An Introduction in Fear

[Rhodes]

The Dread Lord moved through Edna's, spreading a dusting of Autumn leaves along his path.

It had been some time since he had a guest specifically to lure them into the fold of the Leaden Mirror. Most passers though had their Court already or rarely stayed long enough for him to consider the approach worth his efforts. Still, with @Ryleh ? He thought there was a real chance. Fear was a lot more subjective than desire. It was more private than Summer's outspoken aspects. More active and driving than sorrow. Older, he would argue, than all of them, born of the primeval darkness before human beings could truly understand pleasure, sorrow or wroth.

His current subject was a broken creature, wracked by Fear. She had kept his eye for some time, not as anything but as someone so clearly afraid. She had become less so.... but maybe she was simply getting better at hiding it. Either way, it was still Fear.

Despite the summer heat the Autumn King wore his suit, relying on the Mantle to keep him cool. Uncertain what he was going to make of this setting, he sat in the heavy wooden throne at the head of the dark wooden table.

Soon his gueat would arrive.

Saber Sloth Rlyeh

[Rlyeh]

She dresses more carefully then she had when she talk with Colonel Worm-friend. New to her, worn jeans and a tank top with only one (1) suspicious stain! and a blue-and-purple-check button up to go over top. She could try to brush her Mask hair, but that doesn't do anything for her Mien hair. Crude oil spill-spill-spilling. This wasn't Burger-and-Shakes and talking-Questions-Answers this was. This was.

Curling-coiling-rumbling a serpent in her guts. Pressing a hand to her belly she feel where her scars lay, under the fabric of her thanktop. She chokes on nothing as she tries to swallow-tame. The nothing's caught in her second (throat) mouth. Tattooed and pinned. It feels like it could rip-tear out of her and - oh

She takes a moment to breathe She isn't sure it helps.

She stands in front of Edna's for a while. Rhodes-King-Dreadful-Fear-Lord(-husband-to-Sera-Queen) could and probably has seen her through the windows.

Eventually, she knocks. (anything to give her a few more moments out of the Fearful King's den)

[Rhodes]

"Come in..." A voice calls out.

"Through here my dear," he adds, drawing the nervous elemental into the main room. Setting his book down Rhodes looks at Rlyeh; his glittering eyes too large to be human, his breezy mantle rusting the pages of the book.

"So glad you decided to join me. I was wondering how long you would stand out there." He watched her seriously for several moments. "You're afraid of me, aren't you?" he asked rhetorically. It was clear she was. "I know there is our connection through the Wyrdstone, but it can be so general. Would you like some manner of reassurance? A Pact to ensure your safety, perhaps?" He does not seem offended by the idea - the Autumn is completely at ease.

[Rlyeh]

Dread-Lord-King-Rhodes' voice draws her in like gravity. Pull-pull-pulling until she's through the door and steps into the main room. Eyes quickly darting about in an unconscious sweep of the room. Landing a bare moment latter on the Fairest. Impressive-immaculate -intimidating. Mantle-strong and she rubs at her arms to try and keep away the chill. An endeavour sure to fail. She's going closer to the source, not away. She sits, tail curling up and around her, laying on her lap.

For Colonel Worm, or maybe Gerrit-friend now she might have bantered, said something about windows and doors and waiting, but it's not so she doesn't. Instead, her guts coil tighter, and her mouth is desert dry;

"...yes." she says, it's the truth and it's plain to see, there's no point hiding it. "That is true. We are - I know you're not connect to Them, like I am not. But. You are Autumn and King. Fear-breath-and-bone. And Director-leader besides, you are - " she waves a hand gesturing to the Fairest, "And I am." her hand falls to her lap. Absently petting her tail. "Not."

If the entirety of her attention wasn't already on the Flowering, this would have yanked at her brain, snaring her around and around and around. "I would like. Yes. Pledge Bound, Wyrd-Judged. No harm-lie-wordy-tricks." escapes her lips before she can think better of it.

[Rhodes]

"Mmm." Rhodes nods and steeples his fingers. "I understand your apprehension. It is, as ever not without rreason and firm foundation. As you wish."

He closes his eyes for a moment, and takes a breath as his eyes open again, the Wyrd fuilling his speech. "Until the sun reaches it's zenith, one night hence, members of the Autumn Court of Sacramento are forbidden from bringing the Elemental Rlyeh harm. Not weapon nor hand, nor magic of any kind shall be used against you from us for as long as peace is kept between you, myself, and all my courtiers. The blessing of haste upon those that preserve the pact, and a curse of misfortune on those that break it. Do we have an accord?"

He smiles at the young woman opposite him. It cannot help but be sinister.

Task: Forbiddance - Sacramento's Autumn court harm Ryleh in any way
Boon: Fleet of Foot 1
Sanction: Curse (lose 10-again)
Duration: 24 hours

[Rlyeh]

Her mouth gaped open, hanging like a carp, as the words wash over her. She didn't think - didn't expect. Maybe this was more the pressure-expectations-demands.

"We've an accord." dazed, she agrees.


Letting the pledge settle, one whole day, of Wyrd enforced safety....she feels muscles loosen.

"...what now? I...." she didn't know. This was new-strange...and kind of wonderful.

[Rhodes]

The Dread Lord inclines his head at the sealing of the pact. Already Autumn in so many ways.

He holds upa hand peacibly. "Now? Now I would ask you to sit and we can discuss exactly what I propose."

Rhodes getsures to the chair and waits for her to sit before continuing.

"You look surprised, Rlyeh. The Autumn Court is cautious, because we know what it means to be afraid. It is common for my Court to employ magic - pledges especially, in it's deals with others, because they are reliable and give a semblance of grounding. We don't just wield fear - we underrstand it. We know it has a purpose to keep us alive, but if it paralyses us it is useless. It can galvanise action or stun people into danger." He watches her thoughtfully. "Since you arrived here, you have been a creature of clear anxiety. I have waited until you were comfortable before suggesting a potential avenue in joinging the Leaden Mirror as a potential path to dealing with your fear."

He continues to watch his guest, thinking. "As I mentioned at the Coronation, there are Contracts of ours that specifically deal with this. Others that specialise in magical knowledge. Now I could be wrong, but I have not seen within you any strong affinity for Desire, Anger or Sorrow. And while you may not have considered the Autumn Court before, I genuinely believe that we can help you."

The Flowering runs a finger along one eyebrow. "Let me make one thing perfectly clear, Rlyeh. I will not force you. A Court is a calling, a vocation. It can be changed, but there is no obligation to take one. If you decide not to join us, I will not hold it against you. I have given you my reasons I believe you would do well. I am here to answer your questions about my Court, what it might mean to you." Rhodes smiles, and for the first time it looks more relaxed, if a little tired. "Please. Ask me anything."

[Rlyeh]

Still dazed she moves to the indicated chair. Resitting as she had before, tail upon her lap, and not petted and used for calming-saftey-growding. Listing, ears cocked, to the Dread-Lord-Rhodes-King, and his gravity-dignaty-kingy voice.

"That is why I did not think-to-feel-Autumn. Even glove-fit-expectations. Fear. Summer would take my Fear and turn it to action. Conflict-confronting fear and foes with teeth bared and snarling. But..." she hadn't even thought that Autumns would feel fear deep-dark-drowning, and not just use-impose-bask. "...with Contracts Autumn, I can subsume it entierly...." and that for truth was the baited hook, and R'lyheh knew there was a rason Rhodes-king had brought it up twist. She could almost taste the calm-loose-tension-gone.

....but would she still be sharp and ready without it?

"What dose Autumn mean to you?" she asks in an echo, "Why did you choose Autumn? Why stand as King of Fear?" be begins, trusting the Pledge, and trying to push the thoughts of tomorrow without it away. impertinent.coutless.stain

[Rhodes]

Emerald eyes watch Rlyeh carefully as she talks. "Interesting you should thing that only Summer can turn fear into action. We do precisely that same - it is a commonality we share. But where the Iron Spear turns that into rage, a fire for the physical challenges they bring, the Leaden mirror keep it close. We never allow ourselves to become complacent, because our Fears are all too real."

He leans back in the chair and smiles. "Autumn has many facets. To me, I revel it it's search for magic, for wielding the very weapons of the Fae that made us back against them. We would fight as hard as any Summer to avoid going back, even to our deaths - It is just not our first choice. Fear still spurs us to action. Our Keepers are stronger than us in so many ways, but we can outsmart them. That is one of the essences of Autumn. And once does not need to be of exceptional intelligence - just keeping one's wits in danger, in fear, is enough to act in ways they cannot predict and preserve our freedom."

The Dread Lord pauses, as if waiting. In truth, he was gauging how much to reveal. Too much, and that Fear would be lost. Too little and Rlyeh would have have no trust. "I was too cynical to loose myself in waves of desire." We had experienced so much of that and we knew the dangers of desire. "I hated my captor, but beneath it all I was afraid of what fleeing them meant. I am no pugilist. I knew my strengths - words, cunning. I reveled in our magic even before I broke free. In the Leaden Mirror I found like minds, people that taught me to harness my Fear. It was - as you say - hand in glove." He looks up at the mantle over the empty fireplace, biting back the fury that this whelp dared to question why he would be King of Fear. IT IS MY RIGHT, CHILD. "I am not only Autumn, I am also Fair. A creature of Grace and influence. I stand as king of Fear because the alternatives were far more tempestuous. I have found pleasure in the Fear of others and I do not pretend otherwise, but the woman that challenged for the crown when I did sought to have all fearful of her. She was called Lucifer, and she did bring light and terror in equal measure through her dark beauty. A Witch-King would survive in other cities - this Freehold is too small, and demands cooperation among all if it is to survive. I saw off her challenges, made deals and trades, secured my position. The Leaden Mirror avoids direct conflict where it can - better to deal, trade, trap and deceive. Wear down our enemies. Strike when they are most likely to break and flee."

He sighs and looks back to his guest. "Fear is personal and drives us in different ways. To me, our role in this Freehold is to seek out, preserve and pass on knowledge that the other Courts do not possess or is forbidden as a Courtly Secret. As Dread Lord I will do so until that Mantle is no longer mine to bare." There was a smile, as if someone would have to pry the crown from his cold dead fingers. "However, I know Anatole has been working hard to secure strong mundane assets and has considerable wisdom in his own right. I do not hold formal courts often - only as I deem necessary, which is rare these days. My courtiers have always been free to come and go as they please. I only expect they keep the tenets of the Court close, and they come to protect the Freehold when I call. If they are Autumn, they will pursue their own goals - fear will guide them as they see fit. If members of the Freehold seek knowledge, I will bring enlightenment to their minds. Sometimes there will be a price. Sometimes not. If you took up a Fall Mantle, I would give that help in our Lore, should it be asked of me, with little or no price. A King has a duty to his subjects, after all." He smiles a little wistfully, for once devoid of sinister malice, then straightens suddenly.

"Now, a question of my own. If you yourself admit Autumn is a natural pairing, why have you resisted it's call so long?" Rhodes' eyes settle back on her, looking immeasurably fae-like in the shadows.

[Rlyeh]

She listens, doesn't interrupt. Eyes, holding an unusual focus upon the Dread Lord. She isn't focused on his face or eyes, just on his lips. Like she could see the words as they are spoken. She'd asked her Questions, wanting the Answers, wishing for words, and the Dread-Lord-Rhodes-King delivered. Voice-gravity-pulling-dignity-swept. It's like rolling in the waves, diving under syllables, and treading consonants and she's trying not to drown in drawl. She feels the old instincts rise, ravenous, hungry. Coveting secrets, wanting to hoard and hide them away. Absently she can feel her hand flex, fingers rigid, clawing at her legs.

grasp and claw and devour secrets whole

Heart thud-thud-thumping, her breathing's picked up, she swallows. Mind desperate and clinging. Not just Rhodes-king, but Anatole-shadow-scars too.

It's a lot. A lot of a lot.

it's not enough

It takes a while, she feels like she should have spoken more, added something, anything. But Rhodes-king is waiting, patient menacing for her to speak, and she hasn't spoken over or under his words-Answer and so -

"...because I don't know what I'd become if it let myself fall into Autumn." she admits, voice soft and eyes down. A Secret given freely but it feels like it's torn from her throat and ripped from her lungs.