(2112) R & R by the Box

[Rlyeh]

Continued from (2112) Winter Coronation...

She can hear her heartbeat. It's loud and she can hardly hear anything under the clamour. But she can feel the shortness of her breath, how it feels like she in a freefall while also feeling like she's been submerged into artic waters. Fear slicks her spine.

The Dread Lord wanted to talk to her.

"Um." she stammers, feeling like it's ringing through the thundering of her heart. "Yes-uh-okay-um-yes?" tumbles out of her mouth before she can stop it.

She can feel-see her feet moving, taking her body towards the box of secrets which are interesting and she wanted. She feels herself breathe, the cold-warm air coming in and she swallows. She can nearly taste it in her throat-mouth and has to remind herself that she can't. It's not gone. But frozen-still. It can't devour-tear-taste.

She blinks. Feeling-seeing-remembering the Autumn chill, and the leaves, and the Dread Lord waiting and wanting and - "....Hi."


Xadun Rhodes

[Rhodes]

The Dread Lord follows unhurriedly, reaching inside the box and plucking a single piece of paper from within.

"You're scared." It's a statement, not a question, and he doesn't turn to look at the elemental just yet. "Whenever we gather, I can hear it in your voice. See it in your movements. Cautious, fearful, watching. Knowing how to keep oneself safe, always ready to flee." Rhodes' mantle has died down so there is no breeze, but this close the half-snatches whispers can be heard. He looks at the paper, then folds it and places it inside his jacket, before turning and looking towards her.

"Rlyeh, I will not tell you there is no reason to be scared. When we gather, we are an inviting target. Fear is old, possibly the oldest emotion, and it keeps us alert and keeps us alive. You feel that, but try to keep acting anyway." Emerald eyes, almost anime-large but with none of the levity, focus on hers. "Have you ever considered joining the Leaden Mirror?" he asks, a touch of a smile on his lips.

[Rlyeh]

She is. Nearly always, and here is the Dread Lord, king of all those Fears great and small...asking her to not quite to join, but if she's thought to, during the Winter Solstice, John's Coronation. That....that says something. She isn't quite sure what, she doesn't know all the nuance's between the Courts, and their Kings, and - refocusing back, she's the palm of her hands with her nails, curled like fists, but not as tight. ​

The Dread Lord is standing there waiting for her answer. What does she say? How do you talk to a King? The truth? A lie?

"O-of course."

[Rhodes]

Rhodes smiled. This might be easier than he thought. "Joining a Court is as large or small an affair as you make it. It is personal to the individual - only you can tell if a court is right for you. But when dealing with Fear... sometimes it requires assistance to initiate the process. To help one know that the Leaden Mirror will always accept the fearful, those seeking to live with their own fears. That those seeking to create Fear can only know how because they have known fear themselves."

The Autumn King squares his shoulders. "Now, this is Winter's night after all, but after careful observation I wished to make sure you had given it some thought. I also wanted to understand why you were considering it. What you hoped to gain."

He watches, waiting for her answer.

[Saber Sloth]

Just wanted to put a big notice up! The Truth and Lie Box is open! Anyone that gave me their Truth and Lie, has received a Truth and Lie it's now time to find out which set belongs to which person!

[Rlyeh]

She's half thought-hoped-assumed he'd say some words and direct her towards a Courtier. Surely she doesn't deserve the whole of the Dread Lord's attention. Especially not at the Coronation - !

She listens to what he says, and how he says it and she knows how she says things and and when she asks questions. She wonders, if anything he said just then was. A questions. Is the Dread Lord-Husband to Sera-Queen, ask questions? or just demand answers? Is this only because it's her Courtless-Stain-Gross-Bad-Wrong or is he like that with everyone?

"....if you're an Autumn..." she begins like it's a hypothetical, "Dedicated to Fear...and surrounded by Fear....does that mean you're....." she gulps and wonders if this is a step to far, "That you're afraid all the time..?"

[Rhodes]

Rhodes watched Rlyeh levelly for several moments, before smiling. "In asking that, you have shown my thoughts were correct. Doing something even if it causes fear in yourself."

Misdirection? Absolutely.

"There is no shame in Fear, but it does not mean one must share them with the world. Changelings are bound by their Fear, something we know as no-one else can. Autumns accept them, learn from them.... allow them to drive us and motivate us without succumbing to them. "

He gives the Darkling another long look. "Think about it - you know how to reach me."


The Dread Lord is about to step away before he looks back. "Oh.... I don;t suppose you had actress roots perfaps? Or a perchant for pineapple on pizza?"

[Saber Sloth]

3 days left until close!

(and sorry for my late replies!)

[Rlyeh]

She squints at the King of Fear Husband to Sera. He says a lot and says nothing and she doesn't know what's real-truth-fact and what isn't. Is it the words said spoken loud? Or the signs she remembers knowing but now can't understand?

She swallows, mouth suddenly dry, as the Dread Lord continues to pay her singular attention. Did he just want to grow his Court by one? Was there something about the Courts she didn't know?

or did he want her?
why? what for? preposterous!

She settles into her confusion. But nods as the Fairest. She does know how to contact him. For a Changeling King, his contact information is surprisingly visible, and easy to acquire. She scratches her fingers-claws-nails on her leg and is reminded very sharply that she's not wearing her jeans.

She feels cold.

"....no....? I don't think I did. but maybe and no but also yes. I mean. it's food. I wont turn it down if it's there and eatable." she settles to answer the other questions because the big thoughts are too big and she's afraid which is okay, somehow, but she doesn't know if she trusts but she can trust safety-warmth-trust-wyrdstone.

[Rhodes]

He smiles, seeing how edgy he makes the Rlyeh. He derived a perverse pleasure from it, whether as Autumn or Fairest he never knew. "I understand. It is necessary, after all. Well.... good evening to you, my dear."

The Autumn King swept away, looking around for a new target for his truth and Lie.

I know this was short, but I really just wanted to sow that seed for her!

Rhodes returns to the main thread.