LadyRunic

Samhain Intrigues

@LovelyAnastasia ACK! I need to clarify something, and sorry for not noting this sooner. The library wouldn't be falling apart. Dark and dreary yes. With limited light globes. Shelves would have dust and even some would have cobwebs, but as this is near his 'study' it would be relatively free of the webs. The furniture is in decent well worn condition. As if it was care for, but used.

I'm presuming you're looking through Bodil's point of view? Again, my apologies. It's been a long week and I'm under a lot of stress.

The Black Jewels

Arsenio Graves & Ravyn Ghosteye & Queen Heketah & Dujae

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Dujae raised a brow and crossed his arms. ”That is unfortunate for you, but I must insist” His hand then went out as he waited to be handed the sword, his expression unrelenting. A “walking stick” was one thing, but an actual sword...no. Topaz eyes were as cold as the frost coming off of him. ”I require you to hand over the sword.”

Arsenio’s gaze didn’t drop as he kept a hand on his weapon, squaring his stance to Dujae. Following a tense silence, his left hand left the hilt and dexterously undid the buckles that kept the scabbard attached to his belt and caught it with the same hand before it hit the ground. His arm came out with the beautiful sword held level, waiting to hand it off to the man that would keep it for the duration of the party.

Dujae took the weapon and in moment it floated next to the chest where it stayed upright. He proceeded to nod and moved out of the way once more wishing that he did not have to deal with these things.

Heketah meanwhile spotted the Glacian and made her way over with her soft smile firmly in place. Once fairly close she clasped her hands in front of her and like always looked expectant. ”I am pleased that you could arrive.”

Ravyn’s eyes had not been idle while Arsenio and the Black Jeweled man had argued over the sword. Spotting a woman dressed like living gold- a rather foolish thing to do, she was a beacon to thieves and the like- the streetwise girl had slipped away. Between two closely knitted groups to be precise. Her gown was a pesky thing, but she moved through the crowd, hoping to avoid the woman that left a bad feeling in her gut. Her knife wasn’t on her, which was bad enough. This woman? Screamed troubled. After a bit of idle wandering, and polite listening- ahem, eavesdropping- she eyed the two tigers behind the throne. Curious they were like that. Curious there were tigers at all. Ravyn only knew what they were as they were valuable. And values- were something best known.

Arsenio watched his sword float to the chest with a stone-cold expression. This was like losing an arm to him, that weapon was a part of who he was, but he at least knew he would be getting in back within a couple hours. He then noticed two things, one being that Ravyn was missing, and the other being that Heketah herself was coming to greet him. Unfortunately, that meant he wouldn’t be able to find the scamp before they met.

As she approached and greeted him, Arsenio bowed at the waist to the Queen, then stood erect and clasped his hands behind his back. ”I’m honored to be here, Your Majesty. Might I ask why you’re hosting a ball on such short notice?” His gaze softened to a practiced politeness, gazing straight across at Heketah. In his peripheral vision, he caught sight of Ravyn eyeing the tigers by the throne. His heart skipped a beat as he realized what a recipe for disaster this was.

Heketah smiled brighter with the elaborate bow and the title. ”Your majesty? I am honored to be called such” She gave a deeper head nod than normal in response. ”As for why a ball, well it felt like the correct thing to do given so many new arrivals” She gave a small shoulder shrug. ”But that is not as important as what I wished to discuss with you. I would like to propose to you an offering of joining my court” She gave no hint to any evil will, just clasped her hands and looked patient.

The gears in Arsenio’s head were turning rapidly, his eyes scanning over the woman almost like a thief would for any valuables. While he couldn’t detect any ill will, he still had to shake his head. ”I am truly sorry, but I would leave Glacia without any proper ambassadors if I were to join your court. I’m sure can understand how disastrous that would be, Your Majesty. As such, I must respectfully decline your offer.” His tone was official, that of a man used to navigating the often rough and hostile waters of politics. His gaze looked past the Queen again towards Ravyn, pale eyes watching her every move.

Turning away from the tigers, the ’urchin’ doubted her ability to steal any tigers. They were large, growling creatures which would probably bite her. The servants circling about with small bites of food, however was her next target as she sought one out through the crush of people. Asking- and politely too!- for several of the entrees, Ravyn wandered about the room. Politely and quietly avoiding people. Acting as though she was indeed a student and following another’s lead. Which she was suppose to be doing, she reminded herself. It would be best if she returned to Arsenio. But there's so much, and she was rather curious about getting out of the party entirely. Arsenio surely would make an excuse for her absence? As she had arrived after all? She wasn’t sure, but she had come and shown her face. So surely leaving was viable now. Noting the guard at the back of the large Throne Room, she decided on a side door. One without a guard. No guard meant it was innocence. Thus it probably led to the kitchen or some servant quarters. At least that was the general gist she understood. But if it was a kitchen… A kitchen had more than one door and would offer a exit. Thusly Ravyn made her way through that portal.

Arsenio watched as Ravyn made her way from the tigers, keeping track of her with the edges of his vision as he drummed up an excuse to go get her. ”You’ll have to excuse me, I sent my apprentice to acquire some drinks when we entered and she isn’t back yet. I should go find her.” He turned to leave, laying a roundabout route to the young girl’s location in his head.

Heketah sighed, but nodded. ”Of course, I understand. The needs of Glacia are greater than my own.” She gave a gentle smile and then tilted her head at the mention of an apprentice and raised a brow before nodding once more. ”I hope she is not finding any trouble” With that she turned and walked away.

Dujae meanwhile saw this and sighed before following her with his eyes. At seeing where she was going he soon found himself rubbing his face and debating how he should go about this. Hopefully she would not see anything too traumatizing. Hopefully.

Ravyn took a casual glance about and fled down the corridor. Hoping to escape the fiasco of a banquet. This entire thing was not to her tastes. Thus her kitchen escape plan was being enacted. Polishing off the tidbit of a food. She slipped down the hall, though the lack of servants was unnerving for her. Shouldn’t they be more? Rushing to and from the party? Or was that a different hall? Ravyn frowned slightly. She didn’t know much of noble houses. Preferring to rob the merchants and stores. The nobles had guard and powerful protects. Her Rose jewel would do little against such things.

Instead of seeing the escape she so wanted, the hall seemed to start to slowly creep lower as the light got dimmer. Small oil lamps lit the way down before her and a sense of foreboding washed over her. A cold much different from the one produced by Dujae swept an odd metallic smell to her nose. Blood, and a lot of it. Wherever she was headed, it was not a good place to be.

Samhain Intrigues

@BlackPanther @LovelyAnastasia @Belle @Demonic Angel @Vesuvius00 @Forett

I am going to give Angel/Fallen/Belle/Panther extensions as they need it as Panther is MIA. Vesu and Anastasia don't have this excuse. So I'm expecting you two to keep posting as your stories are on different tracks compared to the others. Forett this applies to you as well. You are also going to have an extension due to your partner's lack of reply.

Samhain Intrigues

@Belleyou'll get an extension if panther needs one.

Samhain Intrigues

@BlackPanther @LovelyAnastasia @Belle @Demonic Angel @Vesuvius00 @Forett

Three days left to post.

Panther, I'm giving you lee way to disappear or miss this post if you need to.

Vesuvius, you need to remember to post sooner than this if you can. Forett is waiting on you, not the other way around.

X-Men: Cosmic Crusades 👽

Got my post up. Oh Richard....

I love this guy.

X-Men: Cosmic Crusades 👽

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Ayita Dyrkin & Richard Laine

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Location Brotherhood Headquarters - New York, New York
{"Uninvited Guests."}

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Richard did not blink as the panther walked up next to the young woman who had attacked him. Glancing to the side however, he noted Damon pointing a arrow at him. Giving what could only be a flirtatious wink, the Adder whistled low as a second woman walked up along with the 'traitorous' Speedster. "Seems I'm out numbered, here." Moving from his position he stood slowly. Keeping his hands from his sides and obvious potential weapons. Casting a charming smile at Nina, he already determined Pietro wasn't about to bat for the same team. Not to mention the wild woman was not about to fall for infatuation. He smoothed the business suit that had become ruffled in their scuffle. Slowly though, and it was as much to assure them he was not reaching for a weapon as to flaunt himself. "Now if we could perhaps come to an agreement? I need information- and not on your little alliance or what not. I'm looking for a girl- a child." Richard ran a hand through his short black hair, looking amiable. Though he could not hide the sorrowful flicker in his snake colored eyes. "Family." He knew enough about the X-men that they loved second chances- heck Pietro proved that. But they also loved bonds with other people, not that the Brotherhood discouraged that. The goal was merely more important than the people some times. But his goal was a person. If the Brotherhood got in the way... He gave a charming smile to his not-so-enemies.

The shifter slowly took a step back, standing herself as the man did. Well dressed, she had not noticed this before. Running a hand along the panther's head, she felt her legs tense to spring forward. If this man made the wrong move, he'd have two large cats upon him. Beasts of the jungle. He was smiling a lot, something she was not sure of. There was no malice not that she sensed from him. Oh, she understood malice- the desire to hunt and hurt. Hunters who had hunted her held that in their eyes. The people who had turned away when she seldom walked among the humans. Though the teen noted that this Brotherhood man took several steps back and away from them. A retreat? That did not match his cocky attitude. But it did match someone trying to not anger a predator further. Wise she noted, he was outnumbered. As for what he wanted. He was looking for someone? Wasn't everyone looking for something. For herself it was solitude, for Allison it was people. Or as so far as she understood the girl. Though if he was merely looking for a person... What harm could come from giving him that tidbit of information? One person verses the thousands that this plague would effect? It was fair enough from her point of view.

Richard paused in fixing a cuff link. Each of his movements slow and articulated. He was enjoying the show he was putting on. Though to be fair, it was only partly so. He didn't want to have a arrow stuck someone place painful. While his healing factor was good, he was not keen on adding more pain than necessary. Though he doubted it would be worse than loosing and regrowing his arm. That had been invigorating. "Oh, and where are my manners! My apologies Ladies, Handsome Archer, Pietro-. Good luck with that human you've been so set on seeing, by the way." He gave the speedster a conspiratorial smile between men. Honestly he wouldn't fault the man for going for the human, if he found something he liked enough to do so then it must be something. Everyone had something. "Richard Laine at your service. You can check your data bases, I'm probably on there." The Adder chuckled lightly. It wouldn't do him any good to lie. When his healing factor came in he basically went off the grid. So his name- while under military- would most likely be mentioned as MIA. He had pretty much shot out of the hospital and not completely with a 'by your leave' leave.

X-Men: Cosmic Crusades 👽

Posting tonight.

Samhain Intrigues

@Belle Happy BIrthday Belle :)

The Black Jewels

Faeril Ashkevron & Gen Saroth & Queen Heketah & Dujae

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Dujae nodded at the look that he recieved from Faeril and also found himself rolling his eyes in response to Gen. These two...they may either survive or die horribly. His attention quickly pulled back to the entrance as he focused on weapon checking.

Heketah meanwhile, moved toward Faeril with a friendly appearing smile. Her walk being over done wtih swaying of the hips she stopped before her. Her hands clasped in front as she waited for Fae to do the proper formal bowing to show respect for the queen. There was a certain deadly sweetness about her, as if at any moment she could decide to stab the person in front of her.

After giving a scowl down her nose at Onyx, her icy gaze snapped to the woman before her. A presumptious woman bearing a title that did suited her as much as ale suited Faeril. Only in pretense. Knowing what must be done however, Faeril dipped low, flairing out the sides of her gown in a curtsey. Her dark wings remained still, as if she was worried about knocking into something or someone. Ashkevron was well aware of exactly how far she could open her wings, she simply chose not to. This was not her Queen. Her gaze lowered slightly as she flickering thought of the childern this woman most likely could have alive and well. Poor things with such a cold woman for their mother. Playing herself- and her own reactions- like a flute. Greed flickering slightly in her eyes as she looked over the dress, and the womb that could bear the living. "A pleasure to make it to such a fabulous event, Queen Heketah. Courts far from here must look on in envy." She spoke, her words careful and hinting at her own envy but for a different reason.

Gen had followed suit in a bow, though he had noticed the Queen long before she stood before them. Letting his gaze follow her briefly as he seemed to admire her beauty. In reality he was judging a threat, albeit lazily. Surely courts did look in envy. But what price had she paid for all this glamour and glee that surrounded her? Gen's eyes drifted elsewhere and flickered back every so often. Not wanting to stare, yet not able to help himself. Did this woman know nothing? You didn't flaunt everything unless you really had problems.Then again that explained a few things, he noted to himself.

Heketah gave a pleased smile and dipped her head quickly in response to the praise and the curtsy from Faeril and then another head nod aimed to Gen. "I am pleased that you were able to arrive. I do hope you enjoy the festivities. She then sighed. "Before I leave you to it...I do have a proposal for you" She seemed to be ignoring Gen completly for the moment because well...that one was an escort and not as important as the main individual. To her Gen was like a limb, there but not as important as the head. "My proposal was for you to join one of my circles. I would be very pleased to have a healer such as yourself in my ranks." In her mind this woman could not say no. Though, there were some that would attempt to...but she always got her way.

Faeril smiled, her eyes alight with the prospects. Prospects of being in this court to possible tear this woman down and toss her to the wolves. Her mind gone and body ravaged by the tortureFae could impose upon it. But that was not likely. This Queen seem clever and to have eyes. She needed more information- details- and allies before she would attempt such a feat. But it was tempting, so tempting! A sorrowful look flittered across her face as she pursued her lips in annoyance at the thought she could not rid this world of the horrid skank that stood before her. "You honor me, but I fear I cannot accept at this current point in time. I am a Healer and thus, I do not believe you would want for a Healer who abandons her studies half way through only to turn about in time and find a disease she dismissed now ravages the land." She sniffed comtemptously. "I found a dismal hermit a while ago who seems infected by some strange parasite. I would rather rid him of it than risk it beginning to infect the long lived races." A short lived Queen was dangerous but a long lived one would ruin lives for generations potentially. Let this woman think her of being imperious about the long lived races being better, or disgusted by those poorer than she. "I do see a job through, one way or the other. Leaving it undone and a potential harm to your society would be a deteriment to this potential offer." Faeril shook her head with sadness, allowing disgust to show on her impassive face. "Sadly to take the job then treat him... I fear he has some misconcieved conception about your fair Court and Courts in general. Foolish being." Oh she was sure her patient had misconcieve perceptions, because of this court. This woman. It only cemented her resolved to heal him. To do as should be done.

Heketah listened patiently. So she was being denied, but she did not see through the lie...luckily. She sighed sadly and nodded. "I understand completly fair healer." She lightly adjusted her necklace before nodded as if she had made up her mind about something. "My offer will remain until you are able to join of course" he then finally looked at Gen. "And of course the offer extends to you. After all, a healer should not be without her escort" She gave a small smile and began to walk away the same saunter to her steps. She called over her shoulder, "Please do enjoy the rest of the ball at least" She had her next target in sight and was already headed toward them.

Healer and escort inclined themselves to bow as the Queen walked away. Both breathing slightly easier. They had dodged a arrow there. Now they just needed to dance through the ball a little bit longer. Then, they would be off. Gone to the wind. Already Faeril was plotting ways out for her, for Gen, and for his kin. Kin who had been so good to her and had taken her as their own. Despite-or rather because- of her little secret.