Video - Seelie/Unseelie (Post dated to after the feast)

[curser]

[Have a curiously peering fairy, Drabwurld. It's a close up of one oddly colored green eye before it's drawn away and the rest of the face comes into focus, along with the horns and large wings as a backdrop.]

Is this some form of scrying stone? How curious. And I'm to talk into this?

[She turns to look at a pixie, one who's hovering near her head and giving her directions on how to use the locket.]

And one can address everyone this way? Marvelous.

[The pixie tells her that it's on and that currently everyone can see her and she eyes the locket again, wondering at how this particular bit of magic works.]

Greetings. To those that do not know me, my name is Maleficent. I'm curious to see if a girl has wound up here as well. Golden hair, blue eyes, and quite likely charming those around her. Her name is Aurora and if anyone has seen her, I'd very much appreciate being informed of this.

[She looks to be about to turn the locket off, but there's a small twitch of her lips as she begins talking again.]

I suppose I'd also like to be informed if anyone finds a raven who is not a raven. He's incredibly cheeky, but he's also mine.

[And that would be the end of her speech. No need for pleases and thank yous. Someone's clearly used to being obeyed.]

Comments

[curser]

[Ah, another human, though she was just as surprised by the riot of red curls as the girl seemed to be with her wings. She hadn't ever seen anything quite so... voluminous. It was fascinating. The brogue, however, is closely familiar to the speech of Stefan and those of the kingdom filled with humans. This is something she is not surprised by.]

Well, I suppose it means he could be in the form of a man arriving here, though I can't be sure.

[The offer to keep an eye out for Aurora is met with a smile and a nod.]

That would be helpful. I believe she's around your age.

[notyetlegend]

So he's a raven who used to be human or a human that used to be raven?

[Her tone speaks of curiosity that is as unbridled as her wild red hair. It's a bit of a headache, but understanding her mother's own transformation helped her out a little. The thought takes her back to the crow in the witch's cottage, wondering if he was also under the same spell as the faerie lady's companion, before her attention is drawn back to the subject matter at hand.]

Ah, sixteen summers or so? I'll remember that. My name's Merida, firstborn of Clan DunBroch.

[curser]

He's a raven first and foremost, though he's a human when I need to actually understand what he's cawing about.

[She's as easily distracted as Aurora and the mention of sixteen summers clinches it for her. Ah, to be young and wide-eyed again. No, thank you.]

Well met, Merida of Clan DunBroch. Is the rest of your clan here as well?

[notyetlegend]

Oh! Like...! [She stops herself short before she can say 'like my mother'.] Ah...like someone I know.

[Although her mother doesn't change back and forth like the raven she's talking about, but it's still similar. She bites her bottom lip, gnawing it softly before she shakes her head, glancing off to the side.]

I was hoping my mother was...I was separated from her when I came here. We'd just escaped Mor'du...she's probably frettin' about me.

[curser]

Perhaps.

[Of course, Maleficent can't say for certain one way or the other without knowing, but she'll allow similarities if the girls sees it.

She feels a prick at her own worry for Aurora, giving the girl what she hopes is a reassuring smile.]

Mothers often worry about their daughters, even without being separated from them. If she is here, she'll be searching for you. Take heart in that, child.

[notyetlegend]

Aye. I've come to realize that lately.

[The smile is reassuring and she does appreciate it by returning it in a fashion, hoping that it's as reassuring for Maleficent as hers is for someone she barely knows.]

If she is here, then we were probably separated by th' fae that brought us. She'd likely be with th' Seelie.

[curser]

Would she? Would these fae separate mother and child like so?

[She was already not very sure about these factions as it is. Hearing that didn't exactly endear her to the idea.]

[notyetlegend]

Aye, she's more their sort while...I guess I'm what th' Unseelie approve of.

[And she looks rather guilty about that, considering that she's been coming to terms with what she's caused.]

They've already separated me from my family. I would nay doubt it.

[curser]

And what sort is that, child?

[Since Maleficent was clearly 'that sort' at the moment, she was curious to see what that meant to someone from 'the other sort'.]

[notyetlegend]

[Oh dear.]

Well...she's th' peacekeeper between th' clans. When they argue or fight, she draws them back together, solves th' conflict. She...I guess I saw her as tryin' t' stifle me with tradition, but I know now that it was only because she wanted what was best for me.

[She pauses, biting her bottom lip and glancing away. When she's asked to describe why her mother would be in the Seelie court, she feels selfish. Merida fidgets a little.]

She's upstandin' an' respected an'...I'm nothin' like her...

[curser]

Ah.

[An entire world of understanding was in that one exclamation. Children always were capricious little creatures and this one seemed to be more so than the one she'd spent her life watching. Perhaps it had to do with the clans aspect as opposed to kingdoms. Still, it wouldn't do to separate a child from her mother, something Maleficent felt strongly since there was worry for Aurora in her own heart.]

Children are strange creatures, my dear, but I'm certain no matter what type you are, your mother cares not. Only that you are well.

[notyetlegend]

Yeah.

[She feels a bit sheepish unloading all of that onto someone she barely knows, let alone just met, and it shows in the way she rubs her arm and looks away from the locket. For a moment she thinks about excusing herself and shutting it off, but the answer surprises her, causing her to blink before she smiles.]

Thank ye. [Pause, and then;] I'm...I'm sure your Aurora knows that too, if I may.

[curser]

I should hope she does.

[It had been true love that had woken her from her curse, after all. Surely the little beastie knew how Maleficent felt about her, regardless of whatever snarling she might do about it.]

May I have your mother's name? On the chance that I see her, I can inform her of your whereabouts.

[notyetlegend]

I...thank you. Her name is Elinor.

[It feels reassuring that she could get word to her mother if she is, indeed, with the Seelie, but for now, Merida manages to keep her hope in and down, adjusting herself like the princess and future queen Elinor was trying to mold her into.]

An' I will keep an eye out for Aurora like I said.

[curser]

Then perhaps, if the fates are fortunate, we will have cause to seek one another out at some point soon. If not, I wish you well, Merida of Clan DunBroch.

[She hoped, in some small way, that whatever cause had those brought in to sit in separate courts did not have her forced to fight against this child. Or any child, really. Her causes needed to be hers. Maleficent was hardly one to follow orders.]

[notyetlegend]

Thank ye, ma'am, an' I wish you th' same.

[Merida made no mention of her current thinking that the fates were fickle, all things considered. Her landing here, just minutes after discovering the truth about Mor'du, leaving her mother behind...it was all very odd to this confused princess. Still, making new friends in both courts would allow her to have equal footing on information should her mother arrive. She smiled as warmly as she could towards the faerie woman and nodded before switching off her locket.]