JJ Doe

Beyond The Veil Interest Check

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Fritz "Ryn" Hendrix

Time: Sola 28 1739; Nighttime Hours
Location: Castle Dining Room
Interaction(s)/Mention(s): @Potter @princess @FunnyGuy @samreaper @Helo @Apex Sunburn @Tae @Oso

Ms. Persephone had not uttered a word in some time, Ryn noticed—her eyes darted about the room like a trapped sparrow. At first, he had attributed her unease to the rather delicate matter of her current situation. Impersonating nobility while Count Damien sat mere tables away was hardly conducive to a relaxing evening, after all. The grandeur of the setting by itself could unsettle those unused to such displays of wealth and power, let alone those who regarded them with contempt.

Or—and this thought gave him pause—possibly he was the source of her discomfort. He struggled to pinpoint any particular offense; their interactions since the masquerade had been limited to passing pleasantries. Hardly the stuff of lasting grievance. Still, with these things, one never knew.

Watching her, however, he realized it was not any one thing causing her distress—it was everything. The sounds, the smells, even the very air seemed to press against her like a physical weight. As voices rose around them, the shadows beneath her eyes deepened, and something flickered behind her gaze—a darkness that made him think of storm clouds gathering before thunder.

He was about to suggest she might benefit from some fresh air when soft arms encircled him from behind.

Lady Charlotte’s embrace was tender, warm, yet it sent an inexplicable chill down his spine. Not a word passed her lips, but the gesture carried all the weight of a farewell. Then she was gone, offering Mr. Kazumin both an embrace and affectionate words.

“Kaz.” The whisper was so faint, Ryn nearly missed it. ”Outside. Now. Please.”

Words rose to his lips and died there. If his earlier assessment of her discomfort around him held any truth, his presence would only compound her distress. Best to leave this to someone she trusted. Ryn caught Mr. Kazumin’s eye and gave a slight nod, watching as he hurried after her.

With a quiet sigh, Ryn divided his attention between Duke Vikena—just in case the man decided to make this evening even more interesting—and the high table. Lady Morrigan, silent as she had been at the theatre, now leaned close to Prince Callum’s ear. Though her words were lost to distance, Ryn could read the shape of her question clearly enough: Who are you?

Or what? he added. The prince’s magicae had altered dramatically since Ryn's last assessment, and not in ways that suggested natural progression. The dark entity’s presence raised many troubling questions: Had it been invited in—through a spell of the prince's own casting—or had it found its way in through other means? A curse, perhaps, tied to one of those artifacts he and his maid had discovered? Or had something fundamental shifted within the prince himself these past few days?

Captain Wasun’s suggestion—“Charlotte, you should go find doctor”—cut through Ryn’s musings. He took a moment to consider everything he had observed throughout the evening. While Duke Vikena might be correct about Lady Charlotte feeling the sting of rejection, Ryn was not entirely convinced it was by Mr. Deacon. There was also the Captain himself, whose gaze kept straying to a beautiful woman who was in the company of Lord Vael-Damien with an ache that mirrored Lady Charlotte’s own. Not quite the same story, nonetheless written in the same ink.

Perhaps he should check. “You do look unwell, Lady Charlotte. Would it help if Lord Cassius Damien escorted you to the infirmary?”

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

Hala Sami

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

28 Sola, Night
The Grand Banquet
@Oso @Tpartywithzombi @Tae @Rodiak

Hala blinked once, twice, their pearl-dusted eyelids catching the chandelier light as reality sank in: Milo had actually left them standing there, alone, in the middle of this sorry excuse for a banquet like last season’s shoes.

A slow burn crept up their spine, hot and electric. The nerve. The absolute nerve of Milo St. Claire to chase after someone else while they were in the middle of—

Something stirred against their ribs—a tiny tremor that snapped their focus away from the simmering indignation. Instinctively, Hala’s hand slipped beneath the folds of their outfit, fingers finding soft fur that quivered beneath their touch.

“Shhh, habibti,” they whispered, “Mama’s just having a moment.”

Glancing up, Hala caught Little Miss Divine herself slipping through the double doors with another woman. Sharp as a cat’s claws, their lips curled upward. Well then, if Milo wanted to waste the honor of their company...

They adjusted their garment before gliding toward the doors. But first—

“Nadim,” they called to the massive black dog padding faithfully at their heels. They jerked their chin toward where the Shehzadi sat. “Go give Nana some love.”

Nadim’s eyes lit up like it was his birthday. He bounded across the polished floor, making a beeline for Nahir. They doubted she had time to register what was coming before ninety-nine pounds of pure enthusiasm planted both paws on her shoulders and began thoroughly redecorating her face with slobber.

When the Shehzadi’s gaze caught Hala through the messy kiss, they wiggled their fingers in a wave and sashayed out the doors. Their heels clicked softly against the marble as they passed beneath arched windows streaked with moonlight. A quick study of the building’s layout earlier had proven useful—quite useful indeed. They emerged into a dimly lit side courtyard just as voices carried over from the front steps.

“Are you doing okay?”

Hala’s smile sharpened as they followed the sound.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Ryn & Prince Wulfric - Part V

FLASHBACK: Sola, 27th

---

---

They ran down the alley, boots sounding like scattered drum beats. Behind them, the door shuddered and groaned, but the makeshift barricade held—at least long enough for a head start.

By the time the thugs figured out the front exit might be a faster way to catch them, they were already a good few meters ahead of them. However, the Slop Shack was built on the shoreline by the piers, so until they progressed deeper into the slums, there weren’t that many options for where they could run. The four ruffians still had them in their sights, so they would have to get a bit creative.

Wulfric picked up the first piece of sizable debris that came under his hands – a discarded plank. He threw it at their first pursuer; the thug leader with his muscular frame and longer stride was the fastest. The burly man seized the plank mid-air, and ripped the rotting wood apart with a shout. “Someone’s angry,” the prince noted idly even as he jogged onwards, gaze flicking here and there for more environmental aids and opportunities.

“I can’t imagine why,” came Hendrix’s voice from distinctly not where he’d been three steps ago. “All we did was taunt them, embarrass them in front of the entire establishment, barricade them behind a door, and now we’re throwing whatever we can at their heads.” Tracing the playful voice upward, Wulfric found the count practically skipping along the wall’s coping like it was a garden path.

“It’s their own fault for being so inept,” Wulfric commented. “Let me know if you see anything useful from up there,” he said even as he kicked an empty barrel, sending it rolling under their pursuers’ feet. He weaved in and out of alleys while Hendrix pranced above on the walls and rooftops. “You fuckers!” the pugilist roared, and returning like with like, threw an empty bottle towards Wulfric. The knifeless man was trying to pelt the count with stones. None of the projectiles reached, but they did cause an awful racket. Thankfully, the docks were practically abandoned at this time of night, though the prince did spot a few curious souls take a peek through the window only to dismiss the activity as none of their business. There was a stray drunkard who tottered along the edges of the street, but he still had enough wits about him to stagger out of the way of the group of men charging through like a crash of rhinos.

In the distance, he heard a party of cavorting folks. To avoid them, Wulfric gave the area a wide berth. However, his path took him to an unfamiliar yet densely packed area. Wooden shacks were littered around. Navigating by the stars was possible, but the scant light did little in the way of illuminating the path.

Across the open shores, the salt-laden breeze danced freely. It was trapped by the confines of the alleyways, succumbing to stagnation. Garbage infested the streets, along with the stench of piss and shit, rat corpses clogging the gutters. The susurration of sand under his boots gradually shifted to the soft squelching of mud. He slowed down to scope out the surroundings when he was reminded he did not have to do so all on his own.

A different city existed on the rooftops. In the spaces between—where buildings almost touched but did not quite—Ryn spotted routes the earthbound would never see. “Take the next left!” he called down to the prince who was doing a remarkable job of not getting caught so far.

Wulfric did not hesitate to take the turn, and was not led astray.

Night wind rushed around him as Ryn leapt between buildings. His boots barely touched the neighboring roof before he was moving again, muscles coiling and releasing. All the while, he kept watch over Prince Wulfric’s progress through the maze.

“Right at the crooked lamp post,” Ryn directed, rolling smoothly across a slanted roof. “Mind the—” He winced as the prince discovered the pile of fish guts. “Never mind.”

Wulfric grimaced as he waded through a knee-high heap of discarded viscera. The scent reminded him of that unfortunate fish stew, and his stomach shuddered at the memory, bile rising to the back of his throat. However, he ran on, waving a dismissive hand towards Fritz. “I’ll live,” he gritted out. “No need for extraneous data,” he reassured. He was confident he didn’t need to concern himself over the count who was multitasking marvellously, yet he was just as sure it would be simpler for Hendrix if he didn’t have to parse the kinds of details the royal could do without. “Focus on what’s important.”

That, Ryn could do.

A crumbling stone wall stretched up ahead, a remnant of an old building torn town. It served as a partial barrier between two tiny neighbourhoods within the docks, and provided a semblance of privacy to the residents on each side. Eyeing the obstacle, Wulfric took a page out of the count’s book of tricks, and went on to scale it. At the edge of the wall, convenient pieces of debris were scattered on the road, precariously balanced. Scanning them in the scant seconds as he sped closer, he judged which ones to use as a springboard. In a hop, a skip, and a jump, he reached its highest point with his palms, and vaulted up onto it in one fluid motion. It wasn’t to show off - well, maybe just a little, the whistle and applause from Hendrix did tickle his ego - but to get an overview of the situation and plan their next steps together with the count.

“They are not that far away,” he said of the thugs, who were lagging only a few streets behind. Looking this way and that, he imprinted as much of this unknown part of the cityscape into his mind map as possible. Given he had only a few steps left before he ran out of the rampart, that wasn’t much. But it was enough to give him an idea. Off in the distance, two neat rows of lights stretched along a lengthy road. The Peasant Lane. “There are more patrols there,” he murmured. “If we cannot shake them off otherwise, let us arrange a handover, and have someone else deal with these idiots, shall we?” The end of the wall was right in front of him.

“I am entrusting the route planning to you.” His gaze lingered on Fritz for a beat longer. Yes, he did in fact trust him enough to rely on him. There were certainly ways he could rationalize the whys, but in that moment, it was the pure conviction that the man wouldn’t let him down. In the next breath, he jumped off of the wall. Landing in a crouch, he broke his fall with a roll. Now back to street level, he dashed onwards as soon as he picked himself up, running pace unbroken.

The irony was not lost on the count—the heir apparent of Caesonia, the great-grandson of Julian and Ida Danrose, trusted Ryn to guide him. Ryn’s laugh came out as a breath, sharp and fleeting. Trust. What a fragile thing.

Momentum carried him sideways, boots scraping against soot-stained brick. A leap, a pivot off a dangling shop sign—The Rusty Anchor—then a drop onto an awning. The canvas groaned but held, slingshotting him forward into a balcony.

They were a mismatched arrowhead in the district—Ryn above, Wulfric below—cutting between row houses and heaps of refuse that even rats avoided.

A flicker of torchlight caught his attention. There, at the intersection—a familiar silhouette multiplied. Metal glinted beneath dark cloaks.

Ryn’s gaze darted between the water’s edge and the thugs still in pursuit. “Keep going, I’ll be back,” he called, already changing course across the rooftops, leaving the prince to wonder at his sudden departure.

Well then.

It was time to lure the pursuers elsewhere, and Wulfric knew exactly where he would lead them to. He slowed down a tad, weaving between buildings until the gangsters noticed only one of their targets remained in sight.

“Ha-ah!” the leader laughed even as he puffed. “Friend ditched you?”

“I told you…” Wulfric raised his voice just so, “I am enough to take you all on!” Running between the final line of buildings, he emerged onto the docks. It was a clear area with few obstacles and even fewer places to hide. That had both its advantages and disadvantages, but for now, it’d work. He edged his way towards the piers, scoping out the field where they would face off.

“Why not jus’ do tha’ in t’ firs’ place, huhh?!” That was the bruiser who was the second closest on his tail. While the other men, shaggy-hair and pony-tail lagged behind, these two were already encircling him, eyeing him cautiously as they took the chance to regain their breath. “Plannin’ sumthin’, huh?”

Wulfric smirked with all the arrogance befitting a prince. He adopted a condescending attitude, full of swagger as a means of provoking them into irrationality. “Why, are you afraid to fight two-on-one? Cowards,” he mocked.

The taunt had the predicted effect, and the two teamed up against him. The burly leader ran at him with a shout, aiming to put him into a grappling hold. Meanwhile, the bruiser was positioning to the side to hem him in. So, the two were used to working together. The fatigue from the chase and the anger both worked against them, their movements less precise as a result. Of course, Wulfric was not unaffected from all the running either, but he had had about half a minute longer to rest than them. It would have to do. He fell into a crouch, spreading out his arms as if readying to meet the leader head on. At the last moment, he grabbed one burly arm, shifted sideways, and with a counter-grab over the man’s neck, swept his legs underneath him, throwing him over his hip.

Of course, the bruiser wasn’t merely standing there twiddling his thumbs. He came at Wulfric with a series of hits, a fierce sequence of hands, feet, elbows, and knees. An open area worked well for his opponent, and the prince was left mostly blocking and evading. If he had a blade, the fight would be finished by now.

If I had a blade, it would be finished - bloodily.

Shaggy-haired and pony-tail finally caught up, joining in. Largely, they were harassing the prince and limiting his movement options. Not only was that extremely annoying, in a prolonged fight, it would have likely cost him the victory. He edged to the border of the wharf, seeking a way out while the goons got the impression they were cornering him against the waterfront.

There! A glimmer of approaching lanterns, the flutter of cloaks in the wind, outlines of men armoured and armed. Just a bit more…

“We’re not lettin’ you run this time!” Having noticed him peering around, the pony-tailed man lunged in, a twisted piece of metal wielded as a baton, ready to strike. Wulfric braced for impact even as he tried to evade, when some sort of a makeshift projectile - a rock, by the sounds of it - hit pony-tail’s rod, knocking it off-course. The prince was as surprised as his opponent. He knew the guards were on the way, but this had come flying from another direction. Which meant–

“Whu– Where did–?”

Before the pony-tailed man might get clued into the count’s presence, the prince improvised.

“Guards!” he hissed.

“As if we’d believe that!”

“Wait, no– boss, they’re comin’ over fer real!”

“When did–?!”

Sensing opportunity, the royal acted.

SPLAAAASH!

Having pushed one man into the sea, Wulfric began a mad dash back towards the alleyways.

“ROY!” the leader roared.

“Bastard!!” That was the bruiser.

“Fuck–the guards’re almost ‘ere!”

“OOYY! What’s goin’ on there!” that was one of the guards hollering at the lot of troublemakers causing a commotion.

“Damn it! DAMN! We can’t waste time on that fuckin’ bastard…” The words receded into incomprehensible shouting as the prince gained distance.

While the thugs were all a-tizzy, frantically working together to pull their ally out of water, Wulfric was full-on sprinting. One of the guards had split off from the rest to pursue him, but the royal had a head start. He vanished into the first alley-way he came across, taking sharp lefts and rights to impede the lone guard from catching sight of where exactly he had gone.

There was that familiar, practically soundless padding of feet across a rooftop nearby. A whisper of his name was carried to him by the night’s breeze, gentle as a petal floating off a flowering tree. Wulfric followed the call to the count’s silhouette outlined by moonlight, where he crouched on the roof and extended a hand down to him.

Ghostly pale. Beckoning him.

The prince approached a nearby windowsill at a run. Once the toes of his right boot were on the narrow ledge, he channeled all of his momentum into one powerful, vertical jump. He grasped Hendrix’s hand, and the count pulled him up with strength he wouldn’t have expected given the man’s frame. His free hand grabbed onto the edge of the roof, his boots found purchase on the wall, and he landed next to Fritz in an awkward half-crouch. If the man hadn’t moved out of the way, Wulfric would have ended half on top of him, so though not as graceful as he would have liked, the maneuver ended better than it could have.

A couple of streets away, the tell-tale clink-clink of someone running in armour could be heard. “Impeccable timing,” Wulfric huffed a near-silent laugh. The two used a fallen beam as a catwalk to the next building over, and found a convenient nook in its half-exposed attic to hide within. There were crates, wooden panels, and a variety of clutter they could use as cover, so it was simply a matter of waiting until the guard gave up on chasing them.

The small attic nook seemed to shrink with each passing heartbeat, or perhaps that was just Ryn’s awareness narrowing to the man beside him. Prince Wulfric radiated heat like a furnace after their midnight chase, his presence filling every corner of their hiding spot. Each measured breath ghosted across Ryn’s skin, raising goosebumps despite the warmth of the summer air. A bead of sweat traced down the prince’s temple, catching the moonlight, and Ryn found himself transfixed by its slow descent.

The prince shifted beside him, and the movement only brought them closer together in the confined space. What had been noticeable heat before now pressed against him fully, and Ryn could feel each rise and fall of Prince Wulfric’s quickened breath.

And it was at that moment when the smell decided to join them. Fish guts.

“I guess you’ll be needing another bath,” Ryn whispered with a soft laugh, though considering he had skipped his own wash earlier, he was hardly one to talk.

Wulfric turned to Hendrix, arched eyebrow raising sardonically, only to realize how very close they were. Breaths intermingling, bodies pressing together. He didn’t even mind the smell of sweat, had adapted to it without realizing. Yet, he was able to detect something distinctly Fritz in the man’s scent. His mouth grew drier, and not only because of the need to hydrate. He resisted the urge to stare.

Huffing, he shook his head, and redirected his attention outside, watching out for the guard. When it was safe to do so, he descended back to street level. “That was an impressive feat of marksmanship back there,” he referenced Hendrix’s rock throw. He had not seen him do it, but he knew he must have been the one to disrupt that one thug’s attack. “Has anyone ever told you that you take on more work than needed?” he asked jokingly. Really, the count was far too good at making himself reliable.

Ryn looked up, “Do I?”

Tilting his head at the man, scrutinizing, he replied with meaning, “Yes.” A pregnant pause followed as he considered whether to say more.

Ultimately, he did. “If we are to be allies, you can depend on me, at least for some things.”

This time, it was the other man who paused. “... Such as?”

“Such as trusting I can handle myself in a fight, so you can rest easy and not worry too much,” he drawled. With a tiny nonchalant shrug, he added, “Generally, I am inclined to assist in matters which are aligned with our goals.” He’d figured that much was self-evident, though by the way Hendrix was looking at him, he was judging how far he could extend that trust. Well, that feeling was very much mutual. “Why, do you have something in mind you would like a prince’s help with?” he inquired curiously.

“... A lot of somethings,” Ryn smiled weakly at the prince. “Many of which I’m not sure what to do… or if… ” He looked away from the prince and sighed. “I’m sorry. There’s things that I still need to make sense of.” Then, with a brand new smile, Ryn faced Prince Wulfric. “Thanks for offering, Adel. You’ll be the first to know when I need your help.”

Wulfric hummed. “Do keep it in mind. I rarely make this kind of offer, so it would be rather a waste.” Rolling his neck, he cast a glance upwards. It was getting late, but he did not wish to wrap up the night just yet. “So, is there anything else that you would like to see?” he turned Hendrix’s earlier question back on him.

“Somewhere other than a bathhouse? Hmm.” Ryn’s gaze traveled across the expanse of Sorian before settling on the capital’s tallest building.

From the bell tower’s height, the two men watched Sorian surrender to the deepest hours of night. Most windows had gone dark, though scattered lamplight still pierced the darkness below like earthbound stars—taverns, brothels, and gambling houses burned the brightest. Darkness claimed the slums, their shapes lost in the shadows, broken only by the occasional flicker of illicit fires. Beyond the harbor, moonlight painted a silver path across the waters, stretching toward the horizon where sky and sea became one.

“Amazing,” Ryn breathed, his words carried away by the wind that played among the tower’s ancient bells.

Perched on the parapet edging the small viewing area located beneath the bell tower’s roof, Wulfric canted his head, watching the starred expanse above as a small carefree smile played about his lips. Hendrix’s whisper tickled his ears, stirring old memories even as this very moment created a new one, a recollection he might cherish in the future. “Breathtaking, isn’t it?” he murmured.

He stretched out a hand, reaching above, to the stars. He traced the path they lighted, a vast expanse of darkness in between rendered trivial only due to its unfathomable distance. Yet, the illusion that it was close enough to grasp incited boundless desire. His extended fingers lingered at the boundary between the heavens and the earth, the line between them blurring as they joined into one. Even as his hand retracted, a sense of nostalgia permeating him, he posed a quiet question. “Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sail amongst the stars?”

“Not in many years,” Ryn eyed the profile of the prince’s face, noting the childlike wonder on it. “Have you?”

“Yes, but…” a hint of wryness crept in, “My answer is the same as yours, truth be told.” Folding one leg up, he leaned an elbow on it, resting his head on a palm. “It has been…a while.” Their adventures of the day recalled a time long past. “I haven’t had this kind of fun in many years. I never even knew running away could be so enjoyable,” he mused. Facing the count, he said plainly, “Thank you for today.” For giving me a chance is what he meant perhaps, though whether the prideful prince could even be aware of such a notion was unknown.

Ryn stared at the prince for a long moment, the words forming slowly, as if they had to travel a great distance to reach his tongue. “Thank you, Your Highness,” he said finally, “for giving it a chance.” Because none of this—the chaos, the laughter, the strange, unexpected joy of it all—would have happened if the prince had not taken a chance with him.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

Hala Sami

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

28 Sola, Night
The Grand Banquet
@Oso

Absorbing Milo’s praise, Hala’s chest expanded like a peacock’s plume. Obviously people would want to immortalize them in art—that was the natural order of things. Shame those attempts would only ever catch a sliver of their essence. Still, hearing it said out loud made Hala glow brighter.

“Please,” they exhaled, their voice textured with amused impatience. “Humble is cute, but confidence is what makes blood rush to all the interesting places.” A smirk crossed their lips. “You orchestrated that whole scene without even trying. Own your genius. Don’t waste your talents on modesty.” With an elegant flick of their wrist, they added, “The world’s already drowning in mediocrity.”

Around the dining hall, fragments of drama unfolding in every corner caught their ear. Their expression turned positively feline. “Do you hear that?” Hala leaned in, close enough to smell Milo’s cologne—an original blend, they guessed, and tastefully applied. “All this wasted material, just begging for you to turn them into something unforgettable.”

Without waiting for permission—a thing Hala rarely did—their hand slipped into the crook of Milo’s arm. Their bangles chimed softly with the movement. Against their fingertips, the fabric of his jacket felt expensive, and they allowed themselves a moment to appreciate both the tailoring and the arm underneath it.

“Now that you know you're being watched so closely…” Dark and rich, their voice dipped like chocolate with a hint of chili. “Show me what masterpiece you can create, artiste.” They gestured to the hall, giving Milo the honor of escorting them to the stage of his choosing.

Beneath the layers of fabric, something moved.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Fritz "Ryn" Hendrix

Time: Sola 28 1739; Nighttime Hours
Location: Castle Dining Room
Interaction(s)/Mention(s): @FunnyGuy @Potter @samreaper @princess

“You’re welcome to get in where you fit in if you find yourself bored! Duke Gideon’s section. We all know the Edwards family can throw a good party but they are rarely the lifeblood of it! Hahahahahahahaha!”

Ryn had not the foggiest notion whether that statement was true or false, but he favoured Duke Vikena with a courteous smile nonetheless. “Thank you for your gracious offer, Your Grace. It is rather a pity we have not been seated in closer proximity this evening. I should have greatly enjoyed the privilege of dining and conversing with all of you.”

As he spoke, a thought that had been patiently waiting in some corner of his mind suddenly stepped forward and cleared its throat. “What if we arrange to have dinner together sometime?” he suggested, addressing all three now. “Something a bit less…” he gestured vaguely at the elaborate banquet, “structured than this.”

It would be splendid, he thought, to become better acquainted in surroundings where one was not perpetually on guard against sudden arrest or brutal assault—whether they be cutting remarks, physical confrontation, or those subtle political maneuvers that left one’s standing in tatters. A drama-free meal.

One could hope.

“Very well, thank you and yourself?”

To Ms. Persephone’s verbal handshake, he replied, “Excellent! … But.” Ryn took a more casual tone. “You don’t need to force yourself to speak like that if you’d rather not, Olivia.”

Judging by the strength of his grip and need for secrecy, Ryn suspected Mr. Kazumin had neglected to mention what transpired earlier that day to Ms. Persephone and the duke.

Either that or the man had a predilection for roughness. To each their own, Ryn supposed, though he preferred a gentler touch himself.

“Well, if you walked away with your head attached and appetite intact, I’d chalk that up as a victory.” He tried to picture how that conversation must have unfolded. When an opening presented itself, Ryn asked. “What did His Majesty want with you?”

—Fireflies. Ryn’s expression softened at the charming name and sentiment behind it. Putting a name to their intrepid little band of truth-seekers made it feel like they were truly in this together; camaraderie forged in the face of darkness.

Of course, the pedantic voice in his head had to note that fireflies could not burn anything, despite the name.Their glow was a product of bioluminescence, a process in which a chemical reaction within the organism produces light without significant heat—a property known as ‘cold light.’

An imaginary Peter scowled at him in disgust. “You couldn’t just let that go could you, Boss? No one gives a rat’s arse about hot or cold beetle bums.”

Fair point. Though technically speaking, it was the abdomen, not the rear, where the special lantern organ was located.

The lines on mind-Peter’s scowl deepened. “Boss. What did I just say?”

“I think it’s brilliant.” Ryn said aloud, nodding at Mr. Kazumin’s handiwork. “An inspiring motto, too. ‘Fireflies seeking to burn the truth out.’ Very catchy.”

At least, he thought so until Mr. Kazumin let out a rather manic giggle, a glint of something wild sparking in his eyes. Ryn wondered if he had handed a pyromaniac black powder at the masquerade ball the Damiens hosted.

“If no one is strongly opposed to it, I think we can make it official.” Which reminded him… His gaze drifted, searching. “Speaking of, did something happen to Lady Charlotte? She seemed upset.”

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Ríoghnach "Riona"

Time/Date: Nighttime, Sola 28th
Location: Birthday Party Boat

How hard would it be to clobber a grown man and heave him overboard without anyone noticing?

She’d been arranging Lady Thea’s birthday decorations when that shock of orange hair caught her eye—him. The same bastard who’d attacked her and Cal in Wystan’s bedroom several nights ago.

Tight as a spring, every muscle in Riona’s body coiled. Slowly, carefully, she reached for the heavy brass candelabra on a nearby table. Perfect for caving in an unwelcome skull.

How in seven hells did he get aboard?

“Whoa, hold up,” Mr. Window Lurker raised his hands in surrender. “Not here for another scrap.”

Riona’s eyes narrowed to slits, dark with suspicion. “Right. Then why are you here?” Each ridge and whorl of the metalwork pressed reassuringly against her palm as her fingers closed around the candelabra.

An exasperated sigh gusted from the redhead. “Seriously? Didn’t His Whininess tell you about the giant?”
“You mean His Whininess who had you cornered like a rat?”
His jaw worked soundlessly for a moment before he wisely kept his thoughts to himself. “So did he tell you or not?”
“He did.”
“Then why in blazes haven’t you—” He flung his hands skyward in exasperation.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Riona bit out. “Maybe because the first time I met your lot, I had some mountain of a man stalking me. Then, the second time, you tried to kill us. Forgive me if I’m not eager to skip off alone to meet your employer, gods-know-where.”

Heads turned at her outburst. Nearby servants paused mid-task. The redhead stepped closer, gesturing for her to lower her voice. “Geez, woman, calm down.”

Ah yes, because telling someone to calm down always works. “Don’t you ‘woman’ me,” she hissed.

Sighing, the man reached into his jacket. Riona’s grip tightened on the candelabra, ready to swing, but he only pulled out a folded paper and held it out.

Her eyes flicked between his face and the paper.

“It won’t bite.” A pause, a sidelong glance. “Well, not ’til you say the word, anyway.”

Brow furrowed, she snatched the paper and unfolded it. Her breath caught—it was the scroll this thieving bastard had taken from Cal.

“Call it a gesture of good faith,” he said, almost smug.

Riona tucked it away with a scoff. “I don’t even know who your boss is.” For a split second she wondered if it could be Marek, but quickly dismissed the idea. All she knew was that their employer—boss, or master, or whatever—came from Varian.

“You there! Both of you!” The crisp, no-nonsense voice of Mrs. Copperfield, one of House Smithwood’s most senior maids, cut through her thoughts. “If you’ve hands to spare, carry those empty crates off the boat and stack them with the others!”

“Yes, ma’am,”
“Yes, ma’am,” they chorused, then shared a look. Only now Riona noticed the redhead wore the same pressed uniform as the boat servers. Questions formed and died on her tongue.

Together they hefted the crates and made their way down the gangplank onto the dock.

“Fritz Hendrix,” the redhead said abruptly.

The name came out of the blue that at first Riona had no idea what the redhead was talking about. “Count Hendrix?” Why would a Varian count send men skulking through the castle? What could he possibly want with—... With her?

Her heart stuttered. A wild, desperate hope leapt up inside her, so sharp it hurt.

The redhead set his crate on the boards with a hollow thump and turned to Riona, amber eyes fixed on her. “He’ll be at the birthday party.” She knew—she’d memorized the guest list. “That’s your chance to talk to him.” The weight of the box lifted from her arms as he stepped back. “And get your prince’s sword back.”
“... And my dagger?”
His eyes rolled skyward before he shrugged. “Eh.”

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Ryn & Prince Wulfric - Part III

FLASHBACK: Sola, 27th

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Since Wulfric’s tunic had dried a fair bit while they chatted, he tied it around his waist, and the two moved on. They were in the slums proper now, the prison a dark and forbidding sentinel which overlooked the worst section of the city. Its solid drab walls marked an unseen boundary, serving as a reminder of what awaited those who strayed on the wrong side of law. It was supposed to be a warning to criminals as well as a reassurance of safety to those who were not. The deeper they progressed into the slums, the more Wulfric learned of the life there, the more he realized the prison’s intended message was an illusion at best.

The further off the Peasant Lane, the narrower, filthier, and more convoluted the alleys became. Thrash littered the streets, and in one courtyard, the royal could see people systematically picking through it to find anything of use. The buildings crowded each other, stacked haphazardly side to side, or added on top what had once been there. Many were in a state of disrepair, the wooden huts patched up with cloth and tin sheets or else left exposed to the elements. Several were too broken down for anyone to live in properly, though that did not deter squatters from seeking shelter in their ruins.

The unluckiest folk were left out in the streets. Some resided in makeshift tents, others slept on beds of newspaper and cardboard. They were the lost, the forgotten, the abandoned. To be kept out of sight and out of mind, to be hidden or disposed of like the trash so many viewed them as.

The prince took them in, and…

…wasn’t sure that he felt anything.

But even so. Even if that was the case, he acknowledged that they were his people. He might be indifferent to their suffering, might not especially care what happened to each individual. But even so…If there was a chance, if there was potential, if they could be party to change - if they were a requisite for change - then it was up to him to make it a reality.

As he pondered these matters, a certain exchange perked up his ears. Peeking down a side street, Wulfric was sure he spotted a suspect gathering. He stopped, gesturing to the count. He was about to go investigate, when something brushed past him. A hand tried to sneak into his trousers’ pocket. The prince reacted on instinct, grabbing the offender. Their body was much lighter than expected, so he tackled them to the ground with ease. A knee pinned down their back and one arm, their other hand held in his grasp and twisted behind them, he saw that they were, “...A child.”

He glanced down the back alley he had meant to look into. Having heard a commotion nearby, the group had scattered already. Coincidence, or, “Were you hired by them?” he speculated. The small, filthy thing below him struggled with a renewed burst of energy. “Geroff!” He supposed the protest meant his guess was on the mark. “I do not care either way,” he confessed. “Assaulting a child wasn’t on the day’s agenda,” he drawled. The youth calmed down a bit, grumbling, “Not a kid,” before giving a perfunctory wriggle. “Mmmmhm. I’m sure you aren’t.” Spying a glint of something sharp, he lifted a shoddy shiv off the adolescent before releasing them.

The street rat scurried up, and was about to dash away when they noticed Wulfric casually twirling their improvised weapon between his fingers. “HEY! ‘Ats mine!” they accused. “Says the thief?” He smirked, arching an eyebrow. “Don’t worry, I will give it back.” The kid stared at him with open suspicion but stayed put. “I want you to entertain a suggestion of mine. I will pose three questions to you. If you answer them all to the best of your ability, you get one silver.” He could practically see the metaphorical gears turning. “An’ mah ‘nife?” Wulfric snorted, and held it out handle first. “This hardly merits being called a knife, but go ahead, take it now. Whether you agree to the exchange is entirely your choice.” He held out the item in question, which the youth snagged quickly.

“H-how do I know yeh’ll pay?”

The prince shrugged. “I can give you three copper after the first question, three after the second, and four after the third.” The child took a moment to count, and nodded hesitantly.

“There was a deal of some sort going on there,” he motioned to the side street. “What was it about?”

Even underneath the grime, he could see the youth paling. “I dunno,” their eyes lowered, darting around. “Drugs, maybe. Or…stuff. D-dun’ poke yer nose in it. ‘Ats how yeh meet– how-” a gesture of a knife slitting a throat followed.

“Oh, unlike you, I can take care of myself. But you didn’t finish your sentence,” he stated, attempting to pry out more information as part of the first question. But the child refused, shaking their head. “I can’t-can’t.” Sighing, Wulfric handed over three coins. “If you poke your nose into it, that is how you meet who?” he stressed. Grasping their bounty with trembling fingers, the child gulped. “They all jus’ say it’s The Gardener. I dunno who, no one's seen ‘em and lived…” Three more coins followed, and the youth shivered as they took the money, head swiveling here and there with a hunted look about them.

“Last question…” The adolescent was clearly relieved at that. “What can you tell me about the city?”

“Huh?” A goggled stare was directed his way. “Yeh mean Sorian?” The prince nodded. “I dunno the city,” the kid spat bitterly. “Jus’ this ‘ell’ole.”

“It’s part of the city,” Wulfric asserted. “So tell me about it.”

And the thief did. They told them about which streets were the worst, where you could get food reliably, where the cheapest merchandise could be found, how to avoid danger, and a few other tidbits. “Fer more I’ll hafta show yeh ‘round…but it’ll cost yeh.” With a comfortable topic, the youth had grown more confident. “I will keep that in mind,” the royal chuckled, and handed over the four coppers he owed for that answer.

The street rat shuffled back, gaze travelling to the count. “Yeh got questions too?” they tested.

“Oh? Am I allowed to have a go at it too?”

“Not fer free,” they stressed, and the count nodded.

His hand found his chin, fingers curling thoughtfully against his jawline while his other arm crossed his chest, providing a steady perch for his elbow.

Then the man asked one of the simplest and most basic questions to ever exist. “What should I call you?”

“Yeh’ll pay me fer that?”

There was a meaningful pause before he answered, “Names are important.”

They tilted their head this way and that way, but in the end, decided the count was sincere. “It’s Jo.” The name wasn’t indicative of their gender any more than their appearance. A small, thin, dirty figure in mismatched rags, hair cut short, and voice still young-sounding enough the higher pitch could be attributed to age alone. Overall, they seemed more boyish, but it wasn’t certain. Cautiously, the child stepped closer to the count, an expectant glint in their eye as they held out their hand.

“Hello, Jo.” Ryn took the child’s hand into his and shook.

That brief touch revealed more than a dozen conversations could have. Ryn felt the story written in Jo’s hands—one of empty bellies and cold nights, of desperate scrambles for survival. The kind of tale no child should have to tell.

“You can call me Henri,” Ryn said, offering a conspiratorial wink. He knew very well that monikers, like Jo, served as an armor in this world. Not unlike titles, he supposed, but this was for a different kind of protection.

A small theater of emotions played across Jo’s face: first the fall of disappointment at the handshake, then sharp alertness when they caught the meaning behind his wink, and finally a bright flash of joy as they discovered the coin he had slipped into their palm without them noticing.

“Jo, have you ever had a lemon drop or humbug before?”

“What-bug?” They blinked up at him, confused. “Uh, no. I didn’t. None o’ ‘em.” Hands in pockets, they rubbed the toe of one foot against the ankle of the other. “Mister…Uh…Henri. Yeh paid a silver, so…’At’s one more question fer yeh.” They’d already stashed away the coin, of course, but it hadn’t escaped their notice that the count had paid in advance. They could have ditched. They knew it, and they saw that ‘Henri’ knew it too. But they’d decided to stick around for the last question.

“Never?” A smile took over Ryn’s face in an instant. “We better change that!” He moved his hands slowly, no quick gestures to startle. A twist, a turn, and there they were: two candies in their wax paper wrappings, appearing like wishes made real—the lemon drop in its yellow wrapper, the humbug in its striped one.

“Both are sweet, but…” Ryn lifted his left hand. “If you have a taste for sour things, you might like lemon drops.” He lowered that hand and raised his right. “If you like mint, then you should try the humbug.” He held out both candies and waited.

“Um…” Jo’s eyes traveled from the man’s left hand to his right, and back again. They were curious about both. After one more glance at Henri to confirm it really was ok to pick and take one, they came close enough to take the lemon drop. For a while, they just admired the bright yellow wrapping, turning the piece of candy round and round in their hand, feeling it as if to confirm it was real. They unwrapped it slowly, sniffing it cautiously. “It smells nice…” Bracing themselves, they took the plunge, and put it into their mouth. “Mmmh!” They immediately exclaimed, eyes widening. Rolling the candy on their tongue, a smile like the rise of dawn lightened their expression, slowly but surely until a full blown, bright sunny grin crested. “Whoa!” They laughed. “This ain’t like lemon at all!” They squished their cheeks with both hands, as if by touch alone they could channel that out-of-the-world sensation to the whole of their body. “This is the best – best – tastin’ thing ever!” Closing their eyes, they savoured the candy, humming happily. Their eyelashes fluttered open, and they looked at the count dreamily. “Thanks, Henri,” they said, soft and genuine. “Tha’s real nice,” their gaze dropped, smile faltering. “I-I hafta go soon. D’ya got any questions left?”

There was magic in witnessing a first taste of sweetness—the kind of magic that had nothing to do with incantations or celestial alignments and everything to do with the way joy could spill from one person into another like wine overflowing its cup. Ryn found himself carried along by the tide of that pure delight. It felt rather like being tipsy without having touched a drop of wine.

“I’ll save my last question for the next time we meet,” he said, pressing two fingers to his brow in a lazy farewell. “See you around, Jo.”

The youth gave a single nod. “Yeah. See ya, Henri.” Then they were off.

Once the child had vanished around the corner, Ryn turned to Prince Wulfric with a raised eyebrow and a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. “And have you had a humbug or lemon drop before?”

Pushing off against the wall he’d been leaning against since Hendrix had taken over the conversation with the would-be-thief, Wulfric made another cursory inspection of the streets. He had largely been observing the interaction between man and child, but had also kept an eye out at the surroundings. Huffing, he quirked an eyebrow in return. “Of course, I have,” he retorted dryly. With a singular head tilt, he indicated the alley he had initially wanted to investigate, proposing nonverbally they check it out now, despite it having been vacated.

When the prince turned his head back around, something smooth and hard touched his lips, sharp with peppermint. Wax paper crinkled as the count tucked the wrapper into his pocket, humbug held steady between them. Just holding it there, not forcing the prince to eat it and ready to pull away if he refused.

“From the finest confectioners in the country, I’m guessing? These are less refined than those and much more affordable…” His gaze dropped to the sweet. “But even this is a luxury for the poor.”

Before he consciously realized, he was grabbing yet another appendage. This time it was Hendrix’s, candy at the tip of the man’s fingers now held to his mouth. Instinctively, Wulfric’s nose scrunched, and he yanked the count’s arm away, forcefully refusing the treat. The offense that crossed his expression was so acrid, one might think he had just been smacked on the cheek with a rotting fish. Lips thinning, he took a step back, releasing Fritz’s arm, though he still watched him with a displeased slant to his features. “I noticed,” he bit out. “Now, keep your hands to yourself…And save that for someone else.” The sting of peppermint could be refreshing, perhaps, but the sickly sweet, sticky nature of the candy was not something he appreciated.

The count tilted his head, seemingly oblivious to what just happened and continued the conversation. “No? Your loss then.” Plopping the humbug into his mouth, he hummed in delight and began to make his way down the alley. “It’s not as sweet as the ones sold to higher society. Closer to horehound drops, actually. And much more refreshing. I think you would’ve liked it.”

The prince only scoffed. “I might have considered it, had you not tried shoving it into my mouth.”

The count halted sharply, his expression shifting to one of pity as he regarded the prince. “If that is what you believed was happening, I am sorry. It’s no wonder you were so terrified.” Each word came soft, careful, as if reaching toward a wounded cat. “How are you feeling right now? We could stop here for a while, if you need a moment.”

An uncomprehending stare was turned Fritz’s way. “What…are you on about?” Shaking his head in befuddlement, he answered if only to move past this strange moment. “I was exaggerating to make a point. I do not appreciate sudden intrusions into my personal space, especially not from a blind spot…” he thought the count knew as much, and waved a dismissive hand. “I was annoyed, but there is no reason for concern. Come on, let’s go,” he pressed, because the pity was even more off-putting than what he had perceived as an ambush.

Deep stillness held the count in place, his gaze boring into the prince with an intensity that made the air thick and close.

“Your reaction might’ve been disproportionate to the situation,” the count’s words settled like ash. “But when a touch makes you flinch like that, makes your body cry out—” His eyes drifted to the prince’s throat, where pulse betrayed what pride concealed. “That’s old pain talking… Don’t be so quick to dismiss what your body’s trying to tell you.”

“I know why I reacted the way I did. Don’t assume you do,” he retorted cooly, gaze as hard and chilling as a glacier. It was akin to trying to scratch through a thick, solid wall of ice; even a layer removed revealed more of the same. “If you are so worried, stay out of my space. But please, don’t treat me as you would a helpless child.” As if he needed the soft handling that unfortunate street rat Jo had been provided. “Your sympathy is misplaced.”

The count met that glacial stare with a smile that held all the quiet warmth of hearth-stones in winter. Ice might make a fine fortress, yes, but what the little prince inside had not learned was that pure ice had a tendency toward transparency. How it magnified rather than masked what had been locked away inside, preserved like insects in amber.

Gently, he set his hand on the boy’s head. “It is not,” he said, voice quieter than before. “... I hope there comes a day when you can overcome that hurt, Adelard.”

He saw it coming this time, but it was such an incomprehensible gesture, Hendrix was able to lay a palm on his head before he could block or evade. “I have–” Indignation scorched his throat, but he wasn’t fast enough to slap away Fritz’s hand either.

Their gazes locked, held, released. The count ruffled the prince’s hair and continued down the path. Wulfric felt a veritable growl clawing its way up his chest, an animalistic snarl emerging into existence. “For someone so keen on preaching how I need to ‘listen to myself’, you are awfully hellbent on dismissing what I’m saying,” he spat.

He marched after that infuriating man into the backstreet, and they went right up to where the presumed drug trade might have happened. Despite the anger still coursing in his veins, he could see this was a strategic location. He surveyed all the exits, the angles which were useful both for hiding and surveying, and the shaded areas created as a result of messily constructed buildings.

“Adel,” Ryn called out, “look at this.” He directed Prince Wulfric’s attention to a small rose symbol carved into the very stone of the building.

“Ah.” The royal approached, inspecting the symbol. With all the other damage to the building, it was difficult to notice unless you were looking for it. He touched the faded etching, tracing it. “I see.” He knew how widespread Black Rose’s influence was, so this was not entirely surprising. But then, if he had noticed the obvious before…Well, what was, was. “Say, how many others do you wager we can find?” a smirk slid into place.

Staring thoughtfully at the symbol, Ryn spoke. “Counting just the ones we walked past today, five. Eight, if you include those shipping crates down at the docks.” His fingers ghosted over the grooves of the symbol, remembering identical marks scored into salt-stained wood that morning.

Wulfric clicked his tongue. “Aren’t you observant.” A competition lost before it could even begin. How annoying.

“That’s just what I happened to spot.” He straightened, gaze sweeping down the narrow passage between buildings. “I’d wager there’s a whole web of these threading through the city. We just didn’t know to look for them before.”

“Oh, no, you knew. After the second or third one, at least. So, what else did you notice?”

“That you’re still charming when you sulk.” he offered, earning himself a sharp look that only widened his grin. Ryn gestured to Prince Wulfric to follow him back to the alley’s mouth.

“Here,” he said, tapping a copper downspout. A simple mark had been scratched into the metal—three short lines arranged like a bird’s foot. A 130 degree spin and five steps away, barely visible beneath a window’s crumbling ledge, someone had drawn what might have been an eye in fading chalk.

“There are marks and symbols everywhere if you look carefully. Different hands, different meanings.” Ryn returned to the rose-marked wall. “I just remember seeing eight of these. And now that we know what they might mean…” He glanced at the direction of the docks. “We can be confident those crates weren’t just carrying tea leaves.”

“Of course, they weren’t. That fishmonger practically announced the smuggling. I did not think it would be Black Rose related, however.”

“They definitely weren’t the only people smuggling things in or out.”

The prince hummed in affirmation. “If that is a sign of rival factions, it means they do not have a monopoly, at the very least.” Then again, it made for more targets to eliminate, so it was a scant silver lining.

Wulfric inspected the one mark they had stopped by. A fading eye…a sign to watch out? He peeked through the window, but it was a derelict building. “I am fairly certain I have seen similar markings here and there, but I assumed they were senseless graffiti.” he remarked. “No doubt some of it is nothing more than defacement, which makes the ones with a specific meaning blend in quite well,” he reasoned. “Anyhow, I shall be more mindful of these.” He gazed up at the sky. Late afternoon was transitioning into early evening. Sunset was a few hours away, but there was already a gradual shift in the activities taking place outside. “Let us explore some more, shall we?”

The slums were extensive. It took but a glance at the city map to realize so. Altogether, this derelict neighborhood was approximately as sizable as the noble district sans the castle. However, so many more people were packed in here, hidden out of view by strategically grown greenery. Rather than protecting those inside from the outside, as the castle area’s fortification did the nobles, the wall of shrubbery was meant to protect the delicate sensibilities of all the other citizens. One could get lost in here for a day, and not see all there was to see.

The prince certainly gave it his best attempt. He and the count traversed the labyrinthine alleys, meandered down winding streets stretching across the slums, people-watching as much as they were surveying the land. Wulfric was on alert for any strange symbols this time around, keeping track of emerging patterns.

Curious about why so many people were stuck in circumstances so deplorable, the royal sought individuals who were willing to impart their sorry tale. A veteran turned alcoholic who didn’t care where he lived, haunted by memories of war. A single mother left alone to take care of several children. A farmer who had been forced to sell his animals and lands to cover a predatory debt. A young woman who had been thrown out for her strangeness. There were quite a few of these so-called ‘rejects’, people who didn’t fit into society at large. Several had been met with misfortune, unable to crawl back out of the pit of poverty they found themselves in. Many of them had long since given up trying. But the majority of residents were simply people who had been born in the slums, had lived there their whole lives, and expected to die there as well. Whoever had ambition for more, regardless of the reason, they were likely to end up tied in with crime.

After the sun set, gloom encroached upon the area, shadows and darkness taking over. Lightning was poor, with scant oil lanterns in proper working order. Those still out and about mainly converged at streetside stalls or in dingy establishments, drinking and smoking in groups. The people still out in the streets at this time were those who were homeless, struggling with addiction, prostitutes – some far too young to be selling their body – or common criminals. Hours of wandering behind them, the pair eventually made their way to the Seafarer’s Slop Shack.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

Hala Sami

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

28 Sola, Night
The Grand Banquet
@PapaOso @Tae

Hala had been watching the two men square off like an audience at the theater—entertained, invested, and utterly delighted by the display. They plucked a plump grape from a nearby guest’s plate, the woman too engrossed in the drama to notice the theft. Hala popped it into their mouth and the fruit burst between their teeth, sweet and tart, a perfect accompaniment to the simmering tension.

Then, of course, that bh***a Kalliope had to spoil everything by barging in right when things were getting juicy! The room’s temperature seemed to drop several degrees as the spectacle fizzled, leaving Hala with the distinct disappointment of a climax denied.

Depositing their half-finished wine glass on the grape-deprived plate, Hala ignored the owner’s indignant gasp and brought their hands together in a slow, elegant clap. “Why not indeed. Especially when you showed me firsthand how skilled you are at both,” they said. “I heard you did static pieces. Nobody said you have a talent for performance art, too.”

The rings adorning their fingers caught the light from the overhead chandeliers as Hala gestured toward the space where the confrontation had just unfolded. “The scene blocking? Masterful.” Their eyes slid meaningfully toward Cassius and Kalliope’s retreating forms. “The casting? Perfect. Your crafted lines drew out such exquisite drama.”

With a grin straddling the line between admiration and wickedness, Hala added, “A man like you doesn’t just create portraits or sculptures—you create moments, reactions... consequences.” They angled their head, earrings swinging, studying him. “I find myself more interested in your creative process.”