Who? @lainxsolus​

wintersaurora​:

❅

Aurora gazed sidelong at Robin, feeling the way her tone almost taunted. She decided she wasn’t going to be baited, not now. Only inhaling from her nose and quieting as she drank. She wasn’t going to plead for information or guidance in a matter that she had already begun tonight and concerning a person that she had known since he was tall enough to reach her knees, when she had firm doubts that her friend knew his name or his story. Important as Raja had always been, Aurora had honored her promise and kept him far away from anyone in her world, save for herself. It had worked to keep him safe this long, at the very least.

She is taking a drag of her drink as Robin bows, putting on a show of annoyance. And she was abruptly forced to remember that, despite having known her for ages, Robin does not spend much time in her Court and none in her counsil. “Did you take my demanding tone for an order? Do you forget I don’t beat around the bush - if I wanted to use influence on you in any way, Robin, I would have said so very plainly and with indisputable meaning. And why would I do so when I’d known you long enough to ask?” She sighs and puts her empty glass on a passing server’s tray. “‘That is all’ is that is all I have to say and what you may do for him. As he’s my nephew and is not wholly aware of the circumstance that he’s in, that is my jurisdiction to decide. If you have a differing opinion, share it with the consideration that I will only hear nothing of him being harmed. Otherwise, share it. By all means, I have not stopped you from being honest as you know better than to stop me.” She beckoned another server with a full tray of drink. “I’m not your cousin, or aunt, or whatever Fen’harel is to you,” she said, glancing back at Robin as the server changed course towards them. “You don’t need to go trying to read between the lines.”

...

“Why else Aurora? Politics. I am well aware how things work, and I realize we are in a fairly tentative era for the Courts. It would not be unwise to ensure your position is cemented on people’s mind, simply to make it stronger,” the explanation leaves her with a shrug, as the spite leaves her as she puts the logic into words and it clicks as a possible reason. Robin is not quick to anger, but she is not one to back down in an argument, out of instinct. She enjoys arguments, enjoys arguing and teasing out ideologies and beliefs out of others and striking them down if they are wrong. And yet, she also enjoys being proved she is wrong and learning from it. This is not a fight she wants to have, not when she still doesn’t know what is happening in the Courts or in Rome. Not when in all things that matter, she tends to agree with Aurora. “I do apologize for the my reaction, the years apart have not made me any less confrontational.”

She follows Aurora’s lead, grabbing another drink and throwing it back before switching it with another. It won’t get her drunk, but the shock of alcohol going down her throat is enough for her to collect herself.

“And I am sorry for overstepping. The party might be a delight but I almost got a heart attack when I saw there were multiple mortals in a supernatural party,” her admission comes with a sigh, mind wandering to the mortal she had met a few years back. It is likely she would have the same reaction if she found him at the party, but what were the odds? Unlikely, as it was full of supernaturals in the first place. Then Aurora keeps talking and she snorts. “Read between the lines? I need to bring a damn microscope every time I want to try and talk to them. There are layers underneath the layers, and while that is sometimes fun, sometimes is plain annoying.”

Tati Gabrielle as Jo Braddock Uncharted (2022) Dir. Ruben Fleischer

wardercloud​:

Drinking. That had been their safe haven for as long as it had been since Theneras was lost to them. They couldn’t find it in themself to do anything else. If Cloud chose to let all of those emotions funnel through, then the floodgates would open and it would be more than just that leaving their system. The summer fey had been nursing a bottle of…something to their chest when they heard Robin’s voice. They had been standing there watching the way things moved around them. There was a sword of flames within their hand that they had not put away. Cloud had always been on the defensive. They had always been in a state of readiness their entire life. It was there more now than ever before. Even as the fall chancellor came upon them, they almost held it out towards her, but they resisted the urge. “I’m fine.” That was what they kept telling themself. They were fine. It had become so ingrained in their head that even saying it was not a lie. Anyone could tell that it wasn’t the case, but they could believe Cloud’s words. “I haven’t had it worse than anyone else. I won’t make this about me.” Their eyes hadn’t met hers yet until they stopped speaking. Even seeing her face caused them to drink from the bottle in their grasp.

...

“Ah, shit,” she sighs, allowing herself to fall down to the ground, crossing her legs and patting the sand next to her in an invitation to sit down. Cloud wasn’t lying, they could not lie, and yet, there is no denying that everything is not as it appears. With a hum, she summons a bottle of feywine from her own reserves and opens the cork, bringing the bottle to her lips and taking a long sip, trying to think on how to approach the conversation. Perhaps it’s true, that Cloud hasn’t had it worse than anyone else, but emotions won’t care about that. Not when their wardee had done as much as Theneras had did and they had lost them, not when their duty had been to protect Theneras and they had failed, in the worst way imaginable. “And if I ask you to? You are my friend and I want to hear how you have been coping, if you want to talk,” she admits quietly. “And if not, can I keep you company? I am anything but fine, and I could use it.”

edeliexii​:

             Apart from her worries centering around Eric’s lack of immortality, Èdelie’s in a dashing position. Her work life remains the same and she’s encountered several meaningful relationships due to her transition; her overall placement in life seems set. “I’m less confused as a fey versus when I was halfblooded. There’s more of a community which is unfortunate, but the halfbloods are beginning to get their well-deserved recognition day by day,” she replied, sincerely rooting for their success. “I’d have wine to mellow down when I was halfblooded and still do. I’m not heavily dependent on alcohol, though, so whether the tolerance is there or not doesn’t bother me.”

...

“That is an excellent view of it, I am glad you are a ‘glass half full’ kind of person. We do need more of those around,” she smiles softly at the new eladrin — Èdelie, was it? — , approving of her behavior. Much had changed for the young woman, and yet she seemed nearly unbothered by it. Of course, it could be that they had just met and she is yet to be privy to her deepest desires, but until she is shown evidence to the contrary, she will just assume the Winter Court has gotten lucky and gotten another functional fey amidst them now. “And I do agree, there is much more of a community than with the halfblooded, and yet I cannot help but hope things continue to improve for them.”

“And I suppose that is a good way to see it, but I admit I do enjoy complaining about not being able to get drunk with human alcohol so you might hear me say a thing or two about that.”

yaviefey​:

-

“I think I’m in love with a fool who won’t love me back.” At least, not in the way Yavie wanted, not in the way that felt meaningful. How many year had it been? Several centuries, at least, they loved, they fought, they fought some more and now Yavie was here alone as he always was. “Do you think it’s possible to be in love with the idea of someone?”

...

“Of course,” she answers his question with no hesitation, countless examples found within literature springing to mind, and countless of her own experiences crowding her thoughts at the same time. Robin had always given love freely, but that didn’t mean she always did it correctly. “I have done it a couple of times, and while the experience still has worth —  Well, it isn’t quite the same as falling for someone after seeing them for who they are. But don’t take me for an expert, I have yet to feel a love like the ones written about in stories.”

She pauses.

“Can I ask the name of said fool? Or would you prefer for it to remain in anonymity?”

"We are going to have to talk about how formal you are," Robin muses with mild amusement as she bumps her shoulder against Inan's in a friendly manner. It is a small teasing comment, but she means it. She wants the same sort of wardship Laer and Aurora have, one built upon trust and understanding, and the formalities need to go if she wants that to happen. She doesn't want a blindly loyal guard, but a friend and advisor willing to tell her she is wrong and offer her another perspective. Robin knows she is prone to pettiness and cattiness, and she believes that Inan's diligence might prove the perfect counterbalance. "Correct. I need to find Laer first to confirm what the Master of Secrets vacation means for Tamlen, but if he is not gone, then we will likely join in body and soul once more."

The city had fallen into chaos, the King a frenzy of power that Inan had never seen. Hellfire and changelings, his dark blade at his side. A bow of ebony obsidian ringing through the air. The Titan. There was much that Inan was unfamiliar with here, but hunting drow, defending people, and battle were three things that felt as though they had never changed. "Understood," Inan said measuredly, Robin was about as far from Fen'Harel as a person could be and for that he felt that he was grateful. "do you intent to reunite with the others? We were all scattered."

zahryaofspring​:

✿*ﾟ ‘ﾟ･

He is steadfast in his duties as Guardian, protecting life within the forest while ensuring that the other eladrin can continue to feel at home. Zahrya watches and nurtures and does his best to not interfere with the others’ plans for the realm. For now. Still, he’s simultaneously grown restless within the forest and less inclined to leave it. He’s desperate for company, so much so that he’s able to look beyond the wall he’s wanted to keep between him and Robin. “This forest was created in our likeness and I am the most breathtaking of us all. It makes sense,” he agrees as he approaches, still just as susceptible to flattery as ever. “Though don’t think I’ll let the quality of the other sections drop. I observe and care for all within the forest. One day Her Majesty will visit and everything must be perfect for her. A forest teeming with life and laughter is the bare minimum of what she deserves.”

...

“Now that I must respectfully disagree,” Robin begins to say, tone softly teasing and careful. She knows her new position has changed how Zahrya sees her, knows that there is a distance now that had not been there back in Halloween, and yet, she cannot change the facts, cannot change what has happened. If he is to repudiate whatever friendship she offers, he will do so knowing her truly, not a mask she creates to please him above all. After Fen’harel, the Fall Court cannot afford any more lies, not if they want to recover from the betrayal that has not stopped stinging to this day. “I find myself quite breathtaking, and I assume Aurora and Laer believe the same of themselves too. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and so on. That does not detract of the beauty, however, this is truly a piece of the Courts found within the mortal realm.”

She listens to his words and nods in understanding once he is done.

“I would never think that, I am aware and thankful for your commitment to your duties,” she comments, failing to mention the concern she had brought up during Halloween. “I know Her Majesty will appreciate your work.”

vincenzodives​:

It had not been long since he had met his unfortunate demise. The night had been burned into his brain and it playing like a movie on the back of his eyelids every time he closed his eyes. There was still nothing that gave him any inkling as to who it could have been. All he could truly remember was the lycan’s teeth digging into his flesh. It took two seconds for him to realize that he was going to die. Less than that to realize he was going to die while he was high. It was disappointing, but not at all surprising. Vincenzo could only think about how his mother would have felt. How he had proven her right to stay away from this place. But then August had brought him back. Being around people was already a chore. Now it was even more of that. It seemed like their magic was calling to him. Yet, he had absolutely none of his own. He hated it. What was he to do when he had lived most of his life with magic and now he was without it? There was so much going through his head, he couldn’t even focus on the gelato in front of him. He had gotten it, but it didn’t even look appealing to him. 

There was a small commotion that he barely got to look up to see before he had a presence in front of him. The magic was strong, but all he could think about was how much he wanted it. And he wasn’t sure if that was meant as a witch or as a ghoul. The face that was behind the magic was definitely a pleasant sight to see though. Vinny didn’t have many friends, but he was lucky to have the ones that he did. August most of all who had actually cared enough about him to bring him back. When was the last time he had seen Robin though. It seemed like forever, but he was sure it hadn’t been that long. Time was something of a strange concept to him now though. He was dead. Why would it matter what fucking day it was? The spoon dropped back into the gelato in front of him as he scanned her face. It was…good to see certain people. Yet, he still didn’t know what to say to her. 

“I’m not sure there’s anything you can do to help.” His eyes darted to any prying eyes and anyone’s ears perking up. This was nobody’s business but his own and whoever he decided to tell. Once he deemed the air clear for him to speak, he looked back at her, his eyes meeting hers. “I died.”

...

A thousand and one thoughts flit through her head at the whispered confession, the words hitting her harder than she had expected. Friends and lovers alike, she had known of his mortality, had expected to have to mourn him in a century like she had done with so many of those she had gifted with her heart and her trust. It’s still a blow to know it happened sooner than she had hoped, a blow to know he had died and come back and she hadn’t known. That he had been alone, on his first days as a ghoul and she had not helped. And make no mistake, she now knows he is a ghoul. Knows it for there is only one thing he can be if he has been brought back. There is a hundred and one questions hanging over them, but at the end, Robin is kind. She is not going to push when it is clearly not what he needs. She wants to know the truth, wants to know who brought him back, what he wants to do, if he had been buried once again to regain his humanity. She wants to know, but won’t ask, not now, not when the reality of his early demise so clearly weights upon him.

Robin doesn’t care about his new status as a Terror, does not fear it.

It’s Vinny.

A soft sigh leaves her as she sits on the chair across Vinny and settles her gelato on the table before them. There is a weight to his confession, something she can’t take away no matter how much she would wish for it. There is usually no coming back, once a mortal dies, no changing what has happened. He had been given a second chance, but with it, much had been lost. There is no words she can use, no empty platitudes that could be said. Carefully, gently, she reaches across the table, hands falling upon his shoulders and squeezing briefly, before they slide up to cradle his cheeks, thumbs brushing them reassuringly as she leans forward to rest her forehead against his in an attempt to provide comfort.

“I am here, whatever you need me, I am here.”

meryasek​:

Meryasek glanced at the other now, “I think that’d be more beneficial than me getting you caught up. Do you really not pay attention to the happenings when you’re away?” A lot had happened in a short amount of time, granted, but it also wasn’t his job to police that. He’d missed Robin’s humor and friendship, “How many more deer now?” He finished off his drink, now on to his next. “Thirsty?”

...

“In my defense, I did get bitten and nearly stabbed in the Otherworld, and I was supposed to be taking a vacation after I got my doctorates,” perhaps she should feel the slightest hints of shame, but well, she had known she would be rather busy with her plans for the Eye as soon as she finished vacation. Before that, she had wanted some time to wander around and have fun without consequences. “Three more,” she admits reluctantly, with a sheepish smile before reaching out and swiping Mery’s new drink and taking a sip. “Very much so, my thanks for the drink, dear.”