(text)

[usurpers]

Name: un: eren jaeger
Date: december 10th
Format: text

the snow isn't snow. not all of it.
the flurries taste like mint and there are things blending with them. the elders said they sound like ice pixis.
i couldntc atch anything the melt right onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
,e
me
ate on e
but i heard compla;ning

[ obviously someone would complain if they got eaten! a few moments later: ]

the elders have stories about them being part of The Courts, changing the seasons. nasty, mischievous, know how to hold a grudge if you don’t like the cold, but nothing’s happened to me, at least.

does anyone know more about these? any try to catch them to confirm? if they caused this storm, makes a lot more sense.

Comments

[joies]

But they might be here! This place is very supernatural, after all.

[People don't always die when they're killed!!!]

Like Asura said, they're likely underlings of True Fae. They aren't really fans of leaving their own realm, from what I know.

[She says, as if her Fae Keeper hasn't basically kicked down the door to the mortal realm and is creeping to their front door. It's. FINE.]

But if they are under the employ of a True Fae, that really does warrant some investigating. A Fae taking interest in the mortal realm is never a good sign.

[usurpers]

Here is different.

[ here, the notion of spirits is real. it’s a completely different ballpark that eren, at least, could understand. the same that he understands his own (and could sometimes feel he’s still in the dark, somehow). ]

What’s your experience with that?

[joies]

[While she could continue with the previous line of conversation, his question makes her pause. No reply comes for a while, as she debates just how much to tell him.

But there's no reason to put up facades and masks here, is there? She isn't Queen of Spring here, she's simply Persephone - and if anything happens, she wants to make sure there's as much information as possible that could help.]

It was due to a True Fae taking interest in the mortal realm, in me, that I was taken and changed into a changeling.

Humans are kidnapped and changed into their playthings, when a True Fae is interested in their realm. And that same Fae, my previous Keeper, is taking interest in the mortal realm once more. It has resulted in one of my dear friends being taken and maimed, and bringing a war to our doorstep.

[usurpers]

[ . . . that was troublesome. no wonder asura signed off— to them it was like looking this all in the face again, he could get it. as someone from the outside of that, and pulling apart any lore involving fae— no panicking, yet. possibilities were too numerous and not one theory was concrete. ]

I’ve heard stories from the elders telling their grandchildren here, about kidnappings. It’s mostly to spook them. Can’t say we weren’t captured and played with in our first dream, though.

[ . . . there’s something more he wants to ask, but, ]

Mind if we grab a drink later?

[joies]

[It certainly is a bit much, for them both. Persephone has simply mastered the art of shoving any negative feelings away, unwilling to let them affect her. A decades old habit.]

Those stories usually have some shred of truth to them. Though how bad was their playing? I hope it was nothing particularly vicious.

[And that invitation is a surprise, but there's only the slightest of pauses before she responds.]

I don't mind at all, my dear. Simply tell me when and where.

[usurpers]

Stories can twist out of proportion. [ he'll only believe it until he sees it when it comes to aefenglom fae. ] Petty tricks or "punishments", last I remember. Leashing was considered an honoring gift.

[ he'll send her a sepia picture of an establishment recently open in the haven: diplomatea. ]

[joies]

["Leashing was considered an honoring gift."

She feels sick. It takes her a moment to realize her talons are moments from digging into her device, before her hold relaxes. Deep breathes Persephone, it's fine. It's. Fine.]

Shall I make my way over now?

[It's probably obvious what he said bothered her. She's only hope Asura hasn't glanced over their conversation, not while he's still agitated at least.]

[usurpers]

You can’t miss me.

[ it bothered both of them, the reason why he wanted to speak in person more than just, typing. once persephone makes her way over, it’s pretty hard to overlook the dragon— he’s the largest person in the establishment, taking a bunk for himself and his leisurely curling tail of spines with his eyes closed.

not sleeping. just resting them, shown with how his tongue keeps flicking around to read his surroundings and who’s in them. ]

[joies]

[Persephone is quick to make her way over, petal-like wings draped around herself to try to block out the winter chill. Once she steps in, she takes a moment to let the warmth seep into her skin and wings, before her eye immediately gravitates to the largest figure here. And despite how she had been feeling before, she still approaches with a soft smile - genuine and warm.]

Oh, I'm hurt. I thought you would be far more excited to see me.

[And of course she has to make a dumb joke, especially considering how serious their conversation has just been, a teasing light twinkling in her eye as she steps closer. Obsidian tail swaying lazily behind her, now that the chill has finally been melted away.]

[usurpers]

[ about time he tasted another dragon with the chime of bells enchanted to ring and produce an illusion of tiny, snowy reindeer coming in with the outdoor wind, and flying about until they dissipated with the rings. there had always been a distinct, sweet rosey scent to the petals that made up her wings. he knew she had arrived, and chose to keep his eyes shut still. his own coal colored appendage at least, says differently with the rise and fall of needled spines. ]

My tail doesn’t work that way. [ he probably doesn’t work that way either, but now he awakens. and who said he didn’t know how to use flat humor? persephone’s presence brings a little bit of more color to the ebon scales journeying down his cheeks, however!

pulling his hand out of the comfort of his outer layer of woolly poncho, his arm wing and talons extend, without getting up, to offer her a slip that seems like the menu, forcibly pushing his tail out of the way to offer her the seat next to him. ] But it saved you a spot.

[joies]

[The illusion pulls a laugh from her, a sweet and light sound, before it melts away like snow. And his response pulls the same laugh from her, a little louder now as she grins at him brightly - and seeing that color bloom along the scales of his cheeks just lifts her mood at little higher. Even if her own draconic additions aren't so expressive (yet), her tail still sways happily as she takes the menu.]

Oh my, your tail is very sweet. [And she plops herself into the seat next to him, sole eye flicking over the selection - wings tucking around her shoulders for extra warmth, dark scaled tail still swaying absently.]

And thank you for inviting me here, I haven't had a chance to actually visit since it opened. [totally not because mun was dying from rl or anything]

[usurpers]

[ her wings are very particular. like a bed of roses, and he wonders again, with a question that he’s probably already asked ages ago once they grew: can you fly with those? his tongue flicks in her direction, and, while he probably already knows (but not me), what does she taste like? 👀 ]

It’s what’s keeping me awake this month. [ he says that rather seriously! because truth it was, pointing his talon to the acidic, caffeinated, deadly ardic’s warmth on the menu. yes, it literally comes with a warning. ] Especially this one.

[joies]

[And the answer to that question would've been: not yet, but I'm shall certainly try! Because if she's getting wings, she better damn well be able to fly... They just need to grow a little bigger first.

And as his tongue flicks in her direction, he'll pick up hints of sweet fruit and refreshing flowers, though there's a slightly bitter hint to it. At least she's familiar with that tongue flick, and she merely flashes another smile, before she finds her attention drawn to the menu - regarding this beverage with a curious look.]

Hmm, then I might give it a try too. It's been hard to stay awake lately. [It was already bad enough when she was herself, due to already having an inherent weakness to the cold. Now it's basically doubled.]

You'll want one, right? I'll go order them. [Does she even wait for an answer? Of course not, Persie has decided they shall have caffeine and away she goes to the counter to acquire it for them!! ... Luckily pulling all those extra shifts at the flowershop means she actually has an income now.]

[usurpers]

[ . . . persi, how dare. not only do you take advantage of his slow reaction time, but of his invite! before he’s even able to grunt properly and form words, it’s off she goes. if he were any faster, his tail, could harmlessly slap her ankles.

at least he gets to drill his eyes into her back the whole while, enjoying the company of her fresh tasting aroma of flowers, fruit and tang, and separating the questions he’d like to ask. ]

[joies]

[She's only really this energetic because she drank like... the entire pot of coffee before coming out sorry Sokie. So she'll take advantage of it to treat him, knowing full well how exhausting the cold must be for him too.

And if she notices how his eyes bore into her back, she doesn't show it - smiling still once she steps back with a steaming cup of caffeine in each hand. One offered to him, before she plops herself down next to him with a rustling of petals, her own tail swaying before resting against his own. Her hands cradle the cup gently, leeching off the warmth as her sole eye focuses on him.]

Now then, as much as I enjoy your company, I assume you invited me here to talk to me about something. [Very to the point, but she sees little reason to keep up the facade of being vapid and whimsical around Eren. Especially after the conversation earlier.]

[usurpers]

[ still a menace!!!! but, ah, this sluggishness may come to a slow end soon. eren can taste the caffeinated, fun-powder aroma from afar, enough that his eyes have already become a little larger as she approached. yes, the stuff, give him.

talons click against the cup offered and he hushes out a thanks with his s sound dragged. taking a delicate lick off the steaming drink’s surface has the dragon going from zero to a hundred (real quick). his comfort and pleasure comes in the way his being relaxes, springs to alertness, and brings his tail tip to overlapping her’s in a simple little twine.

yes, the words. ]

Would you know anything about a creature that guards the Fae Courts, from your world?

[joies]

[Once a menace, always a menace!! Though she notes his reaction to the brew, inquisitive eye watching as he takes a lick and how he seems to at ease yet alert once more. The flower dragon then takes a sip of her own, her own eye becoming much more dilated in response, very much like a cat who spotted something it likes.

And as her tail twines a little more with his own, she takes a moment to mull over his question. Now that she's far more alert, it doesn't take so long for her brain to actually process... well, anything.]

Hmm... There's nothing like that. In my world, the True Fae don't rule over the Courts, rather it's the changelings. For example, I rule over the Spring Court.

[And with that, she just... casually brings up that she's one of the Seasonal Monarchs in her world. With another sip of her drink, she continues on seamlessly, as if she didn't reveal a rather important titbit about herself. After all, in a place like this, her crown basically means nothing - and she finds she prefers it that way.]

The True Fae actually protect themselves by splitting their titles into servants, or using changelings still held captive by them.

[That wasn't her fate, she was more an ornament to be admired and prodded at - the others who were captive with her, however, had far more bloody roles.]

[usurpers]

[ she’s correct in thinking it meant little here— eren treats it very much the same way. it was difficult for him to say (and for she to accept) calling her human outright, but, probably more than that, she was simply a being, here. people should be looked to for who they are either way, and not for the title they carry. should. the world never works that way, but eren tries to keep that personal flow in aefenglom. his coil on her remains comfortable, and his attention piqued.

it’s all important to hear nonetheless, considering the topic at hand. the words meant little— changelings, specifically. ]

Before we go anywhere else, [ like the monster, that he wants to inform her about (he takes a sip of tea, wets his lips), ] what’s a changeling?

[joies]

[Aha, and there's the important question. Really, she should've expected that not everyone is aware of what a changeling is, but she was so used to it being commonplace back home...

But how to explain it? How to explain what she is, what Asura and all her friends are, in a few words. Her expression takes on an uncharacteristic expression, deep in thought as her eye watches her wavering reflection in her tea.]

Hmm... The easiest way to describe it is that we are once humans, who had been kidnapped by the True Fae. Thanks to them and the time we spent in their realm, we have become partly Fae ourselves. That is a changeling.

[There's... a lot more to it. But that's the basic gist of it, without going into the 'how' they are changed and how much it can vary.]

[usurpers]

[ it makes his blood boil. the combination of fae and kidnapped makes eren’s brow twitch, slightly before he holds his cool, and his features remain mostly the same. it was small, but something about fae . . .

he didn’t know what it was, but this time, the feeling was closer to hostility than liking. either way, more questions stem— but he nods, and focuses, with another sip to wet his lips with burning and spice. ]

The True Fae’s domain here is said to have a monster that guards its entry— Most likely a chimera. [ from his pocket, eren shuffles, removes a folded piece of paper— and unfolds it to reveal a painting. ] The last people who went on the expedition and saw it lost their minds. Apparently— It devours magic.

[ another beat, and eren adds: ]

They said there was crystal where they found it, but the ones close to it were black. The other accounts that could still speak point to it being infected.