside the taller woman â-but itâs surprised me. Iâm not easily surprised.â Freyja glanced sideways at her as they walked, and despite being shorter the vampire kept pace easily.Â
âYou own a club?â a sparkle set those grey eyes twinkling, a hint of glee etching itself onto her face. âWell, if you say so and Iâm hardly one to pass up a free bottle, and you look awfully classy so i do hope its something good. A nice Chateau Mercian perhaps?-â Freyja patted her arm gently â-if you have it, of course. They are hard to come by.â It was then the vampire tilted her head, aura sweet as a summers day â-do lead the way MissâŠ?â
Morgan tsked. âPeople can be so obtuse sometimes,â she uttered, shaking her head, although an amused smile oressed to her lips. The brunette inched forward, ever so slightly, barely noticeably. âI wholeheartedly agree,â she admitted. âWhen I first settled here, I was so underwhelmed, but once you break beneath the surface, my, my is it  full of potential,â she mused. âI didnât know if Cresthill would be the best place to settle the court but... can you feel it, in the air? The potential? The chaos?â she asked. Morgan walked with purpose, but made sure not to charge ahead, that wouldnât be right of a host, after all. âItâs delicious,â she added. âTwo families are fighting one another, they hold a centuries long feud, and their fallout causes all sorts of fun,â she chuckled.
The Queen nodded her head. âBeguiled,â she replied, pride evident in her voice. âItâs open to all species, but was created for the Unseelie Fae to do business and debauchery,â she informed the other woman. âHowever, the debauchery can come from anywhere, as long as it feeds my amusement and cash registers,â she added. The brunette smiled slowly. âYou wouldnât believe what I have in my cellarâs,â she assured the other. "Order whatever you like,â she told her.Â
You could hear the music before you could see the place. But approaching the club was almost Morganâs favourite part. It was a repurposed old fire station; which before that had been a speakeasy. It had vintage elements left untouched, but was modernised inside.Â
He was at the bar, his arms resting on the counter while his blue eyes watched the environment, the light made them shine while the black eyeliner at the bottom made them even more blue. The bartender gave him his dose of rum, and he raised the glass to his lips, turning his head in another direction and spitting out the liquid âI asked for Privateer, this is Banks, donât think I canât tell the differenceâ
Despite never knowing if a certain pirate from her past would ever find his way to Cresthill, Morgan had always made sure Beguiled was stocked up with a plethora of rum ( and not just because she had a taste for it herself - having travelled at sea for a fair part of her life ); Privateer in particular, just incase. Just incase. So when she heard a voice carried across the room ( the music was soft at this early time in the evening - it was a rock night later ) she was drawn over immediately. Gil had always been someone in her past who she was ridiculously drawn too, regardless of the fact theyâd fallen apart in life; their journeyâs pointing in different directions. Regardless of the fact sheâd had dalliances before and afterwards.
âGet Privateer for Gilligan,â she uttered in command. âIf there is none in the store room, there will be plenty in the vaults,â she added. âAnd hurry, or your replacement will be here when you get back,â.Â
âI am unashamed of my actions. That necromancer deserved to die.â Tinley leaned back in the chair, not caring if the blood stained her queenâs chair. At first, she wasnât sure how she felt about Morrigan as her queen, but as time went on she had began to love her like a mother. âThat fits me better.â
âOh, Sweet Queen. I am not putting the court in jeopardy.â Tinley would avoid the question of the unseelie court if she was ever found out. She couldnât lie, but she could twist the truth however she pleased. âWhy canât we just take over this shithole?â
Sometimes, Morgan liked to watch people squirm, and often, oh so often ( and it was delicious to watch ), they certainly did. Of course, some didnât and that wasnât necessarily disappointing either. The Queen decided to move from the bookcase to fix herself a drink. She walked across the room to her liquor cabinet and wet bar and started mixing a cocktail. âWhat did the necromancer do?â Morgan asked, her back to Tinley. Once she had mixed her drink, garnish and all, she returned to sit opposite Tinley. âI think that fits your perfectly,â she remarked with a grin.
âYou better not be,â she replied curtly, the honey in her voice replaced with gravel. She had too. She was a Queen first. âBut I didnât doubt that,â she added afterwards, to soften the sharpness of her words Morgan chuckled delightfully. âI love that ambition,â she told her, sipping her drink. âWe will, itâs on the cards,â she promised.
Sweeping back a lock of hair from her eyes, Freyja stepped back from the human she had been feeding from. They dropped like a stone, suddenly and without warning, hitting their head on the damp stone wall. There was a groan of pain, that Freyja nodded her approval of. She had only arrived. No point going on a killing spree so soon into her holiday.
âSomeone will come along eventually darling.â Freyja told them, in a tone that could almost be mistaken for caring. Slipping a silk napkin from her coat pocket, she dabbed elegantly at the corners of her lips, despite knowing well enough that she hadnât spilt a drop. Tucking it back into her sleeve this time, Freyja stepped over the hunched body as it it meant nothing to her before disappearing into the darkness of the alley and appearing at an opening a few streets away from the scene of the crime.
âNow-â she smiled at the person closed to her â-Iâd love a nice bottle of Chardonnay. Care to join? My treat of course.â
âIâd be remiss to pass up a free bottle of Chardonnay and such interesting company,â Morgan replied smoothly, her voice like honey. She inhaled. âAnd besides, you smell like youâve had a devilishly exciting night so far,â she added, a smile slowly pressing to her lips. The unseelie queen had the evening free. Well, she had any time she wished free, but she found herself often working, after all, how else had she held onto the crown for so long? Friendships that were beneficial to the court needed to be nurtured, maintained, and held. Enemies needed to be watched, threatened or killed. Maintaining a balance and Beguiled was work.
âBetter yet, my music and drink lounge is just down the block, we can drink for free, and... I feel like we should get aquainted,â she offered.
Carsyn wasnât sure if it was her night once sheâd discovered it was a jazz band playing. She didnât have anything against the genre, but it hardly spoke to her need for trouble that evening. She was getting ready to leave when the woman invited her to sit. âWell, thatâs a relief.âÂ
Morgan took a sip from the cocktail placed beside her as she regarded Morgan for a moment. âI can tell youâre not enthused about Jazz Night,â she commented with a chuckle. âItâs not jazz every night here, I assure you,â
âMaybe I am, but what does that say about me?â Tinley asked. She wanted to attempt to convince the woman that she hadnât done something stupid, but the evidence was drenching her clothes down to the skin. âSo youâre fine with what Iâve done?â One eyebrow raised in curiosity. No one would find out what she had done. She would make sure of it.Â
âSatisfying.â
âIt could say a plethora of things, Tinley,â Morgan told her. âIt could say that youâre unapologetically yourself, and unashamed of your actions. It could say you feel untouchable and that you can do whatever you wish, damn the consequences. It could say that youâre utterly idiotic and you didnât think before you trudged through town with blood on your clothes. It could say a mixture of all of the above,â she spoke, standing as she did so and crossing the room to put her book back on the shelf. âThe question is, which do you think best describes you?â she asked.Â
Morgan regarded Tinley for a moment, licking her lips in thought. âIâm fine with you expressing your nature, Tinley. Sometimes other creatures are such frustraing bores. But what Iâm not okay with, is you putting the court in jeoprady with your actions,â she told her. âAbove all else, the court comes first,â she stated. âDo you want to let down your court? Your Queen?â she asked, curiosity pressing against the words. âIt people come sniffing around, I will cover up your fun -- because I like having you around,â she resulting in saying, waving a hand. âYou arenât the first unseelie to play with a human, and you wonât be the last,â she uttered. âHowever, it poses more prying eyes in a town so adorned in the supernatural,â she added in afterthought.
âPaint me a picture,â she asked, a smile stretching across her lips.
Beguiled was her favorite place in the city, she didnât mind being among other species as long as she had fun. The atmosphere was spacious, soft jazz music invaded her ears as she swirled her wine glass in her hands. Her night dress was black and had sparkles all over it, which drew attention as the light reflected on it. The blue eyes roam the establishment looking for a free table, it was not an easy task in beguiled, the place was quite famous in the city which greatly increased the flow of people. You could meet any kind of creature there, it was the perfect place to increase your connections. She walked around the room, watching every corner, until her eyes finally settled on a table where the owner was sitting. Her name was Morgan and she was the unseelie queen. The vampire watched the woman for a few momentÂ
âMajestyâ Boudicca said, a sarcastic tone in her voice, her lips turning into a soft smile âSpeak for yourself, maybe I biteâ she teased, pulling up a chair and sitting in front of the woman. She gently lifted the wine glass to her lips, wetting them slightly while enjoying the taste. Being a vampire, she couldnât quite identify tastes, but something about wine delighted her. The jazz music softly playing reminded her of when she lived with her sire in New Orleans, she missed that time, and the music calmed her soul, relaxing her and her noisy mind. She was happy in Cresthill but it didnât stop her from missing other parts of her life and she had many. She had already lost count of how many places she had lived in during her life as a vampire, but there was no special place she called home.
She looked around, watching the movement and focusing her eyes again on the woman. She didnât scare or intimidate her âBig movement tonight. I can bet you must be pleased with how famous Beguiled becameâ
Vampireâs were perhaps the only creatures on the earth than Morgan regarded with true intrigue. But, was that a surprise when they were also the creatures around long enough to pay attention too ( bar the occasionaly sorcerer ) ? Humans, lycan, and merfolk came and went in the blink of an eye in comparison. There was time to keep track with them. The difference was of course, that they were beings no longer living; whereas the fae were alive, thriving. Superior in Morganâs mind, but was that any surprise? Most beings thought themselves/their kind on the top of the food chain.
Sarcasm or not, her title was known. Amusement painted her features, the corners of her lips quirking up minimally. She brought her self-made cigarette to her lips, inhaling the natural ingredients; including a minisule amount of Papaver somniferum ( opium poppy ), which gave the unseelie queen a relaxing buzz. A cocktail glass sat on a napkin beside her on the table, half drunk and clear in liquid, apart from the slight orange tinge. âOh, Iâm certain you do,â she replied smoothly. She regarded the vampiress, who was, captivating in a dark way. Her dress shone under the lights and Morgan found she liked the silhouette of it. The Queen herself, wore a black and gold sheer gown, with constellation details along the sheer skirt. âBut biting is part of your perogative,â she noted. âPoison is part of mine,â she added with a nonchalance that most would find chilling. At least from those who could be poisoned. Although, something could be said to a dose of blood with potent werewolf venom in it.Â
She made a noise; acknowledging what the other had said, watching the movement of her business. A group of unseelie fae sat a few meters away connecting. âI always had high expectations for Beguiled, and theyâve been met,â she said. âand exceeded,â she added. âIâm most pleased,â she agreed. âHow do you find it here?â she asked, turning her gaze back to the woman
Tinley had a love hate relationship with being called into Morganâs office. Sometimes it was for good things, but she knew that in that moment it had to be for what she did to Calla. Her clothes were still covered in the womanâs blood, having yet to have time to change.Â
Sitting down at her normal seat, she put her phone on the desk next to her. âWhat makes you say that?â
Laughter tumbled from her lips. She shut the book sheâd been reading, placing it carefully on the small table beside her. She sat up, dropping her feet to the floor, before crossing her legs. Now upright, she took a better look at Tinley. âYouâre still drenched in the blood, my impish delight,â she told the younger fae. Morgan held up a finger, a long sharp nail, glamoured to look like a human version of her own, glinting in the light.Â
âYouâre not in trouble, not unless people start searching for answers, and then, well, weâll have to evaluate the situation, see what best suits us, the court,â she told her. She wouldnât sugarcoat it. but Tinley did happen to be one of Morganâs favourites, so if there was a way to cover this, or settle it without a life being called in return for the taking of one, sheâd find it.
(inbar lavi, 400/30, cis female, she/her) The war is about to start MORRIGAN âMORGANâ HOLDEN. We see that you will be fighting for the NEITHER family as a UNSEELIE FAE QUEEN. SHE reminds me of A VOICE OF HONEY AND GRAVEL, THE SHARP INTAKE OF A BREATH, DRUNK ON SWEET WINE, LIPS STAINED RED WITH BLOOD AND LIPSTICK, SOFT HANDS AND SHARP NAILS, ROSE THORN CROWNS. We wish you luck. (cat, 25, she/her, gmt)
ABOUT
name: morrigan âmorganâ holden
nicknames: morgan, my queen, ri
age: 400/30
gender: cis female
ronouns: she/her
sexuality: pansexual
species: unseelie fae
occupation: owner of fae music and drinking venue; beguiled, queen
positive attributes: charming, captivating, spontaneous, cunning
negative attributes: capricious, tenacious, merciless, ruthless
fc: inbar lavi
HEADCANONS
the morrigan (also mĂłrrigan or morrigu) was one of the most mysterious figures in Irish mythology. the name morrigan means 'phantom queen' (or 'great queen') and describes a goddess from old ireland that was very associated with war, destiny, fate and death.
morganâs unglamoured appearance is lilac skin, black eyes and black hair, long nails naturally stiletto shaped. her thick is thick and long and almost always entwined with plaits and patterns; almost warrior braids. she has small ivory horns. her feet are webbed and the veins in her legs wrap around like vines climbing a tree.
ruthless and merciless best describe the darkness that clusters inside her. to hold her crown, to fight against usurpers, she has to be. the crowns of fae exchange hands more often than believed.
although of both seelie and unseelie blood, morriganâs true nature is buried deep in history and she is the only living being aware of that. of course, one has to consider the argument that true nature always finds a way to reveal itself, but morgan believes that an seelie aspect she may have had was oppressed when the morrigan let herself in and left a piece of herself behind in morgan. but recently, sheâs been able to revive dead plants, which... has spooked her somewhat.
morgan can mostly be found in beguiled, her home, or the forest. she does run errands in town, but her bodyguards are often close by. there is never enough paranoia for a fae monarch.
morgan loves to have fun; mostly at the expense of otherâs now. but if you can entertain, amuse or make morgan laugh, youâll most likely be around longer. she also likes ambition; as long as it doesnât exceed the box she allows her subjects.
BIO
four hundred years ago, a fae child was born to the brother of a king; a seelie king. the problem was however, her mother was an unseelie fae. their love had been forbidden, and for good cause; the seelie and unseelie ( especially back then ) did not mix. their gifts and beliefs and temperaments were completely differing. and yet, a seelie and unseelie fae managed to fall in love. morrigan was named by her uncle for he believed she would bring only trouble. with lilac skin, black eyes and black hair, she stood out straight away.Â
however, it wasnât until her fiftieth year that she found her calling; having spent the years before battling between her seelie and unseelie natures. and it wasnât a enlightened discovery but one forced upon her by unaccepting âpeersâ. tricked by a young male fae at night to meet him in a forest clearing, she was ambushed by a group of seelie fae who thought her an abomination. they attacked her. however, it was not them who left the clearing that night. the ancient celtic figure herself, the morrigan, came down from the skies at her cries and inhabited her. and morgan let her. scared and hurt, she let the goddess within her and fill her with the power to hurt those who had hurt her. morgan walked from that clearing alone, the mangled bodies of those who had ambushed her left as plant food. as quickly as the morrigan had come to her, she left. however, she had left a piece of herself behind within morgan. why, was never known. perhaps there was a recognition of something similiar with morgan that she saw; a kindred notion. perhaps she saw something in morganâs future and though it apt that she left a little of herself with the young fae. regardless, morgan left that incident a different woman. a woman with a little bit of the phantom queen within her.Â
the unseelie called to her. and it was easy to accept, especially when her frollick only condemned her for the deaths sheâd caused and held no sympathy for the events which led to it. morgan left her frollick in ash. she moved south and met a old solitary fae in munster who helped her learn the ways of her nature; poison, decay, storms and chaos. however, life was not enough to keep morgan entertained and she found herself travelling the oceans with pirates, seeing the world and figuring out what it was she wanted from her life.
america seemed to be the answer sheâd been searching for. it was a new world growing, and it was open to be claimed. she arrived in new york and travelled the vast country until she was welcomed into the unseelie autumn high court. she saw a weakness soon enough and she exploited it, rising to sit in the seat of queen, stealing it from the cold hands of the king. after holding the crown and thrawrting any attempts on her crown for fifty years, she moved her permanent residence to Cresthill and has been there for almost fifty years.