sugar coated rot

vivian roan. 23. lady of the court of frigoria. lady in waiting to the princess of asteria

[zhaoyinvo]

yinuo gave a small shrug. "then it's worth going through them again." he sighed, pulling the top one from the stack and letting it thud gently to the tabletop below.

he nodded along to vivian's words as he opened the book, scanning the index and the first couple of pages. "i know," he sighed again. "i truly don't think this was Ffigoria's doing." maybe he felt more allegiance to his home country than he should have, but it honestly didn't feel like something they would do. the council had spent years arguing over whether or not to bring the empire into the spotlight—now they suddenly do, without any prior warning? no, something else was afoot. "that begs the question, however—if not frigoria, then who?"

at vivian's latter words, his eyes flicked up to her for a moment before returning to the pages of the tome. he hesitated for a moment, before offering a small shrug. "truthfully? i have no idea. i've been so focused on these...eaters that i haven't really had time to look into it." a subtle lie, a half-truth. just something to shake her from his tail.

[vivianroan]

INDEED, if not the big bad wolf Frigoria, then who. the fuck. was it? Not knowing annoyed her. Not being the loop of things had terrified her. She was the ruler of rot, she had known when things existed in her vicinity... & this? This fucking thing has not trace!

how can it not have a trace?

"Well, we've all been focusing on these eaters, but I'd reckon someone should be looking into the whole sibling thing. As far as we know, it could just be smoke & mirrors, but where's there's smoke, there's usually fire as well." Vivian sighed, "Divide & conquer, shall we? I can tackle the whole... eating thing, you can look into the siblings?"

[vindexance]

"indeed." qynna took a breath, letting it out in a rush. "yes, exactly right." she, on the other hand, had felt malevolence. but had she really? or was it simply her anxieties twisting things out of control again, doomed to repeat the same cycle against threats out of her control?

no. she had known that feeling deep in her gut of fear. there was no mistaking that.

"if they are to mount another move, it would likely be soon, correct?" she shrugged slightly. "so we'll be on the lookout. other than that, there is...a limit to what we can do."

[vivianroan]

SOON or not, she wouldn't know. But, these things... they never wait, do they? Once they've made their presence known, it won't be too long before they launch an attack - or the eater, whatever it was - & Vivian found herself huffing in annoyance.

limits.

She had hated limits. Finding herself nodding along to lady Qynna's words, the lady of rot spoke. "Soon, yes. I mean, I'd think so, since they've already did the whole threat thing, they'd do the whole acting upon it thing. If they didn't... they'd lose face, wouldn't they?"

though it's hard for unknown things to lose face.

[scafuri]

in reality, sabrina was jarred. the fact that a kingdom—a whole empire—had been hiding right under her family's noses for hundreds of years without detection was...uncomfortable, to say the least. the idea that two kingdoms could do that without detection? absolutely horrifying. she suppressed a shudder.

"...honestly, vivian, i have no idea." they sighed, pressing their hands to their forehead. "if they're trying to confuse us, then they have most certainly succeeded." she paused, then waved a hand, somewhat dismissive. "okay. but if they're sending something after us, then who they are is the least of our worries right now."

"what is a hollow eater? and why are they sending it here? what is it going to do? is it a weapon of mass destruction or a more precise needle?" sabrina let out a breath. "lord, so many questions..."

[vivianroan]

HONESTY was the best policy, unless one - such as herself - came from Firgoria & her entire existence in Sotera had been a blaring, blatant lie. Being raised in Frig, she didn't see them as evil - they were mostly just people, like the rest of the kingdoms, with their lives & desires, happiness & sorrows... it was the rulers they all ought to look out for. & the rulers of Frigoria, today's rulers of Frigoria, had not been... so terrible.

maybe the other kingdoms will learn to accept them, in time.

"It could be the least of out worries, but getting their identities should make it more... tangible. At least we could adequately prepare ourselves to it - though, that's exactly why I suspect they wouldn't tell us anything, so we wouldn't prepare ourselves."

Vivian could definitely understand the panic Sabrina had now felt.

"I don't know. That's the problem. They just name drop a kingdom & then threaten us with an eater? A nightmare, truly." she sighed, shaking her head. "There's really nothing in the Soteran archives about them? I'll ask around for Asteria's key, maybe they'll be inclined to help us."

a stretch, but she could definitely try it.

[zhaoyinvo]

"oh, good. you're looking too." yinuo let out a sigh as he dropped a stack of books on the table across from her. thunk. like a stone in an empty well. kind of like his spirits right now. "hollow's eve–? surely that can't be it. though it may be a date to remember—if they want to make it related, they very well could."

his thoughts had been everywhere since the night the damnatio memoriae had fallen. skittering and fluttering from here to there as frantic as a hunted mouse; he was looking forward to focusing on something again. research, he could do. (and anything he could find to help cefin was worth it in the end.)

"i haven't found much either, but i take it you've been looking much longer than i." he sighed again, turning the stack of books so she could read the spines. "any chance you checked any of these already? no reason to double back on stuff that's already been scoured."

[vivianroan]

SHE HAD skimmed through at least three of those tomes, but clicked her tongue in reply. "Those three." she pointed with her chin, but added, "I'll admit I only skimmed though them, so maybe it'll be worth it giving them another look. I haven't found anything of relevance in any of these books." Vivian sighed.

she had come to the point where she was looking through the books.

"They can make whatever fucking connection they want, it's not like we can verify it, right? We can't find a single thing about them! Frigoria? Yea, sure. I mean, it's not like we need help in finding info about it. I've seen plenty a books about it hidden in the library. After it broke, so did the odd smudges & wayward tomes." she doubted this was Frig's doing.

"Even if it read like Frig at first, it no longer feels like it's one of us. & what's with these siblings? The king has siblings? Seriously? Are these Hollows pulling things out of their asses to mess with us or what? Do you think it's true?"

[vindexance]

the lady-in-waiting had a point. "perhaps." qynna gave her a small shrug. "i suppose it makes sense; they are both of a nice age. it's just—in the grander scheme of things, nothing seems to have happened. so why bother?"

"exactly; the wards." the churning pit of worry in her stomach told her otherwise, and she tried to ignore it. "whether they were invited or not, if they had been dangerous, surely the wards would have caught it." shouldn't they have caught any magic use, as well? why hadn't they? qynna made a mental note to find out.

[vivianroan]

WHY BOTHER, indeed. It had seemed fishy, but she wasn't the one to openly poke for details. Even if her queen had sent her to investigate & sow some discord between the... potential couple, she didn't have much opportunity to do so - mainly because the King & the Princess had seemed so adamant in ignoring each other.

which was both fun & suspicious, to be fair. "Exactly. I'm sure they were just messing with us, but I didn't catch any.... malevolence from them. Scaring the living daylights out of us aside, that is. But, it had been just that - a bit of fright. No real attack on us, not even an attempt at it."

it was sus.

[scafuri]

"...no. no, it is certainly not a joke." sabrina swallowed hard, rubbing her temples. as if she needed this stress on top of everything else. she was already trying to wrangle her kingdom back under her sister's control; now she had as well to deal with multiple kingdoms that no one had known about?

their fist balled slightly. "naturally," she mumbled at the mention of magic. so this had been planned. how long had the kingdom of frigoria been hiding from them? years. and why? "...why stay hidden for so long?" they mused aloud, slowly shaking their head. "what could their plan possibly be?"

"of course not." she waved a hand, annoyed. "clearly, these hollows don't wish to be found. so they shan't be. i mean, if a whole kingdom can hide in plain sight for hundreds of years, what else can do it?"

[vivianroan]

OH, WELL that was a valid question. If Frig had kept itself hidden for five centuries, what else could it do? Or, perhaps, who else could do it. Maybe it was a fraction from Frigoria, sent by Eris to sow discord, but she had known Eris - she didn't want damnatio memoriae broken. She didn't want Frig back in this hellhole called the fucking world.

they were so much better off isolated.

"Why? Who knows. I haven't found anything tangible about it yet. Maybe Soteran archives would have something on them. The Asterian libraries seem lacking, but I haven't tried sneaking my way into their archives. They probably have a fuckton of charms & wards placed of it anyway."

but, a thought had been gnawing at her. "Say, lady Sabrina. You don't think these Hollows are another kingdom, do you? I mean, for all we know they could be from Frigoria. Maybe they're trying to confuse us."

she knows she had been confused & she had hated it.

[vivianroan]

location: the court of asteria. library. time: unspecified night time. availability: open to everyone !

VIVIAN had been on a hunt - for the Hollow eater. Whatever it was. After consulting with Eris & the court of Frigoria's council, she had hit the Asterian library, in search for any bit & piece of information she could find.

surprise, surprise, she had found none.

She did find a few things on Frigoria, their royal bloodline & some vague texts on their generic power ( a passage that had interested her, for she had been looking for anyone connected to her own rotting power - but, so far, no luck ). Sitting close to the very back of the library, under one of the torches, she had been idly flipping through parchments, trying to find even a vague mention of Hollows. When a person slid into the seat opposite of her, Vivian let out a frustrated sigh.

"I only found a mention of Hollow's eve, but isn't that a joint holiday the kingdoms share? I doubt it has any connection with these... things. Unless the Hollow eater is eating the feast of Hollow's."

[scafuri]

with the announcement of the third, sabrina found herself...shaken. to the core, in fact. truly, they had thought that the interruption at their sister's fete was nothing much; certainly not anything to worry about. now, their beliefs were coming crashing down around their ears, and sabrina felt as if she had no one to rely on.

hearing someone in the quarters, sabrina whirled around instantly, hand clutching the doorknob—but they relaxed when they realized it was just their lady-in-waiting. a tiny stab of disappointment as she realized it wasn't their sister, but pressing a hand to their chest as they caught their breath, they managed a small "lord!"

"vivian, you scared me—sorry. just—on edge recently." taking a breath, she sent the other woman a look as she crossed the room. "...perhaps. maybe not. lord knows at this point." she sighed, sinking into a chair nearby.

"you're looking for what could have done this, right? or for whatever's coming?" what in all the kingdoms was a hollow eater, and what was she supposed to do about it?

[vivianroan]

SHE HAD been looking into it, yes. Not because of her unwavering loyalty to Sotera, but rather to the Third & their empress. The Hollow eater & whatever those things that had caused the shriek were, had posed a threat to both Frigoria & their citizens. Not to mention the world, if those... threats were anything to go by.

"We are all on edge lately. No one could have predicted this, & at this point I doubt it's an elaborate joke. Not with the return of... whatever the third kingdom is. & how does one stay hidden for so long?" she had asked with a frown on her face - as if she had truly not been from Frigoria.

she was looking into it. she had to.

"I'm trying to get to the bottom of it, but so far... nothing. I found some stuff on Frigoria, oddly enough now all shredded parchment had mended itself. It was undoubtedly magic that veiled them in the first place. But, the Hollows & their... eater? I found zilch."

[pepperwall]

   Jiao Bi sighed as if indulgent. “Oh, that they have, Lady Vivian. Magics… and pawns….” She drawled. “Yet pawns advance and magic bends to those who wield it well.”

   She tapped against the stone, each following the tune of an erhu score.

   “As for destiny, I need not speak for myself… My path has been laid out for all kingdoms to see.” She smiled, saccharine yet knowing. “And so has yours, I imagine?”

   She eyed the grin. Split by agency. So this had been a test of allegiances? Such tests were warranted only by the presence of a threat. So? What did the Lady fear? Ah, well. The Roan girl had been quite the fair player to put up with her games.

   Leaning away, Jiao Bi doubted she'd gain more from this exchange.

   A pity.

   “It seems we have reached an impasse, Lady Vivian. If you had wished to secure allegiance to Her Highness, then we could have done so without tests.” A pause, calculated. “Fret not. What has happened here does not change my welcoming anticipation of the princess.”

   Such defiance from a servitor. Were these the Princess’ true thoughts? Words reflecting Sotera's? How odd. Very odd, indeed.

   She had a solution for this: a reminder of assimilation. But first — let the silence settle, and then…

   “The Benevolent King’s word remains law, does it not?”

   Benevolent until death. He had decreed the match while he lived, thus, there, his wisdom remained — to live on through issue and land.

[vivianroan]

ALL OF their paths had been set by their magic. She had wielded the rot - did it not make her rotten in turn? She had taken a life even before her lungs had filled with breath & it had festered such resentment. Bonds were broken the moment her power had manifested, even if she had no say in it - no say in why had it chosen her as a vessel to the rot.

so she merely smiles.

Allegiance to the princess Spare? Why would she do that? Why would she care about Sabrina wedding king Yixin? In fact, Vivian did not look favourably to the nuptials, neither did her empress. It was a pathetic attempt at alliance that won't stand - it might not even come to fruition.

"Why would I do that? I merely serve the Princess. Why should I test the waters for her? She has advisors for that, does she not? As I have already said... I am simply making conversation." a smirk formed on her lips, amused.

indeed, would the Benevolent king's dead curse stand?

"I would say it's quite unfair to make deals beyond the grave. If they had not wed during his lifetime, why should they do so now? Unless it is their own wish, of course. The way I stand, it is the old queen's attempt of pushing her a narrative that would benefit... no one in the long run."

run, little rabbit, to you king & plant doubt in his mind.

[pepperwall]

   Jiao Bi’s expression did not shift although her grip on the mirror’s handle tightened. Coolness. What she needed now.

   “True liberty? How quaint,” she murmured, gaze persistently synced into Vivian's own. “I find that those who call themselves pawns do so only to excuse their own failures.”

   Liberty? Importance? The Roan girl spoke as if these were luxuries, as if choice had ever been a question. They were both noblewomen. Was the Lady merely projecting helplessness through her? And what wide grin she had – too pleased, too certain. Jiao Bi did not like that. This either goaded or fished – for something. Which was it?

   She leaned slightly towards her companion with fingers splayed against marble, palm hovering over the space.

   “Yet here you sit, reaching to another while untouched by the game’s cruelty. Speaking in riddles.” She spoke singsong-like, but it was a hiss. “Tell me, Lady Vivian… Are you warning me, or testing me?”

   She tapped with her forefinger, feigning curiosity.

   “And when kings succumb to fate, it is only because they were too foolish to see the knife at their throat. But I am no king. And I do not deal in helplessness.”

   The Stone's Collapse. Yes, undoing by arrogance. Had she any arrogance to display, it would be her privilege being raised as artiste, but here she was – upholding dignity by what little remained of the ancients. For she was the voice of her father, the voice of her House, the many voices of old Asteria.

   She could never foment the second coming of the Shih's downfall. Never humiliate their king.

[vivianroan]

OH, FEISTY! Vivian had been thoroughly entertained by lady Bi, her lips quirking upwards in a grin as the other lady spoke of one's failures. Interesting choice of word, asking questions & delivering answers without speaking much. It was charming.

"Are we not pawns in the cosmos' great machinations? I am a pawn & so are you. We are both ladies serving another. You serve a king, I serve a princess & round & round we go, doing their bidding. Have you a choice in that?" she retorted, head quirked to the side as she observed her.

her grin widened.

"Can I not merely be making conversation?" Vivian asked, innocent expression flying over her face. "You seemed like someone appreciative of such a discussion, but excuse my manners if I have overstepped a boundary." she inclined her head to the other.

feisty was an understatement - the lady Bi had a burning rage within her that only made Vivian's own enraged smile grow.

"No one sees a blade in the dark, lady Bi. Our magic... does it not both belong to us & corrupt us? It is an external thing assigned to all of us at birth, what say did we have in that? You spoke of failures, but fate is more than negating one's own stupidity. Did our powers not already set a path for us?" she hummed.

[vivianroan]

EXCELLENT. At least someone in Sotera's archives should have an information about something similar to this. She didn't believe this was the only occurrence in the kingdoms' long history, but... whether or not it had been written or preserved, that was still debatable.

"They should have something for us down there. I mean, at least a list of magic users that could correlate the powers displayed tonight. That would be something that should start us off."

she had hoped the archives had the information she needs.

[zhaoyinvo]

end.

[vivianroan]

location: asteria, the soteran quarters. time: after the Big Drama. with: @apricitydelivered.

THE CAT was out of the Drama Bag & Vivian had been... well, honestly? She had been fine. Perhaps she would be surprised or appalled that she's feeling absolutely nothing about the fact that Frigoria is no longer a nightmare - the damnatio memoriae had been shattered before it time & she knew quite a few people would be panicking right now.

not her, though. she was doing swell.

In fact, there was another interesting thing she had wanted to focus on right now. The fact that the citizens of Sotera had been... restless. She had heard whispers in the dark about them willing to rally to Sabrina, supporting the claim of the spare princess to her elder sister's throne.

it was so entertaining.

She had wondered how Sabrina was doing - & not solely because she was working under the Ancient Queen's command to find it out. Rising from her chair as the princess entered, Vivian closed the book she had been skimming through. She was certain she'd find something of value in Asteria's libraries but... nothing much.

"Your grace." Vivian greeted, "I found some strange texts on magic users, but nothing of consequence. Perhaps you will have more luck in having them open their archives." a taunt.

[ofsteelsilv]

   Enzo nearly choked. He had to breathe. Breathe. He coughed, thumping his chest, before swallowing and sending a deadpan stare at Vivian.

   “Ya did… what now?” He squinted, pinched smile forming. “Wish I coulda been there ta see that.”

   The sound of dice rolling meant bets were placed. Not his business.

   “Keepin’ watch? Not exactly.” He jerked his chin towards the gamblers. “They're betting on the jesters. Don't condone it, but –” He shrugged. “We got our parts to play.”

   Having finished a finger, he stuffed the peel into a sack. Enzo glanced back at her. He could be generous. Or he could be an ass. He dragged a chair out, then, just as deliberately, placed the entire bunch on the low table.

   "Business or pleasure?" He hid his hand behind the bananas – within Viv's sight, thumb flicking toward the crowd. "If it’s the former, not much to glean from ‘em."

[vivianroan]

VIVIAN snickered, sliding into the seat he offered. "If you promise to catch me, I can recreate the scene." she smirked, her gaze turning murky green, a sickly kind of shade, as she turned her gaze towards an unfinished piece of bread, laying forgotten by the hand of one of the soldiers. It turned mouldy before rotting out.

she turned a grin to Enzo.

"Like that, only more gooey & slippery." it was a poor demonstration, but still.

Among the... several few soldiers & in the general's presence, Vivian had let herself feel the rotting power bubbling in her veins, itching to get out. It had been a... chore to keep it reined in for so long. She didn't really dare use her power in Sotera, but they'd been isolated enough in the barracks.

"Amusement, please. I am done doing business for today." she sighed, rolling the tension from her shoulders.

"So, what are doing?"

[pepperwall]

   Shadows. How poetic. Like she always had, she drew out another pause. Even shadows show only what surrounds them – mimicry. What did the Lady see in a Shih? Reflections? Through her own court’s notions? Enough.

   She tired of this game.

   Jiao Bi's focus slid back to Vivian, her face impassive. “And I do wonder… Does the Lady Vivian see only what is in front of her?”

   Let silence do the work. The Lady was too forthcoming, freely handing over information Jiao Bi had no control over.

   “Rebels, unknown forces… Strange how the most disruptive voices often belong to those with nothing worth listening to.” She traced a pattern against the marbled surface separating two noblewomen: one was Asterian, the other Soteran.

   “But tell me, do you consider yourself merely a pawn in this grand little game?”

   Jiao Bi offered another signature smile. Probes and dissection. Lady Vivian should at least make the exchange worthwhile.

   “Or do you see yourself as something more?”

[vivianroan]

VIVIAN'S grin widened. She was a pretty little thing, the lady in front of her. Pretty & full of veiled rage, the kind that the lady Roan had known all too well. A purpose. Did they all have it? Or were they players of the Fate, doing what some unknown, untouchable deity had instructed them, eons & eons ago.

was the choice their for the making?

"We are all pawns, lady Bi, or do you consider yourself a woman of true liberty & importance?" she retorted. "Did this charade not show us how helpless we are, or do you think anyone of us could've stopped it, but chose not to? Even kings succumb to fate, so how could we not?"

[zhaoyinvo]

he cocked his head—it was something he hadn't yet considered. could the disruption have, in fact, have had no purpose? was it simply chaos for the sake of chaos? a simple distortion of the status quo? more so, could it have been a distraction? everyone had been firmly focused on the jesters—it would have been the perfect opportunity for something to be happening behind the scenes.

"of course," he smiled, "if i am not already there. i...intend to spend quite a fair bit of time there over the next few days." yinuo chuckled, shaking his head slightly. there was...much to look into. hopefully, before anyone else could. though his questions weren't the same as most people's.

[vivianroan]

EXCELLENT. At least someone in Sotera's archives should have an information about something similar to this. She didn't believe this was the only occurrence in the kingdoms' long history, but... whether or not it had been written or preserved, that was still debatable.

"They should have something for us down there. I mean, at least a list of magic users that could correlate the powers displayed tonight. That would be something that should start us off."

she had hoped the archives had the information she needs.

[princebonesy]

   Aside from the aforementioned magic, the lady provided two circumstantial constituents.

   Cefin then noticed the sigh. A detachment from discussing her magic perhaps? Unlike Maeve, he wasn't as close to Vivian; no prior intimacy to draw distinctions but to gauge outside-in. His discomfort rose at the distance between them, which he tried to stifle — he was here for a repose after all. His effort prevailed by overemphasis, his features now schooled into that of impassivity.

   “Thank you, Vivian.” A stiff gratitude. “It puts perspective into their construction.”

   Quick. Build the conversation.

   “As for motives, the one most versed in magic-based fear tactics would be…” He closed his eye. “...Captain Madrid.”

   The general and his false rank weren't spoken out of bitterness, but an emphasis was present. He had already suspected Vivian's amusement toward their rivalry. Cefin finally took a swig from his drinking glass, the familiar burn coating his throat.

   Would she disclose her opinion on the identity of the orchestrators? Her unwavering confidence was reserved for one Valerian alone. Eris.

   He’d have to humor her then.

   “And… even if pirates were responsible, we'd be suspecting our people once more.” His index finger tapped at the glass. “Wouldn't be fair to dismiss foreign continents, either; there are those who have aligned with the kingdoms. Not a one-man job had this been external – think of our own migrating.”

   He put aside his drink.

[vivianroan]

PERSPECTIVE or not, she had always been intelligent enough to deal with such... puzzles. Being a sleuth, while not something so very necessary in her household, had been a beneficial skill set when she had arrived at Frigorian court to serve the empress. Her father had been all too eager to rid of her, anyway.

that was the price of rot.

They all left, in the end. But, Cefin kept speaking & Vivian found herself frowning, snorting out in amusement. "What, Enzo? Don't be ridiculous. He's your sister's most trusted general, do you really think he'd dare do anything without her instruction, or knowledge? If you are blaming him, then you are blaming her, as well. She may work alone at times, but her never works without her."

it was a hilarious idea, just like their court-imposed rivalry.

Vivian's frown deepened, then she hummed. Foreign continents or countries? Perhaps, but they have all already been assimilated into Asteria & Sotera, vassal countries that shared their kings or queens. If a rebel fraction did come from them, they'd still be tried as traitors to their kingdom. If Frigoria is not involved. But, lady of Tabea chuckled.

"Our migrating had been a one-man job, or must I give you a history lesson, Pretty Boy?" she grinned.

[vindexance]

listening to vivian's harsh words surprised qynna. she nodded along for a moment, watching the other woman out of the corner of her eye. "...i don't disagree," she said slowly, glancing around before lowering her tone. "i'm not entirely sure why the queen felt the need to do this, if i'm being completely honest. i thought the kingdoms were doing fine. why a marriage now?" she let out a sigh. neither of them were ready, anyway.

at the latter, qynna shook her head. "i...also do not know," she admitted quietly. "but i fear if we don't figure it out soon, there might be...greater issues down the line."

[vivianroan]

YES, INDEED, why now? Come to think of it... it was suspicious of Eliona Angorian to just... offer her younger daughter as a bargaining chip. What was the endgame here? Perhaps Eris had known more, perhaps she ought to ask her queen for more details.

perhaps.

"You ask a rather intriguing question. Why now, indeed? Perhaps the old queen knows something we're not privy of." it was a way - for sowing discord. An innocent word here & there to make everyone doubtful.

greater issues, indeed. "I'm sure it's nothing. Had it been anything dangerous, the palace wards would've been able to stop them, wouldn't they? Perhaps they are merely jesters."

for some reason, she doubted it.