#[Sivel -threads-]

[soulsxng]

Sivel, you know one way to keep Iomhar in your life— a child. Lady Brun is likely already attempting to do the same, so why shouldn’t you?

(totally not @arcxnumvitae in a pair of super cool sunglasses, nope, no way--)

Ashamed as he was to admit it, the thought was one that had crossed his mind on more than one occasion. Having a child with Iomhar would be one way to keep his attention, but...

"...I would never do such a thing to Iomhar, nor would I ever use a child for something like that. Much as I want to keep him with me, and despite the fact that I think that I would like being able to have a child with Iomhar, one day...that is something that we would need to discuss with each other at length. It is not something that I can decide unilaterally."

Unfortunately, with his heat having just come on, the thought of Iomhar on top of the thought of having children was enough to have his entire body aching. The Luminary groaned softly, bringing his knees up in hopes that it would help to quell the feeling.

"As things are going now, I will be calling him shortly and asking him if he would be able to come to Vasyri...even a day would be helpful, if he can manage it. I will no doubt need to discuss it with him somewhat when he arrives, so I suppose...we will see how it goes."

[soulsxng]

Upon seeing Charidynn's gaze hanging over Alsina, Sivel steps slightly forward, to cover her. Not for protection, but because he knew the look that Alsina was likely to give in return wouldn't go over well in terms of national relations.

As always, once she had formed an opinion on someone, it was difficult for her to change her mind on it...and equally as difficult for her to hide said opinion. Already, she was leaning in behind him to murmur in Brinnelan about how all of this sounded like a grand load of posturing and placating, to her. An offensively ineffective attempt of a farce, was another phrase she grumbled, as Charidynn's attention moved away from them and instead toward his children.

She wanted to do something about it, and Sivel knew that...but the situation was more complicated than that. Where Alsina didn't particularly care about the optics of such a thing, so long as justice was ultimately exacted, he didn't have that luxury. Then again, he supposed she didn't, either-- none of the Vasyrus did, with the position they were currently in.

"...Perhaps we should find the Dresiae family, and retire to our rooms for the night. Or begin our return home, depending on how things progress."

Perhaps in times like these, it was difficult to be Luminary. He constantly had to be thinking about Vasyri and her people...and sometimes that meant having to step back from a smaller situation like this. One that, while it didn't affect them directly as things were, definitely would hurt Vasyri if they continued trying to poke their noses in.

All Sivel could do, infuriatingly, was hope that his words had stirred enough suspicion in the crowd, that those in more advantageous positions could take it from there.

Charidynn regarded the pair of them carefully, the woman beside Vasyri's Luminary especially.

It was obvious enough that they, and likely some others, had doubts on Navarro's involvement. That all this was a simple charade to paint his errant son in a better light. But regardless of the whims and whispers of a few high profile voices, this was just another charade he had to keep playing from beginning to end.

And that meant acting as though he could still be swayed on Navarro's guilt. That he was open to the possibility of another culprit. A "true" culprit.

"....Very well. Your reasoning is sound---if the true culprit is still among us, then my family could still be in danger. However, Navarro will be kept in confinement until his innocence can be proven." He gestures toward the general direction of Dasanne's building. "We still need to investigate what happened with his tower."

Out of the corner of his eye, he could spot Riliane and Avelan waiting for him, their expressions pensive.

"Let the night go on," Charidynn spoke to the crowd once more. "Retire if you feel unsafe, or continue your merry-making as you wish. I promise the imperial guards will have their eyes on everyone and everything."

And with that, he turned to his children, ushering them away to a more guarded location, the grip on his staff growing white-knuckled in aggravation of whatever dire news they were bringing him.

[thexuntamed]

Paws pounded across familiar and ancient grounds as he entered the territories that he had guarded so fiercely billions of years before. 

Before the four species warred against each other...before his pack was destroyed...before his people were scattered to the winds...before his sons were murdered in cold blood. 

Adikae roared, pausing at the top of a cliff, ears perked as he waited for his pack brother’s response. Soon Kade’s familiar growling answered on the wind and Adi leaped from the ledge, racing in the direction of the greater plains. 

The Vasyrus king, Sivel, had done something, releasing souls into the former Aifaen kingdom. Kade had called Adi to help in fighting their ancient enemy, but it had taken a bit for the Aifaen alpha to find where they had gone. To think that they were back in their former home was almost too much to bear. 

As he entered the clearing, seeing Kade surrounded by wolves, three specifically that Adi recognized right away by scent more than sight, he frowned in disbelief. The alpha shifted, his eyes watching Kade as he cried, his whole body shaking. If Kade’s pups were back...Sivel had control of their souls...what did that mean?

All thoughts of worry and suspicion disappeared though as small mewling roar followed a small bundle of fur crashing into Adi. Surprise more than anything had his body rocking to catch the impact, his butt hitting the ground as he curled his body to protect the small creature. Meowing cries and frantic licks rained down on his face as little claws dug at his chest. 

Gently, almost reverently, Adi pulled the little creature away from his body, holding it up in the air for a moment to get a better look. The scent had hit him right away, faint milk and grass stalks. Adi’s hands shook as he held his youngest son aloft, an almost exact replica of his chimera form staring back at him. The only difference the hissing snake tail swishing back and forth. “T-taim?” 

A purr was his only answer as his son cuddled against him, trying to get as close as possible. A crunch and footstep made Adi glance up again, his eyes filling with tears as he saw his eldest son, standing not too far away, looking confused and hesitant. 

The chimera shifter stood, wrapping his other son in his arms, his face buried in his air. “Rax...my cubs...ah Creation, my cubs...” His tears were soaking Rax’s hair but he couldn’t stop. “My cubs are alive...nnh...” 

[cxrsedland]

ϚìѵҽӀӀҽ էąց ժմʍք

[feraecor]

Ania bit her lip to keep herself from laughing aloud at the pun, a bit unable to tell if it was unintentional or not. She didn't want to embarrass herself even more by basically guffawing in public. Much worse if she started laughing and couldn't stop. That happened more often than she would like to admit.

Curtsying in return was a bit simpler than dancing honestly. Her dress was knee length and didn't require much manipulation to get the half maneuver done in response to Ceilidh's. "Well, its a been a pleasure so far~ Let's hope I don't cause too much ruckus huh?"

"Honestly, I can't say he isn't distinctive enough for me to see from afar so it should be easy to see him from the dancefloor." She said it in a teasing tone, winking at Ceilidh. "I love him dearly! He just garners attention quite easily~"

"Why we are practically roving through that meaning," Ceilidh informed, giving a gesture towards the dance floor as she moved into a small spin to change direction, "or at least that's what tends to be what it is nowadays. If you you want the literal aspect, it is 'a visit.'"

"So on behalf of my home, I thank you for your visit to us." the fae responded with a half curtsy as she gathered a bit of fabric from her dress. She parted a bit from Ania but didn't let go. Her feet less obscured, she gave a simpler four steps that still kept in time and guided with her hand as to which direction they were going.

"And hopefully your father does not mind that I have stolen you from your search," Ceilidh half-heartedly teased, "though I can say by the end of this one that you'll have swept the entire room a few times to find him."

[soulsxng]

@arcxnumvitae replied to your post:

The broadest of shoulders for you to sit on Sivel--

...Ugh. Alright, maybe he can steal Iomhar away for a little bit. Surely his work can wait for thirty...no, even twenty minutes, can't it?

[soulsxng]

@arcxnumvitae replied to your post:

Iomhar, of course, thinks it’d be a /great/ idea and volunteers to be Alsina’s wingman

"Let's go, then!"

"Can this not wait until the Corruption is some semblance of controlled, at the very least? Issues with the Mortal Realm aside, Hell is also in a bad--"

"Boooooo. How dare you try to make us continue to be responsible?"

"Yeah, what gives, Sivvie? Iomhar, your valiel is being a party pooper again! Give him the look!"

[soulsxng]

@arcxnumvitae from here!

“…Which I understand. You are not, nor have you ever been the sort of person that would aim to make someone that you love feel that way purposefully. You show kindness and acceptance to near everyone that you meet— that is who you are. Who you have been for as long as I have known you.”

When Iomhar’s form lowers onto the couch, Sivel approaches as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He didn’t even need to think about it, as he sat down beside his lover, and pulled Iomhar’s head to his shoulder. Sivel may have been a tidal wave of mixed and conflicting emotions right now; he may not know what to do next, or what might come to them because of all this…but he didn’t want Iomhar to be in pain. Of that, there was no doubt.

If only that incessant voice in the back of his mind weren't yelling at him that he was only making things harder for them both. That he should have kept his distance-- that he should have just ended things. Hurt them both now to save them from the inevitable pain later.

As much as he loved Iomhar, the fae deserved so, so much better than the emotional typhoon that Sivel was constantly putting him through.

"It is not a matter of whether or not I trust your word or not, Iomhar…of course I do. I suppose…it has simply seemed as though your demeanor toward her has changed now, versus when you first announced your engagement. Emotion is not something easily controlled, so…I thought it best to ask. To see if your feelings toward her were changing at all. If not, then that is well; it would not be the first time that prior experience would make me unnecessarily and unreasonably concerned about something like this." And it wasn't likely to be the last, either. "…What about the rest of what I said? Surely you have thoughts on that, as well. Or you have concerns and such that you have been holding. I do not want you to hold them back from me any longer than you already have, if so."

[soulsxng]

The more Nesimah talked, the more Sivel felt the fire that had ignited in his chest fizzling out-- and not because of the sleep that was making his eyelids so heavy. But because this might be the first time that he had ever really thought of his older brother as pathetic. As almost...pitiful.

Wait. Sleep?

Tired...he was tired? The only time that a Vasyrus genuinely felt such a thing (at least in the sense that other beings experienced it), was when they were running low on magical energy to sustain themselves off of. Something that definitely wasn't the case, at present.

Though his eyes started to wander, taking in the destruction, and looking for the source of whatever was influencing both he and Nesimah, the last part of what the other Vasyrus had said had Sivel's gaze once more narrowing at his brother in distaste.

"Wallowing and guilt-ridden, indeed." He quipped, allowing himself to return to speaking the fae's language once more. "Just as you begin to accept the blame for your part in things, you end up pushing it onto another, as always. Doing better has nothing to do with Creation-- nothing to do with anyone else. At the very least, you should have the wherewithal to do it for yourself, Nesimah. For your family; whoever that may be to you, now."

Try as he might, Sivel couldn't seem to stay upright-- every time he tried to push himself to his feet and brush himself off, he would stumble and stagger. His magic didn't want to properly respond to block whatever it was that was making him so tired-- apparently, he had noticed it too late. Much like whatever had caused the incontrollable rage.

Just as he felt himself beginning to fall, he felt a familiar pair of arms catching him and pulling him in close. Iomhar. Sivel's mouth opened, trying to apologize, trying to reassure his obviously distraught beloved that he was alright.

But as he tried to tell Iomhar that he hadn't meant to do this, and that he was sure somebody must have done something to him to cause it, he felt his words becoming little more than half-awake mumbles. His body finally going limp, and head falling to rest against the other's chest as sleep finally managed to claim him.

Ahh, this was going to be an absolute nightmare to sort out later, wasn't it?

Off to the side, Shilo found himself nearly falling to his knees, as well. To force not one, but two fully powered Vasyrus into sleep when they were in such an enraged state? Were he to have even the amount of energy he'd had a year after waking up again, it would have been fine, but now? Not so much.

Still, despite his own exhaustion, body protesting every step, the Pirodeti hurried back to King Camhlaidh's side; concern written plain across his face as he surveyed the other for any injuries.

The Vasyrus shifted on his feet a bit as he struggled to stand up a bit, shaking his head at his brother. It was like any type of discussion was pointless, always this back and forth of blame and hurt.

He just...wanted it to end. Nesimah didn't want to feel this angry any more. The constant insults and aggression and aired grievances... What did it come to but this?

"I was never going to be king, Sivel...you were always going to end up as the Luminary. For Quella, for our people...you just have this inner determination that shines through and every one wants to follow that. I wanted to follow that."

"Being busy with my own plans was a way of trying to make things better for all of us...you were working hard for our people and I wanted to do the same. It might not ever be something you agree with and more often than not, I regret my past actions. What did it get me? Where did it get me?" He slashes his hand between the two of them.

"You and Quella killed. Our sister alone with two babies. Me...wallowing and..." Nesimah shook his head. "Wallowing and guilt ridden." He gripped his head with a frown as he swayed. The feeling was getting worse, a tightness in his stomach mingling with the heaviness of his limbs.

"Creation doesn't care about us. Never has and never will. We have a second chance now and...we need to do better..."

[soulsxng]

🕯️ Sivel about Iomhar and/or Leithe

@arcxnumvitae & @lunarxdaydream | A candle for your thoughts? | No longer accepting!

"I love him. I do. And yet I feel like we have been growing further apart by the day, while they appear to be the opposite. Talking it through has yielded few positive results-- in fact in some cases, it seems to have only made things worse. Something that Lady Brùn seemed rather pleased over..." Though really, he supposed that had been his fault, with the most recent development.

The rest of his thoughts tilted and tumbled over each other in a chaotic wave, crumpling over the Luminary in a relentless torrent. Jealousy and anger colored the waters. Pain and regret wearing down at his already wavering willpower.

More quickly than he would have liked, it boiled down into a contempt that only seemed to rise up like bile again when he tried to push it aside

Why? Why not him? Marrying and bearing children with another member of the gentry wasn't a rule-- it was simply what had been done in the past. And yet Iomhar had hardly even been willing to consider it when they discussed it before.

He hadn't even been willing to try.

Iomhar said that his heart belonged only to Sivel, but as he and Lady Brùn grew closer together, he couldn't help but wonder how long that would last? How long until he had to share even that with her?

...How long until it belonged only to her?

One hand lifted to rub anxiously at his shoulder, where his binding to Quella had once sat. It was gone now-- all traces of the deep blue glass-like markings having finally crumbled away completely, leaving only traces of scarring behind.

He couldn't go through something like that again. He had hardly been able to drag himself through it the first time, and yet now it seemed as if it may happen a second.

Perhaps Iomhar had a point, back then. That if it was going to bring more pain for both of them, that it would be better to break things off before there was too much suffering.

A realization that had perhaps come too late.

Well. If that was where this was headed, perhaps another talk was in order. A last ditch effort, so to speak. At least that would leave him with one less regret, in the event that it didn't work out.

[soulsxng]

“Sivel,” Iomhar trailed off. “Why did you not tell me that you were stepping down as king?” It hurt to learn, yes. Why had Camhlaidh been the one that he had to learn such momentous news from? Was there some reason why Sivel hadn’t told him first? He’d called his lover to his home to discuss it, but now all he could do was stand on the other side of the sitting room, hurt, away from where Sivel had entered through the doors. Putting distance between them.

“That is the real reason behind why you took on students, is it not? I could understand you taking back the grimoire, because Leithe is here now and you do not know her well. But what have I done to earn this?”

He’d thought his worries that things weee changing between them was unfounded, but this revelation only fueled those sparks of worry into a blazing inferno. Because the fact of the matter was that Sivel seemed to have been planning this for some time, and yet the one he claimed he loved was not privy to those plans. Camhlaidh knew before he did.

@arcxnumvitae

When he arrived at Iomhar's home after sending Elidei and Khilu back to Vasyri, his beloved was already there, waiting for him. Rather than his usual excitement, however, Sivel was met with this instead. He could feel himself growing cold the moment Iomhar's words met his ears.

That quickly? He had only told Camhlaidh mere hours ago, and yet somehow word had already spread to Iomhar?

"I came here now because I was going to tell you. I had planned to tell you after the revel in Unseelie, but when I was unable to then, I had to wait. With Leithe around you so much, I did not want to risk her spreading it around before Vasyri was ready to deal with any consequences of word getting out, were she to have heard."

The words felt lackluster as they left his lips-- like he had only said them in some reflexive reaction to Iomhar's hurt. An excuse. True, but still an excuse. Even worse, but left unsaid, was that Sivel had been just as worried about Iomhar saying something about it before they were ready. Likely on accident, or because he was compelled to do so...which was exactly why the vasyrus hadn't said it. He didn't want to throw that incident in Iomhar's face.

Soft ears tuck tighter to Sivel's head, and he can feel his fingers curling into the fabric of his sleeves. He'd rather hold to Iomhar instead, but he can tell that the other is trying to keep space.

'What have I done to earn this?'

Sivel didn't have a response, and so again, all he could do was mumble out another excuse. Growing more and more self-conscious in both tone and appearance as he stood before the fae.

"...Nothing. You did nothing to earn it. It was what I felt I needed to do, to keep Vasyri safe until things were better in hand."

I am not the only one that has kept secrets. As if I have not tried to tell you before, only for her to have pulled you away.

His gaze lowers, and he tries his best to push the incessant thoughts away. He doesn't want to hurt Iomhar.

He is hardly the only one hurt here. What about me? I have been hurting, and yet nothing seems to change--

Sivel himself had been the one that assured Iomhar time and time again that he was alright. That he could handle this, so long as even a fraction of Iomhar was still his. He had overestimated himself; he should have known that all of this would be too much. But he hadn't wanted to lose Iomhar.

What have I done to earn this?

"I apologize...it was inconsiderate of me, I see that now. I should have made more of an effort to pull you aside-- you should have known before."

[soulsxng]

Sivel, are you concerned or frustrated where you see the Seelie king going? Is it simply from a political perspective or seeing decisions made before? Do you find the situation between you two irreconcilable?

@thewolfisawake (mentioning @arcxnumvitae) | Relationships | Accepting!

The Vasyrus' wings give an irritable buzz at the mention of Seelie's king. It was easy to see that he was still rather gruff over their last meeting. Over Camhlaidh daring to use Iomhar in such a way. If it weren't for the fact that his aforementioned lover had been present during he and the other king's conversation-- if it hadn't been for the fact that it would have hurt Iomhar, Sivel was sure he would have snapped and struck Seelie's chosen.

But with that being said...Sivel had calmed down a good bit since then. Still disgruntled, of course, but nowhere near as furious as he had been.

"...To begin with your first question," He began, after a lengthy pause. "I will be speaking from the impartial viewpoint of another ruler, and try to keep my own personal feelings out of it. As things are right now, there are a few potential situations that I could see him falling victim to."

"One would be that his people turn more openly against him. Rumor and plotting in secret is one thing, but if he does not find some way to gain the trust and favor of the other Seelie fae, then he will find that he will be overthrown far more swiftly than he realizes. Regardless of if the realm has chosen him, what will he do if the majority of his people turn against him? Kill them all? Flee? Try to beat them into submission, and pray that the same does not happen again?"

"Another would be that he's overcome by an outside force. Another group attacking, or taking advantage of him-- and by extension, Seelie. Not to mention the fact that if he continues to make himself an almost entirely isolated force, what happens if there's another assassination attempt? If they sneak up on him, or overwhelm him, or sabotage him in some way? How long would it take before anyone thought to look for him-- how long before they actually found him? Would it be in time?"

"He is a young ruler, yes, but with everything that has happened, I would have thought that he would have learned that his stubbornness is working against him, not for him...not to mention how he seems to treat people that truly are on his side. Like Iomhar."

"Which leads me to the second question, and its far more concise answer: It is doubtful that King Camhlaidh and I will ever reconcile and see eye to eye."

"His using Iomhar against me in the manner he did, among other things ensured that outcome. Though to be completely transparent, I doubt that matters any to him."

[soulsxng]

Understandably, Seelie's king didn't seem to know how to respond at first. Sivel could practically see the thoughts swirling about Camhlaidh's mind, and when he began to speak, it was only to be cut off by the very 'warning' that Vasyri's Luminary had mentioned moments prior.

Sivel remains quiet, listening idly to Creation's words. Waiting patiently for them to finish before giving a curt nod.

"To answer your question, yes, it means that Seelie is in danger. As well as the other realms. Fortunately, situations like this have historically been the only time that Creation would go to lengths like these. The three of them tend to be the types to keep to themselves; showing themselves to only some small handful of individuals." Individuals such as himself, for better or for worse. "I should hope that this is the only time that you will have to experience such a thing."

There's a pause, as the Vasyrus sighs, shaking his head as though particularly exasperated.

"In any case, you may wish to rearrange your schedule for the next hour, at the very least. I may attend as well, but if I do not, and you decide that you are amenable to a discussion...then I will keep to the area, so you can find me easily."

...What? He would be spirited off by some sort of...entity? None of it sounded appealing to him, least of all that he seemed to have no say whatsoever in the matter. It sounded like an annoyance in every way imaginable, but by what the other ruler was saying, it sounded as if he had more pressing concerns to focus on.

There, Camhlaidh's brow furrowed. The mention of some sort of situation, one dire enough to cause this amount of fuss and make Sivel actually darken his doorstep, sounded serious indeed.

"What exactly do you mean? Is Seelie in some sort of danger--"

[To those presently capable of perceiving Our voice, We greet you.]

--Ah.

From the suddenly irritated set of his brows and the clench in his jaw at the unexpected voice speaking straight into his mind, it would have been obvious to Sivel that Camhlaidh was currently receiving the same message.

[For some number of you, this may well be your first time hearing Us, and as such, We shall make Ourselves known. We are the beings that you may know...as Creation. We should hope that you do not choose to regard this as mere jest, for Our purpose in speaking to you now is of the utmost importance.]

[Soon, We will be calling you to Us. You, leaders of the realms and species. Deities, and those of exceptional power and influence. Make yourselves prepared for when We summon you, and do not resist. Conduct yourselves with propriety while in Our presence, for We shall scant tolerate any frivolous wasting of Our time. Take this to be your one due warning, and We shall avail Ourselves of your presence thusly.]

Eventually, the voice quieted, and the king let out a quiet breath, still looking quite annoyed. How unsettling an experience, and this was only supposed to be the beginning?

"'Overwhelming' is a way to describe it," he griped aloud.

[soulsxng]

@arcxnumvitae replied to your post:

Meanwhile Iomhar: Why is it so low? 🥺

"...Pay it no mind, mo ghraidh. It is an idle game-- an obviously broken one, at that-- and nothing more. If it were really so low, we would never have made it this far in the first place." A reassuring smile was coupled with a few soft kisses to Iomhar's lips. "No need to frown like that, mm? As always, I am, and ever will be yours."

[soulsxng]

Sivel, how do you feel about Ania getting three bingos on Aur's card???

(Mentiones @feraecor and @arcxnumvitae)

"Mm...? Why would I care about that? It is nothing more than a game, and she has never once expressed interest of that nature in Camhlaidh. Not to mention the fact that I feel as though a vast majority of these games are not particularly difficult to 'win'. I could likely win a...what was it called, a bingo?-- as well."

[soulsxng]

"Move closer? She said the same thing after the incident with Halilody, and your grandmother declined to leave then. What would make Allisae think that she would spontaneously change her mind now?" The Vasyrus rolled his eyes, ears pulling back as his wings gave an irritated flutter at his back.

If there was one being that even Sivel himself wouldn't attempt an argument with, it was Adelaide Devereux. As much as he adored the woman, she was stubborn, and sharp as a tack despite being a human nearing a century in age. If she didn't want to leave her home, she wasn't going to.

"Next time you go, I will go as well. I know we have been cautious about having Xethia near Gaea, but the thought of you being in that realm by yourself makes me uneasy."

soulsxng​:

“It is a good that you were not there to see him, then. Though either way, I would never have allowed him to lay a hand on you and gotten away with it.” The threat likely sounds odd, considering he was playing with Xethia at the same time. Hand waving before her as colorful bubbles fell from his fingers for her to grab at.

“What do you plan to do, next? Are you going to try again?”

“Agreed. And I know you wouldn’t have, but who knows how he would have taken then.” Laughing a bit again, Seth took a moment to gaze at the bubbles as well, eyes softening as Xethia grabbed at them, her eyes so full of wonder.

“No... I don’t think I will.” He looked up to Sivel then, and shook his head. “Allisae suggested that we help Nana move closer to us. I told her there was no chance, of course, but... well, you can probably imagine what she meant by that. I think I’m even less welcome in Gaea now.”