eachdraidh

[Faolan is not normally one to address the network thus, but there has been a matter on his mind for some time now, and it has come to his attention that he needs to address it before anything worse should happen than already has. That is to say -- his mental connection with Bridei. And the fact that he has no control over it whatsoever. While he does not mind sharing in the little dragon's joys and triumphs, and even his moments of anguish (when they happen, though Bridei is overall a happy child, and even when he's upset he usually gets over it quickly). While he does not mind Bridei sharing himself, he minds sharing a great deal in the reverse. When they had come back from removing the curse from him, when he had experienced those awful things, Bridei had felt them too. And no child should go through things like that. It was bad enough Faolan had experienced such things, but not Bridei as well.

Of course, Faolan doesn't even know where to begin, who to ask about such things. And it isn't as though he can make a broad announcement about needing to know how to better shield his mind from a dragon when Bridei's true identity is being kept quiet for his own safety. It means he must choose his words very carefully. Luckily for Faolan, he has made a life of doing exactly that (among other things).]

I seek to know who among our numbers has skill in mind control and other such arts. Either in practicing or advising in them.

Your efforts will not go unrewarded.

[No one ever accused him of being a conversationalist.]

((*ooc note: backdated to right before ~~shit gets real~~ they start marching out to cathraon!))

hallways

[ the video feed opens up onto an image of a chair in a small room. at first there's no indication that there's even anyone in the room, and then a woman walks into frame and sits on the chair. she looks composed, calm, although there is an intensity to her gaze that may give away just how displeased she actually is at the moment. ]

Hello, everyone. I am Princess Michelle Benjamin of Gilboa, and I wish to address our captors. As I have not been able to find a way to be permitted an audience in person, I am forced to air my grievances publicly.

[ she leans forward slightly in her chair, but remains as composed as ever. it wouldn't accomplish anything to make her frustration obvious; that is not how you deal with foreign dignitaries. at the best they think you're a petulant child with no real power, at worst they may take offense. a negotiation like this takes a delicate, thoughtful hand, and michelle is determined not to fail in this as she did at port prosperity. ]

I was lured here under false pretenses, with no knowledge or explanation of my purpose here. I have no desire to participate in a war, particularly one between nations I don't know. If you've taken me against my will, I have no doubt you've done the same to others, and so we get to the point of my address:

[ michelle folds her hands calmly in her lap, pauses for a moment, then continues. ]

I wish to negotiate for the safe release of all those brought to this place without full disclosure. Those who accepted to fight in your war of their own free will shall of course be exempt from this deal. In return, I give you my word that you will face no fear of reprisal from my father King Silas for my kidnapping.

Should you fail to return me and the others you have kidnapped to our homes, I must inform you that my father's temper runs hot of late, and he has seen his children taken from him far too much in recent months. He will not hesitate to retaliate.

Unless you want to fight a war on two sides, I suggest we sit down for negotiations.

[ with that said, michelle is finished. she closes the locket and ends the recording, then takes a deep breath. she's never been in a position like this before, and doesn't quite know what she's doing. she has to do something, though. these people can't just get away with kidnapping everyone here. ]

raavashing

[Late in the evening of the 14th day of May, Wan's voice comes over the networks very briefly. It is haggard, quiet, almost dead sounding. It sat at the edge of being numb to everything.]

I'm sorry.

boutant

( cw: language, mindfuckery, mentions of suicide/attempted suicide )

depicted

[Oh, look, it's Dorian Gray! Everyone remembers Dorian Gray, right? Sweet kid, a little naive, recently got scolded at the royal audience? Well, today you wouldn't believe it, not from how very self-possessed he looks, how pleased, how utterly brazen.

One might think that someone who just got publicly called out and punished might feel more need to keep their head down and be discrete, but apparently not. Every actor needs an audience, and this actor, at least, seems to be particularly committed to enjoy the show he's putting on. Feline in recline, he speaks as one who savours language, gesturing in smooth, languid movements. He is the 1890s Aesthete come to life, in all its hedonistic glory, and he is here to share.]

How dreary we all are getting. It's the fin de siècle all over again, but with far less Oscar. Or Yeats, for that matter. [Suitably, mockingly dramatic:] "And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, / Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"

[And here's a scoff.] I'm not feeling it. We are meant to be the court of tradition, of love, of welcoming the apocalypse. And yet I haven't seen even one orgy in my time at Caer Glaem. Frankly, I'm unimpressed.

[The headshake turns back into that canary-eating smile, and he purrs out his proposal for fixing this shameful problem.]

So tonight, at the sun's setting, I'll be holding a, ah, ritual in the Magi's Workroom. Wine from Mandragora Estates—top of the line, for those tragically ignorant of the most up-and-coming vinery in the Drabwurld—and various other substances. Children not invited.

It's a protection ritual, for the record. It would be so very unsuitable to be decadently useless in our embrace of the End. Try to bring yourself as magically charged as you can.

[ooc: THERE WILL BE NO LOG FOR THIS I am not going to put up an actual orgy log dear god. But this a thing Dorian will really be doing, any character can come as long as they're over the age of consent. Wine, drugs, and sex, all night. Technically, it really is an actual magical ritual.]

thequitecontrary

[Waking up from being asleep for a year is much like coming out of a coma. It took Mary a few days to feel truly herself again, but now she's back and well and truly confused about what happened to her.

The last that she remembered, she had finally been able to smash the damn harp in her dreams and get some rest from the depression that constantly haunted her for weeks. One night she drifted off and the next thing she knew it was May... a year later. Obviously, much has happened and she wonders why she had to be the one to be put into a magical sleep and miss everything.

She experienced a dream, or what felt like a dream, during her sleep - that she was back at Downton and that she had interacted with her family members, even lived her life there for a year while her body was asleep here. The details of what happened are clear, though remembering it feels like watching everything happen through a veil over her face.

On the locket she appears rested, to say the least. She's bathed, washed her hair, and styled it so that she looks presentable. But there's confusion and a bit of fear in her eyes as she tries to get answers.]

Have I truly been asleep for a year? I fear this could be quite a long conversation, but what have I missed? And was I the only one afforded this privilege of missing out on a year of my life?

rube

[ben is nervous, but not because he's about to share another vision, but because of what he knows is about to come. he's not entirely sure if it's all relative, but he'd been hoping it wouldn't happen so soon. the winter had been a harsh one. for a lot of people, this may be the first time they've seen, let alone spoken to, ben in a long time.

he finally speaks, his voice even but urgent. he seems to finally be ready to speak of his vision.]

It might be too late to change anythin', but I saw somethin' over the winter. It's hard to describe if you haven't seen it, but it's all important, even if it ain't gonna happen right away.

[he lets out a sigh, rubbing his temples,]

Black line in the horizon, only gettin' bigger. Far as I know, it's the Void-- that ain't news. It's comin'. There was-- there was a head, no body, and arrows hittin' the beach. There was some kinda noise there, too. Damn loud, if you ask me. Then the birds came, bigger than anythin' I've seen before, grabbin' at snakes as big as them.

[he pauses; he doesn't look thrilled at what he's about to say.]

The Shuck was eatin' the White Hart. [he licks his lips, gaze hardening,] Whatever's out there, we got to prepare ourselves.

[the feed ends.]

psalmed

Someone told me once that it is not a sword that will change the world, but words.

[The locket picture is a bit askew. It's set on a table like a dressing mirror, showing a blonde woman sitting, the beads of a rosary flowing over her fingers.]

Then again someone else swore to me it was our duty as ladies to pray for those who kept us safe. Who fought and died for our country. It is the same concept, is it not? That wars are won and lost over words.

[Enough waxing philosophical for now, probably. It's time to face facts and there's still a polite, pretty smile on her lips even if she can't quite mask the concern in her gaze.]

It has been explained to me already but I must admit I still find it puzzling. There is no one better to explain a situation than the people living it so I beg a moment of your time. What is hoped to be gained by this or feared lost? What is needed of the people here and what might I do to make myself of use in a greater effort?

[A quick duck of her head, polite, and she glances up again as she reaches for the locket.]

I thank you most deeply for your consideration.

Entries tagged with lia de beaumont: le chevalier d'eon

seelie/hermione-net; video [backdated to the 20th*]

first crown | seelie;

Voice | Unseelie Lockets | All H. Compasses

video | morning after the audience | unseelie & open non-locket comms

seelie; video; why this

003 ☙ [VIDEO] | Seelie

video. (seelie court only) | a vision.

video; open to both courts

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