Aleksei

Araceli watched as the storm clouds began to lull across the night sky, snuffing out the stars and hiding the moon. She hadn't expected such terrible weather; else she would have taken better care closing up the small cafe to avoid the potential onslaught of rain. The crack of thunder shaking her humble store punctuated the fact that she will not be escaping the temperamental weather. Some people think rainstorms are romantic and soothing, the perfect weather to snuggle up with a good book and drink tea; creating a mood full of comfort and relaxation that seeps deep into your bones and cradles your soul. The small woman is not that kind of woman. As she goes about putting books back on their proper shelves and wiping down the counters, she feels herself being pushed to hurry up and get home as quickly as possible. Rain is fine, but thunder and lightening strain her already sensitive nerves. Unnecessarily loud noises are a pain; they do nothing but sour a mood and disrupt a moment. Quiet is something she craves, like a parched man to water. The business of a life she had abandoned still stuck to her, weighing her down enough she often struggles to come up for air. They are still somewhere in the shadows, waiting for her to make a mistake so they can whisper twisted encouragements into her ear. Every step she takes is filled with cautionary tales that have kept her mildly aloof towards strangers and their ilk. Trusting anyone meant welcoming someone into her hellish world she can barely withstand. Aloof, sure, but she is not rude or mean spirited to put anyone in a position where their life is forfeit by being around her. To survive, she must be frugal with all things. "It's so humid," she mumbles to herself while locking up shop. The booming of thunder made her flinch, causing her keys to slip out of her hand and onto the ground swathed in darkness. She was thankfully quick to find the keys, which was the last straw to her luck. Because the universe likes to be a mean thing, she felt the first drop of rain smack the tip of her nose. After that, the skies opened up and poured the thickest sheet of rain she has ever had the pleasure of being trapped under. The flimsy jacket she wore was instantly soaked, and she had no choice but to succumb to her fate. Not far from the cafe was her quaint studio apartment, about a fifteen-minute walk that has now become decades longer because of the rain. Defeated, she shrugged her bag higher on her shoulder and pulled the hood of her jacket down over her wet hair. Gathering all the courage she requires, the small woman started to run down the sidewalk, weaving and bobbing around people who were also stuck in the torrential downpour. To her right, she could hear people mumbling, a few others yelling, and cars screeching to a halt. Nothing unusual for the small city packed to the brim with people. Everyone is in a rush to get somewhere, putting the safety aside as they'll do anything to get wherever in a hurry. Today she took time to look, and through the wild rain, she could see people gathering around something in the middle of the road.

I'm all for this! If you'd like, could have my Seekers find Riha.

Her first impression was that the gentleman was breathtaking. The moonlight was drawn to him and he soaked it up, basking within the beautiful rays that should be envious of such a person. What she has heard of Rafael is limited and mostly one-sided. The relations Lemoine has with the Cold South and Kadia have surely manipulated her opinion of the regal man. She knew the only redeeming quality is Olympia's unabashed infatuation towards him, and Lemoine felt comforted by the young woman's painting of the gentleman. Not a single word the young lady had said about him could be refuted, he is indeed as lovely as she had claimed. Then her second opinion fell delicately against her first: dangerous. Lucis sees the woman as a delicate creature heavy with titles most have died for, but time had been a cruel creature to them both as she was unable to reveal the truth to him. The comforts she had been afforded the very day they had met had come at a hefty price; death permeates her just as much as it drowns her sweet Lucis. Experience has taught her that men such as Rafael with the manner of a gentleman and scholar are often the ones to fear. He knows himself and he wields such knowledge like a weapon, something that unfortunately makes the woman smile before snuffing a giggle. Of course, she thinks fondly, of course Olympia would be enamored. "Many blessings upon your name," she kindly says. Detaching herself from her lover's lingering touch, the woman presented herself to the Emperor perched loftily upon his bench. The Renovation introduction fell from her lips with ease, and with it came a deep bow that would show her respect towards his title and himself. "My dearest Olympia has painted you with stars and moonlight dousing her brush, Emperor. I'm pleased by the impression you've given her is a truthful one." Her manner is calm and welcoming, something that may enrage Lucis and bemuse Rafael. Keeping the peace between them may be an impossible task, especially considering the background the two share with one another and the circumstances that have now brought them to this moment. It could be her own ignorance that she takes a seat next to the man without a single drop of hesitance. Or maybe there is bravery running through her veins - who knows. Tearing her attention away from Rafael, Lemoine reached a hand towards Lucis. Rafael had interrupted her opportunity to yell at Lucis, something she hasn't done in a very long time. He dared to create a life without himself in it, and he dared to shape her into something she is not all because of the unbridled guilt filling his heart. Without knowing he was already running away from her again, leaving her to mourn once more all because he believed it was the right thing to do. A brave man for sure, to think that she would sit idle and allow him to set her aside once more. Daring.

"You already play with my weakness! You are becoming the doting wife; I'll end fat and lazy if you feed me too much." He playfully rubbed his stomach, picturing how he would look all satisfied with a belly full of sweets. The very picture made him laugh out loud, causing the corners of his eyes to wrinkle and his ears to wiggle some. Laughter is an easy thing for him, just like breathing or walking. Hearing her laughter had lifted a curious weight off his shoulders, taking with it his uncertainty. Throughout the day, they've become somewhat acquainted, and he is comforted to know that Odelia can slowly loosen her grip around the walls she has built over the years. Taking her lead, he quickly showed her the best row of candy out of the entire store. An expansive array of chocolates ranging from the most simplistic flavors to some rather wild ones were displayed beautifully before them. "This one has a hint of lavender to it and it's possibly my favorite. I had a nanny who made this every year for my birthday, and to my absolute delight, no one liked it as much as I." The bar of chocolate was sliced into large squares and decorated with lavender petals. He was pushed back into the world of his childhood the instant he smelled lavender and chocolate mingling happily with one another. The nanny in question was long departed, but he could still remember her face and the sound of her voice vividly. "White chocolate also has a home in my heart." Thoughtlessly, he reaches forward and thumbs a piece of Odelia's hair while he speaks. "My mother would dip fruit in white chocolate as a special treat. I suppose I can thank her for my sweet tooth if I'm to be honest. I don't think I've ever seen my father eat sweet things like candies or even fruits." Releasing her hair, he shifts to another row that sparkled and smelled divine. Austere felt like a child again, curious and filled to the brim with wonderment towards the many sweets presented to him. Milorian has given everyone the impression that all Mythals are soured face and quietly rude, thus making Austere the complete contradiction to such opinions. He wore his smile with complete ease and allowed himself to enjoy the moment being shared with his bride. Being her partner meant he needn't hide behind airs of propriety. "Fairy glass," he says while pointing to a bin freckled with colors. "It's very sour and comes in all kinds of flavors. I fed Milorian so much fairy glass, we blame his sour face because of it." He snickered at a memory, a moment he will share with her another time. "Do you like candy, Odelia?"

"You are looking satisfied, Celine." The woman pinned the man down with her golden stare, annoyed by the fact she had been so easily read, and he was so ready to yell it to the world. Today she came as the Maharajahs companion, not a Concubine on the arm of her Emperor, the protector of the Empress, or a Sister to the harem. Her presence was unnecessary, so she allowed Desmond's general company to be an excuse to wander about in peace. "And still as mean as ever," he said, hand pressed against his beating and wounded heart. "You speak far too casually for a man with a seat of power." "And you act like a woman without passions," he tapped her on the nose, snapping the thread of tension between them in two. "Come, you brought us here, the least you can do is entertain me. Kaori is occupied with her father, so you'll just have to do." Relaxing her shoulders, she playfully slapped the man on the arm. Desmond had appeared back into her life after some time, affixing himself to her side as if it were the most natural thing to do. She had been craving company and familiar comforts, and like a prayer answered, the gentleman came to her with a dreamy smile glued to his arrogantly handsome face. Celine disliked how he caught her off guard with his lackadaisical manner. Kaori never stood a chance, in an instant, she fell in love with the dark man and in tandem Desmond lost his heart to Kaori. Naturally, instinct took over, and he began to spoil the girl with his attention. "When are you going to have children, Desmond?" The question fell from her lips before she could think about the effects they would have on him. She felt ashamed, but it did not show on her perfectly crafted face. "Hasan and I have discussed children," he said sheepishly, "but at the moment we are just far too occupied with other things. If you hadn't run off ..." The Concubine shoved him before he could finish his blasphemous sentence. "You are far too comfortable, Maharajah." "You're pretty strong for a pregnant woman," he grinned while rubbing the sore spot on his shoulder. "Alas! I'm doomed to be an envious man. First Kaori, and now this child; the Emperor truly is blessed." Celine smiled, thinking on the blessings afforded to the Emperor. Kaori, for example, is perhaps a bit more favored among the rest of her siblings. Thankfully, she hasn't become aware of that, and hopefully, such attention will wane as she gets older and becomes more acclimated to the company of the rest of her siblings. Thus far, she has attached herself to Ozu, and it comforted Celine that the two get along rather well. So well, that when Koji excused himself to attend to other business, Kaori chose to chase after Ozu who went directly for some food. There wasn't a moments hesitance, the little one chased after him, keeping tight on his heels as she happily went with his flow. Now a person of interest, a few vendors of sweets and warm treats showered the young one with their gracious offerings. This was an opportunity to enjoy such things without father or mother restricting her sweet tooth! The first treat was a sweet bread freckled with sugar, after that she devoured a piece of chocolate that was slightly bitter but still delightfully sweet, and lastly, she dove into delicious ice that tastes like cherry. It never once occurred to her that some may want to harm her, not once did she check the treats she had been offered. "Ozu, you like rice?" Sitting next to him, she pointed at his food with her free hand curiously. "What kind of tea?" @Twitterpated @Etched In Stone

The elf gave another laugh, this time being courteous enough to hide her smile behind a stained hand to give an air of coyness. Something about a gentleman bound by propriety and pride made her laugh; he apologized in a profound way that made her float closer with curiosity etched into her delicate features. Lyrei had openly ignored the offered cloth to approach Alexandros upon the steps. Yellow eyes evaluated the gentleman with openness and intensity that would make most shrink away. First, she looked at his hair speckled with sunlight, causing a grayish halo that made want to touch an errant strand but she refrained. Next, his eyes, where most of his determination was harbored, afterward she continued to trail down to nose then to his lips softly shaded pink from his blood. She will not be painted as a jealous woman, especially towards blood. "Ser Kholin, aren't Knights supposed to kneel before their lady? Or am I ignorant?" Delaney coughed and spluttered, choking over Lyrei's impudence. The noise made the elf peek over her shoulder, giving her guard a knowing look that quickly sobered the Seeker. "Delaney, ten steps back." As if possessed, the Seeker bowed deeply before the group before speaking, "May you find Evangelium and May the Dred Wolf watch over you." Insolence!, the elf thought, noting the woman's tone and exaggerated departure. One reason out of many of why she enjoys Delaney and allows the woman to keep her head. "Sit, Ser Alexandros Kholin. I'll not have my Knight play the fool before me," she teased. Reaching up, standing on tiptoes, she pressed her hands atop his shoulders and forced him to sit down. The brief touch made her flinch - My, what pain. "I am Lyrei Mythal of House Mythal, youngest of our pack. I assume you gentleman met my brother, Lord Milorian Mythal and perhaps the Grand Kommadant of Renovatio? I know she accompanied my sibling today." When speaking, she cupped her proclaimed knights head within her warm, blood-stained hands. Thumbs delicately danced on the side of his sore nose before trailing down beneath his eyes, gently applying pressure while doing so. The rest of her fingers worked to stroke the side of his aching head, giving her obvious opportunity to touch the silky strands of his colorful hair. Why it caught her attention, she can't exactly provide an apparent reason. Delaney also has gray, nearly white hair but it didn't intrigue Lyrei as much.

"And what if that were the case? I don't see it odd to want your company." Oly had been taught to dance at a very young age, preparing her for the future demands of her title. A young girl who understood she was to marry through an arrangement, that her title is a great thing that goes back to the roots of her father's rule and it was far more critical than one would think. She never considered the weight of her responsibilities, never once thought them to be burdened, only mere opportunities that would make her someone worthwhile. The pride and glory woven into her very being have kept the woman afloat in times of ... annoyance. Perhaps if she had more coldness in her veins, she would not have folded against her brother and his conniving ways. Naive in the eyes of her people, Olympia agreed with them through her actions of leaving and promptly abandoned the title she had previously worshiped. Connor had been comforted by his win against her, knowing well enough she would not go against him immediately. She knows how to dance with her feet, but not her tongue. "I'm not the only one that grew up in the warp. Connor, my youngest brother, is a man now ... and Emperor of Kadia." The woman smiled sadly. She wanted to celebrate Connor's ascension to the throne, but the bitterness daring to overcome her hindered the want. "You're dear to me so I won't lie to you Rafael," she said, giving his hand a squeeze. "I ran away after Connor dethroned me, and my feet took me here. He had built a case against me in a very underhanded way, pushing the people to see me as irresponsible and unfit to rule." She and Deiter had been disgusted that Connor would go so far to get power. Perhaps it was shock, maybe even anger, that made the SoulSeeker back down with ease and removes herself from the place she had nearly died for. Deiter attempted a few times to get her back, and each time she ignored him, knowing that it would only cause more issues in an already fractured Kadia. For now, she should hang back and watch from the shadows as her brother allows his pride to poison her homeland. "He is capable, Rafael. I just fear that his pride will get in the way of ruling with clarity." Realizing that this could paint her as an opportunist, the young woman froze, stopping their lovely dance beneath the moonlight. "I did come here to see you! I don't want you to think I have an ulterior motive, but that makes it sound like I have something up my sleeve, but I absolutely do not!"

She wasn't surprised by Yun's proclamation, such an item is coveted, and there are many willing to sacrifice their lives trying to obtain it. It's the adventurer spirit that makes many moves forward, understanding the risks but always aiming for the benefits. So far she and Grant have almost died more than a few times in the last some hours, and now they are following the spirit of a woman that should be dead. The two have shown how far they'll go to obtain the ring. Hopefully, they will not fall to the same fate as the rest. Their walk forward gave her enough time to think and to also react. The wilds surrounding them have a mind of their own and has shown its personality to the elf. Small vines reached for her, and certain flowers swayed her way; somewhere on the wind, she could almost make out the tune of water dancing atop rock. Such a strong reaction to her presence is an oddity, considering how traveled she is and never once has the land reached to her and not the other way around. The extreme wave of magic is dangerous for it threatens to overcome her. Soon enough the group came to the fissure, one Grant was ready to jump, and Delphine prepared to transport. Both were stopped and shown the correct way, and unlike Grant, the elf hesitated momentarily to take in her surroundings once more. If they become lost or separated, she figures it would be safe that she recognizes something in their surroundings. Finally, she follows the two but reappears some seconds later. The minor pause snagged the air in her lungs, and her ears began to ring, growing from a small thrum to a shrieking yowl. The irritation caused her ears to slightly bleed; perplexed, she wiped the blood away before casually shrugging her shoulders. The closer they get to their destination, she assumes, the closer they get to the heart of what's keeping the island together. It's no surprise that she would be so sensitive to the island. "What should we expect to confront inside the temple?" She asked, knowing that their little walk has been too easy.

Darim soaked in the glorious exhaustion weighing her small form down. Hard work of any kind is not a foreign thing to the young woman, but such has always been on her terms and her time. Now, thanks to the gracious acceptance of Hasan, she is the follower instead of the leader. Being a seamstress is not the most glamorous occupation she has ever held, yet it still weighed her down in a blanket of comfort. Hasan was kind in his own flippant way, and she has settled in being his "prisoner" - another unexpected title. The polished walls of the beautiful castle hug her tight, swathing her in the sunlight that trickled through the beautifully crafted windows covered in depictions of flowers. A seamstress she is, though her surroundings and manner of dress still claim her like a princess or at least a woman of very high standing. Her captor still kept her comfortable, understanding that she is still a problem that needs to be handled delicately. The Raj would not risk her getting harmed or tarnished, especially since the lives of his people are threatened by looming darkness in the horizon. Lowering the robes in her grasp, she took a moment to peek out the window to witness the busy buzz of the Court below. Not allowed to wander far or alone, Darim has become comfortable watching the world move around her while she remains stagnant. For a time, she isn't required to greet foreign officials or forced to read documents that barely affect her, let alone her home. A kind of peacefulness has made her almost lazy, something she will yearn for once she returns to her life. The ruckus of stumbling feet and colliding weapons dragged her attention from the window to the door. With a burst of energy, a group of guards approached her with a message on their lips. Their bravado was quickly snuffed as they drew closer to the Untouchable; she saw how their faces twisted in disgust and took pity on their inability to withstand her. Hasan needs stronger guards, she thinks fondly to herself before reapplying her attention to the stuttering guards. They were quick to speak, and in their blubbering, she was able to make out one word: Caelius. In a flurry of finery, the woman pushed by the guards and ran through the expansive home. The jewels woven in her dark curls sang as they danced against one another; the silk of her heavy dress swished across the polished floor, exemplifying her rush. Even in her shock and clumsy run, the woman carries the air of pride that has plagued her family. "Open the gate immediately!" she yelled, channeling her father's voice the best she could. Unable to avoid the princess, the gates were slowly opened, removing the minor separation between the two. Darim impatiently flew by their audience to wrap her arms around the Inquisitor's waist. Wanting to make sure he was real and not some figment of her imagination, she squeezed him tight with all the strength her small form could muster. If it hadn't been for her excitement overcoming her, she would be in a fit of tears. Seeing a familiar face in a foreign land was overwhelming, it coiled her emotions into a tight knot that made her unable to pick a reaction that would best fit this situation. "Caelius, why are you here?!" Leaning back to stare up at him, the woman asked the question with a strain to her voice. There was no way that her father would allow his Inquisitor to come to Kalopsia.

Heads up my brotacos: I will be making the event to meet the new King 😅😭 later next week. I expect mucho wine and mingling. ❤️

SOOOO! I finally cosplayed for the first time ever and I had THE MOST AWESOME TIME at Florida ComicCon! I went as my elf Inquisitor from Dragon Age: Inquisiton. I'm hoping to reappear at DragonCon ❤️ Here are a couple pics of me and some of my favorite cosplayers. There were TONS of Kingpins, but this was my favorite one! Childhood right here I saw this and laughed! He was a great dude.

@supernal !!!! The hype is strong in you, I like it. I am super DUPER EXTRA HOPING YES PLEASE that there will be some amazing ramifications behind the Gods being killed, especially because Renovatio has some heavily religious roots that are deeply embedded into its history. I hope there are some people who go all angry because of it and try to do something about the loss of the Gods. What is being done is not a small thing! So if there is a group of people who want to come on out and defend the the memory of the Gods then please do. I am sure that there will be all kinds of Zodiac Knights very unappreciative of what is happening ;x BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, all the Gods are gonna be dead and/or cut off. So no more of these Gods, they gone, done did in, ded, pushed away, etcetc. Yes you may! I will lock your thread and get the Cancer thread up and ready for you! Let me know when your current thread is over and you may have Pisces if no one has claimed them before you finish!